PM News – 04/19/19

Full service still not restored at the Mendocino Post Office after a car ran into the building a couple weeks ago. The Postmaster says they’re offering longer hours on Wednesdays and Saturdays for those who can’t get there during business hours. A week ago Monday a car ran into the building causing damage so one part of the lobby had to be closed down, where a bunch of post office boxes are located. They’re open Wednesdays until 5:45 p.m. and Saturdays until 3. They’re also not sure how long it will take to get all of the repairs done, the postmaster saying all of the rumors about it being a month or two to be repaired, are just that, rumors. They’ll post any updates at the post office or tweet them and let local media know too.

A man from Florida’s been arrested for threats against three members of congress, including East Bay rep. Eric Swalwell. John Kless reportedly left threatening voicemails for Swalwell, Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib and New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker Tuesday morning. The call threatening Swallwells life if he came after guns, Swallwell is running for president and one of his main platforms is gun control. Kless in court today on the matter. Swallwell had posted a recording of a voicemail from someone on twitter, not sure who it was from though.

Some of the kids tortured by their parents at a home in Perris, in court, speaking out against their parents. The kids talking about the impact it had on their lives, being abused and living in filthy conditions. David and Louise Turpin were expected to get 25 years each in prison after agreeing to a plea deal. One of their children asked for a lighter sentence for them, because they thought it was to protect them. Others said they still loved them. The couple pleaded guilty a couple months ago for torture and abuse after their 17-year-old daughter jumped out of a window and called 911.

A man from Chico accused in this friends death while they were on a boat in Lake Oroville, has pleaded not guilty. Brandon Smith has been charged with vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated for the May 2018 death of 27-year-old Walter Gerken of Paradise. Smith has other charges against him too, like operating a vessel while under the influence causing injury. Smith accused of piloting a ski boat in the Lime Saddle area, then crashed into the shore. Several people aboard were tossed off the boat and hurt and Gerken died. Cops found Smith was too drunk to be driving the boat. He was arrested at the time for suspicion of boating under the influence.

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News – 04/19/19

Monthly town hall in Fort Bragg for their Neighborhood Watch. The Fort Bragg Police Dept. had a presence at the meeting which was quite small this time around, only three people showed up. The Advocate Newspaper reports there were only a few things on the agenda, a community forum and gang shootings that created the need. They also discussed the National Night Out celebration. The gang forum is set for next Thursday, at Town Hall at 5 pm. This after shots were fired at homes and cars last month. The National Night Out, a national event, is August 4th in Bainbridge Park. They talked about ways to get more people to the event.

A couple of women from Texas with Special K-9s Search and Recovery came to California to help look for missing people, stopping in Fort Bragg. There, they searched for Kathy LaMadrid, who vanished in Dec. of 2004 after being seen on the Noyo Bridge. LaMadrid’s husband just wants anyone who may have seen his wife to call. The Special K-9’s went with LaMadrid to places his wife frequented, but no luck.

The new interim CEO of Mendocino Coast District Hospital has announced to the hospital’s board of directors they’re exploring either a lease or sale. Interim CEO Wayne Allen made the announcement last week, and this week there was some criticism about the decision. The Advocate Newspaper reports at the Planning Committee meeting Monday, some people spoke out saying there should have been a public discussion on the matter. The CEO though says a request for proposals from potential partners is just a starting point for discussions and says it’s a great time to work with a larger organization as they continue with financial struggles.

After one inmate died of Legionnaires’ Disease bacteria and another got sick, it turns out it’s more common than previously known in the state prison. New test results find bacteria in the water supply at the prison’s medical facility in Stockton and a couple of nearby youth correctional facilities. Water use was restricted and bottled water brought to the facilities but the source has still not been found. The Corrections Department says there’s no new cases though at the California Health Care Facility for those needing medical or mental health care or at the O.H. Close Youth Correctional Facility or the N.A. Chaderjian Youth Correctional Facility.

Drinking water in Paradise is a bad idea. Officials say it’s contaminated after the Camp Fire with the cancer-causing chemical benzene and it’ll cost hundreds of millions to fix it. The Sacramento Bee newspaper reporting a cost of $300 million and a couple of years to fix the system after extreme heat from the fire mixed with gases from burning homes was sucked into water pipes as the water system depressurized because of use by residents and firefighters. Only a fraction of residents are still living there and officials have apparently warned them not to use the water for anything. Residents are getting free cases of water from the city.

A new apartment building in Ukiah’s having its grand opening. It’s on East Gobbi Street and was built for homeless residents in Mendocino County. The 38 apartments for those with serious mental illness. They’re small homes with group rooms, a garden, and a community area. Residents will be able to get mental health care services on-site. The project got started about five years ago with the intention of intimate space where those living there can feel protected. The grand opening this morning at 11 a.m. at 237 E. Gobbi St. called Willow Terrace.

