A crash in Clearlake Oaks has left one man dead. CHP says the 67-year-old victim was heading west on Highway 20 near Raven’s Landing when his Mini Cooper ran off the road and into a ditch. An officer and firefighters arriving at the scene tried CPR but were unable to save him, The road was wet around the time of the crash at 5PM on Monday, but the driver may have had a medical emergency. His name has not been released as the investigation continues.
A rescheduled public hearing tomorrow for a U Haul facility on North Orchard Avenue in Ukiah. The planning commission was supposed to have that hearing last month, but it was canceled when high winds forced officials to take down the legal sign at the site advertising the hearing,. The Design Review Board gave the project thumbs down this summer, saying it would obscure views in both directions. Members felt the structure was too big and boxy to fit into the neighborhood, suggesting it might be more appropriate at an industrial site. The board also raised traffic, noise, and pollution questions. The Planning Commission will consider the application at a virtual meeting starting at 6pm on Wednesday
The Lakeport Economic Development Advisory Committee is hoping to find new members to fill three positions that expire in December. The current members will talk about recruitment at a virtual meeting tomorrow morning from 7:30 to 9:00. They will also get an update on the Lakeport Strategic Development plan and hear about projects going on in the city. The city website has more information about the LEDAC positions and the meeting on its website.
They’re still counting ballots in for a proposed special tax in the Hopland Fire Protection District. The Mendocino Voice reports that of the 343 votes counted so far, the measure has just under 61 percent support. It needs 2/3rds to pass. There are another 83 ballots to be counted. Mail ballots will count until today. If it passes, the district would use the money to add staff. The County Website has the latest totals.
Mendocino County is reporting 50 new cases of Covid 19, along with two deaths. Both victims were elderly and had serious health problems as well. Neither had been vaccinated. 28 of the new infections were in the Ukiah area, 13 in the North County, 7 in the North Coast, and 2 were in the South Coast. The most cases—17–were in people 35 to 49 years old, while 10 were in children under 18. 4 more people were hospitalized. The new numbers put the total cases at 7,847 since the pandemic started. The county says 54,100 people are fully vaccinated. Of those, 517—or slightly less than 1 percent, have tested positive after their shots.
Some new rules for recreational Dungeness crabbers. The season opened on Sunday. Among the new regulations—a limit of 10 traps that have to be checked at least every 9 days. All traps will need a California Department of Fish and Wildlife recreational validation. They cost $2.25 each. CDFW also has new buoy requirements to prevent the entanglement of Humpback Whales and Sea Turtles. Meanwhile, the Department of Public Health says crabs caught south of Mendocino County to Point Reyes in Marin County might not be safe to eat. They could have high levels of Domic Acid, which makes the crabmeat toxic.Wildlife.ca.gov has the rules and warnings.
There are apparently problems with the web portal for more than 600 Mendocino County cannabis applicants to re-submit their license applications. That portal from the Mendocino County Cannabis Program allowed a 90-day submission window starting August 2. Now, the Daily Journal reports applicants have been told that any application unfinished by the November 2nd deadline would be turned down without an explanation. They don’t think that is fair because they were told at first the information would be reviewed after the deadline The Mendocino County Cannabis program says it created the portal to streamline the application process and centralize all related paperwork
The Mendocino County Behavioral Health Advisory Board is planning a meeting next week. The board, which provides guidance to the county on mental Health issues, will meet on Wednesday, November 17th between 10 and noon via Zoom. The group is encouraging people with an interest in mental health issues to take part with questions or to offer information. There is information on the meeting and the board’s work on the county government website.
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It is the third anniversary of the beginning of the state’s deadliest and most destructive wildfire. When it was over, the Camp Fire killed 85 people, destroyed thousands of buildings, and devastated the small town of Paradise in Butte County. Governor Newsom marked the occasion on Monday, announcing that 100,000 damaged trees have been taken away, along with debris from around 11,000 properties. He says it is a milestone on the long road to recovery for those affected by the fire. Those In the area say it is still painful to look back on November 2018. While some rebuilding has occurred, many lots in Paradise are still vacant—a reminder of the fire’s a terrible toll. PG&E has pleaded guilty to dozens of involuntary manslaughter charges for its role in starting the blaze. The company says it is committed to understanding and applying the lessons it learned from the Camp Fire, and others.
The state has awarded nearly 1 million dollars worth of grants to help watersheds affected by illicit cannabis growing. The money will go to 4 projects. Among them, the Lost Coast Forestland Flow Enhancement and Habitat Restoration program in Humbolt County. That project will get almost $278,000 for capture and store runoff and augment dry season flows on 938-acres near the headwaters of South Fork Eel River. The Department of Fish and Wildlife says illegal cannabis growing is having a major impact on the environment. Lawmakers created the Cannabis Restoration Grant Program in 2017 as a way to address that problem.
The Lakeport Planning Commission will talk about some changes to the Municipal Code at its meeting this week. The proposed amendments would require recycling and/or salvaging at least 65% of nonhazardous construction and demolition materials from residential and nonresidential projects. Municipal codes must include that provision to comply with California Green Building standards. Communities must also have a Water Landscape ordinance under that Green Building code. The open commission meeting is at 5:30 Wednesday in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall. The city website has the agenda and how you can attend the meeting virtually
