Santa Maria Times from Santa Maria, California • 2

A-2 Friday, Sept. 8, 1995 Santa Maria Times SLO COUNTY By Eric Firpo Times Staff Writer pay, the ordinance said. Conen could not comment when asked if that meant LeMoine received sick leave because he resigned. Zepeda said she will consider all options" before making a decision on LeMoine's fate, which may include his returning to work. "I will certainly read his letter and take it very seriously," Zepeda said.

If Zepeda did choose to accept LeMoine's withdrawal, she said, the county would "proceed at a level of discipline appropriate" to the evidence of misconduct. Zepeda said she will "at least give (LeMoine) some signal" today on what decision the county may make "since (the resignation) takes effect Friday." Bond said that LeMoine and his attorney hope to meet with Zepeda and other county officials Monday to discuss the matter. "I haven't heard anything about a meeting," said Conen. gations and the results of an Aug. 28 investigation.

Twoe hours later, LeMoine submitted his resignation. Zepeda said she explained to LeMoine the "implications and the impact of progressive discipline" for alleged misconduct, but that the decision to resign was his. As for the charge that the county was going to deny him sick leave, Zepeda said officials followed county laws regarding sick leave and vacation pay when an employee resigns. "There is a certain availability about sick leave and vacation pay," Zepeda said. "We didn't propose anything apart" from the law which governs employee sick leave.

County personnel director Bob Conen said a county ordinance code which governs sick leave states that an employee who's been with the county for over five years is entitled to sick-leave pay upon resignation. An employee who is fired for disciplinary reasons would not be entitled to sick-leave According to Alan Bond, a private investigator acting as LeMoine's spokesman, the health director now feels he was treated unfairly by county officials and resigned under duress. Bond said LeMoine was threatened with the loss of compensation for accrued sick leave and that the health director didn't have adequate time to obtain legal counsel before his resignation. The private investigator also said LeMoine feels he didn't have time to review the allegations against him. Zepeda said she wants to wait until she has.

seen the letter before she responds to specific claims by LeMoine. However, Zepeda said she disagrees with the contention that LeMoine was forced to resign. "I do not believe that I was pressuring Mr. LeMoine," Zepeda said. Zepeda confronted LeMoine with the alle SAN LUIS OBISPO Environmental Health director Jerry LeMoine on Thursday unilaterally withdrew his resignation, but whether the withdrawal will be accepted is another fnatter.

LeMoine's set his last day at work for today after resigning last week amid allegations that he sexually harassed a female county employee. But under civil service rules, the resignation will take effect unless Health Department director Susan Zepeda, who hired LeMoine, says otherwise. "He can't unilaterally withdraw his resignation," she said. Zepeda, who was in Sacramento Thursday, said she will respond to LeMoine's withdrawal today, after she has had a chance to read a letter of withdrawal he sent the county. COMMUNITY WATCH LOTTERY Super Lotto Wednesday's winning numbers: 2, 18, Prize Winnings Category (each) 6 of million 2 winners 5 of 6..

172 winners 4 of 6 8,952 winners 3 of $5 160,486 winners Previous Super Lotto numbers 92 11, 14, 20, 27, 36, 43 830 10, 11,21,29, 40, 51 826 14, 16, 26, 29, 30, 42 823 2, 12, 14, 24, 46,50 819 14,20, 30, 31,42. 50 Decco game Here are the winning playing card numbers picked recently for the California Lottery's six-day-a-week "Decco" game: Thursday, 97 2 2 9 Wednesday, 96 5 9 5 2 Tuesday, 95 9 5 5 Monday, 94 5 10 3 4 Saturday, 92 5 5 Friday, 91 8 10 7 8 Fantasy 5 game Thursday's winning numbers: 3, 8, 23, 28, 30 Previous Fantasy 5 numbers 95 2, 11, 13, 19,32 94 26, 29, 34, 36, 39 93 1,11,18,29.33 91 5,13,16,25,32 831 17,20, 27, 32,33 Daily 3 game Wednesday's winning numbers: 3,5,9 Ticket-holders with all three winning numbers in the order given win $500. Previous Daily 3 numbers Wednesday, 96... 5, 9 3, 9, 7 Monday, 94 4, 1,9 Sunday, 93 4, 5, 0 Saturday, 92 1, 4,5 Friday, 91 2, 6, 9 Big Spin SACRAMENTO Saturday's winners in the California Lottery Big Spin: Karen Muir, Victorville; Hugh Truex. Yuba City.

$75,000. Bi Karp, Sacramento. $70,000. Jeff Harden, Coronado. $40,450.

Mauricio Rodgriguez. Rialto. $40,000. Officers bust Arroyo Grande drug lab REFINERY Three groups to investigate accident By Times Staff ARROYO GRANDE Drug enforcement officers busted a drug lab at about 4 p.m. Thursday at the North Frontage Road at the junction of Los Berros Road, Highway 101 and Summit Station Road.

Officers apprehended two unidentified people residing at the scene and unsuccessfully pursued a fleeing third person, a Latino male. No arrests had been made by 8 a.m. today and the case remains under investigation, according to the San Luis Obispo County Narcotic Task Force. Many drivers on Los Berros Road witnessed portions of the extensive drug raid. side-by-side, with outbuildings.

The task force did not immediately identify the property owner or residents. It is believed the lab had been located in the one-story home at the location, with persons living just past a walkway in the second two-story home. Because of the hazards of the chemicals, chemists and lab specialists from the California Department of Justice responded to the scene, while California Department of Forestry firefighters stood by and the county's hazardous materials team remained on call. The lab appeared capable of producing 30 to 40 pounds of metham-phetamine at a time, according to the task force. Chemicals, glass- 15-year-old girl missing from her Arroyo Grande home for about six weeks.

