Mendocino County Today: Friday, Oct. 14, 2016

• Punching Grandma
• Little Dog
• Cannabis Deliberations
• CalTrans Money
• Guest House
• Parvo Outbreak
• Oakland Bound
• Whiskey Bottle
• Holly Says Yes
• Police Reports
• Earthmover
• Gressett Interview
• Yesterday's Catch
• Neptune's Daughter
• Batman
• Nevius Letter
• Leaves
• Bigfoot Hunting
• HRC Vote
• Cyber Crime
• Hitler Reacts
• Salt Doll

JOHN WOLFE was back in Ten Mile Court this week. Wolfe is the former Navarro man facing felony assault charges for punching Ann Knight, a Navarro grandmother, back in July. The DA, in the form of Kevin Davenport, was rightly holding out for felony battery, while Wolfe had hoped to bust down his vicious one-punch attack on the Navarro grandmother to a misdemeanor.

THE ONE PUNCH assault on Mrs. Knight more than an hour after a concert at the Navarro Store, was witnessed by a number of shocked onlookers. Mrs. Knight was seriously injured by Wolfe's blow and has required what amounts to reconstructive surgery. As she has testified, Wolfe's assault traumatized not only her, but her entire family, including her young grandson who is now old enough to know what happened to his grandmother but not old enough to understand the why of it, if there is ever a why in cases like this.

WOLFE had hoped for a much lesser charge of misdemeanor battery, and for a while it looked like his savvy attorney, Patrick Pekin, might have gotten that deal for Wolfe from Assistant DA Tim Stoen, who was in the mix briefly in place of the unyielding Assistant DA Davenport. But Mrs. Knight's testimony so moved everyone in the room, including judge Clay Brennan, that Wolfe was found fully guilty of felony battery. He could get as much as five years in prison when he's finally sentenced.

THE KNIGHTS and Wolfe had been neighbors in Navarro, and Mrs. Knight and Wolfe had worked together at the Boonville Brewery. Tensions were so high in the aftermath of Wolfe's attack on that July night, that he'd fired warning shots to stop angry residents of the area from pursuing him. He was soon fired from his job at the Brewery and he and his wife moved inland to the Ukiah area.

AT THE HEARING this week, Wolfe, according to spectators, came to court confident that he would be found guilty only of a misdemeanor. When it became clear to him that he was going down for a felony the tough guy started to cry.

LITTLE DOG READY FOR BIG STORM TONIGHT

THE FIRST PARAGRAPH of a report on the absence of Supervisor Woodhouse from the new website MendoVoice.com:

“District Three Supervisor Tom Woodhouse’s family has issued a statement saying that he is under doctor’s care due to an unspecified “medical condition,” and that he will “hopefully” return to his duties in November. The short statement does not elaborate on the condition, nor specify with certainty when a return will occur. Until such time as he returns District Three will remain without representation on the Board of Supervisors, and important cannabis related votes will take place with only three sitting members of the board due to Supervisor Hamburg recusing himself from those votes.”

THE GUY is seriously ill but the real problem with his absence is he's not around for the endless pot discussions?

SUPERVISOR DAN GJERDE told us Thursday that Woodhouse’s absence during October will probably NOT affect the Board’s cannabis deliberations since the three remaining Supervisors are more or less in agreement with the current piecemeal steps being taken to deal with the various aspects of pot and its semi-legalization or potential legalization in upcoming months and years. At their next meeting the Board will consider a draft of a cannabis business license process (but probably not vote on it), and then in upcoming weeks additional aspects of local pot regulation and processing will be dealt with.

GJERDE POINTED OUT that the major categories of regulation listed in Measure AF (the Pot Growers’ initiative) will be addressed by the Board over the next few months and may (or may not) end up looking like Measure AF segments in part. But the proponents of Measure AF are trying to get it all done at once in their own way to avoid pesky processes like public hearings and environmental impact reports that the Board will tediously wade through before they come up with final versions — presumably under the complicated statewide framework.

WHATEVER THE BOARD comes up with will probably mean higher retail prices for “legal” weed. Which will mean that the pot growers who don’t want to go through all the permits, lawyers, water consultants, fees, taxes, rules, restrictions and so forth and prefer to sell on the black market may actually see a window of opportunity to sell somewhat below the legalized high prices.

IT’S ALL NEW TERRITORY, so expect the unexpected.

