News 5/24/13

ARREST MADE IN FATAL UKIAH HIT AND RUN CASE JH 05/24/13

AFTER MORE THAN A MONTH OF INVESTIGATING, AN ARREST HAS BEEN MADE IN A FATAL HIT AND RUN THAT LEFT A UKIAH MAN LYING IN THE STREETS.

24 YEAR OLD LLUAN CARINOS FUENTES OF UKIAH WAS ARRESTED WEDNESDAY MORNING ON SUSPICION OF HIT AND RUN CAUSING INJURY OR DEATH AND VEHICULAR MANSLAUGHTER, FOR ALLEGEDLY HITTING 26 YEAR OLD JESSE RAY PIERI. PIERI WAS FOUND LYING ON NORTH STATE STREET AT 11:50 PM ON APRIL 19 JUST SOUTH OF AGNES LANE. HE WAS UNCONSCIOUS AND HAD MAJOR INJURIES CONSISTENT WITH BEING STRUCK BY A VEHICLE. PIERI WAS FLOWN TO SANTA ROSA MEMORIAL HOSPITAL WITH HEAD TRAUMA AND A FRACTURED LEG, AND LATER DIED OF HIS INJURIES.

BATTERY WITH GREAT BODILY INJURY JH 05/24/13

A WILLITS MAN WAS ARRESTED FOR ASSAULTING A MAN HE HAD A WORK RELATED DISPUTE WITH A YEAR AGO.

MENDOCINO COUNTY SHERIFFS DEPUTIES RESPONDED TO A REPORTED FIGHT AT THE LONG VALLEY LUMBER YARD IN LAYTONVILLE TUESDAY AFTERNOON TO FIND A 49 YEAR OLD VICTIM WITH SIGNIFICANT INJURY TO HIS FACE AND DEAD. HE WAS TRANSPORTED TO HOWARD MEMORIAL HOSPITAL. THE VICTIM REPORTED THAT 42-YEAR-OLD JIMMY LEROY DYKES APPROACHED HIM AT THE LUMBER YARD AND MAKING DEROGATORY STATEMENTS BEFORE PUNCHING HIM IN THE FACE AND THEN CHOKING HIM UNTIL UNCONSCIOUS. WHILE UNCONSCIOUS, DYKES CONTINUED TO STRIKE THE VICTIM IN THE HEAD AS WELL AS HITTING THE VICTIMS HEAD AGAINST THE GROUND. DYKES WAS LATER LOCATED AND TAKEN INTO CUSTODY.

CLEARLAKE MAN WHO DIED IN WEDNESDAY CRASH IDENTIFIED

JH 05/24/13

A CLEARLAKE MAN DIED WEDNESDAY NIGHT WHEN HIS MOTORCYCLE COLLIDED WITH TWO OTHER VEHICLES ON HIGHWAY 20.

55-YEAR-OLD JOHNNY McCUAN WAS RIDING EASTBOUND NEAR CATHOLIC CHURCH ROAD WHEN HE ALLOWED HIS MOTORCYCLE TO DRIFT INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE SIDE MIRROR OF THE BIKE HIT AN ONCOMING PICKUP BEFORE McCUAN COLLIDED HEAD-ON WITH A TOYOTA SCION. THE BIKE, WHICH CAME TO REST ON THE ROADS SHOULDER, BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES, CAUSING BRUSH ON THE EMBANKMENT TO CATCH FIRE. McCUAN WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE. THE OCCUPANTS OF THE SCION WERE ALL HOSPITALIZED MINOR TO SERIOUS INJURIES.

COVELO MAN ARRESTED FOR STEALING A TRAVEL TRAILER JH 05/24/13

A COVELO MAN WAS ARRESTED FOR STEALING A TRAVEL TRAILER THIS WEEK.

MENDOCINO COUNTY SHERIFFS DEPUTIES RESPONDED TO THE REPORTED THEFT ON MONDAY IN COVELO. THE VICTIM STATED THAT SHE HAD A TRAILER ON A PIECE OF PROPERTY, AND A FAMILY MEMBER CALLED HER AND SAID THEY WERE WATCHING A MAN DRIVE AWAY WITH THE TRAILER. THE WITNESS FOLLOWED THE SUSPECT TO A RESIDENCE ON HOPPER LANE IN COVELO AND IDENTIFIED THE SUSPECT AS 18-YEAR-OLD MANUAL RODRIGUEZ. DEPUTIES RESPONDED AND LOCATED THE TRAILER AT RODRIGUEZS RESIDENCE. RODRIGUEZ WAS ALREADY FACING PREVIOUS CHARGES OF RECEIVING STOLEN PROPERTY AND HAD BEEN RELEASED FROM CUSTODY ON HIS OWN RECOGNIZANCE THE PREVIOUS WEEK. RODRIGUEZ WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY AGAIN.

PARADE MAY CAUSE TRAFFIC THIS WEEKEND JH 05/24/13

A PARADE IN LOWER LAKE ON SUNDAY MAY CAUSE SOME TRAFFIC DELAYS.

CAL TRANS HAS ISSUED AN ENCROACHMENT PERMIT TO THE LOWER LAKE COMMUNITY ACTION GROUP FOR THEIR LOWER LAKE ANNUAL PARADE AND BBQ NEAR THE JUNCTION OF HIGHWAYS 29 AND 53 FROM 10 AM TO 3 PM. TURNS ONTO MORGAN VALLEY ROAD WILL BE RESTRICTED DURING THIS TIME PERIOD SUNDAY.

MENDOCINO COUNTY REACHES LABOR AGREEMENT WITH ITS MANAGERS JH 05/24/13

THE COUNTY OF MENDOCINO FINALIZED A LABOR AGREEMENT WITH ITS MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION BARGAINING GROUP THAT EXTENDS A PAY CUT EMPLOYEES AGREED TO TAKE IN 2010.

THE COUNTY AND COUNTY MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION RECEIVED APPROVAL FROM THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS LAST WEEK FOR A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING THAT EXTENDS A 10 PERCENT PAY REDUCTION THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2014 WITH NO ENHANCEMENTS TO BENEFITS OR SALARY LEVELS IN THE CONTRACT.

MCOE AND UHS SPONSOR CAREER CAMP FOR INCOMING FRESHMAN

JH 05/24/13

THE MENDOCINO COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION AND UKIAH HIGH SCHOOL ARE SPONSORING A CAREER CAMP FOR INCOMING FRESHMAN.

THE STUDENTS WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE CAREERS THROUGH FUN, HANDS-ON LEARNING ACTIVITIES. THEY WILL EXPERIENCE A SAMPLE OF THE CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION COURSES OFFERED AT UKIAH HIGH SCHOOL. THE CAMP IS JUNE 10TH THROUGH 14TH, AND INCOMING FRESHMAN INTERESTED SHOULD CONTACT THE DEAN OF STUDENTS AT THEIR SCHOOL TO SIGN UP BY NEXT FRIDAY, MAY 31ST.

LOWER LAKE HIGH SCHOOL GETS HEALTH CLINIC JH 05/24/13

THE KONOCTI UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT WILL BE GIVEN THE DISTINCTION OF BEING ONE OF ONLY THREE RURAL DISTRICTS IN THE US TO HAVE ITS OWN ON CAMPUS HEALTH CENTER.

THE KONOCTI WELLNESS CENTER CLINIC ON THE LOWER LAKE HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUS WILL OPEN ON JUNE 26TH. CONSTRUCTION OF THE CENTER WAS COMPLETED LAST WEEK, AND IT WILL SERVE ABOUT 3,000 K-12 STUDENTS AND 200 OR SO CHILDREN FROM BIRTH TO AGE 5. PART OF THE COSTS WERE PROVIDED BY A JULY 2011 FEDERAL PATIENT PROTECTION AND AFFORDABLE CARE ACT IN WHICH $95 MILLION DOLLARS WAS AWARDED TO 278 SCHOOL BASED HEALTH CENTER PROGRAMS NATIONWIDE.

News 5/23/13

A DOZEN PEOPLE ARRESTED DURING ENFORCEMENT OPERATION

JH 05/23/13

A DOZEN PEOPLE WERE ARRESTED WEDNESDAY DURING AN ENFORCEMENT OPERATION.

THE CLEARLAKE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE LAKE COUNTY PROBATION DEPARTMENT CONDUCTED THE ENFORCEMENT OPERATION, FOCUSED ON INDIVIDUALS ON POST RELEASE COMMUNITY SUPERVISION, IN THE CITIES OF CLEARLAKE AND LOWER LAKE. AFTER VISITING 16 PRESELECTED LOCATIONS, TWELVE PEOPLE WERE TAKEN INTO CUSTODY FOR VIOLATIONS INCLUDING POSSESSION OF DRUGS, WEAPONS AND OUTSTANDING WARRANTS.

