The Californian from Salinas, California • 2

Saturday, July 10, 2004 IT Pvn JV Buiifaie KzgnoUU it Lcg fauen South County Specialists We live where you live. 678-0701 B78-1 4KB CITY EDITOR: Mike Nemeth PHONE: 754-4280 FAXs 754-4293 E-MAIL mnemethsalina5.gannett.com www.bhecalifornian.com Dinning and whiriin 'M ni ryj a i v. In Brief Compiled from staff reports SALINAS Mom suspected of abuse after daughter found naked A Salinas mother was cited on allegations of misdemeanor child abuse Friday after police officers found her 12-year-old daughter naked in her home and without access to the bathroom, which was locked, police said. Early Friday morning, officers responded to a 9-1-1 hang-up call at the home and found the girl inside. Police said the house was in disarray.

The girl's mother told officers that all clothing had been removed from the house for cleaning. Further, she said the home was in its current condition because she was preparing to move. She said the locked doors were an oversight on her part. Authorities placed the girl with relatives. MONTEREY Aquarium seeks help for sea otter research The Monterey Bay Aquarium's Sea Otter Research and i i vzz RICHARD GREENTHE SALINAS CALIFORNIAN Big Week carnival calls to brave fun-lovers By DANIA AKKAD The Salinas Californian The carousel can never go around enough times at the California Rodeo Salinas carnival.

Late Friday afternoon, Lorie Ramirez, 9, and her cousin, Adriane Ramirez, 8, both of Salinas, waited patiently by the gates for their turn on the bobbing horses at the Exposition Grounds. "We're ready," Adriane said eagerly, getting the attention of Mark FerreC a Salinas resident, running the ride on opening day. "Are you ready?" he said, joking with the two girls. "Yes! Of course," said Lorie, matter-of-factly, as the two ran to mount their painted ponies. Among an enormous ferris wheel, cotton candy and giant spinning strawberries, children and parents wandered round and round the old-fashioned celebration, testing their gaming skills and delighting in rides fast and slow.

But none, of course, were scary. "I'm not afraid of nothing," said Adriane, moving along with Lorie to test out other mid-summer wonders. Burt Hotchkiss, 23, of Redding, stood in a lighted booth adjacent to the carousel He 1 The annual Big Week carnival opened Friday at the Exposition Grounds in Salinas. TO ATTEHD The California Rodeo Salinas carnival will run through July 18 at the Exposition Grounds off Highway 101. It's open from 4 i p.m.

to 11 p.m. weekdays and 11 a.m. to midnight on weekends. works on commission and was feeling motivated. "Hey ladies, you ready to race?" he whooped at a gaggle of girls who seemed magnetically pulled back to the booth.

They stood for a while and wondered whether to play the game, which consisted of squirting open-mouthed clowns with water, racing to pop a balloon on the top of the clowns' heads. RICHARD GREENTHE SALINAS CALIFORNIAN Carnival-goers take a ride Friday on a giant roulette wheel called the Casino riday at the BigWeek carnival at the Exposition Grounds in Salinas. The carnival contingues through July 18. Conservation program is seeking volunteers to help rehabilitate and release stranded sea otters and assist researchers with tracking sea otters in the wild. wins," he said.

Jorge Ruiz, 13, and his nephew, Divino Lopez, 8, of Salinas, were willing to give it ago. The two stood far away from one another, aiming their water guns. Twenty seconds later, Hotchkiss called the "No. 15. Fifteen's the winner! He won it He done it," he said.

Divino held his prize, a small green teddy bear, looking sincerely shocked as the carousel swirled behind him. Contact Dania Akkad at dakkadsalinas.gannett.com. "Your game is too hard," said one, turning away before promising over her shoulder that she would consider returning. Hotchkiss assured there weren't any hidden tricks or secrets to winning the game. "This game? No secret Where it squirts is where it California sea otter ILYQUJil ONLINE: www.carodeo.com PHONE: 775-3100 in Salinas; (800) 771-8807; tickets (800) 549-4989.

