News 6/01/15

The Mendocino Grand Jury has released their report on the Family and Children’s Services Agency saying the agency is in deep trouble. The report says the agency is caring, understaffed and is one of the lowest scoring agencies of its type in the state. The agency, FCS is supposed to serve at risk kids, those who are at risk of being abused or neglected. The Grand Jury mostly blames understaffing for the problems at FCS. The understaffing blamed on non-competitive compensation, too much work, poor management and low morale. The report says higher-ups at the agency know the problems but are not addressing them. Another challenge is that child abuse seems to be increasing exponentially.

A large swath of Willits lost power over the weekend after someone crashed into a power pole. Police say the man from Eureka was driving on Hwy 101 Saturday near Lumberjacks then randomly hit the power pole. Police say the pole broke at its base with power lines falling to the street. The CHP blocked the intersection due to the live wires and an officer didn’t let anyone get near the lines. Caltrans had to divert traffic on both sides of the highway. The driver had to be airlifted out of county for treatment. Area businesses totally closed since they were without power for several hours.

The groundbreaking ceremony for a new Mendocino County Historical Society archival building. The Ukiah Planning Commission has approved the 3,500-square-foot, fire-safe, temperature-controlled building where research will take place, new volunteers will be trained and many county documents, books, maps, photographs, negatives and more will eventually be stored. The several hundred thousand dollar project to start after a yearlong fundraising effort. The headquarters for the Mendocino County Historical Society is currently located at 603 W. Perkins St.

A man from Redwood Valley’s been arrested for the rape of a woman who police say was attacked repeatedly. The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office has arrested Chadley Gott – Simmons after a woman in the hospital claimed Gott Simmons forced himself on her. Gott-Simmons arrested early Friday morning and booked into Mendocino County Jail on $100,000 bail on suspicion of rape by force, oral copulation by force and false imprisonment.

A wildfire’s been put out that started in a remote area of timberland outside Laytonville. Firefighters say a volunteer firefighter doing ranch work nearby noticed smoke and went to the scene and called for help. Ground crews took nearly an hour to get there near Iron Peak. Cal Fire air tankers hovered above and lower temps and rising humidity helped things along. Water from a pond also helped crews. The fire charred about 1-1/2 acres close to a marijuana growing farm.

Two men in Mendocino County have been arrested for DUI after a head on crash with major injuries for both of them. The CHP reports the men going in opposite directions on Highway 128 just east of Philo when Stephen Hunter of Ukiah crossed into the oncoming lane and crashed into Colter Millehrer of Corvallis, Oregon. The two men had to be cut free of their cars. The two to the hospital after being arrested.

A festival for newly enlarged sanctuaries for residents of the Sonoma and Mendocino coasts. The June 28th festival is set for the Gualala Arts Center to celebrate the expansion of the Cordell Bank and Gulf of the Farallones sanctuaries. Those attending the free event will learn about several ways to be involved, citizen science programs, marine education initiatives and vessel-based research. Those attending will learn about area shipwrecks and enjoy, live music and food. The event the last Sunday of the month from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Gualala Arts Center.

More bear sightings in Lake County. Lake Co News reports sightings in Kelseyville, Lucerne and Upper Lake. The news site reports bears seen in yards and running down streets in Upper Lake. One person said they shot a bear in April because they were afraid it would hurt other animals and kids. One resident though called local officials for help and posted pics online, warning neighbors. Two bear sightings in Nice the last month too. State officials reminding folks who run into bears to act responsibly. They also add to be bear safe, store food and garbage so you don’t attract them.

It’s unanimous, Clearlake has a new city manager. The City Council approving Greg Folsom’s contract to start work June 15th. He’s currently finishing up in Riverside, then he’ll move to the area, taking over for retiring City Manager Joan Phillipe. Folsom got a three-year contract at $110,000 a year. Folsom at the last city council meeting and introduced himself to the public.

A settlement’s been approved by the Lake County Board of Supervisors for the family of a woman killed in a crash involving a Lake County Sheriff’s deputy. The board agreed to a $600,000 settlement with Gloria Garcia Gamino and Jose Daniel Rivas Cruz, parents of Gabriela Rivas Garcia killed in October of 2013 after she was hit by an SUV driven by Deputy Scott Lewis on Highway 29. Apparently the deputy was responding to a report of a home invasion robbery and car chase when he hit the girl head on.

Police in Spain say they arrested 3 people and found more than 440 pounds of cocaine in a shipment of pineapples. The containers were sent from Central America and had carefully hollowed-out pineapples inside with cocaine inside covered by a protective coating of yellow wax to help disguise it. But two of the men busted for the drugs in the fruit after it was stopped in the Belgian port of Antwerp.

