Warriors take Weekend COMMOTION center at No. 9 entertainment Special section ...................................Inside ..........Page A-7 ............Page A-3 INSIDE Mendocino County’s World briefly The Ukiah local newspaper .......Page A-2 Tomorrow: Mostly sunny 7 58551 69301 0 THURSDAY June 29, 2006 50 cents tax included DAILY JOURNAL ukiahdailyjournal.com 20 pages, Volume 148 Number 81 email: [email protected] Police, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS firefighters, citizenry pay their ERO S ELCOME County’s respects AH ’ W first CEO Sgt. Buzzard gets the ax No reason given for firing; some say it’s budget related By KATIE MINTZ The Daily Journal In an unexpected move and to much public out- rage, Board of Supervisors Chairman David Colfax announced the dismissal of Chief Executive Officer John Ball Wednesday afternoon at a special meeting. The announcement came after nearly three hours of closed session deliberation. The vote, 3-2 with Supervisors Michael Delbar and Jim Wattenburger dissenting, terminates the services of the CEO, effective immediately. The board will meet at 5 p.m. today to appoint an interim CEO. The meeting will be held in closed session followed by an announcement in open session. Ball said his contract was automatically renewed in May and that the board did not indicate any issues regarding his performance prior to the renewal. “I have received no information as to any com- plaint or any issue that indicates what problem the supervisors may have had,” Ball said following the announcement. “There’s a certain amount of mys- tery involved.” “I think government should be transparent, and it was opaque on this issue,” Barry Vogel, Ball’s Isaac Eckel/The Daily Journal Ukiah Police Department See BALL, Page A-16 officers line up in front of the county courthouse along with members of the com- munity to honor Sgt. Jason Buzzard and support his FOLLOWUP family as his body arrived escorted by an honor pro- cession into Ukiah about 2 a.m. Wednesday. At right, members of the community Two bodies wave American flags and salute as the hearse carrying Sgt. Buzzard’s body is dri- ven into town, followed by an recovered honor procession down East Perkins Street early Wednesday morning. The funeral is scheduled for 1 from lake p.m. Friday. Below, local res- idents hold candles and wait Two Ukiah men both thought patiently for the procession to arrive. to be victims of drowning By BEN BROWN The Daily Journal Divers have recovered the body of a Ukiah man Escort veteran proud of Ukiah who is thought to have drowned on Monday, as well as the body of another suspected drowning By GARY GREENOUGH victim. Special to The Daily Journal People of Ukiah, my hometown, you were Mendocino County sheriff’s personnel, aided I had the honor and privilege to escort by the Army Corps of Engineers and the Sonoma Jason Buzzard and his family home from wonderful, staying the course and County Sheriff’s Dive Team, recovered the body Sacramento. It’s 4:45 a.m., I have just got- showing what a small town is all about. of Matthew Dean Mitchell, 37, of Ukiah, at 8:30 ten home, and I need to thank some peo- a.m. Wednesday. ple, and let you all know how it went. Mitchell went missing Monday evening while The plane was delayed for over five GARY GREENOUGH swimming with his family in Lake Mendocino hours with mechanical problems, and it American Legion Post Commander 21 near the south boat dock. Mitchell’s family told finally touched down at Sacramento sheriff’s deputies he had been swimming in the International at 10:30 p.m. The sheriff and Motor Escort Team, Santa Rosa lake about 50 yards from shore when he became CHP officers did the duty of the Honors exhausted and slipped below the surface of the Team by unloading Jason from the plane people were along the Highway 20 corri- water. and into the hearse. Rick Eversole was the dor at Clear Lake; fire trucks from Potter On Tuesday evening, divers also recovered the greatest. We headed out, the towns of Valley and Redwood Valley lined body of James E. Perry, 45, of Ukiah, near the Arbuckle and Williams had fire trucks and Highway 20, firefighters at attention and south boat ramp. Perry was reported missing by people on the overpasses. saluting; on the 101, every overpass was his mother on Saturday. His last known where- On Highway 