Intro: Local lawmakers and Native American leaders getting behind Legislation to add almost four-thousand acres to the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument. The bill would add an area known as Walker Ridge to the monument and change its name to Condor Ridge, a translation of the native name “Molok Luyuk.” Ben Deci with the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, says the land has been inhabited by local tribes for more than 11-thousand years.
:10 "It’s a meeting place, a traveling route, a trading route. It has a lot of cultural significance to the people who've lived here for millennia, before the first European settlers."
Tag: The Bureau of Land Management currently oversees the area. A few years ago, developers proposed a windmill project that did not come to fruition. Backers of adding the land to the monument say it would protect the area from future development.
Second Cut: Lake County Supervisor E-J Crandell, a member of the Robinson Rancheria Tribe, says the windmills would have endangered the raptors native to the area.
:09 "The hawks are very special for regalia making, and they’re a sign in our culture for a good outcome. So, if you see a hawk in the area, you get a sense of peace."
Tag: The bill would also formalize a partnership between the U-S Forest Service, B-L-M and the tribes to co-manage the land for historic preservation, archaeological sites and forest health. The Senate version was introduced by Senators Dianne Feinstein and Alex Padilla. It mirrors a House version, sponsored by Representatives John Garamendi and Mike Thompson.
A group of Calif. mayors are calling on the Governor’s office and lawmakers to find $3 billion over three years from the state budget. The so-called flexible homeless funding would be approved every year from the Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention program. The money coming out of that fund would help them deal with homelessness in creative ways, like building tiny cabins and finding empty lots to use for those who live in RVs and other vehicles. They’d also be able to provide thousands of new shelter beds and help as many as 25,000 homeless people. Last year the state approved $7.4 billion for about 30 housing and homelessness programs which will be spent over three years and the Governor has proposed spending $2 billion more over two more years.
The Mendocino County Extreme Winter Shelter has closed for the season. Last November the Fort Bragg City Council approved of a proposal by the city’s mayor for the shelter, which was unanimously approved. But because of a limited budget, the shelter is only open for extreme weather. The city will use local motel vouchers for shelter through a contract with the county. Police will hand out the vouchers on days the weather is considered severe because of heavy rain and/or lower than normal winter temperatures. Police distributed 339 vouchers last year.
Hunting licenses are available for purchase for next season. You can also apply for the Big Game Drawing online. State residents have until June 2nd for the Big Game drawing. The state Dept. of Fish and Wildlife is paperless with an entire digital format to follow. The agency no longer prints and mails out the hunting digest, it’s all electronic. They also say to please not use lead ammunition as it’s illegal in the state. There are some tweaks to the schedule due to shorter seasons for deer, elk and pronghorn antelope because of wildfires and public land closures, so check to see if you’re eligible for a refund.
After reports of a burglary in Middletown, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office reported to a home to find the front door was forced open. A neighbor also told the homeowner a lock on their storage container was cut off. A Deputy who responded found several piles of stolen property and food wrappers. The Deputy noted not many places are open to get food late at night, so they went to the Store 24 gas station and reviewed security footage from that day and saw a truck there that a neighbor also saw. Two suspects known to the Deputy showed up on security footage, so he secured a search warrant. Last week several Deputies went with Detectives and arrested Ronald Whitmire and Sunny McClain, of Clearlake and found more stolen property on them.
The first mental health crisis training center in Mendocino County has opened at the old Jehovah’s Witness Church on Redwood Valley East. The grand opening for the Behavioral Health Regional Training Center had a host of local officials, included former Sheriff Tom Allman, a champion of addressing the issue. Those at the center will spend their days educating local first responders, law enforcement and mental health professionals. Allman, former CEO Carmel Angelo and the county’s Behavioral Health Director Jenine Miller all addressed a small crowd gathered for the opening. The center has virtual training modules featuring simulated crises. The center was partially funded with Measure B funds, along with three mobile crisis vans and two full-time positions.
An “explosive type device“ has been retrieved from the parking lot of the Grocery Outlet in Lakeport. The police chief told Mendo Fever someone found what looked like a homemade, tube-type explosive with a fuse. They told store employees who immediately evacuated. The police chief says one of his officers with explosives experience reported to the scene, and they informed the public to steer clear of the area. The device was taken to a remote area, and was not a danger to the public. Investigators said late last night there was “live powder” in the improvised device but it would have had to be lit to explode.
A man has been arrested in Covelo after a woman reports her husband had assaulted her at an elementary school. Deputies say Jose OjedaMaldonado texted the woman several times to meet him at the school and when she arrived, she says he grabbed her by the throat, pulled a knife on her, pushed her up against a wall and threatened her. He let her go and she called police. He was arrested and held on $100,000.00 bail.
The Lake County Board of Supervisors considering their own salaries at their latest meeting. Supes didn’t take any action though. It was the final meeting for the departing county administrative officer, Carol Huchingson. She and the Human Resources Director Pam Samac delivered a comparison report on supervisors’ salaries against 12 other counties around the state. The same counties were used in a comparison study which the board then approved of $21 million in raises in the fall of 2020, but only $5 million was approved. But last fall they approved the rest. But they have not given the green light to get their own raises. They’ve been making nearly $64,000/year for some time. But the study shows they should be in the neighborhood of nearly $86,000/year.
The latest Lake County Wine Alliance Auction is in the planning stages. The yearly auction will be Sept. 17 at The Mercantile by Shannon Family of Wines in Kelseyville. The Wine Alliance Auction is their largest fundraiser each year. They distribute the money to local charities. The first time they did it, they were able to deliver over $31,000 to local organizations. And last year, they raised a quarter million dollars. Altogether the Wine Alliance has given over $2,327,000 to help 57 local organizations.
Wildfire safety forever on our minds in Northern Calif. To help make it a reality, there are some micro-grants for neighborhood groups and local fire departments. The Mendocino County Fire Safe Council (MCFSC) announced its Micro-Grant Program has gathered $50,000 for wildfire-safety projects. The grants are from $2,000 to $6,000. The Fire Safe Council got more than $105,000 in requests though. The final decision included money for the Bell Springs Fire Safe Council (North County) for water tanks; the Comptche Volunteer Fire Department and Disaster Preparedness Team for water system infrastructure; the Laytonville Fire Department/Long Valley Fire Protection District—education, implementation, and enforcement of weed abatement, Redwood Coast Fire Protection District for a large water tank; and finally for the String Creek/Tartar Canyon Fire Safe Council in Willits area to remove hazardous dead trees.
A lobbyist working with PG&E who asked the Governor’s office for a loan so fire survivors get all the money they’re owed, quit. Patrick McCallum reportedly asked the Governor’s staff if they could secure a $1.5 billion loan to add into the PG&E Fire Victim Trust. A recent public radio investigation said the trust was slow paying victims and there were giant attorney fees and big money paid to consultants and the California State University system. But McCallum is married to the Sonoma State University President, who recently left him after several women reported sexual harassment against him.
