Spotlight: COMMUNITY Ukiah shortstop Friday Local happenings Tony Crudo .................................Page A-3 ..........Page A-6 May 2, 2008 INSIDE Mendocino County’s World briefly The Ukiah local newspaper .......Page A-2 Saturday: Clouds & sunshine; H 75º L 43º 7 58551 69301 0 Sunday: Sunny H 78º L 44º 50 cents tax included DAILY JOURNAL ukiahdailyjournal.com 42 pages, Volume 150 Number 23 email: [email protected] Arrest made in theft DA endorses Measure B of ‘Yes on B’ signs By BEN BROWN By BEN BROWN “Measure G has become a barrier that as a defense for those violating the laws The Daily Journal The Daily Journal greatly complicates the prosecution of solid against commercial marijuana. This is true The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office Mendocino County District Attorney cases, even where there is overwhelming evi- even for the largest growing operations.” has arrested a teenager on charges of vandal- Meredith Lintott has officially endorsed dence of commercial cultivation, possession, Measure B, which was placed on the ballot ism for allegedly stealing and spray-painting Measure B, saying if it passes, her job will be transportation and sales,” Lintott said. “The easier. defense attorneys never fail to cite Measure G See ENDORSE, Page A-12 See SIGNS, Page A-12 Supervisors’ UKIAH SKATE PARK DESIGN UNVEILED travel claims questioned by City hopes to begin construction by August grand jury Report cites ‘persistent abuse’ of travel policy by Smith, ‘questionable weekend travel reimbursement claims’ by Colfax By ROB BURGESS The Daily Journal The travel policy and reimbursement claims of the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors were once again called into question in a grand jury report issued April 17. The report stated a review of the supervisors travel claims revealed “persistent abuse of the Travel Policy by the current 4th District Supervisor (Kendall Smith) from Jan. 2005 through Nov. 2006” and “questionable weekend travel reimbursement claims by the 5th District Supervisor (David Colfax.)” The grand jury found that Smith had traveled 41 weekend days out of a possible 105 in 2005 and that Colfax had done the same for 36 of those days. “(Colfax’s) travel on weekends was in excess of the total weekend travel by all other supervi- sors combined for this same period,” the grand jury stated in its report. The investigation was a continuation of an inquiry into the issue that began with the 2006- A drawing of the proposed design for the Ukiah Skate Park showcases the different areas in use. Construction 07 grand jury. is expected to begin this summer. On Dec. 11, 2007, the board approved a revised travel policy by a 3-2 vote, with 2nd District Supervisor Jim Wattenburger and 1st ‘Our goal is to begin this project this year. We’re still working on the District Supervisor Michael Delbar dissenting. Among other things, the revised policy offers details, but we anticipate it shortly.’ supervisors the choice of taking a fixed dollar amount travel stipend or maintaining detailed travel records. The change also separated reim- SAGE SANGIACOMO, Community Services director bursements for mileage from allowable hotel By ZACK SAMPSEL stays, imposed a cap of two overnights per week and limited the stays to weeks in which there is The Daily Journal a scheduled board meeting. It’s almost time for local skaters to tighten their trucks and put The previous travel policy in place between fresh grip tape on their decks because the long-awaited Ukiah 2005-07 allowed supervisors who had back-to- Skate Park could be here this year. back meetings on consecutive days to claim The initial conceptual designs for the long-awaited Ukiah reimbursement either for driving their round trip Skate Park along Perkins Street have been submitted by Wormhoudt, Inc., and according to city officials construction could begin this summer. See TRAVEL, Page A-12 “Our goal is to begin this project this year,” said Community Services Director Sage Sangiacomo. “We’re still working on the details, but we anticipate it shortly.” More than 30 skaters and community ON THE COAST ‘This is a community members attended last summer’s skate park design meeting with Wormhoudt pre- thing. It just has to do sent. The meeting at the Ukiah Conference Center was an opportunity for skaters and Woman’s body with the youth in community members to share their hopes general, and when for the park. Justin Capri, owner of Freedom Skate Shop and a member of the (Above) An overview of the proposed skate park design found in park there’s this many kids Skate Park Committee, was present at the exemplifies the six different areas of use. Area 1 is the