SUPERVISOR GJERDE also responded to our email question about the funding for the walk and bike Mendocino people. He said, first, he’s no longer on the NCO board, but that most of their funding comes from CalTrans through MCOG (Mendocino County of Government/Transportation Planning) and much of that “work” is for schools and school-related transportation. How much? Nobody knows. However, Gjerde said he thinks the five person office is probably nowhere near full-time.

C.R. JOHNSON KNEW WHAT HE WAS DOING

When He Built Fort Bragg

by B.B. Grace

There's no Wikipedia page on C. R. Johnson but there should be. He could have named Fort Bragg “Johnsonville”, had he been vain, rather than the visionary he turned out to be. When Johnson obtained the Civil War-era Fort buildings in the formation of what became Union Lumber Company he had a generational family photograph made of his parents, wife and young daughter on the Fort's hospital steps as a message to the future, that message being that buildings play a significant role in portraits. It wasn't the quartermaster’s house Johnson chose, as one can observe congressman Jared Huffman occupies it.

Before the Gold Rush and California joining the union in 1850, the redwood near what would become Fort Bragg was being felled for Henry Meigg's sawmill. The old mill is today housed in a museum at Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco. Meiggs, incidentally, went into hiding in the aftermath of some shady financial shenanigans whose victims wanted to kill him.

Sawmills, post Meiggs, popped up and came down everywhere for forty years along the coast and shipped out south to the growing Bay Area. C. R. Johnson's Union Lumber Company unified the Coast's timber industry, and Fort Bragg's Guest House stands as a living reminder of the prosperity the Johnson's Union Lumber Company brought to the Mendocino Coast.

The Guest House was established where the Fort Bragg Army hospital was located in 1857. The hospital situated on an effigy mound the Natives knew as a good energy place. The mound is sacred and the reason C. R. didn't want anyone living there. He understood the magic of Fort Bragg, and that the Guest House reflected the health of the community.

So why is the Guest House closed, and in such disrepair? The answer from the Historical Society under the leadership of President Mark Ruedrich, part owner of North Coast Brewing Company is, “There's no money” and “The City owns the building”.

The Guest House was given to the City of Fort Bragg in 1985 by Georgia Pacific with resolutions that it be a cultural place, preferably a museum, in perpetuity but not to be used at night; And that the House will never host a political event. Preservation of the house, made from old growth redwood the world will never see as lumber again, is crucial in the resolutions transferring ownership from GP to the City of Fort Bragg.

There are no maintenance records for the Guest House available. A deck built with love and pride for the Guest House in 1979 rots with broken glass and metal frames waiting to scratch anyone who dares to come near when the homeless aren't sleeping within it's broken seats and walls. There are frequent calls for various kinds of emergencies to the Fort Bragg Police Department and the Fort Bragg Volunteer Fire Department. But there are no City services other than City landscaping whose employees put love into their work, reinforced by the few volunteer docents who use their own money to make repairs to sparking light fixtures, loose boards, damaged leaking window sills as photographs and artifacts fade, and everyone waits for the City to find the money to properly maintain the historical site.

What they don't know is the City found the money and then buried it. Some might call it a Kick Back In Kind, others may call it a collusion, which may or may not be legal. Who will decide?

In 2010-11 The City of Fort Bragg accepted a Community Development Block Grant for $70,000 to purchase a “Guest House Museum Master Plan; City Wide Economic Development Plan”.

In January of 2012, the City of Fort Bragg, in the name of Linda Ruffing, signed a LEASE agreement for the Guest House to the Fort Bragg-Mendocino Coast Historical Society, in the name of Mark Reudrich at $1.00 per year over five years. That lease is up this December. The resolutions accompanying the conditions for House to the City were eliminated from the lease agreement and energy costs divided, are not reflected the September treasurer's reports of the Historical Society.

July 12, 2012 Fort Bragg residents and businesses marveled at the ease with which the North Coast Brewery cut through Coastal Commission Development and environmental concerns when Robert and Donna Rossi of North Coast Brewing Company and their agent Mike Wineland obtained a Fort Bragg City permit to install three new fermentation tanks and increase production to a maximum of 90,000 barrels of beer per year on North Main Street.

In December of 2012 the $70,000 Guest House Museum Master Plan was complete. Credit for the participants are listed with Tess Spade and Marie Jones being named twice. A few of the names listed are common names today: Dave Turner, Mark Ruedrich, David Foucheaux, George Reinhardt, Derek Hoyal, and Scott Dietz, and and a local woman who was shocked to see her name listed as she never heard of the Master Plan she purchased September 27th when requesting papers on the Guest House to seek an ability to form a Foundation to save the House. Linda Ruffing has not responded to the question put to her over a week ago, “Were Master Plan copies issued to those listed within, or were any listed informed they could purchase a 66 page copy from the City?”

