Pet of SPORTS the Week Monday Giants defeat the Dodgers ...................................Page 6 .............Page 3 Aug. 11, 2008 INSIDE Mendocino County’s World briefly The Ukiah local newspaper ..........Page 2 Tuesday: Sunny H 96º L 54º 7 58551 69301 0 Wednesday: Sunny H 98º L 55º 50 cents tax included DAILY JOURNAL ukiahdailyjournal.com 14 pages, Volume 150 Number 124 email: [email protected] Chairman Jim Wattenburger, Board of Supervisors, and Linda Clouser, Director of Human Resources with NACo Rx card displays. County launches prescription drugs Sarah Baldik/The Daily Journal Ukiah Idol winner Kristy Tucker sings and dances to “All that jazz” at the Ukiah Idol finals, Sunday after- discount card noon at the Redwood Empire Fair. The Daily Journal Mendocino County today launched a discount card program to help consumers cope with the high price of prescription drugs. The county is making free prescription drug discount cards available under a program sponsored by the National Last day of the fair Association of Counties that offers average savings of 20 per- cent off the retail price of commonly prescribed drugs. The cards may be used by all county residents, regardless of age, income, or existing health coverage, and are accepted at over ninety percent of the county’s pharmacies. A national net- work of more than 57,000 participating retail pharmacies also will honor the NACo prescription discount card. brings out the stars “Hundreds of counties across the nation are participating in the NACo program, and we are proud to join them because of By SARA HOUSE judges of this year’s show have stated the significant savings that can be realized by uninsured and The Daily Journal that the competition is very close due underinsured residents,” said Chairman Jim Wattenburger, As the weekend of the Redwood to all of the amazing talent. Mendocino County Board of Supervisors. “Medicare benefi- Empire Fair in Ukiah came to a close “This year is the strongest line up, ciaries can use the card, and so can insured people, in cases on Sunday, there were still many excit- and we are always looking for new tal- where a prescription drug is not covered.” ing events to attend that day. Beginning ent,” said Stephen Caravello, Ukiah Best of all, there is not cost to county taxpayers for NACo with the Livestock Awards Ceremony, Idol Producer. and Mendocino County to make these money saving cards the day continued with the usual fun There have been some unique and available to our residents. attractions such as the clown and magi- captivating performances this year, not Cards are available at many county facilities, as well as phar- cian shows, petting zoo, the popular only with singing too. Many other per- macies throughout the county. County residents can call toll GASCAR races, Brad’s Reptile House formances are welcome and have been free 1-877-321-2652 or visit https://naco.advancetx.com for and much more. The last day of the shown, such as a dance number by assistance with the program. Redwood Empire Fair also included local Ryan Johnson who performed in “There are no enrollment forms, restrictions, fees or use lim- the Ukiah Idol Grand Finals show. the adult Ukiah Idol division. First its with the NACo discount card, which makes it very easy for Ukiah Idol is a program that allows place finalist of the Little Idol division our residents,” said Linda Clouser, Director of Human talent of all ages to have their moment is singer Alycia Ford and Junior Idol Resources for Mendocino County. “A cardholder simply pre- in the spotlight. Much like the national first place finalist is singer McKenna sents the card at a participating pharmacy any time that a pre- television show American Idol, this Garcia. scription is not covered by insurance.” show is a competition of talent. This is “We have had some dynamite talent The discount card program is administered by Caremark Rx, the third year Ukiah Idol has been this year,” stated Dawn Senften, presi- Inc. The NACo is the only national organization that represents appearing at the annual Redwood dent of Ukiah Civic Light Opera who county governments in the United States. Founded in 1935, Empire Fair in Ukiah, but they have puts on Ukiah Idol. NACo provides essential services to the nation’s 3,066 coun- been holding their shows at The Ukiah Idol does not only hold per- ties. NACo advances issues with a unified voice before the fed- Saturday Afternoon Club three years formances at the Redwood Empire Fair eral government, improves the public’s understanding of coun- prior. There are three divisions of each year. They also perform at the ty government, assists counties in finding and sharing innova- Ukiah Idol; Little Idol for 5 to 9 year Little Idol winner Alycia Ford Family Expo, Relay for Life