A man from Oakland and another from Santa Rosa in court on murder charges in Clearlake. A home invasion in November of 2016 for which David Ward and Daniel McRae are also charged with attempted murder and robbery. Their preliminary hearing is May 30th. Clearlake Police say the two were armed with an automatic weapon went into a home told everyone to get on the ground, but Brandon McAfee refused and there was a struggle ending in McAfee being shot in the chest. The two men ran and McAfee died.

The mayor of Oakland says they’re going to start to use cooking oil from local businesses to run city vehicles. Mayor Libby Schaaf with the announcement yesterday for the new program. The city’s been running its fleet on renewable diesel since 2015, but the mayor says the conversion to raw materials, like grease from French fries, will help improve the lives of Oakland residents by reducing local emissions from the city’s fleet. The Public Works dept says they’re working with others to gather the waste cooking oils from restaurants and cafeterias to convert it to fuel the city’s fleet which makes waste more valuable, supports jobs and helps the local economy.

A green light to the sale of the historic Kelsey Creek Schoolhouse. The Kelseyville Unified School District Board of Trustees voted to donate the old schoolhouse to a nonprofit. It was built in the late 1800’s and has been vacant for a while. A couple of years ago the discussion began on possibly donating the old building to the Lake County Historical Society, which had wanted to relocate it to Ely Stage Stop. The president of the Lake County Historical Society was there when the decision was made to donate it this week. She showed interest and made comments and asked questions about the process. The board voted unanimously to donate the building and the Schools Superintendent says they’ll move another step forward at the next board meeting in May.

News – 04/18/19

Congressman Jared Huffman in Ukiah with an update for constituents. The Congressman chairs the Water, Oceans and Wildlife Subcommittee and says there’s some movement in the House now that Republicans are no longer in charge but acknowledges there are still things that won’t pass the Senate. Huffman here yesterday for a meeting of stakeholders of the Potter Valley Project, which was up for sale, then canceled as PG&E works its way thru bankruptcy. The utility was looking to stop operating the Project which sends water from the Eel River to thousands of users in Mendocino County and to the south. Huffman told those in attendance they’re still working on a solution. He also spoke on other topics including the Mueller report into Russian interference in the 2016 Presidential Election, the upcoming 2020 presidential election, infrastructure, net neutrality, criminal justice reform and cannabis de-scheduling and banking access.

California’s struggling to hire enough teachers with the shortage getting worse. A new report says there’s a need for about 110-thousand more teachers nationwide, primarily because more teachers are quitting or switching schools, and fewer people are entering the profession. Emma Garcia, the coauthor of the report from the Economic Policy Institute says a lot of the problems could be fixed with more investment to raise salaries, lower classroom sizes and better fund schools overall.

:06 "Working conditions, including pay, school climate and professional development, need to be improved."

California’s in the bottom ten nationwide – 44th for per-pupil spending. But the state’s spent 200 million dollars the past few years to attract, train and retain more teachers. A 2018 study by the Learning Policy Institute found the shortages were worse in math, special education, science and bilingual education and even more severe in high-poverty school districts. It also found that school districts are increasingly hiring under-qualified applicants.

Garcia says to reverse the slide and attract bright young people to the profession – the country needs to give teachers the same respect – and earning potential – as other professionals like doctors and lawyers.

:12 "It’s also a matter of societal changes, that we see teachers more like we see other professions, that we value teachers, that we appreciate the work that they do."

Some experts say years of layoffs and cost-cutting during the recession discouraged people from becoming teachers and created so much stress on teachers that many opted to leave the profession. The E-P-I report also found that from 2008 to 2016, the U-S saw more than a 27 percent drop in people completing teacher preparation programs and 15 percent drop in people receiving an education degree.

A new food court and wine tasting garden is being added to the Lakeport summer Concert in the Park series. The City Council approved the idea for this year only. There would have to be a new contract for next summer. For this year, those 21 and older can head into a roped off area for wine. There will be a couple of food vendors, but no definitive idea yet who. There’s some red tape still, like permits to sell booze in Library Park and insurance coverage. It’s the 40th year for the concert series.

The Ukiah Valley Sanitation District board of directors scheduling another meeting to figure out if the city of Ukiah will operate the sewer facilities like it’s one big system. The Daily Journal reports the chairwoman declared they wouldn’t vote on the matter at their last meeting last week and fellow board members asked to see the proposal for the sewer facilities. The city manager saying the city would be served best if the sewer facilities were operated as one, and one set of customers and one set of rates which he says can be done with a simple Memo of Understanding (MOU) signed by both boards. The proposal reportedly being drawn up and will be brought to the Sanitation Board for consideration.

