WINTER STORM WARNING FOR LAKE COUNTY JKB 3/16/12
- A WINTER STORM WARNING WILL GO INTO EFFECT FOR LAKE COUNTY FROM 5 PM THIS AFTERNOON UNTIL 5 AM TOMORROW MORNING.
A STRONGER COLDER STORM IS EXPECTED TO DESCEND ON THE AREA LATE TONIGHT AND INTO TOMORROW MORNING BRINGING WITH IT PERIODS OF MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW AND STRONG WINDS FOR ELEVATIONS ABOVE 4000 FEET. SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 6 TO 12 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE BY SATURDAY MORNING FOR ELEVATIONS ABOVE 5000 FEET. SOUTH WEST WINDS OF 20 TO 30 MILES PER HOUR WITH GUSTS OVER 50 MILES PER HOUR OVER THE HIGHER TERRAIN ARE POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON INTO EARLY SATURDAY. MOTORISTS DRIVING INTO THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS ARE ADVISED TO BE PREPARED FOR EXTREME WINTER WEATHER DRIVING CONDITIONS.
JAIL INMATE DIES JKB 3/16/12
- A HUMBOLDT COUNTY JAIL INMATE DIED EARLY THURSDAY MORNING, JUST AFTER A JUDGE DENIED HER REQUEST TO BE RELEASED ON HER ON RECOGNIZANCE.
57 YEAR OLD LINDA THOMAS, ALSO KNOW AS LIND SILVA WAS ARRESTED MARCH 8TH AFTER ALLEGEDLY ASSAULTING SOMEONE WITH A HAMMER AT CHINS CAFÉ AND MOTEL. A CORRECTIONAL OFFICER IN THE JAILS FEMALE UNIT WAS NOTIFIED AT ABOUT 5 AM THAT THOMAS WAS IN NEED OF MEDICAL ASSISTANCE, FOUND HER NOT BREATHING IN HER CELL, AND IMMEDIATELY CALLED FOR MEDICAL HELP. CORRECTIONS OFFICERS BEGAN CPR, BUT THOMAS WAS LATER PRONOUNCED DEAD AT ST. JOSEPH HOSPITAL. AN INVESTIGATION INTO HER DEATH HAS BEGUN, BUT AUTHORITIES SAY THERE IS NO INDICATION OF FOUL PLAY. AN AUTOPSY HAS BEEN SCHEDULED FOR SUNDAY.
SHARK CAUSES BEACH WARNINGS JKB 3/16/12
- CALIFORNIA PARK RANGERS ARE WARNING SURFERS TO STAY OUT OF THE OCEAN AFTER A GREAT WHITE SHARK LEAPED OUT OF THE WATER AND ATTACKED AN ELEPHANT SEAL OFF OF WADDELL CREEK BEACH IN SANTA CRUZ SUNDAY.
SURFERS SPOTTED THE ATTACK ABOUT 150 YARDS OFF THE CREEK MOUTH. SIGNS WERE POSTED EARLIER THIS WEEK WARNING BEACH GOERS TO STAY OUT OF THE WATER. OFFICIALS HAVE DETERMINED THERE IS NO DIRECT THREAT BECAUSE THE ATTACK WAS BEYOND THE SURF BREAK. AS A PRECAUTION THE SIGNS WILL REMAIN UP THROUGH THE WEEKEND.
INJURY ACCIDENT JKB 3/16/12
- A WOMAN WAS SEVERELY INJURED AFTER HER CAR LEFT HIGHWAY 20 NEAR THE NORTH FORK CACHE CREEK BRIDGE AND CRASHED 50 TO 80 FEET DOWN AN EMBANKMENT THURSDAY MORNING.
THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED AT 8:47 AM. IT TOOK RESCUE CREWS ALMOST AN HOUR TO EXTRICATE THE WOMAN FROM THE WRECKAGE AND TRANSPORT HER TO THE CAL FIRE STATION AT WILBUR SPRINGS WHERE SHE WAS AIRLIFTED TO ENLOE HOSPITAL IN CHICO. HER NAME AND CONDITION HAVE NOT BEEN RELEASED. NO OTHER DETAILS ABOUT THE ACCIDENT WERE AVAILABLE.
MUCH NEEDED RAIN FILLS LAKE MENDOCINO JKB 3/16/12
- THE RECENT SPATE OF WINTER STORMS HAVE HELPED LAKE MENDOCINO ADD NEARLY 4000 ACRE FEET OF WATER SINCE SUNDAY, AND MORE RAIN IS ON THE WAY.
ACCORDING TO WATER OFFICIALS WITH THE RUSSIAN RIVER FLOOD CONTROL AND WATER CONSERVATION IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, LAKE PILLSBURYS WATER LEVEL HAS RISEN TO THE POINT WHERE ITS STORAGE CAN BE RECLASSIFIED FROM CRITICAL TO DRY, WHICH IS GOOD NEWS FOR GRAPE GROWERS WHO RELAY ON THAT RESERVOIR FOR FROST PROTECTION. MORE RAIN IS EXPECTED THROUGH SUNDAY.
SEIU AND MENDO COUNTY FORM LABOR MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE JKB 3/16/12
- SEIU LOCAL 1021, THE UNION WHICH REPRESENTS THE LARGEST NUMBER EMPLOYEES IN THE COUNTY, AND MENDOCINO COUNTY OFFICIALS, HAVE COLLABORATED IN THE FORMATION OF A LABOR MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE.
THE COUNTY PREVIOUSLY HAD A LABOR MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE, BUT IT HAD NOT MET FOR SEVERAL YEARS PRIOR TO A TWO DAY TRAINING SESSION HELD LAST WEEK THAT INCLUDED OFFICIALS AND MEMBERS FROM BOTH SEIU AND THE COUNTY. DURING THE TRAINING SESSION PARTICIPANTS ON BOTH SIDES AGREED ON MEMBERSHIP, OBJECTIVES AND GROUND RULES FOR THE NEW COMMITTEE, WHICH IS SCHEDULED TO MEET MONTHLY.
ABSENTEE BALLOTS MAILED FOR FORT BRAGG ELECTION JKB 3/16/12
- ACCORDING TO MENDOCINO COUNTY CLERK ASSESSOR RECORDER SUSAN RANOCHAK, ABSENTEE BALLOTS FOR A SPECIAL CONSOLIDATED ELECTION IN THE CITY OF FORT BRAGG TO BE HELD ON APRIL 10TH, WERE MAILED TO THE CITYS QUALIFIED VOTERS MONDAY.
THE ELECTION IS TO CHOOSE MEMBERS FOR THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE COAST LIFE SUPPORT DISTRICT. THE LAST DAY APPLICATIONS FOR AN ABSENTEE BALLOT FOR THIS ELECTION MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE ELECTIONS OFFICE BY 5 PM APRIL 3RD.
POT BUST JKB 3/16/12
- THE COUNTY OF MENDOCINO MARIJUANA ERADICATION TEAM, OR COMMET IS INVESTIGATING AN INDOOR MARIJUANA GROWING OPERATION THAT WAS FOUND AT A HOUSE ON LINDA VISTA DRIVE IN UKIAH ON WEDNESDAY.
AFTER SERVING A SEARCH WARRANT, AGENTS FOUND MORE THAN 200 MARIJUANA PLANTS GROWING AT THE LOCATION. NO ONE WAS IN THE HOME AT THE TIME THE SEARCH WARRANT WAS SERVED. THE CASE IS CURRENTLY UNDER INVESTIGATION. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ABOUT THIS GROWING LOCATION OR THE PEOPLE BEHIND IT, IS ASKED TO CONTACT THE MENDOCINO COUNTY SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT.
