It is now OK to have certain fireworks in Lakeport—until the 4th. That is the only place in Lake or Mendocino Counties where fireworks are legal. The “Safe and Sane” fireworks rules are only in effect until the holiday. They don’t cover things like bottle rockets, roman candles, or anything that flies or moves uncontrollably on the ground. Even though you CAN use fireworks in parts of the city limits with those restrictions, Police Chief Brad Rasmussen and Fire Chief Jeffrey Thomas want anyone who does to be very, very careful given the dry conditions. The city will have a street team of police and firefighters on the fourth to make sure things don’t get out of hand.
Cal Fire is worried about the Fourth. Director Cal Porter says there is zero-tolerance for illegal fireworks across the state. Anyone caught with them can face a big fine and is liable for damage from any fire they cause. Case in point this morning about just HOW dangerous those illegal pyrotechnics can be. At least 16 people, including police officers, were hurt in a CONTROLLED detonation of a cache of illegal homemade fireworks in LA on Wednesday night.
Cal Fire crews remain on the scene of a wildfire in Shasta County. The Lava Fire near Mount Shasta has burned more than 17,000 acres and was 19 percent contained at last report. 3,500 people have been evacuated.
The Fourth of July weekend is not a holiday off for the men and women of CHP. CHP says it is all hands on deck for a Maximum Enforcement Period starting at 6:01 PM tomorrow through 11:59 PM on Monday the 5th. That means officers will be looking out for drunk drivers, distracted drivers, and speeders. They will also target road rage and aggressive driving. If your travels take you along I-5, keep it under the limit. CHP says its plans promise extra speed patrols on that long corridor. State police in both Washington State and Oregon are also part of that multi-state Interstate crackdown. CHP Commissioner Amanda Ray says everyone can help by staying sober and keeping their cool on the highways. Statistically, anyway, the next five days are among the most dangerous times on roads in California and the rest of the US as well.
This holiday promises a lot more to do than during the pandemic summer of 20-20. One of those events starts TODAY when the midway carnival of fun opens at Austin Park on Lakeshore Drive in Clearlake. It runs from 4 this afternoon to 10 tonight. 4 to 10 TOMORROW, Noon to Midnight on Saturday, and noon to 8 on Sunday, the fourth.
Organizers of the Lake County Fair are getting ready for its return. The fair was canceled last fall, but this year, i is all systems go for September 2nd through the 5th. Entries for the fair opened TODAY, and pre-sale tickets go on sale in August. This year’s theme is “Race to the Lake County Fair.” If you would like to be a commercial or concession vendor, the email is rentals.
The new fiscal year brings a new budget for the City of Lakeport. Lake Co News reports that a 21.5 million dollar spending plan makes up for some of the priorities put off because of the pandemic. Revenue is projected to 17.4 million dollars. The difference includes money already brought in from a sewer expansion project already going on and money from 2017 storm repairs. Finance Director Nick Walker says this will be a busy few months for the city. Among the capital projects in the works—upgrades at City Hall, new sewer and pump stations, and the South Lakeport loop water main. City Manager Kevin Ingram says while 20-20 was challenging, the city did NOT see its worst money fears come true.
Ukiah Police have arrested a woman from Fresno and charged her with identity theft. Police say an employee of Redwood Ford got suspicious when that woman, identified as 36-year-old Antoinette Florez, gave a funny-looking California Driver’s license when making a down payment on a new car. Cops later tracked Florez to a nearby restaurant, where they say she admitted trying to use someone else’s name to buy a car. They also say a search of the vehicle Florez was driving turned up California Identification Cards and California Driver Licenses that did not belong to her. They also report finding credit and debit cars not in her name either. Florez already had an active warrant out of Fresno County and was on community supervision for an earlier impersonation case. She was released without bail under Covid-19 bail rules.
A man from Santa Rosa is being held without bail after Mendocino County Deputies say they found drugs during a traffic stop in Callpella. Officers also say 39-year-old Tony Smith had an active warrant out of Sonoma County for probation\ when they pulled him over on North State Street for a code violation. Deputies say they found suspected morphine pills in his vehicle during their probable cause search, so he faces possession and sale charges.
A woman from El Dorado County is in Mendocino County jail on $10,000 bail after deputies arrested her on an out-of-county warrant. Police say they picked up Saundra Vasquez on that probation violation warrant out of El Dorado County after a stop for expired registration on West Road in Redwood Valley.