20, the work crew filled with every type of engine, with fire- abouts were at the lake. stopped what they were doing and took fighters at attention or holding flags; and MCSO Capt. Kurt Smallcomb said he believed off their hard hats, even the flaggers stood Perry’s death was “accidental” and said it was not at attention with hats off; a number of See ESCORT, Page A-16 considered suspicious in nature. “It’s a tragedy for both families,” Smallcomb said. Ben Brown can be reached at [email protected]. • Underground Utilities • Fencing • Storm & Water Systems • Landscaping Toll Free: 1-866-363-4900 • Septic Systems • Lot Prep. & Cleaning Office: 485-7536 • Cell: 477-6221 • Road Construction • 6”-30” Hole Bore • Demolition • No Cost Estimate General Engineer • Lic.#878612 THE UKIAH DAILY JOURNAL THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2006 -B-1 We Are California’s Largest Marlette Retailer Marlette...Marlette... We’reWe’re proudproud toto sellsell it.it. 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It’s Priceless!! 707-468-1201 • 2700 North State St., Ukiah A-2 – THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2006 DAILY DIGEST Editor: Jody Martinez, 468-3517 The Ukiah Daily Journal [email protected] and arrested Bowman and FUNERAL NOTICES SHERIFF’S REPORTS Clay on suspicion of the The following were above listed charges. [\ He was most proud Stoughton and uncle Dar- Sundays, compiled from reports In addition, Bowman, who of his wife, children and his rell Kenneth Buzzard. My work was always rough; prepared by the was driving the car, was EOD patch. He Friends and family are At times I have been violent, Mendocino County arrested on suspicion of dri- enjoyed bowling, fishing, invited to attend a visi- Because the job was tough.” Sheriff’s Office: ving with a suspended license watching sports, and tation at The Eversole BOOKED -- Ramon and on a misdemeanor bench helping with children’s Mortuary on Friday, “But, I never took a penny, Aguado-Romero, 40, of Fort warrant for driving under the sports activities. Jason June 30, 2006 beginning at That wasn’t mine to keep; Bragg, was booked into jail on influence. ARREST -- Leticia Kay will be remembered for his 9:00 am. Funeral Though I worked a lot of suspicion on driving under the influence and possession of a Ramirez, 23, of Ukiah, was smile and eyes, Service will commence at overtime, dry sense of humor, his 1:00 PM at The Ev- switchblade at 12:53 a.m. arrested on suspicion of When my bills became too Tuesday. domestic assault in the 2100 ability to make his ersole Mortuary with inter- steep.” wife smile and know when ment to follow at the BOOKED -- Mark block of South State Street at she needed it. His Ukiah Cemetery. Memorial Anthony Gibson, 26, of 8:39 p.m. Tuesday. “I never passed a cry for help, Willits, was booked into jail According to reports from favorite quote was “carried contributions may But often shook with fears, by six or judged be made to Jason’s compa- on suspicion of inflicting cor- the Mendocino County by 12”. Jason joined the ny: Buzzards Wolf- And sometimes, God, forgive poral injury, violating a court Sheriff’s Office, Ramirez US Army Feb. 18, pack, in memory of Jason me, order and probation violations attacked the 33-year-old vic- 1998 and was awarded the Buzzard, or to the I have wept unmanly tears.” at 11:35 a.m. Tuesday. tim with her hands and caused Bronze Star Med- Michala Buzzard and BOOKED -- Pablo traumatic injury that did not al, Purple Heart, Army Tristin Buzzard College “I know I don’t deserve a Benitez Mora, 46, of Ukiah, require medical care. Ramirez Achievement Medal, Trust Fund c/o Savings place, was booked into jail on suspi- is being held on a $25,000 Good Conduct Medal (2), Bank of Mendocino Among these good folks here; cion of robbery, battery and bond. They never wanted me failing to register as a sex Those arrested by law enforcement National Defense County, 200 N. School St., officers are innocent until proven guilty. Service Medal, Iraqi PO Box 3600, around, offender at 8:08 p.m. Tuesday. People reported as having been arrest- Campaign Medal, Global Ukiah, CA 95482. Unless a war was near.” BOOKED -- Francisco ed may contact the Daily Journal once War on Terrorism Service Mata II, 27, of Ukiah, was their case has been concluded so the results can be reported.