NORTH PASS FIRE UPDATE 1 JH 08/23/12
FIRE OFFICIALS PREDICT IT WILL TAKE AT LEAST TWO MORE WEEKS TO CONTAIN THE NORTH PASS FIRE EAST OF COVELO.
THE FIRE IS 11% CONTAINED, AND HAS CONSUMED OVER 11,600 ACRES SINCE IT STARTED EARLY SATURDAY MORNING FROM A LIGHTNING STRIKE IN WILLIAMS VALLEY, ABOUT 10 MILES NORTH EAST OF COVELO. SEVERAL STRUCTURES ARE THREATENED ON INDIAN DICK ROAD NEAR COVELO AND THE ROUND VALLEY INDIAN RESERVATION.
A MANDATORY EVACUATION HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR ANY AND ALL RESIDENTS IN THE AREA OF INDIAN DICK ROAD, MENDOCINO PASS ROAD, AND BLANDS COVE ROAD. THE ORDER ALSO INCLUDES ALL RESIDENCES AND US FOREST SERVICE CAMPSITES AT HOWARD LAKE CAMPGROUND, LITTLE DOE CAMPGROUND, AND HAMMERHORN CAMPGROUND.
HAM PASS, BLANDS COVE ROAD AND INDIAN DICK ROAD WILL BE CLOSED TO ALL NON EMERGENCY TRAFFIC UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
FOR MORE DETAILED INFORMATION ON THE EVACUATION ORDERS, PLEASE VISIT THE K-WINE NEWS FACEBOOK PAGE.
ANYONE DISPLACED BY THE EVACUATION ORDER CAN CONTACT THE AMERICAN RED CROSS FOR HOUSING ASSISTANCE AT 707-463-0112.
THREE PEOPLE FOUND DEAD IN CRASHED VEHICLE JH 08/23/12
THREE PEOPLE, AT LEAST ONE OF WHOM HAD BEEN REPORTED MISSING EARLIER THIS MONTH, WERE FOUND DEAD IN A CRASHED VEHICLE.
A MISSING PERSONS REPORT WAS FILED ON AUGUST 20 THAT LISTED A RED CHEVY TAHOE AS A VEHICLE ASSOCIATED WITH THREE PEOPLE WHO HAD NOT BEEN SEEN SINCE AUGUST 4TH OR 5TH. THE FOLLOWING DAY, SOMEONE LOOKING FOR THE GROUP FOUND THE RED CHEVY WITH EXTENSIVE COLLISION DAMAGE UNDER A TOPPLED TREE ABOUT 150 FEET DOWN AN EMBANKMENT ON HIGHWAY 101, JUST SOUTH OF CONFUSION HILL. ONLY THE DRIVER, 38 YEAR OLD PHILLIP MANUS OF LEGGETT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED. AUTHORITIES ARE WORKING TO IDENTIFY THE OTHER TWO VICTIMS.
IDENTITY THEFT SPREE ENDS WITH ARRESTS IN CLEARLAKE JH 08/23/12
TWO PEOPLE FROM CHICO SUSPECTED OF INVOLVEMENT IN SEVERAL IDENTITY THEFT CASES WERE ARRESTED IN CLEARLAKE.
27 YEAR OLD ELIZABETH LEE HOLCRAFT AND 20 YEAR OLD KRISTOPHER THOMAS CASTRO ARE THE ACCUSED. THEY ALLEGEDLY MOVED FROM HOTEL TO HOTEL FROM RENO TO FORT BRAGG, STEALING MAIL, CASHING CHECKS FOUND IN THE MAIL, DEVELOPING CREDIT INFORMATION ON THE VICTIMS AND USING THE INFORMATION TO OBTAIN GOODS, SERVICES AND HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS. ANYONE WHO MAY BE A VICTIM OF IDENTITY THEFT BY THE SUSPECTS, DUE TO THE PAIR STEALING MAIL, SHOULD CONTACT THE POSTAL INSPECTOR AT 877-876-2455.
COUNTY SUPERVISOR INVOLVED IN CONFRONTATION JH 08/23/12
CLEARLAKE CITY POLICE RESPONDED TO A REPORTED DISTURBANCE THAT INVOLVED A LAKE COUNTY SUPERVISOR.
TUESDAY NIGHT, CLEARLAKE POLICE WENT TO BUCKEYE STREET AND CONTACTED 55 YEAR OLD ROBERT SANDERS AND 52 YEAR OLD ROB BROWN. BROWN STATED HE WENT TO THE RESIDENCE TO SERVE CIVIL PAPERWORK REGARDING THE PROPERTY. WHILE DOING SO, A CONFRONTATION BROKE OUT BETWEEN THE TWO MEN, WITH BOTH TELLING OFFICERS THEY WERE ASSAULTED BY THE OTHER. BROWN SAID SANDERS WAS UPSET AND ALLEGED SANDERS GRABBED HIS ARM AND SPUN HIM AROUND. BROWN SAID HE STRUCK SANDERS IN THE JAW IN SELF-DEFENSE. THE CASE WILL LIKELY BE FORWARDED TO THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERALS OFFICE FOR REVIEW.
LAKEPORT EMPLOYEE ARRESTED FOR EMBEZZLEMENT JH 08/23/12
THE FORMER UTILITIES SUPERINTENDENT FOR THE CITY OF LAKEPORT IS ACCUSED OF EMBEZZLEMENT AND THEFT.
