The Kelseyville Senior Center may be taken over by the County of Lake, but there’s some confusion about who owns it. District 5 Supervisor Jessica Pyska had proposed the purchase. The County apparently bought the center 20 years ago, but it seemed a surprise to the board when they first took up the matter in August. So the board is considering pouring money into the center from stimulus money from the Fed due to the pandemic, under the American Rescue Plan Act. The county got $12.5 million, with one million for senior centers. But the center in Kelseyville may get most of the cash that is supposed to go to all senior centers in Lake County because of maintenance needs. The Board didn’t dive into who actually owns the space though and if the purchase of the building went thru 20 years ago.
A contagious infection in cats has been reported in Lake County. Lake County Animal Care and Control says there are multiple documented cases of feline panleukopenia in Lakeport. So far the cases are just on one street, in the 5300 block of Lakeshore Blvd. The disease can infect wild and domestic cats and those who get sick will secrete the virus, though feces, vomit, urine, saliva, and mucus. And then show signs of anorexia, lethargy, watery and possibly bloody diarrhea, and vomiting. The disease can kill an animal if not immediately treated.
The Mendocino County Public Health Dept. has announced they’re hosting regular vaccine clinics at the Ukiah Fairgrounds through the year. They have COVID and flu vaccines for anyone age 12 and older, plus the bivalent COVID boosters which are supposed to protect from various strains. Each Saturday through December 17th from 10 AM – 3 PM the shots are available in the Fine Arts building.
Mendocino County has a new campaign for veterans. Operation Green Light for Veterans, a nationwide initiative looks to put the spotlight on veterans for the service they have provided. For this, Mendocino County is lighting up Veterans Memorial buildings green starting today, running through next weekend (this Sunday). The county’s also encouraging individuals and businesses to do the same by putting one green light bulb in the entryway of their house or business. This allows veterans to know they’re seen, appreciated, and supported. The county says it’s also a way to let vets and their families know there are resources available to them. We have about
7,000 veterans being served currently by the Veterans Services Office.
Mendocino County Veterans Services Office may be contacted for services and supports at (707) 463-4226. If you would like information on Mendocino County Department of Social Services, Veterans Services Office, please visit https://www.mendocinocounty.org/government/social-services/veterans-services
The Mendocino County BOS is taking up the quarterly budget at their next meeting. After last week’s contentious meeting, partially spent on finances, it could be an interesting one again. As we reported Auditor-Controller-Tax Collector and the Chief Deputy Auditor-Controller were on hand, at times with strong words for the Supes. Apparently, the last Fiscal Year report is still not complete as the Board dives into the next one. We will also hear Executive Office Recommendations; and Adoption of Resolution to amend the already adopted budget, with the recommended action to accept it, and approve adjustments and journal entries. The board will also get a presentation from the Fish and Game Commission and California Department of Fish and Wildlife and hear from Planning and Building on the matter of Riparian, Stream, and Wetland Protections for the Inland Area of Mendocino County.
A fatal car crash has been reported near Clear Lake. Mendo Fever reports the CHP reported the crash happened where State Route 20 and State Route 53 meet on the east side of the lake. A car reportedly went off the road about four miles east of Clearlake Oaks. The news site reports it’s the third death on a rural road in either Mendocino or Lake County in less than one day. The first was in Leggett, the second near Boonville, and last night, the latest, near the lake.
A day ahead of the mid-term election some polling shows the Governor may not get his way bringing the state to all electric vehicle sales for the state fleet. One measure on tomorrow’s ballot to raise taxes on the wealthiest residents to subsidize zero-emission vehicles looks like it may fail. The new poll from UC Berkeley’s Institute of Governmental Studies says 47% of likely voters like Proposition 30 and 41% were against it, but support appears to be dropping. The initiative to get multi-millionaires to pay for a chunk of the state’s vehicle fleet to switch gasoline to electric power. Ride-sharing company Lyft, and even some Democrats are bearish on the campaign.
The Governor has made a move on abortions ahead of the election tomorrow. Bringing the topic top of mind right before the mid-terms, Gov. Newsom posthumously pardoned an abortion activist from the 1930s and 1940s. And on the ballot tomorrow, whether or not to enshrine more protections for women by making it a permanent part of the state Constitution after last summer’s U.S. Supreme Court decision. Laura Miner was convicted in 1949 for abortion and conspiracy to commit abortion. She got four years behind bars in the case, and died in 1976. At the time of her incarceration she said she hoped one day abortion would be legal, and believed she had “helped humanity”.
There’s still no permanent Public Health officer in Lake County. So, tomorrow, the BOS will talk about a mentor program to hopefully get and keep the job filled once and for all. Later in their meeting tomorrow, Supervisors are getting an update on the search for a permanent Public Health Officer and they’ll hear about the idea for the mentor program. An executive search firm has been working with the county since August, trying to find a doctor to fill the spot. They’ve only had one candidate, and they have not met the minimum qualifications. The firm had chosen well over 100 candidates, but none were interested. The former Mendocino County officer, Dr. Noemi Doohan apparently shared with the firm ways to make it more attractive, removing politics, for one thing, and having a mentor. County staff want to pay Doohan to consult for up to six months when an officer is finally found.