The first proposal to put together a Climate Action Advisory Committee in Mendocino County has been presented to the public. The Daily Journal reports the Board of Supervisors released the proposal earlier this week after they voted to form the committee about a month ago. The committee to come up with recommendations and set goals for the Mendocino County Sustainability and Climate Change Program which looks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase carbon storage, and help the Mendocino County Office of Emergency Services and the Mendocino County Fire Safe Council be ready for natural disasters and climate change. The idea is for 15 members to focus on Energy, Solid Waste, Land Use and Development, Transportation, Forests, Agriculture, Education, and Community Awareness.

Nearly 400,000 dollars going to Mendocino County from the Federal Government for fire recovery. Congressman Jared Huffman’s office announced yesterday the Economic Development Agency awarded $397,000 to the county after damage from the Redwood Valley Fire. Hundreds of structures were destroyed by the 2017 wildfire. The money will go to hire a disaster recovery coordinator, develop Mendocino County’s Economic Recovery and Resiliency Plan, broadband plan, and support long-term disaster recovery; and create 30 jobs, save 10 jobs, and leverage $500,000 in private investments.

Proactive measures taken ahead of the next wildfire season in the Western Hills of Ukiah. The Cal Fire inmate crews are working to re-establish an existing shaded fuel break. They’re working with local Cal Fire Engine crews. The sole purpose of one of the crews is fire fuels management. They go out cutting and removing hazardous vegetation. It’s also a reminder for those with fuels on their properties to remove them after more than 40 inches of rain this year so far, which means a load of grass and weeds. The Fire Authority asking for help keeping properties mowed and maintained to help reduce yearly fire danger. The Fire Marshall’s office is sending reminders out about mowing to residents.

If you have any questions, comments or concerns, do not hesitate to contact the Fire Marshal’s office at 4636271 or email kjennings; M-Th., 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Friday mornings by appointment only.

The Gov. says the state’s working with Los Angeles County to try to lower prescription drugs prices. Governor Newsom directing state agencies to start to buy drugs in bulk to use that as a leverage to negotiate lower prices, adding, state agencies, including the prison system and health care for the needy, or Medi-Cal, spend up to $13 billion a year on drugs together. Medi-Cal at $8 billion alone. The governor’s plan is still preliminary, but he says he thinks a change in purchasing habits could save billions. And working with Los Angeles County will help get even better deals. The county spends about $250 million a year on drugs for hospitals and clinics.

There’s a new school superintendent in the Konocti Unified School District. The announcement at a quick meeting at the district office last night. The Board of Trustees President announcing Dr. Rebecca Salato is the new head of the school district. She’ll be formally confirmed during the board’s next meeting, next month. She’s taking over for Superintendent Donna Becnel, who is retiring at the end of this school year. Right now Dr. Salato is the chief operating officer of Action Learning Systems. 14 people applied for the position, 13 from Calif. and one from Montana.

Lake County’s looking for a new Registrar of Voters and has some candidates lined up after a second recruitment. Lake Co News reporting Diane Fridley, who led the office for years, retired and her deputy left for a position elsewhere a couple months later. Right now the County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson is the interim Registrar. Lake Co News reports Huchingson tried to get Fridley’s deputy disqualified to take over due to educational requirements. But the Board of Supervisors had other ideas. There are now 19 new applicants for the job, for which interviews will begin next week. The county still recruiting for the deputy position too. No word if the new Registrar could be in place before the May 7th special election for the Lakeport Fire Protection District.

PM News – 04/17/19

A reported theft in Willits has deputies from the Sheriff’s Office out. Those living at the property say people were trespassing. The property owner finding a man and woman on his property and several tires and rims along with other items missing. Deputies looked at surveillance video from the property and identified two people, Brandon Hite and KC Stillwell so several law enforcement units from various agencies searched for them. They found Hite was on active Parole so an order went out to all agencies to arrest the pair for grand theft. Round Valley Tribal Police in Covelo had Hite in custody. Deputies detained him for Grand Theft, then they saw Stillwell walking in the same area and arrested her too. Hite held on no bail for parole violations and Stillwell was held on $15,000.00 bail.

Police in Delaware have arrested a Ukiah man after finding him with more than 200 pounds of marijuana. Police from Dagsboro along with Delaware State Police arrested Charles Mulvihill Sunday on several drug related offenses after a traffic stop. They say he had a suspended license, no proof of insurance and his car had no ignition interlock device. When police searched they found oxycodone pills, not prescribed to him, an electronic money counter, several ledgers and $1,000 cash hidden under the dashboard. Then they found six big duffel bags under a tarp with nearly 100 vacuum-sealed bags of various quantities of weed, with a total weight of about 212 pounds. He’s charged with several crimes including possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription. He’s held in the Sussex Correctional Institution on about $82,000 secured bail.

