News 8/22/2022

In Lake County, the Board of Supervisors is considering a new cannabis garden, and a potential place for folks to go when there are public safety power shutoffs. At their meeting tomorrow, Supervisors are looking at using Northshore Park as a community center during intentional power downs. And what of the old juvenile hall, could that be a much-needed homeless shelter? The board’s also looking into a plan for a mental health treatment center for children too. But first the board will mull over a plan for an appeal of the Planning Commission’s approval for a major use permit and initial study for a cannabis cultivation project in Kelseyville. As usual the meeting starts at 9, with the option to join over Zoom.

Not a no in the room, from the Clearlake City Council to buy a piece of land for a new road to get to a major commercial development at Pearce Field. The City Manager asked the council to buy the land on Old Highway 53 from AmeriGas for $110,000 so the city can build a new road and future commercial development at the old airport. The city already bought a couple of pieces of property very near the airport property. The piece of property they’re buying now is necessary to finish the plans for the commercial development. The council voted unanimously on the plan and there was no comment from the public.

A small fire has broken out in Lower Lake. The fire started Saturday night and was pegged at between 15-25 acres. But Cal Fire reported last night it burned 14 acres and was already 90% contained. There were some hasty evacuation orders through Saturday night as there was concern the fire could blow up overnight.

The Mendocino County Public Health Dept. is reporting on measures to be taken by the county in the event of any Monkeypox cases. At the same time, the state has decided to rename the virus, Mpox. The agency says they’re ready to start contact tracing if Mpox arrives in Mendocino County. There have been no cases so far. Some ideas, that may sound familiar after the pandemic: monitor your health, if you get flu like symptoms that don’t end in a week, then a rash, you should isolate yourself from others and see your doctor, get vaccinated because the supply is scarce, so do it while you can. If you get it, stay away from others. It spreads by direct contact with the rash and any soiled objects from the open lesions, and by droplets in the air after a face-to-face conversation. You can be contagious until the rash is healed completely.

As Mpox, or Monkeypox is the new scare on the horizon, there seems to be some good news on the COVID19 front in Mendocino County. The Public Health Officer Dr. Andy Coren reports local case numbers are declining. Coren says the county is no longer in the highest transmission level though, now it’s the median community level, which he calls excellent progress. He did however mention another new strain causing concern nationwide, called BA.4.6, a sub-stain of omicron. In the county the test positivity rate is at 9.5 percent, and the state is at 11.4 percent. On Friday the county had two people in the hospital with the virus, and so far, Dr. Coren confirmed 134 Mendocino County residents have died from the virus.

A teenager reported missing in Northern Calif. after a party near Truckee has been found dead. A group of diving volunteers out searching for 16-year-old Kiely Rodni found her car upside down in about 14 feet of water at Prosser Reservoir. The group Adventures with Purpose an underwater sonar rescue group posted on Facebook, they CONFIRMED Kiely is inside the car and notified her family. The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office later also posted on social media they were headed to the area. The girl disappeared Aug. 6th after midnight after going to a party at Prosser Family Campground with hundreds of other teens and young adults.

It’s doors closed for the Elijah House. The lone homeless shelter in Lakeport inside the old Juvenile Hall facility is closing for good Labor Day weekend. The program manager at Lake County Behavioral Health says they’re trying to find housing for those still there. They’ve been struggling apparently with staffing shortages as they close down and clean out the building as their contract was ending. A group that was helping with operations per a contract with the county says there were about a dozen or so residents left at the shelter who the group says should have other housing by the end of the month.

After months of town halls and discussions with community members, tribal leaders, conservation organizations and forest operators, Cal Fire has a new vision for the management of the Jackson Demonstration State Forest in the age of climate change. The agency says they’ve already taken some steps and there will be more, as they work with the Jackson Advisory Group on future management plans, saying there is a new foundation of science and equity. One of the most prominent additions is adopting a new co-management team with sovereign tribal nations who call the area their ancestral home. Cal Fire is also putting in another $10 million to support forest operations, removing any potential pressure on timber harvests to cover costs. They’ll update the ten year management plan, expand the advisory group, establish a Tribal Advisory Council and change up timber management plans focusing on smaller trees only.

We keep hearing about staffing shortages across industries. It’s hitting firefighters in Calif. as they are calling for help from across the globe. But there are programs utilizing prison inmates, who upon being released are getting hired permanently. But a new report says that hasn’t helped as much as was hoped for. The Associated Press reports a $30 million effort has only been able to offer jobs to a little over 100 firefighters, just about a third of the inmates who applied. Inmates only earn a few bucks a day when they’re not professionals, but after they get out, they can take part in a training program. The U.S. Forest Service reports being down by about 1,200 firefighters, 500 in California, and the Interior Department needs to find 450 firefighters, 150 in California.

The state Assembly has greenlighted a bill by Sen. Bill Dodd related to prescribed fires. The burns help clear brush out, Dodd says, which he touts as a cost-effective way to “minimize the intensity and scope of wildfires”. His bill would encourage more prescribed fires and adds $20 million dollars to the work. Controlled burning has been used for hundreds of years to clear dead and dying trees and brush, so it they don’t add fuel to fires. The bill would create standards for a fund to help cover the costs. It’s paired with another Dodd bill from last year to protect landowners and prescribed fire managers so they are not liable for fire suppression costs unless they acted with gross negligence.

News 8/19/2022

Colleges across Calif. are going to be offering abortion triggering pills. A state senator from Chino introduced the legislation nearly 4 years ago. Senate Bill 24 says all CSU and UC campuses should offer non-surgical medication abortions, “abortion pills” by January. Ed Source reports the UC San Francisco research program Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health says this could be available to thousands of students next year. The governor signed the bill into law in 2019 and schools have been preparing ever since. But so far there are no CSU campuses offering the pills and UC schools don’t all have it, but the school systems both say they’re committed to offer the services by the Jan. 1st deadline.

Since the state says the moratorium on disconnecting water accounts for non-payment is over, the City of Fort Bragg says they will get back to it. The city had stopped disconnecting customers who were 60 days past due if balances were under $2,000 through the end of August. That was so they could apply for assistance, but the full past due amount has to be paid by September 2nd for the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) Grant. The program can help with up to $500 towards past due bills.

For more information, visit the City of Fort Bragg’s Website or contact Lacy Peterson at lpeterson@fortbragg.com, (707) 961 2825 ext 108.

A head on crash in Upper Lake has killed at least one person. Mendo Fever reports a semi-truck and gray pickup collided, with one fatality and more people with major injuries. The accident was reported yesterday afternoon on State Route 20 and State Route 29 in Lake County with several people trapped. Within an hour of the report medics were on the scene and removed the victims from the vehicles. They had to close the highway down as an investigation took place. The highway opened a few hours later.

Someone has been injured after falling off a boat in Lake Berryessa and getting hit by the vessel’s propeller. It happened Monday afternoon near Big Island. The Napa County Sheriff’s Office reported the man from Vacaville was cut on his left leg and arm. A sheriff’s boat patrolling the lake helped a local fire department volunteer to help the 20-year-old victim. He was taken to a hospital where his injuries were not considered to be life-threatening.