A man from Florida got a tad upset with a woman who he says took his regular bingo seat. Police say 82 year old Fred Smith was arrested for criminal mischief for using an ice pick to slash the tires of a van that belonged to 88-year-old Ethel Brit. Police say he was upset when he saw Britt sitting in his favorite seat. Surveillance video caught the guy who was booked into jail on $500 bail for criminal mischief.

A pig from Michigan got out of his pen and terrorized a community. Police say the animal charged a woman in Detroit but it got distracted and police picked it up. The animal got excited and apparently let loose in the back seat of the patrol car police say, using it as a bathroom. The pig was later returned to its owner.

Playlist 6/4/15

DAVID GUETTA W/NICKI MINAJ & AFROJACK-HEY MAMA

DJ SNAKE W/ALUNAGEORGE-YOU KNOW YOU LIKE IT

JASON DERULO-WANT TO WANT ME

TOVE LO-TALKING BODY

WALK THE MOON-SHUT UP AND DANCE

WIZ KHALIFA W/CHARLIE PUTH-SEE YOU AGAIN

ANDY GRAMMER-HONEY, I’M GOOD

BRITNEY SPEARS W/IGGY AZALEA-PRETTY GIRLS

ECHOSMITH-BRIGHT

FETTY WAP-TRAP QUEEN

FIFTH HARMONY W/KID INK-WORTH IT

GEORGE EZRA-BUDAPEST

MAROON 5-THIS SUMMER’S GONNA HURT LIKE A MOTHER

MEGHAN TRAINOR-DEAR FUTURE HUSBAND

NICKI MINAJ-THE NIGHT IS STILL YOUNG

OMI-CHEERLEADER

SHAGGY W/MOHOMBI, FAYDEE AND COSTI-I NEED YOUR LOVE

SHEPPARD-GERONIMO

SIA-ELASTIC HEART

SKRILLEX & DIPLO W/JUSTIN BIEBER-WHERE ARE YOU NOW

TAYLOR SWIFT W/KENDRICK LAMAR-BAD BLOOD

CALVIN HARRIS W/HAIM-PRAY TO GOD

CARLY RAE JEPSEN-I REALLY LIKE YOU

ED SHEERAN-PHOTOGRAPH

MAJOR LAZER W/DJ SNAKE & MO-LEAN ON

PITBULL W/CHRIS BROWN-FUN

RIHANNA-AMERICAN OXYGEN

ADAM LAMBERT-GHOST TOWN

FALL OUT BOY-UMA THURMAN

JEREMIH W/FLO RIDA-TONIGHT BELONGS TO YOU

OMARION W/CHRIS BROWN & JHENE AIKO-POST TO BE

RACHEL PLATTEN-FIGHT SONG

SHAWN MENDES-STITCHES

News 5/29/15

No word yet on who may have been the victim in the likely murder suicide reported in Clearlake Oaks. The Lake County sheriff’s office reported finding the bodies of Laura Matthews and Carl McHughes Jr. last Saturday. The two died from gunshot wounds with a gun found at their home. The Sheriff’s spokesperson says they’re not sure of what a motive may have been. They’ve had no reports of previous domestic violence with the couple. Anyone with information on the couple or their history are asked to call the Lake County Sheriff’s Dept.

Community Services Police Officers watching intersections in town. The out of uniform officer on State Street just checking to see how drivers react to pedestrians in a crosswalk. Ukiah police say their goal is to educate drivers not stopping. Four officers are assigned to the special enforcement. There are also traffic cones set up so cars know where to stop. Those that don’t yield or are speeding could be ticketed by other officers in strategic locations.

New info released on the body of a man found behind the Ukiah Staples store. Police say they don’t think the body found by someone thought to be dumpster diving was suspicious. They also say the person rifling thru the trash was not homeless as previously thought. The body found last weekend in the 1200 block of Airport Park Boulevard. Someone called police, the Mendocino County Sheriff’s office has identified the man found as 46-year-old Ukiah resident George Chambers.

A committee’s being set up to figure out ways to reduce the amount of shopping carts around Ukiah. The City Council to create a panel to consider a possible ordinance regarding the problem. City staff used to round up the carts, but the city manager says they’ve got no time for that anymore. A contractor from out of town instead collects carts for some stores. The mayor says he doesn’t want to use staff for the job and says there should be an “ad-hoc committee" to consider how to attack the problem. The council will consider the committee creation at their next meeting.

It’s a yes… the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges says okay to changes for the College of the Redwoods to transfer the area of Mendocino County to Mendocino College. The two colleges filed proposals with the accrediting commission last month. The request approved for Mendocino College to offer 50 percent or more of a degree or certificate at the Mendocino Coast Center. The board of trustees at each school has to now approve a contract between the two districts to move forward.

