Eagles RELIGION softball action Saturday Faith community news .............Page 6 Feb. 25, 2006 ...................................Page 3 INSIDE Mendocino County’s World briefly The Ukiah local newspaper ..........Page 2 Sunday: Rain arriving Monday: Rain likely 7 58551 69301 0 50 cents tax included DAILY JOURNAL ukiahdailyjournal.com 16 pages, Volume 147 Number 322 email: [email protected] Pot op forfeit BMX track suffers losses brings $200K Damaged in flood, then loses biggest supporter to county fund By BEN BROWN By SETH FREEDLAND The Daily Journal The Daily Journal Agents with the IRS-Criminal Investigation The New Year’s flooding so division presented the Mendocino County devastated Ukiah’s BMX track, Sheriff’s Office with a check for almost $200,000 once a popular hot-spot to hun- Friday. The check represented the sheriff’s office’s dreds of local youth, that its share of forfeiture payments from a successful most staunch supporters worried two-year drug investigation. it might not survive the damage. “I am thrilled to present these funds to Would there be enough commu- Mendocino County,” said Special Agent Roger nity support to rebuild the site or Wirth of the IRS-CI who presented the check for should the small band of youth- $198,421.43. “There is a definite feeling of justice biking advocates allow it to fade in being able to return a criminal’s ill-gotten gains away? to their community.” Such concerns took a backseat “It’s exciting,” said acting sheriff Kevin Broin. to an all-too-real loss this week, “It’s not every day that we get a check for when Ukiah’s most passionate $200,000.” supporter of the BMX track died Broin said the money would allow the Sheriff’s in his apartment of still-unknown Office to modernize and purchase much needed causes. equipment without having to take money from the Bud Riley, volunteer at the county General Fund. Broin said this will be of track for at least the past 15 great benefit to Mendocino County residents. years, suffered from Type 1 dia- Officers from IRS-Criminal Investigations, the betes and at times was unable to U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, the Douglas purchase medication he found County, Oregon Interagency Narcotics Team and too expensive, friends said. the MCSO participated in the investigation of Riley, believed to be in his Anthony Louis Sasso, 37, and his wife Belle mid-60s, was the “backbone” of Sasso, 38, both of Willits. Together they ran a the BMX track, said Jessica large marijuana manufacturing conspiracy. Framke, a parent of a BMXer “I appreciate the cooperative effort with the IRS and frequent volunteer collabora- and other agencies in sharing resources to combat tor. “He would fix everything,” See FUNDS, Page 15 Framke said. “We all fell back on him. Now there’s not anyone to fall back on.” Gesturing toward four coolers full of tro- City gets look at phies in an organized, on-site storage shed, Framke said with a small laugh: “He was cleaning Rite-Aid plans up until the day he died.” By SETH FREEDLAND Framke now finds herself The Daily Journal organizing two gatherings close In a rare move, a local architectural firm look- to her heart: a memorial and pot- ing to revamp a Ukiah project provided the city luck for Riley, slated for noon at Planning Commission with preliminary designs March 4 at -- where else? -- the before submitting a formal proposal. BMX track. The next week, at Ruff and Associates’ Jason T. Brenner said he 6:30 p.m. on March 9, Framke supplied the commission with plans for a remod- will sponsor a meeting in the eled Rite-Aid, located on the corner of Gobbi and Ukiah Civic Center to gauge the State streets, because corporate headquarters public’s desire for saving the wants to “approach this renovation right.” The hir- track itself. ing of a Ukiah-based firm underlies Rite-Aid’s About 40 or 50 residents said desire to supply the building with Ukiah neighbor- they would attend, Framke said, Amy Wellnitz hood flavor, Brenner said. but admitted she was unsure how The Daily Journal Rite-Aid, which has been at its location for many will end up doing so. Above, Jessica about five decades, is considering subdividing the Many locals said they would parking lot -- which many have long believed to be come after learning of potential Framke inspects the over-sized. A possible apartment housing develop- city permission to allot more ment could be built on Gobbi and Oak streets, but land for a freestyle track, first portion of the Rusty it would not be part of this project. Framke said. The Planning Commission took no vote -- and Cross-over interest between Bowl BMX track which there is no time line for such a decision, officials the trick-oriented freestyle and said -- but provided suggestions. The nearby BMX racing may spell long-term was severely damaged in Ukiah Theater carries with it a distinct style, said success for the site, Framke