The Army Corps of Engineers won’t let water out of Lake Mendocino just yet because of worries about more flooding downstream. The Corps says, for now, they have enough space in the reservoir to handle more rainfall. The concern is for flooding in Hopland and in western Sonoma County. Those areas are already at risk for flooding from the Russian River. The Lake is actually at its annual capacity—something that hasn’t happened recently. There is a few days more rain left before the atmospheric rivers finally end, but officials say there should be plenty of space left for the additional water. The Corps Chief Regional Chief of operations, Nick Malasavige, tells Mendofever.com the goal is always to PREVENT floods rather than add to them.
While it promises to be a wet weekend, the end of the relentless rain may be in sight. The National Weather Service says there will be heavy downpours tonight through Monday, but once that last storm system moves on, the weather should be dry starting midweek. Until then, there is a Flood Warning For The Garcia River In Mendocino County until 4 AM Sunday. Flooding is expected near Highway 1 north of Point Arena and near the Garcia River.
The weather has been deadly across California with at least 18 people killed in the past couple of weeks. That includes several in Northern California. Two of those deaths were in Northern coastal Sonoma County, where two men were found dead inside a house in Sea Ranch earlier this week. Investigators think the men—who were in separate rooms—died of carbon monoxide poisoning from an unventilated generator in the hallway. The gas tank was empty, but the switch was on. Apparently, a fallen tree outside knocked out the regular power to the house. The county sheriff’s office says the case is a tragic reminder to NEVER use generators inside a building.
Mendocino and Sonoma Counties are among more than two dozen California counties that will qualify for extra time from the IRS to file taxes because of the weather. The IRS says if you have an address in the qualifying area, you now have until May 15th to file personal income tax returns. Other deadlines have been pushed back too. You can also get relief from any penalties or late fees. The details are on the IRS website.
A man out on parole has been arrested and charged with threatening to shoot the manager of the skating Rink at Alex Thomas Plaza in Ukiah. Police say Patrick Redmill got angry when the manager told him to leave the area. Police say they also had to use a taser when they tried to arrest Redmill for making the threats. That didn’t stop Redmill from running off, but he was later taken in not far away. He is being held for violating his parole.
A man convicted of sex charges involving three woman has been sentenced to 53 years to life. Anthony William Oakley of Little River was sentenced in Mendocino County Superior Court after the judge headr from two victims, the defense attorney and a representative of the county probation office. Oakley was arrested almost three years agon and accused of felony spousal rape, and other felonies involving the two separate victims who came forward.. The sentence was the maximum allowed by law
Lakeport police are reaching out for information about a woman who has been missing since October. Police say while they have leads, they’re hoping for the community’s help finding 33-year-old Lien Merry Lloyd. Lloyd is white, 5’2”, and 130 pounds, with brown hair and eyes. and she may have a bird tattoo on her right arm or ankle. You can submit tips to Lakeport PD by phone, email, or text to TIP LAKEPORT at 888777.
Dungeness crab fishers can drop their gear at full strength this weekend in the water south of the Mendocino County line. There had been restrictions to protect migrating whales, but now the whales have moved on, so the crab boats—commercial and recreational—can go back out. Conservation groups say the state managed the whale migration successfully to avoid entanglements but some crabbers say they missed out on the lucrative holiday season because of the fishing restrictions. Maine Biologists say the humpbacks have now moved on past Point Reyes and the Farallons, on the way to their warmer water winter homes of Mexico and Central America.
California may become the latest state to ban TikTok on state-issued electronic devices. Lawmakers are expected to take up two bills that would keep the app off devices like phones and tablets. Private devices wouldn’t be affected. 20 states and the federal government have already banned TikTok on government electronics because of concerns about data privacy and the app’s china-based owner.
A HUGE Mega Millions Jackpot is on the line tonight. The top prize is 1.35 Billion dollars, which is the second biggest in the history of the multi-state game. No one has won the big money since October when two players split a 502 million dollar prize. Today is Friday the 13th—and it COULD be someone’s very lucky day when the numbers pop up tonight at 8.