WILLITS BYPASS WORK CONTINUES, AS DO THE PROTESTS JH 05/23/13

WORK ON THE HIGHWAY 101 BYPASS AROUND WILLITS MOVES FORWARD, AS PROTESTERS CONTINUE TO MONITOR EVERY STEP OF THE PROJECT.

THE FIRST PILE WAS POUNDED INTO PLACE TUESDAY MORNING AS PROTESTERS LINED HEARST-WILLITS ROAD HOLDING SIGNS AGAINST THE BYPASS PROJECT. TWO WICK DRAIN STICHERS ALSO BEGAN INSTALLING THE 4 INCH WIDE BY 1/8 INCH THICK WICK DRAINS TO DEPTH OF ABOUT 80 FEET. THE DRAINS DRAW ALL THE WATER FROM THE GROUND AROUND THEM ALLOWING THE EARTH TO BE COMPACTED AND SOLID ENOUGH TO SUPPORT THE BYPASS STRUCTURE. THE DRAINS ESSENTIALLY CREATE A LARGE UNDERGROUND DAM TO KEEP THE NEW HIGHWAY FROM SINKING INTO THE WETLANDS, AND THESE DRAINS ARE ONE OF THE GREATEST CONCERNS OF THE PROTESTERS, AS NO ONE REALLY KNOWS HOW IT WILL EFFECT THE WETLANDS, CREEKS AND NEARBY WELLS.

COLLISION LEAVES ONE DEAD AND STARTED A SMALL WILDLAND FIRE

JH 05/23/13

A COLLISION ON HIGHWAY 20 LAST NIGHT LEFT ONE PERSON DEAD AND SMALL FIRE BURNING THROUGH BRUSH.

THE ACCIDENT, INVOLVING TWO VEHICLES AND A MOTORCYCLE, OCCURRED JUST BEFORE 9 PM ON HIGHWAY 20 AT CATHOLIC CHURCH ROAD. AT LEAST ONE PERSON WAS TRAPPED IN A VEHICLE BEFORE BEING RESCUED BY EMERGENCY PERSONNEL. THE MOTORCYCLIST WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE. THE COLLISION ALSO STARTED A SMALL WILDLAND FIRE, BUT FIREFIGHTERS WERE ABLE TO CONTAIN THE BLAZE QUICKLY. THE ACCIDENT IS UNDER INVESTIGATION.

DFW TO CONDUCT ABALONE CHECKPOINT MONDAY JH 05/23/13

THE DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE WILL BE CONDUCTING AN ABALONE CHECKPOINT ON MONDAY, MAY 27.

THE CHECKPOINT COINCIDES WITH A LOW TIDE EVENT AS WELL AS THE MEMORIAL DAY HOLIDAY WEEKEND WHEN A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE ARE EXPECTED TO HARVEST ABALONE. THE CHECKPOINTS ARE USED TO HELP PREVENT PEOPLE FROM TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE LOW TIDE AND HARVEST MORE THAN THE LEGAL LIMIT. ABALONE MAY NOT BE HARVESTED FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES FROM THE WILD IN CALIFORNIA, AS THE RED ABALONE HAVE A HIGH MONETARY VALUE ON THE BLACK MARKET. THE ILLEGAL TAKE AND UNLAWFUL SALE IS OF PRINCIPLE CONCERN TO THE DEPARTMENT.

TRAFFIC STOP LEADS TO DRUG AND THEFT ARREST JH 05/23/13

A TRAFFIC STOP LED TO AN ARREST FOR POSSESSION OF STOLEN PROPERTY AND DRUGS FOR SALE.

FORT BRAGG POLICE CONDUCTED A TRAFFIC STOP ON 29 YEAR OLD RICKY SANTOS OF FORT BRAGG. SANTOS WAS ON ACTIVE PROBATION OUT OF STANISLAUS COUNTY AND WAS RECENTLY RELEASED FROM MENDOCINO COUNTY JAIL FOR THEFT RELATED CHARGES. A SEARCH OF HIS VEHICLE REVEALED A STOLEN TV FROM THE BEST WESTERN MOTEL IN FORT BRAGG, A BILLY CLUB, AND 12.1 GRAMS OF SUSPECTED METHAMPHETAMINE PACKAGED FOR SALE. SANTOS WAS BOOKED INTO MENDOCINO COUNTY JAIL ON MULTIPLE CHARGES.

WILD LAND FIRE BURNED SEVERAL ACRES NEAR LUCERNE HOMES

JH 05/23/13

A WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON FIRE SCORCHED SEVERAL ACRES NEAR A GROUP OF HOMES IN LUCERNE.

ACCORDING TO AUTHORITIES, THE FIRE, REPORTED IN THE 4000 BLOCK OF FOOTHILL DRIVE AT ABOUT 1:19 PM, RAN ACROSS ROBINSON ROAD AND BURNED 5 TO 7 ACRES BEFORE BEING BROUGHT UNDER CONTROL. A CAL FIRE HELICOPTER MADE SEVERAL WATER DROPS TO PREVENT THE FIRE FROM ADVANCING TOWARD NEARBY HOMES. FIREFIGHTERS HAD THE BLAZE UNDER CONTROL IN JUST OVER AN HOUR.

ROAD WORK TODAY JH 05/23/13

ROAD WORK MAY CAUSE MINOR DELAYS.

PG&E WILL PERFORM UTILITY REPAIRS ON HIGHWAY 1 NEAR SCOTT PLACE BEGINNING TODAY FROM 8 AM TO 4 PM. THIS WORK WILL BE ONGOING ON WEEKDAYS. ONE-WAY TRAFFIC CONTROL WILL BE IN EFFECT WITH 5-MINUTE DELAYS ANTICIPATED.

RABIES VACCINE CLINIC AND ONE-DAY DOG LICENSE AMNESTY

JH 05/23/13

MENDOCINO COUNTY ANIMAL CARE SERVICES WILL HOLD A ONE DAY DOG LICENSE AMNESTY PROGRAM IN CONJUNCTION WITH A LOW-COST RABIES VACCINE CLINIC AT THE UKIAH SHELTER.

ALL DOGS OVER 4 MONTHS OLD ARE REQUIRED BY COUNTY LAW TO HAVE A CURRENT RABIES VACCINE AND A DOG LICENSE. ALL PENALTIES FOR EXPIRED LICENSES WILL BE WAIVED IF THE ANIMAL IS REGISTERED DURING THIS ONE-DAY EVENT ON JUNE 15TH. UNFORTUNATELY, DOG OWNERS WHO HAVE RECEIVED A CITATION FROM ANIMAL CONTROL FOR FAILURE TO HAVE A CURRENT LICENSE WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE AMNESTY PROGRAM. LICENSES ARE $25 FOR ALTERED DOGS AND $55 FOR UNALTERED DOGS. RABIES VACCINES WILL BE OFFERED FOR $6, AND MICRO-CHIPPING WILL ALSO BE OFFERED FOR ONLY $10.

News 5/22/13

HOME BURIAL OF SUPERVISORS WIFE UNDER INVESTIGATION JH 05/22/13

THE HOME BURIAL OF A MENDOCINO COUNTY SUPERVISORS WIFE IS UNDER INVESTIGATION BY THE SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT.

AN ANONYMOUS SOURCE REPORTED THAT CARRIE HAMBURG, THE LATE WIFE OF 5TH DISTRICT SUPERVISOR DAN HAMBURG, MAY HAVE BEEN ILLEGALLY BURIED ON THE FAMILYS PROPERTY WITHOUT PERMITS. HAMBURGS ATTORNEY STATED THAT, HOME BURIAL ON LARGE, RURAL PROPERTIES, AWAY FROM WATERCOURSES AND PROPERTY LINES, ARE ALLOWED IN 45 OF THE 50 STATES. HE BELIEVES THIS IS A MATTER OF INDIVIDUAL PRIVACY GUARANTEED INTHE CALIFORNIA CONSTITUTION.

FOUR INJURED IN HIGHWAY 20 CRASH JH 05/22/13

FOUR PEOPLE WERE INJURED MONDAY WHEN TWO VEHICLES COLLIDED ON HIGHWAY 20 NEAR POTTER VALLEY ROAD.

ACCORDING TO CHP, AT AROUND 3:45, 66-YEAR-OLD WILLIAM LANK OF WILLITS PULLED ONTO NORTHBOUND HIGHWAY 20 FROM POTTER VALLEY ROAD AND DID NOT YIELD TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. 53-YEAR-OLD CARLOS MARTINEZ OF UKIAH THEN HIT LANKS VEHICLE CAUSING INJURY TO THE OCCUPANTS OF BOTH VEHICLES. BOTH MARTINES AND LANK WERE TAKEN TO UKIAH VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER WITH MODERATE TO SERIOUS INJURIES, WHILE THEIR PASSENGERS, 52 YEAR OLD LETICIA ALCAREZ, AND 71 ANNA LANK WERE BOTH FLOWN TO SANTA ROSA MEMORIAL HOSPITAL WITH MAJOR INJURIES. THE COLLISION IS UNDER INVESTIGATION.