commissioner Judy Pruden who said she approved added. the New Year’s flood, of the move toward similar 1930s-era structures Problems faced by the BMX for the block. facility are both financial -- the left. About three inches Aside from the building’s appearance, infra- group’s accounts are essentially structure concerns also exist. Brenner said he empty -- and physical. The of sediment is currently cov- planned to add a new bike lane, traffic light and ering the street lines, as well as new landscaping and other See BMX, Page 15 track. site improvements for the corner. See PLANS, Page 15 Ballot props circulating on real estate, workers comp issues The Daily Journal for tracking purposes by the protection to the manufacturers, dis- Two other measures focus on gov- aging private property to promote If you’re interested in workers’ California Secretary of State, aims to tributors and sellers of any product ernmental condemnation of or dam- other private property uses and compensation, real estate sales or a create a free Internet listing service that could cause injury, so long as the age to private property for private would require governments to occu- handful of other issues, take note. for the public to receive nonconfi- warning labels on the products are in uses. py condemned property or lease it Seven proposed initiatives have dential information on real estate for compliance. Should voters approve Measure No. 1202 would prevent for public use. started the quest for signatures to rent or for sale. Backers would allow this initiative, anyone injured would both local and state governments It would limit the government’s qualify to be on the November ballot. real estate license holders to sub- need proof of intentionally withheld from condemning or damaging pri- ability to implement certain regula- After an 0-for-8 last November on scribe to the list in order to access or misrepresented warning informa- vate property for economic develop- tions not strictly related to the pro- statewide referenda, experts expect confidential information. tion. Financial repercussions might ment, tax revenue or other private tection of public health or safety. average voters to pay more attention The state’s legislative analyst sug- come in the form of revenue reduc- uses and would require the govern- Perhaps most notably, it would also before signing the petitions to gests a minor fiscal impact, as it tions to state and local governments. ment to occupy condemned property void any unpublished eminent approve the initiatives. would only see an impact on real Both statute initiatives require at or lease it to regulated entities. domain decisions by courts. The proposed initiatives entering estate license fees and state enforce- least 373,816 signatures of registered A similar measure, No. 1204, Both measures could impact gov- circulation include: ment costs. voters, or 5 percent of the total votes would prevent state and local gov- Measure No. 1203, so assigned Measure No. 1205 would grant cast for governor in 2002. ernments from condemning or dam- See BALLOT, Page 15 Monday - Friday Breakfast Special 3 to choose from only $4.25 including coffee From 7 to 11:30 a.m. 6175 N. State St. •Calpella•485-8630 2 – SATURDAY, FEB. 25, 2006 DAILY DIGEST Editor: K.C. Meadows, 468-3526 The Ukiah Daily Journal [email protected] FUNERAL NOTICES The world briefly [\ was a member of the to Ukiah Hospice and/or the prior to his retirement. ANNEMARIE WHITMAN Emblem Club. She will be American Cancer Society He is survived by his wife remembered as a caring are preferred. Margaret McGraw, his six U.S. ports. The former Graveside services for U.S. urges Annemarie Whitman of mother and wife. Her Rest In Peace daughter and step-children, head of the Sept. 11 commis- proudest accomplishment The Eversole Mortuary is grandchildern and great- Iraqis to unite sion said the deal “never Ukiah will be held on Monday, February 27, 2006 was becoming a U.S. Citizen in charge of arrangements. grandchildren. BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) — should have happened.” at 2 pm at Ukiah Cemetery. in 1976. Annemarie is sur- Arrangements are being Appeals from religious lead- Opponents, including the She passed away on vived by her husband [\ handled by the Neptune ers and an unusual daytime agency that runs New York Tuesday, February, 21, Richard Whitman of Ukiah, CHARLES (CHUCK) MCGRAW Society of Northern curfew Friday curbed violence and New Jersey ports, took 2006 in Sebastopol. son Dieter Whitman of Charles (Chuck) McGraw California. that claimed more than 140 their case to court, while the Born January 12, 1929 in Ukiah, sister Charlotte passed away peacefully on There will be no services lives across Iraq after the company, Dubai Ports World, Bremen, Germany, she has Gille of Alfeld, Germany, 2/19/06 at the Valley West as previously requested by bombing of a Shiite shrine.