Sen. Mike McGuire says he’s going to be introducing legislation, so the cannabis industry’s cultivation tax is reduced. He says the tax is “crushing small farmers” on the North Coast. He says the way it’s calculated doesn’t fit how the economy works so he’s planning to get the tax cut entirely, but get the excise tax, which is tacked on during point-of-sale-transactions, raised. He says he’ll tackle the project next year and will ask the Legislature’s Legal Counsel to investigate what’s allowable under state statute.
A man and his son have been arrested in connection to the Caldor Fire which destroyed over 1,000 homes and other buildings last summer around the Lake Tahoe area. 66 year old David Smith, and his son, 32 year old Travis were accused of reckless arson after the fire burned over three counties and decimated the small town of Grizzly Flats. Tens of thousands of people had to evacuate South Lake Tahoe and five people had injuries. Apparently, dad is an electrician, his son called to report seeing flames. But there is not a lot more info on how officials think they may have set the fire. Their lawyer says they’re 100% innocent.
California is prepared to become a sanctuary for women who want abortions if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe Vs. Wade next year. Some clinics in the state with allies in the state Legislature say they have a plan to help women seeking reproductive care, maybe even paying for some travel, lodging and the procedures themselves. The California Future of Abortion Council has come up with a list for the state to look at with 45 recommendations. The Governor apparently started the group which will be included in his budget proposal next month.
A woman found guilty of a hit and run that killed a man over two years ago in the town of Mendocino is going to prison. Gina Rae Bean was convicted for the crash in October, that left Calum Hunnicutt dead. She’s been sentenced to 210 days in county jail and has to surrender to the court in January. Hunnicutt was killed in July of 2019 at the intersection of State Route 1 and Little Lake Road. Bean had a green light and Hunnicutt was on his skateboard and was supposedly at fault for the crash, but Bean left the scene, thinking she hit a deer. She was eventually arrested. She will be on probation after her release and has to do 200 hours of community service and pay restitution.
A draft Community Wildfire Protection Plan is being released by the Mendocino County Fire Safe Council along with the California Fire Safe Council, the Community Foundation of Mendocino County, and the US Forest Service for Hopland. They’re accepting public comment until December 31st. You can go see the document on the Fire Safe Council website (https://firesafemendocino.org/hopland-cwpp/). They’re working to follow the Healthy Forest Restoration Act and find and remove hazardous fuels and other ways to improve Hopland’s preparedness and resilience in the event of wildfire.
The head of the state Dept. of Forestry has reportedly asked for a new management plan for the Jackson Demonstration State Forest to make sure Native American cultural resources are protected. The plan would also include access to and co-management of the State Forest (JDSF). The info from the Coyote Valley Tribe of Pomo Indians who met with the Jackson Advisory Group last month. The head of the Forestry Dept. wrote a letter saying the management plan was quite old and was asking for a review. The Tribe also put out a statement thanking the governor for tribal co-management of the forest, and they’re calling for a moratorium on logging while the new management plan is being crafted.
Reports of more graffiti in Ukiah from residents and police. Mendo Fever reports police and the Sheriff’s Dept. say the local taggings have risen, and that there was an increase in gang related graffiti over the last month. Police say the graffiti may be tied to the Norteños and Surenos criminal gangs. They say they don’t know exactly what the tagging means, but just a sign that a specific gang is in that particular territory. Also that it could precede crime or come after a gang-related crime.
A boat has caught on fire in Fort Bragg. The Fire Dept. reports getting a call early yesterday morning to the Dolphin Isle Marina upriver from Noyo Harbor for the fire. They say a sailboard was engulfed in flames when they arrived, but they quickly snuffed it. They had to come back a few hours later after the fire re-started, then the boat sank. They also noticed a gasoline sheen around the boat, but say it was only about 10 gallons worth. They say the fire probably started in the cabin of the boat. The Coast Guard was also coming to the scene to help along with the Fish and Wildlife Dept.
A note left at Pomolita Middle School had some on edge as they were concerned about a possible threat at the school. The principal said they were investigating the note left last week and involved police. They found no evidence there was a direct or specific threat and didn’t say what the note contained, just that a teacher found it and gave it to the school resource officer. But the police dept. is continuing to investigate and encouraging the community to share any info of any threat to student or school staff’s safety in a timely manner. If you see something, say something.
Smoke and a bunch or felled walnut trees on fire reported on Highway 29 between Kelseyville and Lakeport. That came as the Lake County Air Quality Management District LCAQMD lifted the burn ban. Permitted burns started on a 12 acre walnut grove after the ban was lifted in late October. They’re supposed to continue for almost two weeks. But if the smoke becomes too much they may have to stop the burn operation. Smoke management plans are required for burns that go more than a day, continue overnight, are standing vegetation burns, whole tree or vine removal, burns over 20 acres, and any other that could send significant smoke into the air.
They had quite the turnout for Thanksgiving at the First Presbyterian Church of Fort Bragg. It was their 25th year sponsoring the free dinner for those in need on the coast from Albion to Westport. This year 1,000 free meals were distributed, a record over last year’s also historical 800 meals. They also gave out meals to folks, regardless of finances, who may not be able to have a traditional Thanksgiving meal. They followed COVID guidelines and distributed the meals in boxes or delivered them to homes with 18 volunteers.
They don’t want a vaccine mandate in the Konocti Unified School District. That’s the word from the School Board who voted last night for a resolution to ask the state not to impose the mandate. Many parents on hand urging the board for the move to ask the state to recommend, but not require the vaccine. The Governor had said the vaccine would be added to the list of others a student needed to attend school in person and the “verify-or-test” requirement for school staff would instead change to the vaccine mandate. In Lucerne the Elementary Board of Trustees was supposed to consider the same, but no word if that happened.
Cal Fire has nearly a quarter million dollars to distribute in grant money for Fire Prevention and Forest Health. The agency is asking for applications for projects that can help prevent catastrophic wildfires, protect communities, and restore forests to healthy, functioning ecosystems, but at the same time find ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The agency is looking to award as much as $120 million for local projects in areas that have been threatened by fires in the past so they can protect the areas. They will do hazardous fuels reduction, wildfire prevention planning and wildfire prevention education while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
They’re still trying to find a new Public Health Officer in Lake County. The Board of Supervisors had a closed session on the matter at their meeting this week. The board also filled some positions and approved a resolution for Lake County Behavioral Health to raise the rates for Substance Use Disorder Drug Medi-Cal services. After all that business the board took the closed session to discuss replacing Dr. Gary Pace, the Public Health Officer who left in April, but had been filling in ever since. There was no action taken.
Lake County’s First 5 Lake Commission is holding a special meeting to consider appointing a new Executive Director. The special meeting is a closed session, but on Zoom. They will also consider approving a resolution to continue teleconferenced meetings before the closed sessions along with other items of community interest.
Join via Zoom: https:// lakecounty.zoom.us/join Meeting ID: 954 6407 3613, Password: 725336 or join by phone: (669) 900- 6833.
