The Press Democrat from Santa Rosa, California • 9

The Press Democrat Racial protest at Stanford ends in arrests D4 presidio mm? Ukiah pair keep molest case alive Santa Rosa, California, Tuesday, May 16, 1989 Santa Rosa girl, 7, killed in fall Horse frightened by dog attack By JOHN ADAMS Staff Writer FORT BRAGG A 7-year-old Santa Rosa girl died Sunday after she and her aunt were thrown from a horse that had been spooked by an attacking dog. Amber Marie Gray, a first grader at Bellevue School in Santa Rosa, apparently suffered a crushed skull when she was kicked behind the ear by the horse as she fell over the animal's back, authorities said. She was pronounced dead about 2:15 p.m. at Mendocino Coast Hospital in Fort Bragg. hand while controlling the horse with the other as the dog dashed around the horse's legs.

Both riders fell when the horse suddenly pitched forward. Knocked unconscious, Scranton said she awoke to find her niece lying on the ground, bleeding from her mouth. She said the horse stood over them, gently nuzzling the girl as if trying to wake her. Unable to summon help or -to carry her niece, Scranton said she put the unconscious girl over the saddle and walked the horse about See Girl, Page B3 Her aunt," Mildred Scranton of Fort Bragg, was knocked unconscious when she was thrown. She was released from the hospital after treatment for a concussion and other injuries.

Mendocino County sheriff's deputies and Humane Society officers were looking for the dog, a black and tan German shepherd, which ran from the bushes without warning and bit the horse on the left leg before running off. Scranton said she and her niece were riding tandem at about 1 p.m. Sunday on Boyce Lane near Pearl Drive, a rural area with scattered homes. "The dog came from nowhere. It didn't bark or growl.

I didn't know there was a dog until Amber screamed," she said. The attack frightened the horse, a 19-year-old named Chestnut Willy. Scranton said she tried to keep her niece from falling with one Amber Marie Gray probably died instantly Doctors testify tot beaten to death Half's 'T sv5 By MIKE GENIELLA Staff Writer A purported Ukiah connection to a satanic priest and child molestations at San Francisco's Presidio day-care center stems from a tangled, baffling Mendocino County case kept alive by a young couple's persistence. Local authorities for almost four years have insisted their investigations are inconclusive about repeated allegations from Debi and Greg Withrow that his two sons from a former marriage were victims of ritual molestations during ceremonies witnessed by a large group of adults. The Withrows have contended among those adults were the boys' grandparents and other relatives.

On Monday, the Withrows confirmed in recent months they and their children have talked to Army investigators who are looking into a possible link between a central figure in the Presidio case and some unsolved molestation cases in Mendocino County. "They've talked to other children, too," said Debi Withrow. Withrow said she wasn't sure how much she could disclose about the Army interviews since there is a "multi-jurisdictional investigation underway." She promised to talk more during a press conference this morning called by "Victims of Systems," a support group Withrow helped found about two years ago. Since then, the group has sponsored programs on satanic rites and their possible links to child molestation cases. Withrow said the purpose behind today's press conference is to encourage "every citizen to cooperate with authorities investigating the bizarre crimes against our children." The latest round of publicity seemingly has given new life to the Withrows' cause.

Unhappy about the way their case has been handled in Mendocino County, the Withrows turned to the FBI 18 months ago. Federal agents later confirmed they were looking into the Withrow case for possible civil rights violations, but soon after told the couple the case was outside the agency's jurisdiction. Then several months ago, Ukiah Police Chief Fred Keplinger, whose department has probed the Withrow case for at least three years, asked Army investigators to take a look because the claims closely resemble the allegations made in the Presidio case. Last week, criminal investigators with the Army reportedly questioned Lt. Col.

Michael Aquino, the satanic priest implicated in the Presidio case, about allegations he was involved in molestation cases in Mendocino and Sonoma counties. Besides the Withrow angle, Aqui-See Link, Page B3 fa Jure vrv SiJ rf--" He AS" By JAMES E.REID Staff Writer Two physicians who treated Kari Ane Strong at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital last summer testified Monday her death came after repeated and prolonged abuse. Testifying at the murder trial of Robert Michael Mills, Dr. Tucker Bierbaum and Dr. Frank J.

Mirag-lia said they suspected the 22-month-old girl was a battered child as soon as they saw the multiple bruises on her body. Their suspicions were aggravated by Mills' implausible explanation for her injuries, they said. "She was the most clear-cut victim of child abuse I'd ever seen in the history of my practice," said Miraglia, a pediatrician since 1973. Murder charges were filed against the 28-year-old Mills after his stepdaughter died at San Francisco Children's Hospital on June 30 last year. She was transferred there after emergency treatment at Memorial Hospital on June 29.

Mills of Santa Rosa has been in custody since the child was hospitalized. His case is being tried in the courtroom of Judge John J. Gallagher Jr. Both Miraglia and Bierbaum, a trauma specialist, said the girl had numerous bruises "of varying ages" on her forehead, face, body, arms and legs, none of which were consistent with the "normal" injuries they expect to find on a toddler's knees, elbows and hands. Kari Strong had bruises on the bridge of her nose, on the side of her head, the back of her hand and her foot, where a child would not be expected to be injured during play, said Bierbaum.