A bunch of jobs in the Fort Bragg Unified School District that were supposed to be cut are not. The School’s Superintendent says the dozen full-time positions that got pink slips had them rescinded. Apparently they had to send layoff notices out by March 15 even if the jobs might be safe. The pink slips meant for some packed board meetings with folks in yellow t-shirts to show solidarity with teachers who got layoff notices.

A man in New York named God has been to court so the credit reporting agency Equifax would recognize his name after years of problems with loans and higher limits. God Gazarov sued Equifax in Brooklyn court because the agency said it’s computer systems wouldn’t allow a credit report under the name God. The agency now says it’s made necessary changes so the name is recognized. He told a local TV station "it’s not like I’m Mickey Mouse and my address is Disney World in Orlando." Gazarov also got a lump sum of money from Equifax for his trouble.

A woman in Michigan called a gas person out after smelling natural gas at her home in Southfield. Yvonne Saffold called Consumers Energy and says they came out quick and told her there was indeed a gas leak outside. She says the technician couldn’t fix a leaky pipe though since it was connected to the inside of her house. Apparently the worker used a rag to patch her leaky pipe and it took a month for them to come back out.

Some old drug paraphernalia’s been found in Russia. Historians say the Scythians smoked, and sometimes brewed a combo of pot and opium and ingested it before heading into battle. Now gold cups, rings, and neck rings were found with bongs. They’ve been cleaned and displayed recently in a Russian museum after being found by construction workers putting up power lines.

News 5/28/15

Several people arrested in Ukiah for a giant brawl. Mendocino County Sheriff’s Deputies say they got a call to the fight in 1400 Block of S. State St. with a large audience watching. Deputies posted someone’s cellphone video on the sheriff’s Facebook page and many calls came in to the sheriff’s office about who may have been involved in the fight. Sheriff’s Deputies, Probation Officers and the Multi Agency Gang Suppression Unit are looking thru the footage. Six people have been arrested, they’re names not released as they’re underage.

Discussion starting on the Clearlake’s airport property and a new city manager plus updates to city marijuana cultivation rules. The city council negotiating an agreement with Katz Kirkpatrick Properties for the property that used to be the city’s airport. Then the city manager Joan Phillipe is leaving so the council will spend some time on the employment contract for Greg Folsom. He’s the chosen candidate to replace Phillipe who’s retiring at the end of June. Finally tonight, the council will take up another ordinance to update marijuana cultivation rules. The meeting tonight at 6 p.m.

The Lake County Planning Commission is considering the Dollar General Store once again. The commission is having a public hearing about putting the store in Kelseyville. They’ll also discuss the final environmental impact report for a mixed development for Seniors, the Valley Oaks Development proposal. Commissioners are considering the mitigated negative declaration for the store, meaning its environmental impact will be minimal. The 9,100-square-foot store proposed across from Kelseyville High School.

A telephone scam reported in Lake County. The Sheriff’s Office warning the public someone calling citizens saying they’re a sheriff’s dept. staff member, when in reality they’re not. They say they owe a fine then request bank account info. The dept. says this type of scam’s not new but says residents should always be suspicious of anyone asking for banking info over the phone. The callers reported to also be intimidating and threatening when demanding fines they say need to be paid immediately.

A man in Clearlake arrested for DUI for driving into a fence and hitting two kids. Thomas Nordahl arrested Sunday night. Cops say the guy crashed through a chain-link fence and hit two girls, ages 8 and 10, who were playing in front of a house. They had to go to a hospital, but their injuries weren’t life-threatening. The man arrested on several charges including DUI, child endangerment and driving with a suspended license. He’s still in jail for a parole violation.

The Upper Lake Union Elementary School District and the Upper Lake High School Union High School District are going to be one. The boards for both have unanimously approved a report on a merger. Now they move separately to formerly merge the districts. A handful of people at the meeting yesterday. This after the two boards met a year ago on the idea. They have to follow guidelines set up by the California Department of Education for final unification.

News 5/27/15

In England and Wales ducks have some power. The little birds walk along next to cars, so the Canal & River Trust, a group preserving more than 2,000 miles of waterways throughout England and Wales created lanes just for waterfowl in London, Birmingham, and Manchester. It’s only temporary though, the Share the Space, Drop your Pace campaign is encouraging awareness of the creatures.

Nine brains have been found on a street in a northern New York. The brains were part of a collection for educational or research purposes and police say there’s no criminal activity suspected though. The brains found on the street in Governeur. A local veterinarian says one of the brains was professionally removed and preserved in formaldehyde. They’re thought to be from dogs or sheep.

Skeletal remains have been found outside San Francisco believed to that of a Swedish exchange student missing for more than 30 years. The Oakland Tribune reports (http://bayareane.ws/1LCKJel ) the remains are those of Elisabeth Martinsson’s whose been missing since January of 1982. She’d been a nanny for a family in Marin County and went missing during a shopping outing. The cause of death is so far undetermined.

