A’s earn split Weekend FORUM in Japan entertainment Our readers write .............Page 6 ..............Page 3 ...................................Page 4 INSIDE Mendocino County’s Daily digest The Ukiah local newspaper ..........Page 2 Tomorrow: Cooler with rain; H 55º L 31º 7 58551 69301 0 THURSDAY March 27, 2008 50 cents tax included DAILY JOURNAL ukiahdailyjournal.com 16 pages, Volume 149 Number 353 email: [email protected] Judge calls recruiters’ actions ‘unforgivable’ Awards $50,000 and District Court judge ordered a the civil suit filed by the woman and behavior. That settlement was agreed Patel added that the punishment $50,000 payment to a Ukiah woman her co-plaintiff after they successful- to in June 2007. This latest award “might fall under the Eighth $11,060 in costs to who took her case to court after she ly sued the U.S. government over the was part of a further civil suit against Amendment,” referring to the “cruel says a Marine recruiter raped her at a Marines’ behavior. the recruiters personally. and unusual punishment” clause of Ukiah woman for civil recruiting center. Known in the case only as “Mary During a colloquy from the bench the U.S. Constitution. case; 2nd case pending Judge Marilyn Patel also awarded Roe,” she and another Ukiah woman, with the woman’s Ukiah attorney, “I was surprised that she would costs of $11,060 in the case. “Jane Doe,” settled their lawsuit Barry Vogel, Judge Patel said that comment on a vote that took place in By K.C. MEADOWS The $50,000 order issued March against the United States Marine she had talked the case over with her chambers,” Vogel said Wednesday. The Daily Journal 20 is a default judgment against for- Corps and the Department of the staff and told Vogel that “I think that The other recruiter, Joseph Calling the actions of U.S. Marine mer Marine recruiter Brian Navy for $200,000 and some new my staff voted for a punishment that recruiters “unforgivable,” a U.S. Fukushima, who did not respond to rules for Marine Corps recruiter is perhaps not permissible by law.” See MARINES, Page 15 THOMPSON HEARS CONCERNS OF MENDOCINO & LAKE CO. PHYSICIANS Task Force results in 6 Congressman’s checkup DUI arrests 14 other drivers cited The Daily Journal An Impaired Drivers Task Force imple- mented March 15 by the California Highway Patrol, in cooperation with other county agencies, yielded six arrests on suspicion of driving under the influence and 14 citations for various violations. Conducted in cooperation with the Fort Bragg Police Department and the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office, the IDTF was designed to detect and appre- hend drivers who were suspected to be under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. Officers from each of the participating agencies worked as part of a team to con- duct saturation patrol within the Fort Bragg area. The officers patrolled the area, seeking out drivers who may have been impaired. In addition to arrests and citations, 36 verbal warnings were served to motorists. Those who were arrested had their vehicles towed as each driver was taken to the Mendocino County Jail in Ukiah for booking. The IDTFs are operations that will be implemented throughout the year in vari- ous locations throughout Mendocino County. For the sake of yielding the great- est results, most of the IDTFs will take place in conjunction with major holiday weekends and special events. During times like those, the likelihood of alcohol consumption or other drug use is MacLeod Pappidas/The Daily Journal increased and can lead to more incidents. Congressman Mike Thompson, at left, listens to concerns from members of the Mendocino and Lake County Medical Any questions or concerns about this Society at the organization’s offices in Ukiah Wednesday.The health care providers were voicing their concerns about can be directed to CHP Capt. Ray the affordability of practicing medicine in the 1st District. Madrigal at 467-4040. By ROB BURGESS the county since 1972. “I think we need to Services on North State Street, where he met The Daily Journal wait a few more years to see what happens.” with members of the area’s home oxygen When California 1st District Rep. Mike Before he could settle into his seat, but community. Thompson (D-St. Helena) stopped by the without missing a beat, Thompson said he During his visit to the Medical Society, DURANGO Mendocino-Lake County Medical Society in respectfully disagreed. members of the local medical community the 200 block of West Henry Street “Well I won’t be coming to you for any expressed some of their concerns about the Wednesday for a midday meeting slated to medical procedures I might need,” he said, current state of their profession. VS. SEDAN focus on rural health care, the