He said the girl also had an ugly tear or contusion beneath the skin of her groin area that could only have resulted from a stretching of the skin or pulling of the leg. He said he has examined approx-' imately 1,500 children during his three years as an emergency room physician at the Valley Medical Center for Trauma in Fresno. "When I see these kinds of injuries I don't hesitate in the least" See Trial, Page B3 Mark Henry helps friend Karen Dufner into the water at Memorial Beach in Healdsburg. The summer dam, in the background, is partially up. State: Healdsburg dam impedes fish by the dam.

The recommended solution is so expensive partly because "the shad are notoriously known for being finicky about using fish ladders," said Joseph Rodota, county regional parks director. Rodota said the ladder also would be expensive because the river bottom has dropped significantly below the dam site. To compensate, the county has placed a large amount of riprap in the river to keep the dam and the recreational water area relatively unchanged. As a result, the river drops almost 20 feet just below the dam. See Dam, Page B3 By ROBERT DIGITALE Staff Writer The state Fish Game Commission has ruled the summer dam at Healdsburg impedes fish, a conclusion that may cost the state and Sonoma County nearly $1 million for a special fish ladder.

County officials, however, are still waiting to see how much financial help the state will offer before deciding whether to fight building the ladder. In the meantime, the county as usual will install the dam in time for Memorial Day on May 29. The dam, built each summer to provide a swimming and boating area along Memorial Beach, has been a point of dispute between the county and Fish Game for about 35 years. Fish Game staff members and fishermen's groups maintain the summer dam and the riprap placed permanently downstream present a barrier to salmon, steelhead and shad. Late last month, after receiving three days of testimony, the state commission formally agreed.

County officials maintain only the shad, a non-native species, are prohibited from passing McNear principal selected Sonoma builder fights EIR TO PETALUMA Joseph Turnage, an educator since 1972 and currently with the Ross Valley School District, has been named principal of McNear Elementary School. Turnage, principal of White Hill School since 1987, takes over July 1 from Bill Wurzburg, 56, a principal for 26 years, 13 of them at McNear. By a 3-0 vote in February, the Petaluma School District Board of Education demoted Wurzburg to teacher, an action that ignited parent outrage in support of Wurzburg. Schools Superintendent Chuck Cadman had high praise for Turnage, saying tie "is an outstanding educator who will make a marvelous contribution to the community." Turnage, who was one of 43 applicants for the job, lives in Petaluma. He has spent nearly all of his educational career in Sonoma County.

"I am very, very pleased," said Turnage. "I know Petaluma has an excellent school district, and that McNear School parents care a lot about education and the school." The job pays $46,358 a year. Turnage is a graduate of the University of California at Santa Barbara with a bachelor's degree in history. He obtained a master's degree in music history at Sonoma State University and received an administrative services credential at UC Berkeley. He also has been a participant in the California Leadership Academy since 1987.

room, Victorian fence and garden, and antique fruit trees OR, for sale, developer's special, 14 houses, residential zoning, no restrictions, demolish the house." He said if he is required to pay for an environmental report, -he will instead sell the property, which is zoned for up to 14 homes in the city general plan. Assistant City Planner David Goodison said Monday regardless of whether an environmental report is required, Cannard still must convince the Planning Commission to approve the rezoning if he wants to build the winery. Goodison also emphasized the potential construction of new homes on the site by a different owner would not necessarily mean demolition of the historic house. Goodison noted Cannard himself wants to demolish an old barn on the property, "portions of which are as old as the historic residence and should be assessed." The board of directors of the 350-member Sonoma Valley Historical Society has endorsed Cannard's efforts, but nearly 70 neighbors presented a petition to the Planning Commission last month requesting the environmental sources on the land. Cannard, calling the requirement "ludicrous," will appeal the requirement to the City Council at a public hearing Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.

In recent letters to the city, he denied the project is a "business venture," calling it "a history project and not a commercial project. The operation of a tiny historic winery is not the way to make money." Cannard said Monday he hopes the meeting will be "low-key." "We have people who wanted to bring bullhorns to the parking lot, but we discouraged that. I have nothing but respect for the council, and if they decide against us, I won't argue. I'll just put the property up for sale immediately." Nonetheless, Cannard's vigorous campaign against the Planning Commission's decision has included a half-page ad in the Sonoma Index-Tribune urging residents to call City Council members in protest. An "open house" last Saturday drew 400 visitors.

For several days last week a large sign also graced the site, sarcastically telling passers-by to "Take Your Pick historic restoration, museum, winery and tasting Small winery, museum planned By DENNIS WHEELER Correspondent SONOMA A homeowner who wants to build a museum in his historic house, plus a small winery nearby, is waging war on city officials who say the project requires an environmental impact report. Owner Robert Cannard, a Sonoma historian and retired landscape architect, wants to convert the historic Vallejo-Haraszthy house at 400 W. Spain built in the 1860s, into a museum and office. He also hopes to build a winery and tasting room on the surrounding 2 acres to produce up to 5,000 cases a year, plus three apartments above the winery, a parking lot and a small "showcase" vineyard. The Planning Commission voted unanimously last month, however, to require an environmental report focusing on traffic generated by the project, "land use conflicts" regarding the property's residential zoning and the proposed commercial winery, and potential historic re Cannon carriage JEFF KAN LEE Black Mountain Conservation Camp inmate Lou Mitts, left, spent 200 hours building a 300-pound oak carriage for a new cannon at Fort Ross.

He and parks ranger William Mennell hoist the gun, a reproduction of a Russian naval weapon, onto the carriage..