Elyse Marie Pahler reportedly left her parents' home July 22 for unknown reasons and has not been seen or heard from by her family and friends since then, according to the sheriff's department. However, unconfirmed sightings have led the agency to believe she may still be" in the South San Luis Obispo County area. Persons with information should contact the sheriff's office at 781-4550 or 'Crime Stoppers, 549-7867. She is described as 5-feet, 7-inches tall, about 120 pounds, with blonde shoulder-length hair and blue eyes. I Man reports men tried to rob him An attempted strong arm robbery at 9:05 p.m.

Thursday at Broadway and Agnes Street is being investigated by the Santa Maria Police Rubin Lopez Luna, 39, of Santa Maria said he was walking in the area when two Latino males came out of an alley and grabbed him, according to police. Police said he pushed them away and ran to a nearby market, to phone police for help, while the would-be robbers fled. SM drug raid leads to one arrest A drug raid at 4 p.m.' Thursday led to the arrest of Guadalupe Ortiz, 22, of Santa Maria, on suspicion of possession of drugs and also on five warrants, according to the Santa Maria Police Department Narcotic Suppression Team, Authorities booked Ortiz into the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department Santa Maria Substation jail in lieu of bail. Officers seized a small amount of heroin during a raid at the residence in the 100 block of East Tun-nell Street, accordirtg to Sgt. Mike Cordero.

I County sheriff authorities first received a report a strong chemkaT a sma11 amunt of odor, indicating a possible metham-phetamine lab, in the immediate zone. Sheriff's deputies made the initial investigation, followed by the narcotic task force armed with search warrants for two residences. The site, at 1337 N. Frontage Road, is two residences located Authorities looking for missing teen ARROYO GRANDE San Luis Obispo Country sheriff's detectives are attempting to locate a FIRE The 1st Fire of Winter is the Quick thinking, hose keep blaze in kitchen By Karen White Senior Times Writer ARROYO GRANDE Three investigations have been launched to determine why two men died and three others sustained injuries while cleaning a sulfur reactor tank at 2:41 a.m. Thursday at the Unocal's Santa Maria Refinery on the Niporr.o Mesa.

1 1 The dead men have, been identified as Terry M. Schmitt, 44, of Arroyo Grande, and Manuel M. Azevedo, 48, of Oceano, according to the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Department coroner office. They are the first workers to die at the 40-year-old refinery. Both Schmitt and Azevedo were employees of Timec Southern California, which had contracted with Unocal for cleaning and maintenance.

As a normal part of a routine maintenance program, the Timec team was cleaning screens in a sulfur recovery tank after removing catalyst materials. The 30-foot tall, 10-feet in diameter vessel (tank) is used to remove sulfur from oil. It had been opened to the air for several days, according to Unocal spokesman Darwin Sainz. Exactly what occurred is still unknown, but all officials said it did not involve an explosive blast in the usual sense, with a flash' fire or any type of One of the dead men was inside the tank, along with a second man who survived. The second dead man stood at the tank's manhole and fell before his death, according to sketchy details of the accident.

Safety teams from Unocal, Timec and also Cal-OSHA are investigating the accident. Sainz said each investigation will be independent, after which the three teams will join in completing an accident report. This is expected by the end of the month. Most Dangerous! jry Get your fireplace cleaned or inspected now! By Karen White Senior Times Writer On sale now all gas, pellet, wood stoves and inserts, glass doors, gas logs and accessories ffy7 Nostalgic Stoveworks lai and Phimnpv Swppn and Chimney Sweep 103 S. Broadway, Orcutt 934-4665 1-800-773-4665 "I am amazed it didn't trip the electricity" circuit breakers, Jette said.

"It worked perfectly," he said, until the morning blaze. The family is very lucky, he admits, although the damage could run about $50,000. There is one major problem, because Jette's fire insurance recently was canceled and he has not been able to obtain a new policy. "I have been waiting for a call," after seeking insurance, he said. But.

he can expect help from his son, Charles Jette. a general building contractor. He also said Clelia did joke about "needing a new kitchen" anyway. Today, Clelia and Roger are moving from their 3,000 square-foot single-story home to the garage next door until repairs can be made. From the back of the refrigerator, flames licked at the fire-resistant "dry wall," Jette said, then licked to the ceiling.

"It saved it from spreading." he said of the walls. SUKtPi Mon-Sat 10-5 Cont. Lie. 676518 Roger Jette used a garden hose to douse a fire in the kitchen of his home at 4690 Pinal Road at 4:17 a.m. after a smoke alarm alerted the family to the blaze.

"He did our work for us," praised Santa Barbara County Fire spokesman Capt. Charlie Johnson. Jette credited his wife, Clelia, with hearing the smoke alarm, giving them time to get out of the home. "It was a he said of the alarm. The homeowner went to a side door and used the hose to "flood the kitchen with water," he said, while his wife phoned 911.

Johnson said county firefighters only had to "mop up" the blaze. According to Jette, the firefighters did much more in assisting them after the fire. A 30-year-old refrigerator is blamed for the blaze, after a motor burned out. FireDlace Cleanina Of or Inspection 1 Nostalgic Stoveworks 934-4665 I I mm 12 S.JJroadway Good thru 9309 5 rp Santa Maria llMES Santa Mara Times 1995 Sept 8, 1995 Vol. 114, No.

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