News 07/31/15

The Rocky Fire near Lower Lake has had explosive growth, starting at 150 acres Wednesday afternoon to more than 13,000 as of late last night. There are expanded evacuations for Spruce Grove Road, north of the intersection with Jerusalem Grade Road; Noble Ranch Road; Jerusalem Grade Road; and Cantwell Ranch Road. That along with mandatory evacuations in the Lower Lake area for Morgan Valley Road, east of Bonham Road. The Highland Senior Center in Clearlake on Bowers Ave. is the place for folks to stay. Plus Middletown High is also being used as a shelter location. Animals can be taken to the parking lot of the Department of Social Services off of Highway 53 in Lower Lake. All summer programs in Lower Lake, Hidden Valley Lake and Middletown are canceled until further notice. The Lake County Emergency Operation Center has also been activated. For more information a phone line’s set up at 263-2360 and emergency services is posting updates on their Lake County OES Facebook page. You can also visit this radio station’s website for updated information and see our Facebook page too.

The mandatory water conservation in California is working… big time. Regulators say Californians followed directions in an unprecedented way, cutting back water use 27 percent in June. The State Water Resources Control Board says 265 of 411 local agencies in the state hit or nearly reached savings targets after Governor Brown ordered a 25 percent mandatory cut back because of the drought. The month of June would also normally mean more water use as it was the hottest June in state history. Reports released by California’s largest cities, including Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose and San Francisco showed strong water conservation.

Several outbuildings and at least three homes have destroyed by the Rocky fire and 650 people have been evacuated as the fire blackens more than 13,000 acres. The fire started Weds afternoon around 3-30 and blew up quickly to a thousand acres, then seemed to grow a couple thousand acres every few hours. Cal Fire has ground crews and help from the air. They’re working on containment which was last said to be 5%. Mandatory evacuations in place for residents in the Morgan Valley area where the fire is burning in rugged, steep, difficult terrain to access, there’s heavy brush and timber. The fire in the Cache Creek Wilderness Area and BLM Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument Area. 650 people had been evacuated as of lunchtime yesterday. There are two evacuation centers open – Highland Senior Center, 3245 Bowers Road, Clearlake and Middletown High School, 20932 Big Canyon Road, Middletown. There’s also an animal evacuation center at the Lower Lake Social Services parking lot.

The Lake County Board of Supervisors says it’s going to investigate possible mortgage fraud. The vote unanimous by the board to get deeds and documents from residents after a hearing with Attorney Allen D. West from Redondo Beach. The board looking for potential deficiencies and forgeries, with the help of county staff and West they’ll then present anything found to the Lake County District Attorney’s Office. They’re looking for fraud in any foreclosure cases which has been alleged by several residents in the county.

A new report shows California listed as one of the worst school systems in the country. The study by the personal finance website WalletHub which lists California as having the 9th worst school system in the country because of low reading and math test scores, a high dropout rate and the worst score in the country for student teacher ratio. The site looked at SAT scores, the percentage of grads to finish an AP exam and overall safety. The state was 49 out of 51 for safety. The best school system? Massachusetts, which had the highest math and reading test scores and lowest bullying rates.

The governor by default, has approved parole for one of three men found guilty in the 1976 kidnapping of 26 kids on a school bus who were held in a buried trailer. The Gov. had until midnight Thursday to approve parole for 63-year-old James Schoenfeld. He could sign off on it or send it back to the board recommending he be released, but the governor did nothing so the parole board’s decision is the final say. Schoenfeld, his brother, and a friend found guilty of the crime in 1976. They spent a year and a half on the plan to ask for a $5 million ransom for the kids. But the kids and their driver escaped, and the three kidnappers got life sentences. Schoenfield’s brother was released in 2012 and the other guy may have his parole hearing this fall.

Full on fire season throughout Northern California as fast moving winds whipped up several new fires and forcing people to evacuate. There are 14 huge fires, mostly up north with as many as 7,000 firefighters on the job. Cal Fire reports dozens of fires started Wednesday but crews were able to surround all but five. Cal Fire reports many were human caused and the drought gave them the fuel to burn super fast. The big Rocky Fire in Lake County helped by gusty winds and high temperatures. At least 650 residents had to leave their homes while the fire burned thru dry, dense brush and oak trees. The fire east of Napa Valley near Lake Berryessa is nearly contained. It’s burned more than a week and blackened almost 12 square miles in Solano County. About 136 structures were still threatened, and more than 200 people still under evacuation orders. The Wragg fire’s 80 percent contained.

Playlist 7/30/15

FIFTH HARMONY W/KID INK-WORTH IT

MAJOR LAZER W/DJ SNAKE & MO-LEAN ON

OMI-CHEERLEADER

RACHEL PLATTEN-FIGHT SONG

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

WEEKND-CAN’T FEEL MY FACE

5 SECONDS OF SUMMER-SHE’S KINDA HOT

ADAM LAMBERT-GHOST TOWN

CHARLIE PUTH W/MEGHAN TRAINOR-MARVIN GAYE

DEMI LOVATO-COOL FOR THE SUMMER

ED SHEERAN-PHOTOGRAPH

FALL OUT BOY-UMA THURMAN

FLO RIDA W/ROBIN THICKE & VERDINE WHITE-I DON’T LIKE IT, I LOVE IT

JASON DERULO-CHEYENNE

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

PITBULL W/CHRIS BROWN-FUN

SELENA GOMEZ-GOOD FOR YOU

SILENTO-WATCH ME (WHIP/NAE NAE)

TORI KELLY-SHOULD’VE BEEN US

ZEDD W/JON BELLION-BEAUTIFUL NOW

JIDENNA W/ROMAN GIANARTHUR-CLASSIC MAN

KAYA STEWART-IN LOVE WITH A BOY

NATALIE LA ROSE W/FETTY WAP-AROUND THE WORLD

R. CITY W/ADAM LEVINE-LOCKED AWAY

SAGE THE GEMINI W/NICK JONAS-GOOD THING

SAM SMITH-LIKE I CAN

SHAWN MENDES-STITCHES

AFROJACK W/MIKE TAYLOR-SUMMER THING!

ALESSIA CARA-HERE

JESS GLYNNE-HOLD MY HAND

LITTLE MIX-BLACK MAGIC

MKTO-BAD GIRLS

NATHAN SYKES-KISS ME QUICK

PRINCE ROYCE W/JENNIFER LOPEZ & PITBULL-BACK IT UP

News 07/30/15

A citizen’s petition of sorts filed by firefighters in Mendocino County due to the danger of the millions of trees killed, but still in the forest. The initiative is to help keep firefighters and residents safe should a fire break out. It would place people before private industry profit so if there is a fire with major damage losses, corporations are held accountable. There are dead standing trees which firefighters say burn hotter and faster. The initiative after more than 200 residents and firefighters were at the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors meeting April 21st to request action. Organizers will be circulating petitions throughout the county, but mostly in the western half where the industrial timberlands are located.

