News 5/30/14

SUSPECT IN CUSTODY FOR COVELO SHOOTING DEATH (LAW)

JH 05/30/14

A SUSPECT IS IN CUSTODY FOR THE MURDER OF A COVELO WOMAN WHOSE BODY WAS FOUND ON A ROADWAY LAST WEEKEND.

ACCORDING TO THE MENDOCINO COUNTY SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT, 21-YEAR-OLD JEREMY JASON FREEMAN-BRITTON AND 25 YEAR OLD SIDNEY LEWIS FREEMAN WERE BOTH ARRESTED ON SUSPICION OF HOMICIDE. HOWEVER, CHARGES AGAINST SIDNEY FREEMAN WERE LATER DROPPED. JEREMY FREEMAN-BRITTON, A ROUND VALLEY TRIBAL MEMBER, REMAINS IN CUSTODY FOR THE MURDER OF ROSALENA RODRIGUEZ, WHOSE BODY WAS FOUND WITH MULTIPLE GUNSHOT WOUNDS SUNDAY MORNING ON HOPPER LANE. FREEMAN-BRITTON IS BEING HELD WITHOUT BAIL.

RUSSIAN RIVER WATER DIVERSIONS HALTED (GOV) JB 5/30/14

STATE WATER OFFICIALS ORDER WATER DIVERSIONS ON THE UPPER RUSSIAN RIVER HALTED DUE TO INSUFFICIENT LEVELS IN THE WATERSHED.

THE STATE WATER CONTROL RESOURCES BOARD ISSUED LETTERS TO SOME 652 WATER RIGHTS HOLDERS WHO DRAW WATER FROM THE RUSSIAN RIVER BETWEEN LAKE MENDOCINO AND DRY CREEK. THE LOWER RUSSIAN RIVER BELOW LAKE SONOMA IS NOT SET TO BE AFFECTED BY THE ACTION. THIS TYPE OF CLOSURE, A FIRST FOR THE UPPER RUSSIAN RIVER, FOLLOWS SIMILAR ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE WATER CONTROL BOARD ON THE SACRAMENTO ON SCOTT RIVERS.

NO SWIMMING AT LAKE MENDOCINO (PI) JB 5/3014

THE RECENT DIE OFF OF HUNDREDS OF CARP IN LAKE MENDOCINO HAS PROMPTED THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS TO PROHIBIT SWIMMING IN THE LAKE TEMPORARILY.

LAKE OFFICIALS ARE STILL AWAITING TEST RESULTS FROM BOTH THE DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE AND THE U.C. DAVIS VETERINARY TEACHING HOSPITAL AS TO THE CAUSE OF THE CARP DEATHS. WHILE THE LAKE IS STILL OPEN TO BOATING, THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS STATES THAT PEOPLE SHOULD NOT HAVE ANY CONTACT WITH THE DEAD OR DYING FISH INCLUDING SWIMMING OR FISHING NEAR THEM.

WASHINGTON STATE MAN SENTENCED IN COASTAL ARSON CASE (LAW)

JH 05/30/14

A WASHINGTON STATE MAN HAS BEEN SENTENCED IN MENDOCINO COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT ON CHARGES OF ARSON, BURGLARY AND MORE.

22 YEAR OLD ALEC JOHN FACCONE ENTERED GUILTY PLEAS TO FELONY CHARGES FOR ARSON OF AN INHABITED STRUCTURE, SECOND DEGREE BURGLARY, POSSESSION OF A SHORT BARREL SHOTGUN, AND RECEIVING STOLEN PROPERTY. FACCONE WAS SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS IN STATE PRISON.

FT BRAGG BROOMSTICK ATTACK (LAW) JB 5/30/14

ACCORDING TO SHERIFF’S DEPUTIES, A BROOMSTICK AND A PROPANE CAN WERE USED TO ASSAULT A MAN IN FT BRAGG.

RESPONDING TO A REPORT OF A DOMESTIC FIGHT, DEPUTIES FOUND THE MALE VICTIM AND 31-YEAR-OLD KAHNA SMITH OF FT BRAGG AT A HOME ON MITCHELL CREEK DRIVE. THE VICTIM TOLD THE DEPUTIES THAT AN ARGUMENT ESCALATED INTO A PHYSICAL ALTERCATION AND SMITH ATTACKED THE MAN WITH A BROOMSTICK AND A PROPANE CAN. HE WAS TAKEN TO THE MENDOCINO COAST DISTRICT HOSPITAL FOR EVALUATION AND SMITH WAS ARRESTED AND BOOKED INTO THE MENDOCINO COUNTY JAIL.

CLEARLAKE MAN ARRESTED FOR PIMPING (LAW) JB 5/30/14

A ROUTINE CHECK ON A DISTRESSED WOMAN LEADS TO THE ARREST OF A CLEARLAKE MAN ON PIMPING AND KIDNAPPING CHARGES.

WHEN POLICE OFFICERS CONTACTED THE WOMAN, SHE STATED THAT SHE HAD BEEN KIDNAPPED FROM FRESNO BY 53-YEAR-OLD DARRYL DWAYNE WILLIAMS OF CLEARLAKE AND THAT HE THREATENED TO HURT HER CHILD IF SHE DON’T WORK AS A PROSTITUTE FOR HIM. WILLIAMS IS A REGISTERED SEX OFFENDER AND WAS ARRESTED AND BOOKED INTO THE LAKE COUNTY JAIL ON MULTIPLE CHARGES.

LAKE COUNTY MUSSEL STICKERS REQUIRED (LAW/EVR) JH 05/30/14

WITH BOATING SEASON HERE, THE LAKE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES WANTS TO REMIND YOU THAT A MUSSEL STICKER IS REQUIRED FOR ALL BOATS ON CLEAR LAKE.

THIS YEAR, BOAT OWNERS WERE ALSO REQUIRED TO PAY AN ADDITIONAL FEE TO THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES ON THEIR VESSEL REGISTRATION, AND HAVE RECEIVED A STATE-ISSUED MUSSEL STICKER. THE STATE MUSSEL STICKER IS NOT THE SAME AS THE LAKE COUNTY MUSSEL STICKER. BOTH STICKERS ARE REQUIRED FOR ALL BOATS ON CLEAR LAKE. THE LAKE COUNTY STICKER IS AVAILABLE AT SEVERAL LOCATIONS AT A COST OF $10. A LIST OF LOCATIONS IS AVAILABLE AT WWW.NOMUSSELS.COM. IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT ANY BOAT NOT DISPLAYING THE LAKE COUNTY STICKER WILL BE CITED, EVEN IF IT IS DISPLAYING THE STATE-ISSUED STICKER.

REDWOOD VALLEY MAN ARRAIGNED IN FATAL CRASH (LAW) JB 5/30/14

THE DRIVER WHO CAUSED A MULTI CAR CRASH AND THE DEATH OF A BOY SCOUT LEADER LAST YEAR WAS ARRAIGNED ON MULTIPLE FELONY CHARGES.

73 YEAR OLD EUGENE GALLETTI TRIGGERED THE FATAL ACCIDENT ON HIGHWAY 20 WHEN HE REAR ENDED A CAR STOPPED TO TURN INTO A DRIVEWAY, SENDING HIS TRUCK INTO THE ONCOMING LANE AND HITTING A VAN FULL OF BOY SCOUTS. THE SCOUTS VAN WAS THEN STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE LEADER OF THE BOY SCOUT TROOP WAS KILLED AND FIVE OTHERS WERE INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT.

BROADBAND ALLIANCE MEETING AND SURVEY FOR CPUC (BB)

JH 05/30/14

IF YOURE FRUSTRATED WITH YOUR INTERNET ACCESS, THE BROADBAND ALLIANCE OF MENDOCINO COUNTY INVITES YOU TO JOIN THEM TODAY FOR A MEETING AND TO TAKE A SURVEY FOR THE CALIFORNIA PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION.

IN AN EFFORT TO BETTER HELP THE CPUC EFFECTIVELY GUIDE BROADBAND SUBSIDIES TO AREAS OF GREATEST NEED WHEN GRANTS ARE REVIEWED FOR BROADBAND EXPANSION, YOUR INPUT ON THE SPEED AND QUALITY OF BROADBAND AT YOUR HOME OR OFFICE IS NEEDED. TAKE THE SURVEY AT WWW.MENDOCINOBROADBAND.ORG. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE INTERNET ACCESS, PAPER COPIES OF THE SURVEY ARE AVAILABLE AT ALL COUNTY LIBRARIES, AND THE SURVEY IS AVAILABLE IN SPANISH. YOU CAN ALSO TAKE THE SURVEY ON AN ANDROID MOBILE APP CALLED CALSPEED. GET MORE INFORMATION AT THE ALLIANCES MEETING TODAY FROM 10 TO 11:30 AM AT THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF MENDOCINO COUNTY AT 204 SOUTH OAK STREET IN UKIAH.

News 5/29/14

LAKE MENDOCINO DEAD CARP TESTED (EVR) JB 5/29/14

CLUES COULD EMERGE AS SOON AS THURSDAY AS TO THE CAUSE OF THE DEATHS OF HUNDREDS OF CARP IN LAKE MENDOCINO.

THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS HAVE SENT WATER SAMPLES TO THE DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE AND SAMPLES OF THE FISH TO UC DAVIS TO DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THE DIE OFF. THE DAVIS LAB IS TESTING FOR KOI HERPES VIRUS, A DISEASE SUSPECTED IN THE DEATHS OF THOUSANDS OF CARP IN LAKES IN BAKERSFIELD, TULARE COUNTY, AND CLEAR LAKE OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS. THE DISEASE TARGETS ONLY THE CARP SPECIES AND IS NOT HARMFUL TO HUMANS OR OTHER FISH.