The Guest House Museum Master Plan has two Strategic Plans within, the first being the Historical Society running the Museum following Strategic Plan 1, and Strategic Plan 2 that has the City hiring a Guest House Museum Executive Director at $50,000 @ 75% time to implement. The Master Plan architects and engineer inform that $285,000.00 in material and labor, especially cement around the fireplaces needs repair immediately. If the Strategic Plan 1 does not make the repairs to the House by 2015, the City is to immediately make the repairs and expect more repairs. The Master Plan provides for a Foundation, three executive jobs paying $50K, $45K, $50K and docents paid $15.00 an hour. Operating hours were to be 7 days a week 9 to 5. The Master Plan tells the City and Historical Society where to get the money to make repairs and hire help. It networks organizations, schools, businesses, and offered educational and literary opportunity. For $70,000 it's a plan designed to work for Fort Bragg as the Guest House would be in good repair, there would have been $57,000 in Sales, $101,700 in salaries paid, and $47,000 in the bank to enrich the community with festivals, programs, events, partnerships, and traveling exhibits.

To be specific, on Page 57 is a Chart: "5 year pro-forma" for 2013 to 2017, so this would be year 4:

Total income: $68,233

Gross Profit: $59,548

Salaries: $104,011

Net Income: ($35,778)

According to the Master Plan, the City was to have reviewed Strategic Plan under the Historical Society December 2015 and spend $285,000 on repairs. That didn't happen. When asked about the pending renewal of the Guest House Lease, Ruffing claims she and Mark Ruedrich plan to renew as is.

The agreement between Ruffing and Ruedrich works for them as the City can neglect all repairs to the House, not create jobs, or network with the community while North Coast Brewing can claim to have some philanthropic interest in the community and do more than take space for an unsustainable industry dependent on water and fossil fuels.

As I prepared this account, the Fort Bragg police refused to write a report concerning the public safety hazard represented by the deteriorated 1979 deck, but were hopeful something could be done. Scott Schneider, Administrative Services Director of the City is researching to see how OSHA applies and wouldn't take any report on the damaged deck, which by looking at all the papers, the City doesn't claim or list. If there's insurance papers, they haven't been located or shared. A visit to the Fort Bragg District Attorney suggested a call to the Ukiah DA where a voice mail was left and has not been returned. The ghost of C.R. Johnson looks on, wondering at this latter day inability to preserve the physical memory of the town he did so much to build.

* * *

Addendum:

Some additional names listed under acknowledgemnts:

Rosalie Gjerde, Johanna Jensen, Vivian La Mothe, David Maki, Jamie Peters, Teresa Rodriguez, Willian Scott, Mike and Denise Stenberg, Richard Storm, Nancy Swithenbank, Vicky Watts

I also have an email through Syvia Bartley from Mark Ruedrich on FB-MCHS paper that he checked with John Smith of the City and Smith's crew will be working on the Guest House soffits and doing roof repairs. It is dated Sept 26th 10:11 am.. I had dropped off a letter to Ruffing about the Guest House repairs.  I never heard from her. Instead it appears she contacted Ruedrich. I also have an email from Sylvia Bartley saying only Mark Ruedrich speaks for the Guest House, and why I had to resign to do something.

PARVO OUTBREAK AT SHELTER

Editor,

Yet another animal care crisis at the county operated Ukiah animal shelter. So far two dogs have died and a third one is being treated at the Mendocino animal hospital.

As far as I know, three puppies came into the shelter October 1 or 2. All three were put in one kennel together in the general outside kennels. One puppy was found dead in the kennel. There are many questions that are unanswered by Shelter staff and management. Were the puppies evaluated by veterinary staff prior to placing them into the general population? Why did it take a whole week before any serious efforts where made to protect the other shelter dogs from exposure to this deadly virus? The adult dog Seth who was infected and died, had he been medically evaluated when entering the shelter? What are the vaccination protocols for incoming dogs? It has been clearly documented by volunteers numerous times in front of the board of Supes that animals often wait 20 and more days before a vet sees the animals. This is not the first deadly disease outbreak at the shelter and it will not be the last one, unless stricter oversight and regulations are enforced and shelter management is held responsible for their inaction.