After the lockdown went into play and kids had to learn online, some parents fought back. Now Cal Matters reports as the parents became more and more frustrated, they decided to use that energy to run for office. The news site reports some parents were motivated by national controversies, like critical race theory and LGBTQ+ education. And more wanted to be able to have a hand in how money was spent to benefit students directly. The California School Boards Association reported about 50% of 5,000 school board seats in the state are open this election, but they can’t say for sure how many parents are running for offices that drew so much anger in the early days of the pandemic. Parents against mask and vaccine mandates as well as sex education are getting the support of the state Republican party, but still some school boards say they’re hard-pressed to find suitable candidates.

A weekend of celebrations in Guerneville as the town celebrates its 150th anniversary. At the same time, it’s also the 100th anniversary of the truss bridge that spans the Russian River. Tomorrow is the Come Together Festival in Downtown Guerneville. Music and a fair are happening between 1:00 and 7:30 p.m., that touts hula hoopers, food vendors, and more. Town officials say Guerneville will also be celebrating several years of enduring floods, fires and the pandemic tomorrow.

The proposed high-speed rail project that will roll through San Francisco and San Jose has passed a major hurdle. The California High-Speed Rail Authority Board of Directors officially approved the final Environmental Impact Report, certifying the 43-mile project yesterday. The new rail section will link the San Francisco Bay Area and the Peninsula to San Jose, the Central Valley, and Los Angeles County. Now they have to secure funding for the final design and pre-construction.

The South Lake County Fire Protection District has secured a major donation to buy a couple of
new generation portable dip tanks, also known as HeloPods. That is a mobile helicopter dip tank for large choppers. That will help firefighters get a water dip site set up faster, so firefighters are only tasked with connecting hoses to a hydrant. It means choppers can suck water right from the hydrant as it hovers. Lake Co News reports that will shorten their turnaround times. The District is one of a handful of others in the state that use the HeloPods which are manufactured in Simi Valley.

A new strike team to fight fires in Calif. has been announced by the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) and the California Military Department. Team Blaze will be operated by a state military department. The Type VI strike team of wildland-style fire engines will be run by the California military. They’ll be able to carry a four-person crew. The Cal OES director says they value the partnership with the military, during these times of need, especially during wildfires or other natural disasters. And the military responded saying they too are proud to be part of the collaboration, making sure there are more fire engines and expert staff ready to roll during major emergencies.

Things are starting to look a lot better in the Six Rivers Lightning Complex fire. There was supposed to be a storm coming, but it never happened, so firefighters got to two-thirds containment on the monster fire, still the second largest in the state. Fire managers say they had minimal fire behavior yesterday and they were able to get debris cleaned up in some areas. Crews were also able to do work to protect natural resources in Humboldt and Trinity counties, and they say, to prevent further harm. Managers also say they’re continuing suppression efforts that can help get folks back into the area. The fire so far has burned over 25,000 acres and is 67% contained.

The Mendocino County Wildfire Recovery and Resiliency Survey is ready for residents to fill out. They’ve been working on the survey a couple of years looking for feedback on recovery and continuing needs of fire survivors. The Department of Prevention, Recovery, Resiliency, & Mitigation (PRRM) is looking for feedback after five years of destructive wildfires in the area going back to the 2017 Redwood Complex fire, the Mendocino Complex fire in 2018, the August Complex and Oak fires of 2020, and the Hopkins fire, last summer. Other concerns about fire mitigation efforts in the county for those not directly harmed by a declared wildfire disaster.

News 8/18/2022

After reports of a motorcyclist down between Ukiah and Hopland earlier this week, more details emerge about the crash. The accident on Sunday morning happened, the CHP reports, after a white SUV tried to merge onto the 101 south at Talmage Rd. when a blue Harley Davidson was also at the onramp. The SUV apparently headed the wrong way onto the highway, hitting the motorcycle. The motorcyclist was killed, and the driver of the SUV was uninjured. They stayed on the scene though. Reports say that drugs and alcohol were not considered to be factors in the crash.

If you need records from Mendocino County, you’re going to pay for it. The Board of Supervisors has approved charging money for records requests. But get this… after some local media complaints about the costs, the Board approved of a separate fund of grant money to cover those requests. Mendocino Voice, which was one of the organizations speaking out reports the ordinance is not legal per the California Public Records Act. If you’re requesting records from the county, it’s $20/hour for a search of records considered to be public domain, which up to $150/hour for records that may need redactions. And the county will have to give the requester a good faith estimate of how long it’ll take if it’s over $50. The first hour is free, but only once a month for the same person or organization. Apparently the county’s following guidance by the state attorney general.

A church that ignored pandemic related safety restrictions by continuing to hold mass gatherings and accrued $200,000 in fines is off the hook. A state appeals court ruled Calvary Chapel San Jose and its pastors who were held in contempt of court and ordered to pay massive fines because they violated indoor public gathering limits in 2020 and 2021. The Appeals court ruled to overturn the lower court decisions after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against the state’s ban on indoor worship as COVID-19 continued raging across the state, saying it violated freedom of religion. But Santa Clara County says they’ll still be going after $2.3 million in penalties from the church for breaking COVID safety rules in late 2020.

The Mendocino County Board of Supervisors looks poised to take up concerns by the Grand Jury about mismanagement and delays of the equity cannabis grant program. The General Government committee, which meets monthly will now oversee the program, something Cannabis advocates have wanted for a while. The state funded program is to help folks in the cannabis industry who were impacted by the federal government’s war on drugs. The board asked to approve an amendment to an agreement with Elevate Impact for work they did last year and weren’t paid for. It all comes after the Grand Jury report entitled “Building the Airplane While It’s Flying”. At the meeting Tuesday the county counsel said the board could end the program it wanted to.

After a shooting on Highway 20, the name of the victim who died has been revealed. The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office reports 52-year-old Daniel Martin Shealor of Fort Bragg was murdered Friday morning. He apparently got himself to the hospital somehow but died at the hospital that day. No other info was released. Mendo Fever reports a friend of the victim has set up a fund for his cremation because she’s $750 dollars short. Donations are being accepted for the cremation through Cashapp at $crystallaviletta.

The kelp forests off the Mendocino coast are starting to recover with improved environmental conditions – and thanks to a conservation program that sent divers to remove 45-thousand pounds of invasive purple sea urchins. The urchins have devastated the once massive bull kelp forests, leaving a lifeless barren behind. Dan Abbott with the Reef Check Foundation says this is the first large-scale kelp-restoration project of its kind in northern California.

:10  “It’s not back to where it was, say pre-2015. It’s still only about 20% of the historical average. But again, it’s only like a year and a half in. And it’s a very encouraging result.”

Tag:  The purple sea-urchin population has exploded in the last eight years or so, partially because a wasting disease has decimated their chief predator, the sea star. In addition, the area has no sea otters to keep the urchins in check – because the otters were hunted to extinction in the early 19-hundreds.