KELSEYVILLE MAN ARRESTED ON SUSPICION OF DUI JH 05/22/13

A KELSEYVILLE MAN WAS ARRESTED ON SUSPICION OF DUI AFTER ALLEGEDLY HITTING AND INJURING A CYCLIST OVER THE WEEKEND.

19 YEAR OLD STEVEN WAYNE BOATRIGHT WAS DRIVING SOUTH ON IRVINE AVENUE AT BLUE LAKES ROAD WHEN HE ENTERED THE INTERSECTION AND HIT A BICYCLE RIDDEN BY 64 YEAR OLD BRIAN R PECKNOLD OF UPPER LAKE. PECKNOLD WAS HOSPITALIZED AND BOATRIGHT WAS BOOKED FOR FELONY DUI CAUSING INJURY.

LAKEPORT CITY COUNCIL INTRODUCES MARIJUANA CULTIVATION ORDINANCE JH 05/22/13

THE LAKEPORT CITY COUNCIL VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO INTRODUCE ITS NEW MEDICAL MARIJUANA CULTIVATION ORDINANCE AT TUESDAYS MEETING, DESPITE PROTESTS FROM SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO OBJECT TO PORTIONS OF THE ORDINANCE.

THE COUNCIL ALSO VOICED SOME CONCERNS, BUT PRIMARILY SHOWED BROAD SUPPORT FOR THE PLAN THAT PROHIBITS ANY AND ALL GROWING OUTDOORS OR IN A RESIDENCE. THE NEW ORDINANCE LIMITS GROWING TO SECURED DETACHED STRUCTURES WITH FILTRATION SO AS TO NOT EMIT ANY DISTINCT ODOR. THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE WILL BE DISCUSSED AGAIN AT THE JUNE 18 MEETING, AT WHICH TIME PUBLIC WILL BE WELCOMED TO COMMENT.

HEAD ON COLLISION CAUSED BY SUSPECTED DRUNK DRIVER JH 05/22/13

A KELSEYVILLE MAN WAS ARRESTED FOR DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL TUESDAY EVENING, AFTER CAUSING A HEAD ON COLLISION.

34 YEAR OLD MICHAEL WOODBURY WAS ON HIGHWAY 29 BETWEEN KELSEYVILLE AND LOWER LAKE WHEN HE LOST CONTROL OF HIS VEHICLE AND CROSSED OVER THE DOUBLE YELLOW LINES HITTING 76 YEAR OLD GAEL THORNTON OF MERLIN OREGON HEAD-ON. BOTH WOODBURY AND THORNTON WERE FLOWN TO SANTA ROSA MEMORIAL HOSPITAL WITH SERIOUS INJURIES. THE COLLISION REMAINS UNDER INVESTIGATION.

CITY OF LAKEPORT FILES SUIT AGAINST THE COUNTY OVER RIMS ACCESS

JH 05/22/13

A MONTH AFTER LAKE COUNTY SHERIFF FRANK RIVERO CUT OFF THE LAKEPORT POLICE DEPARTMENTS ACCESS TO COUNTYS RECORDS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, OR RIMS, THE CITY OF LAKEPORT HAS FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE COUNTY.

THE SUIT WAS FILED MONDAY IN LAKE COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT, ALLEGING BREACH OF CONTRACT AND BREACH OF THE COVENANT OF GOOD FAITH AND FAIR DEALING AGAINST RIVERO AND THE SHERIFFS OFFICE. THE CITY IS ASKING THE COURT TO ORDER SHERIFF RIVERO TO RESTORE THEIR ACCESS TO RIMS. RIVERO FIRST CUT OFF THE POLICE DEPARTMENTS ACCESS TO THE SYSTEM ON APRIL 23, CLAIMING HE WAS AUDITING THE SYSTEM AND FOUND EVIDENCE OF MISUSE BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

ROAD WORK TODAY JH 05/22/13

ROAD WORK MAY CAUSE MINOR DELAYS.

PG&E WILL PERFORM UTILITY REPAIRS ON HIGHWAY 271 1.1 TO 1.5 MILES NORTH OF THE SOUTHERN JUNCTION OF ROUTES 271/101 TODAY FROM 9 AM TO 2 PM. ONE-WAY TRAFFIC CONTROL WILL BE IN EFFECT WITH 5 TO 10-MINUTE DELAYS ANTICIPATED.

STUDENTS PROPOSE DOWNTOWN MURALS JH 05/22/13

THE UKIAH PLANNING COMMISSION WILL CONSIDER AT TODAYS MEETING, APPROVING A PERMIT FOR THREE MORE DOWNTOWN MURALS PROPOSED BY A GROUP OF UKIAH HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.

THE STUDENTS WANT TO DEMONSTRATE THAT THE EXPOSURE OF ART TO THE COMMUNITY HAS POSITIVE IMPACTS IT HAS ON RESIDENTS. IT HAS BEEN SEEN MANY TIMES THAT TOWNS AND CITIES WITH MORE PUBLICLY DISPLAYED ART HAVE, ON AVERAGE, HAPPIER AND MORE PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS. ACCORDING TO A REPORT PREPARED FOR THE MEETING, THE PLANNING STAFF IS RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF THE MURALS THAT WILL FOCUS ON MUSIC, NATURE AND ENVIRONMENTALISM, AND INTERCULTURAL UNDERSTANDING AND COOPERATION. THE MEETING BEGINS AT 6 PM IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS ON SEMINARY AVENUE.

NEWS 052113

FIRE AT UKIAH HIGH SCHOOL JH 05/21/13

UKIAH HIGH SCHOOL WAS EVACUATED DURING THE LAST PERIOD MONDAY WHEN A FIRE BROKE OUT IN A FIELD BEHIND THE CAMPUS.

THE FIRE WAS REPORTED AROUND 2:10 BEHIND THE SCHOOLS BUILDING R. STUDENTS WERE EVACUATED TO THE SOFTBALL FIELDS AND THEN MOVED TO THE BLEACHERS AT THE FOOTBALL FIELD DUE TO HEAVY SMOKE. ACCORDING THE AUTHORITIES, THE FIRE STARTED WHEN SPARKS FROM SOMEONE WORKING IN THE WELDING SHOP IGNITED THE GRASS. THE FIRE WAS ACCIDENTAL AND THE ONLY STRUCTURE DAMAGED WAS A NEARBY GREENHOUSE THAT HAD SOME PLASTIC MELT. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED.

BOATER FOUND IN CLEAR LAKE LAST WEEK DIED OF HEART ATTACK

JH 05/21/13

THE MISSING RICHMOND BOATER WHO BODY WAS FOUND IN CLEAR LAKE ON WEDNESDAY DIED OF A MASSIVE HEART ATTACK.

73 YEAR OLD JOHN TABERNER WAS FOUND WITH THE USE OF A REMOTELY OPERATED UNDERWATER VEHICLE, OR ROV, PROVIDED BY SAN FRANCISCO POLICE JUST HOURS AFTER IT WAS USED IN THE SEARCH FOR THE BODY OF A MISSING 9 YEAR OLD AUTISTIC GIRL IN CACHE CREEK. THE SEARCH BEGAN TUESDAY NIGHT WHEN TABERNERS BOAT WAS FOUND GROUNDED ON A BEACH WITH THE ENGINE STILL IDLING. TABERNER WAS FOUND ABOUT 15 FEET BELOW THE SURFACE OF THE WATER NEAR WHERE HIS BOAT WAS FOUND.

LUCERNE MAN DIED IN DIRT BIKE CRASH NEAR COVELO JH 05/21/13

A LUCERNE MAN DIED SUNDAY MORNING AFTER CRASHING HIS MOTORCYCLE OFF OF COVELO ROAD.

40-YEAR-OLD HARLEY DeCENT WAS HEADED SOUTH ON FOOTHILL BOULEVARD ON A HONDA DIRT BIKE AND NOT WEARING A HELMET. AT CRAWFORD ROAD, HE DIDNT STOP AT THE INTERSECTION, INSTEAD HE RODE INTO A DIRT FIELD WHERE HE HIT A BURM LAUNCHING THE BIKE ABOUT 50 FEET THROUGH THE AIR. DeCENT WAS THROWN FROM THE BIKE AND HIT A METAL FENCE POST. HE DIED AT THE SCENE.

