Front Page 11-05-09

Three comedians tell all biblical stories in 90 minutes Sierra stage has a holiday surprise See Stories On Page 7

ELECTION NIGHT CLIFF-HANGER! Spriggs leads Merced mayor's race by two dozen votes; final results could favor Gabriault-Acosta By JONATHAN WHITAKER [email protected]

Michele Gabriault-Acosta, right, gets a hug from Mayor Ellie Wooten.

It was one of the closest local election races in decades. Ahead by only 24 votes in the mayoral race, Merced City Councilman Bill Spriggs remained upbeat late Tuesday night, giving supporters high-fives while celebrating at Fernando's Bistro. "It's a landslide," Spriggs said with a laugh. "We are in the lead, so I'm feeling good. I think it will hold." Meanwhile, his tough competitor and childhood schoolmate, Councilwoman Michele Gabriault-Acosta, was a bit more cautious as she spoke to supporters at the Branding Iron restaurant. "This is a close one and we are going to have to wait for a final count," she said with Mayor Ellie Wooten at her side. "Anything could happen at this point." See “Election” on page 5

Bill and Phyllis Spriggs celebrate with supporters after viewing polling results.

Saving Souls ... one jail cell at a time By JONATHAN WHITAKER johnwhitaker@ midvalleypub.com Lance Marshall is not a criminal, and he doesn't carry a gun. But he spends most of his time walking up and down the yards and blocks of the Sandy Mush jail, the downtown jail and juvenile hall. It's just him and his bible — and the power of the Lord. "I get a million questions every day," the 49-year-old chaplain says. "How do I get married? Can you pray for my mother? Can you get me some glasses?" Marshall leads the way for the Merced County Jail Ministry, a community supported program under the Sheriff's Department that brings guidance, bible study and spiritual reading material to more than 800 inmates every week. "Not everybody wants to talk to me," he says. "Sometimes I get only one person. Sometimes I'll gather 25 people. Sometimes a guard will ask me to check on a guy whose mother just died." Marshall — who started in February of 2008 — also represents a new era for the ministry that is marking its 20th anniversary this month. Because of skyrocketing numbers of repeat offenders and overcrowded jail conditions, a group of local ministers, lay leaders and the sheriff decided in 1989 to bring a full time jail chaplain to Merced County. Chaplain Bill King was enlisted and the ministry began. By 1992, a second chaplain — Joel Kemps — was added, and King's wife, Carole, eventuPHOTO BY JOHN WHITAKER ally took on the role as a counLance Marshall, a chaplain for the Merced County Jail Ministry, visits hundreds of inmates selor for incarcerated women. every week, spreading the word of God and offering them hope for a new life. See “Saving” on page 4

Council votes to notify South Merced residents about plan for homeless camp By Beverly Barela beverlybarela@ midvalleypub.com Emotions ran high during the Monday night Merced City Council meeting as city leaders listened to over an hour of public comment and disagreed among themselves while trying to reach a decision about whether to relocate the city’s homeless population — and if so — where? Although there was some discussion about using either McNamara Park, the Armory or BMC-West property for an additional emergency shelter, the main focus of the meeting was whether to move the homeless from their tent city at Black Rascal Creek near Santa Fe to an organized campground with bathroom facilities to be developed using $54,000 in unrestricted fund which has not been budgeted this year. A major issue discussed was how to accommodate the homeless “290's” (registered sex offenders) who, according to Jessica’s Law, cannot reside within approximately 2,000 feet of schools and parks. A map presented during the meeting showed the areas that would not fit the requirements of Jessica’s Law. Mike Conway, Merced’s public information officer, said, “Most of the city does not meet the criteria because of the proximity to schools and parks.” He said, “There are between 10 and 20 registered sex offenders living in the camp in northwest Merced, according to State See “Votes” on page 4

Accident in Iraq claims life of Merced soldier Merced is mourning buried. His body is exthe loss of Pfc. Lukas pected to be flown to Hopper — a 2007 Merced from Dover Air Goldlen Valley High Force Base, Del., by the School graduate — weekend. Relatives told who died in a crash in local media representaBaghdad last week. tives that furneral servThe 20-year-old ices are tentatively Army paratrooper was planned for Saturday at less than two weeks Lukas Hopper the Church of Jesus away from the end of Christ of Latter-day his deployment when a Humvee Saints on Yosemite Avenue. He he was traveling in rolled over is expected to be buried in during a regular, noncombative Catheys Valley. exercise, according to military Hopper was assigned to the and news reports. 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute The City of Merced is flying Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade flags at half-staff until Hopper is See “Soldier” on page 4

Evren Ayik, 7, holds on tight to his mother Kara as he receives a H1N1 vaccine on Tuesday from nurse Joy Beck. Evren has a chronic medical condition and was screened for the shot at the Public Health Department on Tuesday. At right, a nasal spray version of the vaccine is given to Layla Davidson, 4, of Merced. Hundreds more waited hours to get their flu shots. See Page B-11