***

Second Cut: Sheila Semans with the Noyo Center for Marine Science in Fort Bragg says the kelp forests are crucial habitat for hundreds of species.

:14  “The sea lions hunt in it, the abalone eat it, the rockfish hide in it. There’s just so many ecosystem services that it provides. On top of that, it sequesters carbon, and it buffers wave action along the coast. “

Tag:  The Noyo Center also is working to create a new fishery for purple urchins, which can be fattened up in an aquaculture facility and sold. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife says it plans to develop a comprehensive statewide Kelp Recovery and Management Plan over the next 5 to 10 years.

After inmates jailed in Lake County during the pandemic triggered changes in the system… the Grand Jury has adjusted their reporting. The report “Confinement During a Pandemic: A Report on Inmate Health” was revised to show changes have been made at the jail, especially the report outlines, in the area of behavioral health. The cost of healthcare for inmates is over $2,500,000/year in the county. But the Grand Jury said even still they were getting feedback about maltreatment of inmates. The report showed the main problem was with the company providing healthcare for the inmates, Wellpath. They found there was no in person psychiatric counseling available nor were there any group sessions due to the pandemic. The jury report says counseling sessions need to be done in person, plus there needs to be follow up care for patients, and better management. They request the Public Health Dept. oversee healthcare agreements at the jail.

The Legislature is considering a bill so labor conflicts at fast food chains, falls to the corporation, not individual franchisees. Something that would be a first, in the nation. The bill says workers would be allowed to name the chain as the responsible party if a worker claims minimum wage violations or unpaid overtime at a franchise location. And also the franchisee would have a path to sue a restaurant chain if their contract had clauses so they had no choice but to violate labor law. It looks to appease unions who want fast food businesses more strictly regulated. There could also be a state-run, fast food council that would set wage and labor standards across the industry.

The California Department of Justice is not saying it its reviewed body camera footage of a deputy-involved shooting near Geyserville. A Sonoma County Sheriff’s deputy shot and killed an immigrant farmworker who they say was armed with a hammer, a gardening tool and a rock. The Department of Justice says they’re not investigating the July 29th shooting but didn’t say they decided against it after reviewing body-cam footage from the involved deputies. A state law that went into effect last year says the California Attorney General and Department of Justice have to investigate law enforcement officers who use deadly force against unarmed civilians. The DOJ says the man who was shot and killed did not appear to be unarmed.

More fraud regarding payments that went out in the state during the lockdown. A review of California’s Rental Assistance Program by the State Controller Betty Yee shows widespread fraud. Just like the Employment Development Dept. Documents released by the Controller on the Housing and Community Development’s payments last year showed potentially fraudulent applications worth as much as 18 million dollars and about seven million was disbursed. The assistance program was put in place in March of 2021 to give eligible residents financial help with rent and utilities amid the COVID pandemic.

News 8/17/2022

Due to incoming storms that could cause more fires, there’s a Red Flag Warning going into effect. The National Weather Service warns thunderstorms could hit northeastern Mendocino, eastern Humboldt, and across Trinity County where there’s already a decent sized fire, in the Six Rivers area. Dry brush, low humidity and possible lightning strikes may trigger extreme fire behavior between 11:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. Meteorologists say conditions could become dangerous with unstable air today along with a lack of moisture. Winds are expected to gust up to 40 miles/hour and fires that start could spread quickly. Additionally, Pacific Gas & Electric has not planned any Public Safety Power Shutoffs for the next week, but it may be a good idea to visit their website to be sure. The Six River Lightning Fire Complex in eastern Humboldt and Trinity Counties has burned over 21,600 acres and is 19% contained.

A couple of fires started in Lake County that are believed to be arson. The fires started last night
south of Clear Lake near Borax Lake around 5:25 p.m. One was about an acre, the other 2 acres and reported to be spreading slowly and quickly contained. Before a half hour was up fire officials said forward progress had stopped. Some firefighters remained for mop up.

School is about to begin again in Ukiah. The School District put out a statement welcoming back more than 6,000 students—from preschool to high school seniors. The district says the goal is to provide the best education possible for local kids regardless of their unique educational needs and goals. In something of a mission statement besides outlining each school and their goals for the year, the district said they strive to both challenge and inspire students to value different perspectives and become successful, contributing citizens in an increasingly interdependent world. They will be continuing their after-school partnerships with the City of Ukiah, SPACE, and the Boys & Girls Club for free activities and enrichment for students. For more specific info from each school, visit the district’s website on Monday’s start for the upcoming school year.

A free Dump Week is planned by Caltrans. Along with Mendocino County, Solid Wastes of Willits, Round Valley Indian Tribes, and the Round Valley Area Municipal Advisory Council the free large item Dump Week is all next week. Residents will be able to can properly dispose of unwanted, bulky items through the Governor’s Clean California initiative which provided $1.1 billion dollars. The effort led by Caltrans over several years to beautify spaces by removing trash, create thousands of jobs and engage communities to transform public spaces. For Covelo, the event will continue all next week from 9am-3pm or until capacity is filled at the Transfer Station. Future events include Casper and Willits.

Visit CleanCA.com to learn more about how Clean California is transforming communities with Dump Day events to keep trash from reaching our roads and waterways. For general questions about this event, please contact Ryan Maidrand at (707) 498-5174.

After a closed Lake County Board of Supervisors meeting, there’s a new Community Development Dept. Director. Mireya Turner is on the Lakeport City Council and has other experience that makes her a fit for the Community Development Department in Lake. The new County Administrative Officer, Susan Parker, reported the last Director, Mary Darby, left as of last Friday, even though when she originally said she would resign, her last day was supposed to be November 4th. For her part Turner says she’s honored to take on the interim role and that Darby had made great improvements in the same position. Turner was the Deputy Director before this, and after three years working in the City of Ukiah.

A contract has finally been agreed to by the Lakeport City Council for a construction company to build the new Lakefront Park. Builder Solutions of Redding and Granite Construction were the sole bidders, with Builder coming in about a million dollars less and winning. The city has received nearly $6 million dollars in grant money from the state to buy a property for the park which will include a lakeside promenade to be linked with Library Park. The property used to house Natural High School. Apparently Granite Construction complained about Builder Solutions and it turned out there had been other complaints, but no matter, the company explained away enough, that Lakeport hired them. The city will hire a consultant to oversee the contractor doing the work.

The man accused of involvement in the death of a toddler and abandonment of his brother had apparently just been released from jail a couple days before. Edward “Two Feathers” Steele is back in jail after reportedly leaving the two tots by railroad tracks in scorching heat in Ukiah. Court documents say he was allowed to serve the remainder of his term in recovery at the Ford Street Project, but left because he tested positive for COVID. His girlfriend and him got into an altercation at a motel and she was arrested. Deputies responded and say they were told the kids were being cared for by a babysitter. When mom returned to the motel, she reported her kids were missing. Steele has been charged with 2nd degree murder and felony child endangerment with great bodily harm. He’s due back in court next Wednesday.