A man from Clearlake found guilty of torturing his puppy. Emilio Vega Mendoza convicted of three felonies including intentionally and maliciously torturing Remy the German Shepherd. The dog not yet a year old was hung from a tree and punched. He’s also convicted of making threats to a police officer responding. He’s waived a jury trial and was found guilty by the Judge. Vega Mendoza was seen by a woman living in the house where he was staying beating the dog. He apparently threatened her and her baby as well. The man claims he was playing with the dog, who bit him in the face. He’s due to be sentenced in Sept. He faces three years in state prison and is currently on an immigration hold. Remy was adopted to a new home this past spring.

The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office warning residents about a possible money transfer scam. They say they’ve had a bunch of calls from residents who say they were called by someone claiming to work for the Sheriff’s Dept. saying they missed jury duty and had a warrant out for their arrest. They say they have to pay thousands in order to pay off the warrant, but the sheriff’s office says that’s not something they ever do. They warn if you receive any call like this to report it to police and to the Federal Trade commission.

Mendocino County Sheriff’s office on the lookout for a man they say didn’t register as a sex offender. 60 year old John Kacher wanted on a $15,000 warrant. He’s described as 5′ 10", brown hair and brown eyes, weighing 255 lbs. Anyone with info about where he might be is asked to call the sheriff’s Dispatch at (707) 463-4086.

A permit’s approved by the Ukiah Planning Commission for a home to be built in the western hills. There’s already a home on Janix Drive, now the planning commission agrees to allow applicant Jared Hull get a Major Use Permit to build a single-family home of about 2,000 square feet. Plus he wants to put in a pool, and a three-car garage on the private road. It’s part of a subdivision that’s been there several years. There was concern the house may not blend with what’s there already.

A woman from Nice has been killed in a head-on collision near Clearlake Oaks. The 40 year old woman driving a 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier on Highway 20 west of the junction with Highway 53 early Tuesday morning when the CHP says she drifted into an oncoming truck and trailer. That driver tried to avoid the woman, but they crashed anyway and she was killed. Her name’s not been released. The driver of the truck was not hurt.

A fire in Lake County first reported at 150 acres quickly exploded into at least 5,000 acres forcing evacuations southeast of Clearlake and sending a giant plume of smoke up over Sonoma County. It was first reported at about 3-30 yesterday afternoon near Morgan Valley Road and Rocky Creek Road, east of Lower Lake. Emergency crews ordering residents of Morgan Valley Road between the Napa County Line and the intersection of Highway 29 and Highway 53 in Lower Lake to evacuate. ABC7 in San Francisco did a flyover over and reported flames could be seen destroying several structures and another section burning steep and heavy timber. Temperatures reported above 100 degrees with low humidity and 11 mph winds. The cause of the fire has not been determined. Lake County Office of Emergency Services at (707) 263-2360

More than 2 dozen University of California employees made more than $1 million last year. A new report shows the elite group made up of athletic coaches, doctors and hospital chief executives. The data released by the university system Tuesday of detailed payroll information for employees. The top-money maker in the UC system and of all state workers was Jim Mora, head football coach at UCLA, with 3.5 million. The university system reports the payroll reached $12.6 billion in 2014.

Mandatory Evacuations for the Wragg Fire, that’s the one near Lake Berryessa. Emergency officials ordering folks on Mix Canyon, Sky Ranch Road, Wild Horse Canyon Rd., and Blue Ridge Road to leave immediately. That’s about 136 homes /200 residents. There’s also an advisory, meaning a warning for those on Gates Canyon Road and the area west of Pleasants Valley Road. Lake Solano campground has been closed for the use of fire equipment access. An information line’s set up (707 469-4000) 7,500 acres – 80% contained

No movement yet by the Willits City Council on two proposals regarding the development of the Remco property. It could be at least a month until any movement’s made until several conditions are satisfied. Then at that time, the council will decide if the Skunk Train depot and/or the Ed Mitchell-Burton business park meet the definition of “legitimate public purpose.” Willits Environmental Remediation Trust (WERT) oversees the Remco property. Sales contracts were in escrow until Tuesday including both the Skunk Train and the partnership of Mitchell and Burton. The trust looking to sell the property so it doesn’t have to pay about $1.5 million to get rid of the building still there.

John’s Place in Willits cannot reopen at a new location. The City Council, acting as the planning commission, turned down the move because it’s 175 feet from Willits High School. The owner of the full service bar applied to move into the old Suncycle building across from what used to be Vassar’s Pizza. The old John’s Place is now just an empty lot, it burned last November. The owner says he wants to move back to the old spot, but first wants to be on Main Street while the bar’s rebuilt. A letter from about 2 dozen teachers to the council opposed the new location and residents opposed more traffic coming to the neighborhood.

UPDATED EVACUATION INFO:

The Rocky Fire near Lower Lake had explosive growth overnight, moving from 150 acres to 5,000. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office has also expanded evacuations for Spruce Grove Road, north of the intersection with Jerusalem Grade Road; Noble Ranch Road; Jerusalem Grade Road; and Cantwell Ranch Road. That along with mandatory evacuations in the Lower Lake area for Morgan Valley Road, east of Bonham Road. The Highland Senior Center in Clearlake on Bowers Ave. is the place for folks to stay. Plus Middletown High is also being used as a shelter location. Animals can be taken to the parking lot of the Department of Social Services off of Highway 53 in Lower Lake. All summer programs in Lower Lake, Hidden Valley Lake and Middletown are canceled until further notice. The Lake County Emergency Operation Center has also been activated. For more information a phone line’s set up at 263-2360 and emergency services is posting updates on their Lake County OES Facebook page. You can also visit this radio station’s website for updated information and see our Facebook page too.

Police in Clearlake on the lookout for a man they say disappeared from a local hospital earlier this week. 33 yr old David Uribe has not been seen since Tuesday morning at St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake. Hospital staff tell police the man was a patient at the hospital who was there for some sort of evaluation – but he walked away. Police searching the area but couldn’t find the man. A family member says he has the mental capacity of a 10-year-old but is very friendly to strangers. His picture on Lake Co News dot com. He’s described as last seen wearing a gray t-shirt, white shorts and sandals. 5 foot, 7, 180 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes and he could be wearing glasses.

3 injuries reported after a chain-reaction car crash in Ukiah. Four cars crashed near the intersection of Talmage Road and Airport Park Boulevard around 2-pm yesterday. Police say a green Mercury minivan looks to have rear-ended a Chevy Trailblazer which then rear-ended a pickup truck which hit another pickup sitting at the intersection waiting to turn onto Airport Park Boulevard from Talmage Road. Two adults and one child had to go to the hospital, but Fire officials say they had what looked like minor injuries. Four others involved refused treatment. Part of the accident scene was blocked for 45 mins due to the crash.

