Mendocino County Today: Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017

• First Rain
• Maple
• Fire Update
• Fire Fundraiser
• Keegan Plea
• Tylenol Suicide
• River Meeting
• Plant Sale
• Navarro Accident
• Little Dog
• BOS Request
• Sirens Needed
• Three Events
• Philbricking
• Community Meeting
• Measure B
• DiRosa Preserved
• Yesterday's Catch
• American Arc
• Lethal Driver
• Voter Suppression
• Journalism
• Preparation
• News Biz
• Collusion
• Watering Cannabis
• Assault Rifles
• Board Addition
• McAdams Interview
• Planning Commission
• PA Agenda
• Hard
• Reckless
• Marco Radio
• Terror Tale
• Worst Salad
• Boycott Boycott

FIRST RAIN as described by Mike Kalantarian of Navarro: "By dawn’s early light it looks like a fat inch."

RAINFALL AROUND MENDOCINO:

REDWOOD VALLEY FIRE (Mendocino Lake Complex) Incident Information

Last Updated: October 21, 2017, 8:52 pm

Acres Burned: 36,523

Containment: 95%

Structures Destroyed: 545

Structures Damaged: 43

Cause: Under Investigation

Status: Fire personnel will remain at scene working to extinguish hot spots and improve containment lines. Damage assessment has been completed. Fire suppression repair continues to minimize the effects of the fire’s damage. All evacuations warnings have been lifted. Road Closures: None

Phone Number: (707) 459-7419 (Fire Information Line)

PETER KEEGAN plead “not guilty” to second degree murder charges at his long-delayed arraignment Friday morning. AVA reporter Bruce McEwen said Keegan looked "ill and gaunt" as he entered the courtroom in a wheelchair with assistance from friends and family. Keegan’s attorney, Chris Andrian of Santa Rosa, said he was not able to appear for Keegan until March of 2018 at the earliest. At first prosecutor Tim Stoen agreed to the postponement, but DA Eyster objected to any more delays. Keegan/Andrian will have to file a request for a continuance, which of course, is more delay. Keegan said in his August grand jury testimony that he probably wouldn’t live for six more months, and his health continues to decline. He is unlikely to be tried, in this life, for the bludgeoning murder of his wife, Susan. Bruce McEwen will have more on the pleading soon.

DEATH BY TYLENOL?

On Wednesday (Oct. 18) we wrote:

AT THE END of July of this year, an Elk Grove man, missing since Sunday, July 9, was found dead in his silver 2000 Ford Mustang near mile marker 4 on Highway 128, not far from Highway One. He was found in the trunk of his car, and there were no apparent signs of foul play. The dead man was subsequently identified as 76-year-old James Blanton, an African-American with family and friends in Elk Grove. An autopsy did not reveal cause of death, but the Sheriff's Department said the death did not seem suspicious. A Fort Bragg woman, who'd stopped near the dead man’s car "discovered" Blanton’s remains and called the Sheriff. How she discovered the old man is not known since he was locked in the trunk of his vehicle. Of course the odor of a decomposing corpse would have aroused suspicion even if it were not visible. Blanton's car had been parked off 128 near Highway One for at least two weeks; the CHP had left a ticket on the windshield. Anderson Valley people are still wondering at the circumstances of the man's death.

* * *

SUSIE DE CASTRO WRITES:

This is an official report from the office of the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Department on the cause of death of the gentleman found in his vehicle on Hwy 128, in Mendocino County in July. When a physical autopsy does not yield an obvious conclusion, a toxicological exam is performed. The findings are as follows: Cause of death ruled a suicide, due to the ingestion of an overdose of acetaminophen. [I.e., Tylenol —ms]

* * *

(“Intentional overdosing (self-poisoning, with suicidal intent) is frequently implicated in paracetamol toxicity.^[22] In a 2006 review, paracetamol was the most frequently ingested compound in intentional overdosing.”)

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11210057

* * *

FURTHER CHECKING shows that Mr. Blanton had been reported missing from Elk Grove on July 12 at which time he was described as “at risk” and suffering from dementia. Then on July 13, Elk Grove police reported that he had been found “in the area of Bilby and Bruceville Roads” near Elk Grove (outside of Sacramento). At that time Mr. Blanton was “alert and conscious” and was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

NAVARRO RIVER BASIN INSTREAM FLOW NEEDS ASSESSMENT MEETING

October 26, 2017

The North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board (Regional Water Board) will hold the first public meeting to discuss the development of a Study Plan for the Navarro River Basin Instream Flow Needs Assessment (Study). The Study is being designed to assess flow needs to support beneficial uses in the Navarro River Basin.

This meeting is the first opportunity for stakeholders to hear about the Study, ask questions of staff, and hear about future opportunities for engagement. Please find the meeting agenda attached. Future meetings will be held throughout the Basin to provide additional opportunity for engagement with watershed stakeholders. The initial Navarro River Basin Instream Flow Needs Assessment (Study) meeting will take place at the following place and time:

Mendocino County Fairgrounds, Dining Hall
14400 CA-128, Boonville, CA
Thursday, October 26, 2017
4:30 PM - 7:00 PM

Topics/Presenters:

Opening Remarks and Study Background/Context
Bryan McFadin, Regional Water Board

Agenda Review and Meeting Guidelines
Sam Magill, Kearns & West

Project Description Review and Study Timeline
Paul Devries, R2 Consultants Inc.

