UHS girls Miss California ON THE MARKET varsity to perform at Guide to local real estate basketball local pageant ..........Page A-6 ............Page A-3 ...................................Inside INSIDE Mendocino County’s World briefly The Ukiah local newspaper .......Page A-2 Tomorrow: Sunshine & clouds; H 58º L 35º 7 58551 69301 0 FRIDAY Jan. 11, 2008 50 cents tax included DAILY JOURNAL ukiahdailyjournal.com 40 pages, Volume 149 Number 277 email: [email protected] County workers angry over insurance Health insurance premium increase in their monthly health insurance pre- and lanyards supporting Service Employees al career much longer than she had first miums made their frustrations known during International Union Local 102’s cause clogged thought. increase complaints aired the public comment portion of Tuesday’s the hallway and applauded as each of the six “I’ve been trying to retire and with these By ROB BURGESS Mendocino County Board of Supervisors speakers left the podium. increases I can’t retire,” she said. “I’m almost The Daily Journal meeting. County employee Sally Young said the rate 70. I’ve been with the county for 21 years, and County workers upset about the sizable Spectators sporting purple T-shirts, buttons hikes would force her to extend her profession- See INSURANCE, Page A-10 MURDER CASE UPDATE Zack’s Restaurant to be razed Psychiatrist finds boy competent to stand trial By BEN BROWN The Daily Journal Marcos Escareno, the Manchester boy charged with murder, has been found com- petent to stand trial by a second psychiatrist. He was 14 years old at the time of the shoot- ing but is being tried as an adult. In a report presented to the court Thursday, psychiatrist Dr. Albert Castl found that Escareno is competent to stand trial, echoing a report from Forensic Psychologist Dr. Kevin Kelly. Psychiatrist Dr. Art Martinez evaluated Escareno in 2007 and found him to have expressive receptive disorder and therefore not competent to stand trial. Escareno’s lawyer, Katharine Elliott, said she felt the court should hear arguments on Escareno’s competency because she believes he is unable to understand complex issues and is having difficulty participating in his own defense. “I’ve found myself with a growing con- cern about his ability to communicate,” she said. Elliott said she has been contacted by several community members and local psy- chiatrists and, based on those contacts, she now believes that Escareno may have fetal MacLeod Pappidas/The Daily Journal alcohol syndrome, a physical and mental Zack Leventis sits in the empty restaurant where he ran his business for 20 years. The structure is slated for demoli- disorder caused when a mother drinks dur- tion later this month. ing pregnancy. Elliott said she needs to get a more detailed medical history for Escareno and have him evaluated by a neuro-psychiatrist. Proprietor plans to continue Deputy District Attorney Matthew Finnegan said he still believes Escareno is competent to stand trial and that Elliott has longtime catering business not presented substantial evidence to the contrary. By ZACK SAMPSEL ‘I see it as out with the old and in with the “The latest report actually strengthens The Daily Journal our argument,” he said. When Zack’s Restaurant, a staple for new.’ Mendocino County Superior Court family food in Ukiah for 20 years, is Judge Ronald Brown said he wanted some demolished next week, owner Zack time to review all the evidence before he Leventis won’t be looking at it as a trag- ZACK LEVENTIS made the decision to hold a competency ic ending. hearing. Brown said he would have an “I see it as out with the old and in with “It doesn’t matter how many restau- answer by Thursday. the new,” he said with a smile Thursday. rants you open unless you have rapport Escareno is on trial for murder in the “I raised my family here. This restaurant with the customers. It all becomes a part death of Enoch Cruz, 22, of Manchester. sent my kids to college. We did good of you when you see the same people on Cruz was found shot to death in his car on here.” a daily basis,” Leventis explained. “You Feb. 6. Escareno was arrested shortly there- Leventis, 60, a Ukiah resident since end up developing a relationship with after. 