Community Your health: UKIAHI GRADUATION sports digest Ask Dr. Gott SCRAM needs more help .............Page 6 ..............Page 3 ...................................Page 1 INSIDE Mendocino County’s World briefly The Ukiah local newspaper ..........Page 2 Tomorrow: Breezy with bright sunshine 7 58551 69301 0 TUESDAY June 12, 2007 50 cents tax included DAILY JOURNAL ukiahdailyjournal.com 16 pages, Volume 149 Number 64 email: [email protected] Raff murder trial begins WEEKEND UPDATE • Raff says shooting Arrest made was attempt to get into a federal court after fight in • Says victim’s boss too connected to get Willits park fair trial here The Daily Journal By KATIE MINTZ A Eureka man was arrested Saturday at a Willits park after allegedly trying to knife a The Daily Journal Willits man sitting in the park with friends. In an interview taped the day According to the Willits Police Department, Howard Eugene Raff was arrest- witnesses allege that John Dalkin, 35, walked into ed on suspicion of murder, he Snider Park at around 5 p.m., went up to a group told a Ukiah Police Department of people sitting together, singled out one of them detective he shot Virginia Larkin and then took out a knife and threatened the man once in the head because he with it. As Dalkin stabbed toward the other man, believed it was the only way to the man avoided him and reacted by hitting get a fair child support trial Dalkin in the head with a beer can. Police say because of Larkin’s ties to her witnesses told them that at some point Dalkin employer, attorney Hugh L. dropped the knife and the two continued to fight. Preston. When officers got there they found the knife “She was shot for a change of and arrested Dalkin on suspicion of assault with a venue, nothing more,” Raff, 55, deadly weapon. Police say they also found drug told UPD Detective Glenn Stark paraphernalia and suspected methamphetamine on Nov. 6, 2006 in a videotaped on him. interview. The victim was not injured. Dalkin was treated According to Raff, who was for minor injuries and sent to the county jail. never married to Larkin but did Anyone with additional information about the have a daughter with her, Preston incident is asked to call Officer Donahue at had too many ties in Ukiah for Willits Police Department at 459-6122. Raff to be tried fairly, and Raff said he’d prefer a trial in federal court in San Francisco. Katie Mintz/The Daily Journal Committing a capital crime, but From left, Public Defender Wes Hamilton, a public defend- one he called “justifiable homi- Ukiahi grad er’s office investigator (talking with) defendant Howard cide” and “self defense,” was the Raff. At right, Raff in court Monday. way he sought to have the venue changed. made Ranger The video was shown in himself in at the Ukiah court- tained bullets. Mendocino County Superior house. “He stood there and said he Court Monday, the first day of Larkin died a week later. needed to be arrested and he testimony in Raff’s murder trial, “He made that drive for one wanted to speak to a deputy,” at local forest which saw eight witnesses take purpose, and that was to kill Mayfield said. The Daily Virginia Larkin to not have to pay Mendocino County Sheriff’s the stand in front of Superior Journal Court Judge Ronald Brown and a child support anymore,” Nerli Office Deputy Asburne Seward, said. who is assigned to court security, Lee Johnson, 14-member jury. a graduate of “In the course of this trial, you Among the eight witnesses said Raff stated that he needed to called by Nerli Monday was be arrested when he spoke with continues today. Ukiah High will hear the details of a cold, cal- School, has been culated murder,” Deputy District Amanda Mayfield, site supervi- him that morning in the court- Raff is on trial for murder with sor for the security firm that runs house lobby. the special allegations that he named as the Attorney James Nerli said in his new Ranger of opening statement. the security checkpoints at the at “He said, ‘I just shot the b- - - committed the crime with a the Ukiah courthouse. On the - because she wasn’t doing right firearm, that he lay in wait to the Upper Lake According to Nerli, Raff drove and Covelo 800 miles from his home in morning of Nov. 6, Mayfield said by our daughter,” Seward said commit the crime and that he she was manning the security during testimony. committed it for financial gain. If Districts of the Northern Arizona to Ukiah where Mendocino he shot Larkin in the head with a checkpoint on the east side of the Public Defender Wes convicted, he could face life building when Raff came through Hamilton, who