County Workers Picket 200 Harwood ‘County Administrators Keep Making Comments As If Union Staff Are Instigating This
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Eagles rebound RELIGION from tough start Saturday Faith community news ...................................Page 3 ................Page 6 Feb. 2, 2008 INSIDE Mendocino County’s World briefly The Ukiah local newspaper ..........Page 2 Sunday: Chilly with rain; H 49º L 31º 7 58551 69301 0 Monday: Partly sunny H 55º L 33º 50 cents tax included DAILY JOURNAL ukiahdailyjournal.com 14 pages, Volume 149 Number 299 email: [email protected] HARD TIMES IN THE LUMBER BUSINESS County workers picket 200 Harwood ‘County administrators keep making comments as if union staff are instigating this. The county mill workers workers are plenty angry on their own.’ – LYNDA MCCLURE, of SEIU on health insurance premium increases off work until market revives By BEN BROWN The Daily Journal In another sign of the darkening economic times, Harwood Products closed the doors to its sawmills temporarily at the beginning of the year. Art Harwood, president and CEO of the 50- year-old lumber company, said a change in market conditions, fueled in part by the sub- prime mortgage crisis, has slowed the lumber industry and forced Harwood Products’ tempo- rary closure. “It was probably a big part, actually,” he said. The price of lumber has dropped substantial- ly in recent months, Harwood said some of the problem was likely caused by a lumber market that was unsustainable. “We’ve got the worst lumber markets any- one can remember,” he said. Harwood Products was founded in 1950 and employs 270 people. Harwood said the compa- ny has been forced to temporarily lay off 200 of its employees until it can reopen the mill. According to its Web site, Harwood pro- duces 130 million board feet of lumber per year and has annual sales of more than $65 million. Harwood Products is a medium sized sawmill that works in a niche market, custom cutting redwood and Douglas fir lumber. In 1991, Harwood Products began a program of aggressive expansion, spending $20 million to add tools to the existing sawmill and upgrade infrastructure. MacLeod Pappidas/The Daily Journal Harwood said he hoped to be able to bring Dina Ortiz, right, and Chenoa Hanlon stand outside the Mendocino County Courthouse during their lunch hour Friday back those employees once the market to protest an increase in health insurance costs for county employees. improves, but admits he does not know when that might be. Harwood said he had hoped to be open again by the end of January, but now it may have to Employees angry over What the increase means wait until March. Editor’s note: County workers who are covered by health “We have to wait for market conditions to insurance are enrolled in one of two plans, Plan I or Plan II. improve,” he said. health insurance costs Following are the increases for both plans, with Plan I Ben Brown can be reached at [email protected]. increases listed first in each category. By ROB BURGESS are instigating this,” she said, grip- The Daily Journal ping the wooden handle of her plac- • For a single person Cars honked and signs were ard. “The county workers are plenty Employee’s portion of the premium will either bandied about as between 20 and 25 angry on their own.” increase by $24.24 per pay period for a total monthly Congress weighs county workers stood in front of the The total plan cost increased 17.5 increase of $52.52, or $24.78 per pay period for a total Mendocino County Courthouse dur- percent and went into effect Jan. 1. monthly increase of $53.69. ing their lunch breaks at around Many workers were put off by the college text costs noon Friday to protest the increase fact the increases were not graduated • For an employee and his or her spouse By MATT KRUPNICK in their monthly health insurance over a two-year period. Employee’s portion of the premium will either increase by $49.75 for a total monthly increase of Contra Costa Times premiums. While the 17.5 percent figure The protest fell on the same day applies to the total amount, in many $107.79, or $45.56 for a total monthly increase of The growing chorus of complaints about $98.72. college textbook prices appears ready to gain as the issuance of the first paycheck cases employees were burdened some major ground. distributed to employees with the with a higher percentage of the pre- new premium rates applied. mium, causing the average percent • For an employee and his or her children The House of Representatives is expected to Employee’s portion of the premium will either vote Thursday on a hard-fought higher-educa- Lynda McClure, worksite orga- increase for employees to be 43.95 nizer for Service Employees percent. increase by $39.57 for a total monthly