The Lakeport Police Department is reminding the public during summer about important safety tips and general information too. They say Traffic Safety is extremely important while looking out for pedestrians as car traffic increases. The summer concert series and Independence Day celebration at Library Park will bring heavy traffic in downtown area. Lakeport Police will be enforcing traffic laws. They also remind to look out for pets and to take care of your pets in cars and at home in the heat.

A freelance KGO-TV news producer is out after a firey tweet. Carlos La Roche has since deleted his account after tweeting about a protest in Oakland saying, quote “Looks like the born losers, er “protestors” will b in #Oakland 2night. Hope O-P-D has real bullets. KGO-TV announced via Twitter they fired the guy. La Roche says it’s been a quote "incredibly difficult time."

The state may soon ban microbeads. The little plastic beads found in many beauty and personal care products. The beads are used for packing and are considered a major polluter and are mostly not biodegradable. They’re found in facial scrubs, soaps, and some toothpastes. The ban passed by lawmakers heads to the senate next, then finally to the governor.

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) working with Efficient Drivetrains Incorporated (EDI) demonstrating their first ever plug-in electric hybrid drivetrain Class 5 work trucks. The trucks to be shown off today. They have 120kW exportable power to be used to shorten or totally cut out planned and unplanned outages. The truck will be at the AltCar Expo in Oakland. It was designed, built and tested in Dixon where the Efficient Drivetrains shop is located. The truck’s battery is capable of powering 80% of the transformers in PG&E’s service area or up to 100 homes during planned and unplanned outages.

2 medical marijuana bills in consideration at the state capitol. The UDJ reports the two bills being considered by appropriation committees. One of the bills would create a state Bureau of Medical Marijuana Regulation. If passed it would mean those growing the drug would have to get conditional licenses including restrictions put in place by local jurisdictions. Required fees would also go to a fund set up as part of the law, the money to be used to enforce the provisions of the bill. Another bill known as the Marijuana Watershed Protection Act would require some growers to get a permit from their local jurisdiction or the state. It would include indoor and outdoor restrictions on growing.

The Mendocino County Sheriff’s office has identified a body found in a dumpster behind the Staples store in Ukiah. Police called to the scene on Saturday night where they say someone had been dumpster diving and found a body. The body id’d as George Chambers of Ukiah. An autopsy’s been set for today to see how the man may have died.

The Chief Justice of the state is calling for an emergency ruling regarding how the courts in the state deal with traffic fines. The ACLU of No. Calif. is also reportedly concerned about the matter in eight counties, including Mendocino County. Last week the judge said she would ask the California Judicial Council, to take emergency action in adopting a rule of court. She says the law is confusing and there are inconsistent practices or policies throughout the state. She further says there needs to be a court rule making it clear residents don’t have to pay for traffic fines before they appear in court.

A businessman in Ukiah wants to break up a union that most Mendocino County employees are represented by and create a new one. Ross Liberty owns a local manufacturing plant with 65 employees. He’s hired a lawyer and started a website he says to help disgruntled county employees to decertify a union and instead have a less-expensive employee association. It means he has to gather signatures of 30 percent of about 700 employees. If he’s successful, then the members will vote. 50 people attended a meeting Liberty held on the matter. Some locals are calling it union busting. Liberty says he’s simply advocating for employees to have a choice.

2 people have been arrested and Clearlake police say there may be more connected to a murder in the city last year of a man from Hidden Valley Lake. The police dept arrested Clearlake residents Gary Williams and Crystal Pearls for the murder of Guillermo Figueroa. Figueroa reported missing last October after leaving a friend he was visiting. Cops found his car abandoned soon after. Then a month later, a human skull was found. A police dog found the rest of the man’s body near where the skull was found. An autopsy and DNA results showed it was Figueroa. The two arrested reportedly charged with murder and terrorist threats plus more. The two already in jail for stealing a house trailer. They’re held without bail.

Lake County Sheriff’s deputies looking into the death of a couple in Clearlake Oaks calling it a possible murder suicide. Cops called for a welfare check last weekend and found a man and woman dead with gunshot wounds. The two id’d as 58-year-old Laura Matthews and 53-year-old Carl McHughes Jr. Police also found a gun. An autopsy has been set for later in the week. Police asking anyone who may have information on the couple of what happened to them to call the sheriff’s dept.

The name of a woman from Lakeport killed in a car crash Friday night has been released. The CHP says the 19 year old was Francesca Schetter. She was in a car with a man who apparently lost control of the car they were in while going around a curve. 21-year-old Lakeport resident Nicholas Ivicevich has been identified as the driver of the crash. Police say Schetter was removed with the jaws of life but died and the driver was arrested for DUI. Ivicevich has major injuries and had to be flown to a trauma center. He had a lacerated liver and broken ribs.