meeting and paid close attention to the beginner’s zone. Area 2 is the entrance. Area 3 features 30-year-old believed in this town into one community’s vision. beginner, intermediate and advanced bowls for ramp thing, you have to “This design came from what’s been in skaters. Area 4 is the street flow area and features ele- to have died in fall my head for a lot of years,” Capri said. ments of both street and ramp skating. Area 5 is the street area that blends elements of parking lot-style The Daily Journal give them a place to “We needed somewhere to start and he A Comptche woman who went missing (Wormhoudt) really liked what I had going skating, and Area 6 is the plaza where stairs and do it.’ handrails are the equipment of choice. Wednesday in Van Damme State Park was found on. I also took the input from the kids and dead Thursday afternoon. the community in mind when I was The body of 30-year-old Maya Katz was JUSTIN CAPRI of the designing it. It has a lot of flow to it.” found in the park around 3 p.m. Thursday near a Skate Park Committee The initial designs -- which may change remote wooded trail. According to Mendocino following public forums scheduled for this County sheriff’s reports, she appeared to have summer -- involve an almost 20,000- died in a fall. square-foot space that will feature five different regions that will Katz had not been seen since Wednesday appeal to skateboarders of all ages and abilities. morning, when she went for a walk in Van For the beginners, a special zone will be available as the young Damme State Park with her two dogs. Katz’s sis- riders prepare their skills for the more advanced areas. Part of the ter called the Sheriff’s Office that afternoon after park will also offer more street-style skating areas that simulate going out to look for her sister and finding the dogs, but not Katz. See SKATE, Page A-12 The Mendocino County Search and Rescue team searched the area Wednesday afternoon and (Right) An up-close rendering of the plaza area shows into the night, resuming the search Thursday the stairs and handrails that will be a hot spot for board morning. Katz’s body was found near where her and rail slides. dogs were found the day before. The definitive cause of death is under investi- gation, but it does not appear to have been the result of foul play, according to sheriff’s reports. A-2 – FRIDAY, MAY 2, 2008 DAILY DIGEST Editor: Jody Martinez, 468-3517 The Ukiah Daily Journal [email protected] FUNERAL NOTICES DEATH NOTICES [\ [\ bered for his honesty, his The family moved to • Maude M. Nordyke, 82, of Ukiah, died Saturday, April love and devotion JEWELL ELLIS HURT Arcata, California and 26, 2008, at a local convalescent hospital. Memorial services to his family and friends, Jewell Ellis Hurt, age 87, Jewell worked for 25 1⁄2 are planned at a later date. The Eversole Mortuary is in charge his respect for all died Wednesday years for the Division of arrangements. things in nature, his sense April 30, 2008 at Prescott, of Highways in Eureka, of humor, his Arizona. California, retiring in smile, his storytelling. He Jewell was born October 1981. was always there 25, 1920 in Trenton, Jewell is survived by her to help out. He was Missouri, the daughter of daughter, Barbara extremely proud of his William Calvin and and son-in-law, Cloyd The world briefly sons Colten and Casey. Ruth Jones Ellis. Jewell Taylor of Paulden, Ari- Brent is survived by his attended many zona; grandchildren Laura sons Colten and schools in and around Tyree, Angela Mill- Air Force grounds training jets Casey Kinney, his parents Trenton, graduating er and Lorne C. Hurt; John and Geneva from Trenton High School, great-grandchildren following second fatal crash Kinney, sister Janelle Rau class of 1939. Kaylene and Branden Hurt WICHITA FALLS, Texas (AP) — The Air Force grounded and husband Jewell worked for the and LynneDell all T-38C training jets on Thursday, following the second fatal BRENT EDWARD KINNEY Chris, aunts Judi Boyle, Service Laundry, Burke; sister Garnett crash involving the aircraft in eight days, the military said. A Celebration of Life for Lynne Mattern, aunt Chamber of Commerce Hurlburt; and many oth- Two pilots died when their high-altitude, supersonic plane Brent Kinney of Red- and uncle Phil and Denise (twice) and Unionville er relatives and friends. went down during a routine training mission, according a state- wood Valley will be held on Gorny and uncle Production Credit She was preceded in ment from Sheppard Air Force Base. Sunday, May 4, and aunt Jeff and Tina Association in Trenton. death by her husband, The two-seat plane was assigned to the 80th Flying Training 2008 at 2 pm at the Lake Burrell.