Eagles Weekend NEGLECTED HORSES UPDATE basketball entertainment Group still in need of help ......................................Page 1 .............Page 6 ..............Page 3 INSIDE Mendocino County’s World briefly The Ukiah local newspaper ..........Page 2 Tomorrow: Partly sunny 7 58551 69301 0 THURSDAY Feb. 2, 2006 50 cents tax included DAILY JOURNAL ukiahdailyjournal.com 16 pages, Volume 147 Number 299 email: [email protected] Contractor’s SUV bombed MC dean Second bomb that disagrees failed to explode detonated at Masonite with study By BEN BROWN Says local graduates The Daily Journal Ukiah Valley firefighters and have higher math Mendocino County sheriff’s skills than AIR found deputies responded to a vehicle fire at the home of local contractor The Daily Journal Brandon Hidalgo on Canyon Drive A recent study that implies many early Wednesday, and discovered college students only possess basic two incendiary devices, one of literacy skills “does not gibe” for which had failed to explode. Mendocino College Dean of Police and firefighters were sum- Instruction Meridith Randall. moned by a 911 call at 3:30 a.m. “Twenty percent of U.S. college After the fire was extinguished, a students completing four-year search of the vehicle -- a 2004 degrees -- and 30 percent of students Chevrolet Suburban -- revealed the two devices, which were under the See COLLEGE, Page 15 car. Hidalgo said the vehicle was totaled but that nothing else was damaged. Parked next to the Escaped Suburban was the trailer where Hidalgo keeps his work tools. “We lucked out,” he said. Hidalgo said he was notified of inmate the fire by his neighbor, who works as a butcher in Willits. The neighbor heard two loud booms and went out recaptured into his yard to find his fence By BEN BROWN knocked over and Hidalgo’s vehicle Amy Wellnitz/The Daily Journal The Daily Journal on fire. The neighbor woke Hidalgo Ukiah Valley firefighters extinguish a fire in a Chevy Michael Scott Ward, the prisoner and his family and contacted the fire Suburban on Canyon Drive about 3:30 a.m. Wednesday. who escaped Sunday from the Parlin department. After the fire was subdued, firefighters found incendiary Forks Conservation Camp, has been No one was injured in the fire devices under the vehicle. recaptured by police. and no other structures were Ward was taken into custody at involved. 5:45 p.m. Tuesday in Guerneville by “Thank goodness,” Mendocino an officer from the California County Sheriff’s Capt. Kurt Department of Corrections and Smallcomb said. “It could have Rehabilitation. Deputies from the been a terrible tragedy.” Sonoma County Sheriff’s Members of the Travis Air Force Department aided in the arrest. Base Arson Bomb Squad were dis- “He didn’t make it too far,” said corrections officer Dean Petrovich. See BOMB, Page 15 Ward escaped from the work camp Sunday by stealing a red A Travis Air Force Base Arson Chevrolet pickup truck owned by Bomb Squad member, at right, the California Department of controls a robot as it retrieves Forestry, officials said. That truck and handles an incendiary was found abandoned near the device Wednesday morning. Brookside school in Willits Monday At far right, the bomb squad morning. robot prepares to place the Ward was serving a 13-year sen- bomb that failed to explode in tence for first-degree burglary. a box for transport. Ben Brown can be reached at [email protected]. ‘A DAY A WEEK’ STATE OF THE UNION Caregivers needed Bush speech ‘not cutting-edge’ By RON FOURNIER dent’s poll numbers further downward, for herd of horses AP Political Writer ANALYSIS Thompson said. and SETH FREEDLAND By DAVID COURTLAND “I think he really widened his credibil- UPDATE The Daily Journal ity gap,” Thompson said. “He has a prob- The Willits News The state of the union is fretful. ‘The speech was lem there. The speech was probably Volunteers taking care of to their owner or made President George W. Bush acknowledged focused more towards improving his poll a herd of neglected horses available for adoption. the public’s agitated state Tuesday night probably focused more numbers, with the midterm elections say they need more people “We still need volunteers when he gave voice to growing concerns towards improving his coming up.” to commit time to helping so that the core group does- about the course of the nation he has led Even the proposals to increase funding the animals recover. n’t get burned out,” for five years. poll numbers, with the for electronic medical records -- a recent “We’re looking for peo- McFadden said. “They all Among those unhappy with the gener- point of interest for Mendocino County - ple to commit a day a have their own horses and al direction of the Bush Administration is midterm elections - is old news, Thompson said. Nothing week,” said Roni families to care for.” North Coast Congressman Mike coming up.’ Bush said, he added, discussed lowering McFadden, one of the vol- Among the primary care- Thompson, who sat in the House cham- the actual costs of health care, the prima- unteer leaders coordinating givers are Redwood Valley ber during the president’s annual State of ry issue at hand. care for 24 horses on an Old veterinarians Paul the Union address. MIKE THOMPSON The only truly raucous moment in the Reynolds Road ranch near Michelsen and Michael Thompson called the oratory a mixed chamber occurred when Bush noted that Willits. Witt, whose office bag of rehashed and “not cutting-edge” Congress had failed to approve his pro- With help from other McFadden manages. themes. The greatest concerns for Thompson posed Social Security reforms. On televi- volunteers, a group of about “They’ve been putting a “It was a repackage of things” from fell to what was left out of the address. sion, it seemed that the Democrats erupt- a half dozen managers have lot of time and effort into Democratic proposals, like the presi- The administration’s failed Medicare fix ed in celebratory applause, but nursed the horses back from the care of those animals,” dent’s call for greater reliance on alterna- drew nary a word, Thompson said. Thompson noted, “In reality, it wasn’t the brink of starvation. Mendocino County Animal tive energy, and half-hearted Republican Throughout a series of recent town hall just the Democrats cheering.” Another 11 horses are being Control Director John efforts, like “disingenuous” calls for meetings in Mendocino County and other In his fifth State of the Union address, cared for in the Fort Bragg Morley said Jan. 25. “I can’t bipartisanship, Thompson said in an areas districtwide, seniors speak of great Bush sought to balance his usual opti- area. thank them enough; it’s a lot interview. He noted that Bush’s request unease with the myriad of plans and mistic message with an odd-fitting McFadden said the hors- of work.” for both political parties to work together options. acknowledgment that many Americans es might be in volunteer A steady stream of followed “two weeks of (Bush’s top Focusing on platitudes and ignoring are suffering beneath a crush of change. care for another 60 to 90 political adviser) Karl Rove being very the 45 million Americans who are unin- days before being returned See HORSES, Page 2 decisive.” sured can only serve to drive the presi- See BUSH, Page 15 Home Audio Video BIG Savings for the BIG Game & Olympics! Digital Flat Panel TVs from $299.99 By dfm Car Stereo 42” PLASMA TV- $1,699.99 SUPER “Your home entertainment store.” Samsung 50” DLP High Def. TV- $2,499.99 CA Contractors Lic. # 836794 SALE!! COME IN FOR GREAT PRICES ON ALL TVS & SURROUND SPEAKERS. 2 – THURSDAY, FEB. 2, 2006 DAILY DIGEST Editor: Jody Martinez, 468-3517 The Ukiah Daily Journal [email protected] junction of Highway 128 and FUNERAL NOTICES POLICE REPORTS Highway 253 to State Street. The following were Work hours are from 7:30 [\ Please send along my fishing PEGGY ANN Giese, her sister Sybil Vance compiled from reports a.m. until 4 p.m. weekdays. KURT LYNN KRIZEK pole, For I’ve been invited ANDERSON (VOWELL) of South Point, OH, grand- prepared by the Ukiah One-way traffic controls are Kurt Lynn Krizek passed to the fishin’ hole. Peggy Ann Anderson children Benjamin Hoff, Police Department. To in effect, and drivers can quietly on January 23, 2006 Where every day is a day (Vowell) died at her home in Jenny Dickerson, Britney anonymously report expect 10-minute delays. Kurt will be greatly to fish, To fill your heart Ukiah Monday, January 30, Moore, Robert Brackett Jr, crime information, call CLOSURE -- Route 101 missed by all who knew & with every wish. Don’t 2006 with her loving family James Moore, Echo Miller, 463-6205. was closed at Confusion Hill loved him. His family wishes worry, or feel sad for me, present. A native of Ripley, great-grandchildren ARREST -- Jason Thomas at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday by to extend their heart felt I’m fishin’ with the Master Tennessee, she was 63. She Marissa Brackett Espinosa, Keith, 30, of Ukiah, was slide activity. There are no gratitude to DeVita Dialysis of the sea. loved Nascar and other local Heavenly Marie Henry and arrested on suspicion of bran- detours but alternate routes Unit and their wonderful We will miss each other car races, enjoyed looking one future great-grandchild. dishing a weapon and assault are Route 20 and Interstate 5. employees who took such for awhile, But you will out her window and watch- Friends are invited to a with a deadly weapon in the good care of Kurt.