Several deaths being blamed on portable generators at rural cannabis farms in Mendocino County. Five deaths, four men, and possibly a fifth, blamed on carbon monoxide poisoning over the last five years. The Press Democrat reports the deaths involved small, gas-fueled generators which are mostly used to power music or charge cellphones. They were found in temporary greenhouses where the men were employed and slept on occasion. The newspaper reports there’s been no regulations on work for cannabis workers for years, but now state officials are drafting regulations since marijuana was legalized. The latest death was in Covelo just a couple weeks ago. The same happening with others going back to 2014.

News – 04/17/19

A public manual tally for the Lakeport Fire Protection District Special Election is set. The Lake County Registrar of Voters office says any voters, observers or other members of the public can attend about a week after the special election on Thursday, May 16th starting at 9:00 a.m. The registrar’s office says they’ll select the precinct(s) for the manual tally randomly the same day. They’re also reporting there will be a test of the ballot tabulation software for the May 7th election. The Logic and Accuracy Test will be next Thursday, April 25th at 11:00 AM in the Registrar of Voters office. Anyone interested is invited to observe the test.

If you need to get rid of old meds, this Saturday, a no questions asked drop-off. There’s also a free community event for kids and information will be handed out to keep your family safe. The event at the Coyote Valley Gym in Redwood Valley from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday with a Basketball Tournament too. It’s hosted by Safe Rx Mendocino and the Coyote Valley Band of Pomo Indians Education Department and sponsored by Mendocino County Public Health, Mendocino County Youth Project, the Arbor Drug Free Communities Coalition and local businesses.

Input needed by the Mendocino National Forest for a proposed restoration project in the Ranch Fire burn area on the Upper Lake Ranger District. The proposed project area in the Wildland Urban Interface on the north and east shores of Clear Lake. They will be taking out fire torched trees, look to improve forest health and promote desired conditions. The forest service working in collaboration with FireScape Mendocino, the Forest Service Regional Ecology program and the Pacific Northwest Research Station. There’s an open house for the public, Thursday, May 9th. Specific details about time and location will be released at a later date.

Information about the area, purpose and need and proposed action can be found on the forest website at: gurdahl.

California regulators questioning the new leaders of PG&E and their experience moving forward during bankruptcy and beyond. The California Public Utilities Commission reportedly peppering one of the board members with questions about the qualifications of the new CEO and 10 brand new board members. The questions for veteran PG&E board member Richard Kelly about everyone else’s safety qualifications. This at a commission meeting in San Francisco where the commissioners voiced concern about experience of the newcomers building corporate safety programs. The new CEO comes from the Tennessee Valley Authority, a publicly owned utility.

Celebrating 125 years with the Lakeport Fire Dept. Back in 1884, the fire boys started fighting fires locally. Lake Co News reports on the milestone for the Lakeport Fire Protection District on its 125th anniversary. The news site reporting the State Legislature passed a resolution to honor the district with Sen. Mike McGuire and Assemblywoman Cecilia Aguiar-Curry securing the legislature’s highest honor for the dept. And McGuire came to the station to present the framed resolution to the interim Chief, district firefighters, staff, and board members during a ceremony at the district’s headquarters Station 50 in downtown Lakeport.

A massive salary for the new CEO of PG&E. William or Bill Johnson’s getting a base salary of $2.5 million a year, plus he’s getting a one-time transition payment of $3 million the first day on the job. All of this made public in documents filed by PG&E with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Johnson’s agreed to run the utility for at least three years. He’s leaving as the CEO of the Tennessee Valley Authority, a public utility. Johnson’s also getting stock in PG&E worth millions more. 65% of his salary will be based on safety metrics, 25 percent on PG&E’s financial performance and 10 percent on customer satisfaction.

Some Northern Calif. companies apparently getting away without paying federal taxes. A new report shows three of the Bay Area’s Fortune 500 companies — Chevron, Netflix and Salesforce didn’t pay any federal taxes last year. The report by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, a liberal think tank also shows Chevron and Netflix got more than $200 million in tax rebates altogether. It also says Chevron made $4.5 billion in domestic income in 2018 and got a $181 million rebate. Netflix made $856 million in domestic income and got a $22 million rebate. The other side of the coin though, Facebook also in the Bay Area, paid $1.7 billion in federal income taxes on $8.8 billion in domestic profits. And Google paid $2.1 billion in state and federal income taxes on $15.8 billion in domestic income.

The Ukiah City Council to consider an agreement on how much waste the sewer plant can take. The capacity to be discussed at the regular council meeting tonight on the Ukiah Valley Wastewater Treatment Plant. They’re also considering which projects can be approved in their jurisdictions. It’s all apparently been going on for months, since the settlement of the lawsuit between the two sides. Some discrepancies between what the city and Sanitation District think the sewer plant can hold, an agreement on what the capacity was a requirement of the settlement agreement. The agreement discussion tonight after the budget workshop at 5:15 p.m.