TWO ARRESTED AS PROTESTERS STOPPED WORK AGAIN ON THE WILLITS BYPASS JH 05/21/13

TWO WERE ARRESTED MONDAY AS PROTESTERS AGAIN TRIED TO STOP WORK ON THE HIGHWAY 101 BYPASS AROUND WILLITS.

JAMIE CHEVALIER OF WILLITS AND TRAVIS JOCHIMSEN WERE ARRESTED AFTER CAL TRANS CREWS DISCOVERED THEM LOCKED TO THE HUGE WICK DRAIN DRIVER THAT WAS SET UP TO INSTALL THE 80 FOOT DEEP WICKS IN THE BYPASS FOOTPRINT THIS WEEK. A LARGE SIGN HAD ALSO BEEN PLACED ON THE HEAVY EQUIPMENT THAT READ NO WICK DRAINS. A GROUP OF SUPPORTING PROTESTERS ARRIVED AT DAWN AND STOOD NEARBY TO FILM THE PROTEST AND ARRESTS.

MIDDLETOWN MAN DIED IN MONDAY MORNING CRASH JH 05/21/13

A SINGLE VEHICLE CRASH MONDAY MORNING CLAIMED THE LIFE OF A YOUNG MIDDLETOWN MAN.

20 YEAR OLD DINOTI R MOSLEY WAS TRAVELING WESTBOUND ON HIGHWAY 175 JUST EAST OF ANDERSON SPRINGS ROAD WHEN HE WENT OFF THE ROAD ON A CURVE AND HIT A TREE. MOSLEY WAS NOT WEARING HIS SEAT BELT, AND DIED OF HIS INJURIES.

SUNDAY MOTORCYCLE CRASH INJURES TWO JH 05/21/13

TWO LAKEPORT RESIDENTS SUFFERED SERIOUS INJURIES SUNDAY AFTERNOON IN A MOTORCYCLE CRASH.

51 YEAR OLD MARK THIBEAU AND 39 YEAR OLD JOANNE SANTOS WERE RIDING A HARLEY DAVIDSON EASTBOUND ON SODA BAY ROAD. WHILE NEGOTIATING A CURVE, THE BIKE LEFT THE ROAD AND ON THE SHOULDER IT OVERTURNED EJECTING BOTH RIDERS. THIBEAU AND SANTOS WERE FLOWN TO SANTA ROSA MEMORIAL HOSPITAL.

ROAD WORK TODAY JH 05/21/13

ROAD WORK MAY CAUSE MINOR DELAYS.

CAL TRANS WILL PERFORM ROUTINE MAINTENANCE ON HIGHWAY 101 FROM REYNOLDS HIGHWAY TO RYAN CREEK ROAD TODAY FROM 7:30 AM TO 3:30 PM. SOUTHBOUND TRAFFIC WILL BE RESTRICTED TO ONE LANE, AND MOTORISTS MAY EXPERIENCE MINOR TRAFFIC SLOWDOWNS.

PG&E WILL PERFORM WORK ON HIGHWAY 175 FROM JUST EAST OF WILD CAT ROAD TODAY FROM 8 AM TO 4 PM.

CAL TRANS WILL PERFORM ROUTINE MAINTENANCE ON HIGHWAY 20 JUST EAST OF BLUE LAKES ROAD TO SCOTTS VALLEY ROAD BEGINNING TODAY FROM 7:30 AM TO 4 PM. THE WORK WILL BE ONGOING ON WEEKDAYS.

AT THE HIGHWAYS 175 AND 20 WORK LOCATIONS, ONE-WAY TRAFFIC CONTROL WILL BE IN EFFECT WITH 5 TO 10-MINUTE DELAYS ANTICIPATED.

DA RULES CHP OFFICER JUSTIFIED IN SHOOTING LAST OCTOBER

JH 05/21/13

LAKE COUNTYS DISTRICT ATTORNEY HAS DETERMINED THAT AN OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTING LAST OCTOBER WAS JUSTIFIED.

52-YEAR-OLD RONALD WALTER OSSENBERG OF ORANGE COUNTY WAS SHOT TO DEATH AFTER HE ATTACKED CHP OFFICER ERICA CODDINGTON WHEN SHE STOPPED TO CHECK ON HIM. OSSENBERG, WHO HAD A LENGTHY CRIMINAL RECORD, WAS STOPPED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN A STOLEN VEHICLE. DURING THE INCIDENT, OSSENBERG GRABBED CODDINGTON BY THE THROAT AND THREW HER TO THE GROUND. HE WAS ON TOP OF HER TRYING TO TAKE HER GUN, WHEN ANOTHER OFFICER ARRIVED AND BEGAN RUNNING TOWARDS THE TWO STRUGGLING. AS OSSENBERG LOOKED UP AT THE APPROACHING OFFICER, CODDINGTON WAS ABLE TO GAIN CONTROL OF HER GUN AND SHOT OSSENBERG ONCE. HE TRIED TO FLEE IN THE STOLEN VEHICLE, BUT CRASHED AND DIED AT THE SCENE.

Playlist 5/16/13

DEMI LOVATO-HEART ATTACK

ICONA POP W/CHARLI XCX-I LOVE IT

JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE-MIRRORS

KREWELLA-ALIVE

MACKLEMORE & RYAN LEWIS W/RAY DALTO-CAN’T HOLD US

PINK W/NATE RUESS-JUST GIVE ME A REASON

ARIANA GRANDE W/MAC MILLER-THE WAY

AVRIL LAVIGNE-HERE’S TO NEVER GROWING UP

CALVIN HARRIS W/ELLIE GOULDING-I NEED YOUR LOVE

EMELI SANDE-NEXT TO ME

FALL OUT BOY-MY SONG KNOWS WHAT YOU DID IN THE DARK

FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE W/NELLY-CRUISE

IMAGINE DRAGONS-RADIOACTIVE

JASON DERULO-THE OTHER SIDE

LITTLE MIX-WINGS

MUSE-MADNESS

SELENA GOMEZ-COME & GET IT

TAYLOR SWIFT-22

WILL.I.AM W/JUSTIN BIEBER-# THAT POWER

ZEDD W/FOXES-CLARITY

ANNA KENDRICK-CUPS (PITCH PERFECT WHEN I’M GONE)

CARLY RAE JEPSEN-TONIGHT I’M GETTING OVER YOU

CHRIS BROWN-FINE CHINA

DAFT PUNK W/PHARRELL WILLIAMS-GET LUCKY

ED SHEERAN-LEGO HOUSE

HOT CHELLE RAE-HUNG UP

NIKKI WILLIAMS-GLOWING

CAPITAL CITIES-SAFE AND SOUND

DRAKE-STARTED FROM THE BOTTOM

DROP CITY YACHT CLUB W/JEREMIH-CRICKETS

JONAS BROTHERS-POM POMS

KE$HA-CRAZY KIDS

KELLY CLARKSON-PEOPLE LIKE US

MKTO-THANK YOU

WALLPAPER.-GOOD 4 IT

News 5/20/13

CHARRED BONES FOUND NEAR COVELO ROAD ARE BELIEVED TO BE HUMAN JH 05/20/13

CHARRED BONES FOUND NEAR COVELO ROAD THURSDAY AFTERNOON ARE BELIEVED TO BE HUMAN.

ACCORDING TO AUTHORITIES, THE BONES ARE SO BADLY BURNED, THAT INITIALLY, OFFICERS WERE NOT SURE IF THEY WERE HUMAN OR ANIMAL, HOWEVER, AFTER FINDING TEETH AMONG THE BONES, IT IS NOW BELIEVED THAT THEY ARE HUMAN. A FORENSIC DENTIST WAS EXPECTED TO EXAMINE THE TEETH SUNDAY, AND IF THEY ARE HUMAN, THE REMAINS WILL THEN BE SENT TO A HUMAN IDENTIFICATION LABORATORY AT CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY OF CHICOS ANTHROPOLOGY DEPARTMENT. THEY WILL LIKELY BE ABLE TO DETERMINE THE HEIGHT, SEX AND AGE OF THE DECEASED, AS WELL AS OTHER FACTORS THAT MAY ASSIST IN THE INVESTIGATION. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION THAT COULD AID THIS INVESTIGATION IS URGED TO CONTACT THE SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT TIP LINE AT 234-2100.

CHRISTMAS ROBBER SENTENCED TO LIFE JH 05/20/13

THE CRESCENT CITY MAN WHO ATTEMPTED TO ROB TWO WOMEN AT KNIFEPOINT IN UKIAH JUST FIVE DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS LAST YEAR, HAS BEEN SENTENCED.