News 5/26/15

​

A Lake County supervisor and multi-tasker has written a song to honor local service members. Supervisor and bail bondsman, Rob Brown wrote the song 21 guns to memorialize three young men each with connections to Lake County who died over the last seven years while serving overseas, Lance Corporal Ivan Wilson of Clearlake killed in Afghanistan, Sgt. 1st Class David Hartman has family in Lake County, he died in Pakistan; and Sgt. Richard Essex of Kelseyville, who died in southern Afghanistan. The video of the song can be viewed at Lake Co News dot com.

The Lake County Board of Supervisors will decide if they want to confirm a contract with a company that claims it can save residents money on power by mixing renewable and green power used locally. The company California Clean Power Corp. of Windsor will be considered at the meeting this morning. They’re offering programs in accordance with state law, allowing purchase or generating electricity for businesses and residents even as regular power flows through existing utility systems like P, G & E.

A group of farmers in California agreeing to voluntarily reduce their water use by one-quarter so there aren’t deeper, mandatory cutbacks during the drought. These farmers, also known as senior rights holders, use the most from area lakes and rivers. Their properties abut rivers and streams and their claim to the water is a century old or more. The state Water Resources Control Board says the drought’s unprecedented, so unprecedented measures must be taken. The state is in the driest 4 year period on record.

A man from Seeley Lake, MT has been arrested for allegedly trying to pimp out his German shepherd to women on Craigslist. William Russell faces felony attempted deviate sexual conduct. The judge immediately ordering the man to give up the dog and has restricted his computer use. He’s also not allowed to use Craigslist anymore. He was booked on $50,000 bail but raised the money and was freed until his next court date.

A resident in Pendleton, Oregon is asking his local city council for a unique request. The city recently enacted a nuisance clause to laws for certain smells. Considering marijuana will be legal in July, the law covers the smell of pot. But now Peter Walters is asking to also start regulating a more noxious scent, passing gas. No word if Russell was kidding or not, but the local paper, the East Oregonian report made it seem as though Russell was mocking the marijuana ordinance.

The Mendocino County Board of Supervisors is about to take on the Community Wildfire Protection Plan. The plan’s being updated and is due to be presented to the Board of Supervisors by the end of September. THE UDJ reports one Board member, from the 3rd district, Tom Woodhouse, the county Executive Office, and a representative of the Mendocino County Fire Safe Council had a meeting on the plan which will recommend reducing or eliminating county fire hazards. The last wildfire protection plan is from back in 2006.

Four men from Southern California have been sent to prison for the involvement in a home invasion last October. 25 year old Jonathan Otero-Cruz of San Bernardino got the most, with 24 years. He admitted he raped a female at the house. The three other defendants, 25 year old Jose Cabrera and 25 yr old Christopher Montoya, both of San Bernardino, and 38 yr old Filomeno Nunez of Compton were also all sent to prison for at least 7 years, the lowest for the getaway driver, Nunez. The 4 arrested last October with drugs and weapons, a black ski mask and three black bandanas.

A man who owns sheep he rents out for grazing services is complaining to the Hidden Valley Lake Association about the death of 2 of his animals. The two died on Highway 29 Friday night after being hit by cars. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office and California Highway Patrol went to the scene. Apparently about 400 of the animals were asleep when they suddenly left their fenced area and ran down an incline to Highway 29. Their owner says he thinks they were pushed from the area and says he doesn’t believe it was another animal.

A man from Lake County has been injured and a woman from Oroville killed in an accident in Butte County. Another man was seriously injured in the weekend crash. Brandon McGilvray and David Elwell were injured, but 95 year old Paulene King died in the crash yesterday. Cops say one of the men driving with his elderly relative when one crashed into the other at an intersection. Alcohol, drugs or cell phone are not suspected distractions in the crash. ​

News 5/24/15

A young woman from Lakeport has been killed in a car crash… the car she was in crashed into a power pole. The driver of the car a 19 year old has been arrested for DUI. The victim’s name had not been released over the holiday weekend, pending family notification. The driver’s been id’d as 21-year-old Nicholas Ivicevich of Lakeport. It happened Friday night around 10. Police say they don’t know how fast the driver was going when he lost control going around a curve and hit the utility pole. The victim was removed from the car and pronounced dead at a hospital. The driver arrested, he had major injuries too including broken ribs and a lacerated liver. The two were wearing seatbelts.

The Lakeport City Council says yes to the restructuring of the pension for public employees, the CalPERS program. The Lakeport Finance Director says it’s to stabilize a liability account and says they’ll save money thru the year 2040 with the new adjustment. The next payment of $265,000 for the next fiscal year. Payments change every year. It’s estimated next year will be as high as $600,000 and by 2021 the payment will bounce up to $857,000 before dropping to $486,000 the next year.