Several grants being released by the state. California Volunteers and the Office of the Governor have nine grants for emergency preparedness. The Gov. announced the campaign during his state of emergency declaration on increased wildfire risks March 22nd. There’s $8 million from Cal OES for nonprofits for a half dozen “target counties” including Lake County. The money to organize for vulnerable and underserved communities so they can come up with preparedness strategies that suit the area’s unique needs and challenges. For more on the $50M in grants from the joint campaign between California Volunteers and the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) you can visit the California Volunteers’ website.

A green light for the zones of benefit in the Kelseyville area. The Lake County Board of Supervisors gave the idea the thumbs up at their meeting yesterday. Supervisor Rob Brown presented the idea last fall for the four benefit zones so money’s brought in from community members to reduce vegetation that might contribute to damaging wildfires. Lake Co News reports the new benefit zones cover 5,000 lots in the Clear Lake Riviera, Buckingham, Riviera West and Riviera Heights, and lots across from them too. Property owners contribute a one-time payment of $100 a lot for less than one acre, $200 for lots from one to five acres, and $300 for lots of five acres or more. That’s for cleanup, with the money being recouped thru liens.

A new study shows men who have beards can carry more germs than the average dog. The study author in Switzerland, apparently tested the facial hair of men and fur from dogs of various breeds. The researcher tells the BBC there was a significantly higher bacterial load in the beards than there was in the dogs’ fur. Some of the men even tested positive for some microbes that pose a human health threat. They didn’t specify what that was, but experts say men should probably consider shampooing their beards regularly.

PM News – 04/16/19

At the meeting of the Ukiah City Council, public works staffers are updating the council on Measure Y money. That’s the money used by the city for repairing city streets. The report for tomorrow’s meeting shows there will be a review of the five-year Capital Improvement Plan, then the review of where the money will go this year for roads. They’re looking for feedback to help staff come up with a draft budget which will in turn be presented to the City Council in June. Some of the Capital Improvement funds for a major overhaul of Dora Street, Street Overlays on multiple roads, the Downtown Streetscape Project, or Road Diet and improvements to the Orr Street Bridge.

A 4/20 celebration of local businesses along the Mendocino Coast, called ‘Cannabis on the Coast’ to bolster the local industry and raise money for the Cancer Resource Centers of Mendocino County. Visitors and locals invited to the celebration Saturday with free events including Conscious Cannabis Yoga and a farm and dispensary tour. Businesses involved will have discounts the day of the event and music performances by night with local bands. Sponsors include Emerald Exchange, Leonard Moore Collective, Mendocino CannaTours and Spark.

Event information and a full list of participants and tickets can be found at CannabisOnTheCoast.com

About Cannabis on the Coast: Cannabis on the Coast is a community-focused collaboration of cannabis and cannabis-friendly organizations and individuals located on Mendocino County’s historic coast. Inspired by a love for the plant and a desire to see the local community thrive, we create memorable experiences for enthusiasts and newcomers alike that embody the heart and soul of cannabis culture in the world famous Emerald Triangle.

News – 04/16/19

A 20-year veteran of the Clearlake Police Dept. has been sworn in as a captain and there’s a new community service officer. The police chief administered the oath to new Capt. Tim Celli and Community Service Officer Daniel Constancio. Celli was the interim chief before the current chief was hired. There was no captain for a while but the city council reinstated the position as part of a reorganization plan.

The historic Kelsey Creek Schoolhouse may be donated soon. The School District Board of Trustees reportedly considering a sale at their meeting tonight. The old schoolhouse used to also be called the Hells Bend Schoolhouse. It goes all the way back to the late 1800’s. It used to be in a different location but was moved to where it sits now about ten or so years later. The board is considering donating it, since they say putting it up for sale comes with its own costs, and it’s not worth enough to warrant that. It’s also not been examined for lead, asbestos, or other possibly harmful substances.

Here’s some good news for water customers in Lucerne. California Water Service reportedly sent an application to the California Public Utilities Commission so there are bill decreases, reflecting what the utility says is the true cost for water service. The bill will go down for a typical residential customer by more than 5 bucks a month, those billed every two months will see a decrease of about $11.25. The application to also lower capital finance costs and a reconciliation between the actual and forecasted water system costs in 2017 and 2018.

An earthquake felt around some areas in Lake County. The 4.1 Monday early morning, just before 5. It was centered about 2 miles east southeast of Black Oaks in Sonoma County and 13.5 miles southwest of Clearlake. Lake Co News reports there were 75 shake reports as of last night. They were reported around Lake, Napa and Sonoma counties and beyond, the farthest, in Arcata.