WILLITS CITY COUNCIL GETS BYPASS UPDATE (GOV/TR) JH 05/29/14

THE WILLITS CITY COUNCIL THIS WEEK RECEIVED AN UPDATE FROM CAL TRANS ON THE HIGHWAY 101 BYPASS AROUND WILLITS.

CONSTRUCTION HAS BEGUN FOR THE SEASON AND MANY OF THE BRIDGE STRUCTURES AND IRONWORK WILL BE COMPLETED OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. SOME RESIDENTS HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF DUST IN TOWN DUE TO THE LOADS OF FILL MOVING FROM ONE END OF THE BYPASS FOOTPRINT TO THE OTHER. SEVERAL LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS HAVE INDICATED THAT THE DUST IS HAVING A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THEIR BUSINESS. A CAL TRANS REPRESENTATIVE AND WILLITS CITY STAFF ARE PLANNING TO CONTACT THE CONTRACTOR TO ADDRESS AND REMEDY THIS ISSUE.

COW MOUNTAIN CLEAN UP (PI) JB 5/29/14

THE NORTH COW MOUNTAIN SHOOTING RANGE WILL BE CLOSED ON MAY 31ST FOR A VOLUNTEER CLEAN UP.

THE MENDOCINO 4X4 CLUB WILL BE HOSTING A CLEAN UP OF THE PUBLIC SHOOTING RANGE FROM 7:00AM TO 1:00PM. A LIGHT LUNCH WILL BE PROVIDED AND SEVERAL LOCAL BUSINESSES HAVE DONATED RAFFLE PRIZES FOR VOLUNTEERS. ANYONE INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN THE CLEAN UP SHOULD GO TO THE MENDOCINO 4X4 FACEBOOK PAGE FOR DETAILS.

DOCTOR CABLE COMPLAINT AMENDED (LAW) 5/29/14

UKIAH SURGEON, BRIAN CABLE, WAS IN COURT WEDNESDAY FOR ARRAIGNMENT ON SIX COUNTS OF FELONY PRESCRIPTION FRAUD AND ONE NEWLY AMENDED COUNT OF POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE.

A FELONY CHARGE OF SELLING A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE WAS DROPPED DUE TO LACK OF EVIDENCE AND THE POSSESSION COUNT ADDED IN ITS PLACE. CABLE WAS ARRESTED AND HIS HOME WAS SEARCHED BY MULTIPLE STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES IN JULY OF LAST YEAR AFTER UKIAH POLICE WERE CONTACTED BY UKIAH VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER STAFF. THE TRIAL IS SET FOR AUGUST UNLESS THE CASE IS RESOLVED BEFOREHAND.

HUNG JURY IN BRUTACAO EMBEZZLEMENT CASE (LAW) JH 05/29/14

A MENDOCINO COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT JURY WAS FORMALLY DECLARED HUNG YESTERDAY IN THE BRUTACAO CELLARS EMBEZZLEMENT CASE.

CHRIS MULCAHY, A HEALDSBURG WINERY OWNER, WAS CHARGED WITH FORGING SIGNATURES ON 57 CHECKS WHILE WORKING AS THE FINANCE OFFICER FOR BRUTACAO. THE JURY WAS LOCKED IN A 10 TO 2 VOTE ON ALL 57 CHARGES AGAINST MULCAHY. THE RESULTS ARE UNDER REVIEW BY THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND DEFENSE ATTORNEY. A FOLLOW UP HEARING IS SCHEDULED FOR NEXT WEEK TO DETERMINE THE NEXT STEP IN THE CASE.

CHILD ABUSE ARREST AT WALMART (LAW) JB 5/29/14

THE REPORT OF A FIGHT IN A VEHICLE AT WALMART IN UKIAH LEADS TO AN ARREST FOR CHILD ABUSE.

UKIAH POLICE OFFICERS RESPONDING TO THE REPORT FOUND 41 YEAR OLD TIMOTHY SCOTT BUCKWAY OF UKIAH, AN UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE VICTIM AND FOUR CHILDREN IN A VEHICLE IN THE WALMART PARKING LOT. WHEN OFFICERS QUESTIONED THE VICTIM, THEY LEARNED THAT THAT BUCKWAY HAD SPANKED THREE OF THE FOUR CHILDREN WITH A STICK EARLIER IN THE DAY. WHEN CONFRONTED BY THE VICTIM ABOUT THE INCIDENT, BUCKWAY GRABBED HER HAIR AND STRUCK HER IN THE FACE. OFFICERS ARRESTED BUCKWAY ON MULTIPLE CHARGES AND AN EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE ORDER WAS OBTAINED.

PAY PHONE VANDALISM (LAW) JB 5/29/14

UKIAH POLICE RESPONDING TO A REPORT OF VANDALISM ON EAST GOBI STREET FOUND 41 YEAR OLD MARK JOSEPH DIMITRI PALLEY OF FT BRAGG DAMAGING A PAY PHONE.

THE OFFICERS WITNESSED PALLEY STRIKING THE COIN RETURN ON THE PAY PHONE WITH A TOOL, DAMAGING IT AND MAKING THE COINS ACCESSIBLE. OFFICERS SEARCHED PALLEY AND FOUND HIM IN POSSESSION OF $20.00 IN QUARTERS AND OTHER DEVICES AND TOOLS LIKELY TO BE USED TO GAIN ACCESS TO OTHER MACHINES. PALLEY WAS ARRESTED AND BOOKED ON MULTIPLE CHARGES.

CAL TRANS TO IMPROVE HIGHWAY 101 RAMPS THROUGH UKIAH (TR)

JH 05/29/14

CAL TRANS HAS ANNOUNCED THAT A SAFETY PROJECT TO IMPROVE ONRAMPS AND OFFRAMPS ALONG HIGHWAY 101 THROUGH UKIAH WILL BEGIN NEXT WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4TH..

THE PROJECT WILL INSTALL HIGH-FRICTION SURFACE TO INCREASE TRACTION YEAR ROUND ON THE ROADWAY. WORK WILL BE PERFORMED AT NIGHT, FROM 7 PM TO 7 AM, SUNDAY EVENING THROUGH FRIDAY MORNINGS. TRAFFIC ON HIGHWAY 101 WILL BE RESTRICTED TO ONE LANE IN EACH DIRECTION OF TRAVEL NEAR THE RAMPS BEING WORKED ON. NO TWO CONSECUTIVE RAMPS WILL BE CLOSED AT THE SAME TIME, AND WORK IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF JUNE.

ROAD WORK TODAY (TR) JH 05/29/14

THERE ARE SEVERAL ROAD WORK PROJECTS THAT ARE CAUSING TRAFFIC DELAYS AROUND LAKE AND MENDOCINO COUNTIES CURRENTLY.

GUARDRAIL REPAIRS ON HIGHWAY 128 WILL CONTINUE AT THE JUNCTION WITH HIGHWAY 1 TODAY. WORK WILL BE ONGOING FROM 7 AM TO 4 PM WEEKDAYS. ONE-WAY TRAFFIC CONTROL WILL BE IN EFFECT WITH 10-MINUTE DELAYS ANTICIPATED.

News 5/28/14

DEAD CARP AT LAKE MENDOCINO (EVR) JB 5/28/14

A MASSIVE DIE-OFF OF CARP IN LAKE MENDOCINO PROMPTS AN INVESTIGATION BY STATE FISH AND WILDLIFE BIOLOGISTS.

THE DEAD CARP, NUMBERING IN THE HUNDREDS, WERE FIRST REPORTED OVER MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND. THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS WAS UNCLEAR AS TO THE EXACT CAUSE, STATING THAT IT IS UNLIKELY TO BE WATER THAT IS TOO WARM OR LOW IN OXYGEN BECAUSE CARP ARE ONE OF THE MORE RESILIENT FISH IN THE LAKE. BIOLOGISTS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE HAVE BEEN ASKED TO INVESTIGATE THE DEATHS AND MORE INFORMATION SHOULD BE KNOWN ABOUT THE CAUSE LATER THIS WEEK.

PERTUSSIS CASES ON THE RISE IN CALIFORNIA (PI) JH 05/28/14

THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUED A WARNING RECENTLY THAT PERTUSSIS, ALSO KNOWN AS WHOOPING COUGH, IS ON THE RISE ACROSS THE STATE.

PUBLIC HEALTH HAS RECEIVED REPORTS OF OVER 1,700 CASES OF PERTUSIS OCCURRING FROM JANUARY THROUGH APRIL OF THIS YEAR, MORE THAN TRIPLE THE NUMBER FROM THE SAME TIME PERIOD LAST YEAR. MORE THAN 90 PERCENT OF THIS YEARS CASES HAVE BEEN IN CHILDREN YOUNGER THAN 18 YEARS OLD. INFANTS TOO YOUNG TO BE FULLY IMMUNIZED REMAIN MOST VULNERABLE TO SEVERE AND FATAL CASES OF PERTUSSIS. MOST OF THE 77 HOSPITALIZED CASES THIS YEAR HAVE BEEN CHILDREN THREE MONTHS OLD OR YOUNGER. TWO INFANTS, ONE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND THE SECOND HERE IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, HAVE DIED ALREADY THIS YEAR. PUBLIC HEALTH RECOMMENDS THAT PREGNANT WOMEN RECEIVE A PERTUSSIS VACCINE BOOSTER DURING THE THIRD TRIMESTER OF EACH PREGNANCY, AND THAT INFANTS BE VACCINATED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

3,000 GALLONS OF WATER STOLEN IN GUALALA (LAW) JH 05/28/14

IN WHAT IS SURELY A SIGN OF THE SEVERITY OF THE CURRENT DROUGHT, A GUALALA COUPLE HAD 3,000 GALLONS OF WATER STOLEN FROM AN ABOVE GROUND STORAGE TANK.