News 07/28/15

A mobile home’s been destroyed in that apartment fire in Clearlake. 400 residents had to be evacuated Sunday afternoon. The fire on Dam Road near the Cache Creek Apartment Complex reported just before 5 p.m. The residents in the apartments and some nearby homes were evacuated. The Wal-Mart parking lot was used for the residents while the fire was surrounded. Cal Fire reported the fuels tinder dry and the fire moving quickly. It was at 10 acres when firefighters gained control. It took about 2 and a half hours for firefighters to surround the fire and in the cooler, overnight hours, they totally contained it. Firefighters warning to be careful outdoors as triple digits in the forecast.

A woman in Lakeport reported missing has been found safe outside California. Police say 24 year old Amber Costner who was reported missing last Friday has been located and has been in touch with family. Police had said Costner reached her family and said she was okay and didn’t want to be located. They also said they would continue investigating until she was found to be ok, which looks to be the case. Thousands of community members had been helping to find the woman whose car was found in Del Norte County without her. Police say they are not releasing any more information about where she is to protect her privacy.

FEMA has okay’d using federal money to help California fight the Wragg fire burning in Napa, Yolo and Solano Counties near Lake Berryessa. The state requested FEMA’s help last Thursday so FEMA funding would be available. That’s up to 75 percent of firefighting costs under an approved grant for managing, mitigating and controlling the fire. At one point the fire was threatening 230 homes and was growing rapidly, 6,000 acres in one day. At last count it had burned 6,900 acres and was 75% contained.

A possible land record audit in Lake County. The Lake County Board of Supervisors is considering the audit after several residents complained about mortgage issues and foreclosures. A lawyer will talk to the board at their meeting today about so-called quiet titles. These establish ownership of property if there are liens or levies that are tainting the title. The board was considering the matter back in May and voted for state assistance to prevent real estate and mortgage fraud. It asks the California Attorney General to create and coordinate a task force on the matter.

A man in Forestville saying Sonoma County sheriff’s deputies shocked him 23 times with Taser guns and beat him during his arrest for DUI is suing. Esa Wroth looking for $3 million to settle his excessive force lawsuit. He was arrested in January of 2013 for DUI with a toxicology report showing he had .21 alcohol in his blood, nearly 3 times the legal limit for driving after drinking. This is one of 3 lawsuits against Sonoma County regarding potential excessive force. When Wroth was pulled over after leaving the Forestville Club he says he was abused. Jail officials say he was uncooperative and could not be subdued. They say they did hit him and used Tasers during a struggle to gain control over him. An internal investigation showed all of that was appropriate. His lawyer claims he was tortured.

Four firefighters have been hurt on a fire in Nevada County. They were working the Lowell fire, which started Saturday west of Alta. The fire burned 1,500 acres and was only 20 % surrounded over the weekend because of difficult terrain. Two Cal Fire firefighters and two US Forest Service firefighters were burned, They had to be airlifted to the UC Davis Medical Center’s burn center. 3 were being treated and released but the 4th had serious burn injuries.

$165,000 in fines for Caltrans and two construction companies working on the Willits bypass project after a collapse of a 150-foot section of the Highway 101 bypass project. Three workers were injured. OSHA reporting serious worker safety violations by the agency and two contractors responsible for the $275 million viaduct project, a nearly 6-mile route being built around Willits to help with traffic congestion. The biggest fine was for almost $94,000 against a contractor from Benicia for a general violation and four serious violations. Another contractor from Dublin, was fined $49,500 for four serious violations.

A special meeting by the Ukiah City Council to continue its Strategic Planning Process and city projects to be considered the next fiscal year. The meeting set for tomorrow afternoon at 3 in the Ukiah Valley Conference Center. The council will continue drafting its Strategic Planning Process which began in 2007. They’re considering four strategic planning areas:

• Maintain downtown historic place as a regional center of civic and economic activity

• Planning valley-wide takes place based on sound planning principles

• Develop a prioritize(d) plan for maintaining and improving public infrastructure

• Council and staff work together to create a more responsive and effective workplace. Staff also voted back in January to work on goal setting without a consultant to save money.

Private individual health plans as part of the state’s own market place are going up. It’s the second year in a row for the 4 percent hikes. It’s going up 4 percent even, a little less than the 4.2 percent jump this year. The average rate increase though is 1.8 percent or a total of $296 a month. There are also 2 new participants for the first time UnitedHealthcare, the largest health insurer in the U-S and a new one out of New York called Oscar.

A man from Ukiah suspected of knifing another man near Observatory Avenue has been arrested. Ukiah Police report getting a call to the Express Mart in the 900 block of South State Street Saturday, a man had ended up there after being stabbed. Police say a 52-year-old man had a knife wound to his upper chest. He was taken to the Ukiah Valley Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. Witnesses say a homeless man, John Zerangue was responsible. He was found hiding in the restroom at a grocery store. Police say the two men, both transients got into an argument over money. Zerangue booked into Mendocino County Jail on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and violating his probation on $30,000 bail.

A mountain biker in New Mexico drove his car 20 miles to the nearest hospital even after being impaled in the neck by a tree branch. He had a neck injury after falling off his bike and being impaled in the neck by a two-centimeter-wide branch. The guy was able to get himself to the hospital at the University of New Mexico for treatment. Luckily it didn’t cause major damage to his nerves, airway or a major blood vessel. The branch taken out and the wound cleaned then closed.

San Francisco is turning on those who urinate in public. The city’s painted some walls with UV-coated, urine-repellent paint. The paint so effective at its job, it’s hydrophobic so it keeps walls clean and sprays urine right back at offenders. The Public Works director telling the San Francisco Chronicle it’s a pilot project to see if they can discourage folks from peeing at city hot spots. He says they’re trying new things to try to make San Francisco smell nice and look beautiful.

A fugitive has been arrested in Olympia after federal agents found the guy’s picture in a story about a low-budget horror movie in The Olympian. The newspaper reported Jason Stange was in a starring role in “Marla Mae” which the newspaper ran a feature story on last week. He was arrested close to the location of filming Friday. He had pleaded guilty to an armed bank robbery in 2006 and got almost 10 years in prison. A federal probation violation warrant was issued last year after Stange disappeared from a halfway house in Spokane.

26 July, 2015 22:15

That fire near Lake Berryessa is more than half surrounded. The fire is holding at 6,900 acres and as of late last night was 65% contained. It was 6,000 acres the first day. Firefighters have been struggling to contain the fire because it’s in steep and rugged terrain. Earlier road closures and evacuation orders have been lifted. The fire started last Wednesday after a woman driving a car on fire pull to the side of Highway 128 near Wragg Canyon Road in Napa County. 140 structures are still threatened. One outbuilding and a tent trailer have burned.