Daily tickets WEST GRANDSTAND: (all seats with backs) Sections 13-19, rows 1-20, $19; sections 13-19, rows 21-38, $16 Sections 10-12 20-22, all seats, $16 NORTH GRANDSTAND: Sections 30-34, rows 13-32, with seat backs, $19; without seat backs $12 SOUTH GRANDSTAND: Sections 55-60, rows 1-11, with seat backs, $19 Sections 50-54, $12 NORTHEAST ARENA BLEACHERS: North Main Street and follow signs. From Highway 101 South, take Main Street exit north and' follow the signs. Forecast The National Weather Service predicts highs in the 60s and evening lows in the 50s. There will be low morning clouds and patchy fog, clearing by midday. Sunday temperatures are expected to be in the 60s, with morning fog and a sunny rest of the day.

Online PROFESSIONAL RODEO COWBOYS ASSOCIATION: www.prorodeo.com. PRO RODEO; www.prorodeohome.org. FRIENDS OF THE RODEO (animaltreatment): www.friendsofrodeo.com. Sections 40, all seats, no seat backs, $19 SOUTHEAST ARENA BLEACHERS: Sections 4L all seats, no seat backs, $19 HANDICAP TICKETS: $16; please let the box office know upon order that you require handicap seating. These seats are in front of the west grandstand boxes.

A chair will be provided for one companion. CHILDREN: Saturday and Sunday, children younger than 12, Thursday and Friday night, children younger than 12, free. No babies in arms. Regardless of age, each person must have a ticket. (Discount does not apply to season tickets).

SENIOR CITIZENS (65 and older); $2 dollar discount off ticket prices everyday. GROUP DISCOUNT: Groups of 25 persons or more receive a discount of the purchase of daily tickets only. Call the box office for details. Getting there PARKING: On-site parking costs $5 and is available on the grounds of the Salinas Sports Complex and in designated long-term parking zones on city streets. Rodeo parking illegal at the Sherwood Gardens Shopping Center, across North Main Street.

Look for private fund-raiser parking lots and churches and other venues around the event. ARRIVAL: Rodeo officials suggest arriving at least an hour before showtime for on-site parking. DIRECTIONS: From Highway 101 North, take Laurel Drive exit and make a right. Turn right on Schedule of Rodeo-related events through Wednesday: TODAY: 7 p.m., Christian, country music concert sponsored by Christian County Helps Ministry at Sherwood Hall. SUNDAY: 11 a.m., Big Week Kick-off barbecue at the Salinas Sports Complex; 1 p.m., Professional Bull Riders Challenger Event at the Salinas Sports Complex.

WEDNESDAY: 8 a.m., Cowboy Shoot Out Golf Tournament at Laguna Seca Golf Course; 7 p.m., Kiddie Kapers Parade in Oldtown Salinas. 8 p.m., Magic 63 Western Swing Dance featuring CowBop at the Salinas Sports Complex Rodeo Room. 8 p.m., Miss California Rodeo Pageant Personality and Appearance Competition at Sherwood Hall. information An informational meeting will be held from 630 to 830 pjn. Tuesday in the aquarium's auditorium.

Volunteers must commit to one, 5.5-hour shift per week for at least one year. Information: call Debbie Keller at 648-4866. SALINAS Salinas United Business Assoc. holds cleanup today The first in a series of community cleanups begins at 8 am today in the east Salinas business district Volunteers are welcome to join with community group members and the Salinas United Business Association to sweep sidewalks and clear weeds from Prader Street to Sanbom Road. Meet at Los Arcos de Alisal restaurant, 504 Alisal St Refreshments will be served.

Information: 596-4927. SAN ARDO Deputies arrest man who fired gun, hid in barn Monterey County sheriff's deputies say they arrested a gunman Friday after he fired several shots and evaded them for four hours. At 1L17 aja, Fernando Aviles started firing a gun into the ground in front of his family and later shot it into the air at a nearby school, deputies said. Aviles hid in a nearby barn, and an hour later, fled to an unoccupied house and hid in a closet The sheriff's SWAT found Aviles and narcotics he'd hidden, the Sheriff's Office said. Aviles booked into the Monterey County Jail on multiple charges.

Happening The Big Question Birthdays. Commodore Sloat's Landing to be re-enacted Sunday in Monterey July 10 Raul Perez Jr. of Salinas, 20. July 11 Lucy Salinas of Salinas, 49. Raul Salado of Gonzales, 31.