87 YEAR OLD KATHERINE DIMAIO DISCOVERED THE THEFT WHEN SHE WENT OUT TO WATER HER GARDEN SATURDAY, AND THE TANK, THAT WAS FULL THE DAY BEFORE, WAS NOW DRY. ACCORDING TO DIMAIO, THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME WATER HAS BEEN STOLEN FROM HERE PROPERTY, WHERE THE TANK IS LOCATED BEHIND A FENCE ON A PRIVATE ROAD. THE MENDOCINO COUNTY SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT IS INVESTIGATING THE INCIDENT. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION THAT COULD AID THE INVESTIGATION IS URGED TO CONTACT THE SHERIFFS OFFICE TIP LINE AT 234-2100.

CLEAR LAKE WEED ABATEMENT (GOV/EVR) JB 5/28/14

THE LAKE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS APPROVED TWO AQUATIC WEED ABATEMENT CONTRACTS FOR CLEAR LAKE ON TUESDAY.

ACCORDING TO THE RECORD BEE, PESTMASTER SERVICES, OF UPPER LAKE, AND CLEAN LAKES INC., OF MARTINEZ HAVE BEEN AWARDED THE CONTRACTS ACCORDING TO THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS AND WATER RESOURCES. THE TOTAL COST OF THE TWO CONTRACTS IS EXPECTED TO BE JUST UNDER $218,000, APPROXIMATELY $56,000 LESS THAN LAST YEAR.

PT ARENA MAN RAMS VEHICLES (LAW) JB 5/28/14

A POINT ARENA MAN WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY AFTER RAMMING HIS CAR INTO SEVERAL OTHER VEHICLES OUTSIDE A COASTAL BAR.

SHERIFF’S DEPUTIES RESPONDED TO A BAR ON MAIN STREET IN POINT ARENA WHERE A SMALL CROWD AT THE SCENE WAS RESTRAINING THE SUSPECT, 45 YEAR OLD TREVOR SANDERS. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT SANDERS HAD RAMMED SEVERAL PARKED VEHICLES REPEATEDLY WITH HIS CAR, CAUSING SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE AND NARROWLY MISSING A PEDESTRIAN. SANDERS WAS DETAINED BY THE WITNESSES UNTIL THE SHERIFF’S DEPUTIES ARRIVED AND HE WAS BOOKED INTO MENDOCINO COUNTY JAIL ON MULTIPLE CHARGES.

VICTIM IDENTIFIED IN FATAL TRAFFIC COLLISION ON HIGHWAY 1 (LAW) JH 05/28/14

THE MENDOCINO COUNTY SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT HAS IDENTIFIED A FORT BRAGG WOMAN WHO DIED AS A RESULT OF A HEAD ON COLLISION ON HIGHWAY 1 ON SUNDAY.

49 YEAR OLD KYMBERLY GREENLEES WAS DRIVING NORTHBOUND ON HIGHWAY 1 NORTH OF CLEONE, WHEN SHE ALLOWED HER VEHICLE TO CROSS THE DOUBLE YELLOW LINES AND COLLIDED HEAD ON WITH 68-YEAR-OLD MICHAEL JENSEN OF WASHINGTON STATE. GREENLEES SUFFERED FATAL INJURIES. JENSEN WAS FLOWN TO SANTA ROSA MEMORIAL HOSPITAL WITH MODERATE INJURIES.

ROAD WORK TODAY (TR) JH 05/28/14

THERE ARE SEVERAL ROAD WORK PROJECTS CAUSING TRAFFIC DELAYS AROUND LAKE AND MENDOCINO COUNTIES CURRENTLY.

SPILL CLEANUP AND PAVEMENT REPAIRS WILL BE MADE ON HIGHWAY 101 NORTH OF THE NORTH WILLITS RAILROAD CROSSING TODAY. WORK WILL BE PERFORMED FROM 7 AM TO 5 PM. ONE-WAY TRAFFIC CONTROL WILL BE IN EFFECT WITH 5 MINUTE DELAYS ANTICIPATED.

FLAT SCREEN ROBBERY (LAW) JB 5/28/14

A FORT BRAGG MAN CARRYING A FLAT SCREEN TELEVISION DOWN THE STREET WAS ARRESTED BY MENDOCINO COUNTY SHERIFFS FOR BURGLARY.

DEPUTIES RESPONDED TO A REPORTED BURGLARY ON OLD COAST HIGHWAY IN FORT BRAGG WHERE THE VICTIM STATED HAD ENCOUNTERED A MALE SUBJECT IN HIS GARAGE WHO FLED OUT A SIDE DOOR. A SECOND CALL FROM A WITNESS DIRECTED THE DEPUTIES TO A NEIGHBORING ADDRESS. THE WITNESS REPORTED THAT 42 YEAR OLD DYLAN SWARTOUT WAS SEEN CARRYING A FLATSCREEN TELIVISION TO A SEPARATE RESIDENCE NEARBY. A SEARCH FOUND THE TELEVISION, DVD MOVIES, A CD PLAYER, A DVD PLAYER, AND SPEAKERS THAT SWARTOUT HAD REPORTEDLY JUST DROPPED OFF AT THE RESIDENCE. THE VICTIM IDENTIFIED THE PROPERTY AND SWARTOUT WAS ARRESTED AND BOOKED IN THE MENDOCINO COUNTY JAIL.

CODE ENFORCEMENT LEADS TO ARREST AND MARIJUANA ERADICATION (LAW) JH 05/28/14

LAKE COUNTY CODE ENFORCEMENT CONTACTED THE SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT AFTER AN INSPECTION REVEALS A INDOOR MARIJUANA GROW.

DETECTIVES CONTACTED 65 YEAR OLD ALAN JAMES ESTRADA AT HIS MEADOW WOOD DRIVE HOME. THOUGH ESTRADA CLAIMED HE HAD NO MARIJUANA GROWING IN HIS HOME, AUTHORITIES NOTED THEY COULD SMELL POT. A SEARCH OF THE RESIDENCE REVEALED TWO INDOOR GROW ROOMS AND 236 MATURE MARIJUANA PLANTS. WHEN ASKED, ESTRADA ADMITTED TO HAVING A SHOTGUN FOR PROTECTION. AUTHORITIES ERADICATED THE POT PLANTS AND SEIZED THE FIRE ARM. ESTRADA WAS BOOKED INTO LAKE COUNTY JAIL ON MULTIPLE CHARGES.

News 5/27/14

WOMAN FOUND DEAD IN ROADWAY IN COVELO (LAW) JH 05/27/14

THE MENDOCINO COUNTY SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT IS INVESTIGATING THE MURDER OF A COVELO WOMAN WHOSE BODY WAS FOUND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD OVER THE WEEKEND.

A MOTORIST CONTACTED THE SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT AFTER FINDING THE BODY IN THE MIDDLE OF HOPPER LANE IN COVELO SUNDAY MORNING. ACCORDING TO AUTHORITIES, THE BODY HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS THAT OF 21 YEAR OLD ROSALENA BELL RODRIGUEZ, AND APPEARED TO HAVE MULTIPLE GUN SHOT WOUNDS. A FORENSIC AUTOPSY IS SCHEDULED FOR TODAY. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION THAT COULD ASSIST SHERIFFS DETECTIVES WITH THEIR INVESTIGATION INTO THIS INCIDENT IS URGED TO LEAVE A MESSAGE ON THE MENDOCINO COUNTY SHERIFFS TIP-LINE BY CALLING 234-2100.

INDIAN FIRE REPORT (LAW) JB 5/27/14

A LAKE COUNTY WILDFIRE THAT BEGAN ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON IS NOW NEAR FULLY CONTAINED.

CAL FIRE OFFICIALS REPORTED THE 175 ACRE “INDIAN” FIRE STARTED ALONG BARTLETT SPRINGS ROAD NEAR THE INDIAN VALLEY RESERVOIR. THE FIRE AREA COVERED BOTH STATE MANAGED LAND AND THE MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST. FIRE FIGHTERS FROM CAL FIRE, THE U.S. FOREST SERVICE AND SEVERAL LAKE COUNTY AGENCIES RESPONDED TO THE BLAZE. THE FIRE IS CURRENTLY 95 PERCENT CONTAINED.

MENDO COUNTY GRAND JURY EXTENDS APPLICATION DEADLINE (GOV)

JH 05/27/14

THE DEADLINE TO APPLY FOR A POSITION ON THE MENDOCINO COUNTY GRAND JURY HAS BEEN EXTENDED, AGAIN.

ALL QUALIFIED CITIZENS INTERESTED IN SERVING ON THE 2014-2015 MENDOCINO COUNTY GRAND JURY ARE INVITED TO SUBMIT THEIR APPLICATIONS TO THE SUPERIOR COURT FOR CONSIDERATION. THE 19 MEMBERS CHOSEN WILL SERVE FOR ONE YEAR AND ARE EMPOWERED TO INVESTIGATE THE OPERATIONS OF THE COUNTY, CITY AND DISTRICT GOVERNMENTS. ALSO, TO PROVIDE OVERSIGHT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES, AS WELL AS RESPOND TO COMPLAINTS FROM CITIZENS. THE DEADLINE TO APPLY FOR THE GRAND JURY HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO MAY 30TH.