The old sound system at the Clearlake Oaks Community United Methodist Church is being replaced. The money coming from the Clearlake Oaks-Glenhaven Business Association. Apparently the old system is about ten years old.

The Clearlake City Attorney’s hours have been extended. The City Council has agreed to give Ryan Jones of Roseville a monthly retainer of 45 hours because of needed service. The Clearlake City Manager says the additional 5 hours a month are not mandatory, so unused hours can be credited to the following month. The attorney will also be at every city council meeting and study session unless the agenda doesn’t call for his attendance. The new contract will be reviewed again in six months to see if the extended hours match up to what’s needed. The lawyer also represented the former Lake Co. Sheriff Frank Rivero when the Lake County District Attorney filed two lawsuits against him for lying about a 2008 shooting when he was a deputy.

Only minor injuries in a three car crash, but Highway 101 had to be closed south of McNab Ranch Road . The CHP reports the crash Saturday when a trailer towing a race car came apart on the Highway near mile marker 15.92. The two vehicles were moved to the south side when another car went off the road to avoid the scene and landed in a ravine. The race car and trailer then crashed into a minivan. No serious injuries reported. The highway was closed so a REACH helicopter could land for one of the drivers could be airlifted out.

Police in Lakeport still looking for a woman who went missing but whose car was found. 24 year old Amber Costner was last seen Friday morning. Her car was found in Del Norte County. Lake County News reporting there was cause for concern about her safety because she told a family member she was leaving and wouldn’t return again. There are also reports she has a history of suicidal thoughts and may have a handgun. Police say Costner called her family to say she was ok but didn’t want to be found. Police said they thought she might be headed to Southern Calif. But instead found she may have actually gone to Crescent City. An unloaded gun was found in her van which was found in a grocery store parking lot. Police say they will follow all leads and continue to investigate the case until Costner is found OK.

A town hall planned by State Sen. Mike McGuire in Lake County next week. The Senator will be at Clearlake High in Lakeport in the MAC building next Thursday, Aug. 6th at 6:30. The town hall to discuss local issues that affect Lake County and all Northern California residents. There will be other public officials with the senator, the Lakeport Mayor Martin Scheel, Board of Supervisors Chair Anthony Farrington, Sheriff Brian Martin, the California Highway Patrol Clear Lake Area Office Commander, the Lake County Superintendent of Schools and the Caltrans District 1 Director Charlie Fielder.

A man from Clearlake’s been arrested after a 27-mile chase in a stolen car.
Mario Tito Mirabella nabbed by cops last Thursday night after he ended up crashing into a tree. Clearlake Police say a man in Kelseyville reported his car stolen. He called soon after saying he spotted his own car in Clearlake so he started to chase it, but then lost it in town. Police started their search the an officer saw it in the area of Lakeshore Drive near Old Highway 53, the officer tried stopping the car but the driver kept going. They chased the car for several miles at speeds of more than 100 mph, threw down a spike strip but the guy kept going. The driver crashed into a tree. Cops say he was found with meth on him. He’s charged with several crimes including possession of a stolen vehicle, felony evading and possession of a controlled substance.

A man in Florida has won the “Papa” Hemingway Look-Alike Contest after trying 15 times. Air traffic controller Charlie Boice of Palm Beach Gardens finally won the contest Saturday night at Sloppy Joe’s Bar, a place Ernest Hemingway apparently used to hang out during his Key West residency in the 1930s. 122 men entered the contest which is part of the yearly Hemingway Days festival.

A man in Arizona’s been arrested for driving around pretending to be a hair stylist so he could snap sexually explicit photos of his clients. The U.S. Marshals Service says 53-year-old James Hickey was arrested Friday while he was riding his bike in Flagstaff. He was wanted on 14 counts of surreptitious videotaping and for voyeurism and a probation violation. Cops say he’d go to houses posing as a hair dresser looking for in-home work then when cutting hair he’d secretly record clients or take sexually graphic pictures of them.

A handful of fires started in the Mendocino National Forest due to lightning strikes. Forest officials say they’ve found and contained 6 fires, all of them small after more than 350 lightning strikes last Monday and Tuesday. The fires all reported to be 7 acres or less. Fires on the Grindstone Ranger District, on the east side was half an acre. The Kneecap Fire was contained this weekend at just under 7 acres. Over on the Covelo Ranger District, on the northwest side of the Forest, the Calamese and Blands Fires, were just single-tree fires. On the Upper Lake Ranger District, on the southwest side of the Forest, a half-acre fire was controlled Saturday and another was also contained at a quarter acre. Firefighters say they anticipate finding more because of dry, hot conditions, they are flying over daily looking for any flare-ups or new fires.

Those against changing over the old Coast Hotel in downtown Fort Bragg into a homeless outreach center lost by only one signature to qualify a ballot initiative for the November ballot. The initiative, if voters approved, would have banned facilities like this one in the town’s central business district. The initiative to retroactively alter city zoning rules so no social services-related operations could be in the downtown core. Its supporters had to get 312.4 valid signatures or 10 percent of the city’s 3,124 voters. They gathered 395 signatures but only 312 were of verifiable voters. The Mayor of the town was also facing a recall but that failed weeks earlier as organizers missed a filing deadline.

Residents of an apartment complex and some nearby homes in Clearlake and Lower Lake were being let back into their homes. The fire was being watched over for hot spots after it was surrounded last night. The Dam fire reported yesterday afternoon behind the Cache Creek Apartments. Late last night Cal Fire reported between 8 and 10 acres scorched. There were fast moving winds reported and 3 spot fires popped up too. The Cache Creek Apartments and homes near the area in Lower Lake were evacuated. There was a temporary evacuation center set up in the Clearlake Walmart parking lot. A mobile home was gutted by the fire and there was minor damage to an exterior wall of the apartment complex.

News 07/24/15

A man in Fort Bragg’s been arrested after a sheriff’s deputy on regular patrol noticed something amiss behind Hoppers Dairy. The deputy saw a car parked in an unusual place, partially hidden and went out to see what was up. He spotted someone in the dark behind delivery trucks he says was trying to sneak away. The deputy recognized the guy from previous contacts as John Cooley Jr. The officer says he noticed locks had been broken off the back of two delivery trucks and doors were open. He checked and Cooley had a broken lock in his pocket, plus other evidence indicating he was to blame. He’s on probation too, just getting out on bail. Cooley charged this time for theft, burglary, possession of burglary tools, committing an offense while out on bail, and violation of probation held on $45,000.00.

Mendocino County District Hospital board members considering ways to review doctor contracts. The hospital lost more than a half million dollars in the last fiscal year which leaves it out of compliance with one of its three bondholders. The CFO says the bondholder Cal Mortgage probably won’t penalize the hospital because its debt service coverage ratio was below the required 1.25. The ratio is basically the amount of money available to pay off debt. So the hospital needs to make more money and cut costs. The fiscal year losses also had to do with one time bankruptcy-related costs. A new subcommittee is being put together to too review doctor’s contracts. The board’s been reviewing physicians’ contracts in closed session.

