Alisa Nix Ukiah Idol UKIAH SKATE PARK finishes auditions Alternate site study OK’d second approaching ..........Page A-6 ............Page A-3 ................................Page A-1 INSIDE Mendocino County’s Obituaries The Ukiah local newspaper .......Page A-2 Tomorrow: Breezy and warm 7 58551 69301 0 FRIDAY June 8, 2007 50 cents tax included DAILY JOURNAL ukiahdailyjournal.com 48 pages, Volume 149 Number 60 email: [email protected] Ukiah Marine sex suit settled by Marine Corps By K.C. MEADOWS $200,000 and some new rules for anonymous throughout their litiga- “These young women are just a sexual assault and abuse of power The Daily Journal Marine Corps recruiter behavior. tion, were 17-year-old high school few of many who have suffered sex- are serious problems throughout the Two Ukiah women have settled They will continue their civil suit students when, according to court ual assault at the hands of Marine recruiting process, the defendants their lawsuit against the United for damages against two Marine documents, they were raped by recruiters and other Marines,” said continue to turn a blind eye while States Marine Corps and the recruiters accused of rape. recruiters when they tried to join the the women’s Ukiah attorney, Barry Department of the Navy for The women, who have been Marines. Vogel. “Despite clear indications that See MARINES, Page A-11 $60 million Westside blaze secured for Willits bypass Construction expected to begin on scaled-back, two-lane bypass sometime in 2010 By KATIE MINTZ The Daily Journal After decades of waiting, Willits area residents can rest assured -- a Highway 101 bypass around Willits will be built. The California Transportation Commission voted Thursday to provide the approximate $60 million needed to construct a scaled-back, two-lane version of the Willits bypass. “It’s over,” Mendocino Council of Governments Executive Director Phil Dow said. “We got the funding. The construction for the first phase will proceed.” City of Willits Mayor Tami Jorgensen said she’s glad community members can finally move on. “It’s been weighing on our folks’ minds for so long, that’s the relief that I’m feeling right now -- that people can have those questions answered. I’m also awfully glad that Willits will finally own a portion of our main street,” Jorgensen said. According to Dow, the project should go to bid in early 2010 and begin construction the same year. Completion of a two-lane bypass is projected in 2014. See BYPASS, Page A-12 MacLeod Pappidas/The Daily Journal UKIAH CITY COUNCIL Brooktrails Fire Chief Daryl Schoeppner and his K-9 assistant Eddie begin investigative work Thursday morning in the remains of the house’s garage. Study OK’d of new Nighttime fire damages residence site for Skate Park By BEN BROWN flames. The fire was contained to The Daily Journal the garage and attic, leaving Skate community not pleased, says Quick work by five fire much of the house’s living space departments kept a house at the intact. Yates said firefighters had analyzing alternate site waste of money corner of Church Street and the flames under control within By KATIE MINTZ Highland Avenue from being an hour of arriving and contained The Daily Journal consumed by flames Wednesday an hour after that. The Ukiah City Council voted 4-1, Councilman Phil night. Firefighters cut into the ceiling Baldwin dissenting, Wednesday night to allow the study Firefighters responded to the of the house and pulled down of an alternative site for the Ukiah Skate Park despite fire at 11:43 p.m. Wednesday and insulation to keep the fire from implications that it would likely delay the park’s con- found the garage covered in spreading. struction. flames. A car parked inside the garage According to Community Services Director Sage “The garage was well was reduced to a metal skeleton Sangiacomo, a comparative analysis of the current site, involved when we arrived,” said by the flames. The remains were located beside the Depot Park on Leslie Street, and the Ukiah Fire Department Capt. visible among the ashes and piles proposed alternate, located across East Perkins Street Charlie Miller. of charred boards Thursday along the railroad tracks, will take six weeks and last The fire was reported by morning. longer than a study of the original site alone. neighbors who saw the flames In addition to consuming the The request to consider a new location surfaced at the and woke the house’s occupant, garage, the flames burned the council’s last meeting, May 16, when it was set to select who was sleeping at the time of front of a shed on the property as a designer for the skate park. There, Sangiacomo pro- Submitted Photo by Cindy Harris