Monika Fuchs

Boonville

RIDE NEEDED FOR CANCER PATIENT

Hi Community,

Can you help a Cancer Resource Center client and her husband who are in need of a ride to Oakland next Tuesday, October 18th for medical appointments? The couple will be staying in the Bay Area for several weeks for specialized medical care. They will NOT need to be transported back to Mendocino County during this trip. Of course, gas will be provided. Please call me if you can help or have any questions. Thank you!

Rita Martinez
Client Services Manager, Coast Office
Cancer Resource Centers of Mendocino County
P.O. Box 50
Mendocino, CA 95460
707.937.3833 (phone)
707.313.0013 (fax)
www.crcmendocino.org

WHISKEY AIN’T WORKIN’

October 12, 2016. 6:19 p.m. As the country song goes “the whiskey ain’t workin’ anymore.” This is especially true for a couple that lives in a motorhome that moves from rest stop to rest stop, night after night as they battle their demons. As reported in last week’s Union, Davida Peterson went to jail Sept. 19 after she allegedly snuffed out a cigarette in her boyfriend’s face. After getting out of jail, she returned to the motorhome and her boyfriend at the rest stop north of Trinidad and everything was OK, until the boyfriend refused to hand over a bottle of whiskey. Peterson became upset and allegedly punched her boyfriend repeatedly in the back, neck and head, then tore off the freezer door and threw it. The boyfriend exited the motorhome and called 911. When deputies arrived, Peterson was gone, but was later found at the Chevron station in Trinidad, in the passenger side of a truck, curled up around a whiskey bottle.

— Kevin Hoover (Courtesy, the Mad River Union)

HOLLY SAYS YES

Letter in support of Measure AF

I am in favor of cannabis regulation in Mendocino County and that is why I am voting yes on AF. I admit it took me until recently to fully read the measure. I had heard from a number of no on AF advocates and was skeptical when some of their claims rang false: no environmental protections? Not accurate. A free-for-all zoning that would ok massive plantings? Not really. Locking our community into a non-democratic policy with no hope of revision? Not true at all. After reviewing AF and talking more with both opponents and supporters, I have chosen to vote Yes on AF, the Heritage Initiative.

My primary concern is that what we have now is a lack of regulation. There have been comments that this policy would create a “land rush” of exploitation but that is precisely what we in Mendocino County have been experiencing already. The streams being sucked dry, poisons endangering habitat and explosive rogue honey oil manufacturing is the reality that we deal with on a regular basis. Measure AF has very real and thoughtful policies to address these transgressions. The measure notes that both state and county agencies will be creating more specific regulations as the field evolves.

I have heard from one opponent that the environmental protections from the State Water Resources Control Board are insufficient and may not be properly enforced. However I have attended many of the State’s drafting sessions and they are in the forefront of this regulatory framework. That agency has gone out on a limb by delving into this legal grey area. After investing serious staff time and resources they are not going to ignore their own mandates. To aid enforcement they have designated a comprehensive program supported by hefty fees on the industry.

There is concern this measure gives “permission” to have honey oil labs in the county which worries our fire departments. Actually, AF restricts this production to industrial zoning and requires a safety and fire suppression plan. Currently this type of process is entirely unregulated and causes serious fire hazards all over our county. Mendocino County is the emerging leader in appalling explosions that risk the safety of our residents and massive forest fires. Regulation would decrease this trend.

I have heard that this is a measure created by the industry, which bypasses the public process when I know for a fact that this measure mirrors the state regulations and that the draft was discussed at length with our supervisors and key stakeholders.

While I have respect for many in the ‘no’ camp I have been discouraged with the fact that at most meetings where this is discussed the Yes on AF has not been invited to address the same group leading to one sided explanations.

Finally, AF offers comprehensive regulation that is available now. Any separate measure from the BOS or other group would not be ready for a significant time. This is a rapidly evolving area of regulation and it is prudent to be prepared to revise this initiative (which is an important provision of AF) rather than risk falling behind the rest of the State. My patience for those who exploit our community is at an end. Find out more for yourself and join me in voting YES on AF.

