Community Pet of the week FORUM sports digest ..........Page A-3 Our readers write .......Page B-1 ...............................A-4 INSIDE Mendocino County’s World briefly The Ukiah local newspaper ..........Page 2 Tomorrow: Partly sunny 7 58551 69301 0 MONDAY Jan. 8, 2007 50 cents tax included DAILY JOURNAL ukiahdailyjournal.com 16 pages, Volume 148 Number 274 email: [email protected] Two new bills could provide federal relief to California The Daily Journal “It is our responsibility to do everything we ued to deteriorate, forcing the Pacific financial assistance is a top priority this year.” In the first two days of the new legislative can to help the thousands of families and busi- Fisheries Management Council to reduce the There is also an expectation that the com- session, two companion bills were introduced, nesses that are suffering from the largest com- fishing seasons in 2005 and 2006. As a result, mercial salmon season will be significantly that if passed, would provide federal disaster mercial salmon fishery disaster in our nation’s the commercial fishing season was cut by reduced in 2007, Thompson said. relief to California and Oregon’s fishing history,” Thompson said. “The devastating more than 90 percent in 2006, costing fishing “We can not allow one disastrous salmon industry. impact this disaster has had on California’s families and associated fishing businesses season to turn into a long-term tragedy, yet North Coast has been obvious for years, and it more than $60 million. that is what will happen if we don't take The legislation -- SB 145 authored by Sen. immediate action,” Sen. Rod Wyden (D-Ore.), Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and HR 234 is time we help bring this important industry “Our coastal communities have already back to life.” waited too long to get the disaster relief they who co-authored Boxer’s bill, said. “Our fish- authored by Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Calif.) - ing and coastal communities are counting on - would authorize the appropriation of $60.4 According to Thompson, the fisheries dis- need as a result of this administration’s mis- Washington, D.C. to survive. We must not let million for fisherman, tribes and businesses aster was due in large part to poor federal management of the Klamath River,” Boxer them down.” impacted by the commercial fishery failure management of the Klamath River, which said. “By introducing this legislation on the “Getting our fisherman and salmon busi- declared in August 2006 by Commerce caused 80,000 adult salmon to die in 2002. first day of Congress, we are letting our com- Secretary Carlos Gutierrez. Since then, the salmon population has contin- munities and families know that getting them See BILLS, Page A-8 UVAP meeting Locals’ input for Allman scheduled for By ZACK SAMPSEL The Daily Journal Wednesday Before Tom Allman is sworn The Daily Journal in Tuesday as the new sheriff of On Wednesday, the Mendocino County Mendocino County, area resi- Board of Supervisors, Ukiah City Council dents offered some input about and both the City and County Planning the issues they hope Allman will Commissions will come together in a joint address in the upcoming year. study session to discuss the Ukiah Valley One of the first issues that res- Area Plan (UVAP) reassessment. idents brought up was metham- The UVAP, when adopted, will guide phetamine. Residents like Tom how land is used in the valley, including and Leigh Hunt and Lilianne location and type of development, trans- portation systems and community livibility Zucker expressed concern not and design. only about the abuse of meth, but The reassessment -- a three-phase also the manufacturing of the process revisiting a draft UVAP tentatively drug. adopted in 2003 -- was initiated after citi- “I’m all for the elimination of zens brought concerns about large-scale the drug labs,” Tom Hunt said. developments proposed in the valley. “The problem is so rampant, and The current phase will identify a vision people don’t realize that it’s being and planning principles for future develop- made in basements and even in ment. the woods. It’s hard to fully At the joint meeting, key issues and understand how bad the problem opportunities in the Ukiah Valley gathered is.” from public input at a series of focus The toxic and hazardous waste groups held between October and produced in the manufacture of December 2006 and from technical analy- meth is something congress is sis will be discussed in a roundtable ses- addressing as well. According to sion. a press release from the House of The topics came from a group of more Representatives, “The byproducts than 75 adults and 50 students, comprised created from the cooking of meth of planners and environmentalists, Latinos infiltrate every fabric of the envi- ronment