LAKE COUNTY RESIDENT ASSISTS POLICE (LAW) JB 5/27/14

A LAKE COUNTY MAN ASSISTED LAKEPORT POLICE IN THE ARREST OF A CONVICTED FELON.

38-YEAR-OLD MAURO LOPEZ JR OF LAKE COUNTY WAS COMMENDED BY LAKEPORT POLICE FOR HIS ASSISTANCE IN THE ARREST OF 40 YEAR OLD JOSEPH DEXTER TAYLOR. A LAKE COUNTY POLICE OFFICER WAS STRUGGLING WITH TAYLOR AFTER HE DISPLAYED SIGNS OF BE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE AND FOR MAKING A DEATH THREAT TO THE OFFICER. LOPEZ TACKLED THE FELON FROM BEHIND, GIVING THE OFFICER THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLACE HIM IN CUSTODY. TAYLOR WAS BOOKED INTO LAKE COUNTY JAIL ON MULTIPLE CHARGES.

WILKINSON NO REASON TO WITHDRAW PLEA (LAW) JB 5/27/14

A MENDOCINO COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDER FOUND NO BASIS FOR 24 YEAR OLD KENNETH LEE WILKINSON TO WITHDRAW HIS GUILTY PLEA EARLIER THIS MONTH.

WILKINSON PLED GUILTY TO FIRST DEGREE MURDER IN APRIL TO DRAGGING HIS 84 YEAR OLD GRANDFATHER BEHIND A TRUCK AND DUMPING HIS BODY BACK IN 2012. HIS PLEA WITHDRAWAL SURPRISED BOTH THE COURT AND HIS DEFENSE ATTORNEY SINCE THE ALLEGATION OF TORTURE HAD BEEN DROPPED AS A PART OF THE DEAL. A PRIVATE ATTORNEY HAS BEEN APPOINTED BY THE JUDGE TO DETERMINE WHETHER WILKINSON HAS GOOD REASON TO WITHDRAW HIS PLEA, AND A REPORT IS EXPECTED LATER THIS WEEK.

FT BRAGG DUI HIT AND RUN (LAW) JB 5/27/14

AN INVESTIGATION BY FT BRAGG POLICE LEADS TO AN ARREST FOR DUI AND HIT AND RUN.

A RESIDENT ON ESPEY WAY CALLED AUTHORITIES AFTER REPORTEDLY HEARING THE COLLISION. 28-YEAR-OLD MAURICIO ROSALES-ORTEGA OF FT BRAGG WAS THEN WITNESSED LEAVING THE SCENE IN HIS VEHICLE. AFTER BEING STOPPED BY POLICE, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT ROSALES-ORTEGA WAS DRIVING HIS VEHICLE WHEN HE STRUCK A PARKED CAR ON ESPEY WAY AND THAT HE WAS DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL. ROSALES-ORTEGA WAS ARRESTED ON BOOKED AT THE FT BRAGG POLICE DEPARTMENT ON MULTIPLE CHARGES.

FATAL TRAFFIC COLLISION ON HIGHWAY 1 (LAW) JH 05/27/14

A FORT BRAGG MAN DIED AS A RESULT OF A HEAD ON COLLISION ON HIGHWAY 1 ON SUNDAY.

AN UNIDENTIFIED 49 YEAR OLD FORT BRAGG MAN WAS DRIVING NORTHBOUND ON HIGHWAY 1, JUST NORTH OF CLEONE, WHEN HE WAS HIT HEAD-ON. 68-YEAR-OLD MICHAEL JENSEN OF WASHINGTON, WHO WAS HEADED SOUTHBOUND, ALLOWED HIS VEHICLE TO CROSS THE DOUBLE YELLOW LINES AND CAUSED THE COLLISION. THE 49 YEAR OLD FORT BRAGG MAN SUFFERED FATAL INJURIES. JENSEN WAS FLOWN TO SANTA ROSA MEMORIAL HOSPITAL.

HOPLAND BURGLARY ARREST (LAW) JB 5/27/14

AN INTERRUPTED BURGLARY AT THE HOPLAND UTILITIES DISTRICT RESULTS IN AN ARREST BY MENDOCINO COUNTY SHERIFFS.

A WITNESS REPORTED A BURGLARY AT AN OLD RAILROAD BUILDING IN HOPLAND BEING LEASED BY THE HOPLAND UTILITIES DISTRICT. RESPONDING SHERIFF’S DEPUTIES DISCOVERED THE DOOR TO THE BUILDING HAD BEEN REMOVED, AND POWER AND ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT AND SCRAP METAL FROM THE BUILDING WAS FOUND IN THE VEHICLE OF THE REPORTED SUSPECT, DANIEL CHECK. CHECK WAS LOCATED A SHORT TIME LATER AND ARRESTED ON MULTIPLE CHARGES.

LAKEPORT ROAD CLOSURE (TR) JH 05/27/14

LAKEPORT PUBLIC WORKS HAS ANNOUNCED THE CLOSURE OF SECOND STREET TODAY FOR ROAD WORK.

SECOND STREET BETWEEN NORTH MAIN STREET AND NORTH FORBES STREET WILL BE CLOSED FROM 7 AM TO 5 PM TODAY TO ALLOW CITY CREWS TO CONTINUE WORK ON THAT BLOCK. THERE WILL BE NO ACCESS TO PARKING AVAILABLE ON THAT BLOCK.

News 5/23/14

CTC AWARDS $22 MILLION FOR LAKE COUNTY ROADS (TR) JH 05/23/14

THE CALIFORNIA TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION THIS WEEK ALLOCATED OVER HALF A BILLION DOLLARS TO TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS STATEWIDE, INCLUDING $22 MILLION FOR LAKE COUNTY ROADS.

THE CTC ALLOCATED THE FUNDS FOR THE LAKE COUNTY PAVEMENT REHABILITATION PROJECT THAT WILL SEE WORK DONE ON OVER 10 MILES OF HIGHWAY 20 FROM NICE TO JUST EAST OF CLEARLAKE OAKS. ACCORDING TO CAL TRANS OFFICIALS, THE BID PROCESS FOR THE PROJECT WILL BEGIN THIS SUMMER, AND ACTUAL WORK WILL NOT START UNTIL NEXT SPRING.

UKIAH MEMORIAL DAY PARADE (PI/TR) JH 05/23/14

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND IS HERE, AND PART OF THE FESTIVITIES HONORING THE FALLEN, IS THE UKIAH MEMORIAL DAY PARADE.

THIS YEARS EVENT IS SCHEDULED FOR MONDAY MORNING AT 10:45 AM. THE PARADE STARTS ON SEMINARY AVENUE AT SCHOOL STREET, AND THE ROUTE WILL TAKE THE PARADE DOWN SCHOOL TO STANDLEY, TO STATE STREET, ONTO LOW GAP ROAD AND END AT THE RUSSIAN RIVER CEMETERY.

ROAD WORK TODAY (TR) JH 05/23/14

THERE ARE SEVERAL ROAD WORK PROJECTS AROUND LAKE AND MENDOCINO COUNTIES CAUSING TRAFFIC DELAYS CURRENTLY.

SIDEWALK ENHANCEMENTS ON HIGHWAY 1 NEAR THE JUNCTION WITH HIGHWAY 20 WILL CONTINUE TODAY. THE WORK IS ONGOING FROM 7 AM TO 7 PM WEEKDAYS. TRAFFIC WILL BE RESTRICTED TO ONE LANE IN EACH DIRECTION OF TRAVEL. MOTORISTS MAY EXPERIENCE MINOR TRAFFIC SLOWDOWNS.

ALSO, THE LOWER LAKE DAZE PARADE WILL AFFECT TRAFFIC ON SUNDAY ON HIGHWAYS 29 AND 53 FROM 10 AM TO 3 PM. TURNS ONTO MORGAN VALLEY ROAD WILL BE RESTRICTED.

GROW BUST IN NICE (LAW) JB 5/23/14

AN ANONYMOUS TIP TO LAKE COUNTY DETECTIVES LED TO THE ERADICATION OF 108 MARIJUANA PLANTS IN NICE.

THE DETECTIVES RESPONDED TO THE REPORT OF AN ILLEGAL GROW SITE ON MARIN STREET. THE PROPERTY WAS RED TAGGED LAST YEAR DUE TO THE CULTIVATION OF MARIJUANA AND OTHER CODE VIOLATIONS. UPON ENETRING THE PROPERTY, DETECTIVES DISCOVERED 108 MATURE MARIJUANA PLANTS IN A LARGE HOOPSTYLE GREENHOUSE. A PROTECTIVE SEARCH WAS CONDUCTED OF A MOBILE HOME ON THE PROPERTY BUT DID NOT YIELD ANY SUSPECTS. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION IS ASKED TO CAL THE LAKE COUNTY SHERIFFS ANONYMOUS TIP LINE AT 263-3663

WALMART HEROIN BUST (LAW) JB 5/23/14

A REPORT OF A SHOPLIFTER AT WALMART IN UKIAH LED TO THE ARREST OF A HEROIN DEALER.

UKIAH POLICE OFFICERS LEARNED THAT 26 YEAR OLD WILLIAM HOWARD FLUBACHER HAD PURCHASED A CELL PHONE AND THEN TRIED TO LEAVE THE STORE WITHOUT PAYING FOR A SHIRT AND ANOTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICE. UPON SEARCH BY POLICE, FLUBACHER WAS FOUND TO HAVE MULTIPLE VIALS OF HEROIN PACKAGED FOR SALE AND OVER $6000 IN CASH IN HIS POSSESSION. HE BOOKED INTO MENDOCINO COUNTY JAIL ON MULTIPLE CHARGES.