50-YEAR-OLD ROBERT LEE WHITE, WAS FOUND GUILTY OF TWO COUNTS OF ATTEMPTED ROBBERY AND ONE COUNT OF THREATENING THE HUSBAND OF ONE OF THE VICTIMS. BECAUSE WHITE HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN CONVICTED OF FOUR PRIOR STRIKE CONVICTIONS, HE WAS SENTENCED TO 98 YEARS TO LIFE IN STATE PRISON.

TWO FLOWN TO TRAUMA CENTER AFTER MOTORCYCLE CRASH

JH 05/20/13

TWO PEOPLE WERE FLOWN TO A REGIONAL TRAUMA CENTER AFTER A MOTORCYCLE CRASH SUNDAY AFTERNOON.

THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON SODA BAY ROAD SHORTLY BEFORE 4:45 YESTERDAY. IT WAS NOT IMMEDIATELY CLEAR WHETHER ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN THE CRASH. THE TWO PEOPLE ON THE MOTORCYCLE SUSTAINED INJURIES AND WERE FLOWN TO SANTA ROSA MEMORIAL HOSPITAL.

CAR CRASH LEAVES UPPER LAKE RESIDENTS WITHOUT POWER SUNDAY NIGHT JH 05/20/13

A SUNDAY AFTERNOON CRASH LEFT HUNDREDS OF UPPER LAKE RESIDENTS WITHOUT POWER FOR PART OF THE NIGHT.

ACCORDING TO REPORTS, AN UNIDENTIFIED DRIVER HIT A UTILITY POLE ON ELK MOUNTAIN ROAD NEAR RANCHERIA ROAD JUST BEFORE 5 PM. SOME RESIDENTS HAD POWER RETURNED WITHIN A COUPLE HOURS, OTHERS WERE EXPECTED TO BE WITHOUT POWER UNTIL EARLY MORNING.

MANHUNT FOR SUSPECTED MURDERER SHANE MILLER CONTINUES

JH 05/20/13

THE MANHUNT FOR SUSPECTED MURDERER SHANE MILLER CONTINUES, BUT HAS BEEN SCALED BACK.

MILLER IS SUSPECTED OF SHOOTING TO DEATH HIS WIFE SANDY AND THEIR TWO DAUGHTERS, 8-YEAR-OLD SHELBY AND 4 YEAR OLD SHASTA, IN THEIR SHINGLETOWN HOME ON MAY 7TH. AUTHORITIES HAVE CONFIRMED THAT MILLER MADE CONTACT WITH A WOMAN HE HAD A PAST RELATIONSHIP WITH IN PETROLIA THE DAY AFTER HIS FAMILY WAS FOUND DEAD. HIS TRUCK WAS ALSO FOUND ABANDONED ON MATTOLE ROAD. THE KING RANGE NATIONAL CONSERVATION AREA TRAILS WILL REMAIN CLOSED THROUGH MAY 31ST. ACCORDING TO HUMBOLDT AUTHORITIES, THE MOST LIKELY SCENARIOS ARE THAT MILLER HAS KILLED HIMSELF OR LEFT THE AREA. BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR MILLER. HE IS DESCRIBED AS A WHITE MALE, 5 FEET 10 INCHES TALL, WEIGHING 200 POUNDS WITH RED HAIR AND BLUE EYES. A PHOTO OF MILLER IS POSTED ON THE K-WINE NEWS FACEBOOK PAGE.

BOMB SQUAD DETONATES GRENADES AT CLEARLAKE OAKS HOME

JH 05/20/13

THE NAPA BOMB SQUAD WAS CALLED TO DETONATE TWO HAND GRENADES IN A CLEARLAKE OAKS HOME WHERE A SIX HOUR STANDOFF TOOK PLACE LAST WEEK.

AUTHORITIES ARRIVED AT FOURTH STREET HOME LAST WEDNESDAY AFTER A WOMAN REPORTED BEING SHOT IN THE HIP BY A PELLET GUN. 52 YEAR OLD ROBERT SCOTT HISEL THEN EMERGED FROM THE HOME AND SHOT AT POLICE WITH A HIGH POWERED PELLET GUN. AT ONE POINT HISEL PULLED A HANDGUN AND FIRED AT POLICE, WHO RETURNED FIRE. EVENTUALLY, SWAT ENTERED THE HOME AND TOOK HISEL INTO CUSTODY.

ROAD WORK TODAY JH 05/20/13

ROAD WORK TODAY MAY CAUSE MINOR DELAYS.

CAL TRANS WILL PERFORM ROUTINE MAINTENANCE ON HIGHWAY 101 FROM REYNOLDS HIGHWAY TO RYAN CREEK ROAD TODAY AND TOMORROW FROM 7:30 AM TO 3:30 PM. SOUTHBOUND TRAFFIC WILL BE RESTRICTED TO ONE LANE, AND MOTORISTS MAY EXPERIENCE MINOR TRAFFIC SLOWDOWNS.

PG&E WILL BE TRIMMING TREES ON HIGHWAY 1 NEAR FISH ROCK ROAD BEGINNING TODAY FROM 8 AM TO 3 PM. THE WORK WILL BE ONGOING ON WEEKDAYS.

PG&E WILL PERFORM WORK ON HIGHWAY 175 FROM JUST EAST OF WILD CAT ROAD TODAY AND TOMORROW FROM 8 AM TO 4 PM.

AT BOTH PG&E WORK LOCATIONS, ONE-WAY TRAFFIC CONTROL WILL BE IN EFFECT WITH 5-MINUTE DELAYS ANTICIPATED.

TUNNEL CAVE IN THREATENS TO CLOSE THE SKUNK TRAIN FOREVER

JH 05/20/13

A TUNNEL CAVE IN ON THE SKUNK TRAIN RAILWAY HAS STOPPED THE TRAIN TEMPORARILY, AND MAY END ALL SKUNK TRAIN OPERATIONS INDEFINITELY, UNLESS THE SAVE OUR SKUNK CAMPAIGN CAN RAISE THE NEEDED MONEY QUICKLY.

WHILE RIDERSHIP AND REVENUES HAVE BEEN INCREASING IN THE PAST FEW YEARS, THE TUNNEL COLLAPSE, PAIRED WITH MORE THAN $200,000 LOST DURING THE 2011 AARON BASSLER MANHUNT, THE SKUNK TRAIN MAY BE FINISHED, AS THE ESTIMATE TO REPAIR THE TUNNEL IS $300,000. IN WHAT IS CONSIDERED A LAST DITCH EFFORT TO SAVE THE TRAIN, THE SAVE OUR SKUNK CAMPAIGN IS AIMED AT ASKING INDIVIDUALS TO PURCHASE SPONSORSHIPS, TRADING CASH TODAY FOR FREE TRAIN RIDES IN THE FUTURE. THE DETAILS ARE STILL BEING WORKED OUT AND WILL BE ANNOUNCED SOON.

WILLITS BYPASS UPDATE JH 05/20/13

THE HIGHWAY 101 BYPASS AROUND WILLITS IS MOVING FORWARD, AS A CAL TRANS CRANE, NEEDED TO DRIVE TEST PILES, ARRIVED LAST WEDNESDAY.

THE CRANE SHOULD BE ASSEMBLED AND READY FOR WORK BY TOMORROW. THE SIX TEST PILES, EACH A PIPE 120 FEET LONG AND 24 INCHES WIDE, WILL BE POUNDED INTO THE GROUND DURING THE NEXT FEW WEEKS IN KEY AREAS ALONG THE BYPASS ROUTE. ACCORDING TO CAL TRANS OFFICIALS, BY THE END OF THIS CONSTRUCTION SEASON, THE HILL IN THE NORTH SECTION OF THE BYPASS SHOULD BE MOSTLY REMOVED, AND ALL VEGETATION ALONG THE ENTIRE ROUTE WILL BE REMOVED. PROJECT MITIGATION LIKELY WONT BEGIN UNTIL NEXT YEAR.

News 5/17/13

BOAT FIND IDLING ON EDGE OF CLEARLAKE, AND MISSING RICHMOND MAN FOUND IN LAKE JH 05/17/13

TUESDAY EVENING, A SMALL FISHING BOAT WAS FOUND ON A CLEAR LAKE BEACH WITH THE ENGINE STILL IDLING, BUT THE FISHERMAN, A RICHMOND MAN, WAS NO WHERE TO BE FOUND.

