Community Fire Expo ON THE MARKET sports digest in Ukiah Guide to local real estate ..........Page A-7 ............Page A-3 .......................................Inside INSIDE Mendocino County’s World briefly The Ukiah local newspaper .......Page A-2 Tomorrow: Mostly sunny; H 77º L 39º 7 58551 69301 0 FRIDAY Oct. 5, 2007 50 cents tax included DAILY JOURNAL ukiahdailyjournal.com 50 pages, Volume 149 Number 179 email: [email protected] Hopland-area deaths under investigation Body found in ditch occurred in the Hopland area, about one mile north of Highway Patrol, Avendano- Simas said CHP officers Posted online one a hit-and-run and the other Hopland. Castro was hit by a north- collected some car parts at at 10:42 a.m. By BEN BROWN a possible suicide. Police responded to the bound vehicle. scene that should help them Thursday. The Daily Journal At around 2:10 p.m. area and found the body of “It appears he had been hit identify the make and model Mendocino County law Wednesday, a bicyclist reported Augusto Avendano-Castro, by an unknown vehicle at an of the vehicle involved. enforcement officers are inves- seeing a dead body in a ditch on 27, of Mexico. According to unknown time,” said CHP tigating two deaths that have the east side of Highway 101 reports from the California Officer Robert Simas. See DEATHS, Page A-12 ukiahdailyjournal.com HOMECOMING SPIRIT COMPETITIONS CONTINUE La Niña forecast By ZACK SAMPSEL The Daily Journal A cold low pressure system from the Gulf of Alaska has brought unseasonably cool temper- atures to Mendocino County this week, with some highs dipping 20 degrees below the year- ly average, according to the National Weather Service in Eureka. But the cold temperatures may not last through the winter, with La Niña creating the possibility of a warmer, wetter winter. This cold, low pressure system is forcing temperatures to dip, and with the average highs already decreasing as we approach winter, the possibility for frost comes into effect tonight. “The possibility for frost Friday night is cer- tainly much more realistic as the winds die down and the clouds dissipate,” meteorologist Mark Burger at the National Weather Service in Eureka said Thursday night. “Frost is much more of a possibility going into Friday night.” It will be time to cover outdoor flowers and gardens with a potential for frost over the weekend and more rain on the horizon for next week. “It’s actually looking like a nice weekend with us getting back into the 70s, but with cool evenings dipping into the lower 30s,” Burger said. “Certainly after this weekend we have another slight chance for rain to come into play on Columbus Day and Tuesday with the chance for the most precipitation farther north MacLeod Pappidas/The Daily Journal With cheers from their classmates egging them on, sophomores Jaimee Robbenolt and Anthony Butler pass a in the county. A look a week or two beyond water balloon from neck to neck during a lunchtime Homecoming rally at Ukiah High School. Participants were not that shows the tendency is for an above normal allowed to use their hands in the event. Below left, Carrie Reid, center, lends her voice to the cacophonous roar of possibility of rain and cooler-than-normal tem- adamantly enthusiastic seniors competing for the spirit bell. peratures.” Although previous outlooks for the winter forecast had called for normal temperatures and precipitation, Burger explained that new forecast projections are calling for above normal temperatures and increased precipi- tation with help from a lesser-known weath- er pattern, La Niña. La Niña, which often follows an El Niño year, is characterized by unusually cold ocean temperatures in the Equatorial Pacific, compared to El Niño, which is characterized by unusually warm ocean temperatures in the Equatorial Pacific. “We have a La Niña episode setting up,” Burger said Thursday. “It’s kind of the lesser known cousin of El Niño. We oftentimes are considered on the borderline of being in the Pacific Northwest, where the effects of the weather from La Niña then tends to be wetter for the winter months than what we would characteristically see. These are oftentimes associated with warmer than average tempera- tures. It looks more pronounced than it did a couple weeks ago.” Zack Sampsel can be reached at [email protected]. Photo by ROP student Miriam Ramirez Tony Crudo gives Cody Ashursta a once over after competing in the “shave the balloon” event Thursday. Willits woman Members of each Ukiah High class had to complete the task without hurt in head-on popping the balloon, and be the first to read an equation hidden by the The Daily Journal Fun with balloons The driver of a Mitsubishi Gallant suf- foam. fered