Holly Madrigal

Willits

I'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH THE GROCERIES, DEAR

On October 10, 2016 at about 4:00 PM Mendocino County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to an unwanted subject at a residence located in the 11000 block of West Road in Redwood Valley. Deputies arrived and contacted an adult male who reported he wanted Alma Nielsen, 31, of Concord, to leave his property. Deputies noticed Nielson was bleeding from a laceration to one of her fingers and the adult male had blood on his hands and chest with bruises to his left forearm. During an investigation, Deputies learned Nielson and the adult male were in a dating relationship and had arrived at the residence in the early morning hours of October 10, 2016 with another adult female. Sometime during the day Nielson had left the residence and drove to Ukiah to purchase some merchandise. Nielsen returned to the residence in the afternoon and went into the adult male’s bedroom while armed with a kitchen knife. The adult male, fearing for his safety, disarmed Nielson of the kitchen knife causing the cut to her finger. Nielson then assaulted the adult male causing bruising to his left forearm. Nielson was placed under arrest for Felony Domestic Violence Battery without incident. Nielson was booked into the Mendocino County Jail where she was to be held in lieu of $25,000 bail.

* * *

ANOTHER TRUMP VOTER DOWN

On October 13, 2016 at approximately 8:20 AM Mendocino County Sheriff Deputies attempted to serve an arrest warrant on William Lockett, 45, of Willits, at a residence (77 Holly Street in Willits). The Deputies were immediately met by Lockett who answered the door when Deputies knocked. Lockett was advised of the arrest warrants and was subsequently taken into custody. Lockett was arrested for inflicting corporal injury to a spouse, dissuading a witness and felony failure to appear. Lockett was booked into the Mendocino County Jail where he was to be held in lieu of $165,000 bail.

ELK? THIS THING IS IN ELK?

A reader asks: Who are these people?

GRESSETT UNCENSORED

Re: Mendocino TV censors Rex Gressett

As a public service, Fort Bragg’s radio station KNYO (107.7 FM) gave Mr. Gressett one hour of an "unedited" interview tonight. Here's the link to the "unedited" live stream:

https://www.facebook.com/mendocinosportsplus/posts/1253262248087923

Paul McCarthy (Courtesy, MendocinoSportsPlus)

CATCH OF THE DAY, October 13, 2016

ROCKY BOCCALEONI, Laytonville. Interfering with police communications, failure to appear.

MICHAEL CAIN, Laytonville. Possession of alcohol or drugs in jail, DUI-suspended license.

THOMAS DEAN, Chico/Ukiah. Under influence, parole violation.

AARON KRYDER, Willits. DUI-drugs.

JANET MALLETT, Ukiah. Failure to appear.

RAFAEL MATA JR., Ukiah. Dirk-dagger, resisting.

JOHN MCGHAN, McKinleyville/Ukiah. Failure to appear.

DWAYNE McKENZIE, Ukiah. Controlled substance, paraphernalia, failure to appear, probation revocation.

NICOLE MITCHELL, Arcata/Ukiah. Drunk in public, resisting.

JESSICA PINNOCK, Fort Bragg. Drunk in public.

LISA SCHRAGE, Willits. Drug possession for sale, probation revocation.

DAMIAN VARGAS, Indio/Ukiah. Unspecified misdemeanor.

DUSTIN WOOD, Ukiah. Shoplifting, possession of controlled substance, probation revocation.

THE MOST DEPRESSING CRIME OF THE WEEK, FRISCO DIVISION

Richmond Station Officers responded to the De Young museum regarding a vandalism incident. Museum employees directed the Officers to the Neptune’s Daughter statue. The Officers observed that an arm had been broken off the statue. The museum employee informed the Officers that the arm had since been located in some nearby foliage. This is the second senseless act of vandalism to this statue. This same statue was damaged in a similar way several years ago, and those repairs were estimated to have cost $30,000. The investigation into this disgraceful damage to a museum exhibit is ongoing. Anybody with any information regarding this incident, please contact the SFPD.

AFTER 36 YEARS AT CHRONICLE, IT’S TIME TO MOVE ON

By C.W. Nevius

After 36 years, I’m leaving The Chronicle. My last day will be Dec. 2. (I’ll pause so my sometime adversary on issues of homelessness, Jennifer Friedenbach, can begin her happy dance.)

The entire experience, start to finish, has been a delight. The Chronicle sent me all over the world to cover eight Olympic Games, 10 Super Bowls and other major sports events. I rode John McCain’s “Straight Talk Express,” interviewed Yoko Ono, and I know several homeless individuals by first name. And they know me.

It’s hard to imagine a cooler job than writing for a big-city newspaper. It’s a ticket behind the scenes, a chance to talk to movers and shakers and, sometimes, an opportunity to be influential.

When people ask why I am leaving, my joke is, “Monday morning.” That’s when I’d walk up to the entrance of 901 Mission at 8:30 a.m., knowing that in four hours I’d have to come up with a column for the next day’s paper. Although I’ve done it for years, I’m not beyond having sweaty palms on those days.

