Parker Decision Put
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Harvey qualifies Looking About ON THE MARKET for world with Carole Guide to local real estate championships Hester ............Page A-6 ............Page A-3 ...................................Inside INSIDE Mendocino County’s World briefly The Ukiah local newspaper .......Page A-2 Tomorrow: Clouds, then sunshine; hot 7 58551 69301 0 FRIDAY Aug. 24, 2007 50 cents tax included DAILY JOURNAL ukiahdailyjournal.com 52 pages, Volume 149 Number 137 email: [email protected] Water concerns a major issue for possible new developments BY ROB BURGESS priority for local officials long before The city of Ukiah has been prac- cent. In addition, the California The Daily Journal Tuesday’s Mendocino County Board ticing voluntary water conservation The Sonoma County Water Department of Public Health has Infrastructure, and especially of Supervisors meeting. At the meet- since the beginning of July. In June, Agency has been making water con- placed a moratorium on new water water, concerns loom large over any ing, the Mendocino County Planning the State Water Resources Control servation efforts since April, when it connections in Hopland until further potential growth resulting from the Team asked the board to make a Board announced that entities that announced that the water level in notice because of the approximately possible rezoning of the Lover’s decision about what plans were to be take water out of the Russian River, Lake Mendocino could drop as low 24.1 million gallons of water the Lane and former Masonite sites. selected for an environmental impact which flows out of Lake Mendocino, as 8,000 acre-feet by the end of sum- The shortage of water was a top study. must reduce water usage by 15 per- mer. See DEVELOP, Page A-12 FROM MARIJUANA GARDENS IN THE CITY TO YARDS FULL OF JUNK ... MARIJUANA CASE RETRIAL Parker decision put off Lawyers hoping to avoid trial By BEN BROWN The Daily Journal The decision of whether or not to pursue a second trial against Mark and Memo Parker has been delayed for two more weeks while the attorneys in the case pursue a resolution that would avoid another trial, defense attorney E. D. Lerman said Thursday. The Parker brothers’ marijuana cultivation trial ended in a mistrial Aug. 7 after the jury was unable to come to a verdict on any but one charge. The jury found Mark Parker not guilty of maintaining a residence for processing a con- trolled substance and voted 11-1 in favor of acquitting him on all other charges. The jury voted 10-2 in favor of convicting Memo Parker on all charges. MacLeod Pappidas/The Daily Journal Memo Parker was charged with possession City Enforcement Officer Chris White points out a commercial property that was cited a year ago for having junk of marijuana for sale, cultivation of marijuana and debris on the property. He said he is satisfied with the progress the owner has been making on cleaning the for sale, management of a location for the pro- lot. duction of a controlled substance and posses- sion of concentrated cannabis. Mark Parker was charged with possession of marijuana for sale, cultivation of marijuana Code compliance coordinator on the job for sale and management of a location for the production of a controlled substance. By ZACK SAMPSEL ‘You deal with such a wide variety of things “It’s not just all about me. I actually Lerman, making a special appearance for The Daily Journal work closely with the Ukiah Police both defendants, said the defense and prosecu- After an ankle injury cut short his 14- that nothing’s really that weird anymore.’ Department on certain cases,” he said. tion have been discussing options that would year career in law enforcement, Willits White said that although most of the allow the case to be resolved without a second native Chris White, 39, was forced to trade citations he gives out end up with peaceful trial. She said she could not disclose specifics, in the loud sirens, handcuffs and guns of his CHRIS WHITE results, he’s ready for the possibility of but during the hearing she said she planned to police work for a quiet hybrid, pen and angry citizens and the need for help from file a motion to dismiss charges against Mark paper. White works as the city of Ukiah’s “To say the least, it’s a unique job. I’m the UPD. Parker. code compliance coordinator, and he could- pretty fortunate,” he said. “You deal with such a wide variety of The case was previously delayed because n’t be happier. White often begins his days in his office things that nothing’s really that weird any- District Attorney Meredith Lintott said she was “It’s an