The Governor says he’s not going to block homes being built near forested areas at high risk for wildfires. In an interview with the AP the governor said, there’s something truly Californian about being in the wilderness and the wild and pioneering spirit. This after the governor released a report last week regarding the wildfire risk we face in California. It said local governments may want to "de-emphasize" building in high-risk areas around forests, but in his interview with the AP, he said that was a loose suggestion to start a debate around building smarter and closer to urban centers and economic hubs. The news report says there are more than 2.7 million Californians living in very high hazard areas for wildfires.

A couple of state bills to be considered by the Lakeport City Council regarding law enforcement officers’ use of deadly force. Assembly Bill 392, the California Act to Save Lives, supported by the American Civil Liberties Union and Black Lives Matter CA, to change the law now allowing cops to use deadly force when “reasonable”, instead to when “necessary.” And Senate Bill 230 to change the way cops are trained, requiring policies are explicit in the way deadly force is used. It’s supported by the California Police Chiefs Association. The Lakeport Police Chief is recommending support of the Senate Bill, but not for the Assembly bill, calling that “dangerous and ineffective”, saying it would “undermine an officer’s ability to respond to emergency situations.”

A dad and his two kids reporting missing in the Stirling City area. The Butte County Sheriff’s Office searching for 25 year old Michael Mercado and his 2 and 7 year olds in a snow covered area near Inskip. The jeep he was driving was found empty Monday after a woman called to report her husband and their two kids left Sunday around noon, headed to Stirling City. Search and Rescue teams with four police dogs went looking for the family to no avail. They’re reaching out to the public to see if anyone has seen or heard from them.

A climate sustainability committee to be formed in Mendocino County. The Board of Supervisors considering the contract with the Mendocino County Resource Conservation District for a program and to possibly help put the committee together and oversee the program. The staff report for the meeting today says there would be 15 members in the committee, with three from the five county districts. The committee and the Climate Action Program would be put together with the mission of fighting climate change with various goals and actions and to help residents prevent, and/or recover from climate-caused natural disasters. The meeting as always, this morning at 9.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Dept. reports space left still in the Citizens’ Academy. The training starts May 28th. But the applications are due no later than May 16th. It’s free to attend, but you’ve got to live or work in Lake County, be at least 18 years old with no felony convictions and no misdemeanor convictions within three years. You can visit lakesheriff.com for more info on the academy, an application and instructions. Class size is limited to 25 students and is filling up.
A woman calls the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office in Redwood Valley after a fight. Cops say the woman had a visible injury she says was inflicted on her by Rutilio Escobar. She says they got into a fight and her took her phone, and destroyed it, and that he had a peaceful contact order against him and was on probation. He was arrested for felony domestic violence battery; violation of misdemeanor probation; damage/destroy wireless communications device and violation of a court order and held on $30,000.00 bail.

A man in Ukiah arrested after reports of a drunk person. Deputies went to the scene early Saturday morning in the 1500 block of North Bush Street finding 22-year-old Dreven Dawson-Valencia who they say was so intoxicated he couldn’t care for his own safety. He’s arrested for disorderly conduct, then found with drugs on him at the jail. He was further charged with smuggling a controlled substance in to jail and held on $15,000.00 bail.

A threepeat for Ukiah High as the school, representing all of Northern Calif. will compete in the SeaPerch Challenge. The national event held this year at the University of Maryland June 1st and 2nd. Ten students from Ukiah High will compete in the engineering journal, the obstacle course, and the challenge course. This is creating remotely operated vehicles that traverse the obstacle course above and under water through 18-inch rings as quickly as possible. Students are trying to raise money so they can travel there and best their 15th place win last year.

If you would like to donate to help these hardworking students compete at Nationals, please contact teacher and STEM advisor Chatnaree Upton at cupton.

The Chico Enterprise-Record, a finalist for a Pulitzer Prize. The staff with the Bay Area News Group were finalists for breaking news related to the Camp Fire, the deadliest and most damaging in Calif. history. The Pulitzer announcement saying it was, quote “for committed coverage of an epic California wildfire”. There were only two finalists there. The other was the South Florida Sun Sentinel after the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School massacre. The winner was the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette for the shooting massacre at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life synagogue. The Enterprise-Record previously sent in an entry for the Pulitzer last year for its Oroville Dam spillway crisis coverage in February 2017.

A $30 million dollar settlement agreed to by Sutter Health after the health care system allegedly manipulated seniors health status so they could get larger payments from Medicare. The settlement reported by the U.S. Department of Justice against the healthcare provider covering several dozen Bay Area medical foundations and hospitals. They’re accused of sending in unsupported diagnostic codes inflating the seriousness of patient’s diagnoses’ so they could get bigger Medicare payments for those patients enrolled in the Medicare Advantage plan.

A man in Florida arrested for eating a little too much pasta. Cops report to an Olive Garden restaurant in Naples after Ben Padgett caused a disturbance by drunkenly shoveling spaghetti into his mouth with his hands then when cops arrived, fighting them. Police say the went to the restaurant finding the guy without a shirt on, devouring spaghetti. They say he reeked like booze and was "muttering obscenities", when cops tried arresting him. He fought them but was ultimately shoved into the back of their patrol car. He went to jail but was released later on $2,000 bond.