where meth is produced See UVAP, Page A-8 rendering the space uninhabit- able.” The harm to the environment Zack Sampsel/The Daily Journal concerned Hunt’s wife, Leigh. Danielle Donohue, Lynn Donohue and Sondra Wolf talk about their expectations for Weller one of “Meth, what a big problem that Mendocino County and its new sheriff Tom Allman while enjoying an afternoon lunch over is,” she said. “And the biggest at Todd Grove Park. problem with it is all the toxicity 112 at Table that just gets left behind.” Leigh Hunt also agreed that Although residents cited vary- stopping gang violence can only of Free Voices ing aspects of meth as the biggest be solved by providing more problem in Mendocino County, it opportunities to students, as well was clear that meth is a problem as law enforcement working in Berlin closely with schools and students people expect to be addressed By CLAUDIA REED soon. to find positive alternatives. “I believe getting rid of meth “A lot of kids are short- The Willits News around here would be a great changed,” Leigh Hunt said. “It’s a People from all over the world have thing for Mendocino County,” shame that we only see how we been asking Brian Weller of Willits for Zucker said. “But I also feel that are. We need to look to our own advice on topics ranging from whether letting people continue to grow neighborhoods to help.” egotism is "the reason for human failure" their marijuana is also a good Mendelson also said he would to whether economic globalization "pro- thing for the people who need it like for students involved with motes democracy or consolidates dictator- here. I believe marijuana in con- gangs to be more educated about ship." trolled doses is good for some what their choices lead to. On September 9 of this year, Weller was people.” Mendelson said he thought less one of 112 panelists, including several Zucker’s comments rang true incarceration could be supple- Nobel Prize winners, who sat at the Table with many Ukiah-area residents. mented by more counseling and of Free Voices in Berlin to answer ques- Lynn Donohue expressed her rehabilitation. tions from the international public. concern for Allman to follow Beyond just the pressing issues Chosen to participate in what sponsors through with the promises made in Mendocino County, residents called "an open dialog covering the most during his campaign and work also hope Allman will be a posi- pressing questions of our time," those tak- closely with medical-marijuana tive influence on the county. ing their places at the circular table have patients. Residents explained their concern made significant contributions in the areas Another issue that weighs for Allman to keep in contact of economics, ecology, media, the arts, heavy on the minds of people is with the people and to promote political thought, human rights, spirituality curbing the gang-related violence communication amongst the and religion, and other related fields. in Ukiah. many races in the county. They included: “I can’t remember gang activi- “I really hope Allman tries to * Tibetan monk Palden Gyatso, an advo- ty like this as a child,” said promote good ethnic and racial cate of non-violent resistance who was Shawn Mendelson, 37, a relations,” Donohue said. “It jailed and tortured by the Chinese govern- ment; Mendocino County native. “I would be nice to see a positive Tom and Leigh Hunt discuss their hopes that newly-elected think we need to promote more sheriff taking positive actions * Nigeria's Hafsat Abiola, and Iraq's Sheriff Tom Allman will rid Mendocino County of its Jwan M. Aziz, women dedicated to pro- noticeable projects and activities here in Ukiah and all over methamphetamine problem. for the kids to be a part of.” Mendocino County.” See WELLER, Page A-8 Come and Check Out Our Auction to Be Held UKIAH STORAGE 01/25/07 At 9:00 a.m. ® And... TRUCK RENTAL 468-0800 2 – MONDAY, JAN. 8, 2007 DAILY DIGEST Editor: K.C. Meadows, 468-3526 The Ukiah Daily Journal [email protected] The world briefly FUNERAL NOTICES [\ Aladino and Pauline and hospitals; she DOLLY THUROW Giannecchini. visited nursing homes and Pelosi hints at denying Bush funds to send Dolly Thurow, 86, of A visitation will be held helped whomever Redwood Valley, Ca. on Wednesday, Janu- needed her. At the end, more troops to Iraq; others question this tactic passed away January, 3, ary 10, 2007 from 9:00 AM neighbors and friends WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats now running Congress will not give President Bush a 2007 at Ukiah Con- till the Rosary. were with her joyfully as blank check to wage war in Iraq, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Sunday, suggesting they could valescent Hospital with her The Rosary will be said on she had been such a deny him the money should he call for additional troops.