The end of the investigation into a fatal crash involving a FedEx semi and a tour bus near Orland. The crash last year in April on I-5 in an unincorporated area of Glenn County where 10 people were killed and 39 injured. The crash was caused by an unsafe turn according to the CHP report. They also report there may have been a medical condition with the bus driver, sleepiness or driver fatigue, but there’s no hard evidence of anything. The report says while the bus driver went around a curve, he allowed a tractor-trailer to drift into and through the No. 1 lane and he crossed then into the other lane of traffic without hitting the brakes or trying to steer away.

Firefighters along with a California Highway Patrol chopper have rescued a hiker who was hurt on the Table Rock Trail area in Napa County. Rescuers with Cal Fire/Napa County Fire from the Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit, Calistoga Fire Department, South Lake County Fire from Middletown and the CHP helicopter got the report of an injured hiker Friday and responded. They got the hiker out with the helicopter about ¾ of a mile from the start of the hiking trail. The hiker was plucked from the trail and taken by ambulance to an area hospital. No word on their condition as of today.

A Mendocino County sheriff’s deputy killed on the job has been remembered at a service in Washington D-C. Ricky Del Fiorentino has his name etched on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in D.C. with about 20,000 other fallen officers from around the country. The service was part of National Police Week. The Mendocino County Sheriff Tom Allman went with a large group of people including the officer’s family and some other Sheriff’s Dept. employees. There was a candlelight vigil with as many as 3,000 attendees at the granite Memorial Wall. The National Peace Officers’ Memorial Service featured a speech by President Barack Obama honoring 131 officer deaths from around the nation in 2014.

Brooktrails city officials working on business at home. At their May 12 Board of Directors meeting, it was all about improved trail maps, an official donation policy, and fire mitigation. The board discussed how a group of area residents are working to record trails digitally. One resident has even offered to continue the work since he likes biking on the Brooktrails trails. There should eventually be digital and printed maps. The General Manager said water is fair with about 200 days of water remaining in reservoirs. They also talked about the money spent over the years on fire mitigation. The board president saying they may want to talk more about that subject in the future.

PG&E is going for a temporary, federal variance for the flows being released from Lake Pillsbury thru to the Potter Valley Water Project. A petition filed by the utility with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission because of concern the lake could drop below its target storage level of 10,000 acre feet. If so, that could damage the reservoir, causing high levels of turbidity in the river. The temporary variance has been in effect for about a week and goes thru Dec. 1st. A committee will meet twice monthly to monitor the lake.

An abalone diver has been killed on the northern Sonoma County coast. The Sonoma County sheriff’s office reports the man was diving with two other people in Salt Point State Park. They got a call to a diver in distress and a chopper was sent in. State parks lifeguards went to the man and performed CPR as the man was lifted to a nearby bluff but he was pronounced dead. State parks lifeguards and rangers, Cal Fire and Timber Cove firefighters and a Coast Life Support went to the distress call.

A woman in Massachusetts has written her own obituary to explain why Tom Brady is not involved in the "Deflategate" scandal. Boston.com reports (http://bit.ly/1FHE96e ) Patricia Shong who died Monday wrote that she not only enjoyed scrapbooking and her weekly card night and family. She said she also wanted to set the record straight, it goes on to say, quote "Brady is innocent!!"

A campaign worker in New Hampshire has been charged with a felony for writing a phony fake news release saying the opponent for a house seat dropped out of the race. The Attorney General says Carl Gibson was charged Friday with felony voter suppression and for distributing a false document, a misdemeanor. He told a local newspaper he might have had one too many beers before he sent the email out. He was working for the democratic candidate who lost in a special election. The Republican won, the demo who lost calling the election interference "absolutely reprehensible."

A fake killer whale’s being hauled into a town in Oregon to try to scare sea lions off. KING-TV in Washington state reports (http://is.gd/AJ81iw ) the life-size mock orca being brought in to help the city of Astoria with a sea lion problem. Hundreds of sea lions have taken over so boat owners can’t get to their slips.