and other tive solutions through education and research, and provides olds, Junior Idol for 10 to 14 year olds sings in the finals Sunday. local community service activities. value-added services to save counties and taxpayers money. For and Ukiah Idol for 15 and up. “It looks a whole lot different from Ukiah Idol is planned to continue to more information about NACo, visit www.naco.org. Auditions for this year were held in the stage to the audience and I appreci- hold performances at next year’s fair April and June and those who made the ate the opportunity,” said Bob Parker and more community events in the cut and received a call back have per- of Redwood Valley. This was Parkers future. This local attraction was a fun formed at the fairgrounds this past first time singing on stage. and festive way to end this year’s See page 14 for more weekend. For many, this was their first Each group has a first place prize of Redwood Empire Fair in Ukiah and the time ever performing, yet they have $75 and a grand prize of $150 for one judges look forward to bringing in new photos from the 2008 outstanding performances. performer out of all three groups. The talent next spring. Redwood Empire Fair Biological opinion could change the outflows of Lake Mendocino The Daily Journal a basis for changing those flows which are par- Once the opinion is finalized, an application Michael Delbar, chairman of the Eel- Summer flows of water out of Lake tially based on the needs of salmonids that live can be made to the State Water Resources Russian River Commission and Mendocino Mendocino and into the Russian River could in the Russian River. Control Board to modify decision 1610. Any County supervisor said the release of the opin- be reduced following the release of a biologi- According to the draft opinion, reducing consideration of changes would trigger a report ion is a critical step in amending the decision cal opinion that could change the way those those summer releases into the Russian River based on the California Environmental Quality and achieving a balance between what is best releases are managed. could be beneficial to fish, as well as maintain- Act which would include opportunities for for salmon and what is best for life and agri- Flow volumes in the Russian River, as well ing greater water storage in the lakes during the public review and comment culture in Mendocino County. as releases from Lake Mendocino and Lake dry summer months. Mendocino County is currently facing its “I am hopeful that the biological opinion Sonoma are governed by California State The report will now be released to interest- second dry year in a row. As of Friday, storage will mean more water in Lake Mendocino later Water Resources Board Decision 1610. ed agencies, including the Sonoma County in the lake was at 56,414 acre feet, less than in the summer and fall seasons,” he said. A draft biological opinion from the National Water Agency, the Russian River Flood half of the lakes total storage. Last month, the The release of a draft opinion is another step Marine Fisheries Service that will be released Control District and the Mendocino County City of Ukiah asked that residents begin volun- to interested agencies in September could form Inland Water and Power Commission. tarily conserving water. See OUTFLOWS, Page 14 Too Much Stuff? UKIAH We Have The Solution... & Large R-30 Insulated Storage Units. STORAGE TRUCK RENTAL 468-0800 2 – MONDAY, AUG. 11, 2008 DAILY DIGEST Editor: Richard Rosier, 468-3520 The Ukiah Daily Journal [email protected] The world briefly FUNERAL NOTICES [\ spent his youth in Hill Drive until Rita’s mother, Olivia of Sunnyvale, California. He death in 2000. Sunnyvale; a sister, Kathy graduated from Chico State Dom was known for his Squadrito of Fort Wayne, Isaac Hayes, ‘Theme From Shaft’ singer, University in 1973 with a friendly demeanor, Indiana; and numer- presage of disco and rap, dies at age 65 major in Journalism. He lively sense of humor, kind- ous members of a large taught high school journal- ness, and great extended family. MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) -- Isaac Hayes, the baldheaded, bari- ism and coached several love of sports. He was an There will be a viewing tone-voiced soul crooner who laid the groundwork for disco teams, activities he enjoyed avid and accom- and rosary at Ever- and whose “Theme From Shaft” won both Academy and immensely. Later, he plished golfer and a 49er sole Mortuary, 141 Low Grammy awards, died Sunday afternoon after he collapsed near became an independent faithful, who attend- Gap Road in Ukiah a treadmill, authorities said. He was 65. agent for Farmers ed hundreds of games with on Sunday, August 10, Hayes was pronounced dead at Baptist East Hospital in Insurance in Ukiah.