The deadline stress is part of the job, and if you can’t handle that you’re not going to last. In all modesty, I think I had the three-times-a-week routine down. It wasn’t that I couldn’t keep doing that. But did I want to keep doing it?

All of us have life-changing moments. Forty years ago I was teaching English in middle school and coaching the seventh-grade basketball team. I left teaching after four years to cover high school sports for a small, now-defunct, newspaper in Colorado Springs.

Four years after that I drove a battered red Honda Accord halfway across the country to a new job covering the Oakland Raiders for The Chronicle. I didn’t know a soul in San Francisco and was so naive about California that I thought I could drive down to Los Angeles on my day off to have lunch.

As it turned out, it was important to move to the Bay Area. I met a beautiful blonde at a party at Bruce Jenkins’ house, and now we’ve been married 31 years. Our two children are terrific — smart and successful — but most of all, truly nice, thoughtful adults. As those who know me say: Do not get him started on his kids.

It’s been a long time since I’ve taken one of those life-changing leaps of faith. And frankly, at 66 years old, the opportunities are dwindling. I began to think about making a dramatic change a couple of months ago, and it became more appealing the more I considered it. I don’t have another job waiting, but even if nothing comes up, we’ll be OK.

I’ll miss the people in the newsroom. Newspaper reporters and editors are the best sort of company. They are witty, cynical, well-read, world-weary (in the best possible way) and tellers of stories. There’s a lot of laughing in our newsroom.

I’ll also miss the readers. Some tell me they can’t imagine how many nasty emails I get. But it’s really not bad. There are a lot of supportive notes. And sometimes, when I reply to a really mean one, I get a response back saying something like, “Oh geez, I was kind of having a bad day. Sorry if I was over the top.”

I’ve learned a few things. My son once told me that when he wrote a paper in college, he could hear my voice saying, “Shorter sentences.”

When I started here in 1980, I was determined to make an impression. I was writing my butt off, five and six days a week. Honestly, the response was pretty tepid. Then the Raiders reached the playoffs and ended up going all the way to the Super Bowl — and winning it. People started coming up to me and saying, “Your writing has really improved.”

That’s when I realized that writing is wonderful, but a good story makes the difference.

More than anything, I’m particularly grateful I got to travel the world on The Chronicle’s dime. I ate bee larvae in Japan, skied the French Alps, saw 100,000 people attend a cross-country ski race in Norway. And more.

All of it, every day at this job, made me who I am. I like to think I’ve made an impact.

The other day, I was walking down Market Street and a guy and his wife were eating at a sidewalk table. He looked at me and did a double take.

“Hey,” he said. “You’re the Chronicle guy.”

“Yep,” I replied. “I am.”

“Honey,” he said to his wife, “this is Scott Ostler.”

My work here is done.

(The San Francisco Chronicle)

LEAVES

(Photo by Kim Nicolini)

BREAKING NEWS: BIGFOOT HUNTING IS LEGAL IN TEXAS, BUT NOT IN CALIFORNIA!

by Dan Bacher

Let's take a break from the presidential debates and non-stop media coverage of the November 2016 election and deal with a particularly urgent matter — whether or it’s legal or not to hunt for the elusive Bigfoot.

Don’t try Bigfoot hunting in California – it could result in your arrest and conviction, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW).

On May 11, 2012, the CDFW issued a statement in response to media reports about a Texas wildlife official proclaiming that bigfoot hunting is legal in the long horn state.

“The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department says that in theory, it would be legal to hunt Bigfoot in their state,” stated a CDFW facebook post. “Not so in California!”

“The lack of confirmation of this alleged animal’s existence brings into question whether or not it occurs naturally in California,” according to the agency. “If Bigfoot occurs naturally in the state, then it would be defined as a non-game mammal pursuant to California Fish and Game Code Section 415.”

In order to take a non-game mammal legally in California, it must be listed in the California Code of Regulations, which Bigfoot is not.

“If Bigfoot does not occur naturally in California then it would not be defined as a non-game mammal and could not be taken legally… unless the Bigfoot was causing property damage (in which case it could be depredated) or if a Bigfoot was considered a public safety threat (in which case the animal could be taken).”

If the existence of only one Bigfoot was confirmed, then it could be considered “threatened and endangered” and could potentially be listed as a protected species under the state or federal Endangered Species Acts, according to the agency.

“But if a healthy and growing population of Bigfoot was confirmed, a hunting season for the creature might be considered and could potentially be implemented (unless a law is passed that lists it as a specially protected mammal),” the CDFW said.