Playlist 5/28/15

DAVID GUETTA W/NICKI MINAJ & AFROJACK-HEY MAMA

DJ SNAKE W/ALUNAGEORGE-YOU KNOW YOU LIKE IT

JASON DERULO-WANT TO WANT ME

TOVE LO-TALKING BODY

WALK THE MOON-SHUT UP AND DANCE

WIZ KHALIFA W/CHARLIE PUTH-SEE YOU AGAIN

ANDY GRAMMER-HONEY, I’M GOOD

BRITNEY SPEARS W/IGGY AZALEA-PRETTY GIRLS

ECHOSMITH-BRIGHT

FETTY WAP-TRAP QUEEN

FIFTH HARMONY W/KID INK-WORTH IT

GEORGE EZRA-BUDAPEST

MEGHAN TRAINOR-DEAR FUTURE HUSBAND

NICKI MINAJ-THE NIGHT IS STILL YOUNG

RYN WEAVER-OCTAHATE

SHAGGY W/MOHOMBI, FAYDEE AND COSTI-I NEED YOUR LOVE

SHEPPARD-GERONIMO

SIA-ELASTIC HEART

SKRILLEX & DIPLO W/JUSTIN BIEBER-WHERE ARE YOU NOW

CALVIN HARRIS W/HAIM-PRAY TO GOD

CARLY RAE JEPSEN-I REALLY LIKE YOU

MAROON 5-THIS SUMMER’S GONNA HURT LIKE A MOTHER

MARTIN GARRIX W/USHER-DON’T LOOK DOWN

OMI-CHEERLEADER

PITBULL W/CHRIS BROWN-FUN

RIHANNA-AMERICAN OXYGEN

ADAM LAMBERT-GHOST TOWN

ALESSO W/ROY ENGLISH-COOL

DILLON FRANCIS W/DJ SNAKE-GET LOW

ED SHEERAN-PHOTOGRAPH

FALL OUT BOY-UMA THURMAN

MAJOR LAZER W/DJ SNAKE & MO-LEAN ON

NE-YO-COMING WITH YOU

News 5/22/15

A man in Colorado had an odd way of defending himself in court.  Charles Abbott brought a stuffed owl into the courtroom in Aspen as counsel.  He’s accused of violating a protection order connected to his former roommate.  He was accused of assaulting the roommate at an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting.  At trial, he told the judge the owl named “Soloman” would be his legal counsel until a public defender was assigned.

The Boy Scouts of America says no to a squirt gun fight.  A Boy Scout blogger writes on their blog as a reminder to fellow scouts that a water gun ban remains in place.  So no firing squirt or water balloons larger than a ping pong ball will be allowed as summer approaches.

One of the wealthiest men in the world has lost a ton of money as shares in his solar panel company took a nose dive.  The chairman of Hanergy (HNGSF) lost $15 billion in about an hour after shares in his company spiraled down 47% in Hong Kong trading.  Trading of the company shares was stopped because of supposed inside information to be released.  That’s still not happened, but the shares are still not moving.

Pension issues have taken up a large part of the meeting of the Little Lake Fire Protection District Board of Directors.  The board had to decided whether it wanted to make a onetime payment of nearly 200-thousand dollars to cover pensions which is a state requirement.  The board backing the Ukiah Valley Authority Fire Chief who said all Mendocino County fire departments should demand more Proposition 172 tax funds. The chief sending a letter to the various fire districts in the county to form a committee so they can all support each other. Prop 172 passed in 1992 to help cover public safety costs with a half-cent sales tax.  Meanwhile, the Little Lake Dept will have their pensions covered after the board voted yay to cover the 192-thousand dollar expenditure.

Fort Bragg may soon have some new food options.  Changes are being considered to mobile food vending regulations.  The Community Development Committee is considering new easier rules for food trucks, something first brought up in January.   Right now the mobile vending policy doesn’t make it easy for food trucks.  There’s a ½ hour time limit per location so the committee is considering several changes, one would lengthen time limit to five hours.  Another idea to limit carts for only food and flower sales.  Another discussion is set for next week.

The Mendocino Coast District hospital is mulling having a doctor on staff at all times.  Since the start of the year, the hospitalist program has been operated with one doctor out of Healdsburg.  He schedules several doctors for daytime hours and for a tele-medicine robot with a audio/video link at night.  Now the hospital’s board  is considering a company out of Nevada that contracts with small, mostly rural hospitals to provide hospitalist services.  That would mean a doc on staff 24-7.  The hospital’s administration will take up the matter next week.

A group of students in Fort Bragg working to help improve community health by way of a statewide program.  With the help of the Fort Bragg High School’s nutrition teacher, the kids are involved in CX3, through the California Department of Public Health.  CX3 means “communities of excellence in nutrition, physical activity, and obesity prevention.”  They had a presentation in front of the City Council after being insured by a similar group in Shasta County.  So now Harvest market is involved, having healthier options at their check stands.

A little rockin and rollin in Napa.  A 4.1 earthquake hit the area last night, the biggest, the fire dept. reports since that huge quake last August when the 6 pointer hit. So far no reports of damage, but emergency dispatchers got several calls from concerned residents.  The earthquake centered about 6 miles east-northeast of Yountville with the epicenter more than 5 miles under the surface.  The U-S Geological Survey reports the earthquake being felt more than 60 miles away in Sacramento and as far away as San Jose, which is 125 miles to the south.