Stakeholder Assessment Overview
Sam Magill, Kearns & West

Audience Q&A
All Meeting Participants

Review Action Items and Next Steps
Bryan McFadin, Regional Water Board
Sam Magill, Kearns & West

OOPSY — CRASH INTO NAVARRO STORE PICNIC TABLES

The scanner & the CHP Traffic "incident" page reported (9:25 am) a "Vehicle crashed into picnic tables and is now on the front lawn of the Navarro General Store" at 231 Wendling Street in Navarro.

(MendocinoSportsPlus)

LITTLE DOG SAYS, “This is our back forty, so you can see how alert I have to be, what with critters jogging up out of the wilderness and the even wilder creatures walking in off Highway 128. Yessir, this little dog has his paws full.”

MENDO TO ASK ARMY CORPS TO FULLY STAFF LAKE MENDO

(On next Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors Agenda)

TO: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 441 G Street NW Washington, DC 20314-1000

October 24, 2017 — The Mendocino County Board of Supervisors respectfully requests your assistance in providing the proper funding for the staffing and management at Lake Mendocino, a locally and regionally important recreational facility located in Mendocino County. Any neglect of the recreational infrastructure at Lake Mendocino negatively impacts the visitor experience; the local economy; and threatens the long term viability of the facility.

The Mendocino County Board of Supervisors recognizes and appreciates the significant and enduring benefits to the upper Russian River area that have resulted from the construction of Coyote Valley Dam and the impoundment of waters which have created Lake Mendocino. The Board of Supervisors recognizes that Coyote Valley Dam was constructed and is primarily operated as a flood control project but it is equally true that Lake Mendocino is a valuable public resource that contributes significantly to local and regional recreational opportunities and the economy. Historically, Lake Mendocino has been one of the most visited recreational sites for boating and camping operated by the United States Army Corps of Engineers.

Over the past few decades funding support for the recreation management at Lake Mendocino has not been increased and remains at the mid 1980s level. Recreational management has also been hindered by extended delays in filling both seasonal and permanent positions. The Federal hiring process needs to be streamlined and the recruitment of applicants should be advertized locally or regionally, especially for park rangers and seasonal workers. Funding allocations need to be increased to prevent the deterioration of basic services and infrastructure that may lead to complete or partial closure of this valued public resource.

Lake Mendocino provides a convenient and cost effective recreational opportunity that is of particular benefit to low income families who seek a temporary refuge from summertime temperatures that can exceed 110 degrees. There is no comparable facility in inland Mendocino County that can

In conclusion, the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors respectfully requests your assistance in restoring adequate funding, staffing and management resources to the operation of recreational facilities at Lake Mendocino. In addition, we request your cooperation and timely assistance in exploring any viable alternatives that may result in improved and sustainable management and operation of the recreation so valued by the public at Lake Mendocino.

Sincerely,

John McCowen, Chair

Mendocino County Board of Supervisors

SIRENS NOW!

Editor:

We need sirens to warn residents of impending disasters. I am a longtime resident of Santa Rosa, but I was born and raised on Long Island. Each day at noon the local fire departments in many communities would sound sirens that reached far and wide. No TV, cellphone or internet needed.

We live in a high-risk fire zone. I appreciate the efforts of the officials knocking on doors in the middle of the night, but they cannot possibly contact all those in harm’s way. No one could. We cannot put residents at risk of little or no notice like this ever again.

Kathleen Zack

Santa Rosa

HERE ARE THREE ITEMS that may of interest, in reverse chronological order: Laura Nyro sing and dance along rescheduled to Oct. 27 in Willits; Singalong at Ed and Ina's Sunday Oct. 22; work party Sat Oct. 21st, 8-3

1. Our fundraiser for those in need after the fires will be at the Willits Center for the Arts (71 East Commercial St, next to Noyo Theater) on Friday October 27th from 7-10 PM. This Laura Nyro tribute with music also by Bill Taylor and other songwriters will feature Jaye Alison Moscariello and friends on vocals, George Husaruk on flute, Yanahay Hooper on bass, and Bill Taylor on keyboard. You are welcome to sing, dance, and be in community for healing from the devastating fire. The suggested $15 donation will support those recovering from the fire and will go through the Community Foundation to ensure it gets to those who need it most. 310-970-4517 (Jaye) or 707-272-1688 (Bill) for more information. The music will be upstairs, where Jaye's "POLITIC-OH" exhibition is open until November 17th.
2. Ed Dick and Ina Gordon and their home survived the fire. They are hosting a sing-along, which will be both songs many know and original music by the creative folks who show up (the last one I went to was fantastic). This is from 3-6 PM at 15870 Tomki Rd., just before the monastery but on the left. Since their phone may or may not be working, I can give you more information including directions at 707-272-1688 (Bill).
3. Although many are rightly attending to others needing assistance, Floodgate Farm is having a work party on Saturday October 21st, anytime between 8 AM and 3 PM. We are ending early in order to attend Richard Jeske's grape tasting out Easthill Road in Willits which runs from 1-6 PM (we will be buying grapes to replant in our orchard). We are at 12400 Bakers Creek Rd., 3 miles off Laughlin Way. Call 707-272-1688 for directions and so I know you are coming.