UKIAH HIGH STUDENTS RECEIVE CERTIFICATES FROM CONGRESSMAN HUFFMAN (GOV/PI) JH 05/23/14

CONGRESSMAN JARED HUFFMAN RECENTLY VISITED A PHOTOGRAPHY CLASS AT UKIAH HIGH SCHOOL TO PRESENT STUDENTS WITH CERTIFICATES OF SPECIAL CONGRESSIONAL RECOGNITION FOR ART WORK ENTERED INTO THE 2014 CONGRESSIONAL ART COMPETITION.

HUFFMAN HANDED OUT NEAR A DOZEN CERTIFICATES IN RECOGNITION OF DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY AND DRAWING. TWO STUDENTS, ANA GONZALES PLACED SECOND AND CHELSEA MACRI PLACED THIRD IN MENDOCINO COUNTY FOR THEIR DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY.

BRUTOCAO CHECK FRAUD CASE (LAW) JB 5/23/14

JURY DELIBERATIONS BEGIN TODAY IN A CHECK FORGERY CASE INVOLVING THE FORMER FINANCIAL OFFICER OF BRUTOCAO CELLARS IN HOPLAND.

CHRIS MULCAHY, CO-OWNER OF SAPPHIRE HILL WINERY, IS CHARGED WITH FORGING SIGNATURES ON 57 CHECKS WHILE EMPLOYED BY BRUTOCAO, CARRYING POTENTIAL SENTENCE OF UP TO 40 YEARS IN PRISON. HIS DEFENSE TEAM HAS PRESENTED THE JURY WITH NUMEROUS DOCUMENTS TO SUPPORT HIS CLIENT’S CONTENTION THAT HE WAS AUTHORIZED TO SIGN CHECKS FOR BRUTACAO. THE CASE HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE EARLY 2013 AND NOW THE JURY IS TASKED WITH DECIDING WHICH CONFLICTING VERSION OF THE EVENTS IS MOST REASONABLE.

RIVERO NIXLE CONCERNS (LAW/GOV) JB 5/23/14

LAKE COUNTY SHERIFF FRANK RIVERO’S RECENT USE OF THE NIXLE SERVICE DURING HIS ELECTION CAMPAIGN HAS RAISED CONCERNS FOR COUNTY RESIDENTS.

ACCORDING TO THE RECORD BEE, A MESSAGE SENT BY THE SHERIFF IN REGARDS TO STATEMENTS HE MADE DURING THE RECENT SHERIFF’S DEBATE WAS SEEN BY SOME AS USING THE MESSAGE SERVICE AS A POLITICAL PODIUM TO PROMOTE HIS OWN PERSONAL AGENDA. IN RESPONSE TO THE INCIDENT, COUNTY COUNSEL SENT TWO ADVISORY DOCUMENTS TO ALL COUNTY EMPLOYEES SPECIFYING THAT THEY MAY NOT ENGAGE IN POLITICAL ACTIVITY DURING WORK HOURS OR USE PUBLIC FUNDS OR PROPERTY FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES. NIXLE WILL BE CONDUCTING SOME TRAINING AT THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

News 5/22/14

TEEN PREGNANCY DOWN IN MENDO COUNTY (PI) JH 05/22/14

TEEN PREGNANCIES ARE DOWN IN MENDOCINO COUNTY, ACCORDING TO THE MENDOCINO COUNTY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY.

DATA FROM 2010 AND 2013 WAS COMPARED TO REVEAL A 19.5 PERCENT DROP IN PREGNANCIES. GEOGRAPHICALLY, DECREASES WERE MOST SIGNIFICANT IN UKIAH AND FORT BRAGG WITH THE WILLITS AREA DECREASED SLIGHTLY. THE DATA ALSO SHOWS THAT 71 PERCENT OF TEEN PREGNANCIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY WERE WOMEN AGED 18 TO 19 YEARS OLD.

MULTIPLE FELONY ARRESTS IN COBB (LAW) JB 5/22/14

A REPORTED FIGHT IN COBB LEADS DEPUTIES TO TWO ARRESTS FOR MULTIPLE FELONIES.

THE PATROL DEPUTIES, RESPONDING TO A REPORTED FIGHT ON GOLF ROAD IN COBB, WERE NOTIFIED THAT AN UNNAMED 20 YEAR OLD VICTIM HAD BEEN TAKEN TO ST HELENA CLEALAKE HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT. THE VICTIM IDENTIFIED THE SUSPECTS IN THE ALLEGED ATTACK AS 36 YEAR OLD SETH HENRY LAWRENCE AND 33 YEAR OLD CASEY ELLIS SNOW. SNOW REPORTEDLY RAN TOWARDS THE VICTIM BRANDISHING A HANDGUN AND STRUCK HIM ON THE HEAD SEVERAL TIMES WITH THE BUTT OF THE GUN. BOTH LAWRENCE AND SNOW WERE ARRESTED ON MULTIPLE FELONY CHARGES AND BOOKED INTO THE LAKE COUNTY JAIL.

ROAD WORK TODAY (TR) JH 05/22/14

THERE ARE SEVERAL ROAD WORK PROJECTS AROUND LAKE AND MENDOCINO COUNTIES THAT ARE CAUSING TRAFFIC DELAYS CURRENTLY.

UTILITY REPAIRS WILL BE MADE ON HIGHWAY 20 FROM LAKEVIEW DRIVE TO KEYS BOULEVARD BEGINNING TODAY. WORKING HOURS ARE 8 AM TO 4 PM.

UTILITY REPAIRS WILL ALSO BE MADE ON HIGHWAY 1 AT CAMP 1 TENMILE ROAD BEGINNING TODAY. WORK WILL BE ONGOING FROM 8 AM TO 4 PM WEEKDAYS.

AT BOTH LOCATIONS, ONE-WAY TRAFFIC CONTROL WILL BE IN EFFECT WITH 5 TO 10 MINUTE DELAYS ANTICIPATED.

CAL FIRE URGES CAUTION FOR MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND (PI)

JH 05/22/14

AS MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND IS OFTEN CONSIDERED THE KICK-OFF FOR SUMMER VACATIONS AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, CAL FIRE IS REMINDING US THAT FIRE DANGER IS HIGHER THAN NORMAL THIS YEAR, AND EXTRA CAUTION IS URGED.

CAL FIRES DIRECTOR ISSUED A STATEMENT REMINDING THE PUBLIC THAT IT ONLY TAKES IS A SINGLE SPARK TO START A FIRE AND WITH THE DRY CONDITIONS CAUSED BY DROUGHT, CAL FIRE IS SEEING FIRES BURN WITH UNSEASONABLE INTENSITY. THE DROUGHT HAS CAUSED CONDITIONS THAT ARE RIPE FOR DEVASTATING AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WILDFIRES, AS DEMONSTRATED IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY RECENTLY. EVERYONE IS ENCOURAGED TO BE VIGILANT AND REMEMBER THAT ONE LESS SPARK IS ONE LESS WILDFIRE.

IMPASS REACHED IN TEACHER/DISTRICT CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS (GOV/ED) JB 5/22/14

A ONE-TIME PAYMENT OF FURLOUGH DAYS HAS BECOME A STICKING POINT IN THE NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE UKIAH UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE UKIAH TEACHERS UNION.

THE UKIAH DAILY JOURNAL REPORTS, THE TEACHERS UNION HAD AGREED TO THE DISTRICTS OFFER OF A FOUR PERCENT RAISE IN PAY, BUT TURNED DOWN THE ONE-TIME REIMURSEMENT FOR TEACHERS WHO HAD BEEN FORCED TO TAKE FURLOUGH DAYS. THE UNION EXPLAINED THAT THE MONEY SHOULD BE WORKED INTO THE SALARY SCHEDULE TO SPREAD IT MORE EVENLY AND HAVE IT BE ONGOING. THE DISTRICT COUNTERED, STATING THAT THE ONGOING COST WOULD NOT BE FINANCIALLY PRUDENT. A MEDIATOR WILL NOW BE APPOINTED BY THE STATE TO HELP FACILITATE THE NEGOTIATIONS.

CAMPGROUND MANAGED BY US ARMY CORP NO LONGER TAKE CASH (PI)

JH 05/22/14

CAMPERS VISITING LAKE MENDOCINO AND OTHER CAMPGROUNDS MANAGED BY THE US ARMY CORP OF ENGINEERS, WILL NEED A CREDIT CARD TO PAY FOR CAMPING, AS CASH AND CHECK ARE NO LONGER ACCEPTED.

ACCORDING TO THE ARMY CORP OF ENGINEERS, A CREDIT CARD IS REQUIRED TO BOOK A CAMPGROUND THROUGH THEIR ON-LINE RESERVATION SITE AT WWW.RECREATION.GOV. SAME DAY RESERVATIONS ARE POSSIBLE, EVEN AT THE CAMPGROUND ITSELF, BUT YOU WILL NEED TO CALL THE RESERVATION LINE AND MAKE IMMEDIATE PAYMENT, BEFORE SETTING UP CAMP.

YOUTH CONSERVATION CORPS JOBS (EMP) JB 5/22/14

THE HUMBOLDT BAY NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE HAS ANNOUNCED JOB OPENINGS WITH THE YOUTH CONSERVATION CORPS FOR THIS SUMMER.