THE REPORT OF THE BOAT AND MISSING FISHERMAN CAME IN AS AUTHORITIES WERE IN THE MIDST OF SEARCHING FOR 9-YEAR-OLD MIKAELA LYNCH. AUTHORITIES RECOVERED THE BOAT, BUT WEATHER CONDITIONS ON THE LAKE WERE POOR, SO A SEARCH FOR THE FISHERMAN WAS POSTPONED UNTIL THE NEXT MORNING. AFTER LYNCHES BODY WAS FOUND IN CACHE CREEK, A DIVE TEAM FROM SACRAMENTO AND UNDERWATER SEARCH VEHICLE PROVIDED BY SAN FRANCISCO POLICE, AIDED IN THE SEARCH OF THE MISSING FISHERMAN. THE BODY OF 73-YEAR-OLD JOHN HENRY TABERNER WAS FOUND JUST BEFORE 4 PM A SHORT DISTANCE FROM WHERE HIS BOAT WAS FOUND. RESIDENTS REPORTED THAT TABERNER HAD BEEN SEEN FISHING IN THE AREA REGULARLY FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS.

BIG RIG CRASH CLOSED HIGHWAY 20 FOR 4 HOURS JH 05/17/13

A BIG RIG CRASH THURSDAY MORNING CLOSED HIGHWAY 20 FOR SEVERAL HOURS.

45-YEAR-OLD BENITO GUERRERO OF STOCKTON WAS DRIVING A SEMI WITH A FLAT BED TRAILER LOADED WITH PVC PIPE, WHEN THE TRAILER OVERTURNED ON A CURVE, CAUSING THE CAB TO ROLL AS WELL. THE TRUCK AND SPILLED PVC BLOCKED HIGHWAY 20, NEAR WALKER RIDGE ROAD, FOR NEARLY 4 HOURS. GUERRERO AND HIS 11 YEAR OLD SON, WHO WAS RIDING WITH HIM, WERE WEARING THEIR SEATBELTS AND UNINJURED.

STOLEN VEHICLE RECOVERED AFTER CHASE JH 05/17/13

AN ARCATA MAN WAS ARRESTED WEDNESDAY, AFTER LEADING POLICE ON A CHASE IN A STOLEN VEHICLE.

AROUND 1 PM MAY 15, THE UKIAH POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS INFORMED BY CHP THAT A STOLEN VEHICLE FROM THE SANTA BARBARA AREA WAS BELIEVED TO BE IN THE CITY LIMITS. WITH THE AID OF A GPS TRACKING DEVISE, AUTHORITIES RESPONDED TO NORTH STATE STREET WHERE THEY LOCATED THE VEHICLE AND BEGAN FOLLOWING IT. AS A TRAFFIC STOP WAS INITIATED, THE STOLEN SUV STOPPED, THEN ACCELERATED. AT A HIGHWAY 101 ON-RAMP THE STOLEN VEHICLE NEARLY COLLIDED WITH A SHERIFFS VEHICLE, BEFORE STOPPING. THE DRIVER, 38 YEAR OLD JUSTIN D. CRUMBLY TRIED TO FLEE ON FOOT BUT RAN INTO A POLICE VEHICLE THAT HAD JUST PULLED UP BEHIND THE SUV. HE FELL TO THE GROUND AND WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY. OTHER STOLEN PROPERTY WAS ALSO FOUND INSIDE THE STOLEN VEHICLE.

TEENS ARRESTED FOR NOVEMBER BURGLARY JH 05/17/13

TWO WILLITS TEENAGERS WERE ARRESTED TUESDAY FOR A BURGLARY THEY COMMIT LAST YEAR.

TWO FOUR WHEELED MOTORCYCLES AND SEVERAL TOOLS WERE STOLEN FROM A STORAGE CONTAINER IN NOVEMBER. LAST WEEK, ONE OF THE MOTORCYCLES WAS LOCATED AT THE VICTIMS NEIGHBORS HOME. THE NEIGHBOR SAID HE HAD BEEN SOLD THE VEHICLE BY A TEEN HE KNEW. THE VICTIM THEN FOUND OUT THE SECOND QUAD WAS AT A LOCATION ON SHERWOOD RANCHERIA WITH ANOTHER TEEN, AND INFORMED AUTHORITIES. THE SECOND QUAD WAS LOCATED AND AUTHORITIES ARRESTED THE TWO JUVENILES, WHO WERE ALREADY ON PROBATION.

ROAD WORK THIS WEEKEND WILL CAUSE TRAFFIC DELAYS JH 05/17/13

ROAD WORK THIS WEEKEND ON HIGHWAY 101 WILL CAUSE SOME DELAYS.

AT&T WILL PERFORM UTILITY REPAIRS NEAR THE PARDUCCI ROAD OVERCROSSING ON SUNDAY MORNING FROM 6 AM TO 9 AM. INTERMITTENT FULL ROAD CLOSURES WILL BE IN EFFECT WITH 5-MINUTE DELAYS ANTICIPATED.

CHARRED BONES FOUND ON COVELO ROAD JH 05/17/13

MENDOCINO COUNTY SHERIFFS DETECTIVES ARE WORKING TO IDENTIFY CHARRED BONES FOUND ALONG COVELO ROAD THURSDAY AFTERNOON.

THE BONES WERE FOUND NEAR MILE MARKER 1 ON HIGHWAY 162, JUST AFTER THE HIGHWAY 101 TURNOFF. THE BONES WERE BURNED ENOUGH THAT NO FLESH WAS LEFT ON THEM. ACCORDING TO AUTHORITIES, THEY DO NOT KNOW WHETHER THEY ARE HUMAN OR ANIMAL, BUT NO HUMAN SKULL WAS FOUND. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ABOUT THE BONES IS ASKED TO CONTACT THE SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT.

MENDO COUNTY RECEIVES GRANT FROM THE INDIAN GAMING SPECIAL DISTRIBUTION FUND JH 05/17/13

MENDOCINO COUNTY HAS RECEIVED A GRANT FROM THE INDIAN GAMING SPECIAL DISTRIBUTION FUND.

THE GRANT TOTALS OVER $140,000 AND HAS BEEN FUNDED BY THE HOPLAND BAND OF POMO INDIANS. EACH YEAR, FUNDS ARE AWARDED TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES IMPACTED BY TRIBAL CASINOS. THE FUNDING WILL BENEFIT SEVERAL FIRE DEPARTMENTS, THE SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND THE HOPLAND PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT.

LAKE COUNTY SHERIFF RECALL EFFORT NEARS HALFWAY MARK

JH 05/17/13

THE COMMITTEE BEHIND THE EFFORT TO REMOVE LAKE COUNTY SHERIFF FRANK RIVERO FROM OFFICE HAS ACQUIRED NEARLY HALF OF THE NEEDED SIGNATURES.

THE COMMITTEE TO RECALL RIVERO AND RESTORE INTEGRITY HAS COLLECTED MORE THAN 3,400 SIGNATURES OF THE APPROXIMATELY 7,026 REQUIRED TO QUALIFY FOR A RECALL ELECTION OF RIVERO. THE GROUP HAS UNTIL JUNE 17 TO GATHER THE REMAINING NEEDED SIGNATURES AND GET THEIR PAPERWORK TURNED IN TO THE COUNTY, IF THEY WANT THE RECALL TO BE INCLUDED IN THE GENERAL DISTRICT ELECTION ON NOVEMBER 5TH. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE RECALL EFFORT, YOU CAN SEND AN E-MAIL TO CONTACT@RECALLRIVERO.COM.

ANNUAL CATFISH DERBY STARTS TODAY JH 05/17/13

THE FAMED CLEARLAKE OAKS-GLENHAVEN CATFISH DERBY KICKS OFF TODAY ON CLEAR LAKE.

THE TOURNAMENT, THAT RUNS THROUGH SUNDAY, FEATURES SEPARATE DIVISIONS FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN, AS WELL AS FOOD AND ENTERTAINMENT. A $4,000 CASH PRIZE WILL BE AWARDED FOR THE LARGEST CATFISH IN THE ADULT DIVISION, AND AN APPLE IPAD FOR THE LARGEST CATFISH IN THE CHILDRENS DIVISION. DERBY HEADQUARTERS ARE LOCATED AT THE CLEARLAKE OAKS FIRE STATION ON HIGHWAY 20.

News 5/16/13

MISSING AUTISTIC GIRL FOUND IN CACHE CREEK JH 05/16/13

A THREE-DAY SEARCH FOR A MISSING AUTISTIC GIRL ENDED IN TRAGEDY YESTERDAY MORNING WITH THE DISCOVERY OF HER BODY.

DOZENS OF VOLUNTEERS AND THE MULTIPLE AGENCIES INVOLVED IN THE EXHAUSTIVE SEARCH WERE INFORMED AROUND 11 AM THAT 9 YEAR OLD MIKAELA RENEE LYNCH WAS FOUND IN CACHE CREEK NOT FAR FROM THE FAMILYS VACATION HOME IN CLEARLAKE. MIKAELA, WHO WAS AUTISTIC TO THE DEGREE THAT SHE WAS UNABLE TO SPEAK, WANDERED AWAY FROM THE HOME SUNDAY AFTERNOON.

