Eagles defeat Business helps ELTON JOHN IN WILLITS? Yuba, snap young students Fans say not a chance losing streak celebrate Easter .............Page 6 ..............Page 3 .....................................Page 1 INSIDE Mendocino County’s World briefly The Ukiah local newspaper ..........Page 2 Tomorrow: Partly sunny; H 59º L 34º 7 58551 69301 0 WEDNESDAY March 26, 2008 50 cents tax included DAILY JOURNAL ukiahdailyjournal.com 14 pages, Volume 149 Number 352 email: [email protected] Man found stabbed CHILDREN ON SPRING BREAK in Covelo Second Covelo man jailed on charges of attempted murder By BEN BROWN The Daily Journal A Covelo man was arrested on attempted murder charges after he allegedly stabbed a man several times behind a gas station off Highway 162 Sunday night. According to reports from the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office, deputies received reports of a stabbing victim behind the Redwood Oil Station in Covelo at around 6:30 p.m. Sunday. Deputies responded and found a 46- year-old Covelo man, suffering from stab wounds to the neck, head and legs. The victim, whose name was not released by police because the case may be gang related, told sheriff’s deputies he had been stabbed by Britton Leonard Azbill Jr., 26, of Covelo, according to sheriff’s reports. Mendocino County Sheriff’s Lt. Rusty Noe said the Sheriff’s Office was not sure what led up the fight but said it appeared the two men may have been drinking and that they may have gotten into an argument before the alleged attack occurred. The victim was treated for his injuries by personnel from the Covelo Volunteer Fire Department and then transported by ambulance to Howard Hospital for treatment. According to sheriff’s reports, his wounds were not MacLeod Pappidas/The Daily Journal (Above) Six-year-old Olivia Metzger, left, and her life threatening. friends Kenna, 5, and Tatum Lovsey, 6, take a ride on Azbill was arrested in his house on the dam at Lake Mendocino. The three friends were Tabor Lane later that night and charged part of a larger group of children enjoying the clear with attempted murder and assault with weather Tuesday during spring break. (Right) a deadly weapon. Sammy Bilstien watches ducks and geese after A folding knife found in Azbill’s feeding them the last of her bread Tuesday. possession matched descriptions of the Bilstien’s grandmother is taking her to fun places weapon used in the assault, according for spring break. to sheriff’s reports. Azbill was booked into the Mendocino County Jail, where he is being held on a $250,000 bond. Ben Brown can be reached at Young people making [email protected]. the most of time off By ROB BURGESS The Daily Journal With temperatures hovering at around, oh, perfect and stu- Bear Hug dents hovering nowhere near their schools, it can only mean See BREAK, Page 14 ACS effort under way By ZACK SAMPSEL The Daily Journal Internet audience scoffs at Elton John story For cancer survivors and patients, sometimes the best medicine is a hug, The Daily Journal comments began to roll in and and the local American Cancer Society It seems that no one out- As soon as the story posted, the have spread to John’s own branch knows it. side Willits believes that Internet forum comments began to roll Web site where fans are pooh- “My mother was a survivor and I Elton John was in Mendocino poohing the idea that either know how good a hug made her feel,” County March 17. A story in in and have spread to Elton John’s own the photo or the event are real. said ACS volunteer Marge Thatcher. The Willits News, (then Web site, where fans are pooh-poohing Here are some excerpts: If you walk past Triple S Camera, republished by The Daily • Yea ... and Elvis made an 260 S. School St., between now and the Journal), quotes several the idea that either the photo or the impromptu visit to middle of April, you’re sure to see the Willits business owners and Birmingham, Ala. on Easter. teddy bear-filled window decorated by staffers - including Linda event are real. We flew from Birmingham to Thatcher and Susan Keegan, communi- Byrnes of Natural Choice Vegas for a peanut butter ty services director of the ACS. The who, according to The Willits News, “was the sandwich!! Then we sang a duet of “Suspicious delicate display comes as part of ACS’ first to figure out it was really Elton John” - dis- Minds.” Bear Hug program, which for the past cussing their run-in with the rock ’n roll legend • Yeah I didn’t really look too closely at the pic four years has provided hundreds of and his small entourage as he passed through at first. I thought