A consortium of five groups working to protect and restore North Coast salmon and steelhead fisheries have filed a lawsuit against a federal agency regulating hydropower dams. The court documents in the case say the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission violated the Endangered Species Act (ESA) by not protecting native fish in their approval of the decommissioning of the Potter Valley Project’s two dams on the Eel River. California Trout, Friends of the Eel River, Institute for Fisheries Resources, Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations and Trout Unlimited’s lawsuit claims FERC’s allowing an excessive and unlawful “take” of ESA-protected fish species below the dams. The consortium is asking the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to modify the Annual License for the Project, to comply with the Endangered Species Act.

A flex alert has been issued across the state to conserve energy. The alert from the state’s electric grid operator from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. so energy supplies are not too strained due to the forecast of a scorching heat wave where temperatures are expected to peak above 100 degrees along with a potential for dry thunderstorms and lightning-sparked wildfires. The flex alert was issued yesterday ahead of the blistering heat which will push up energy needs statewide. The power grid operator is preparing for increasing energy needs, especially from air-conditioners. Some ideas, pre-cool your house overnight hours, by opening windows, then closing them and all curtains and blinds first thing in the morning.  Set your thermostat to 72, but during the actual flex alert, set it to 78, or higher if you can tolerate it, don’t use major appliances, and turn off unnecessary lights.

News 8/16/2022

Any scheduled maintenance on generators and transmission-lines need to be delayed this week. That’s because the temperatures will be so high, that it could trigger power outages as many across the state will be using their air conditioners around the clock. It’s supposed to be in the 100’s and above in some places. The state’s electric grid operator said last week, to delay certain big jobs that will tax the electric grid this week.

The fire burning along the Oregon border has grown again. The Six Rivers Lightning Complex picked up several hundred acres yesterday. It’s now the second largest fire in the state at just over 20,000 acres and 19% contained. The McKinney Fire in Siskiyou County, is nearly 100% contained, but is still the largest. The Six Rivers fire is burning across Trinity and Humboldt Counties after sparking August 5^th in a lightning storm. There were 12 fires to start that made up the Complex, then four, then yesterday fire managers said several fires east of Hwy 299 have grown together. It’s being called the Campbell Fire. And another cluster of fires to the west of Hwy 299 are all one too, those are called the Ammon Fire.

As expected almost 2,000 Kaiser Permanente mental health workers have taken to the picket line. Psychologists, therapists, social workers, and other mental health workers in Northern California are on strike, complaining about staffing shortages causing patients to wait months to get an appointment, or follow up. The worker’s union, the National Union of Healthcare Workers is working with Kaiser for a new contract, adding pay raises, but the union says, they’ve not met other requests. Workers say patients cannot get into to seek help, there are some waiting up to eight weeks for an appointment. Kaiser says they’ve hired hundreds of new mental health workers, 200 since January 2021, and say the staffing issue for mental health care professionals is happening nationwide.

Both the Lake and Mendocino Counties Air Quality Management Districts are reporting air is being impacted by fires up north. In Lake County, the Six Rivers Lightning Complex fire and others are bringing smoke to the area, with monitors reading moderate air quality. Lower elevations will see the most smoke impact. In Mendocino they warn the triple digit heat along with low humidity and shifting winds could bring unhealthy air and smoke to valley areas. Inland areas could see moderate smoke accumulation, but they say things should hopefully clear out by the weekend. Those particularly sensitive to smoke should stay indoors if possible.

The Mendocino Cannabis Alliance is starting a Pledge Drive. The organization touts itself as the premier cannabis trade association in the county. Their Pledge of Alliance Drive starts with their inaugural Mendocino Cannabis Advocacy Awards to celebrate leaders in the Mendocino community who they feel have gone out of their way to advocate for local legacy cannabis cultivators and businesses.  The group says in 2020 alone operators in Mendocino County brought in over $110M to the economy. They also warn the industry is in trouble but they’re committed to continue introducing sustainable local cannabis policies, so they need support.

An accident has been reported with a PG&E vehicle and a big rig hauling cement. Yesterday early morning the CHP reported to the accident on Highway 101 between Ukiah and Hopland. The service truck hit the big rig which had a large load of cement, and a third vehicle apparently hit a bridge nearby. The accident blocked the highway and caused a traffic snarl-up around 630am. They were detouring drivers around the area and reported an extended closure of the highway. And two people ended up in the hospital. No word on their conditions. The highway opened after about 6-7 hours.

Extreme drought conditions are becoming a topic on everyone’s mind these days. And in Lakeport, the City Council is getting an update on the current conditions at their next meeting. We are in a record drought, and since this could be the regular, city staff are working on a more comprehensive drought response plan. The Record Bee reports the plan will include thresholds and responses so the public can still tap into the water supply. The work will be over the next six months and include public workshops and meetings with groups including, the Lake County Department of Water Resources, Lake County Special Districts, Scotts Valley Advisory Committee and the Big Valley and Scotts Valley tribes.

California kids are not only getting free meals in school, it’s on the healthier side nowadays too. Egg white breakfast wraps, vegetarian ramen, gumbo, glazed carrots and organic cheeseburgers are gracing school menus. Ed Source reports now that the state is giving more money to schools to expand menus, they’re able to offer more fresh, healthy ingredients. Meals have been free since the COVID19 pandemic started. This fall will be the first school year the state joins others with free breakfast and lunch. The USDA has been reimbursing school districts nationwide for free meals for all students. Before that low-income students were the only ones getting free meals. But after the next school year, they will return to low-income students only again.

News 8/15/2022

In Fort Bragg, they’re extending the nomination period for four open City Council seats. Those are for 3 four-year terms, and another two year term due to the Vice Mayor deciding not to run for re-election. So, filing for candidacy ends instead this Wednesday. As of last week, the original deadline, there were thirteen people who asked for nomination papers, but only two were returned. One for a current councilmember was certified after it was returned. During their last meeting the City Council proposed adding a 3/8 cent sales tax, but then decided to wait and not have it on the November General Election ballot. The money would go to pay for workforce housing because companies have been struggling to find new people due to a lack of proper housing. The tax, if it passes, could bring in about $800,000 annually.

The Mendocino Theatre Company’s Board of Directors announces new leaders. Last year, the Executive Director, Pamela Allen put in her notice after six years at the helm. The board announced it took six months to find a whole new team. The new Producing Director is Elizabeth Craven, Betty Abramson, Mark Friedrich, and Roxy Sevens are all associate Artistic Directors and Lorry Lepaule was promoted to Director of Youth and Alternative Programming. The board also has a new mission statement, anti-harassment policy, and say they’re committed to include more diverse work and artists in future seasons.

A motorcyclist has died after a crash into a white car in Ukiah. The Police scanner said medics on the scene performed CPR, but the motorcycle rider died at the scene. It happened on the southbound Talmage onramp to Highway 101. They had to close the onramp for a while after the crash, which is being investigated.

