Volume 97 No. 1 On the Internet: www.carmelpinecone.com January 7-13, 2011 Y OUR S OURCE F OR L OCAL N EWS, ARTS AND O PINION S INCE 1915 Big Sur River becomes latest steelhead battleground Water district asks By CHRIS COUNTS public to save its $$$ IS EL Sur Ranch harm- ing the Big Sur River by By KELLY NIX pumping too much water from two wells at Andrew FACED WITH the possibility its budget could be Molera State Park? slashed by almost half — a blow that would force sweeping That’s what two state reductions in programs and layoffs of about one-third of its agencies and a fishermen’s workers — the Monterey Peninsula Water Management group claim as they oppose District is appealing to its constituents for help. a permit for the ranch to On Dec. 21, 2010, a judge with the California Public continue pumping from the Utilities Commission rejected an application by California wells, which its owners have American Water to recover an 8.325 percent user fee it had done since 1949. tacked onto customers’ water bills. The fee — which Cal Am The State Water Resources Control Board will conduct a hearing See DISTRICT page 12A March 8 to consider an application by the ranch to pump an average of 1,200 PHOTO/CALIFORNIA COASTAL RECORDS PROJECT DRA challenges acre-feet per year from the El Sur Ranch irrigates more than 200 acres of its pastures with water pumped from two wells river over a 20-year period. alongside the Big Sur River as it flows to the ocean through Andrew Molera State Park (above). The California A hearing in March will determine if the ranch can continue to use the water. Department of Parks and desal approval Recreation, the California Big Sur River, creating salt water intrusion and jeopardizing Department of Fish and Game, and the California the survival of Central Coast steelhead trout, the California By KELLY NIX Sportfishing Protection Alliance filed protests against the proposal, insisting that the pumping is reducing flows in the See RIVER page 11A THE STATE agency that led the charge for a regional water project for the Monterey Peninsula is challenging a decision by another agency that would allow it to go forward. The Department of Ratepayer Advocates on Monday filed Council surprised to find raise in firefighters’ contract a motion with the Public Utilities Commission compelling the PUC to reconsider a decision it made last month approv- By MARY BROWNFIELD 8.75 percent raise as of Jan. 1, but the amended contract pre- ing a plan that would offer a drought-free water supply for sented to the council included a provision that would grant the Peninsula. AFTER DISCOVERING a provision that would give the the raise a year earlier, “if no merger of fire-related services, PUC commissioners voted Dec. 2, 2010, to issue city’s firefighters an 8.75 percent raise retroactive to the or Joint Powers Authority for fire-related services, or any California American Water a permit for the estimated $300- beginning of last year, the Carmel City Council decided Tuesday not to vote on changes to the firefighters’ contract, See CONTRACT page 5A See DESAL page 8A which expired at the end of the 2010. Council members were also concerned that changes to the contract favored a fire merger with Monterey, instead of leav- IG UR DRIVER WHO FLED ARRESTED IN ENO ing the door open to other options. B S R The proposal — presented to the council by city adminis- trator Rich Guillen after negotiations with the firefighters’ By MARY BROWNFIELD reportedly for his involvement in a traffic union — was to extend the contract while council members collision, officers discovered Monterey debate options for running Carmel Fire Department, includ- MARK HUDSON — the 50-year-old County Superior Court Judge Terrance ing a takeover by the City of Monterey or contracting with a Big Sur man accused of drunken driving in Duncan had issued a bench warrant for him state agency, Cal Fire. But the retroactive raise, which would the accident that killed 17-year-old Rachel last month after he failed to show up in court be triggered if the city didn’t approve a merger by March 31, Love Wiesjahn in August 2008 — was for a hearing. Duncan had ordered Hudson drew criticism from council members. booked into Monterey County Jail to court because he allegedly violated the “It looks like a contract extension, and then when you get