1960, has owned and operated restau- these people, and you become friends. I Ben Brown can be reached at udjbb@pacif- rants and pizzerias throughout Ukiah for think that’s what I’ll miss most.” ic.net. most of his life, but it was Zack’s In 20 years of business, Zack’s menu Restaurant, the former home of R.J. rarely changed, and neither did the cus- Plum’s and Sambo’s Restaurant, on tomer base. Leventis, a native of North State Street where Leventis spent Alexandria, Egypt, said the loyalty of his Fund drive for one third of his life bringing warm meals customers was something he would to the table and smiles to people’s faces. always appreciate as the same faces and An old tool of the trade sits in a booth in The doors officially closed at Zack’s on families came in the doors daily. He said what was once Zack’s Restaurant: a light the Food Bank Dec. 23, but for Leventis the memories that would let waitresses know whose will always remain. See ZACK’S, Page A-2 order was ready for serving. tops $88,000 The Daily Journal The Ukiah Daily Journal Food Bank Fund Drive has surpassed its 2007 goal of $85,000, and now stands at $88,392.92. Absentee ballot applications accepted until Jan. 29 The most recent donations include: $250, Hawkes Construction; $200, Kathleen Hop- The Daily Journal vote with an absentee ballot. ferent from residence, and must be signed by the per; $200, Anonymous; $100, Lawrence & Absentee, or vote-by-mail, ballots for the It is not necessary for voters to receive a sam- voter. Debbie Mitchell; $100, Keiko Yamada; Feb. 5 presidential primary election are now ple ballot before requesting a vote-by-mail bal- Until this year, the Feb. 5 presidential prima- $50, Lisa Hillegas; $50, Anonymous; $50, available in the County Clerk’s office, accord- lot. A voter may apply in person at the County ry election was also known as “Super Tuesday,” Al Bellon & Lory Lance; $30, Jack & ing to Susan M. Ranochak, Mendocino County Clerk’s office and receive their ballot. when 19 states held their primaries. This year, Vivian Power; $30, Sabina T. Maguire; $25, assessor/county clerk/recorder. Voters may also submit a written request to because several states, including California, Jean or Jessie Sellman; $25, Anonymous; The last day applications may be received for the County Clerk, Room 1020, 501 Low Gap moved their primaries ahead of one another, $10, Charity Halice; totaling $1,120. absentee ballots is 5 p.m. Jan. 29. If voters will Road, Ukiah, CA 95482. Requests must contain Feb. 5, 2008, has been dubbed “Super Duper The Fund Drive total now stands at be unable to go to their polling places and vote the voter’s residence address, mailing address Tuesday,” when 20 states are scheduled to open $88,392.92. We thank everyone who donat- on Feb. 5 for any reason, they may apply for and where the absentee ballot is to be mailed, if dif- their polls. ed to help achieve this year’s goal. A-2 – FRIDAY, JAN. 11, 2008 DAILY DIGEST Editor: Jody Martinez, 468-3517 The Ukiah Daily Journal [email protected] People reported as having been arrest- POLICE REPORTS ed may contact the Daily Journal once FUNERAL NOTICES their case has been concluded so the The following were results can be reported. Those who feel [\ was a jitterbugger in the & Jean Whitney Perkins. at 508 W. Perkins Ukiah. compiled from reports the information is in error should con- tact the appropriate agency. In the case 30’s, a career girl in She leaves behind, Please bring your prepared by the Ukiah of those arrested on suspicion of dri- the 40’s, a middle class her 2 sons, Bay Leaf Raitt memories, stories and pic- Police Department. To ving under the influence of an intoxi- suburban housewife & Arlen Perkins tures to share with anonymously report cant: all DUI cases reported by law in the 50’s and 60’s, and Raitt, 9 siblings, Lee Annie's friends and family. crime information, call enforcement agencies are reported by the newspaper.The Daily Journal makes after that a self-suffi- Perkins, Carol Georgo- Also, please bring 463-6205. no exceptions. cient woman. But though poulos, Steve Perkins, Bob a dish to share in the ARREST -- Brennon she traveled far Perkins, Ralph potluck meal. In lieu of William Chesnutt, 24, of from her childhood, she Perkins, Elizabeth flowers, the family is asking Redwood Valley, was arrested CORRECTIONS never lost the opti- Perkins, Eleanor Podbel- that contributions on suspicion of assault with a The Ukiah Daily Journal reserves mism and kindness that ski, Julie Perkins & Mike be made to The Center for deadly weapon in the 700 this space to correct errors or make came from being Perkins; and the Positive Living at block of South State Street at clarifications to news articles. Significant errors in obituary notices raised by sweet, honest boys' father, her ex-hus- 741 S. Oak St., Ukiah, CA 10:41 p.m. Wednesday. or birth announcements will result in people. That same love band, David John 95453 reprinting the entire article. Errors was her greatest gift to her Raitt (her co-founding [\ may be reported to the editor, 468- family.