PM News – 04/15/19

A man in Willits has been arrested after a child calls police to report a domestic disturbance. Mendocino deputies get to a home finding a woman with cuts, abrasions, bruising on the neck and dried blood on her face after a fight with her boyfriend, Loren Powers and the two share a child together. She says he came home drunk, which she was upset about, then they got into a fight. Police say Powers pushed the victim to the ground, threw items in the house around and when the woman tried getting away he choked her. She got away and told one of the kids to call 911, the kid called a relative and they called the Sheriff’s Office. Powers arrested on multiple charges and held on $30,000.00 bail

Deputies respond to a call in Ukiah finding a boy running around a parking area asking people for help saying his father was going to kill him. Deputies say they found an abandoned pick-up truck in the road where this was happening, finding there’d been an altercation in or near the pickup. A man was found down the road, sweating heavily, Conley Butler also had what was later found to be a self-inflicted head injury, and was agitated so he was searched. During the pat search cops say he used his head and hit two deputies, causing one a head injury, then punched them both and ran. He was eventually caught by a police dog, tasered and arrested. He’s charged with willful cruelty to a child, possible injury or death, resisting or threatening an officer, battery with serious injury and battery against a peace officer and held on $30,000.00 bail.

Police in Redwood Valley on routine patrol and found some trash cans turned over around Eagle Peak Middle School. They say while investigating, they found a vending machine operator who showed cops two surveillance cameras on the ground. They say the cameras were forcibly taken down. They say they also found a bunch of mailboxes that had been destroyed or damaged and mail along the road. The mail was taken to its rightful owners. Cops say the destroyed mailboxes were vandalism only and no other thefts. They have two suspects in mind, but continue to investigate. Cops asking anyone else who may have been a victim of this vandalism to be in touch.

News – 04/15/19

A bunch of traditional native plants are being planted by the Mendocino National Forest (MNF) and the Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake. The plantings along Middle Creek on the Upper Lake Ranger District to reduce soil erosion, help with better water quality for the Clear Lake Hitch to spawn. The fish are a major source of food for the tribe. And finally, various traditional native plants the tribe uses for basketry and other purposes are being planted. The forest and tribe will continue to partner in the area to maintain the work and plant more in the future.

Some community forums in Mendocino county on Mental Health. The Mendocino County Chief Executive Officer, Carmel J. Angelo, has announced the first Community Forums to work toward reducing the number of people with mental illness in jails. Two sessions May 8th at the Ukiah Veterans Hall, and the following day at the Fort Bragg Veterans Hall. There’s an educational session first from 1-5pm, then public forums after, from 6-8pm, at both locations.

The Governor has requested Presidential Major Disaster Declarations after severe storms in February which brought massive flooding, mudslides and damage to critical infrastructure across California. That would mean state, tribal and local governments would receive help with recovery projects like repair and replacement of disaster-damaged facilities and infrastructure, like roads, bridges and utilities. It comes after the governor declared state of emergencies in 33 counties across the state after the storms.

Two people in Ukiah won’t be going to trial again after agreeing to a plea deal. The Mendocino County District Attorney reporting Christopher Bradford and Diontae Wright, both from Indianapolis, Indiana, found guilty of a robbery and assault with a firearm, plus for recklessly evading a peace officer and evading a peace officer by driving in the opposing lane of traffic. They were found not guilty or no verdict could be reached on various other crimes, so there was a hung jury and mistrial on those charges. It all comes after an October 2017 marijuana robbery in the Brooktrails area. They were supposed to go to a second trial in two weeks, but they accepted a plea deal Friday. The two now being held in jail on no bail holds until formal sentencing in June. A codefendant, tried separately, got 12 years in state prison.

A packed house at the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors meeting as supervisors took up the sudden closure of the Dungeness crab fishery. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife ordered all crab fishermen pull their gear out of the ocean by today. There was a resolution of support by the supervisors for the crab fishermen, but one of the supervisors took it off the consent calendar and opened it for conversation. There were several speaking out saying they’re going to be devastated by the closure financially. Apparently, the gear from the fishery has been getting caught up in whales, but hundreds of miles away. An environmental group filed suit against the Department of Fish and Wildlife for not protecting humpback whales, blue whales and pacific leather-back sea turtles.

Another bumper crop of local grapes. The 2018 Final Grape Crush Report released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows one of the best crops in Northern Calif. in years and Mendocino Winegrowers say, the best ever for the county. The executive director of the group says they’re up 16 percent to nearly of 82,000 tons, better than the last record year of, 2013, by almost 4,000 tons. The value is also up. 2018 hitting $137.5 million, up nearly 15 percent from last year’s $120 million. Chardonnay the top varietal, at 33 percent of what was harvested, then it was Cabernet Sauvignon, and Pinot Noir.