NOT EASY

Dear Editor:

Jerry Philbrick, pre-retirement, was a crackerjack logger and he has always supported youth sports and the local community. I must take issue with some of his Letter to the Editor printed in the 18 October AVA. Since I am not as familiar, as apparently Mr. Philbrick is, with the precise language of Governor Browns's signing of "the bill to shorten sentences for criminals who have committed violent crimes with a gun" and the "bill to be a sanctuary state" or his "veto of a bill to clean around the PG&E lines and poles," I can neither agree nor disagree with Governor Brown's actions. I am not in favor of indiscriminate use of poisons. Although I think that illegal immigrants who commit meaningful crimes should be tried and deported, there are many hard-working immigrants, like my ancestors, that do the jobs that local dope growers shun. The list of these jobs is too lengthy to enumerate. Owning at least my share of firearms, and having little faith in the ability of law enforcement to protect my family or my property in anything approaching a timely fashion, I wish to continue to enjoy my right to own guns. However, I have not any objection to banning automatic weapons (aka machine guns) nor restricting high capacity magazines even though I recognize that they might prove useful in the case of armed insurrection. Nor do I have a problem with handgun registration, background checks and restrictions on the ability of certain people to purchase weapons.

In the matter of the NFL controversy, a player who kneels with his hand on his heart during our National Anthem (blessings on America) is showing respect while exercising his First Amendment rights and to label them anti-American touches, in certain cases, on slander. By my understanding, they are protesting the racist treatment received by many in these United States; the ability to murder an unarmed brownish man with no consequence. This is a worthy protest.

President Donald Trump foments hatred and racism while lining his own pockets and those of his friends (examine his tax plan). It is class warfare using "divide and conquer" tactics. He outsources his own manufacturing. He is willing to risk the lives of both his and our grandchildren for profits. He encourages fascism.

My belief is that Mr. Philbrick and this writer agree in some areas. We both think that the mainstream Democratic party consists of "politically (in)correct nice" people who refuse to acknowledge reality. We both believe that an informed, knowledgeable citizenry is necessary for an effective democracy. And maybe we both believe that youth's fascination with, and dependence on "devices," coupled with television as babysitter, will destroy this grand experiment, democratic government.

Peter Lit

Elk

REDWOOD VALLEY COMMUNITY MEETING

After the Disaster Response and Recovery 

On Tuesday, October 24, 2017, the Redwood Valley Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) in partnership with Mendocino County First District Supervisor Carre Brown, will hold an informational meeting to educate and assist individuals, families and businesses affected by the Redwood Fire. Mendocino County will provide an update on disaster recovery efforts and available services from local, state, federal and non-profit partners.

When: Tuesday, October 24, 2017 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Where: Eagle Peak Middle School Gymnasium, 8601 West Rd, Redwood Valley CA 95470

Who: 

• First District Supervisor Carre Brown
• Redwood Valley Municipal Advisory Council
• Mendocino County Sheriff
• Mendocino County Environmental Health
• Mendocino County Planning and Building
• Mendocino County Agriculture
• Mendocino County Health and Human Services Agency
• Mendocino County Assessor-Clerk Recorder
• Mendocino County Farm Bureau
• Mendocino County Recovery Assistance
• United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
• North Coast Opportunities (NCO)
• West Company

Live Online: This community meeting will be streamed live on the Mendocino County Facebook page and YouTube Channel.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Disaster Services Assistance workers will be available onsite from 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m to assist with FEMA claim registration. Claimants may also register online at https://www.fema.gov/apply-assistance. FEMA services and additional resources will continue to be available at the Local Assistance Center (LAC) located at Mendocino College (1000 Hensley Creek Rd) in Ukiah from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily through October 30, 2017.

For more information please contact the Executive Office at (707) 463-4441.

BACK & FORTH ON MEASURE B

Rich Childs (Fort Bragg):

I thought I'd briefly share some thoughts with you on Measure B.

I’m a social liberal, so I want to help the mentally ill. Also I love Tom Allman (our best sheriff in decades — especially with the way he handled the fire crisis) and want to support his Measure B. The principle of it is good.

B-u-t, I’m also a fiscal conservative  —  and I have some serious issues with it. Tom came to the Coast Democrat Club a couple of weeks ago and pitched it. Some members questioned the finances of it.

Long-story-short, he said this raises $38 million in the first 5 years from a half cent sales tax, $29 million of it earmarked for 1, 2, or 3 facilities to help the mentally ill (there's no plan yet for what exactly is needed) -- the remaining $9 million for 'services.'

That comes to $29 million for one — or $9 million each for 3 — building(s). This seems vastly excessive. He added in his talk that there are usually only a very few patients at any given time needing services/overnight stays, etc.

I don’t think this has been thought through. Rather than come up with a "here’s a specific plan to better take care of the county’s mentally ill and its cost" (as there may well be some need for improvement) it seems they went the simple route: most people will want to help the mentally ill and a half-cent sales tax will seem miniscule — let’s put it on the ballot.

How can you ask for $29 million for “facilities” without a concrete plan for what's needed and how it'll be spent? More importantly, that’s way, WAY over what one or even three should cost. To put this in perspective, the Mendocino Grammar School with its 9 classrooms, 5 staff rooms, library, PE room, and restaurant-sized kitchen/seating facility only cost $15 million. And this was a Cadillac of a building with copper gutters/downspouts and other extras.

I see another underlying and possibly more important error in this. The public will absorb just so many of these little sales/property tax fixes before going “tilt.” We’re at 8 1/2% now. The hospital is going to want some special tax passed; our roads have been underfunded for years — already there's talk about a special tax for them. Or better police/sheriff services, the schools, homeless housing, a better Mendocino College, yada-yada. For all of us died-in-the-wool liberals, I think it's really important to look at the costs of social programs along with our desires to help make the world better. If we don't, there's going to be a backlash down the road (as Proposition 13 proved).