TEN APPLICANTS WILL BE SELECTED TO COMPLETE PROJECTS AT THE LANPHERE DUNES AND SALMON CREEK UNITS OF THE HUMBOLDT BAY NWR COMPLEX. THE YOUTH CONSERVATION CORPS IS AN EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM FOR 15-18 YEAR OLD MEN AND WOMEN THAT WILL RUN FROM JUNE 23RD TO AUGUST 15TH. PARTICIPANTS WILL EARN $8.00 PER HOUR AND BE SELECTED BY A RANDOM DRAWING. ANYONE INTERESTED IN MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROGRAM CAN CALL THE REFUGE AT 733-5406 OR STOP BY THE HEADQUARTERS IN LOLETA.

MENDO COUNTY BOS APPOINT INTERIM LIBRARY DIRECTOR (GOV)

JH 05/22/14

THE MENDOCINO COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ANNOUNCED THE APPOINTMENT OF AN INTERIM LIBRARY DIRECTOR FOR THE COUNTY LIBRARY DISTRICT.

THE BOARD HAS APPOINTED WALLACE CLARK, WHO BRINGS 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE TO THE POSITION, THAT WILL HAVE HIM OVERSEE THE COUNTIES FIVE LIBRARIES AND THE BOOKMOBILE.

POT GROWER GETS PROBATION FOR DAMMING CREEK (LAW)

JH 05/22/14

A SUSPECTED LAKE COUNTY MARIJUANA GROWERS WAS PUT ON PROBATION FOR BUILDING A ROAD THROUGH A STREAM NEAR CLEARLAKE OAKS.

32 YEAR OLD ALEKSANDER TOMASZEWSKI HAD BUILT AN APPROXIMATE 6 FOOT HIGH DIRT DAM THROUGH A SMALL CREEK ON HIS PROPERTY WHERE HE WAS GROWING MARIJUANA. THE DAM WAS DISCOVERED DURING A MARIJUANA CULTIVATION INVESTIGATION IN DECEMBER OF 2012. IT WAS THE SECOND TIME TOMASZEWSKI HAS FILLED IN A CREEK. HIS PROBATION, WHICH ALSO REQUIRES HIM TO REPAIR THE ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE HE CAUSED, IS FOR THREE YEARS.

Playlist 5/22/14

DJ SNAKE W/LIL JON-TURN DOWN FOR WHAT

ED SHEERAN-SING

JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE-NOT A BAD THING

NAUGHTY BOY W/SAM SMITH-LA LA LA

PARAMORE-AIN’T IT FUN

RIXTON-ME AND MY BROKEN HEART

5 SECONDS OF SUMMER-SHE LOOKS SO PERFECT

ARIANA GRANDE W/IGGY AZALEA-PROBLEM

CALVIN HARRIS-SUMMER

DISCLOSURE W/SAM SMITH-LATCH

IGGY AZALEA W/CHARLIE XCX-FANCY

KATY PERRY-BIRTHDAY

KATY TIZ-THE BIG BANG

MAGIC!-RUDE

MKTO-CLASSIC

NEON TREES-SLEEPING WITH A FRIEND

NICO & VINZ-AM I WRONG

ONE DIRECTION-YOU & I

PITBULL W/G.R.L.-WILD WILD LOVE

TIESTO-RED LIGHTS

AFROJACK W/WRABEL-TEN FEET TALL

CHRISTINA PERRI-HUMAN

HOT CHELLE RAE-DON’T SAY GOODNIGHT

KONGOS-COME WITH ME NOW

MY CRAZY GIRLFRIEND-CRAZY STUPID LOVE

NEW HOLLOW-SHE AIN’T YOU

SHAKIRA-EMPIRE

A.J.R.-I’M READY

HAIM-FOREVER

LORDE-TENNIS COURT

MICHAEL JACKSON W/JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE-LOVE NEVER FELT SO GOOD

ONE REPUBLIC-LOVE RUNS OUT

SIA-CHANDELIER

TREY SONGZ-NA NA

News 5/21/14

PERTUSSIS CASES ON THE RISE IN CALIFORNIA (PI) JH 05/21/14

THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUED A WARNING THIS WEEK THAT PERTUSSIS, ALSO KNOWN AS WHOOPING COUGH, IS ON THE RISE ACROSS THE STATE.

PUBLIC HEALTH HAS RECEIVED REPORTS OF OVER 1,700 CASES OF PERTUSIS OCCURRING FROM JANUARY THROUGH APRIL OF THIS YEAR, MORE THAN TRIPLE THE NUMBER FROM THE SAME TIME PERIOD LAST YEAR. MORE THAN 90 PERCENT OF THIS YEARS CASES HAVE BEEN IN CHILDREN YOUNGER THAN 18 YEARS OLD. INFANTS TOO YOUNG TO BE FULLY IMMUNIZED REMAIN MOST VULNERABLE TO SEVERE AND FATAL CASES OF PERTUSSIS. MOST OF THE 77 HOSPITALIZED CASES THIS YEAR HAVE BEEN CHILDREN THREE MONTHS OLD OR YOUNGER. PUBLIC HEALTH RECOMMENDS THAT PREGNANT WOMEN RECEIVE A PERTUSSIS VACCINE BOOSTER DURING THE THIRD TRIMESTER OF EACH PREGNANCY, AND THAT INFANTS BE VACCINATED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

DISTRICT 3 SUPERVISOR CANDIDATES TO DISCUSS POT TONIGHT (GOV)

JH 05/21/14

CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR THE DISTRICT 3 SUPERVISORS SEAT WILL MEET TONIGHT IN WILLITS TO MEDICAL MARIJUANA.

THE MEETING IS PRESENTED BY THE SMALL FARMERS ASSOCIATION AND WILL GIVE THE CANDIDATES A CHANCE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AND DISCUSS THEIR POSITIONS IN REGARD TO MEDICAL MARIJUANA. THE MEETING IS SCHEDULED FROM 7 TO 9 PM TONIGHT AT THE LITTLE LAKE GRANGE ON SCHOOL STREET IN WILLITS.

MENDOCINO COUNTY BUDGET IMPROVING (GOV/ECN) JB 5/21/14

DURING A MEETING WITH THE MENDOCINO COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, THE COUNTY CEO REPORTED THAT THE COUNTY’S FINANCES ARE IN GOOD SHAPE.

HEADED IN TO THE 2014-2015 BUDGET YEAR, THE COUNTY’S MID-YEAR PROJECTION OF HAVING A SURPLUS OF ALMOST $3 MILLION IS UP TO ABOUT $3.2 MILLION. TEN COUNTY DEPARTMENTS HAVE SAID THEY EXPECT TO COME IN UNDER THEIR BUDGETS AT THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR, AND NONE ARE EXPECTED TO GO OVER THEIR BUDGETS. STANDARD AND POOR RECENTLY UPGRADED THE COUNTY’S CREDIT RATING ON CERTIFICATES OF PARTICIPATION TO A+, MAKING MENDOCINO COUNTY ONE OF THE BIGGEST MOVERS OF THE YEAR.

SIGNATURES SUBMITTED FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA ACT (GOV) JB 5/21/14

SIGNATURES IN SUPPORT OF ANOTHER MEDICAL MARIJUANA CULTIVATION MEASURE WERE SUBMITTED TO THE LAKE COUNTY REGISTAR OF VOTERS ON TUESDAY.

THE EMERALD UNITY COALITION SUBMITTED SOME 3500 SIGNATURES IN SUPPORT OF ITS NEW MEDICAL MARIJUANA CONTROL ACT. THE INITIATIVE NEEDS VALID SIGNATURES FROM 10 PERCENT OF REGISTERED VOTERS, ABOUT 2,115, TO QUALIFY TO BE INCLUDED ON NOVEMBERS BALLOT. ANOTHER GROUP OF CITIZENS IS GATHERING SIGNATURES FOR A COMPETING MARIJUANA CULTIVATION MEASURE, CALLED THE FREEDOM TO GARDEN HUMAN RIGHTS RESTORATION ACT OF 2014. BOTH MEASURES TAKE A DIFFERENT APPROACH TO REGULATING MARIJUANA CULTIVATION, AND IF BOTH MEASURES MAKE IT TO THE NOVEMBER BALLOT, THE MEASURE WITH THE MOST VOTES WOULD BECOME LAW.

GANG SUPPRESSION UNIT ARRESTS THREE IN GANG SWEEP (LAW)

JH 05/21/14

THREE ARRESTS WERE MADE AS AUTHORITIES CONDUCTED A GANG SWEEP OF THE UKIAH AREA LAST WEEK.

A MULTI-AGENCY GANG SUPPRESSION UNIT CONDUCTED THE OPERATION FOCUSED ON CONTACTING AND IDENTIFYING GANG MEMBERS. OFFICERS MADE CONTACT WITH 30 PEOPLE, PERFORMED NUMEROUS SEARCHES, AND MADE THREE ARRESTS. 37 YEAR OLD LUIS ALBERTO RAMIREZ OF UKIAH WAS ARRESTED ON A WARRANT FOR VIOLATING PROBATION. 18 YEAR OLD BRANDON KELLER OF WILLITS WAS ARRESTED IN UKIAH FOR POSSESSION OF A PROHIBITED WEAPON. AND 18 YEAR OLD ERIC ROLAND RAYMOND WRIGHT OF REDWOOD VALLEY WAS ARRESTED FOR TRYING TO SELL MARIJUANA TO JUVENILES AND RESISTING ARREST. ALL THREE WERE BOOKED INTO MENDOCINO COUNTY JAIL.