Mental health contractors in Mendocino County are interested in potentially using the old Frank R. Howard Memorial Hospital in Willits as a mental health center.  Ortner Management Group and Redwood Quality Management Co. are interested with the hospital building becomes available.  This the subject of a meeting of the Mendocino County Mental Health Advisory Board meeting Wednesday in Covelo.  The County CEO says she and the Health and Human Services Agency Director have been talking with the groups about possible use of the hospital for inpatient mental health services.

A teenager from Boonville has been identified as the person killed in a car crash near Philo earlier this week.  The CHP reports 18 year old Ernesto Contreras left work Wednesday afternoon and for unknown reasons, came off Highway 128 and crashed into a tree.  They say he was pulled from the car from people who saw the crash and stopped.  When medical personnel got to the crash site, they pronounced him dead at the scene.  The crash was described as being near Gowan’s Oak Tree.  Investigators say it does not appear that alcohol was a factor.

It’s getting closer to reality for the city of Ukiah to have a way to send food waste to composting instead of landfills.  The City Council has directed staff to look into a couple of options presented by its garbage hauler for composting the material.  Ukiah Waste Solutions showed the council 3 options Wednesday including hanging on to kitchen scraps and soiled paper and putting it in their green waste bins.  The materials to be taken, not to the landfill, but instead to Cold Creek Compost in Potter Valley.  But proper permits are needed too.  Another option is to take the items to the Ukiah Valley Transfer Station first, then to compost.  Either way could mean more money to residents.  No word on when the city council may take a final vote on the idea.

A teenager in Clearlake has an idea to stop graffiti in town, a graffiti wall.  The Clearlake Planning Commission considered the teens idea at their meeting.  The city manager introduced the idea to the commission as a way to reduce vandalism and tagging.  The planning commission sits jointly as the Clearlake Parks and Recreation Committee.  Apparently all this after the 17 year old Oscar Frias contacted city councilman Bruno Sabatier.  The teen was not able to be at Tuesday’s meeting, but a video presentation was shown on his behalf.

News 5/21/15

The Lake County Winegrape Commission has some new directors on their board. Two new elected directors have been seated. The commission announced the two new directors as, Keith Brandt and Bruce Merrilees who will be part of the board with incumbent director David Weiss. There are eight directors in all seven of them are Lake County winegrape growers who were elected by other eligible growers. The other is a public member, appointed by the board chair. The commission was put together in 1991 to help promote wine grapes in the region.

A man who used to live in Ukiah’s been arrested for molestation. The Mendocino County DA’s office reports the trial was quickly approaching for Timothy Buckway, but earlier this week in court he admitted responsibility for two different counts of felony child molestation. One was aggravated sexual assault of a 10-year-old then separately the man admitted continuous sexual abuse of two children, both ten years of age or younger. Now it’s up to the probation department to come up with a sentence. Buckway to be formally sentenced June 19th. He faces 21 years to life.

The Elks Lodge of Calif. And Hawaii have gathered more than 3 and a quarter million dollars for children with disabilities. Ryan Cooley, the Exalted Ruler of Ukiah’s Elks Lodge contributed more than $13,000 raised by the members of the local Lodge. A year-long fund raising effort ended with the ceremony at the Elks Convention where various lodges from California and Hawaii presented their donations. The money for kids with disabilities along with other philanthropic and patriotic projects.

It’s National Prevention Week and Mendocino County Health and Human Services Agency shows how employees work daily providing locals with options to stay healthy by preventing illness and injury. The goal of the week, which started last Sunday, is to focus on helping folks live healthier lives thru learning about nutrition, the benefits of physical activity, taking safe routes to school, rejecting tobacco, not abusing alcohol or drugs, and ATV and bike safety. For more information, visit the county’s website at www.co.mendocino.ca.us/hhsa/

A five man fishing crew in New Jersey caught a giant shark. The crew hooked the near half-ton mako shark Sunday. It weighed in at 820 pounds and was said to be the second longest shark ever caught off the coast of New Jersey.

It turns out being healthy, can also be harmful… A new report shows reusing plastic water bottles can harm your health, unless you wash your bottles thoroughly because harmful bacteria from tap water and saliva can reproduce inside the bottle. A newspaper in the U-K contacting several water experts who say leaving your water inside your bottle at room temperate for days could cause gastroenteritis which can lead to a loss of appetite, aching limbs, fever, headaches and vomiting.

A minister in Michigan who regularly rails against gay people has been caught using a gay dating app on his phone. Reverend Matthew Makela is married with five children. He’s quit as the associate pastor at his church after his conversations on the app were posted on the website Queerty. He was looking for all sorts of action including massage and cuddling fun. They also posted some of his anti-gay rants there too.