The Californian from Salinas, California • 17

SALINASAUIOAIR STEREO rf chkkop mn iQik Obituaries: Paul Lee Cluck retired after operating a vending machine business2C ONLY me ludc tnjjijj THURSDAY March 13 2003 Californian 751-3333 20 ABBOTT ST. SALINAS www.californianonline.com MIKE NEMETH, CITY EDITOR Phone: 754-4280; Fax: 754-4293; E-mail: mnemethsalinas.gannett.com Mam dies Sim crash mi 101 DRIVER'S CAR GOES UNDER BIG RIG'S TRAILER Datelines Compiled from staff reports SEASIDE Man gets 7 years for 4 burglaries An 18 -year-old Seaside man has been sentenced to seven years in prison for burglarizing four homes in Seaside from September 2002 to January 2003. In three of those burglaries, Tony Nguyen surprised the victims, who were home at the time. Judge Wendy Duffy increased Nguyen's sentence by two years because he committed one of the burglaries while on bail pending Two other vehicles involved cars slammed into the back of a tractor-trailer on Highway 101 near Salinas. The chain-reaction crash, which happened about 5:20 a.m., is partially blamed on dense fog, the California Highway Patrol said.

"They (vehicles) were all three in the No. 1 lane (far left) traveling northbound and one, two, three went into the trailer," said CHP officer Richard Richards. The 41-year-old driver of the 1973 Porsche 911, whose name police withheld pending notification of his family, crashed beneath a Massolo Brothers Inc. company tractor-trailer, sheering off the hood and the top part of the car. "He went right under the back part of the trailer, behind the wheels," Richards said The truck was driven by 41-year-old Jose Refugio Sanchez.

The two other drivers, Armando Soria, 26, driving a 1997 pickup, and Julio Rosas, 27, in a 1981 Datsun, were transported to Salinas hospitals, where they were treated and released. The crash happened when Sanchez turned west onto southbound Highway 101 from Gould Road, where Massolo Bros is located. crashing his pickup into the left rear wheel of the trailer. The Porsche and Datsun followed. Richards said CHP officer Brian White is conducting a full investigation to determine visibility at the time and whether speed was a factor.

Traffic on Highway 101 was backed up for a couple of hours as crews cleared debris. Richards said Sanchez was crossing the northbound lanes to go south when the second trailer on the rig partially remained in the far-left lane. "At first glance that is what it looks like," Richards said. "Like he (Sanchez) violated the right of way." The three drivers, facing foggy conditions, plowed their vehicles into the rear trailer. Soria was first to hit, By Kelly Nix The Californian A Gonzales man died early Wednesday when his Porsche and two other criminal charges in one of Eilleen Tavarez, left, applies reuseable decals on a window Wednesday at Washington Middle School In Salinas.

The school's service club makes and sells the decals and keychains to raise money for charities in the city, including Dorothy's Place and Victory Mission. RICHARD GREEN THE CALIFORNIAN PMIIRIUUNHM 111') TT, 1 Glub takes lessons to foeamt GRASS ROOTS Water project ballots missing Condominium owners may not have received them IWfWW 3f fi 1 I n. L1K Ml Middle school group finds selling crafts for charity a tough go By J. Michael Rivera The Californian The students in Margaret Pritt's service club at Washington Middle School are learning a lesson in supply and demand. The 40 students in the club make key chains and re-usable window stickers, which they sell for a minimum donation of $1.

All of the materials used to make the products are donated, and all of the proceeds go to area charities, like Dorothy's Place, Victory Mission and the Salvation Army. "I've had more than enough kids want to make things," Pritt said. "I've even had to turn some kids away." Club members spend their lunch hour making colorful window decals and plastic lanyard key chains. Student Nicole Gervacio has made about 20 key chains. "She's one of our most productive members," Pritt said.

"I wanted to join a club," Nicole said, "and I like making the lanyards." "A lot of the students said. This is really beautiful; I want to buy it," Pritt said of the key chains and decals. The only trouble is, they aren't getting enough cus- By Glenn Cravens The Californian A glitch on a mailing list has prevented some Monterey County property owners from receiving a ballot on the proposed Salinas Valley Water Project. Some condominium owners, such as Arlene Tavani of Salinas, didn't get the form because property owners living in condos on second floors and higher weren't included on a list provided by the county assessor's office, said Christopher Keen, an agent for the county water resources agency, which mailed the ballots. "It would get just the ground level, and that's it," Tavani said.

The ballots, intended for about 56,000 property owners, ask residents if they want to pay a special tax to halt seawater intrusion. The $18.8 million project would target the problem by enlarging the spillway at the Nacimiento Dam in south county and by adding a rubber dam on the Salinas River. "I was very aware of the issue, and I wanted to vote, but I didn't get a ballot," said Tavani, who works for the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District. "My concern is that other people don't know See BALLOTSPage 2C ML RICHARD GREENTHE CALIFORNIAN Washington Middle School Service Club member Jennifer Burgarin, front holds keychains Wednesday the club makes as a fund-raiser for Salinas charities. In the background are, Lori Heath, seated left, Joseu Chavarin, seated right, Judith Espinosa, standing left, and Eilleen Tavarez.

the other cases. MONTEREY Abel Maldonado to run for Senate Assemblyman Abel Maldonado will announce today he is running for the 15th state Senate seat Maldonado will be accompanied by Sea Bruce McPherson, Monterey Mayor Dan Albert and other leading dignitaries during his announcement, set for 2:15 pm today at the Monterey City Council chamber steps, at Madison and Pacific streets. SALINAS Gunshots miss driver Tuesday A 20 -year-old man narrowly escaped injury Tuesday night when someone fired several shots into the vehicle he was driving, Salinas police The man was heading toward the intersection of Donner Way and Hum-bolt Drive about 10:15 p.m. when he saw a driver of a white sport utility vehicle lean out of his window, police said. The man heard about six shots and ducked down.