LAKE COUNTY BOS APPROVES IMPROVEMENT GRANTS (GOV) JB 5/21/14

THE LAKE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS APPROVED TWO GRANT APPLICATIONS FOR PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS AND A NEW MULTI-USE TRAILWAY.

THE GRANTS WILL PAY FOR CONSTRUCTION OF GUTTERS, CURBS, AND SIDEWALKS IN UPPER LAKE ON PORTIONS OF FIRST STREET BETWEEN GOVERNMENT STREET AND CLOVER VALLEY ROAD, AND SECOND STREET BETWEEN MAIN AND MIDDLE CREEK ROAD. ALSO INCLUDED IN THE GRANT APPROVAL IS THE CONSTRUCTION OF A MULTI-USE TRAILWAY AT MOUNT KONOCTI COUNTY PARK.

CAL FIRE CONTINUES TO STAFF UP FOR FIRE SEASON IN MENDO COUNTY (LAW) JH 05/21/14

WITH DRIER THAN NORMAL CONDITIONS, DUE IN PART TO THE CONTINUED DROUGHT, CAL FIRE IS INCREASING ITS STAFF IN MENDOCINO COUNTY IN CONTINUED PREPARATION FOR FIRE SEASON.

ON MONDAY, CAL FIRE TRANSITIONED INTO FIRE SEASON IN MENDOCINO COUNTY, AND ALL MENDOCINO UNIT CAL FIRE STATIONS ARE OPEN AND STAFFED READY TO RESPOND TO ALL RISK EMERGENCIES. THIS YEAR, CAL FIRE HAS ALREADY RESPONDED TO OVER 1,500 WILDFIRES, MORE THAN TWICE AS MANY AS NORMAL. WITH FIRE SEASON UNDERWAY, CAL FIRE REMINDS YOU TO PREPARE FOR WILDFIRES AND MAINTAIN 100 FEET OF DEFENSIBLE SPACE AROUND YOUR HOME.

News 5/20/14

TRAFFIC STOP LEADS TO FOOT PURSUIT AND MULTIPLE ARRESTS (LAW)

JH 05/20/14

MENDOCINO COUNTY SHERIFFS DEPUTIES PULLED A VEHICLE OVER ON OCEAN DRIVE IN FORT BRAGG LAST THURSDAY AND FOUND THE DRIVER TO HAVE A SUSPENDED AND REVOKED DRIVERS LICENSE.

THE DRIVER, 23 YEAR OLD ALEJANDRO GRIJALBA, WAS ALSO ON FELONY PROBATION WITH TERMS INCLUDING SEARCH AND SEIZURE AND DO NOT POSSESS WEAPONS. AS DEPUTIES WERE ARRESTING GRIJALBA, HE BROKE AWAY AND FLED ON FOOT ELUDING OFFICERS, AND THREE PASSENGERS THAT WERE IN THE VEHICLE WITH HIM WERE ULTIMATELY RELEASED AT THE SCENE. A SEARCH OF THE VEHICLE REVEALED A CONCEALED WEAPON NEAR THE DRIVERS SEAT. ON SATURDAY, MAY 17TH, AUTHORITIES LOCATED AND ARRESTED GRIJALBA AT A RESIDENCE IN FORT BRAGG. THE THREE PASSENGERS FROM HIS VEHICLE, 21 YEAR OLD LUIS PINEDA, 20 YEAR OLD CHEYENNE SPICIEDAY, AND 38 YEAR OLD CHRISTOL CHILES, ALL OF FORT BRAGG WERE ALSO ARRESTED THIS TIME, AFTER THEY ALL MADE AN ATTEMPT TO CONCEAL GRIJALBAS PRESENCE FROM DEPUTIES. ALL FOUR SUSPECTS WERE BOOKED INTO MENDOCINO COUNTY JAIL.

ABALONE CHECKPOINTS OVER WEEKEND ISSUE DOZENS OF CITATIONS (LAW) JH 05/20/14

THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE CONDUCTED ABALONE CHECKPOINTS IN ANDERSON VALLEY AND NORTH OF JENNER OVER THE WEEKEND, ISSUING DOZENS OF CITATIONS.

APPROXIMATELY 260 VEHICLES WERE INSPECTED AT THE JENNER CHECKPOINT, AND 31 CITATIONS WERE ISSUED, ALONG WITH SEVERAL DOZEN WARNINGS. ON HIGHWAY 128 IN BOONVILLE, APPROXIMATELY ANOTHER 530 VEHICLES WERE INSPECTED, AND 13 CITATIONS WERE ISSUED. MOST CITATIONS WERE FOR ABALONE, WITH MANY HAVING MORE THAN THE LIMIT AND UNDERSIZED ABALONE. ONE DIVER AT THE JENNER CHECKPOINT ATTEMPTED TO THROW A TAGGED BUT UNDERSIZED ABALONE INTO NEARBY BUSH BUT INSTEAD THREW IT INTO A WARDENS TRUCK BED. THE LOUD CLANKING ALERTED OFFICERS TO THE ATTEMPT, AND THE DIVER WAS CITED.

SIX YEAR SENTENCE IN 2013 FATAL STABBING IN CLEARLAKE (LAW)

JB 05/20/14

A LAKE COUNTY JUDGE HANDED DOWN A SIX YEAR SENTENCE TO A CLEARLAKE MAN CHARGED WITH FATALLY STABBING HIS NEIGHBOR IN 2013.

58 YEAR OLD DARRELL VERNON SIDEWELL WAS ORIGINALLY FACING MURDER CHARGES FOR THE MAY 2013 DEATH OF 43 YEAR OLD BRAD BEAUDION. THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND SIDEWELLS ATTORNET REACHED A PLEA DEAL IN MARCH, ALLOWING SIDEWELL TO PLEAD GUILTY TO VOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER. THE JUDGE DENIED PROBATION, BUT NOTED THAT SIDEWELL HAD 432 DAYS OF CUSTODY CREDIT.

LAKE COUNTY WOMAN ARRESTED FOR CHILD ABANDONMENT (LAW)

JB 05/20/14

A LOWER LAKE WOMAN WAS ARRESTED SUNDAY FOR ALLEGEDLY ABANDONING HER BABY AT A TRUCK STOP.

AN EMPLOYEE AT THE SACRAMENTO AREA TRUCK STOP CONTACTED THE SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT TO REPORT THAT A BABY IN A CARRIER HAD BEEN LEFT ON THE SIDEWALK. DEPUTIES RESPONDING FOUND THE 6 WEK OLD INFANT BEING CARED FOR BY TRUCK STOP EMPLOYEES AND WITNESSES REPORTED SEEING 36 YEAR OLD CHRISTINA REED OF LOWER LAKE LEAVING THE SCENE 45 MINUTES EARLIER. 90 MINUTES LATER, REED RETURNED TO THE TRUCK STOP, AND AFTER QUESTIONING, WAS ARRESTED FOR FELONY CHILD ENDANGERMENT. THE CHILD WAS TRANSPORTED TO UC DAVIS MEDICAL CENTER. THE FATHER IS BEING SOUGHT FOR QUESTIONING. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION THAT MAY AID THE INVESTIGATION IS URGED TO CONTACT THE SHERIFFS CHILD ABUSE BUREAU AT 916-874-5115.

TRANSIENT CHARGED WITH BURGLARY FOR RE-RECYCLING (LAW)

JH 05/20/14

A TRANSIENT MAN WAS ARRESTED SATURDAY ON CHARGES OF SECOND-DEGREE BURGLARY AFTER HE ALLEGEDLY BROKE INTO A REPLANET RECYCLING MACHINE AND PROCEEDED TO RE-RECYCLE CONTAINERS.

THE LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS, 49 YEAR OLD STEVEN LLOYD LATHAN WAS SEEN BREAKING INTO THE MACHINE ON LAKESHORE DRIVE NEAR FOODS ETCETERA, THEN RE DEPOSITING CONTAINERS INTO THE MACHINE AND COLLECTING VOUCHERS. WHEN TAKEN INTO CUSTODY LATHAN HAD VOUCHERS WORTH OVER $71 IN HIS POSSESSION. LATHAN WAS BOOKED INTO LAKE COUNTY JAIL.

DUI ARREST MADE AFTER FORT BRAGG PURSUIT (LAW) JB 05/20/14

A VEHICLE PURSUIT OF A RECKLESS DRIVER IN FORT BRAGG ENDS WITH A DUI ARREST.

FORT BRAGG POLICE, RESPONDING TO REPORTS OF A RECKLESS DRIVER, WITNESSED 20 YEAR OLD AARON KOSKI FLEEING THE SCENE IN HIS VEHICLE, NEARLY COLLIDING WITH A POLICE CAR IN THE PROCESS. AFTER PURSUING KOSKI FOR SEVERAL BLOCKS, POLICE WERE ABLE TO SAFELY STOP HIM AND DETERMINED THAT HE WAS INTOXICATED. KOSKI WAS BOOKED INTO MENDOCINO COUNTY JAIL ON MULTIPLE CHARGES.

LIBRARY BEHAVIOR ON SUPERVISORS AGENDA (GOV) JB 05/20/14

UPDATED POLICIES FOR COUNTY LIBRARIES ARE ON THE AGENDA FOR THE NEXT MENDOCINO COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING.

THE BOARD WILL DISCUSS THREE NEWLY INTRODUCED LIBRARY POLICIES AT TODAYS MEETING. THEY INCLUDE STANDARDS OF BEHAVIOR, COMPUTER USE AND INTERNET, AND PRIVACY. ACCORDING TO THE AGENDA, THE NEW RULES WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING POLICY. THE NEW STANDARDS OF BEHAVIOR INCLUDE PROHIBITIONS FOR PANHANDLING, LOITERING, AND CREATING A NUISANCE TO THOSE WHO ARE TRYING TO ENTER OR EXIT OR USE THE LIBRARY RESOURCES.