first thing they laughing. “I don’t think we have a few more “There is a very serious problem with talked about, oddly enough, was global years to wait on this issue. The good news is recruiting physicians in Northern California warming. that very few people share your view.” and getting people to stay here,” said Paul COLLISION “I think the climate change we’re seeing Thompson’s visit came during a jam- Marchand, an emergency physician. “It’s a now is cyclical,” said Jens Vinding, a radiol- packed day of meetings in Ukiah, including ogist and society president who has lived in an afternoon tour of Pacific Pulmonary See MEDICAL, Page 15 News video at ukiahdailyjournal.com Berg introduces bill to protect seniors from fake financial experts The Daily Journal financial experts to pump up any real expertise or not.” Berg said. “While we can’t turn a but many either obtain their their credibility when selling AB 2149 would regulate the cheater into an honest person, we “credentials” through dubious Seniors throughout the state investments to older people. use of words or phrases that sug- can make sure that those titles means, or simply invent a title may soon be able to breathe a bit The bill, AB 2149 by Berg, gest expertise in the finances of actually mean something.” themselves. easier when it comes to financial would make it illegal for sales- the elderly. The Department of Elder financial abuse is one of “This bill simply says that you matters if a bill sponsored by people to claim to be “Certified Corporations would be responsi- the fastest growing segments of can’t just give yourself a fancy Assemblywoman Patty Berg (D- Senior Advisors” or similar ble for recognizing accredited crime. Nearly a quarter million title to make someone trust you,” Eureka) becomes law. experts unless they have com- organizations and creating the older Californians fall prey to Berg said. “If you want to use a The Assembly Banking and pleted a certain amount of state- standards for the use of some sort of swindle or abuse title, you have to earn it.” Finance Committee has recognized education. “Certified Senior Advisor.” It each year. A recent New York The bill is part of a two-bill approved the bill that would pro- “The goal is to stop this trend would also compile a list of peo- Times investigation found that package that would regulate the tect older Californians from in which cheaters use these ple with those credentials. the number of “certified” senior use of invented titles not recog- phony financial advisers. inflated and bogus titles to cheat “Con artists often prey upon experts in the sales force has nized by the State of California. The committee voted Monday old people,” Berg said. “They older adults by instilling a false increased 78 percent in the last AB 2149 now goes to the Berg to outlaw a questionable sales put these lofty sounding titles on sense of trust and security by five years. Some of these agents Assembly Appropriations gimmick often used by so-called their cards whether they have flaunting bogus credentials,” are, of course, legitimate experts, Committee. Make 2008 APARTMENTS AVAILABLE Your Best Year Ever Prices Begin at $1,325/month Brookside RETIREMENT RESIDENCE Move to Brookside Ask About Our Move In Special 1199 South Dora Street • Ukiah • 462-6262 2 – THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 2008 DAILY DIGEST Editor: K.C. Meadows, 468-3526 The Ukiah Daily Journal [email protected] FUNERAL NOTICES [\ Barker, they had three chil- Elaine Granados and hus- where he owned & op- [\ worked for many years. dren; Michael, Lin- band Richard of erated "Out in Left" He only “retired” from da and Vicky. He attended Wildomar, Ca., Vicky Lynn Baseball Cards. Most re- Liqua-Tech Corp. two Santa Ana Col- Slawiniski and cently Kamal was a valued years ago. Bob was a won- lege, UCLA, and graduated husband John of Palm employee of derful husband, fa- with a MA from Desert, Ca., Justin JustGood Pizza in ther, grandpa, brother, son Whittier College. Milton Schmeck and fiance Angel Laytonville, CA. and friend. He became a manufac- Rhodes of Red- Kamal was a life-long was most happy when he turing engineer, working wood Valley Ca., seven bachelor who loved knew “Mama” was for Shiley Laborato- grandchildren; Mi- surfing and music. He is fine. He will be greatly ries. Milton was involved in chelle Helferich, Erin missed. Bob is preced- survived by his ed in death by his parents, the development Kelly, Brittany Isaacs, mother, Cheryl K. Branson and manufacture of artifi- Kim and Jaimme Frank and Elsie & step-father, Schommer and his brother, cial heart valves and Granados, Shannon Ed- Keith E. Kibler, both of Gene Schommer. other important medical wards and Kevin Kelly, five Laytonville, CA.