Three men have been arrested after reports six Hispanic men were seen walking in Ukiah with rifles, wearing camouflage clothing. The Sheriff’s Office responded Friday night on Bell Springs Road and were told there had been unreported armed home invasions in the area last year, and that six Hispanic men with rifles might have been involved. Three Hispanic men from Fresno were found, and while they had no rifles, they did have about 10 pounds of bud marijuana, packaged in one pound bags they were going to sell. They were arrested for transportation of marijuana for sale and conspiracy and booked into jail on $20,000.00 bail each.

A man in Willits has been arrested after reports he had been stalking someone in the area. Someone told Deputies about the man in the backseat of a car parked in their neighborhood, Alfredo Nunez Aguilar. They approached and found he was high on drugs, they say they saw a handgun and glass pipe. They ordered him to show his hands, searched him and found live ammo on him. They also found over 5 grams of drugs, binoculars, bolt cutters, wire cutters, and a game camera. He had a criminal background so he was arrested for being in possession of a firearm and ammunition, possession of a controlled substance while armed with a loaded firearm, being under the influence of a controlled substance while armed and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was held on $35,000.00 bail.

A local vintage shop says since so many people have been visiting the store, they’re donated more than $25,000 to several Mendocino County charities. Good Buy Clothes in Point Arena reports donating $25,500 to non-profits including, Acorn Windy Hollow Farms, Redwood Coast Educational Foundation, Gualala Food Bank, South Coast Food Bank, Meals on Wheels, Coast Community Library and Project Santa. The store sells donated new and lightly used items. They’re not taking in any donations at the moment due to excess inventory, and a lack of storage space. The store is run by unpaid volunteers.

Another fire has broken out near Yosemite National Park. This is the third this summer. This one is about 8 miles south-east of Yosemite Village. Firefighters within the park say the Red Fire, which comes after the Oak and Washburn Fires, has burned nearly 170 acres. It apparently started about 10 days ago, but then due to extreme heat, and dry weather with wind, the fire grew. It was started by a lightning strike August 4th. Visitors have reported seeing smoke. A spokesperson for the national park says they’re monitoring it, and right now it’s not a threat. He says there were other small starts the last week, but they’re all out now.

A woman shot by Deputies in Fresno reportedly showed them a handgun. 30-year-old Mariah Spate of Clearlake was pulled over for a traffic violation. She was found to have a warrant out for her arrest for a domestic incident last month, where the victim was shot in the face. Police say she was arrested and put in handcuffs, but somehow slipped out of the cuffs, produced the gun and pointed it at deputies through the window of a patrol car and fired. Two deputies shot back, hitting her. She’s in stable condition. And apparently a drone above was able to record the entire incident. Deputies went to remove her from a home because of an eviction notice, triggering the entire event.

Those fires that broke out in the Six Rivers National Forest continue to expand, but fire officials say they believe they are well prepared to beat the monster back. There were four fires making up the Lightning Complex which has burned over 19,000 acres. There is some containment now too, up from zero Friday, to 17% as of Cal Fire’s report late yesterday afternoon. A spokesperson for the Incident Management Team told the Times-Standard newspaper they’ve been working diligently, building hand and dozer lines, contingency lines, and have mapped out several plans for what direction the fire might take. He says they’re comfortable with the plan in place. The fires started August 5th during a thunderstorm, sparking 12 fires. There are now four large fires that make up the complex. Meanwhile, State Senator Mike McGuire tweeted last night that the skies above Northern Calif. were filled with smoke. He says Trinity County is “severely impacted” and parts of Humboldt, Mendocino, Sonoma & Lake Counties also saw smoke from Six Rivers yesterday.

The Lake County Board of Supervisors continues without one Supervisor, but there may be change coming. The board wrote a letter to the Governor for an appointment to the District 4 seat after Tina Scott resigned. That opened up a portal for online applications to fill the vacancy on the Governor’s website. The Record Bee reports Lakeport City Council Member Michael Green said he applied, adding that the only requirement is living in District 4. He’s been a City Council member for a couple of years, was a Planning Commission member in Lakeport and has experience as a journalist and working in the cannabis industry. If he’s appointed, then the City Council would have to have a special election to fill that seat.

Mendocino County’s holding a back to school vaccination drive. The Back to School Immunization Event for Tdap & Varicella is for middle school children this Friday from 2-6pm at Pomolita Middle School in Ukiah. The shots are required for children to be able to attend middle school. The inoculations are free for all Mendocino County students. A parent or guardian must be present, and your student’s vaccine records are required. Students going into 7th grade must be up to date with all immunizations required under California Law.

The Lake County Registrar of Voters Office has announced a county random alphabet drawing. That’s this Thursday at 11:00 a.m. at the Registrar of Voters office in Lakeport. The results of the drawing will be used to arrange the names of candidates on the County of Lake’s November 8, 2022 General Election official ballots for the legislative offices of State Senator, District 2 and Member of the State Assembly, District 4.

Thousands of Kaiser Permanente mental health workers are striking. Starting today the open-ended strike was supposed to hit Northern California and the Central Valley for what workers say are unsustainable workloads and long appointment waits, which is against a new state law that requires pretty immediate follow-up mental health care appointments for most patients. The National Union of Healthcare Workers is the union representing the workers and says Kaiser has been canceling thousands of behavioral health appointments with no alternative for the patients. The union also says they did however reach a deal with the healthcare giant on pay, but there are still outstanding issues, including staffing and giving providers time for both patient appointments and administrative tasks, and there is no negotiation date for that.

News 8/12/2022

College savings accounts are being set up by the state with a little added in. Low-income families are getting the accounts with deposits of up to $1,500 per child as part of the CalKIDS program, administered by ScholarShare Investment Board. The program is for college advances for kids in low-income families, from first to 12th grade. Children are automatically enrolled. The amount a child gets is based on a Local Control Funding Formula. All Calif. newborn children will also get a boost no matter the family’s income. Those accounts start with $100. The state is putting up over $1.9 billion toward the accounts.

Sutter Health is getting some bad press as thousands of healthcare workers and nurses say they messed up their pay. A spokesperson for Sutter says they had put in a new human-resources and payroll system recently, which was complex. But at the same time says, most of their more than 50,000 employees got their checks as expected, but there were some data issues from their old system, so some of their employees did not get paid the way they should. She says they’re working diligently to fix the issues as soon as possible. Employees called out the company saying, in some cases, they lost thousands of dollars, in the meantime. Their unions say they immediately reported the errors, but they were not made good on.

The company that operates the Skunk Train, Mendocino Railway, is suing to use more railroad tracks. The company filed a federal lawsuit in Eureka against the City of Fort Bragg and the California Coastal Commission so they can more easily operate the railroad. The President of the Railway company says they want to expand but there are road bocks in their way. He says state and local agencies should not be allowed to disregard federal law by using state powers to get in the way of transporting passengers and freight. The company is trying to get the power to extend the railroad 13 miles north of Willits, which is where the Great Redwood Trail is being built.