UKIAH DAILY JOURNAL CARTOONIST WINS STATE JOURNALISM AWARD (PI) JH 05/20/14

JAMES KESTER, LONGTIME EDITORIAL CARTOONIST IN THE UKIAH DAILY JOURNAL, THIS MONTH WON SECOND PLACE OF EDITORIAL CARTOONS IN THE BETTER NEWSPAPERS CONTEST OF THE CALIFORNIA NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION.

THE UKIAH DAILY JOURNAL REPORTS, IN THE SMALL NEWSPAPER CATEGORY, KESTERS CARTOON ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN IN THE FALL OF 2013 SWAYED THE JUDGES. ACCORDING TO THE PAPERS EDITOR, KESTER IS AN EXTREMELY TALENTED ARTIST WITH A GOOFY SENSE OF HUMOR, BUT ALSO A BIG HEART. THE JOURNAL ALSO WON PRAISE FROM THE JUDGES FOR TWO STORIES AND ASSOCIATED PHOTOGRAPHY.

News 5/19/14

BODIES FOUND IN LAYTONVILLE GREENHOUSE IDENTIFIED (LAW)

JH 05/19/14

TWO BODIES THAT WERE FOUND IN A LAYTONVILLE GREENHOUSE LAST MONDAY, HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED.

ACCORDING TO AUTHORITIES, THE DECEASED WERE 26-YEAR-OLD FELIPE CORTEZ GUZMAN AND 27 YEAR OLD ABRAHAM GREGORIO CASTILLO, BOTH OF AVENAL CALIFORNIA. THE BODIES WERE SO BADLY DECOMPOSED THAT IDENTIFICATIONS WERE MADE BASED ON TATTOOS ON EACH OF THE DECEASED THAT MATCHED DESCRIPTIONS OF ARTWORK PROVIDED BY THEIR FAMILIES. THE BODIES WERE LOCATED IN A GREENHOUSE WHERE ABOUT 180 SMALL MARIJUANA PLANTS WERE GROWING. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION THAT COULD AID DETECTIVES IN THIS INVESTIGATION IS URGED TO CONTACT THE MENDOCINO COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE TIP LINE AT 234-2100.

UKIAH JUVENILE ARRESTED AFTER ASSAULTING HIS MOTHER (LAW)

JH 05/19/14

A UKIAH JUVENILE WAS ARRESTED AFTER BEATING HIS MOTHER AND THREATENING HER WITH A KNIFE.

ACCORDING TO AUTHORITIES, THE JUVENILE WAS TOLD HE COULD NOT GO OUT WITH FRIENDS, BECAUSE HIS MOTHER FEARED HE WOULD CONTINUE SMOKING POT. THE SUSPECT THEN BECAME ANGRY HITTING HIS MOTHER IN THE HEAD BEFORE BEING RESTRAINED BY ANOTHER ADULT IN THE HOME. WHEN THE SUSPECT WAS STOPPED AS HE TRIED TO LEAVE AGAIN, HE GRABBED A KNIFE IN THE KITCHEN AND TOLD HIS MOTHER HE WOULD STAB HER. POLICE WERE CALLED AND WHEN THEY ARRIVED, THE SUSPECT WAS ON TOP OF HIS MOTHER PUNCHING HER IN THE FACE. WHEN AN OFFICER COULD NOT OPEN THE DOOR ENOUGH TO GET INSIDE AND PULL THE SUSPECT OFF OF HIS MOTHER, HE USED HIS TASER. THE JUVENILE SUSPECT WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY AND BOOKED FOR ON MULTIPLE CHARGES.

DEADLINE TO REGISTER TO VOTE IN JUNE PRIMARY APPROACHES (PI)

JH 05/19/14

THE DEADLINE TO VOTE IN THE UPCOMING JUNE GUBERNATORIAL PRIMARY ELECTION IS TODAY.

VOTER REGISTRATION FORM MUST BE TURNED IN BY CLOSE OF BUSINESS TODAY TO BE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE ON JUNE 3RD. IF YOU ARE ALREADY REGISTERED, BUT HAVE MOVED, CHANGED A MAILING ADDRESS, OR CHANGED YOUR LAST NAME, YOU MAY NEED TO REREGISTER TO BE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE IN THE UPCOMING PRIMARY.

CAL FIRE ISSUES PROCLAIMS BEGINNING OF FIRE SEASON IN MENDOCINO COUNTY (GOV) JH 05/19/14

CAL FIRE MENDOCINO UNIT HAS ISSUED A DECLARATION FOR THE BEGINNING OF FIRE SEASON.

DUE TO RECENT HIGH TEMPERATURES, DECREASED RELATIVE HUMIDITY, LOWER FUEL MOISTURE, PREDICTED FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS AND THE CONTINUED EXTREME DROUGHT CONDITIONS, CAL FIRE HAS PROCLAIMED TODAY, MONDAY, MAY 19TH AS THE OFFICIAL START TO FIRE SEASON FOR 2014.

PUBLIC HEARING ON WORLD GYM EXPANSION (GOV) JH 05/19/14

A PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE HELD TODAY IN REGARD TO THE PROPOSED EXPANSION OF WORLD GYM IN UKIAH.

THE OWNER OF THE GYM HAS APPLIED FOR A MINOR USE PERMIT AND MINOR SITE DEVELOPMENT PERMIT, IN AN EFFORT TO EXPAND THE GYM BY ADDING 3,500 SQUARE FEET TO THE BUILDING, AS WELL AS AN OUTDOOR EXERCISE AREA. THE OUTDOOR AREA WOULD BE NEAR 1,500 SQUARE FEET AND FENCED IN FRONT OF THE PLANNED ADDITION. THE HEARING IS SCHEDULED FOR TODAY AT 2 PM AT THE UKIAH CIVIC CENTER ON SEMINARY AVENUE.

OVERFLIGHT LOCATED LARGE MARIJUANA GROW (LAW) JH 05/19/14

A MARIJUANA CULTIVATION SITE WAS CONFIRMED IN THE MIDDLETOWN AREA DURING AN OVERFLIGHT MISSION RECENTLY.

DURING THE OVERFLIGHT ON MAY 9TH, AUTHORITIES SPOTTED 10 LARGE GREENHOUSES ON AN UNDEVELOPED PARCEL OF PROPERTY IN THE JERUSALEM VALLEY AREA OF MIDDLETOWN. DETECTIVES WERE ABLE TO SEE MANY LARGE MARIJUANA PLANTS GROWING AS WELL AS SEVERAL SUBJECTS RUNNING FROM THE AREA. ON MAY 13TH, DETECTIVES WENT TO THE PROPERTY, AND WERE UNABLE TO LOCATE ANYONE, BUT DID ERADICATE OVER 1,600 POT PLANTS. AN INVESTIGATION INTO THOSE INVOLVED IS ONGOING.

CALIFORNIA DEPT OF FORESTRY OPENS CAMPGROUNDS FOR SEASON (GOV) JH 05/19/14

THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AND FIRE PROTECTION MENDOCINO UNIT HAS OPENED JACKSON DEMONSTRATION STATE FOREST CAMPGROUNDS AND SEASONAL ROADS.

MOST CAMPGROUNDS ARE OPEN, HOWEVER, BIG RIVER CAMPGROUND AND RED TAIL, SOUTH BEND, WAGON, AND TEACHERS CAMPGROUNDS IN THE CAMP ONE AREA ARE CLOSED FOR CONSTRUCTION OF NEW RESTROOMS. THESE CAMPGROUNDS WILL RE-OPEN AS THE CONSTRUCTION IS COMPLETED IN EACH AREA. CAMPERS ARE REMINDED THE FEE FOR CAMPING IS $15.00 PER NIGHT FOR SINGLE VEHICLES. THE TRESTLE TRAIL IS ALSO OPEN FOR THE SEASON, HOWEVER, USER ARE REMINDED THAT SUDDEN OAK DEATH HAS BEEN DETECTED ALONG THE TRAIL AND PRECAUTIONS SHOULD BE TAKEN TO MINIMIZE THE SPREAD OF THE DISEASE. FOR INFORMATION ON SUDDEN OAK DEATH, CONTACT THE CAL FIRE FORT BRAGG OFFICE ON NORTH MAIN STREET OR CALL 964-5674.

ROAD WORK TODAY (TR) JH 05/19/14

THERE ARE SEVERAL ROAD WORK PROJECTS THAT ARE CAUSING TRAFFIC DELAYS AROUND LAKE AND MENDOCINO COUNTIES CURRENTLY.

VERIZON WILL BE PERFORMING UTILITY REPAIRS ON HIGHWAY 101 FROM THE MENDOCINO/HUMBOLDT COUNTY LINE TO 2.5 MILES SOUTH OF BENBOW DRIVE BEGINNING TODAY. THE WORK WILL BE ONGOING FROM 7 AM TO 4 PM WEEKDAYS.

AND CAL TRANS WILL BE PERFORMING RESTRIPING ON HIGHWAY 1 AT SIMPSON LANE. WORK WILL BE DONE AT NIGHT FROM 7 PM TO 5 AM DAILY.

AT BOTH LOCATIONS, ONE-WAY TRAFFIC CONTROL WILL BE IN EFFECT WITH 5 TO 10 MINUTE DELAYS ANTICIPATED.