The area shook with a 4.4 magnitude earthquake in Lake County last night. The quake was followed by two aftershocks with magnitudes of 2.8 and 2.5. The quake happened at about 10:40pm last night, with the epicenter about seven miles northwest of Cobb.
One of Mendocino Coast’s most legendary bars is reopening tomorrow, with a full reopening planned for this summer. The former Caspar Inn is being re-launched as The Caspar Hub/Good Bones Kitchen, with a return of live music. Owner Miles McCreary, a chef-artist is working the eatery, wine and beer bar. Built in the early 20th century, the building houses units upstairs that are now are under reconstruction. Live music begins at 5pm on Thursday with Gillian Grogan, Tomo Nakayama and Bryan Appleby.
Wineries in Mendocino County are upgrading to long-duration energy storage, with provider ESS. The company is delivering three Energy Warehouse systems for a solar and storage microgrid at Roederer Estate, Scharffenberger Cellars and Domaine Anderson. The system is expected to be up and running late this year. The iron-flow battery technology delivers long lasting energy storage and the company ESS says the systems are safe and non toxic, aimed to reduce carbon footprints.
Registration is open for The State of the Redwood Coast Region’s 3rd annual regional economic development summit in Ukiah this fall. The title of the summit is “Our Elemental Economy” and is a two-day event aimed at innovative thinking along the coast, including Mendocino County and tribal lands. For more information search Eventbrite for the 2023 State of The Region Summit.
Two Eureka people killed in a crash on Highway 101 north of Ukiah last week have been named. MSCO says 30-year-old Gavin Backues was the driver of a Toyota sedan that crashed into a tree and caught on fire. The female passenger was 22-year-old Caroline Salcido. A third male passenger has not yet been named. The fatal crash happened early April 4th, when the sedan veered off the highway, just south of Pomo Lane. It’s still not known if drugs or alcohol were factors in the crash.
Authorities are still searching for a missing person, Riley Hsieh of Willits, who was first reported missing over two weeks ago. According to MSCO, the 24-year-old was last seen at his home in Brooktrails around 11am on March 27th. Hsieh is 5 feet 10 inches tall, and weighs around 130 pounds. He was last seen in a gray robe carrying a blue or green bag when he disappeared. Hsieh is considered to be at risk. Anyone with information on where Hsieh may be is asked to keep their distance, and call the Sheriff’s Office.
The Santa Rosa Police Department found 1200 suspected fentanyl pills, cash and guns from a suspected local fentanyl drug trafficking organization on Monday. Five Sonoma County residents were arrested following a months-long investigation. The five suspects were charged with conspiracy, possessing drugs for sale with one of the suspects having an additional firearm charge. Each suspect, aged 19 to 23, was booked into jail Monday night, with bail set at $800,000 each.
A man charged with two counts of attempted murder and more, appeared at the Lake County Superior Court early this week. 23-year-old Hunter Toles of Cobb is not currently in custody. The court appearance has been continued to Friday with the hearing set for June. The jury trial, scheduled for this month, was vacated. The charges, from June of last year revolved around a woman who had been shot near Rainbow Road on Cobb Mountain. She was treated for a non-life threatening gunshot wound. Toles entered a not guilty plea.
A Clearlake Oaks man who had been arrested and charged with shooting at homes has been found dead, after missing a court appearance at the Lake County Superior Court. The defendant, 62-year-old Benjamin Wilkinson Jr. was charged for felony firearms violations, stemming from the event in January of 2022, on Garden Court. The case has dismissed and the trial vacated.
Personal-use firewood permits are now on sale for wood collection from the Mendocino National Forest. The permit and tags cost $2.00 per cord with a minimum purchase required of $20 for 10 cords. 12 cords is the max per household. Permits are valid through the end of this year. You can buy a permit in person from the Upper Lake District Office. They suggest that you bring a completed request form found on the Forest Service website, the link here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/mendocino/passes-permits/forestproducts/?cid=FSBDEV3_004471
