A homeless woman in Ukiah was confronted by police yesterday, after erratic behavior. It happened near W. Perkins and South School Streets, when Rachael Seivertson seemed to be high on meth. While police were talking to her, she picked up a rock and threw it at an officer. The 8 pound rock hit his face while Seivertson began punching him. He was able to wrestle the woman to the ground and get her cuffed. The officer was taken by ambulance to the ER where he got six stitches on his face, according to a Ukiah Police Department press release. Seivertson was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon and violating parole. She was taken to Mendocino County Jail. Ukiah Police thanked the Mendocino County Sheriff Deputy who helped get Seivertson under control.
The Russian River Water Forum met for the first time to go over members’ interests in the Potter Valley Project decommissioning process, as PG&E makes plans to eliminate the two dams that are part of the hydroelectric project that affects two watersheds. The forum met to discuss diversion from the Eel to the Russian River. According to MendoFever online, a quarter of the forum represents the Eel River that had been diverted to the Russian River for PG&Es project. Now, the group must balance the needs of Mendocino and Sonoma Counties with the need to restore the Eel River, tribal fishing rights, and salmon habitat. The four working groups have until January of 2025 to find a solution that fits all interests, when PG&E submits its final surrender plan.
The 39th Annual Catfish Derby hosted nearly a 1,000 people in Clearlake Oaks last weekend. In Lake County News, the three-day event had visitors from all over the country converge in the competition and fun. The Derby Committee Chair said the large crowd helped boost the local economy. This years first place winter, Jeremy Cain, caught an almost 26 pound catfish. He took home a $5,000 cash prize. The Catfish Derby was sponsored by the Clearlake Oaks Glenhaven Business Association who said they raised about $25,000 that will be used in Lake County to support academic and sports programs and more.
Newlyweds from Ukiah were in the spotlight last Sunday as they celebrated their wedding at a Giants game. During the seventh inning, a couple exchanged their wedding vows and had their first kiss. San Francisco won 7-5, to add to the pairs delight. In KymKemp online, the couple, Ben and Heidi Waterman are from Mendocino County. They had planned to get married in Ukiah or on Lake Mendocino, but changed their minds when Heidi had the idea to bring their wedding to Oracle Park. The night before, they got to celebrate with some Giants at their hotel’s rooftop lounge. The baseball wedding has gotten national attention from NBC and CBS sports.
California State Parks is announcing that they will honor veterans, active and reserve military members with free admission to 130 state parks on Memorial Day. In Lake County News, Anderson Marsh State Historic Park in Lower Lake and Clear Lake State Park in Kelseyville will participate. A decade ago, then Governor Brown signed a bill that lets the state park system offer military personnel a reduced or free day use at most state parks. Other free admission is being offered to California fourth graders and their families through the California Sate Park Adventure Pass through a pilot program as well, that is good through the end of August.
A mountain lion was spotted near Cloverdale yesterday. A visitor to the River Park Trail saw the large cat around 8:30am, according to a Nixle alert from police. Police and the North Bay Animal Services are investigating the sighting, according to the Press Democrat. Officials are urging people to use caution when on the trail that runs west of the river between Cloverdale River Park and Cloverdale Cemetery. Authorities say if you do see a mountain lion, not to approach it. Pick up kids, leash pets and appear as large as possible. Open your jacket, raise your arms yell and maintain eye contact. Never run away from a mountain lion. Slowly distance yourself and give the big feline time to move away.
California has asked the Biden administration to approve its plan to ban gasoline only vehicle sales by 2035 in the state. In Reuters, the plan was approved by the California Air Resources Board and was passed on to the Environmental Protection Agency Monday. It’s part of a waiver under the Clean Air Act to set zero emission vehicle rules beginning 3 years from now and end sales of gas guzzlers by 2035. In the past, the White House has refused to endorse a set date. Only 6 percent of vehicles sold last year were electric. An EPA proposal last month shows automakers are forecasting to produce 60 percent of electric vehicles by 2030. More states are adopting California’s EV rules with Rhode Island, Washington, Virginia, Vermont and New York among others.
California Highway Patrol is putting a warning out to Memorial Day partiers with the announcement of a Maximum Enforcement Period beginning on Friday. That means all available officers will be on the lookout for traffic violations, seat belt use and driving under the influence. KSBW in Monterrey reports last year forty-five people were killed in Memorial Day weekend crashes, a 30 percent increase from the year before. There were 900 DUI arrests as well. Maximum Enforcement will end on Memorial Day at midnight.
Walmart will pay half a million dollars to California for illegal online sales of brass knuckles, according to the Bay Area News Group. Attorney General Rob Bonta announced the settlement Tuesday. He says 250 brass knuckles were sold though Walmart. Their website allows for e-commerce and third-party buyers and sellers. Bonta said “online retailers are responsible for what they are allowing to be offered for sale in our state.” The state is among 20 other states that outlaw many kinds of brass knuckles or “fist load weapons.” They are considered a deadly weapon under California law.