However, the agency cautioned, “But even if it was legal to hunt Bigfoot in California, the cryptid would surely prove to be extremely elusive prey for even the most crafty and seasoned of hunters. Because, as history shows, this species is notoriously hard to spot, photograph or document … which means it’s likely to be extraordinarily difficult to track down and dispatch.”

“Despite its massive frame, the legendary Bigfoot seems to be as light on its feet as Fred Astaire in his hoofing prime … and perplexingly adept at blending into its habitat,” the Department quipped.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission has a far different approach to Bigfoot hunting regulations.

According to a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department official, you’re free to kill as many Bigfoot as your want, since the giant cryptid isn’t listed as an endangered species, reported Live Science magazine on May 11, 2012. (http://www.livescience.com/20248-shooting-bigfoot-legal-texas.html)

“If the Commission does not specifically list an indigenous, nongame species, then the species is considered non-protected nongame wildlife, e.g., coyote, bobcat, mountain lion, cotton-tailed rabbit, etc,” wrote Lieutenant David Sinclair, Chief of Staff at the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, in an email response to Bigfoot enthusiast John Lloyd Scharf. “A nonprotected nongame animal may be hunted on private property with landowner consent by any means, at any time and there is no bag limit or possession limit.”

Sharf reported that he replied to Sinclair, “So, it is the case all individuals of an unknown species … could be exterminated without criminal or civil repercussions — essentially causing extinction?”

Bigfoot enthusiasts and researchers have been concerned for years that somebody may kill a Bigfoot if and when the species is finally captured, preventing researchers from studying a live specimen of the species. Some regional governments in the Pacific Northwest, where the most Bigfoot sightings have occurred, have passed resolutions and laws to protect the cryptid, also known as Sasquatch.

In 1992, Whatcom County, Washington officials approved a resolution declaring the County a “sasquatch protection and refuge area.” This was a “county resolution,” not a new law.

In 1969, Skamania County Washington passed an ordinance prohibiting the killing of Bigfoot.

In 2007, Mike Lake, a Canadian member of parliament from Edmonton, Alberta, introduced a petition calling Bigfoot to be protected under the Canadian version of the endangered species act.

However, these measures are all based on the assumption that Bigfoot is an animal. If a Bigfoot is ever captured or its existence is proven, it may turn out that it is actually a species of hominid related to homo sapiens.

Wouldn’t it then be considered murder to kill a Bigfoot? Would Texas still consider Bigfoot a “nonprotected nongame animal?”

Anyway, the message is clear from the California Department of Wildlife: don’t kill a Bigfoot if you happen to encounter one while hiking, camping, fishing, hunting or rafting in California.

You will not only deprive science of its unique opportunity to study a live Bigfoot, but will face possible jail time and a big fine under the California Fish and Game Code. And if it is determined that Bigfoot is a close relative of homo sapiens, you may face murder charges.

Below is the email response from Lieutenant Sinclair to Scharf:

Mr. Scharf:

The statute that you cite (Section 61.021) refers only to game birds, game animals, fish, marine animals or other aquatic life. Generally speaking, other nongame wildlife is listed in Chapter 67 (nongame and threatened species) and Chapter 68 (nongame endangered species). “Nongame” means those species of vertebrate and invertebrate wildlife indigenous to Texas that are not classified as game animals, game birds, game fish, fur-bearing animals, endangered species, alligators, marine penaeid shrimp, or oysters. The Parks and Wildlife Commission may adopt regulations to allow a person to take, possess, buy, sell, transport, import, export or propagate nongame wildlife. If the Commission does not specifically list an indigenous, nongame species, then the species is considered non-protected nongame wildlife, e.g., coyote, bobcat, mountain lion, cotton-tailed rabbit, etc. A non-protected nongame animal may be hunted on private property with landowner consent by any means, at any time and there is no bag limit or possession limit.

An exotic animal is an animal that is non-indigenous to Texas. Unless the exotic is an endangered species then exotics may be hunted on private property with landowner consent. A hunting license is required. This does not include the dangerous wild animals that have been held in captivity and released for the purpose of hunting, which is commonly referred to as a “canned hunt”.

If you have any questions, please contact Assistant Chief Scott Vaca. I have included his e-mail address. I will be out of the office and in Houston on Friday.