A joint meeting between the city of Fort Bragg and Mendocino county regarding the certification of the Final Environmental Impact Report for the Central Coast Transfer Station Project. The board and council have postponed any movement though so they could take up the matter of a letter sent by the Department of Fish and Wildlife with more concerns and comments for the EIR. A lawyer for the county and city advising to spend time on the letter before acting.

A man expecting paid sex with two women at a motel in Ukiah didn’t get what he went there for. The Press Democrat reports the man was ripped off by the women instead. They took his wallet, cellphone and clothes. Police reaching out to the public for help finding the women who ripped the guy off at the Motel 6 on South State Street. The women reportedly asked the man to shower first and when he left the room they stole all his stuff. Police say the women even took all of the towels, just leaving him naked with a tiny towel to cover up with. A witness telling police they saw the two women running from the motel and they even followed them but lost them.

Lake County seeing more alcohol and drug-related DUIs so the county can go after an extension of a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety to go after offenders. The Record Bee reports several sources confirming Lake County’s DUI problem got worse as the state’s improved. The office of traffic safety ranks Lake County as the second worst in the state for alcohol-related fatal/injury collisions by daily miles traveled in 2011 and the fifth worst by average population. The county’s age adjusted death rate for car crashes was almost 22 per 100,000 residents, more than double the state rate of 7.5 for each 100,000 residents. The Lake County Sheriff’s office reports meth and pot are contributing factors for the data. The Lake County Board of Supervisors has approved a grant agreement for money to pay for so-called “Vertical Prosecution”. That’s a team to work cases from arrest through sentencing.

The state Supreme Court agrees with a lower court to make it harder for cities and water districts to charge more for water wasters. The Supreme Court refused voted no against an appeals court ruling which found the city of San Juan Capistrano’s tiered water rates were unconstitutional because they charged more for water than it cost the city to provide the service. A lawyer for the State Water Resources Control Board argued for the high court to “depublish” the ruling, saying it was “unnecessary and overbroad” and didn’t help deal with California’s drought. The state supreme court rejected that request. This all at a time when the Gov. has ordered a statewide mandatory 25 percent cut in water usage.

A man who was charged as an Army deserter now caught up in a drug raid. Mendocino County Sheriff Tom Allman says U.S. Army Sgt. Robert Bowdrie or “Bowe” Bergdahl who was released in 2014 after five years captivity with the Taliban was with a bunch of his friends near Redwood Valley during the bust. Apparently search warrants served at a home where there were nearly 200 marijuana plants found. Several were arrested but the Sheriff says Bergdahl had evidence showing he got to California last Friday and was planning to leave on Wednesday so he was detained, but not arrested. Sheriff’s staffers brought Bergdahl to the Army in Oakland. The Sheriff also says rumors that the military intervened to prevent Bergdahl’s arrest are untrue.

That monopine cell phone tower in Clearlake is reality. The Planning Commission has said yes after all to the use permit and variance for the Verizon cell phone tower facility in the Burns Valley area. The proposed location, as we’ve reported, is a 40-foot by 40-foot parcel on Burns Valley Road, in a walnut grove lined with oak and pine trees. Complete Wireless Communications is putting up the tower on behalf of Verizon. 10 sites for the tower had been reviewed before landing on this one. Many have spoken out against the monopine saying it will be way taller than other trees in the area. Besides the tower, there will also be a 30 kilowatt diesel emergency backup generator with a self-contained 132 gallon fuel tank, prefabricated equipment shelter with nine antenna sectors and two microwave dishes and outdoor equipment cabinets.

That fire in Lake Berryessa has blown into Yolo and Solano Counties. Fire officials say the fire’s scorched 11 square miles near Lake Berryessa so hikers and homeowners had to get out of the area. It was said to be threatening about 200 structures as of late yesterday afternoon. The Wragg Fire’s grown into one of the state’s largest wildfires of the year. The communities of Quail Ridge and Golden Bear in Yolo County had to evacuate, Canyon Creek and Lake Solano campgrounds and Canyon Area hikers have also been evacuated. The fire started Weds afternoon near Lake Berryessa’s Monticello Dam. The cause is under investigation even though it was thought to have started after a car accident. The fire’s burning in rugged, steep, brush with erratic winds blowing. It was at almost 6,000 acres in the first 12 hours. The fire’s only 15 percent contained.

A court of appeals has ruled juvenile offenders should be able to have certain felonies reclassified as misdemeanors like adults. This after a new crime initiative was approved by voters last year. The appeals court ruled juvenile offenders would be spared harsher sentences. The ruling yesterday had to do with Proposition 47, a 2014 ballot measure for certain drug and property crimes to be misdemeanors instead of felonies along with the possibility of lighter sentences or a reclassification of the crimes. It’s all to reduce jail and prison overcrowding and save money.

A man who says he thought he saw a lion folks reported seeing in Milwaukee shot and hurt a large dog instead. Police say the pit bull shot Tuesday, was being cared for at the Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Control Commission. That organization says some folks have been afraid after the reports of lion sightings. Police say they’ve investigated as many as two dozen calls of apparent lion sightings with no animal found.

A bicyclist is being blamed for starting a 73-acre wildfire in southwest Idaho after lighting his toilet paper on fire. BLM officials say the cyclist stopped to go to the bathroom in Boise Wednesday, then lit the used toilet paper on fire but lost control of the embers in the dry grass. Firefighters got control of the fire several hours later. Cops say the man called and his story matched the evidence found at the scene. He’s going to be fined for causing the fire.

Playlist 7/30/15

ANDY GRAMMER-HONEY, I’M GOOD

FIFTH HARMONY W/KID INK-WORTH IT

OMI-CHEERLEADER

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

TAYLOR SWIFT W/KENDRICK LAMAR-BAD BLOOD

WEEKND-CAN’T FEEL MY FACE

DEMI LOVATO-COOL FOR THE SUMMER

ED SHEERAN-PHOTOGRAPH

FALL OUT BOY-UMA THURMAN

FLO RIDA W/ROBIN THICKE & VERDINE WHITE-I DON’T LIKE IT, I LOVE IT

MAJOR LAZER W/DJ SNAKE & MO-LEAN ON

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

PITBULL W/CHRIS BROWN-FUN

RACHEL PLATTEN-FIGHT SONG

SAM SMITH-LIKE I CAN

SELENA GOMEZ-GOOD FOR YOU

SILENTO-WATCH ME (WHIP/NAE NAE)

TORI KELLY-SHOULD’VE BEEN US

ZEDD W/JON BELLION-BEAUTIFUL NOW

CHARLIE PUTH W/MEGHAN TRAINOR-MARVIN GAYE

JASON DERULO-CHEYENNE

JIDENNA W/ROMAN GIANARTHUR-CLASSIC MAN

KAYA STEWART-IN LOVE WITH A BOY

NATALIE LA ROSE W/FETTY WAP-AROUND THE WORLD

SAGE THE GEMINI W/NICK JONAS-GOOD THING

SHAWN MENDES-STITCHES

5 SECONDS OF SUMMER-SHE’S KINDA HOT

AFROJACK W/MIKE TAYLOR-SUMMER THING!

