Due to incoming storms that could cause more fires, there’s a Red Flag Warning going into effect. The National Weather Service warns thunderstorms could hit northeastern Mendocino, eastern Humboldt, and across Trinity County where there’s already a decent sized fire, in the Six Rivers area. Dry brush, low humidity and possible lightning strikes may trigger extreme fire behavior between 11:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. Meteorologists say conditions could become dangerous with unstable air today along with a lack of moisture. Winds are expected to gust up to 40 miles/hour and fires that start could spread quickly. Additionally, Pacific Gas & Electric has not planned any Public Safety Power Shutoffs for the next week, but it may be a good idea to visit their website to be sure. The Six River Lightning Fire Complex in eastern Humboldt and Trinity Counties has burned over 21,600 acres and is 19% contained.
A couple of fires started in Lake County that are believed to be arson. The fires started last night
south of Clear Lake near Borax Lake around 5:25 p.m. One was about an acre, the other 2 acres and reported to be spreading slowly and quickly contained. Before a half hour was up fire officials said forward progress had stopped. Some firefighters remained for mop up.
School is about to begin again in Ukiah. The School District put out a statement welcoming back more than 6,000 students—from preschool to high school seniors. The district says the goal is to provide the best education possible for local kids regardless of their unique educational needs and goals. In something of a mission statement besides outlining each school and their goals for the year, the district said they strive to both challenge and inspire students to value different perspectives and become successful, contributing citizens in an increasingly interdependent world. They will be continuing their after-school partnerships with the City of Ukiah, SPACE, and the Boys & Girls Club for free activities and enrichment for students. For more specific info from each school, visit the district’s website on Monday’s start for the upcoming school year.
A free Dump Week is planned by Caltrans. Along with Mendocino County, Solid Wastes of Willits, Round Valley Indian Tribes, and the Round Valley Area Municipal Advisory Council the free large item Dump Week is all next week. Residents will be able to can properly dispose of unwanted, bulky items through the Governor’s Clean California initiative which provided $1.1 billion dollars. The effort led by Caltrans over several years to beautify spaces by removing trash, create thousands of jobs and engage communities to transform public spaces. For Covelo, the event will continue all next week from 9am-3pm or until capacity is filled at the Transfer Station. Future events include Casper and Willits.
Visit CleanCA.com to learn more about how Clean California is transforming communities with Dump Day events to keep trash from reaching our roads and waterways. For general questions about this event, please contact Ryan Maidrand at (707) 498-5174.
After a closed Lake County Board of Supervisors meeting, there’s a new Community Development Dept. Director. Mireya Turner is on the Lakeport City Council and has other experience that makes her a fit for the Community Development Department in Lake. The new County Administrative Officer, Susan Parker, reported the last Director, Mary Darby, left as of last Friday, even though when she originally said she would resign, her last day was supposed to be November 4th. For her part Turner says she’s honored to take on the interim role and that Darby had made great improvements in the same position. Turner was the Deputy Director before this, and after three years working in the City of Ukiah.
A contract has finally been agreed to by the Lakeport City Council for a construction company to build the new Lakefront Park. Builder Solutions of Redding and Granite Construction were the sole bidders, with Builder coming in about a million dollars less and winning. The city has received nearly $6 million dollars in grant money from the state to buy a property for the park which will include a lakeside promenade to be linked with Library Park. The property used to house Natural High School. Apparently Granite Construction complained about Builder Solutions and it turned out there had been other complaints, but no matter, the company explained away enough, that Lakeport hired them. The city will hire a consultant to oversee the contractor doing the work.
The man accused of involvement in the death of a toddler and abandonment of his brother had apparently just been released from jail a couple days before. Edward “Two Feathers” Steele is back in jail after reportedly leaving the two tots by railroad tracks in scorching heat in Ukiah. Court documents say he was allowed to serve the remainder of his term in recovery at the Ford Street Project, but left because he tested positive for COVID. His girlfriend and him got into an altercation at a motel and she was arrested. Deputies responded and say they were told the kids were being cared for by a babysitter. When mom returned to the motel, she reported her kids were missing. Steele has been charged with 2nd degree murder and felony child endangerment with great bodily harm. He’s due back in court next Wednesday.
A consortium of five groups working to protect and restore North Coast salmon and steelhead fisheries have filed a lawsuit against a federal agency regulating hydropower dams. The court documents in the case say the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission violated the Endangered Species Act (ESA) by not protecting native fish in their approval of the decommissioning of the Potter Valley Project’s two dams on the Eel River. California Trout, Friends of the Eel River, Institute for Fisheries Resources, Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations and Trout Unlimited’s lawsuit claims FERC’s allowing an excessive and unlawful “take” of ESA-protected fish species below the dams. The consortium is asking the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to modify the Annual License for the Project, to comply with the Endangered Species Act.
A flex alert has been issued across the state to conserve energy. The alert from the state’s electric grid operator from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. so energy supplies are not too strained due to the forecast of a scorching heat wave where temperatures are expected to peak above 100 degrees along with a potential for dry thunderstorms and lightning-sparked wildfires. The flex alert was issued yesterday ahead of the blistering heat which will push up energy needs statewide. The power grid operator is preparing for increasing energy needs, especially from air-conditioners. Some ideas, pre-cool your house overnight hours, by opening windows, then closing them and all curtains and blinds first thing in the morning. Set your thermostat to 72, but during the actual flex alert, set it to 78, or higher if you can tolerate it, don’t use major appliances, and turn off unnecessary lights.
