One person is dead and several others have been injured after a shooting on a Greyhound bus in Northern California. Police say they arrested the attacker at a nearby Walmart last night in Oroville. They say they had a bunch of 911 calls around 7:30 p.m. about a shooting in a bus outside an am/pm mini-market in Oroville. The Butte County Sheriff’s Office reports deputies along with Oroville police officers found multiple people shot. One of them had died at the scene and the shooter ran off before they got there. He was found inside the Walmart nearby. The Mayor of Oroville posted on Facebook five people were shot.
The drought continues in Calif. as snow totals for the year come in so far. Water in the snow is lower than the historical average for January as there hasn’t been a lot of snow or rain. Completely the opposite of December where we got hammered with rain. The state Department of Water Resources says the snowpack in the Sierra Nevada mountains was at 92% of what’s normal for this date. In December, it was 162% though. The head of the agency’s dept. of snow surveys and water supply forecasting said the climate is experiencing volatile shifts from wet to dry year after year, and month after month.
A woman from Fort Bragg has been arrested after reports of a stolen car. The victim called police in Ukiah saying his car was stolen from in front of his house as he left it running to warm up. Police found it within ten minutes of the call near Hopland. A detective in an unmarked car followed and other marked cars stopped the vehicle. The driver was identified as Bailey Blunt. Police say she had suspected methamphetamine and a meth pipe, plus she was on Post Release Community Supervision (PRCS) and had a bunch of warrants out for her arrest. She can now add possession of a stolen vehicle to the list, along with violation of the probation and possessing drugs and paraphernalia.
The 2020 Lake County Crop Report looks something like it did years ago. Lake Co news reports the 2020 report was given to the Board of Supervisors at the end of last year. A new Agricultural Commissioner and Sealer of Weights And Measures takes over too as the report shows the value of crops for the 2020 year was down 30% from 2019. The report matching up to a level not seen since 2011, which the retiring ag commissioner said was the result of market forces impacting the winegrape, walnut and timber industries, along with the continuing drought which impacted field crops and cattle industries.
A lawmaker trying to curb school shootings says he wants to gather information from gun-owning parents. State Senator Anthony Portantino plans to introduce a bill to require parents to notify schools about guns in their home and answer questions about their storage. The bill would also allow authorities to search through a student’s property, including their backpack, locker, or vehicle, if the student is suspected of having a gun. Portantino said the bill is in response to the fatal shooting at Oxford High School in Michigan.
A new report shows distance learning in the early days of the COVID19 pandemic affected learning in the long run in Calif. Ed Source reports parents across the state say they’re concerned about the continued school interruptions with hybrid, in person and virtual learning. Experts in early childhood, say it’s increasing bad behavior, that they’re more prone to act out or experience anxiety, sadness or depression during distance learning. They say it becomes a challenge for kids to focus on academics, deepening learning loss and putting a strain on their families.
A single car crash has been reported in Willits. The California Highway Patrol reported the crash happened yesterday near Brown’s Corner when a black truck rolled on the road, but nobody was injured. A tow truck came to the scene. Mendo Fever reported there were conflicting accounts that the truck overturned or was just on the side of the road disabled after.
The Lake County Sheriff will be the auctioneer at the next Lake County Wine Auction. The Sheriff Brian Martin said community organizations are a “major component in delivering much needed services and programs” and that he’s looking forward to participating in the 2022 fundraiser. Last year they were able to raise $250,000 for local organizations and the five county high schools. The event this year is Sept. 17th at the Mercantile by Shannon Family of Wines in Kelseyville.
After a Lake County Silver Foundation Board member passed away, they’ve created a memorial fund in his name. The Gene Paleno Memorial Fund will have its first event this weekend. The Silver Foundation’s estate sale is February 5th & 6th at Gene’s home in Witter Springs. Gene was an author and his books were popular in and out of the county. The money the Foundation raised from the estate sale will be used to support Lake County seniors.
All are invited to drop in. Anyone wishing to volunteer, please call 707-295-6198.
A nonprofit is giving to the food bank continually. It’s been more than 40 years since the Clear Lake Gleaners started a food bank. They look to serve the elderly, low-income and homeless families. The Gleaners say they’ve applied for a grant so they can buy property that has a large warehouse and say they’ve received tons of donations to get there. They’re inviting the public to their headquarters in Finley to see their operation and possibly donate.
The Chairman of the Coyote Valley Band of Pomo Indians has sent a letter to the Governor for immediate action regarding the management of the Jackson Demonstration Forest. Chair Michael Hunter is asking for government to government consultations regarding the forest located in the Tribe’s ancestral Northern Pomo and Coast Yuki ancestral territory. He cited action by the Governor who said all state agencies, departments, boards and commissions should support California tribes’ co-management and access to natural lands in a California tribe’s ancestral land but now owned and controlled by the state. They’re looking for revisions to the management plan to address tribal concerns.
The US Forest Service is looking for folks interested in joining the firefighting field. The agency is under the U.S. Department of Agriculture. They’re hiring across California in permanent and permanent seasonal opportunities. They have loads of specialized positions, including, engines, fuels management, helitack, hotshot crews, prevention, and smoke jumping. You might travel elsewhere in the state or across the country. You have to apply on USAJobs and they’re only accepting applicants until one week from tomorrow, February 11th.
Visit the Forest Service Jobs webpage, fs.usda.gov/fsjobs, to learn more about career opportunities, benefits, hiring events, and resources to help with the application process.
There’s more snow in the mountains above us. Survey crews from the Covelo Ranger Station finished up their February snow survey showing 39 inches of average snow depth at the Anthony Peak survey site. Their deepest measurement was 50 inches though, compared to a year ago when it was around half that. Last February was 28 inches, and February 2020 was 26 inches. Mendo Fever reports another snow survey is planned for next month. It’s all part of the California Cooperative Snow Surveys, paid for by the State and part of the California Department of Water Resources.
Several new CHP officers are being sworn in. Yesterday over 140 members of the latest California Highway Patrol cadet training class all did a five-mile run from the Academy in West Sacramento to the California Peace Officers’ Memorial. It’s something they do at the end of each 6 month long class. The new officers, who will service all across the state, will be sworn in at their graduation ceremony at the CHP Academy tomorrow.