JESS GLYNNE-HOLD MY HAND

LITTLE MIX-BLACK MAGIC

MEGHAN TRAINOR W/JOHN LEGEND-LIKE I’M GONNA LOSE YOU

MKTO-BAD GIRLS

R. CITY W/ADAM LEVINE-LOCKED AWAY

News 07/23 /15

A benefit concert’s planned for the surviving family members involved Sunday’s multiple stabbing massacre in Laytonville. There’s also a GoFundMe page set up to collect donations as a “healing fund” for the family. Local doctor Cindy Norvell lost her son and husband in the massacre and she’s recovering in the hospital in Redding. Her brother is also in the hospital recovering. He had been visiting from Canada. Her son, 17 year old Teo Palmieri and husband Coleman Palmieri were killed. A fundraiser benefit concert is in the planning stages. In the meantime the GoFundMe page looking for $50,000 in donations. Norvell is a doctor at Long Valley Health Center. Apparently the two teenager girls who survived the attack are being reunited with family. The donation webpage can be found at this radio station’s website http://www.gofundme.com/zsrw2a4. As of yesterday, there was already more than $11,000 in donations for the family.

Health officials in Mendocino County say they’ve confirmed the first human case of West Nile virus this year. They say they’re not sure the patient got infected in the County as they told them they were bitten by mosquitoes while out of state during the incubation period. The California Department of Public Health also reported Calif’s first West Nile virus death this year in a senior citizen in Nevada County. An animal or human infected with the virus could go on without any symptoms to speak of or become deathly ill. The severe symptoms reported in less than 1 percent of those infected.

The Lake County Board of Supervisors has continued the local drought emergency. In a unanimous vote they’ve extended the emergency drought proclamation for the 15th time since it first passed in March of last year. State law requires the board review the status of their emergency each month. The county reportedly struggling to keep up with water demand from community water systems, private wells and natural resources. Plus there’s the problem with algae in Clearlake. Lake County reported to be one of 55 counties in the state that’s been declared a primary natural disaster area because of drought damages and losses.

The Willits bypass project is moving along, almost 3/4’s of the way complete. But the Willits News reports there’s controversy attached to the project because the main mitigation contractor Hanford Applied Restoration and Conservation of Sonoma is starting to apply herbicides. This is something Caltrans is requiring but the Willits City Council and the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors have both issued resolutions against using herbicides. There’s a public meeting set on the matter Thursday, Aug. 13th at 6 p.m. at the Willits Community Center. So far the herbicides have not been applied and the workshop is planned for after the draft plan about their usage is released. Area tribes have also mentioned medical concerns about the use of herbicides on the mitigation parcels. There’s going to be a prayer ceremony to ask for protection of ancestral sites tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. at the tipis across Highway 101 from the bypass’ northern interchange.

A street in Kelseyville has been renamed to honor a resident killed in a gas station burglary. The Lake County Board of Supervisors approved the renaming Tuesday of Douglas Road to Forrest Road, in honor of Forrest Seagrave. Seagrave’s mom and brother gathered more than 2,000 signatures to get the street name changed. Seagrave was shot during a robbery in 2013 at the Mt. Konocti 76 Station Store. The suspect in the shooting Antonio Mota, faces six felony charges including murder with a firearm, being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, robbery affecting interstate commerce and ammunition forfeiture. He’s in federal custody.

Redwood Coast Regional Center has not been able to find enough people to serve their clients so they need to come up with a so-called “Plan of Corrective Action”. A meeting’s been set on the matter for Friday, Aug. 14th to cover caseload ratios. That’s the number of center service coordinators a regional center is supposed to have on staff taking the amount of clients into consideration. It’s required by law in the California Welfare and Institutions Code known as the Lanterman Act. The public is invited to the Public Meeting to hear ideas and share thoughts. The meeting in Eureka.

River Rock Casino has a new gaming table. It’s been in development a long time, the new electronic table game — Turn & Burn Craps. The casino says they hope customers like it and that they can lease it to other casinos as well. Turn & Burn is apparently only offered at the Geyserville area casino. The casino’s owned by the Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians. The game’s also been certified by Gaming Laboratories International and approved by Dry Creek’s gaming commission. They even have a patent pending.

A huge fire has started near Lake Berryessa which officials say may have been started by a car. The fire quickly blew up to 1,000 acres with a road closure and evacuations. A car accident apparently ignited the fire off Highway 128 near Wragg Canyon Road in Napa County. Cal Fire reports the fire spread to 40 acres in an hour and a couple hours later had quickly moved thru rugged and steep brush-covered terrain. Firefighters have been struggling to get near the fire, it’s only 5 percent contained die to erratic winds and terrain. Mix Canyon residents and campers at Canyon Creek Campground have been evacuated and the highway is closed to traffic at Wragg Canyon.

A couple from Campbell is paying a $25,000 fine for illegal construction at their property in Mendocino County. Thomas and Patricia Plowright reconstructed roads, put up new ones and used a bulldozer which sent sediment into a creek and its tributaries. The North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board reported dirt in Little Mill Creek, on the couple’s property in Philo. That creek flows into the Navarro River which is habitat for steelhead trout and feeds streams where there are Coho salmon too.

A flyover in Mendocino County by a couple of politicians and others to see hack and squirt operations near the airport. State Assemblyman Jim Wood and Mendocino County Supervisor Dan Hamburg along with others went with a forestry activist group over the Albion and Navarro Watershed areas near Comptche, and outside Covelo. The group Forests Forever organized the flyover. The group looking to show Wood the hack and squirt operation where trees are cut down then shot up with herbicides. Hamberg has been trying to get support to order the operation to stop. The operation supposedly stops problem trees from invading forest lands.

No motive found yet in the double murder and attempted murder of 2 other family members in Laytonville. 19-year-old Talon Barton has been arrested in the murder of two people, one his 17 year old friend, and the teen’s dad. The murdered teen’s mother and uncle were also stabbed, but are said to be recovering. Barton had lived with the family more than a year. The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Dept. interviewing friends and acquaintances of Barton. The sheriff’s office says a friend told them Barton had told him a couple weeks ago he wanted to kill someone. The Mendocino County District Attorney has filed a criminal complaint which includes six felony counts and eight special circumstances. The D-A looking to charge Barton for premeditated murder of 17 year old Teo Palmieri and his dad Coleman. And for the attempted murder of Dr. Cindy Norvell and Theodore Norvell, a Canadian resident and the doctor’s brother.