Wednesday morning after being transported terms of his $500,000 bail by driving drunk into it, it looks more like a renegotiation,” observed council- from Reno, Nev., where police discovered on Oct. 13, 2010, in a city near Sacramento, man Ken Talmage, who removed the item from the consent there was an outstanding warrant for his but his attorney, Larry Biegel, showed up agenda at the Jan. 4 meeting in order to raise his concerns. arrest. without him. According to their old contract, firefighters were due an When police contacted Hudson in Reno, “There are a lot of unanswered questions here,” said Monterey County deputy district attorney Doug Miller takes office as new county sheriff See DUI page 21A Mark Hudson By MARY BROWNFIELD Suspect in Mucky Duck HE TOOK the oath of office last Thursday and became Monterey County Sheriff at 12:01 a.m. New Year’s Eve. But Scott Miller was also ceremonially sworn in Monday in shooting eludes police the board of supervisors chambers in front of a standing-room- only crowd of friends, family, supporters, sheriff’s office By MARY BROWNFIELD employees and representatives from numerous other law- enforcement agencies throughout the county. A MAN was found dead, a After joking a bit and describing the challenges of running a house caught fire and no arrests countywide campaign out of his home, Miller said he told the were made Wednesday during a audience the election is past, and “now it’s time to focus on pro- coordinated raid on two viding the best law enforcement services to Monterey County, Greenfield homes in connection which is a big goal — a multifaceted goal.” with the New Year’s shooting in Miller said he’d been working 12-hour days with people at front of a Monterey bar that sent the sheriff’s office since early December. He prepared for the three men to the hospital. The transition by getting to know his new employees, reacquainting prime suspect, 23-year-old himself with those he knew from his long law-enforcement Greenfield resident Alejandro PHOTO/PHIL NASH career in Salinas and Pacific Grove, and learning the ropes of Gonzalez, is wanted on three counts of attempted murder and is Jane Miller pins the Monterey County Sheriff’s the large agency, so he would be ready to take over when out- badge on her husband, Scott Miller, at his swear- still at large. ing-in Monday. See SHERIFF page 8A See SUSPECT page 9A Alejandro Gonzalez Have the complete Carmel Pine Cone delivered every Thursday evening to your iPad, laptop, PC or phone. Free subscriptions available at www.carmelpinecone.com 2A The Carmel Pine Cone January 7, 2011 Best of Sandy Claws By Margot Petit Nichols CHARLIE PHILLIPS, a Carmel-by-the-Sea golden He has two sisters: Seventeen-year-old Ali, a senior retriever, had parents who were both show dogs. at Notre Dame High School in Salinas, and Halie, 14, But he hasn’t let that go to his head. He’s just like a student at Carmel Middle School. any other playful, smiling 2-year-old who likes to Dad Paul said Charlie retrieves everything in the come to Carmel Beach five days a week. house, bringing all manner of things to him and Dad Paul or Mom Linda walks with him to the Mom — even purloining items from his sisters’ back- beach from their home, Charlie pulling at his leash packs to present as gifts. Dad thinks the tattoo on all the way, looking out for small dogs with whom Charlie’s tongue is from an indelible pen he swiped he can strike up an acquaintance. from their belongings. In fact, one of his best friends is a little 3-year-old At night, Charlie sleeps protectively outside his sis- shitzu named Louie who lives in Lodi. Louie from ters’ rooms, then at dawn crawls in with Halie, who Lodi is Charlie’s cousin, because he’s Mom Linda’s has the bigger bed. brother’s dog. Another good friend is Joey, a To keep his coat nice and shiny, Mom puts a little German shepherd mix, who lives across the street fish oil on Charlie’s kibble, and gives him a spoonful from Charlie. They often take walks and play of his all-time fave, cottage cheese with pineapple, together. too. It doesn’t do anything for his coat, but it cer- But Charlie’s not lacking for company at home. tainly tastes good. Your Pet Sitter Happy New Year! Professional Pet Sitting in the comfort of your own Home Celebrity Sightings! 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