A man from Clearlake who admitted he sexually abused a minor has been sentenced. 45-year-old Charles Williamson will serve 16 years for the abuse that happened several times between 2010 and 2020. The sentence includes extra time since the crime is a strike under state sentencing laws. Williamson’s rap sheet includes several drug and weapons convictions and felony and sexual assault convictions. He will have to serve at least 15 percent of his sentence before he can be considered for parole.
Pets are often victims of natural disasters along with their humans. Now, a Napa Valley animal rescue group is helping animal lovers prepare before a disaster. Jameson Humane will offer a free clinic next Sunday at the Clearlake Senior Center, including common vaccines for cats and dogs, micro-chipping, and essential pet supplies. The event runs from 10am to 1pm, and is first come, first served. Jameson Humane co-founder Monica Steven says it is critical to think ahead about keeping pets safe in evacuations because of floods, fires, and other natural disasters.
One person was airlifted to a hospital in Santa Rosa after a vehicle rolled off State Route 20 northwest of Lucerne on Thursday evening and into Clear Lake. Mendofever.com reports a dive team was among the responders to the scene around 6:15 and that one person was taken from the water. No word on that person’s condition or how the vehicle wound up in the lake.
If you got money under state programs designed to help with inflation and high fuel prices last year, the Internal Revenue Service wants you to hold off on filing federal tax forms.. The IRS is still developing guidance about reporting that extra money and hopes to have that advice in the next few weeks. The agency says the rules are complex, so it is better to wait for clarity. If you have already done your taxes, the IRS doesn’t suggest an amended return yet, either. California is one of several states that stepped in to help with surging costs last summer and fall.
An unusual defense for a man from Mendocino County arrested for drunk driving has paid off in court. A jury has acquitted 60-year-old Thomas Houston of McNab Ranch, concluding Houston feared for his life when he sped off from his home after having a few drinks. The reason —Houston’s wife had just found him in bed with another woman. His lawyer successfully argued that , under the law, escaping was necessary and legally justified. The defense claimed that both Mrs. Houston and the mistress were so angry they chased him out the door, pummeled him, and then hurled rocks at his car. Houston made it about 200 yards, passed out, and was arrested by a sheriff’s deputy early the next morning. He plead not guilty to DUI. after four days of testimony, the jury said “not guilty”. Houston and his wife were separated at the time. No word if he will use the same lawyer in a divorce case.
If you are looking for something to do this weekend you might consider a trip down to Point Reyes to catch a glimpse of some Northern Elephant Seals who have taken up residence on the popular Drake’s Beach. It is only the third time the seals have returned to mate and have pups since they resumed breeding there about 40 years ago. Marine biologists think this year’s appearance is because the violent winter storms disrupted their usual habitat of cliffs and ledges, forcing them to move onto the beach. The best place to see and hear the big sea mammals is from the lot at the Kenneth C. Patrick Visitor Center at the Point Reyes National Seashore. The Elephant Seals were plentiful along the California Coast but were hunted nearly to extinction. They started a comeback in the 1980’s which has consistently continued. If you go to see the seals plan to look from distance. The beach is closed until the end of March to keep the seals safe, so a good pair of binoculars or long lenses would help. Knowledgeable volunteers will be at the visitor center 7 days a week from 10am to 4pm to answer questions about the seals.
A landmark in Willits is for sale. Owners of the Noyo Theater say they are selling because they’re getting older and ready to retire. In a post on Facebook Lois and Jeff Hoover say the building is in great shape and would be a great opportunity as a family-run small business in town. Mendovoice.com reports the theater has been through some hard times recently. It closed during the pandemic, and the Hoovers planned to sell three years ago. The community pulled together to help, it reopened .The Noyo has a rich history—opening in May 1940 with a premier of a movie called Dark Command, starring John Wayne and directed by Willlts local Raoul Walsh. The theater played its own role in a controversy in the 1970s. When it showed the Pornographic film “Deep Throat” police confiscated the print, and the owners went to jail for violating decency laws. The case was eventually dismissed, but the theater was set on fire and closed indefinitely. It eventually came back to life and hosted the premier of Seabiscuit, starring Jeff Bridges and Tobey MacGuire in 2003.
FEMA is opening several disaster recovery centers starting this weekend for people affected by the winter storms in December and January. The Disaster Recovery Centers and Mobile Registration Intake Centers will be available on Saturday for those residents. They can register, update a FEMA applications, and learn about state and community programs and other available assistance. The centers will be at Point Arena City Hall, the Willits Branch Library on Commercial Street and at the Willits Community Center. The hours will be from 9am to 7pm daily., with some restrictions you can find thorough FEMA. Specialists at recovery centers can clarify information you received from FEMA or other agencies, they can explain the rental assistance available to homeowners and renters and they can fax your requested documents to a FEMA processing center and scan or copy new information or documents needed for case files. Special Mobile resource centers are set up ONLY to register people who need help. FEMA has all of the information on its website, DisasterAssistance.gov.