Slurry seal is being laid down on more than two dozen streets in Ukiah. The work recently approved by the Ukiah City Council. The work to go to Sierra Nevada Construction of Nevada who came back with a $150-thousand dollar bud. The work is like heavy paint which water seals the road so it doesn’t crumble. The streets to be worked on listed on the Daily Journal’s website. The work includes the airport parking lot too. The work to be paid for by a combo of Traffic Congestion Relief Program funds and Airport funds.

A report by the panel led by Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom on the potential of legalizing marijuana supposedly says to be cautious with it, and suggests a seriously regulated market. The report says the marijuana industry shouldn’t look to be California’s next Gold Rush and that it should protect children, provide flexibility for local governments and not allow the next “Big Tobacco.” The ideas coming out of the Lt. Gov’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Marijuana Policy made up of legal, academic and law enforcement experts. The report looks for ballot proposals that’ll provide consumer protections, allow continued access to medicinal marijuana and ban any possibility of corporate interference. There’s also talk of protecting environmental resources such as water, strengthening drug treatment programs and addressing racial and economic disparities.

A campaign to bring up California’s minimum wage got closer to reality as the UC President Janet Napolitano announced a hike to $15 an hour for several thousand workers by 2017. She announced the boost a day after Los Angeles County also agreed to lift the minimum wage to $15 an hour in all unincorporated communities by 2020. The same has happened in Los Angeles, making it the largest city in the country to do so. The State Senate agreed to raise the minimum wage from $9 to $13 by 2017. It waits state Assembly approval now.

A man weighing in at 560-pounds is biking across the United States to lose weight but he got stuck in Rhode Island. The Newport Daily News reports (http://bit.ly/1JfwEFz ) Eric Hites’ bicycle has a bent rim so he got sidelined in Tiverton for the last week, only 90 miles from where he began. He says in just 2 weeks, he’s already lost 60 pounds. He wears a size 70 pants and a 10X T-shirt. He says he hopes to lose hundreds of pounds and write a book.

The founder of Craigslist has donated several thousand dollars for a composting toilet to be named in after him in northern New Jersey . Grow It Green Morristown says Craig Newmark’s $10,000 donation will probably pay for the entire purchase of the toilet for their Community Garden. Newmark lived in the area of the community garden for 12 years. It used to be a junkyard.

A man in western Pennsylvania getting carried away with too many unnecessary emergency calls recently called to say he had chest pains so he could get help fixing his air conditioner. Travis Turner cited for obstructing emergency services and disorderly conduct. Troopers say Turner has dialed 911 dispatchers or the state police 63 times over three years for minor or harassing complaints. He was charged before, but the complaint was withdrawn with a warning.

News 07/22/15

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The first confirmed death from West Nile Virus in California this year. The California Department of Public Health Director and State Health Officer confirmed the case, a senior citizen in Nevada County. Dr. Smith says it’s a tragic reminder of how severe the virus can be. The doctor also saying the virus is more widespread this year than in the past. West Nile pops up depending on the climate, the number and types of birds and mosquitoes in an area, and the level of immunity in birds to the virus. The office says it could be the drought is contributing to West Nile virus ramping up by sources of water for birds and mosquitoes as they both seek water. So they’re coming into closer proximity of each other. So far 33 California counties have reported West Nile virus activity this year, four more than the same period last year and more than the five-year average of 22.

Work continues on the bridge project between Middletown and Calistoga even though a crane fell over last week. Lake Co News reports the work is the summer construction phase of the Troutdale Creek bridge replacement project on Highway 29. The work started this month in northwest Napa County. Last Wednesday a large construction crane fell over on the site, there were no injuries. About 11 hours later the crane was uprighted but Cal OSHA is investigating.

A 19 year old accused in the fatal stabbing of 2 people and the attempted murder of 2 others is still in jail. The Mendocino County D-A’s office reports Talon Barton was in court yesterday on 2 counts of murder and 2 of attempted murder, plus false imprisonment. He has been appointed a public defender, but his official arraignment and entry of pleas was continued to Tuesday morning, Aug. 4th. The D-A also asked for no-bail in the case which the judge granted. Barton is accused of the Sunday massacre in Laytonville where 3 teens, 4 adults and Barton were all staying. One teenager, 17 year old Teo Palmieri and his dad Coleman died in the stabbing massacre. 2 other adults, Cindy Norvell, Teo’s mother and her brother Theodore Norvell are recovering. Theodore visiting from Canada with his 15-year-old daughter, who was uninjured. A 14 year old also not injured.

A bill being considered in the state legislature to ban naming schools and roads after well known Confederates has different language now, so it shouldn’t affect Fort Bragg. Democratic Sen. Steve Glazer of Orinda changed some of the bill’s wording so cities or institutions don’t have to remove names associated with Confederate figures like Braxton Bragg, the city’s namesake. The bill introduced so state and local properties would be banned from taking names of elected leaders or senior military officers of the Confederacy. Senator Glazer’s office saying last week the bill came after controversy about whether or not buildings should fly the Confederate flag. And that after the mass murder of 9 black churchgoers during Bible study in Charleston, South Carolina.

Assemblyman Bill Dodd says he’s running to replace a state senator who’s termed out of office. Dodd’s been in the Assembly since last November. He sent an email out Monday saying he wants to replace Lois Wolk when she terms out of office next year. Dodd’s message says the centerpiece of his campaign had been to restore economic security and opportunity for Middle Class Californians. He says he’s supported by Congressman Mike Thompson, Wolk, and Solano County Supervisor Jim Sperling. The 3rd Senate District covers much of Yolo County, all of Napa County, a sliver of Sacramento county, all of Solano County, and part of Contra Costa and Sonoma counties.

The SPCA of Clear Lake which had previously decided to close down is struggling to stay open during its contract period. The board of the agency voted to close down because of the amount of animals being brought to the shelter by the city and because the city wouldn’t pay more to care for the animals. Now the nonprofit says it has to raise money to stay open until October 1st, something they’ve committed to. The agency relies on community contributions and money from its spay, neuter, and vaccination services. They’ve been having adoption events and fundraisers, but are still struggling. They’ve applied for several grants and some fundraisers are already planned. To donate, you can send money via Paypal to (spcaofclearlake) or in person at their offices in Kelseyville.

The Mendocino National Forest at the ready to stomp out and prevent fires started by lightning. The forest service reporting there were several hundred lightning strikes Monday afternoon and evening. They say since Monday there was a fire found on the Grindstone Ranger District on the east side of the Forest and two fires on the Covelo Ranger District on the northwest side of the Forest. They report the fires as small and containment’s in the works on all three. Firefighters say as it gets drier and temperatures heat up, they expect finding more fires. Plus there had been a chance of thunderstorms yesterday afternoon and last night. Mendocino National Forest is currently under fire restrictions.