interesting job because you’re to prepare for a daily gauntlet of answering more,” White said. “If you let people vent still waiting to meet with Lerman and Attorney never doing the same thing,” White said. messages, driving around the city limits their anger and you remain calm, you’ll David Nick, who represented Memo Parker With a wide array of responsibilities and filing citations. find that they want to comply. And as self- during the trial. In court Thursday, Deputy covering compliance with city ordinances, He appears to take all his duties in stride, defense goes, I’m a pretty big guy.” District Attorney James Nerli said Lintott had and running the gamut from sign mainte- and said that no matter what they are he White often finds his hands full in the said the choice of whether or not to prosecute nance, customer service, debris cleanup and finds the most important part of his job is fall by trying to monitor and follow up on was up to him. “I’d like to resolve the case, as outdoor marijuana grows, White seems to working with the community in a one-on- I stated earlier,” Nerli said. find his hands full each day. one environment. See CODE, Page A-10 Following the jury’s verdict on Aug. 7, Nerli said he was prepared to retry the case. The case has been scheduled for another hearing at 1:30 p.m. Sept. 5. Planners OK Anton grandstand permit Memories of Masonite By ZACK SAMPSEL ject, explained the plans in The Daily Journal The Daily Journal detail. As demolition progresses at the former Masonite plant, Play ball! “Dealing with the public which once employed generations of local residents, we In a vote of 4-0, with facilities, such as one like invite those who worked there – or whose family members Commissioner Anne Anton Stadium, it was really were employed at the mill – those who remember waking Molgaard absent, the city of important for us to take the to the smell of sawdust in the air (or for a time linseed oil) Ukiah Planning Commission lead that was in place in and anyone else with memories of Masonite and its role in Wednesday night approved 1952,” Sangiacomo said. our community to send us their Masonite memories for the site development permit “What we have before you is publication in The Daily Journal. for replacing the dilapidated actually a culmination of the Maybe it’s a memory of a special co-worker, a not-to- grandstands at Anton community input throughout be-forgotten Christmas party or the day the plant’s final Stadium. the process. Sticking with that closure was announced. Maybe it’s the thoughts that occur Associate Planner David community spirit, we haven’t to you while you watch the buildings being reduced to Lohse, who was attending his submitted image let it be dictated by staff, but rubble. Photos are also welcome. final Planning Commission An artist’s rendering shows the proposed look of the rather the community.” If you are a former employee, please also let us know meeting, presented the plan, new grandstands at Anton Stadium. Although color is Anton Stadium was a pro- what you’re doing now. which was originally prepared used in the photo, the final color scheme has yet to ject led by an overwhelming Submissions may be mailed to: Jody Martinez, Ukiah by Charley Stump, director of be determined. effort between Al Anton and Daily Journal, P.O. Box 749, Ukiah, CA 95482; faxed to planning and community highly similar to the existing and materials.” the Ukiah community in 1952 468-3544; e-mailed to [email protected] (please type development. structure. The basic issue you During public comment, with support from service ‘Masonite’ in the subject line) or dropped off at our office “It’s a fairly straightfor- have before you is the issue of Sage Sangiacomo, who has at 590 S. School St. ward plan,” Lohse said. “It’s architecture and design, color worked firsthand on the pro- See ANTON, Page A-10 A-2 – FRIDAY, AUG. 24, 2007 DAILY DIGEST Editor: Jody Martinez, 468-3517 The Ukiah Daily Journal [email protected] FUNERAL NOTICES Man jailed after report of [\ raised in Ukiah and Red- mean game of Sherry Flicker, niece threats made while armed wood Valley, attended pool, winning quite often, Anita, sister Tanya Bit- Relative says he was When deputies arrived, Ukiah High School and often enough that ner. The entire Flicker Jeffers was in the parking lot was to start her junior she earned the nickname family, The Rodgers held against his will standing at the rear of a pick- year. “The Tank”. A large family, The Feliz family, by family member up truck with his hand in the A giggle and contagious name for a 5 foot 100lb. The Garner family. By BEN BROWN bed of the truck.