The UC Davis student accused of murdering two men and wounding a woman appeared in court on Monday. Carlos Dominguez appeared in Yolo County Superior Court and said “I don’t want an attorney,” saying he wants to represent himself. The series of brutal attacks at the university began late last month. Dominguez is charged with two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder, according to SFGate. The only survivor of the attacks was a homeless woman who was stabbed in her tent, and is expected to make a full recovery. His public defender maintained that the defendant is mentally unstable. A psychiatric evaluation will now be done on the 21-year-old. His next appearance at court is set for June 6th.
California’s Attorney General, Rob Bonta has joined in 49 other states Attorneys General in suing a company for robocalls. The lawsuit filed against Avid Telecom says the company initiated billions of illegal calls in California and nationwide. The robocalls allegedly included Social Security Scams, Medicare scams and employment scams. AG Bonta helped launch a Anti-Robocall Litigation Task Force last year, to litigate communications companies that ad to robocall traffic. In a release from the Attorney General in KymKemp online, from late 2018 through the beginning of this year, Avid Telecom sent over 24.5 billion calls to customers. The company also sent over 7.5 billion calls to numbers in the National Do Not Call Registry with over 550,000,000 to people in California.
May is CalFresh Awareness Month, a time for the program that provides SNAP food benefits to raise awareness. In Lake County News, there are over 16,500 people getting CalFresh benefits or about $4.7 million per month in the county. Every $1 in CalFresh makes nearly $2 for the local economy. Officials say many people who need food may not know they qualify for those benefits. A family of four making about $3,000 per month could qualify for over $900 in CalFresh benefits. The state program has a Market Match benefit, where recipients can double their CalFresh spending at local farmers markets. You can apply online and confidentially and should hear back within 30 days.
Volunteers helped remove invasive plants from the Usal Forest in Mendocino County. Last weekend, the Redwood Forest Foundation held an invasive plant removal event, to get rid of the French Broom. It was the first time since COVID that the foundation was able to hold the event. According to Willits News, the Mendocino Fire Safe Council let volunteers use six weed wrenches for the event. Saturday’s mission was to rid the forest of the Mediterranean weed, which can grow as high as 8 feet. The plant can make about 6,000 seeds that can grow for up to 60 years. Fire increases its germination rate and acts as a ladder for wildfires to go from ground level into the trees. The Redwood Forest Foundation will hold another event on June 11 to talk about Sudden Oak Death in bay area trees, and teach residents to identify the disease in the Usal Forest.
The Lake County Board of Supervisors met yesterday and approved a continuation of the local emergency surrounding the weather in late winter. The board also voted to approve the continuation of emergency conditions due to drought, homelessness, tree mortality and the Clear Lake hitch emergency. Lake County will divvy out $50,000 to each of the several area senior centers in grants from the Senior Center Grant Awards. A service agreement was made on the Burns Valley Development Project as well as mainline sewer repair between Lake County and the City of Clearlake. The board also approved the Bridge Replacement Project on First Street, and work on Chalk Mountain Road. A draft Public Defender Services Program was considered and will stay on the agenda for next week.
With the warm weather headed into the region, plenty of Northern Californians will be on the road for the Memorial Day weekend. AAA predicts 37.1 million travelers will hop in their cars to take advantage of the three day weekend. That’s more than 2 million people or 6% more than last year, according to the Press Democrat. Forecasts show national travel has rebounded to pre-pandemic levels. Gas prices will definitely factor into travelers plans. In California, the price of gas is around $4.80 per gallon. Nationwide, the average is only $3.50, according to AAA. Sonoma County prices are higher than most other counties in California at just below the $5 a gallon mark. Last year though, people paid over $6 a gallon on average. A drop in crude oil costs and shifting demand are helping to lower the price at the pump. If you’re planning to join the crowd and traveling this weekend, AAA says leave before noon on Friday.
Adventist Health and the Pacific Union College are teaming up to help students in Lake and Mendocino counties. The goal is to grow the nursing program to meet the demand for health professionals. In Lake County News, last Friday the president of the North coast Network for Adventist Health said the nursing workforce is on of their top priorities. The new nursing education centers are the result of a collaboration to help educate future nurses to work in the area. In forming the collaboration, they are also making a path to become a Medical Assistant with a Masters Degree in Nursing. Pacific Union College set out with a mission in 2021 to add online programs and education centers.
The Mendocino County Board of Supervisors met yesterday and adopted a resolution to widen a bridge over the Navarro River near Philo. The board introduced an ordinance to increase fees charged for carry conceal license renewals and modifications. California Indian Days Parade in Covelo was approved as was the Hog Farm Hideaway Festival in Laytonville.
A case of salmonella has been reported in California. The CDC has linked a salmonella outbreak to Papa Murphy’s Take ‘N’ Bake Pizza, according to the Sacramento Bee. The company has temporarily stopped selling its raw dough products like their cookie dough and s’mores dough. Consumers are urged to throw out any Papa Murphy’s dough and to wipe down surfaces it may have touched. So far, there have been 18 reported cases in 6 states, with at least 2 hospitalizations.
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