LAKEPORT POLICE DETECTIVES ARRESTED 36 YEAR OLD MATHEW ALLEN JOHNSON OF LAKEPORT, ON A LAKE COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT WARRANT CHARGING HIM WITH SEVEN FELONY COUNTS OF EMBEZZLEMENT AND SEVEN FELONY COUNTS OF MISAPPROPRIATION OF PUBLIC FUNDS. THE INVESTIGATION CONCLUDED THAT JOHNSON STOLE OVER $6,500 DOLLARS WHILE IN OFFICE.
FIRE IN CLEARLAKE STATE PARK JH 08/23/12
FIREFIGHTERS QUICKLY CONTAINED AND EXTINGUISHED A FIRE AT CLEARLAKE STATE PARK LAST NIGHT.
THE FIRE OCCURRED IN THE 5400 BLOCK OF SODA BAY ROAD IN A PARK SHED WHERE GAS AND OTHER FUEL WAS STORED, AND CAUSED CONCERNS OF A HIGH DANGER OF EXPLOSION. THE FIRE DAMAGED TWO OUTBUILDINGS AND A STATE PARKS PICKUP TRUCK. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE IS UNDER INVESTIGATION.
WILLITS CITY COUNCIL APPROVES WATER UPGRADE JH 08/23/12
THE WILLITS CITY COUNCIL VOTED UNANIMOUSLY LAST NIGHT, TO AUTHORIZE APPROVAL OF PLANS AND ADVERTISING FOR BIDS ON THE WILLITS WATER TREATMENT PLANT UPGRADE.
THE PROJECT ENCOMPASSES A NEW UPFLOW CLARIFIER FOR MORE EFFICIENT DRINKING WATER CREATION AND IMPROVED CHEMICAL PRE-TREATMENT. THE CURRENT BUILDING WILL BE EXPANDED AND A NEW DATA SYSTEM WILL BE INSTALLED. THE TOTAL COST ESTIMATE IS JUST OVER $5 MILLION DOLLARS. $3 MILLION WILL BE PAID BY A GRANT AND THE REMAINING $2 MILLION WILL BE FINANCED OVER 30 YEARS AT 0% INTEREST USING THE STATES SAFE WATER REVOLVING LOAN FUND.
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT JH 08/23/12
UKIAH CHP WILL BE CONDUCTING A SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT TOMORROW, AUGUST 24, SOMEWHERE IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREA OF MENDOCINO COUNTY.
TRAFFIC VOLUME PERMITTING, ALL VEHICLES WILL BE CHECKED FOR DRIVERS UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL AND/OR DRUGS. CHP DRUG RECOGNITION EXPERTS WILL BE ON SITE TO PROVIDE ON THE SPOT ASSESSMENT OF DRIVERS SUSPECTED OF DRUG USE. IF YOUR GOING OUT DRINKING, REMEMBER TO TAKE A DESIGNATED DRIVER.
NORTH PASS FIRE UPDATE 2 JH 08/23/12
FIRE OFFICIALS PREDICT IT WILL TAKE AT LEAST TWO MORE WEEKS TO CONTAIN THE NORTH PASS FIRE EAST OF COVELO.
AS OF THIS MORNING, THE FIRE IS 10% CONTAINED, AND HAS CONSUMED OVER 17,800 ACRES SINCE IT STARTED EARLY SATURDAY MORNING FROM A LIGHTNING STRIKE IN WILLIAMS VALLEY, NORTH EAST OF COVELO. SEVERAL STRUCTURES ARE THREATENED ON INDIAN DICK ROAD NEAR COVELO AND THE ROUND VALLEY INDIAN RESERVATION.
A MANDATORY EVACUATION HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR ANY AND ALL RESIDENTS IN THE AREA OF INDIAN DICK ROAD, MENDOCINO PASS ROAD, AND BLANDS COVE ROAD. THE ORDER ALSO INCLUDES ALL RESIDENCES AND US FOREST SERVICE CAMPSITES AT HOWARD LAKE CAMPGROUND, LITTLE DOE CAMPGROUND, AND HAMMERHORN CAMPGROUND.
HAM PASS, BLANDS COVE ROAD AND INDIAN DICK ROAD WILL BE CLOSED TO ALL NON EMERGENCY TRAFFIC UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
FOR INFORMATION ON THE EVACUATION ORDERS, PLEASE VISIT THE K-WINE NEWS FACEBOOK PAGE.
ANYONE DISPLACED BY THE EVACUATION ORDER CAN CONTACT THE AMERICAN RED CROSS FOR HOUSING ASSISTANCE AT 707-463-0112.
AIR QUALITY ADVISORY JH 08/23/12
AN AIR QUALITY ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE INLAND AREAS OF MENDOCINO COUNTY.
SMOKE FROM ONGOING WILDFIRES MAY BECOME FAIRLY HEAVY TODAY. OVERNIGHT TEMPERATURE INVERSIONS MAY CAUSE HEAVIER SMOKE CONCENTRATIONS IN LOWER ELEVATIONS AND VALLEYS. SENSITIVE INDIVIDUALS SHOULD LIMIT OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES.
ROAD CLOSURE JH 08/23/12
THE CITY OF WILLITS HAS ANNOUNCED THAT CENTRAL AVENUE AT BARBARA LANE WILL BE CLOSED TODAY.
THE CITY WILL BE INSTALLING NEW STORM DRAIN PIPING AND A MANHOLE STRUCTURE. MOTORISTS ARE ADVISED THAT THERE WILL BE NO THROUGH TRAFFIC ON SOUTH STREET TO CENTRAL AVENUE DUE TO THIS CLOSURE.