increase of tion package that would help faculty members $85.74, or $39.79 for a total monthly increase of $75.38. choose cheaper textbooks for their students. International Union Local 1021, Some employees were even sub- That legislation, which has been stalled for held a placard reading “BOS: DO jected to a 76.65 percent increase in YOUR KIDS QUALIFY FOR their share of the monthly premium • For an employee, spouse and children several years, would follow similar laws that Employee’s portion of the premium will either have passed in California and other states. MEDICAL?” McClure said that rate. claims she has heard higher-ups in In addition to petitions and pizza, increase by $57 for a total monthly increase of $123.50, Confronted with growing student discontent or $46.95 for a total monthly increase of $101.73. over rising book prices, lawmakers and college county government make that the union leaders also distributed blue union is stirring up dissent where fliers proclaiming “a legal 15- administrators have struggled to balance free- Source: Mendocino County and Service Employees market economics with price limits. Textbooks there is none are false. minute break for a fair healthcare “County administrators keep International Union See TEXTBOOKS, Page 13 making comments as if union staff See COUNTY, Page 14 Minivan, Lexus crash on Hwy. 101 Andhra Ramirez Fimbres, 23, of Ukiah. District firefighters. Three injured Fimbres was unable to avoid All three were taken to Ukiah Valley By BEN BROWN Culbertson’s minivan and the two vehi- Medical Center for treatment. cles collided. Culbertson lost control of The California Department of The Daily Journal Three people suffered minor to moder- the van, which spun out in the roadway Transportation briefly blocked one lane ate injuries in a two-vehicle traffic colli- and came to rest in the median pointing of southbound Highway 101 between the sion on Highway 101 Friday morning. east. Perkins Street overcrossing and the Barbara Culbertson, of Ukiah, was Fimbres’ vehicle came to rest on the Gobbi Street overcrossing while the acci- entering southbound Highway 101 off of east side of the roadway pointed south. dent was investigated. Perkins Street at around 9:40 a.m. Friday Fimbres’ car suffered front end damage Both lanes were open again by 10:54 in a gray minivan. and Fimbres sustained minor to moderate a.m. Friday. California Highway Patrol Officer injuries, Muñoz said. In addition to CalTrans, UVFD and the Terry Muñoz said Culbertson crossed the Culbertson’s van suffered major dam- CHP, Ukiah Ambulance Service respond- MacLeod Pappidas/The Daily Journal ed to this call. Sheriff’s Deputy Orel Massey directs traffic past res- slow lane of traffic to avoid vehicles in age to its drivers side and Culbertson and cue workers as they assist one of three people that lane and merged into the fast lane, an unknown passenger had to be extricat- Ben Brown can be reached at injured Friday in a two-vehicle crash on Highway 101. occupied by a white Lexus driven by ed from the van by Ukiah Valley Fire [email protected]. 2 – SATURDAY, FEB. 2, 2008 DAILY DIGEST Editor: Jody Martinez, 468-3517 The Ukiah Daily Journal [email protected] FUNERAL NOTICES DEATH NOTICES [\ daughters Stephanie and where his favorite St, Redding Califor- WALTER E. BECKWITH Baylie, best friend sports were hunting and nia. In lieu of flowers • Christopher Alan Rogers, of Willits, died Wednesday, and brother-in-law Randall trout fishing. He en- memorial donations can Jan. 30, 2008 at the age of 52. Funeral services will be Saturday Walter Edward Beckwith at 2 p.m. at Anker-Lucier Mortuary in Willits. III, also known as Edwards, his joyed his annual hunting be made to: “Walter Butch, moved on to the mother Stella Beckwith, trips with his cousins Beckwith Memorial Fund, Death notices are free for Mendocino County residents. Death next life January 24, stepfather Henry in the summers and numer- Rhonda Beckwith Account notices are limited to name of deceased, hometown, age, date 2008 at his home in Beckwith and sisters Susan ous fishing trips #902178” (Golden of death, date, time, and place of services and the funeral Redding, California sur- and Kathy Rogi- with his son Steve and 1 Credit Union, 1040 East home handling the arrangements. For information on how to rounded by his loving fami- na. grandson Storm. Cypress #A, Redd- place a free death notice please call our editorial department ly. Walt is survived Walt was born in Ukiah, Memorial services will be ing, CA 96002) as it was at 468-3500. by his wife Rhonda of 34 California, January 7, held Monday, Feb- Walt’s wish to be years, son Steven, 1954. He was an Eagle ruary 4, 12:00 noon at laid to rest at a family Scout which led to his McDonald’s Funeral retreat on the river.