the fire. well as part of a nearby fence. duced an e-mail he’d received just hours before from a Firefighters from five departments battled “Witnesses said it was a very The heat of the fire was so developer who indicated an interest in exploring the fea- the structure fire at the corner of Church quick fire,” UFD Fire Marshal great that it scorched nearby trees sibility of a different site to preserve potential business Street and Highland Avenue. Structural Chuck Yates said. and melted a plastic garbage can damage is estimated at $150,000. “You could see it from across that had been sitting at the curb. the city,” Miller said. Close to 30 firefighters, from See SKATE, Page A-11 ‘You could see it from across the Firefighters ran out hoses and city.’ – UFD CAPT. CHARLIE MILLER quickly knocked down the See FIRE, Page A-11 30 pounds of marijuana found in hotel room Three Long Beach men arrested room. Dyess, Hansen and Graham were all Police said Gordon and Schapmire arrested on suspicion of possession of mar- The Daily Journal noticed 10 pounds of marijuana inside the ijuana for sale, transportation of a con- Three men from Long Beach were hotel room and contacted the Mendocino trolled substance, conspiracy to commit a arrested on suspicion of multiple drug Major Crimes Task Force. A search warrant crime, possession of a firearm during the charges after they were reportedly found was obtained and officers searched the commission of a felony and a probation with 30 pounds of marijuana in a Ukiah room. violation. hotel room Wednesday. Inside they found 30 pounds of marijua- At around 10 a.m. Wednesday, Ukiah na packaged for sale, a semi-automatic The three were booked into the MacLeod Pappidas/The Daily Journal Police officers Chris Gordon and Tyler handgun and $74,000 in cash, police said. Mendocino County Jail. Dyess is being Viewed north from Perkins Street, this plot is Schapmire were called to a room at the Officers detained the suspects, Jonah held on a $55,000 bond. Graham is being being proposed by the Northwestern Pacific Fairfield Inn at 1140 Airport Park Blvd. on Dyess, 26, Nels Hansen, 26, and Philip held on an $80,000 bond. Hansen's bail Railroad Company as a potential new site for the reports of several men failing to leave the Graham, 27, all of Long Beach. schedule was not available at press time. skate park. A-2 – FRIDAY, JUNE 8, 2007 DAILY DIGEST Editor: Jody Martinez, 468-3517 The Ukiah Daily Journal [email protected] FUNERAL NOTICES [\ in 1964 and was the first Saturday June 9th at 10:00 Upper Lake. He loved to [\ ried the late Thomas person baptized in am at LDS visit, and had many Ettenborough. In 2001 she the Dora Street Church, Church 1337 South Dora interests, and more friends began to divide which he helped Street, Ukiah, CA that can be named, but his her time between her chil- build with his own two 95482. greatest joy, his one true dren; spending time hands. Served as Bish- [\ love was his family. He is in Hollister and Ukiah with op of the Ukiah 1st Ward survived by his wife of her children and from 1976 to 1980. 32 years, Marilyn; daugh- her loved ones. Also served on the High ter Annie and her She was much loved and Council for many husband Bryan Petrie; will be dearly years after. daughter Sandy and missed. She leaves her son Les had a strong interest her husband Travis Joseph McMa- in cars, and started O’Ferrall; son Chris and hon & wife Joanna, of working in the auto indus- his fiancee, Cassie; daugh- Hollister, daughter try when just a teen- ter Allison, and his Mary Jane McMahon and ager. He worked first for five beloved grandchildren: partner Joyce Grei- Fred Orr, then Ange- Zoey, Payton, man of Ukiah. Grandson lo Pardini at Commercial Brody, Camrin and Mark and wife, Libby Body Shop, and Jackson. He also leaves McMahon of Carmel and LESTER LEROY SACCHI then Don Smith at Ukiah behind his sister, Mary great-grandson Passed from our sight Body Shop. He al- Wiebe; nephew Mike Scott McMahon. Cousin Jo May 26th, 2007. He ways had a special interest Wiebe; mother-in-law, MARY JANE Robinson of has rejoined his wife; in classic cars, Millie Emenegger and ETTENBOROUGH Rocklin. Dear friend Gail Delphene, his parents and enjoyed the history friends by the score. All of March 6, 1913-May 15, Logan of San Ma- and many other loved ones. that went with them. us will miss his in- 2007 teo, and numerous nieces & Les is survived by his Most of you know that CHARLES “BUTCH” fectious smile, his hearty Mary Jane Ettenborough nephews. She brothers James Sacchi Les had a special tal- PIVNISKA laugh and the passed away at Ma- also leaves her dear friends of Ukiah, and Jerry Sacchi ent for gardening.