It’s a big thumbs up in Clearlake for a new women’s clinic. The Clearlake Planning Commission all voted yes to allow the anti-abortion group, the Pregnancy Counseling Center of Ukiah, calling itself, Mendo Lake Women’s Clinic, to set up in town. They’ll be inside a building that used to be an eye clinic. The planning commission’s staff writes the clinic is a nonprofit, and its original clinic is located in Ukiah. The company is also known as the Center for Life Choices, which will fund the new clinic. The chair of the board says their mission is to stop the need for abortions by effectively serving pregnant, at-risk women by transforming their fear into confidence.

After both cities okayed the agreement, Clearlake Police will start to service Lakeport as well. Because of staffing shortages in Lakeport, the chief asked for help from his counterpart in Clearlake. After an agreement was drafted and both cities signed off, the work begins today. Lake Co News also reports the contract will allow Lakeport Police officers to work in Clearlake as well, if they’re ever in the same boat. The city of Lakeport is paying for the help. Lakeport police have had a mutual working relationship for years with Clearlake, and the agency says they have practically all of the same policies, procedures and training. To start, Clearlake Police will work a few shifts/week temporarily.

The Governor says he’s been working on ways to increase the water supply in the state as we continue to deal with hotter temperatures and lower humidity. Newsom has announced “California’s Water Supply Strategy, Adapting to a Hotter, Drier Future”. It comes after the previous announcement of $8 billion in investments the state’s already made to help store, recycle, desalt and conserve water to outpace climate change. The plan to reportedly bring the state enough water for over 8.4 million households by 2040.

In what’s being called a “catastrophic failure”, tens of thousands of fish have died at the UC Davis Center for Aquatic Biology and Aquaculture. The University says 21,000 fish were exposed to chlorine, and they’re investigating. But it’s an outside, independent review, so they can see where their systems failed, and what potential risks there are at similar facilities. The 5-acre facility is home to various aquatic biology programs, with more than a dozen species being studied at any given time. While this happened, they were studying environmental stressors on fish species including green and white sturgeon and the endangered Chinook salmon.

The Governor’s Office of Emergency Services is working on current fires they say, but also still completing recovery operations from fires last year. The agency announced over 99 percent of the private properties who had enrolled in the state’s Consolidated Debris Removal Program have been cleared of wildfire debris. There are some homes that don’t use the state program, instead opting to use private companies. Cal OES reported as of Wednesday of this week crews had pulled out metal, concrete, ash and contaminated soil from 1,773 of the 1,775 private properties enrolled in program. There was over 430,000 tons of wildfire debris cleared away across the state. And 67,000 tons of metal and concrete were recycled for new construction.

As the latest Legislative session is about done, there’s been a flurry of hearings. Some of the bills headed to the Governor’s desk, could become law or be veto’d. Some of the last minute proposals being considered include one of the Governor’s for new courts for the homeless so they can get mental health or substance abuse treatment. Another to limit using solitary confinement in jails and prisons, allow for the composting of human remains and increase family leave payments for lower-wage workers, though it wouldn’t take effect until 2024.  Some that died before moving on include, one by Republican lawmakers to cap the co-pay on insulin, another to approve procedures and drug prescriptions without getting insurance company permission first and another that could have allowed prosecutors to go after social media companies for knowingly addicting children.

News 8/11/2022

The man in Ukiah accused in connection to the death of a one-year-old has finally appeared in court. A couple of days ago Edward Two Feathers Steele refused to appear by video by the jail, but yesterday he was in attendance for his arraignment. It comes after two tots, one two-year-old and his infant brother were abandoned near the railroad tracks. In court yesterday, the judge in the case ordered his court appointed lawyer to make sure she had no conflicts, but then the DA asked for a new judge saying the current judge has been accused of prejudice so plaintiffs believe they can’t get a fair trial. The judge had previously been a public defender herself and Steele appeared before her previously in another matter. So no plea was entered, and Steele will have to appear again August 24^th. He faces life in prison if he’s convicted for second degree murder and child cruelty among other charges.

The fire burning across Humboldt and Trinity County continues to grow and send smoke into the air across Northern Calif. The Six Rivers Lightning Complex is moving pretty slow, but nonetheless has burned well over 11,000 acres. The complex is burning in rugged terrain near Willow Creek in Humboldt County and Salyer in Trinity County, where there have been evacuation orders in place. The fire has no 0% containment, but there have been no injuries and so far no damage.

A fire broke out in Kelseyville after some cars, boats and RVs went up in flames and it spread to nearby vegetation. The Pharo fire broke out yesterday afternoon but only charred about
1.5 acres.

A fire has engulfed a massive piece of construction equipment used by a logging company. Apparently, protestors none too happy about the work by the Humboldt Redwood Company being used to build roads in the Rainbow Ridge area torched it. Kym Kemp reports locals heard on scanners that firefighters were being sent to a vehicle fire in the area, but then revised, asking for a full wildland response. A large tractor had been set ablaze, but thankfully it didn’t spread to nearby brush and very dry fuels, thanks to the extreme drought. The news site reports protestors have been trying to stop the Redwood Co. from logging old growth trees for years. One protestor was living in a tree in the area a couple of weeks ago. On Monday there were reports of up to 3 dozen people in the area blocking the gate into the area.

A woman accused of driving a pickup and crossing to the other side of Highway 101 near state route 271 has been seriously injured along with two children. Sherrie Keener was in the pickup and came upon a box truck which was pulled over. For some reason Keener drove onto the shoulder of the 101 and hit the side of the truck. That driver had no injuries, but Keener had major injuries. A man with her was treated on the scene for moderate injuries. And the two kids were being treated in a hospital. Keener was also arrested before being hospitalized for felony DUI of drugs resulting in injuries to another person.

The Governor has nominated a new chief justice for the state Supreme Court. Governor Newsom has chosen Justice Patricia Guerrero, who was appointed to the court as an associate justice in February. She was the first Latina to sit on the court. The nomination comes after the current Chief Justice, Tani Cantil-Sakauye’s announces she was not going to go after a second term when her current term ends in January. Newsom says Guerrero, who hails from the Imperial Valley, has broken barriers and “enriched the highest court with her insights and deep understanding of the real-world impacts of the Court’s decisions in the lives of everyday Californians.”

A naturopathic doctor from Northern Calif. who delivered worthless COVID19 immunization treatments and bogus vaccination cards could be going to jail after her plea agreement was tossed. The judge in the case of Juli A. Mazi, of Napa, would not allow her to change her plea or back out of a plea deal. The judge also said no to the agreement, for a guilty plea to wire fraud and making false statements related to health matters. Mazi fired her lawyers and was representing herself. It’s the first federal criminal fraud prosecution of its kind related to forged vaccination cards for COVID-19.

The Governor has nominated a new chief justice for the state Supreme Court. Governor Newsom has chosen Justice Patricia Guerrero, who was appointed to the court as an associate justice in February. She was the first Latina to sit on the court. The nomination comes after the current Chief Justice, Tani Cantil-Sakauye’s announces she was not going to go after a second term when her current term ends in January. Newsom says Guerrero, who hails from the Imperial Valley, has broken barriers and “enriched the highest court with her insights and deep understanding of the real-world impacts of the Court’s decisions in the lives of everyday Californians.”