He was not hit, but the left front side of his windshield was struck once by a bullet, police said. KING CITY Sam Farr's staff to visit city today Staff members for Rep. Sam Farr, D-CarmeL will be available to answer questions, record comments and assist with matters pertaining to the federal government today in King City. From 330 to 530 pm, the congressman's mobile team will visit the King City Public Library, 402 Broadway, to help constituents who have problems with Social Security, federal pensions, INS, federal worker compensation, student financial aid, veteran's benefits and the IRS. The team also will visit Greenfield, Soledad and Gonzales over the next several months.

MONTEREY COUNTY Fish and game grants available The Monterey County Fish and Game Commission is providing grant assistance for eligible Fish and Game-related projects benefiting Monterey County. Applications for these grants are due March 21. An application packet is available from the Monterey County Parks Department. Information: 755-4911 or 755-4895. To help The Washington Middle School Service Club sells handmade key chains, stickers and other items for local charities from 4 to 5:30 p.m.

on Thursdays in front of the Nob Hill grocery store at Blanco Road and South Main Street In being in the service club has taught her a lot. "I've learned how much money charities need," she said. "When (Dorothy's Place and Victory Mission) took the money we raised, they said, 'Thank you, thank you. Now we can buy all sorts of The club would like to improve on its efforts and make more of an impact in the community, Pritt said. tomers, Pritt said.

"Our problem is that we need exposure," she said. "Two of the students sat in front of the Nob Hill last Thursday for one-and-a-half hours, and the most they collected was $7." In its three-year history, the service club has made several projects for sale or donation to area charities. The club has made wire Christmas trees covered with garland and donated them to the Alliance on In December, the Wash- Aging for the past two ington Middle service club sold key chains and donated $120 to Dorothy's Place and Victory Mission. Student Lori Heath said years. It also donated 50 heart stickers to Meals on Wheels for Valentine's Day.

GREENFIELD BIG SUR STATE NEWS INSIDE: Officers search park after tip about body Council fires engineer; city attorney may be next ft 3 What's next The Greenfield City Council will conduct more interviews for city attorney during its meeting THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Firearms expert Steven Dowell of the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office testifies Wednesday at a preliminary hearing for Robert Blake. Dowell identified the murder weapon. Story, 5G boyfriend shot this other male, and maybe there was an argument." Officials from Paso Robles police, the Monterey County Sheriffs Office and the Monterey County District Attorney's Office went to the park Wednesday to see if they could find a body. "Right now, state park rangers are looking at patrol logs and other things that go back two years Schaechtele said. "Exhumation will begin at any time." If the story is true, the killer would have had to cut a padlock from the gate to the park, he said.

Paso Robles police Sgt. Robert Burton said police officers went to the state park and were helping dig up the area where the body is supposed to have been buried. "I know that they are doing an investigation on this missing person," Burton said. "Some of our units are in that area." Man may have been slain and buried at Andrew Molera official says By Kelly Nix The Californian Several police agencies are investigating a 'report that a man was killed two years ago and buried in the Big Sur area. A tip to the Paso Robles Police Department indicated a man was killed after a night of partying and that his body was buried at a firing range at Andrew Molera State Park.

The park is about 25 miles south of Monterey off Highway 1. "It sounded like some partying and some drugs and speed that was part of this," said Dave Schaechtele, spokesman for Monterey District California State Parks. "And to me, it sounded like the eyewitness'' Move is latest in effort to correct hiring practice By Glenn Cravens The Californian The Greenfield City Council has fired its city engineer and is interviewing candidates to possibly replace its city attorney. The council voted 3-2 last week to terminate city engineer Ruben Moreno of Fresno and hired a Salinas firm, Terra Engineering to take his place. Terra Engineering has previously held the city engineering contract.

On Tuesday, the council began its interviews for city attorney, even though Fresno-based attorney Randy Risner holds the position. Risner and Moreno both were hired at an April 2001 meeting by a different apply, and now they are," said Councilwoman Annie Moreno (not related to the city engineer). She said Ruben Moreno was not surprised by the decision, but nonetheless, the move drew criticism from a crowd of about 40 people at City Hall on Tuesday. Council members remain divided over the hiring situation. "We had good results from the city attorney and city engineer," said Councilwoman Yolanda Teneyuque.

"I felt there was no reason for this to be opened up. We need to exercise the city time correctly." Teneyuque said the council has met for the past six Tuesdays regarding this issue and she wants to move forward on other projects such as plans for a joint police station-community center. lUU.i. H.i. 'M m.inMiL-; infill.

council, and Mayor Pro Tern Art Salvagno said he believes the council did not follow proper hiring procedures. In January, Salvagno led a charge to reopen and interview candidates for both positions. Moreno was one of three candidates for the city engineer, and Risner is one of four candidates for city attorney. While Moreno was terminated immediately, a decision on the city attorney will likely be made either Monday or March 24. "People from here were not given a chance to 0BITUARIES2C ALASKA CRASH: Feds reopen their criminal investigationPage 3C MISSING WOMAN: Police search bay for Modesto's Laci PetersonPage 5C Richard LCalanche Alberto Chavez Paul Lee Cluck Nicolas M.

Maldonado Wayne J. Pitman Paula Uribe.