it was just a really bad pic taken stuffed bears to cancer survivors and Willits on his way from Humboldt County to the on an off day but now that I look at it it really patients in Ukiah, Hopland, Willits, Bay Area. doesn’t seem like it’s him. Looks more like an Redwood Valley and Potter Valley. A cell phone photo purporting to be John with old lady with a bad haircut. “A lot of people may not have some- Byrnes accompanied the story. • As the article discussed more and more about body, and it’s a nice little remem- As soon as the story posted, the Internet forum how she introduced him to others at the record brance,” Thatcher said. “People just store and the restaurant, someone had to mention need to tell us who to help.” This cell phone photo purporting to be that it looked nothing like Elton, probably more Elton John with Willits resident LInda Byrnes accompanied the story. See ELTON, Page 14 See BEAR, Page 14 Monday - Friday Breakfast Specials Many to choose from only $5.25 including coffee From 6:30 to 11:30 a.m. 6175 N. State St. •Calpella•485- 2 – WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2008 DAILY DIGEST Editor: Jody Martinez, 468-3517 The Ukiah Daily Journal [email protected] Journal once their case has FUNERAL NOTICES SHERIFF’S REPORTS been concluded so the results The following were can be reported. Those who [\ World War II, her her children, and their John H Vassar of Redwood feel the information is in error compiled from reports should contact the appropriate Belgian father (Joseph Van families. Remaining on Valley who prepared by the agency. In the case of those Gastel) perished this planet are, Jay passed away on Saturday, Mendocino County arrested on suspicion of dri- from pneumonia. Her McAllister (Beverly Har- March 22, 2008 at Sheriff’s Office: ving under the influence of an American mother man) Ukiah, Laura a local hospital with his intoxicant: all DUI cases (Laura Childs VanGastel) McBride (Dan McBride) family at his side. ARREST -- Ronald reported by law enforcement fled with the family Willits, John McAllister Born July 18, 1940 in agencies are reported by the Weller, 49, of Ukiah, was newspaper. The Daily Journal to the United States where (Jan Berry) Eugene, Ukiah, John worked at arrested on suspicion of caus- makes no exceptions. Betty met and Ore., and Tina Foucault Safeway from 1959 to 1966 ing corporal injury to a spouse married Bud. (Ron Foucault-de- and was a mem- and disconnecting a telephone Mom touched the hearts ceased) Ukiah. Her sisters, ber of the Army Reserves. line after he allegedly CORRECTIONS of many people dur- Toni Walker and In 1964 he and his punched his wife in the face The Ukiah Daily Journal ing her lifetime. She Connie Hunt and brother, wife began Vassar and then disconnected the reserves this space to correct received several acco- Hubert VanGastel, Vineyards. John loved phone so she could not call errors or make clarifications to lades including in 1962 the her grandchildren Michael working the land and took news articles. Significant errors in police. obituary notices or birth Woman of Ach- McBride, Kristina a lot of pride in his According to sheriff’s announcements will result in ievement Award from the Tyrrell, Lynda Putnam, work with the vineyard and reports, Weller and his wife reprinting the entire article. ELIZABETH C. Soroptimist Club of Jennifer Berry, Rachel also in his garden. got into an argument and he Errors may be reported to the edi- (BETTY) MCALLISTER Ukiah, a plaque from the and Patrick McAllister, He enjoyed owning his allegedly struck her in the tor, 468-3526. Born April 30, 1925 in Men’s Bowling As- Brandon Foucault, and Model A’s, and above face, leaving a mark. Vancouver, Washington. sociation for the many wife Jennifer Tompkins- all he loved his family and When she tried to call the Mom was granted her years of work she gave foucault, and her his home. police, Weller allegedly LOTTERY NUMBERS most coveted wish on them. She was also very great grandchildren, John is survived by his ripped the phone out of the DAILY 3: night: 6, 5, 1. March 3, 2008. She was active in Junior Michael McBride, Haley wife of 45 years, wall, forcing her to wait sev- afternoon: 8, 4, 0. reunited with her Bowling Leagues, Dolphin and Danin Tyrrell, Max Dorothy Vassar of eral hours until neighbors FANTASY 5: 03, 09, 10, life’s love, James (Bud) Swim Club, and all and Jackson Putnam Redwood Valley, his son came home to report the inci- 25, 28. McAllister for the next levels of youth baseball and Octavia Foucault. Brian Vassar of Redwood dent, according to sheriff’s leagues.