Bottom line: Unless my information is wrong, I just can’t vote for this, despite wanting to help the mentally ill. They’re asking for w-a-y too much money ($38 million) for this; and it’ll likely hinder future special tax assessments from getting passed that could satisfy more critical community needs.

With hopes I haven't offended any of my liberal friends.

* * *

John Fremont (Fort Bragg):

I'm sure Tom Allman has some ideas about facilities (e.g.,, the old Howard Hospital can be outfitted and perhaps the structure on Talmadge Road can be as well), but there are better reasons for Allman's reluctance to be more specific.

I spoke with the sheriff about the homeless problem and volunteered to serve on a committee to assess and refer mentally ill homeless folks, many of whom need a structured environment.

On the other hand, I oppose a hospital tax. The current CEO is overpaid and inefficient.

Instead of carping, Rick, put your "social liberal" mindset to solving problems rather than exacerbating them.

Just sayin'…

JUST AS I FEARED, but the di Rosa Preserve was preserved. The diRosa Center for Contemporary Art reported Monday morning that all of its galleries were safe and firefighters were in the area. diRosa’s spokesperson Danielle Smith told the S.F. Chronicle that “the fire had burned down to the picnic tables but was contained.”

CATCH OF THE DAY, October 20, 2017

WILLIAM AADLAND-BREEN, Willits. Probation revocation.

ASHLEY AZEVEDO, Ukiah. Vandalism, probation revocation.

BEATRIX CERVANTES, Ukiah. Under influence, probation revocation.

TIMOTHY CILIBRASI, Elk. Disorderly conduct-alcohol.

MICHAEL DONAHE, Ukiah. Disorderly conduct-alcohol. (Frequent flyer.)

DANIEL DUTRA, Willful cruelty to child with possible injury or death.

OSVALDO GARNICA-TREJO, Lakeport/Ukiah. DUI, suspended license for DUI, probation revocation.

WILLIAM OWENS, Ukiah. Probation revocation.

ZACHARIA ROZEK, Willits. Probation revocation. (Frequent flyer.)

DOUGLAS WHIPPLE III, Covelo. Community supervision violation.

INTO THE COLD & DARK

by James Kunstler

It amuses me that the nation is so caught up in the sexual mischief of a single Hollywood producer when the nation as a whole is getting fucked sideways and upside down by its own political caretakers.

Behind all the smoke, mirrors, Trump bluster, Schumer fog, and media mystification about the vaudeville act known as The Budget and The Tax Cut, both political parties are fighting for their lives and the Deep State knows that it is being thrown overboard to drown in red ink. There’s really no way out of the financial conundrum that dogs the republic and something’s got to give.

Many of us have been waiting for these tensions to express themselves by blowing up the artificially levitated stock markets. For about a year, absolutely nothing has thwarted their supernatural ascent, including the threat of World War Three, leading some observers to believe that they have been rigged to perfection. Well, the algo-bots might be pretty fine-tuned, and the central bank inputs of fresh “liquidity” pretty much assured, but for all that, these markets are still human artifacts and Murphy’s Law still lurks out there in the gloaming with its cohorts, the diminishing returns of technology (a.k.a. “Blowback”), and the demon of unintended consequences.

Many, including yours truly, have expected the distortions and perversions on the money side of life to express themselves in money itself: the dollar. So far, it has only wobbled down about ten percent. This is due perhaps to the calibrated disinformation known as “forward guidance” issued by this country’s central bank, the Federal Reserve, which has been threatening — pretty idly so far — to raise interest rates and shrink down its vault of hoarded securities — a lot of it janky paper left over from the misadventures of 2007-2009.

I guess the lesson is that when you have a pervasively false and corrupt financial system, it is always subject to a little additional accounting fraud — until it’s not. And the next thing you know, you’re sitting in the rubble of what used to be your civilization.

The ever more immiserated schnooks who make up the former middle-class know that their lives are crumbling, and may feel that they’re subject to the utterly overwhelming forces of a cruel destiny generated by a leviathan state that hates and despises them. And of course that is exactly why they turned to the Golden Golem of Greatness for salvation.

Alas, Mr. Trump has not constructed a coherent strategy for defeating the colossus of fakery that drives the nation ever-deeper toward the cold and dark. He has a talent for distraction and disruption, though, and so far that gave cover to a whole lot of other people in power who have been able to stand around with their hands in their pockets doing nothing about the sinking state of the nation.

Now, the vaudeville act is coming to a spectacular conclusion as the trappings of Halloween go back in the closet and the pulsating, LED-studded Santas go up on the rooftops. Every ceremony of American life seems drained of meaning now, including the machinations of government over the budget and taxes. The revolution to come out of this frozen swamp of irresponsibility will be the messiest and most incoherent in world history. Nobody will have any idea what is going on outside the geo-storm of failure.

About the only thing one can say for sure is that the American life which emerges from this maelstrom will not look a whole lot like what we’re living in today. I remain serenely convinced that when it finally passes, the air will be fresh again and the sun will shine, and a lot more people will know what is real and what is not.