Best,

L.David Sinclair Chief of Staff – Division Director I
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Law Enforcement Division
4200 Smith School Road Austin, TX 78744
Office 512.389.4854 Cell 512.971.2668
Fax 512.389.8400 “Texas Game Wardens Serving Texans Since 1895-Law Enforcement Off the Pavement”

WHAT IT MEANS TO VOTE FOR HRC

ABOUT TIME

(Press release from the Attorney General’s Office:)

Attorney General Kamala D. Harris….announced the creation of the California Cyber Crime Center (C4), a new initiative within the California Department of Justice to fight crime in the digital era by bringing state-of-the-art digital forensic capabilities and cyber security expertise to law enforcement across the state.

“As the world becomes increasingly digital and crime evolves, the tools we use to prevent, investigate, and prosecute crime must keep pace. Criminals are operating online with alarming sophistication, committing identity theft, hacking, cyber exploitation, and other crimes that involve technology, and law enforcement must stay one step ahead,” said Attorney General Harris. “The California Cyber Crime Center brings legal, technical, and forensic capabilities to law enforcement across the state, helping our partners combat crime and building on our commitment to bring innovation to government.”

C4 brings together the eCrime unit, established by Attorney General Harris in 2011 to investigate and prosecute large-scale identity theft and technology crimes; the Network Information Security Section (NISS), the California Department of Justice (DOJ)’s office of cyber security experts; and the Digital Evidence Unit, which was first piloted in the California DOJ Bureau of Forensic Service state crime labs in 2011, making California one of the first states in the nation to develop this capability. The Digital Evidence Unit uses scientific methods to extract and analyze information from technological items like cell phones and offers foundational classes on forensic training for law enforcement. To date, nearly 1,300 law enforcement personnel have been trained through these courses, with approximately 80 agencies per year trained since 2012.

C4 also includes a newly created unit— the Office of Digital Investigations (ODI)—that focuses on emerging technologies like software and data forensics and website reconstruction. ODI provides law enforcement with the capability to restore the digital scene of a crime to aid investigators in uncovering crucial evidence. This unit’s technical expertise was critical in the first-in-the-nation criminal convictions of cyber exploitation website operators Kevin Bollaert and Casey Meyering which Attorney General Harris secured last year. Bollaert and Meyering were sentenced to 18 years and three years respectively for running websites where users could post intimate images of unsuspecting victims without their consent.

The final component of C4 is a brand-new Cyber Accelerator, a program that brings together members of the Digital Evidence Unit, the Office of Digital Investigations, and the eCrime Unit to focus on research and development and collaborate on new innovations. The first product developed in the Cyber Accelerator is a Cyber Response Vehicle (CRV)—a re-purposed Mobile Command Vehicle that was retrofitted into a mobile digital forensics laboratory. The CRV allows multiple staff to collect, acquire, and process media, mobile devices, personal computers, servers and other sources of electronically stored information on-site during the course of an investigation.

Attorney General Harris has developed and implemented a range of initiatives to protect the privacy and cyber security of California’s residents and businesses. Last year, Attorney General Harris launched an online resource hub with helpful tools for victims, the technology industry, and law enforcement agencies to combat cyber exploitation, where intimate images are shared without consent in order to humiliate or extort the victim. The Attorney General supported legislation signed into law last year by Governor Jerry Brown, Senate Bill 676 (Cannella, R-Ceres) and Assembly Bill 1310 (Gatto, D-Glendale), expanding the tools with which law enforcement can gather evidence in cyber exploitation cases and more effectively prosecute these crimes.

Attorney General Kamala D. Harris created the Privacy Enforcement and Protection Unit in 2012 to focus on protecting consumer and individual privacy through civil prosecution of state and federal privacy laws. The eCrime Unit, created by Attorney General Harris in 2011, opened 22 investigations, filed 23 complaints, and obtained 44 convictions, securing a total of $30.6 million in restitution for victims and taxpayers in 2014-2015 alone.

HITLER REACTS TO TRUMP TAPES

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6qmJkGf-FQ

THE SALT DOLL

Waves of sattwic energy are breaking over

The salt doll that's similar to rigid minds

Eons of a divinely sourced electric current

Surges through the mental and physical forms

Because you see, nobody's really all alone in

The sea of samsara, so now rejoice amidst the

Abominable Kali Yuga, since you've previously

Met pollution and terror and economic shakes

All manifestations of Halloween's dark night

Glowing ugly masks of a presidential election

So go out fearlessly to the beach and sit down

Silently, immersed in perfect nirvikalpa samadhi

–Craig Louis Stehr

Email me at Waikiki Beach: CraigStehr@inbox.com