TEEN ESCAPES JUVENILE HALL ON HIS 18TH BIRTHDAY JH 05/16/13

LAKE COUNTY AUTHORITIES ARE SEARCHING FOR A TEENAGER WHO ESCAPED JUVENILE HALL ON TUESDAY, WHICH WAS ALSO HIS 18TH BIRTHDAY.

ISAIAH DOMINGUEZ, WHO WAS BEING HELD FOR A PROPERTY CRIME, ESCAPED DURING A MANDATORY SCHOOL SESSION, QUICKLY SCALING THE PERIMETER FENCE AND FLEEING THE AREA ON FOOT. DOMINGUEZ IS 5 FEET 6 INCHES TALL, WEIGHING 135 POUNDS, WITH BLACK HAIR AND BROWN EYES. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ABOUT HIS WHEREABOUTS IS ASKED TO CONTACT THE LAKE COUNTY SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT AT 262-4200. A PICTURE OF DOMINGUEZ IS POSTED ON THE K-WINE NEWS FACEBOOK PAGE.

BODY OF SWIMMER FOUND IN LAKE MENDOCINO JH 05/16/13

THE BODY OF THE SWIMMER WHO DROWNED TUESDAY IN LAKE MENDOCINO WAS FOUND BY DIVERS THAT EVENING.

19-YEAR-OLD TYLER FIELDS OF UKIAH WAS REPORTED MISSING AROUND 3:15 BY THREE OTHER MEN HE WAS SWIMMING WITH AFTER THEY LOST SIGHT OF HIM. ACCORDING TO AUTHORITIES, THE MEN WERE SWIMMING FROM THE SOUTH BOAT RAMP AREA TOWARDS A SMALL ISLAND WHEN FIELDS AND ONE OF THE FRIENDS BEGAN TO GET TIRED. THE TWO HEADED TOWARDS THE NEAREST SHORE, THE DAM, BUT ONLY ONE OF THEM MADE IT.

FOSTER FATHER ORDERED TO STAND TRIAL IN BABYS DEATH JH 05/16/13

A FORT BRAGG MAN ACCUSED OF BEATING A 5 MONTH OLD BABY GIRL TO DEATH IN DECEMBER HAS BEEN ORDERED TO STAND TRIAL IN MENDOCINO COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT.

38 YEAR OLD WILSON JOSH TUBBS III, THE BABYS FOSTER FATHER, FACES A CHARGE OF CHILD ABUSE RESULTING IN DEATH, WHICH CARRIES THE SAME WEIGHT AS MURDER. TUBBS CLAIMED THE BABY FELL OFF A CHANGING TABLE ONTO A HARD WOOD FLOOR WHEN HE BRIEFLY LEFT THE ROOM. ACCORDING TO AUTHORITIES, TUBBS LATER ADMIT TO SHAKING THE BABY AND HAD SLAPPED THE CHILD UPSIDE THE HEAD. THE AUTOPSY REVEALED INJURIES THAT LIKELY OCCURRED OVER SEVERAL WEEKS AO ABUSE BY TUBBS.

DEBRIS REMOVAL UNDERWAY AT UKIAHS PALACE HOTEL JH 05/16/13

DEBRIS REMOVAL IS FINALLY UNDERWAY AT UKIAHS DILAPIDATED PALACE HOTEL.

ACCORDING TO THE BUILDINGS OWNER, ELADIA LAINES, TWO TONS OF DEBRIS WERE TRUCKED AWAY ON MAY 9TH AND MORE WILL BE REMOVED NEXT WEEK. MUCH OF THE DEBRIS WAS REMOVED FROM THE AREA PLANNED FOR A MUSEUM, AND LAINES TOLD THE CITY COUNCIL THAT THE WORK IS BEING DOCUMENTED AND EVERYTHING IS BEING PHOTOGRAPHED. LAINES WILL AGAIN REPORT TO THE COUNCIL ON THE PROJECTS PROGRESS NEXT MONTH. THE COUNCIL THEN VOTED TO DELAY VOTING ON A RESOLUTION ALLOWING THE CITY TO TAKE OVER THE ABATEMENT OF THE BUILDING.

POLICE WERE IN AN ARMED STANDOFF WITH A GUNMAN IN CLEARLAKE OAKS YESTERDAY EVENING JH 05/16/13

AN UNIDENTIFIED MAN HELD LAKE COUNTY AUTHORITIES AT BAY YESTERDAY EVENING IN AN ARMED STANDOFF.

THE 52-YEAR-OLD MALE SUSPECT BARRICADED HIMSELF INTO A CLEARLAKE OAKS HOME ON FORTH STREET AFTER SHOOTING A WOMAN IN THE HIP WITH A PELLET GUN. THE WOMAN, BRENDA AUSTIN, HAD GONE TO THE HOME TO DISCUSS A VEHICLE, WHEN THE SUSPECT BECAME ANGRY. AFTER POLICE REQUESTED THE SUSPECT COME OUT HE FIRED MULTIPLE SHOTS AT DEPUTIES WITH EITHER A PELLET OR SMALL CALIBER GUN. AUTHORITIES HAD POWER CUT TO THE BUILDING, AND AT APPROXIMATELY 10:43 PM, A SWAT TEAM ENTERED THE HOME AND TOOK THE SUSPECT INTO CUSTODY. THE SUSPECT HAD APPARENTLY SUFFERED A GUNSHOT WOUND DURING THE EARLIER GUNFIRE EXCHANGE.

CITY OF WILLITS APPOINTS PERMANENT CITY MANAGER JH 05/16/13

THE CITY OF WILLITS HAS ANNOUNCED THE SELECTION OF A PERMANENT CITY MANAGER.

THE CITY HAS APPOINTED INTERIM CITY MANAGER ADRIENNE MOORE TO FILL THE PERMANENT POSITION. ACCORDING TO MAYOR HOLLY MADRIGAL, MOORES LEADERSHIP AND PROFESSIONAL SKILLS HAVE BECOME INCREASINGLY APPARENT DURING HER TENURE AS INTERIM CITY MANAGER. THE CITY COUNCIL SAID THEY LOOK FORWARD TO MANY PRODUCTIVE YEARS WITH ADRIENNE MOORE AS THEIR CITY MANAGER.

WORLD WAR II B-17 BOMBER HELD OVER IN UKIAH ONE MORE DAY

JH 05/16/13

THE WORLD WAR II B-17 FLYING FORTRESS ALUMINUM OVERCAST THAT HAS BEEN IN UKIAH SINCE MONDAY HAS BEEN HELD OVER ONE MORE DAY DUE TO WEATHER CONDITIONS.

THE VINTAGE AIRCRAFT WAS SCHEDULED TO FLY TO OREGON TODAY, HOWEVER, WEATHER CONDITIONS ON THE FLIGHT PATH HAVE CAUSED THE TRIP TO BE DELAYED. ON THE UP SIDE, WE HAVE BEAUTIFUL WEATHER HERE IN UKIAH AND THEY ARE OFFERING ONE LAST OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE THE RIDE OF A LIFETIME ONE OF ONLY A HANDFUL OF B-17 BOMBERS IN EXISTENCE. TO TAKE A FLIGHT, GO BY THE UKIAH AIRPORT OR CALL 1-800-359-6217. YOU MAY NEVER HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY AGAIN.

NEWS 051513

BREAKING NEWS:

MISSING AUTISTIC GIRL FOUND IN CACHE CREEK JH 05/15/13

A THREE DAY SEARCH FOR A MISSING AUTISTIC GIRL ENDED IN TRAGEDY THIS MORNING WITH THE DISCOVERY OF HER BODY.

9 YEAR OLD MIKAELA RENEE LYNCH WAS FOUND IN CACHE CREEK JUST AFTER 11 AM TODAY. THE CHILD, WHO WAS AUTISTIC TO THE DEGREE THAT SHE WAS UNABLE TO SPEAK, WANDERED AWAY FROM THE FAMILY VACATION HOME ON HARBOR DRIVE ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON. AUTHORITIES HAVE NOT RELEASED ANY FURTHER INFORMATION AT THIS POINT. WELL HAVE MORE COVERAGE IN TOMORROW MORNINGS NEWS BEGINNING AT 6 AM.

News 5/15/13

THE SEARCH FOR A MISSING AUTISTIC GIRL CONTINUES JH 05/15/13

THE SEARCH WILL CONTINUE TODAY FOR THE MISSING 9 YEAR OLD AUTISTIC GIRL THAT WANDERED AWAY FROM HER FAMILIES VACATION HOME IN CLEARLAKE SUNDAY AFTERNOON.