(Support Kunstler’s writing by visiting his Patreon Page: https://www.patreon.com/JamesHowardKunstler)

LETHAL DRIVER HEADING TO STATE PRISON

Ukiah, Friday, Oct. 20. –

Justin Everett Phillips, age 20, of Willits, was sentenced this morning in the Mendocino County Superior Court to 140 months in state prison.

Phillips was convicted by jury in late August of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, leaving the scene of an accident where serious bodily injury has been inflicted, engaging in a speed contest causing serious bodily injury, reckless driving causing bodily injury, and resisting arrest. These crimes were committed in December 2015.

Phillips was then also convicted last month by plea of recklessly evading a peace officer, a felony. This crime was committed in November 2016.

The trial attorney who has been handling these matters and who also appeared to argue the DA's position at today's sentencing hearing was Asst. DA Rick Welsh. The law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation of the crimes underlying the convictions mentioned above were the California Highway Patrol, the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office, the California Department of Justice crime laboratories in Eureka and Redding, and the District Attorney's own investigators.

(Mendocino County DA press release)

(Background: Ah, Youth!)

HOW TRUMP WON: VOTER SUPPRESSION

From Mother Jones: Rigged: How Voter Suppression Threw Wisconsin to Trump

…Three years after Wisconsin passed its voter ID law in 2011, a federal judge blocked it, noting that 9 percent of all registered voters did not have the required forms of ID. Black voters were about 50 percent likelier than whites to lack these IDs because they were less likely to drive or to be able to afford the documents required to get a current ID, and more likely to have moved from out of state.

There is, of course, no one thing that swung the election. Clinton’s failings, James Comey’s 11th-hour letter, Russian interference, fake news, sexism, racism, and a struggling economy in key swing states all contributed to Trump’s victory.

We will never be able to assign exact proportions to all the factors at play. But a year later, interviews with voters, organizers, and election officials reveal that, in Wisconsin and beyond, voter suppression played a much larger role than is commonly understood...

WHAT HAPPENED TO JOURNALISM?

Dear New York Times;

I grew up in a family that owned a weekly paper in Ohio, starting in the mid 1950s, and I minored in Journalism at Ohio State in 1961-63, so I was taught in that time and I have certain expectations based on that. My Dad revered the New York Times and told me that it is the best newspaper in America. I have always believed that, but I am beginning to have some doubts.

You see, as a reporter I was taught to report on all aspects of whatever it was, and I am not so sure that you guys do that today. I was taught to examine all sides of whatever it was, and to bring out all sides of it, and today the NYT seems to be clearly on one side — liberal — in its reporting.

You might think that I would be happy with that, since I am quite liberal myself, but I am not. I am not happy because I think that we have lost something here. I am not a newspaperman, I have been a furniture maker all my life, but my journalism past tells me that we have lost.

We have lost the ability to trust the newspaper. We have lost any faith that we ever had that a reporter would report all of the facts, would report everything known, without bias and without leaving anything out, and especially without making anything up.

Well, so what? You might ask. Well — this is important, it is because of the fact that in America the Press has always been known as "The Fourth Estate.” My Dad told me about "The Fourth Estate,” he told me that it is on a level with the President, and the Congress, and the Supreme Court. In America there are the four — did anybody tell any of you about that? Or did you come along later? If you want to retain that status you will have to be up to the job. You might have to do better. Never mind if the president and the congress and the courts are all partisan, the press can still do its job, if you are up to the job. Newspapers and the people who work for them have a special place in America, but you have to earn it. Can you do that? I do hope so, because in America the press is “free” because of it. I would like to think that in the NYT masthead the important part is not “fit to print,” but “all the news.”

What brought this tirade on? Well, on Oct. 18th I read an article on a marine who threw a chair in a restaurant. The writer thought the guy should be cut some slack because he was in the military. I question that, but it is beside the point now. The article had a photo of the marine, with a cut line. Today, Oct. 19, I wrote to the reporter, and when I went to the NYT archive, the cut line had been changed. You folks have altered history. What was is no more, and I am outraged. “A simple correction,” you might say, but I say it is important. Do you do this every day, in every way?

Tom McFadden Boonville, CA.

PS: My email to the reporter:

Dear Mr. Philipps;

Without criticizing this particular individual I would like to say that it seems like a very slippery slope to suggest that it is somehow OK for members or former members of our Armed Forces to do such a thing. Throwing a chair at a waiter in a restaurant should not be excused because the thrower was in the Military any more than it should be excused because he was born in poverty, or because he was white or black or blue or drunk or stoned. If you ask treatment for him you should be asking treatment for all those other people.

I have a question about the photo of this individual with a cut line that today, in the NYT archives, says that he is inspecting a poppy field. Yesterday the cut line said he was searching for buried bombs or something. Which is it? Yesterday I noticed where he was and what he was doing, and I am outraged to find that the story has been changed, that the past has been altered and no longer exists. What is he holding in his hand in today's archive photo? Will it be there tomorrow? What kind of journalism is this? What are you people smoking anyway?

I studied journalism at Ohio State in 1961-63, and my family owned a weekly newspaper in Ohio when I was growing up and I am frankly appalled at what I see today. I was taught that a reporter and a newspaper report ALL sides of everything they look at, without something called bias. I want to know what happened to that, and I think it is time we got back to our roots.

Thanks for listening — I am going to copy this and send it to the editor as well.