Another drinking water advisory for folks who take the water directly out of Clear Lake. Residents who live along the shore of the Lower and Oaks arms were warned by the county there is bad bacteria in the water, and boiling or putting chemicals in the water, won’t help. Those impacted can pick up 25 gallons /week of drinking water at filling stations, courtesy of Golden State and Mt. Konocti Mutual Water Companies. Last month the Big Valley Environmental Protection Agency sampled 19 locations and visible, harmful algal blooms were noted at 14 of the locations sampled. 16 of the samples were submitted to cyanotoxin levels. Five locations had dangerous levels and testing showed there might also be other contaminants in the systems too.

The list of parks who are getting grants from the California State Parks Foundation has been released. The 2022 State Parks Improvement Grant recipients include Mendo Parks. The $10,000 will be distributed across several parks, Mendocino Headlands, Jug Handle Nature Reserve, Van Damme, Russian Gulch, and the Navarro River Redwoods State Park. The state’s working with local indigenous tribes to update park brochures with new photographs and potentially all-new brochure artwork by contemporary Pomo artists. There will also be updated trail guides and public ADA accommodations noted therein.

Intro: State lawmakers are about to vote on twin bills to study and mitigate heat waves. If passed, there would be a heat-ranking system, similar to what’s in place for tornadoes and hurricanes. David Azevedo with A-A-R-P California says heat is the leading weather-related cause of death in the country.

 :14  "Older people are more susceptible to heat-related illnesses due to weakened cardiovascular systems, pre-existing health conditions, and the fact that many prescription medications used by older people impact temperature regulation and hydration."

Tag: California’s Fourth Climate Change Assessment, in 2018, predicted that excess deaths due to extreme heat could hit 43-hundred per year by 2025, and 11-thousand by 2050 if trends continue.

Second Cut: Azevedo says one of the bills in the Assembly could fund projects to increase tree canopies, build shaded bus shelters, install so-called “cool pavement” and retrofit buildings to make them more heat-resistant.

 :14  "AB 2076 would also create an extreme heat and health reporting system, which will receive and analyze data from local health departments, clinics and hospitals to better identify where extreme heat is most negatively harming communities."

Tag: The bill would also create the country’s first “chief heat officer.” The two bills could get an up-or-down vote without a hearing.

News 8/10/2022

A fire has triggered evacuations in the tiny towns of Willow Creek and Salyer. Firefighters have spread out into Humboldt and Trinity counties where the Six Rivers Lightning Complex spreads. The fire has increased to more than 10,000 acres with zero percent containment. It grew 2,000 acres in the last day or so. The Trinity County Sheriff’s Department sent out a new evacuation warning yesterday afternoon. The Forest Service is also warning the fires that make up the complex can mushroom in size as they spread uphill, and that there could be extreme fire behavior. The area has not burned in years, so fuels are ripe to burn. Firefighters were preparing the area by wetting it down. Cal Fire is working with the US Forest Service on the Complex, which is the 3rd largest on Cal Fire’s map at the moment.

Controversy as the former Mendocino County CEO also speaks out on the so-called financial crisis the county is in. Mendo Fever interviewed former CEO Carmel Angelo who says the county has reserves of about $20 million dollars, at least it did when she retired earlier this year, and that the Board of Supervisors knew that. She says they were fully briefed about the jail construction project and labor negotiations with county employees. But she says recent criticism of herself, and the board is “wrong and unfair”. She went on to say if there’s a lack of fiscal leadership at the county level it’s due to the board. This comes after county finance officials, one former, said the board did not allow open comment and they don’t understand the financial complexities of operating the county.

The Lake County Planning Commission is considering a major use permit for a cannabis operation. Lamberti Farms is trying to get a permit for a marijuana grow in Clearlake Oaks. It includes a mitigated negative declaration after an initial study on over 430,000 square feet. They’ll also consider a request for a major use permit from Konocti Christian Academy for a new private school, of pre-K through ninth grade in Kelseyville. The school has been situated on land at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Lakeport.

An open house is being hosted by Caltrans to get public comments on a proposed wildlife overcrossing on State Highway 20. The town hall is next Thursday, a week from tomorrow in Contra Costa County, at the Williams City Hall at 6pm. They will show maps and other information connected to the plan, including the draft environmental document. Caltrans staff are on hand to answer any questions about the $9 million project about 10.5 miles west of Williams. They say the project will restore Tule Elk range and habitat connectivity between Cortina Ridge and Bear Valley.

Students are back in school already. Actually, tomorrow is the first day for kids to head back to the classroom in Lakeport. With that the School District has issued a traffic advisory to be sure they get to school safely. Along with Lakeport Police, school staff are reminding drivers to use extreme caution as they drive in school areas and on school grounds as they’re expecting heavier than normal car and pedestrian traffic in the mornings and afternoons. There will be more traffic cops in the area.

Free breakfast and lunch is being offered to children in the Potter Valley Community Unified School District. The District is home to about 275 students. The meals are being offered for the entire 2022/2023 school year. The only cafeteria for the schools is centrally located in the elementary school. It provides meals for three sites, the state pre-school, there at the elementary school, and the seventh-eighth grade junior high school and a comprehensive high school. They’re already been giving kids meals through their Seamless Summer Program for the last two years compliments of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), for free, to promote food security.

Another report has been released by the Lake County Civil Grand Jury, this one about the difficulty the county has finding and keeping a Public Health Officer. The jury also looked at why it’s taking so long for Human Resources to hire the officer as we’re still in the midst of the COVID19 pandemic. The report says they need a more “aggressive, proactive, user-friendly hiring and retention process/program for all vacant positions and with contracted search firms.” They recommend the county has a designated recruiter, better training, exit interviews and a more fluid process for succession and transition for new hires. The report says Human Resources has no dedicated person to follow up on hires, which could help minimize future turnover.

The death penalty could be on the table for a man from Occidental accused in the murder of a Lucerne man. 26-year-old Nova Maye Deperno is charged in the death of Ronald Meluso. He’s also charged with burglary, car theft and buying, selling and receiving stolen property after Deperno helped show deputies where the body was located. Deperno’s lawyer told the court he is not qualified to represent his client in the case if the county seeks the death penalty. The Deputy DA on the case says no decision has been made. The case will now be set for potential consideration of a new lawyer unless the death penalty is not sought. The next court date is next Tuesday. Deperno’s held in jail on more than $3M dollars bail.

Proposals are sought by the City of Lakeport for medium to large sized sculptures, or mixed or multimedia art installations for a new lakefront park in the downtown area. Those who are chosen will get between $5,000 to $20,000, depending on the size of their piece and the budget they need for materials, labor, installation needs, and any travel expenses. All interested are strongly encouraged to submit their proposals which are due by September 19th. There are no geographical restrictions for who applies. The art must be able to sustain outdoor environments and extreme weather. The art must be secured to the ground or a base.