A NEW PIECE OF EVIDENCE GIVES SEARCHERS A LAST KNOWN DIRECTION MIKAELA RENEE LYNCH WAS HEADING IN. A SURVEILLANCE VIDEO CLIP FROM A NEIGHBORING VACATION HOME SHOWED MIKAELA RUNNING NAKED DOWN HARBOR DRIVE IN A NORTHERLY DIRECTION AT APPROXIMATELY 1:31 PM, JUST MINUTES AFTER HER PARENTS REPORTED HER MISSING. ACCORDING TO THE PARENTS, MIKAELA BEING NAKED WAS COMMON, AS SHE TENDS TO REMOVE CLOTHING WHEN SHE GETS HOT. ADDING TO THE CHALLENGE OF FINDING MIKAELA IS THE FACT THAT SHE HAS AUTISM, TO A DEGREE THAT SHE IS UNABLE TO SPEAK AND WILL NOT RESPOND WHEN CALLED. AUTHORITIES AND VOLUNTEERS WILL CONTINUE TO SEARCH TODAY UTILIZING ALL AVAILABLE RESOURCES, INCLUDING DOGS, HELICOPTERS AND SUBMARINES. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ON MIKAELAS WHEREABOUTS IS ASKED TO CONTACT THE CLEARLAKE POLICE DEPARTMENT AT 707-994-8251.

MAN ASSAULTED BY EX-GIRLFRIENDS FATHER JH 05/15/13

A COVELO MAN WAS ASSAULTED BY HIS EX-GIRLFRIENDS FATHER.

THE UNIDENTIFIED MALE VICTIM REPORTED BEING ASSAULTED ON SATURDAY BY JUAN MANUEL AYALA GONZALES OF COVELO. THE VICTIM TOLD AUTHORITIES THAT HE STOPPED HIS VEHICLE AT THE INTERSECTION OF HOWARD AND PERRY STREETS AFTER SEEING GONZALES FOLLOWING HIM. GONZALES REPORTEDLY APPROACHED THE VICTIM, OPENED THE CAR DOOR AND PUNCHED THE VICTIM REPEATEDLY CAUSING HIM TO FALL TO THE GROUND, WHERE GONZALES THEN KICKED THE VICTIM IN THE FACE WHILE WEARING BOOTS. THE VICTIM SUFFERED A LACERATION TO THE FACE, CHIPPED TEETH AND BRUISING. GONZALES WAS LATER ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY NON-FIREARM WEAPON.

POSSIBLE DROWNING AT LAKE MENDOCINO JH 05/15/13

A 19 YEAR OLD MAN WAS REPORTED MISSING AND PRESUMED DROWNED AT LAKE MENDOCINO TUESDAY AFTERNOON.

ACCORDING TO OFFICIALS FROM THE UKIAH VALLEY FIRE DISTRICT, A GROUP OF PEOPLE FROM OUT OF THE AREA WERE SWIMMING NEAR THE SOUTH BOAT RAMP OUT TO A SMALL ISLAND IN THE LAKE. BEFORE REACHING THE ISLAND, TWO MEN HEADED TOWARDS THE DAM BECAUSE THEY WERE GETTING TIRED. ONE MAN MADE IT TO SHORE, THE OTHER DID NOT. THE LAKE WAS SEARCHED BY BOAT AND HELICOPTER, BUT AFTER 40 MINUTES, NO ONE WAS FOUND. AUTHORITIES THEN REPORTED CALLING A DIVE TEAM TO BEGIN SEARCHING FOR A BODY.

MENDOCINO COUNTY SWAT TEAM ASSISTING IN THE HUMBOLDT SEARCH FOR HOMICIDE SUSPECT SHANE MILLER JH 05/15/13

OVER A DOZEN MEMBERS OF THE MENDOCINO COUNTY SWAT TEAM HAVE BEEN IN HUMBOLDT COUNTY SINCE EARLY MONDAY MORNING TO ASSIST IN THE SEARCH FOR TRIPLE HOMICIDE SUSPECT SHANE MILLER.

THE TEAM INCLUDES MEMBERS OF THE MENDOCINO COUNTY SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT AND WILLITS POLICE DEPARTMENT. ACCORDING TO AUTHORITIES, MILLER USED TO LIVE IN LAYTONVILLE AND HAS BEEN ARRESTED SEVERAL TIMES IN MENDOCINO COUNTY. THOUGH HE IS NOT SUSPECTED TO BE IN THE COUNTY RIGHT NOW, THE AREA WHERE HE IS BELIEVED TO BE IS JUST 25 MILES NORTH OF THE COUNTY LINE. MILLER IS SUSPECTED OF SHOOTING TO DEATH HIS WIFE AND TWO DAUGHTERS, 4 AND 8 YEARS OLD, IN THEIR SHINGLETOWN HOME ON MAY 7TH. MILLER IS DESCRIBED AS A CAUCASIAN MAN, 5 FEET, 10 INCHES TALL, WEIGHING 200 POUNDS, WITH RED HAIR AND BLUE EYES. HE IS BELIEVED TO BE ARMED AND DANGEROUS. IF YOU SEE MILLER, DO NOT APPROACH HIM, CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY. A PHOTO OF MILLER IS POSTED ON THE K-WINE NEWS FACEBOOK PAGE.

FIVE ARRESTED IN MARIJUANA GROWING OPERATION JH 05/15/13

FIVE PEOPLE WERE ARRESTED DURING A MARIJUANA INVESTIGATION BY THE COUNTY OF MENDOCINO MARIJUANA ERADICATION TEAM.

WHEN AUTHORITIES ARRIVED AT THE KNOXVILLE ROAD HOME ON MONDAY, THEY OBSERVED A GREENHOUSE WITH APPROXIMATELY 410 MARIJUANA PLANTS. THEY THEN CONTACTED 29-YEAR-OLD CARLTON LAUCKERN AND 32 YEAR OLD BRADLEY FEUCHT, BOTH OF SAN FRANCISCO NEAR ANOTHER 11 POUNDS OF PROCESSED POT. WHILE WAITING FOR A SEARCH WARRANT, 34 YEAR OLD MARK PICITTI OF SAN FRANCISCO ARRIVED AND WAS DETAINED. A SEARCH REVEALED ANOTHER 111 POT PLANTS, AS WELL AS A SMALL AMOUNT OF PSILOCYBIN MUSHROOMS AND FOUR TABS OF SUSPECTED LSD. THE INVESTIGATION THEN DETERMINED A NEIGHBORING LOCATION WAS INVOLVED, AND 56-YEAR-OLD LESLIE CARR AND 33 YEAR OLD SARAH KUBIK, BOTH OF UKIAH WERE DETAINED. AT THEIR LOCATION, MULTIPLE GROW ROOMS WERE FOUND WITH 421 MARIJUANA PLANTS IN ONE ROOM AND ANOTHER 274 PLANTS IN ANOTHER, AS WELL AS SCALES, PACKAGING MATERIALS AND $1,800 IN CASH. ALL FIVE SUSPECTS WERE ARRESTED ON MULTIPLE CHARGES.

EARTHQUAKE NEAR COBB JH 05/15/13

A MODERATE SIZED EARTHQUAKE SHOOK THE COBB AREA LAST NIGHT.

ACCORDING TO A PRELIMINARY REPORT FROM THE US GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, THE QUAKE OCCURRED AT 11:11 PM JUST 4 MILES WEST OF COBB AT A DEPTH OF ONLY 2.3 MILES. THE TEMBLOR REGISTERED A 3.1 MAGNITUDE AND WAS FELT AS FAR AWAY AS WATSONVILLE.

UKIAH CITY COUNCIL WILL DISCUSS TODAY SENDING A LETTER AND RESOLUTION TO THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION AND STATE OFFICIALS OPPOSING MILITARY INTERVENTION IN SYRIA. JH 05/15/13

THE UKIAH CITY COUNCIL WILL DISCUSS AT TONIGHTS MEETING, SENDING A LETTER AND RESOLUTION TO THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION AND TO STATE OFFICIALS OPPOSING MILITARY INTERVENTION IN SYRIA.

THE RESOLUTION, PENNED BY COUNCILMAN PHIL BALDWIN, POINTS OUT THE FACTS THAT LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL BUDGETS HAVE BEEN CUT DEEP LEAVING AMERICANS WITH INADEQUATE FUNDING FOR EDUCATION, LAW ENFORCEMENT, INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS AND SO MUCH MORE. WITH OVER TWO TRILLION OF OUR TAX DOLLARS SPENT ON MIDEAST WARS IN THE LAST DECADE, AMERICA NEEDS TO SUPPORT A PEACEFUL RESOLUTION TO SYRIAS SITUATION AND KEEP OUR SOLDIERS AND TAX DOLLARS IN AMERICA WHERE THEY BELONG. THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR 6 PM TONIGHT IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS ON SEMINARY AVENUE.