Loose Ends:

NOCAL DRUG TESTING BUSINESS FOLDS

- - Mendocino Drug & Alcohol Testing, a relatively short-lived Fort Bragg
business, will close its doors for good on Feb. 28, according to a fax from
general partners Kent Brown and Gloria Renteria. They write: "We are
pleased to have offered an important service to our community. We deeply
regret to say that we have not experienced our projected revenue base, due,
in large measure, to a lack of support from local businesses. It's a sad
commentary when many of our friends, local business owners, suggest that if
they drug tested their employees, they'd be out there doing all the work
themselves. 'Don't ask, don't tell' seems to be a local motto."

On the other hand, drug testing is already available via local physicians,
Coast Hospital and a Ukiah-based testing service. A lot of employers also
keep an eye out for employees who start their day with Reese's Peanut
Butter Cups and Dr. Pepper.