WHO CAN SAVE JOURNALISM?

https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/journalisms-broken-business-model-wont-be-solved-by-billionaires

STATE WATER BOARD CONSIDERS POT POLICY

The State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) agenda at the agency's Tuesday meeting considered “adopting the proposed Cannabis Cultivation Policy: Priniciples and Guidelines for Cannabis Cultivation.” 

Policy Regions

The proposed SWRCB Cannabis Cultivation Policy separates California into 14 Cannabis Cultivation Policy regions based on geography and other factors. Rules are being established in each district to meet the water needs of that region. These districts are described and mapped in Appendix A of the Staff Report on the Cannabis Cultivation Policy.

The North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Basin is parsed out into three of the regions. Region 4, the North Coast District, includes the watersheds of the Eel, and Mad Rivers and Orick’s Redwood Creek. Region 7 includes the rivers that run to the sea beginning with the Mattole River watershed south to the San Francisco Bay. Region 1, called the Klamath Region, encompasses the Klamath, Trinity and Smith River watersheds. Based on these bio-regional divisions, cannabis growers in Mendocino, Trinity and Humboldt Counties will have varying rules of operation under this policy.

Water Rights

Property owners who consider cultivating more than six cannabis plants on any parcel for either recreational or medical reasons are expected to comply with California laws regarding water rights.

Under the proposed Cannabis Cultivation Policy, farmers would be obligated to agree to storage and forbearance periods. Riparian water rights do not permit seasonal storage of water.

Small Irrigation Use Registration

The proposed policy does, however, establish a legal framework to make the needed appropriative water right available. It is called the Small Irrigation Use Registration (SIUR).

However, the policy proposes that properties on fully appropriated Wild and Scenic Rivers be ineligible for the appropriative right which might impact properties in the watersheds of the Eel River. With few exceptions, the Eel River, including the South Fork, is designated Recreational, as opposed to a Wild designation, under the California Wild and Scenic Rivers legislation.

The policy language for exclusions from the Small Irrigation Use Registration program is vague regarding what might cause the designation to impede a property owners’ ability to acquire the SIUR:

“Cultivators should be aware that the Cannabis SIUR and SIURS, like other appropriative water rights:

1) will not be issued for fully appropriated streams in the restricted diversion season, as it has been determined that water is unavailable for appropriation;

2) may not be available in certain watersheds/streams, including on rivers and streams that are or may become designated as Fully Appropriated Streams or Wild and Scenic under The National Wild and Scenic Rivers System (Public Law90-542;16 U.S.C. 1271 et seq.); and

3) are not available where the water source is in a CDFW Instream Flow Study area with a final flow recommendation from CDFW submitted to the State Water Board under Public Resource Code section 10002.”

While the South Fork of the Eel River is an Instream Flow Study area under the Ca Department of Fish and Wildlife, it does not yet appear to have a “final flow recommendation” established.

For property owners who obtain Small Irrigation Use Registrations, there will be regulations on when water may be collected for storage. The first flush flow event must be maintained. Further, minimum flow requirements in the winter season will be maintained at much higher flow than summer according to the proposed policy. The Cannabis Cultivation Policy reads “The Tessmann Method develops instream flow requirements by using percentages of historical mean annual and mean monthly natural streamflow.”

This hearing will be item 6 on the agenda.

Waste Discharge

The NCRWQCB adopted its Cannabis Cultivation Waste Discharge Regulatory Program in 2015. This Tuesday the 17th, in item 7 on the State Water Resources Control Board’s agenda, the board will consider and rule on a statewide policy for regulating potential water quality impairments caused by cannabis cultivation. The description of Item 7 suggests farmers in the NCRWQCB who have enrolled in the Regional Board’s program will be able to transition into compliance under the statewide Order.

“Because the North Coast and Central Valley Regional Water Boards had existing region-specific orders, the General Order includes a method to transition those enrollees to the statewide General Order.”

Issues covered in the waste discharge policy include winterization of farms, nitrogen application to plants, fuel use and storage, erosion management, sediment containment, materials storage and septic/sewage issues.

A Personal Use Exemption for the Waste Discharge Requirements may be granted to outdoor cultivators disturbing less than 1,000 square feet and cultivating on land with less than 20% slope. A Conditional Exemption may be granted for outdoor cultivators disturbing less than 2,000 square feet on less than 20% slope, or for indoor cultivators with access to sewage treatment services.

ON LINE COMMENT OF THE DAY

I just think the image of an average American defending his home with an assault rifle is laughable. So someone breaks into your house and you are going to wake up, grab your AR and start cutting loose ? Come on… ever think what that would really be like? Give me my 38 special revolver and I feel pretty safe. My house has been broken into several times.. I imagine I might have to use it at some point (or maybe I’ll use my old bear leg trap!) but I’m pretty sure a shot into the floor is all it would take to turn around a tweak thief.

If you are really imagining you are going to have a shootout with an equally armed ‘bad guy’ with an assault rifle, and win, you watch too many movies.

KAREN OSLUND JOINS COAST CLINIC BOARD

Ukiah, CA – MCHC Health Centers is pleased to announce the addition of Karen Oslund to its board of directors. Oslund is the executive director of the Cancer Resource Centers of Mendocino County (CRCMC), and a long-time county resident who has contributed to her community for years.

Oslund helped establish the Willits Kids Club, a non-profit agency that serves children through after-school and summer programs, and she continues to serve as a board member for the organization. From 1999-2008, she served on the Willits City Council and from 2002-04, she was mayor of Willits. During this time she was also president of the Redwood Empire Chapter of the League of California Cities. Before joining the CRCMC, Oslund worked for Ukiah Valley Medical Center in the medical records department after managing her own medical transcription business.