An appeals court has affirmed the verdict against a man from Redwood Valley accused of using a rifle to kill another man. The Mendocino County D-A’s office reports the 3 judge panel of the California Court of Appeal for the First Appellate District affirmed the jury verdicts from October of 2012 against Billy Norbury who was found guilty of willful, premeditated and deliberate murder (first degree) of Jamal Andrews. They also found he personally used a rifle in the murder. So the DA says Norbury will continuing serving his sentence of 50 years to life.

A man from Fort Bragg has been arrested in connection to the hit and run crash of a bicyclist in Fort Bragg. CHP officers arrested Isabel Gutierrezvillarreal on suspicion of felony hit-and-run causing death and vehicular manslaughter. The victim, JacobHoward was riding on Highway 1 July 12th when a red pickup truck was seen leaving the area. A witness who called for help, described the truck. Howard was found on the side of the road dead. There was debris left on the highway that investigators say showed a truck had front end damage and a broken headlight. The truck was spotted Monday by a cop from the major crimes task force Gutierrezvillarreal was arrested and booked into the Mendocino County Jail.

A woman in Antioch is offering her house as the prize for someone who makes the best dessert. The 1906 Craftsman home is in Jackson owned by Erin Allard. She’s having a dessert contest with the home as the grand prize. It’s a 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom home valued at $390,000. She says she’s going for the competition instead of a regular sale because it can take months to sell a home in rural Jackson. Anyone interested should submit their $100 entry fee and a million-dollar recipe at www.homerecipecontest.com or look for the same on Facebook.

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News 07/21/15

That cell phone tower is still being considered in Clearlake. The Planning Commission takes up the matter at their meeting tonight after tabling it two weeks ago until now. Complete Wireless Consulting for Verizon Wireless wants a permit to put up a 70 foot monopine tower on a leased 40-by 40-foot area on Burns Valley Road. City staff recommends a mitigated negative declaration first, but also to approve the use permit and variance. The city attorney told the commission it should postpone the last hearing because the mitigated negative declaration was only done that same day so there had been no time to review it.

Lake County Board of Supervisors considering an agreement for veterans housing. At the regular board meeting tomorrow will go over the proposal. The board has it listed on the agenda as an untimed matter where they’ll consider a proposed agreement for supportive housing for veterans and their families. There would be a one-year negotiating period regarding the transfer of two county-owned parcels in Clearlake for affordable, permanent supportive housing for very low income veterans and their families. The board is also considering a proclamation for a local emergency due to the drought which was first passed in March 2014.

More information’s been released regarding the stabbing massacre in Laytonville over the weekend. The Mendocino County sheriff’s office reports the suspected killer, 19 year old Talen Barton was still in jail and due in court this morning. A father and son killed in the attack Sunday have been identified as 52 year old Coleman Palmieri and 17 year old Teo Palmieri. A 54 year old woman and 52 year old man also injured in the attack and two teenage girls, 14 and 15 were at the home but uninjured. Detectives say they were severely traumatized though. Barton had lived with the family at least a year. The mom in the home, who was stabbed and injured but is expected to live is a well known local doctor, Cindy Norvell. Police say Barton first killed his 17 year old friend Teo then Norvell, his mom came to help and she was attacked. Then the dad also rushed in and he was stabbed and another man, believed to be Norvell’s brother visiting from Canada was also stabbed multiple times. One of the teenage girls talked Barton into calling police. The mom and brother were critically injured and flown to hospitals. No motive to speak of, but some told police that Barton had talked to them about killing people.

A massive fine is being considered by California regulators for anyone illegally taking water during the drought. The $1.5 million fine for a group of Central Valley farmers would be the first against an individual or a district with water claims more than a century old. Those rights are called senior water rights holders. The State Water Resources Control Board claims the Byron-Bethany Irrigation District in Tracy took water without permission from a pumping plant. The board says the district had been warned in June that there wasn’t enough water legally available. The district with water rights dating back to 1914, serves 160 farming families in three counties. The district says it’s going to lose as much as $65 million in crops because of the state’s cutback orders. 9,000 notices have been sent out across the state warning that water was running out for those with entitled under rights. Two supposedly went against orders and officials say Byron-Bethany was on the line because the agency publicly defied the board and diverted water in the drought.

A couple of thieves suspected of ripping off an ATM machine in Washington didn’t get too far. Snohomish County authorities say the money machine fell out of the thieves getaway van. A Sheriff’s spokeswoman says the ATM machine was found and the suspects drove away without it. Police say they think the pair backed their white van to a business near Lynnwood Sunday, cut the cables to the ATM and loaded it into the van, but the men went too fast and dumped the machine over a speed bump.

A bus driver in Boston making some new friends, surprising passengers by stopping at a kids lemonade stand. Boston.com reports (http://bit.ly/1Kh2qRd ) the driver asked riders if they would mind and they agreed so the driver treated everyone on board to a 50-cent cup of lemonade. The driver saying he noticed the lemonade stand an hour or so before, and decided to ask the passengers about stopping on his next trip.

Clover Stornetta Farms out of Petaluma announcing a voluntary recall of some of its milk products because of possible contamination. The recall for three items because the company says they may contain small pieces of food grade plastic. They’re recalling their 2 percent Reduced Fat Milk gallon size, 2 percent Reduced Fat Milk quart size and 2 percent Reduced Fat Milk plastic half-gallon size. All items distributed in Northern California. So far there’s been no complaints connected to the recalled items.

Gunshots reported in Covelo lead to the arrest of a man. The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) got several calls, but say the calls were anonymous. They say one caller said they heard a gunshot then a a female screaming to "get off my property". Responding officers found three related calls to a 38 year old male victim who was dating the shooting suspect, 32 year old Anna Roseberry. The two still working together in a marijuana growing operation but no longer dating. There was some sort of argument over payment and the fight got physical and loud. Cops say the woman had a .38 caliber revolver which she used to shoot the victim in the groin. She says it was self defense because the man had a knife. The victim went to the hospital and was expected to recover. Other guns were found at the home where the shooting happened. 200 growing marijuana plants were also found and several pounds of marijuana was being processed. Roseberry was arrested for assault, battery, and dealing. S he was held on $40,000.00 bail.

Fort Bragg Police have arrested a man they say was dealing drugs. Joel Juarez is accused of previous crimes with drugs so officers searched him when they found him July 2nd at Columbi’s Market and Deli. They say they found drug paraphernalia, six pre-weighed bags of crystal methamphetamine, several containers filled with pot, a digital scale, packaging materials, and $129 in cash. Juarez was arrested for Possession of Controlled Substances for Sales, Possession of Concentrated Cannabis and Possession of Paraphernalia. He’s booked in the Mendocino County Jail until his arraignment.