is representing imprisonment. National Forest, .380 Lorcin semi-automatic forest officials handgun at her desk in the down- the courthouse doors carrying the Raff, reserved his opening state- Katie Mintz can be reached at magazine for a gun that con- ments for later in the trial, which [email protected]. announced town law office before turning Monday. He will begin Johnson his new position on July 22. Humboldt has eye on reggae event Johnson has been the Ranger of the Moab and Monticello Districts of the Manti-LaSal NF in By JAMES FAULK be at risk, said Smith. argued that at this point the only Moab, Utah, since 2004. The Eureka Times-Standard Several commissioners way his client would be barred “The Mendocino National Forest is very for- EUREKA -- Humboldt seemed intent on doing all they from holding the event would be tunate to have Lee Johnson coming to the County Community could to allow the event to go for- through injunctive relief. In such Development Services Director ward while still protecting the a case, the court would have to See RANGER, Page 16 Kirk Girard will closely monitor public’s health and safety. They balance the impact to others, he the ongoing legal battle in the even set aside a previous dead- said. reggae dispute -- as well as the line for the permit ownership “We just think it would be an NEWS UPDATE producer’s progress in meeting issue to be decided. economic tragedy and the court necessary benchmarks -- and Disputed “I'd just hate to see this thing would not go there,” he said. UUSD seeking new leader could seek to nix the event’s per- die,” said Commissioner Bruce Numerous nonprofits use the The Daily Journal mit in July if issues remain. Reggae concert Emad. event to raise money, and it The Ukiah Unified School District board of The Humboldt County promotions still undecided The commission directed brings thousands of visitors to trustees will meet in closed session again this Planning Commission approved Girard to make any such determi- Southern Humboldt every year afternoon to discuss a new superintendent for the giving Girard that authority an event this year, a judge could nation before the July 17 supervi- (many of them stopping in district. Superintendent Ray Chadwick is retiring Thursday, due to the dwindling rule that People Productions has sors’ meeting. The event takes Mendocino County ). at the end of this school year. time before the event is to take no right to do so. place Aug. 3 to 5. But attorney Jim Aste, repre- The trustees met twice in closed session last place. If that happens with only a Attorneys for both sides senting the Mateel, said the legal week on the subject but had nothing to report out One major concern is that short window remaining before addressed the planners. process is fluid and a number of after those sessions. while the Mateel Community the concert, public safety could Attorney John Vrieze, repre- The next regular meeting of the board is Center has said it will not put on senting People Productions, See CONCERT, Page 16 Tuesday, June 19. Preparations under way for Ukiah High SCRAM June 16 event open to the whole evening. into an all-night party, with live strongly encouraged to stay for the For three-plus decades now, more entertainment from two local bands, night. Students who leave before 5 What’s needed to all Ukiahi grads than 10,000 graduates have spent videos, a casino tourney, swimming, a.m. will forfeit any prize, and not be • Volunteers to staff the their graduation evening at Ukiah relay races, a climbing wall, karaoke, eligible for the big money grand event The Daily Journal High School for the all-night party. dancing, a DJ, and many other sur- prize. Parents are diligently working on • Money: Close to “It’s a wonderful event that gives prises. Prizes will be awarded Meetings began back in October $5,000 in prize money, with decorations, menu planning, and our graduates a place to celebrate throughout the night. Every senior and countless hours continue to securing prize donations for the $1,000 being the top prize, with their friends and classmates and participating is guaranteed a prize or accumulate as organizing, e-mailing, will be given at SCRAM. Ukiah High graduates of 2007. The also keeps them safe on the most cash just for being there, with a decorating, food preparations, and Safe and Sober Graduation • Gift Certificates: exciting nights of their lives,” said grand prize of $1,000 being drawn at numerous calls seeking help and Appealing to either gender, Celebration commonly known as Shawna Todd, a parent involved with 5 a.m. Doors open at 9 p.m.