For more information, contact Jenni Byers, Community Development Director, (707) 263-5615, Ext. 201, jbyers@cityoflakeport.com.

The Governor is asking lawmakers to speed up cutting greenhouse gases and getting to 100% clean energy quicker. Newsom’s also reportedly trying to get new regulations from the state Air Resources Board for oversight on projects to remove carbon dioxide from the air and sequester it underground. The Governor’s been trying to get this all passed by the Legislature before the current session ends. The Assembly Speaker says they appreciate Newsom’s bold actions, and support it, and they’ve already been working on it. And the State Senate is also apparently looking over Newsom’s proposals.

Police in Ukiah are asking anyone who may have seen a car crash into a mom pushing a stroller to come forward. The accident happened Sunday night. Police and firefighter medics arrived in the area near the Redwood Empire Fairgrounds finding a woman down on the ground with major injuries. She was taken to a hospital, then flown out of county for further treatment. Her baby was also taken to the hospital but was uninjured. The driver of the car that hit them admitted to police he was driving. They say he seemed intoxicated, so they arrested him. German Dominguez-Galindo was booked into jail. But police say the woman may have been walking outside of the crosswalk, so they’d like to interview anyone who may have seen the incident.

News 8/9/2022

A man accused of being involved somehow in the death of an infant is refusing to appear in court. Edward “Two Feathers” Steele was accused earlier this week of abandoning two toddlers along the railroad tracks in Ukiah, one of which was found dead. He’s charged now with felony murder in the second degree. The man was ordered to go to court to hear the charges against him, but reportedly didn’t go into the video conference room at the Mendocino County jail for a remote hearing. The DA filed additional charges including “willfully and unlawfully with malice aforethought” killing the child, referred to as K.A. and child endangerment. Another child, a two-year-old boy, was also in the hospital for heat exhaustion after being abandoned. Steele is set to be arraigned today.

After the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors said they needed help with finances from the state, they’re being criticized by others. The meeting last week included talk about the price of the new jail, and it was even discussed that the county was dealing with a financial crisis, by at least one board member. Then the newly elected Treasurer-Tax Collector/Auditor-Controller reportedly sent a letter to the Board, pointing to misinformation at the meeting with no way to rebut that or have an open discussion. The last Treasurer Tax-Collector told at least one news outlet most of the board was “ill-equipped to comprehend the financial complexities” of running the county and there’s no way there’s a financial crisis.

A small fire is out after burning a building. Mendo Fever reports Ukiah Valley Fire Authority was called yesterday morning to the 400 block of Talmage Boulevard and found a commercial trailer on fire. They made quick work of it, so it didn’t spread to a nearby building. The battalion chief said it seemed suspicious in nature and was human-caused. The news site reminds us, the fire comes just three weeks after another blaze was determined to be suspicious too. That one gutted a couple of cars on the same block of Talmage Rd. But the battalion chief said so far they’re not connected to each other. But he did say there’s been an “unusually high number of human-caused and malicious fires. And that it’s a concerning trend during the drought.

The 29th annual Art in the Gardens event at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens was a success. The word after a weekend of local art at the gardens, featuring 30 artists. There was food and local vendors complimenting the art last weekend. The organizers told the Mendocino Voice people had a lot of fun. They sold out both days, and they could have maybe had more attendees, but there was limited parking. Pre-pandemic they had a one-day event, but this year opted for two days so folks could spread out more. And they say they’ll continue with that model.

More housing could be coming to Lakeport. The Planning Commission is considering a couple of projects at their next meeting. One of them is an application for architectural and design review to bring a nearly 3,600 square foot commercial metal building for storage/distribution of packaged snack foods; and the other for a zone change, environmental review and general plan amendment to bring in 128 apartments and 48 homes. The apartments would be situated inside ten two-story buildings. They would be two and three bedrooms. There would be 48 nearby attached homes too. They are also looking to put in a business office, parking and landscaping, and internal access roads. The meeting is tomorrow night.

The Lake County Registrar of Voters office is reminding about the General Election in November. It’s time to file for School and Special District elective offices for the November 8^th ballot. The deadline is this Friday. The filing period opened July 18^th. If you’d like to check out the list of offices up for election you can visit the Registrar’s website. It includes the calendar and handbook, filing requirements and all election processes.

The South Ukiah Rotary is trying to help curb the use of plastic in a campaign called “End Plastic Soup”, to make the rivers of the world clean and healthy. They have put out the word they’re joining other local partners this year cleaning rivers in our own communities. You can help them “Beat Plastic” by attending their next fundraiser. It’s happening, one week from Saturday, August 20^th at Barra Winery. They say it’ll be a night of great food, entertainment & a live auction, with proceeds going to projects on the Russian River and an International Project in Bosnia on the River Drina.

The Middletown Area Town Hall is providing updates on local projects at their next meeting. It’s happening this Thursday at the Community Meeting Room in the Library. It’s also on Zoom. There will be a panel giving presentations on the Rabbit Hill water tanks beautification project; the Hidden Valley Lake Greenview Restaurant; and the Maha Gueno Project. The group will also consider a proposed amendment for their bylaws and discuss a clarification for the qualifications for board nominees. District 1 Supervisor Moke Simon will also be there to deliver a report. MATH is a municipal advisory council serving the residents of Anderson Springs, Cobb, Coyote Valley (including Hidden Valley Lake), Long Valley and Middletown.

Police are searching for anyone who may know what happened to a Northern California teen who disappeared from a campground. 16-year-old Kiely Rodni, of Truckee, has not been seen since Saturday when she was at the Prosser Family Campground where there were over 100 kids and young adults. The Placer County Sheriff’s Office reports her phone has no service, and her car vanished. They’re calling it an abduction because they cannot seem to find her vehicle. The family is offering a $50,000 reward and are pleading for anyone with information to come forward.

PG& E is holding another Wildfire Safety Webinar and is inviting customers to hear their wildfire prevention efforts. The company says in order to keep customers and communities safe while the risk of wildfires continue growing in Calif., they’re evolving their wildfire safety program to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires. As part of that, the webinar is happening tomorrow night over Zoom from 5:30 to 7 p.m. with energy experts who will provide a brief presentation. Then those in attendance will have time to ask questions. The event can be accessed through a link or dial-in at PG& E’s website, pge.com/ firesafetywebinars.

Some folks in the footprint of the massive McKinney Fire say they were never alerted to leave. An announcement never came from Siskiyou County officials or by text message from the emergency alert system. Many interviewed for a story who live around the fire area said they never got the alerts even though they had signed up for them, or they didn’t know they had to sign up. Since the fire is still active, officials say they can’t review the system to see what happened with the evacuation warnings. It was after the fact, after massive fires in Sonoma and Butte counties that they put money into improving their alert systems. But the McKinney Fire area is apparently the home to survivalists, off-the-grid folks and retirees who live there so they’re not bothered. The fire is holding at just over 60,000 acres and is 55% contained. 4 people were killed in the fire, trying to escape the flames, including one long time fire lookout.