A settlement finally reached between two environmental groups and the North Coast Rail Authority. The two groups filed suit in July 2011 by the Friends of the Eel River and Californians for Alternatives to Toxics who wanted a new environmental impact report for a broken down part of the rail line, which is now going to be part of the Great Redwood Trail. The groups had argued the report was flawed and the corridor where the rail trail will be is toxic. Lawsuits went to the state Supreme Court. The settlement says the environmental groups are dropping their cases and the NCRA will pay them court fees.

The meetings continue in Lakeport regarding the design of a new waterfront park. This Thursday in City Hall the project will be center stage. The city’s using money from the Parks and Water Bond Act of 2018 for the new park at the old Natural High School property on Main Street. This is the second of four meetings on the park design. The meetings will be interactive. Those there will get points and find ways to spend their points on park features.
For more information contact the Lakeport Community Development Department at 707-263-5615, Extension 204, or email dchance.

A new report shows the City of Clearlake with a major downturn in violent and property crimes. The report by the Clearlake Police Chief Andrew White to be presented to the Clearlake City Council at their meeting Thursday. The chief says violent crimes were down by 16 percent the last year, compared to a year before. And property crimes are off 14 percent. White says it’s a massive accomplishment. Violent crimes are homicide, rape, robbery and aggravated assault. And property crimes include burglary, larceny, vehicle theft and arson.

An advisory panel to the governor is recommending loosening liability laws after PG&E filed for bankruptcy. It’s one of three proposals to the Governor from the strike force working on wildfire plans. The governor put the force together at the beginning of the year. Gov. Newsom says he hopes their report brings tough conversations among utilities, insurance companies, lawyers, wildfire victims and others to come up with solutions over the next 90 days before the Legislature’s bill deadline. The report offered a couple other options too, creating a state fund for utilities to use to pay wildfire damages and reforming the state’s investor-owned utility regulator, California Public Utilities Commission, plus some ideas for PG&E while it goes thru bankruptcy proceedings, including municipalization or transfer of ownership.

After a cop smells weed during a traffic stop in Kelseyville, several arrests are made. A Lake County deputy sees a gray Volvo with a brake light out and conducts a traffic stop, smells the weed and three people in the car are searched. Richard Styles, the driver, and his passengers, Mandeep Singh Deol and Bleu Mariah Debardeleben are arrested. The car had moving boxes with three pounds of pot in them each. The deputy also found paraphernalia, more than a dozen firearms, cash and bolt cutters. The trio busted on multiple charges including felon in possession of a firearm, possession and transportation of marijuana for sale and drug addict in possession of a firearm.

Final votes on benefit zones in Kelseyville to help remove hazardous vegetation ahead of wildfires. The meeting tomorrow with the Board of Supervisors to consider the zones of benefit in Buckingham, Clear Lake Riviera, Riviera Heights and Riviera West. This comes after the board agreed for the zones back in January, then it goes to voters but people were protesting the idea at a meeting last month after ballots were returned confirming the idea was a good one. There were complaints about the nature of the election and other related factors so it’s in the board’s hands now to determine if the vote will comply with state law.

gmail_default style=”font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:small”>PM News – 04/12/19

A body found by Yolo County authorities believed to that of a missing tow truck driver. Police say 40 year old Shalvinesh Sharma was seen down the Sacramento River at the Garcia Bend area and the body was pulled from the river by sheriff’s deputies and others. He and his wife were in a tow truck that crashed with a big rig two weeks ago. His wife’s body is still missing.

Environmentalists calling on California to stop fracking. Hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking, is when high pressure water mixed with chemicals is shot into rock to crack it and let oil out. Former Gov. Jerry Brown allowed the practice even though anti-oil activists tried to get him to stop. He did sign a law to make it a requirement for all chemicals used in fracking to be made public. And Gov. Gavin Newsom previously said he was against fracking, when he was campaigning for the top job in the state. There’s been no further comment from Newsom on the practice. Just about 20% of California’s oil comes from the practice. Activists say it’s a danger to drinking water, air quality and public health and puts oceans at risk. Now there are new state rules in place allowing high pressure injections of steam or acid for oil production.

A massive purchase across the state of high-capacity firearm magazines after a federal judge overturned the state’s ban on the magazines that carry more than ten rounds. But then the state went to court to request a delay, and got it. Between those two dates there was a buying frenzy in California, something the California Rifle and Pistol Association called “Freedom Week.” The Attorney General Xavier Becerra appealed the ruling and now the state’s prepared to fight it permanently to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. Those who were able to get their hands on the large-capacity magazines during Freedom Week get to keep them so far, but may have to turn them in if the appeals court disagrees.