Dalayna Varela of Salinas, 23. Javion Macias of Salinas, 5. Edwena Jones of Salinas, 82. To submit a name for BIRTHDAYS, call 754260 or e-mail newsroomeiSalinas.gannett.com In care of BIRTHDAYS. Provide first and last name, birth date, age and city of residence The Salinas Californian's Web site, www.the californian.com, features "The Big Question," an informal and unscientific reader poll.

A new question is introduced Tuesday through Saturday. FRIDAY'S QUESTION: Is Soledad a good location for a new university? As of 3:02 p.m., 211 votes had been received. The results: Yes 36 percent No 58.3 percent Not sure 5.7 percent THIS WEEKEND'S QUESTION: As the presidential election approaches, what issue is most important to you: On the exact spot where California statehood was born, a history organization Sunday will honor Monterey's heritage with its annual Sloat Landing Ceremony. The event is at 2 pjn. at Custom House Plaza in Monterey, where Commodore John Drake Sloat raised a 28-star American flag on July 7, 1846, claiming California as US.

territory. The Monterey History and Art Association will raise the same version of the flag Sunday. The association also will read in English and Spanish the proclamation that Sloat made 158 years ago. With the United StatesMexican War raging, Sloat's naval fleet was able to take control of Monterey without a battle, said Shawna Hershfield, executive director of the Monterey History and Art Association. Hershfield said Sunday's event is a testament to both Monterey's history and the United States.

"Making California part of the United States made us a transcontinental country," Hershfield said. Hershield expects 200 to 300 people to attend. Zachary Stahl Coming Mondaj FRIDAY EZZZZZH Education War on terror IN LOCAL The work of renowned Monterey-based sculptor Richard Mac-Donald will soon grace the landscape of Shanghai, China. Abortion issues Economy Military strength War in Iraq I Welfare reform Other TELL US WHAT YOU THINK (Please fed free to attach an additional sheet of paper with more comments) Did a story, headfine or other element of today'i new cause you concern? Did you see a mistake in today's newspaper? Fantasy 5 38 5 21 8 2 Da3(mrf) 5 5 5) Daly3iew) 1 5 8. Daily Deity 1st 2, Lucky Charm 2nd: 02.

Lucky St 3rd: Tim: L43J3 0BITUARIES4-5A Peter Paul Amaudo Sr. Mel Bassetti Jim Cooper Dorothy Ann Fradella Gene F. Franscioni Dorothy Frances Mariano Gabriela Elizabeth Martinez Genoveva Morales The Salimi Californian George B. Sanchez Police, courts 754-4273 gsanchezsalinasgannett.com Rachel Zentz Calendars, obituaries 754-4260 rzentzsalinas.gannett.com FEATURES Sierra Rendon Features editor 754-4270 srendonsahnasgannett.com Dave Nordstrand Features, health 754-4268 dnordstrandsalinas.gannett.com LOCAL NEWS EDITORS Mike Nemeth City editor 754-4280 mnemethsalinas.gannett.com Katharine Ball Assistant city editor 754-4282 kballsalinas.gannett.com LOCAL NEWS Dania Akkad Business, agriculture dakkadsalinas.gannett.com Claudia S. Mellndez County government, south county 754-4285 cmelendezsalinasgannett.com Kelly Nix Education 754-4271 knixsalinasgannett.com PHOTOGRAPHY Richard Green Chief photographer 7544262 rgreensalinas.gannett.com Scott Mac Donald Photographer 754-4263 smacdonaldsalinas.gannett.com SPORTS Joey Delgado Sports editor 754-4265 jdelgadosalinas.gannett.com George Watkins Sports writer 754-4264 gwatkinssalinas.gannett.com Mike Hornkk Sports copy editor 754-4267 mhomicksalinas.gannett.com Glenn Cravens Sports writer 754-4278 gcravenssalinas.gannett.com Do you have a story idea? Arc there issues, trends, people or situations in your community we should cover? What is your phone number? Scott Faust executive editor The Salinas Californian, P.O.

Box 81091, Salinas, CA 93912 Phone: (831) 754-4261 Fax: (831) 7544293 E-mail: sfaustsalinas.gannett.com.