A home on Comptche-Ukiah Road east of Mendocino was fully engulfed in flames. The first call came in a little after 1 p.m. yesterday. Firefighters arriving on the scene found a patient with third-degree burns and requested REACH Air Medical Services to respond to transport the victim to a hospital. The fire is under investigation.
Several hospitals in Mendocino, Sonoma and Lake counties have been recognized in the state for meeting and maintaining standards for patient safety. The hospitals are among 76 tier 2 medical facilities in California, listed on the Cal Hospital Compare 2023 Patient Safety Honor Roll based on dozens of measures. Local hospitals recognized include Adventist Health Mendocino in Fort Bragg, Sutter Lakeside Hospital in Lakeport and Sutter Santa Rosa Regional Hospital. Hospitals on the honor roll had to meet a tight threshold of performance by having at least 60 percent of measure results above the 50th percentile and the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade of “A” for the past three periods.
The Hopland Band of Pomo Indians, CAL FIRE, and the Mendocino County Prescribed Burn Association, will be doing a cultural burn on Friday on Nokomis Road in Hopland. Local tribal leaders are working to return the ancient practice of cultural burning to their ancestral lands. This burn will focus on restoring and preserving cultural burning traditions, improving native plants and animal habitat, reducing the risk of a fire harming their community and limiting cultural resources used in tribal traditions. CAL FIRE Mendocino Unit will be on hand to help during this 2.5-acre burn beginning at about 7:00am until around 5:00pm. Smoke will be visible throughout the Hopland and Ukiah areas.
Opponents of Proposition 22 would like the California Supreme Court to review the proposition’s standing. Currently, it stands as state law, as of last months appeals court ruling. It was a win for ride-hailing and food delivery industry. The SEIU of California, with union-supported drivers have filed a petition for review from the California Supreme Court, hoping they’ll find the policy unconstitutional, saying in order to enforce a workers compensation program, a constitutional amendment must be made. According to the Lake County Record Bee, the appellate court determined that Prop. 22 did not violate the California Legislature’s power over workers’ compensation. California’s Supreme Court has between 2 and 3 months after a petition is filed to determine whether it will take the case.
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors approved regulations for thousands of vacation rentals and timeshares outside city limits. In a special meeting Monday, the approval initiates a license program to set standards for vacation rentals and a stronger enforcement tool. According to the Press Democrat, the rules restrict where vacation rentals are located and regulate ownership limits of a property. Unincorporated Sonoma County has an average of more than 2,300 properties, including the coastal zone. The regulations stipulate that rentals must adhere to quiet hours, limits noise, and maintain defensible space against wildfires, and more. They also establish escalating fines for violations, starting at $1,500 for the first violation, up to $5,000 for a third violation. Other enforcement measures include license revocation.
Spring has sprung, and temperatures continue to heat up, tempting some to take a dip in rivers throughout NorCal, but think twice. California rivers are expected to rise to levels not seen in years, according to a California Department of Water Resources news release. Low water temperatures, from about 50 to 60 degrees, impede your ability to breathe and move. Cold water can shock your body. Check the status of the park you’re planning to visit before you go, as there may be restrictions in place. Another thing to consider is to share your GPS coordinates with a friend in case of an emergency. The Department of Water resources online is a great place for more helpful information to keep you and your family safe. It’s best to not go into fast-running, cold water. If you see someone who needs rescuing, toss in something that floats or call 9-1-1 for help. Wearing a life vest is always advised, but wearing one this year may not be enough for hazardous water conditions.
With temps warming up today, this may be the last chance to see the epic Sierra snow pack in its entirety from space. The string of atmospheric rivers and unusually cold temperatures over winter left an enormous snow pack in the mountains, not seen in California for decades. NASA’s Terra satellite captured the snow cover early this month. With temperatures ramping up as high as the mid-90s by the end of the week, experts are expecting “the Big Melt.” Yesterday, Yosemite National Park announced it will close from Friday through next Wednesday due to flood risk.
The South Lake County Fire Protection District will host its ninth annual open house this weekend. The free event will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, at Station 60, on Highway 175 in Middletown. Demonstrations will include a hands-only CPR training, an auto extrication demonstration at and a live smoke crawl. There will be burger and hot dog meals, fire engine rides, bounce house and face painting, a meet and greet with Sparky, and fire safety education. There will be a REACH helicopter demonstration, free raffles, children’s activities and games.
Tickets are on sale for a May 20 benefit dinner for the United Disaster Relief of Northern California, a Ukiah-based nonprofit that helps Californians during and after disasters, like wildfires, floods and evacuations. The benefit dinner will include live music and dinner, to help fund the organization that brings relief to those in need. They are fundraising to buy a 7,200-square-foot warehouse it currently rents, securing the space as a permanent headquarters. Tickets to the event at the Ukiah Valley Conference Center are $100 per person and are available at The Mendocino Book Company, or online at UDRNC.org.
The Lake County Library’s Literacy Program has scheduled an in-person no-cost Tutor Training today, at the Lakeport Library from 11am to 4pm. Training comes from the Lake County Literacy Coalition Board, who will show people how to teach adults to read. Tutors will be paired with adult learners in areas Lake County. On top of teaching literacy, the program offers help with those wanting to get their GED, citizenship application assistance, written driving tests, and more. Visit the Lake County Library Website for more details.
Throughout California, Native Americans are disproportionately represented among the state’s homeless population. One third of tribal residents live below the poverty line, and about 9 percent of tribes in California have homes that lack complete plumbing and many lack complete kitchens. Senate Majority Leader Mike McGuire and tribal leaders are moving legislation forward to dedicate tribal housing in a housing grant program through the state. Senate Bill 18 would make a tribal specific housing fund for construction and housing rehab. In KymKemp online, the overwhelming majority of tribes have been unable to access current housing program funds because they conflict with tribal sovereignty, are restrictive and some say mismatched to tribal needs.
The Lake County Board of Supervisors approved another 90 day extension for the Emergency Warming Shelter in Lakeport. On Tuesday, the board also discussed the permitting of temporary hoop structures for cannabis cultivation. The board wants to clearly define terms of the regulations for hoop structures with those of other industries like agriculture. After public comment and discussion, the board decided to move the motion of hoop houses to next Tuesday’s meeting. In The Record Bee today, the board also approved the 90 day extension of the Lakeport Emergency Warming Shelter with a maximum budget of $307,000.
Sonoma County Airport is adding flights with Avelo Airlines this summer. The airline will start service between Sonoma County and Redmund Municipal in Bend, Oregon beginning June 23. Avelo made the announcement in a news release today. Bend will become the fourth market out of Sonoma County Airport for Avelo, with routes to Burbank, Les Vegas and Palm Springs. A Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft will fly to Oregon Mondays and Fridays.
