Aired on The California Report on Thursday, April 5, 2012.
http://www.californiareport.org/archive/R201204050850/a
Fort Bragg Councilman Jere Melo loved the woods. That's why, even after he retired from a career in forestry, he took on contract work patrolling private timberland. He often looked for signs of illegal marijuana grow sites, and he became increasingly concerned about their negative impact on the environment and public safety. Last August 27, he was on such a patrol, but he didn't find a marijuana garden. Instead, a mentally disturbed man who was reportedly tending a field of opium poppies shot and killed him. After Melo's death, his widow Madeline started the Jere Melo Foundation to educate the public about her late husband's passion: keeping the forests free of illegal marijuana grows. The organization hosted its first public forum at the end of March.
http://www.californiareport.org/archive/R201204050850/a
Fort Bragg Councilman Jere Melo loved the woods. That's why, even after he retired from a career in forestry, he took on contract work patrolling private timberland. He often looked for signs of illegal marijuana grow sites, and he became increasingly concerned about their negative impact on the environment and public safety. Last August 27, he was on such a patrol, but he didn't find a marijuana garden. Instead, a mentally disturbed man who was reportedly tending a field of opium poppies shot and killed him. After Melo's death, his widow Madeline started the Jere Melo Foundation to educate the public about her late husband's passion: keeping the forests free of illegal marijuana grows. The organization hosted its first public forum at the end of March.
