After reports of a man shot dead in Fort Bragg, deputies nabbed another man just out on bail from jail. Mendocino County Deputies called to a hospital for the gunshot wound victim, identified as Daniel Shealor. The Sheriff’s Dept. reports investigating several witnesses over two weeks in various parts of the Northern California coast. They determined Shayne Wrede who was wanted for a 2020 murder in Caspar was to blame. Last Wednesday with the help of the Marshal Service’s Fugitive Task Force they found Wrede in Sacramento, but he got away. A SWAT team was called to the area along with various law enforcement teams until they got him. Wrede was brought back to Mendocino County and booked into jail and held on $575,000.00 bail.
Someone in Covelo reports seeing another man commit an armed robbery against another man in front of his house. Deputies responded to the area after reports Georgie BrittonHoaglin confronted the suspect sitting in his car in front of a home. The man stopped when he was approached, but says BrittonHoaglin pulled out a pistol, then demanded the man give him money. The witness says since he didn’t have money, BrittonHoaglin pistol whipped him, so he handed over cigarettes and a cell phone. Round Valley Tribal Police helped deputies find the guy who they say they saw toss the pistol. He was arrested and found with the witness’s phone and taken to jail and booked without bail.
After the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors decided to start charging for certain Public Record Acts requests, several media outlets said it would be too financially restrictive for them to get the requests filled. So the County decided to institute a grant program for any outlets who couldn’t pay. Now they say that’s illegal. Several groups including the First Amendment Coalition, the California News Publishers Association and the Society of Professional Journalists Northern California Chapter’s Freedom of Information Committee wrote a letter to the County Council, BOS and CEO saying they’re working to advance free speech and have a more open and accountable government, allowing for public participation in civic affairs and what’s been offered up is not lawful. They also want to define a media outlet is strictly considered with First Amendment rights, which would prohibit discrimination.
In a stunning turn of events, prosecutors in Mendocino County are calling for disgraced former cop Kevin Murray to be jailed. Murray, as you may recall, is accused of serious sexual assaults, intimidation, and hostage like situations with women. There was a plea deal agreed to apparently that was not to include jail time or registering as a sex offender. The court date last week was canceled and rescheduled for today. Suddenly a motion was filed yesterday by the DA’s office to give Murray a one-year jail term, as the Sonoma County Probation Office recommended after an independent sentencing assessment. The DA’s office had said they couldn’t get two women to testify and never agreed to no jail time.
The Legislature pulled the trigger on giving a chance to fast-food workers who may have a quarrel with restaurant owners. Lawmakers approved a first-in-the-nation measure that could protect workers. There will be a 10-member Fast Food Council formed who will set minimum standards for wages, hours and working conditions in California. But the minimum wage will be capped if there are more than 100 restaurants in a chain to $22 an hour. Restaurant owners decried the measure as being too costly. But the Service Employees International Union President said it was history making. Almost every Republican voted against it. The International Franchise Association President says it’s discriminatory.
A small wildfire has been quickly squelched on Mount Konocti. The fire in the Black Forest was reported yesterday in the early afternoon hours, apparently triggered by a short thunderstorm. Lake Co News reports a reader saying they saw a lightning strike hit and start the fire. Firefighters hiked up to the area, up a hill where the news site reports they found a small spot ablaze, along with a tree. Cal Fire was on the scene with choppers and tankers, smothering the fire before ground crews arrived. The fire burned about a tenth of an acre.
The Feather Alert bill in the Legislature is another step closer to passing. Much like Amber and Silver alerts, the bill would mean the notification of the public if Indigenous people, especially women and girls, are missing. A key Assembly committee passed the bill after amendments were made and the Senate first approved it. The bill was drafted by Assemblymember James C. Ramos, who is the first and only California Native American lawmaker. He says creating the alert system was a top recommendation from tribal leaders. He also said the state has the greatest population of Native Americans than any in the nation. Some of the those supporting include the Yurok Tribe, California State Sheriff’s Association, California Tribal Families Coalition and the California Tribal Business Alliance.
The fire that’s been burning for almost a month near the Oregon border had its containment total lowered. The Six Rivers Lightning Complex which was 12 fires that all started in a thunderstorm August 5th has burned over 34,000 acres and is 54% contained. Fire officials updated the containment percentage to reflect the exact amount of the fire perimeter that’s fully contained. It’s a pretty big reduction in the containment percentage, but at least half is under control. Firefighters had a good day on the fire yesterday after several days of tireless work. They’ve been extinguishing hot spots, securing lines, and building a large buffer in areas they feel confident will hold so they can stop forward progress of the fire. There was a blow up of activity in one part of the fire, prioritizing the area of Zeigler Point where a spot fire sparked last night.