moderate injuries Thursday afternoon in a head-on collision on Sherwood Road. According to reports from the California & rousing cheers This afternoon’s parade will begin at Highway Patrol, Anna Chi Chung, 59, of Willits, was eastbound on Sherwood Road By ROB BURGESS events Ukiah High School students partici- the high school at 3 p.m. before west of Highway 101 in a Dodge Caravan at The Daily Journal pated in Thursday as they once again 25 mph when Mary Renee Epperson, 50, of Listing that you successfully pulled a packed the campus tri for this year’s final turning east on Low Gap Road, veering Willits, who was westbound in a Mitsubishi razor across a shaving cream-covered bal- noontime Homecoming rally. Gallant, crossed the yellow line traveling at loon without popping it the fastest on your At each of this week’s events judges south on State Street, making its way an unknown speed and collided with college applications might not be the thing once again scored each class on several fac- Chung’s vehicle head-on. that gets you into the school of your choice. tors, ending with this morning’s skit pre- west on Mill Street before heading up Epperson’s car continued to the north side If it’s Homecoming Week though, it sentations. of the road after the collision and struck a might just make everyone in your graduat- The election of Homecoming royalty Dora Street back toward the school. tree before coming to a stop. ing class lose their minds all at once. She suffered moderate injuries in the acci- The balloon shave was just one of the See UHS, Page A-12 dent and was taken to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital for treatment. Chung was not injured in the accident. Both drivers were wearing seat belts. A-2 – FRIDAY, OCT. 5, 2007 DAILY DIGEST Editor: Jody Martinez, 468-3517 The Ukiah Daily Journal [email protected] FUNERAL NOTICES Man suspected of June [\ blessed with. She “always” close with it’s hard to name mother of Robert assault arrested this week IN LOVING MEMORY OF helped anyone and mention them Benevides of Healdsburg, By BEN BROWN for Garcia since June 30, when FRANCES MARY GONZALEZ and everyone without want- all, but you know who you Stan Beneveds of The Daily Journal he allegedly threatened On Tuesday, October 2, ing anything in return. are and we her Auburn, WA and Susan The Mendocino County Geronimo Flores, 29, of Potter we lost the physical To know her was to love kids are grateful that she Eikenberry of Med- Sheriff’s Office arrested a man Valley, in the 9100 block of life of “our Mama” Frances her. Mama had the had you. Thank you ford, OR. Adored grand- Wednesday who has been East Road. “Lid, Jeep, Frannie best sense of humor and “Yah-wee”. mother of Robbie Be- wanted on assault and firearms Sheriff’s Lt. Kurt Blackey” (Williams) found great joy in Mama will be forever neveds, Sean Beneveds, charges since June. Smallcomb said Garcia bran- Gonzalez. This loss the smallest things. But loved and missed. Until Karina Eikenberry, Juventino Garcia, 40, of dished a handgun and pointed it comes to us with many most of all she was we see you again, mama, Kimberly Rogers and Potter Valley, was booked into at Flores, threatening to kill blessings knowing truly happiest spending we love you al- Valerie Patchett. Cher- jail at 2:39 p.m. Wednesday, on him. Garcia then left the area in that our mother is free. time with her kids and ways. ished great grandmother of suspicion of assault with a a car, firing the handgun at grandkids. Frances is sur- Funeral Services will be Tyler, Katelyn and Free from pain and deadly weapon, exhibiting a Flores as he did. frustration. Free to be with vived by her sons held on Saturday, Zakarey Beneveds and firearm, discharging a firearm, Curtis Knight and wife October 6, 2007 at 1 pm at Kaia Eikenberry-Rog- Smallcomb said Garcia was her long missed discharging a firearm from a car threatening Flores over an issue mother, Kate Daniels, Kelly, Matthew Wil- the Eversole Mor- ers. Loving sister of Roy and driving with suspended liams, daughters Denise tuary. Visitation will be at Casselman, No. the two of them were having, father Andrew Wil- privileges. but said he did not know what liams, her youngest son Dawson and hus- the Hopland Tribal Bend, OR, Charles He was arrested in the 12000 band John, Audrey Center at the Hopland Casselman of Denver, that issue was. Daniel Mista, who block of Powerhouse Road in Garcia is being held in the passed away just over 20 Dawson and husband Rancheria beginning CO, Gene Casselman of Potter Valley Wednesday after years ago and her Jose, grandchildren Crystal on Thursday, October 4, Exeter, CA, Jan Bo- Mendocino County Jail on a he was identified by sheriff’s $30,000 bond.