Weekend SPORTS entertainment Thursday SULL Angels win TOC game ...................................Page 6 .............Page 3 June 19, 2008 INSIDE Mendocino County’s Obituaries The Ukiah local newspaper ..........Page 2 Friday: Mostly sunny H 90º L 52º 7 58551 69301 0 Saturday: Partly sunny; H 89º L 53º 50 cents tax included DAILY JOURNAL ukiahdailyjournal.com 16 pages, Volume 150 Number 71 email: [email protected] Legislation aims to clarify credit vs. cash gas prices The Daily Journal what they’re paying, particularly with the method of purchase, with some ly disclosed to the public. price for a gallon of regular gasoline With gasoline prices on the rise, prices at the pump rising meteorical- station owners discounting the price Californians purchase, on average, in California was $4.60 per gallon this state Sen. Patricia Wiggins (D-Santa ly,” Wiggins said. “And gas station per gallon for cash transactions. about 16 billion gallons of gasoline week. In Ukiah, prices ranged from Rosa) has introduced legislation that owners must do a better job of telling Credit cards can add about 2 to 3 per- per year. As of May 2008, the average $4.55 to $4.63 per gallon. would require gas stations to display consumers that they will pay a lower cent to the cost of the transaction – a price of a gallon of gasoline had Wiggins describes SB 623, which the price difference between transac- price for gas if they fill up using cash higher cost paid for the “conve- topped $4 per gallon in the state -- an has yet to be scheduled for its first tions paid for with cash and with cred- instead of plastic.” nience” of using a credit card at the increase of more than 69 percent over hearing in the Legislature, as a “con- it cards. Some gasoline stations are offering pump. In many, if not most, instances, the last 12 months. sumer information disclosure” mea- “Drivers should be clearly shown different prices for gasoline based on the cost differentials are not adequate- According to AAA, the average sure. WRIGHT BROTHERS MASTER PILOT AWARD Bruce DeVries 7 named to displays his plaque for 50 years of ser- vice in avia- fair board 50 years of flight tion safety. The Daily Journal Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger recently ‘I am convinced that announced seven appointments to the Redwood human flight is both Empire Fair Board. possible and Otherwise known as the 12th District practical.’ Agricultural Association, the fairgrounds are Wilbur Wright, 1899 located at 1055 N. State St. “This position does not require Senate con- By CAROLE HESTER firmation and there is no salary,” stated the for The Daily Journal release. “Never say die” could Among those appointed are: be the watchword of this • Michael Anderson, 56, of Fort Bragg, has retired educator. Or per- served on the board since 2006. Since 1976, haps, “never stop flying” Anderson has owned and managed Anderson might be more represen- Logging. He is currently a member and first tative of the avid aviator. vice president of the Mendocino County Farm In a recent ceremony Bureau and serves as a board member of the at the Ukiah airport, Employers Council of Mendocino County. Bruce DeVries, 75, Additionally, Anderson is a member and past received the Wright president of the Associated California Loggers Brothers Master Pilot and the California Forestry Association. He is Award from the Federal also a member of the California Licensed Aviation Agency for 50 Foresters Association. consecutive years of fly- • Albert Beltrami, 74, of Ukiah, was chief ing. The award recipient executive officer for Mendocino County from received a certificate and 2006 to 2007 before he retired. From 2003 to lapel pin. 2006, Beltrami owned and worked as a consul- According to the FAA, tant for Beltrami Consulting. From 1993 to the Wright Brothers Mas- 1996, he served as deputy director of intergov- ter Pilot Award recog- ernmental affairs for the Office of Gov. Pete nizes the efforts of pilots Wilson and, from 1991 to 1993, he was the who have followed and Sarah Baldik/The Daily Journal chief executive officer for Stanislaus County. continue to follow the Bruce DeVries stands in front of his 1959 Piper Comanche airplane at the Ukiah airport From 1965 to 1990, he was county administra- precaution and awareness Tuesday morning. DeVries received the Wright Brothers award for more than 50 years of tor for Mendocino County. Beltrami is a mem- of safe operations. Most flying at an awards ceremony Saturday. ber of the Lions Club and Elks Club of Ukiah. of all, it recognizes pilots • Roger Coate, 57, of Ukiah, has been a who have contributed at Coalinga College, out- make ends meet, he mentary School (hence, er’s, but a year younger. member of the board of directors since 2003. and maintained safe side Fresno. Flying drove a school bus moving into administra- My brother used to Coate has served as president for Team flight operations for 50 or lessons were part of his before and after school. tion). always take me to church Insurance and Financial Services since 2003. more consecutive years curriculum (he majored He married his wife, While this was going youth group. When my Prior to that, he owned Coate Financial of piloting aircraft. One in business) and for a Gayle, in 1956. on, DeVries returned to brother went off to col- Planning and Insurance Services from 1980 to day, DeVries’ name will nominal charge he was “All the children in the school, going to San Jose lege, Bruce took me 2003. Coate is an adviser for the South Ukiah be included in the Smith- able to pursue flight migrant school were State for his administra- home. We kind of went Rotary Club and the Interact Service Club at sonian Institute. instruction. Spanish speaking,” she tive credential and mas- together off and on in Ukiah High School. DeVries and two part- While in the junior said. “They learned Eng- ter’s degree. high school and then • David Gowan, 68, of Philo, has co-owned ners own a local plane college, DeVries joined lish really fast and they The family moved to Bruce went off to the the Gowan Ranch in Anderson Valley since and he gets up in the air the Naval Reserves and were smart. That was a Ukiah in 1976, when Navy. When he came 1979. From 1980 to 2007, Gowan owned as often as he can, weath- after graduating with his great experience.” They DeVries was first at the back to the valley, and he Anderson Valley Farm Supply and Nursery. er permitting. AA, he entered the Navy were there two years then district office, where he was in Fresno State, we Prior to that, he worked as the manager of the His wife, Gayle, says, for two years active duty, moved on when Bruce was in charge of the gift- got together.” Mendocino County Fair and Apple Show from “Flying is in Bruce’s stationed at Pensacola. taught sixth grade at ed program. Following He and his wife had 1998 to 2003. Gowan is a member of the blood. His goal is to After flying for the Coalinga Elementary that, he became principal three children: Keith, 51; California Farm Bureau Federation and past reach the same age as Jim Navy, in 1955 he went to School. at Yokayo Elementary Kevin, 47; Kori, age 38, board member of the Anderson Valley Aggi, who is still flying at Fresno State, graduating Then the couple School for 17 years, retir- and six granddaughters, Community Services District. 85 years old. Jim is in 1957 with an education moved to Cupertino in ing in 1998. two from each family. • Ronald Ledford, 64, of Talmage, has Bruce’s role model.” degree. 1962, where Bruce taught According to Gayle, Gayle ended her educa- served on the board of directors since 1992. A native Fresnan, DeVries began teach- sixth grade. DeVries was their interest in each other tion career in Ukiah as Since 1970, Ledford has owned R and D DeVries began his flying ing for two years in 1957 asked to teach the gifted began early, “a typical assistant principal at Ledford Rental. From 1970 to 2001, he owned adventure at age 18, earn- at a migrant school in class for a year, then be in older brother/younger Pomolita Middle School Ledford Ranch. He is a member of the Ukiah ing his license at age 19 Five Points for a whop- charge of the gifted pro- sister situation. Bruce after serving 15 years, while he was a freshman ping $3,600 a year. To gram at Cupertino Ele- was a friend of my broth- retiring in 2002. See FAIR, Page 15 Gualala litigation goes on, fireworks canceled UHS GRADS The Daily Journal annual Fourth of July fireworks display, attor- Commission staffers had urged the panel to Organizers of the annual Independence Day neys with Pacific Legal Foundation have filed issue a cease-and-desist order against the fire- fireworks display in Gualala announced a lawsuit challenging the Commission’s works program, claiming it disturbed birds in Wednesday that they have canceled the fire- action, on behalf of the Gualala Festivals the area. works display for this year. Committee,” stated the PLF in a release “A threat to birds has not been estab- The news of the cancellation is the latest Wednesday. “Today, a Mendocino County lished,” said PLF attorney Graham Owen. skirmish in a yearslong war over the display. Superior Court judge declined to issue an In its now-approved staff recommendation, The decision to scrap the demonstration emergency stay of the Coastal Commission’s the Coastal Commission disagreed.