“We are so pleased to have Karen join our board,” said MCHC CEO Carole Press. “The Cancer Resource Center and MCHC serve many of the same patients, and Karen understands the needs and challenges they face.”

Oslund said she was immediately impressed by MCHC when she toured its facilities in Ukiah, Willits and Lakeport. “The facilities are modern, clean, and well designed,” she said. “And MCHC’s leaders really understand the importance of reducing barriers to care. This is essential. The sooner clients are referred to us after their initial cancer diagnosis, the faster we can help them choose a course of treatment that works best for them. With cancer, as with many health issues, the earlier people begin treatment, the better their outcomes,” she said.

CRCMC does not charge clients for services, allowing anyone in our community to receive assistance with patient navigation, to attend support groups, to borrow resources from the lending library, or to take advantage of CRCMC’s transportation assistance.

Oslund was invited to apply for MCHC Health Centers board membership by fellow board member Jim Marrill of the Willits Community Services and Food Bank. Oslund said she likes the fact that MCHC strives to find board members based on their ability to reflect the organization’s patient population, blending men and women and people of various ages and socio-economic statuses.

“I’m honored to serve on MCHC’s board. I think when people at our organizations build strong relationships, we’ll be able to better serve people facing cancer in our communities,” she said.

MCHC Health Centers is a local non-profit organization providing access to comprehensive healthcare for people in Ukiah, Willits and Lakeport. All MCHC health centers accept Medi-Cal, Medicare, Covered California insurance and other insurance. Learn more at www.mchcinc.org.

HEROES AND PATRIOTS, You Tube: Daniel McAdams, Executive Director, Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCu6z3euMoJZ76AbVzHBTQmg/videos Visit the link above for the most recent program, Heroes and Patriots, KMEC Radio: * Daniel McAdams, Executive Director, Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity. Original air date: October 16, 2017. Hosted by John Good Iron and Mary Massey

PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA for November 2, 2017, is posted on the department website at: https://www.mendocinocounty.org/government/planning-building-services/meeting-agendas/planning-commission Please contact staff with any questions.

Victoria Davis, Commission Services Supervisor, 707-234-6664

CITY-RELATED TRAVEL, o yea, o yea

Point Arena City Council

Mayor Scott Ignacio ~ Vice Mayor Barbara Burkey ~ Richey Wasserman ~ Jonathan Torrez ~ Anna Dobbins

Agenda — October 24, 2017

Regular Session — 6:00 P.M.

City Hall — 451 School Street

1. Call To Order & Roll Call
2. Reading – Councilmember Torrez

III. Approval Of Agenda

1. New Employee Introduction – Daniel Lee, Wastewater Plant Operator
2. Mayor’s Reports/Announcements

Vi. Council Reports

1. A) City-Related Travel Reports
2. B) Council Committee & Commission Reports

VII. Privilege Of The Floor (Public Comment Period)

This is the time for members of the public who wish to be heard on matters that do not appear on the Agenda. City Council policy is to limit each speaker to three (3) minutes. Such time allotment or portion thereof shall not be transferred to other speakers. Pursuant to the Brown Act Section 54954.3, the City Council may not take action on an item that does not appear on the Agenda. The public will be allowed to speak concurrently with the calling of an agenda item following the staff presentation of that item.

VIII. Consent Calendar

Notice to the Public: All matters listed under this category are considered to be routine by the City Council and will be enacted by one motion. If a member of the public would like an item on the Consent Calendar pulled and discussed separately, the request shall be made to a Councilmember prior to the meeting. Unless a specific request is made by a Councilmember, the Consent Calendar will not be read. There will be no separate discussion of these items

1. A) Treasurer’s Report
2. B) Approval of City Council Minutes
3. Regular Council Meeting of September 26, 2017
4. Special Council Meeting of October 11, 2017
5. Public Hearings — Public Hearings are generally scheduled for a time certain of 6:00 P.M. or soon thereafter, unless noticed otherwise. All items listed under this section are for discussion and possible action.
6. A) Public Hearing on Submission of a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Application for a Planning & Technical Assistance Grant (PTAG)

Recommended Action:

1. Discuss the activities and projects which may be eligible for Community Development Block Grant funding under the 2017 Notice of Funding Availability.
2. Consider submitting an application for a Planning & Technical Assistance Grant for a feasibility study for a Senior Center facility as part of the renovation of the Veteran’s Hall or as a separate facility.
3. Direct staff to work with the County of Mendocino, Coastal Seniors and Jeff Lucas of Community Development Services to develop the grant application.
4. Set a date for the public hearing to approve submittal of the grant application.
5. Reports/Action Items – all items in this Agenda section are for discussion and possible action.
6. A) Assignment of Contract & Franchise for Collection and Removal of Garbage Between Pacific Coast Disposal and City of Point Arena (the “Agreement”) to Recology Sonoma Marin

Recommendation:

1. Discuss allowing the assignment of Pacific Coast Disposal’s Collection contract to Recology.
2. Direct Staff.
3. B) BLM Partnership Maintenance Contract & Point Arena Stornetta Lands Signage

Recommendation: Discuss & Accept Report

1. City Manager/City Attorney Reports

Xii. Future Agenda Items

1. Measure AC TOT allocation and projects discussion
2. Naming the Park at Arena Cove
3. Special Meeting November 8, 2017 to review Cannabis Business Ordinance
4. Next Regular Meeting November 28, 2017
5. CDBG Grant Application Approval Public Hearing
6. Regular City Council Meeting December 19th

XIII. Adjournment

If open session items cannot be completed by 9:00 p.m., the meeting may be adjourned to the next regular meeting or Council may vote to extend the meeting.

Dated: October 19, 2017

ADULTS IN THE ROOM? WHAT ADULTS?

"The evidence is in. Engagement at the very highest levels with the Trump administration has not tempered its worst qualities. If anything, these “adults” have been the chief enablers of this most reckless of presidents. They’ve given him the thinnest frosting of legitimacy. Moreover, even these so-called adults don’t rescue the Trump administration from being outside the norms of democratic discourse in this country."

— John Feffer

MEMO OF THE AIR, Friday, 10/20/2017

Things changed so that I'm away at Juanita's again, and will be for a third week in a row next week. I had to take a friend the the Santa Rosa airport yesterday, so I just stayed here. It's all the same to KNYO's web-accessible transmitter. It doesn't matter where you do your show from, because this is the future.

...Except: if you want to come in and play your musical instrument(s) on the radio or talk about your project, or whatever, make that First Friday in November when I’ll be in Fort Bragg.*

It’s 325 N. Franklin (next to the Tip Top bar). Just meander in any time after 9pm (Friday, November 3), head for the lighted room at the back and get my attention away from whatever I’m doing, and that's that.

(If you ever write something you want read aloud on the air, email it to me and I’ll do my best. The deadline is always around 5:30 or 6pm the night of the show, so you have a little while to get it together for tonight. No pressure. I've got plenty of material to stuff the evening with.) (More locally written things than ever before.)

Memo of the Air: Good Night Radio. Every Friday, 9pm to about 4am on 107.7fm KNYO-LP Fort Bragg, including midnight to 3am 105.1fm KMEC-LP Ukiah. And also there and anywhere else via http://knyo.org or http://TuneIn.com

*(Or contact Bob Young bobb@poetworld.net and get your own regular airtime on KNYO, to do a show entirely of own whimsical devising, and never need to depend on me at all. Either way, it’s the most fun you can have with your pants on. They say.

p.s. Biff Rose showed up Monday with a lot more of an entourage than I expected, but Jerry anticipated everything, tore the radio station apart and set up in the big front room, so when the guests arrived it was only a matter of minutes to mic them all and get them on the air. They stayed and played -country music, folk tunes (two guitars), Biff's experimental meanderings on the keys that still make sounds on the ancient piano. At one point he became fascinated by the different thud sounds the bad keys made and began to bop along with the thudding. The regular Monday night guy had to be elsewhere, I guess, so Biff and the others stayed for a couple of hours and played and sang till they were tired. Rather a chaotic circus. Exactly what local radio is there for and should be doing more of. Jerry says he'll rerun the recording of all that when he can slip it in. Possibly this Saturday, I don't know.

Marco McClean
memo@mcn.org
http://MemoOfTheAir.wordpress.com

GET THEE TO A NUNNERY:

More Tales of Terror about Older Brothers from Hell

by H.P. Loverock

For several weeks, 9 year-old Lucky had been insinuating to his 6 year old sister that their parents were planning to send her to a convent.

The children were not Catholic, but Cherry didn’t know this. Their family lived two blocks from The Tomás de Torquemada Parochial School, so the children often saw nuns on their way to and from their own school, The Terence Powderly Elementary School. Lucky cautioned Cherry not to let the nuns get too close lest they snatch her and take her away.

Cherry had begun to have nightmares about convents. Her dreams featured the gruesome details that Lucky had so vividly described in his lurid stories: daily whippings; moldy beds in dungeon-like rooms that were infested with rats and spiders the size of softballs; hard labor from dawn to dusk gathering firewood and chestnuts in a perpetually dark, cold forest supervised by burly nuns armed with thorny switches; one bowl of watery soup or gruel each day.

For years, Mother and Father had paid Lucky $10 to babysit with his younger sister. On Friday nights, Mother played Mahjong with her women’s group while Father smoked cigars, drank whisky, and played gin rummy with his men’s group. Lucky would watch horror movies with the lights out.

Cherry would sit on the couch with her brother and try not to watch the movie nor hear her brother describe the grisly scenes of the movie.

One Friday, while the children were watching The Creature From The Black Lagoon, and while Lucky was explaining how baby creatures could creep up through the drain, grab little girls by their feet, and pull them from the bathtub and down the drain, the phone rang.

Cherry could only hear one part of the conversation, that of her brother Lucky:

—Who is this?

—Well you can’t have her, Sister Flanagan.

—No, our parents aren’t home. We’re alone.

—I won’t let you in.

Cherry whimpered. Lucky said firmly,

—Don’t worry. I will not let them take you.

Cherry’s anxiety augmented exponentially ten minutes later when the doorbell rang. Lucky told her to hide under her bed and not make a sound.

Cherry heard Lucky go down the front stairs to the interior front door. She heard him shouting and what sounded like someone trying to force open the door.

She heard Lucky yell, “Oh, no!” and the door being forced open.

Someone was clomping up the front steps.

Cherry stifled a whimper, curled up into a ball beneath the bed in her darkened room, and waited.

BOYCOTT ISRAEL? GET LOST.

https://www.rt.com/usa/407324-hurricane-harvey-boycott-israel/