The lead suspect in a weeks old murder has been arrested. Lee Anthony Joaquin is in custody. Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office was on the lookout for Joaquin for the homicide of Nickolas Whipple last month. Whipple was reportedly beaten badly and shot to death. It was CHP who arrested Joaquin, as he was speeding between Ukiah and Hopland. Joaquin was arrested on charges unrelated to the murder, after giving a different name. It was only when he was at the Mendocino County Jail when they discovered who he really was. Joaquin had 20 pounds of weed and a gun on him when he was arrested. In addition to murder, he faces a false identification charge, possession of marijuana for sale and more.
Lake County experienced a slight improvement in its unemployment rate, While California’s jobless rate didn’t change last month. The California Employment Development Department’s report on joblessness showed that Lake County’s unemployment rate was 6.3 percent, down from 6.4 percent in February but up from the rate reported a year ago, at 5.2 percent. At the same time, the statewide rate remained at 4.4 percent, as employers added 8,700 non-farm payroll jobs in March. Lake County’s unemployment rate last month earned it the No. 35 ranking statewide among the state’s 58 counties.
COVID-19 has been detected for the first time in California wildlife. One mule deer, from El Dorado County, was confirmed to be infected with SARS-CoV-2. The deer was harvested in 2021 and sampled by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, for chronic wasting disease. Initial testing for SARS-CoV-2 was conducted at the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory at UC Davis, and confirmatory testing was conducted by the U.S. Department of Animal Agriculture in Iowa. Hunters are encouraged to take appropriate precautions when handling and dressing game The CDC says although people can spread SARS-CoV-2 to animals the risk of animals spreading the virus to people is low.
Well drillers and farmers gathered at Barra of Mendocino Winery earlier this month, for the second workshop on the new well permitting process. The purpose of the workshop was to go over the draft well permitting review process with a new Executive Order from the Governor. Tomorrow, Newsom will review input from the gathering for possible revisions to the order. The Ukiah Valley Groundwater Basin is in better shape than most, the ground water recharges regularly. Mendocino County does not meter wells. However, municipal wells in the County are metered. The county may qualify for funding in the process.
Lake County Parks and Rec Division recently built an outdoor trail and installed multiple fitness stations at Lucerne Creek Park. New additions to the part along the shores of Lucerne Creek have expanded recreation for North Shore residents. A couple more facilities will soon be set up at Hammond Park in Nice and Kelseyville Community Park. Lake County’s Public Services Director says more amenities are planned for the future, with input from the public who have been invested in the vision for the parks’ future.
The Clearlake City Council rescinded a contract for a road project, in order to take the funding request to the state. The 18th Avenue Improvement project was contracted for about $4.6 million. The city manager clarified that funding may be available through the California Transportation Commission, which will consider it next month. The project would connect 18th Avenue to Highway 53, crossing the former airport property. However, there is litigation that may delay the project, with the Koi Nation’s objection. The council approved a project at the former airport property that would allow construction of a Marriott Hotel. The tribe says the city’s tribal consultation process violates the California Environmental Quality Act.
A new Senate bill might keep landlords from selling out. Senate Bill 567 hopes to build on existing legislation in the California Tenants Protection act. The Homelessness Prevention Act hopes to reign in landlords and property owners abusing the “Just Cause” provision allowing evictions. If passed, if a “no-fault just cause” is used to evict someone on the basis of selling the property, that property must be taken off the rental market for at least 10 years.
Cal Fire’s new online process for burn permits is up and running. Next Monday, the 1st of May, begins a new year for the permit process. The online program allows people to apply online for residential burns, general burning, which includes agricultural burns, and more in Cal Fire jurisdictions. Once a permit is approved, burn permit holders will still need to ensure that it is a permissive burn day with the local air quality district. More information about the new online application process can be found on the Cal Fire website, burnpermit.fire.ca.gov.
State regulators are aiming to ban sales of new diesel big rigs by 2036 this week, as efforts to move California’s trucking industry to zero emissions by 2042 continue. The state Air Resources Board will hold a public hearing on its proposed regulation tomorrow and may vote on it Friday. With major drawbacks in new technology, the cost of electric trucks, and lack of chargers in the state, trucking companies and some officials say the deadline is not realistic without fundamental changes. In Willits News, air board officials said they are confident that the truck market can adjust in time to speed the transition to electric models. Some organizations are urging the board to delay the deadline and consider using price caps on EVs for the industry to ease the financial burden as they move away from diesel.
California’s Air Resources Board wants to cut emissions produced by locomotives. The agency is voting on a new rule to ban the use of engines more than 23 years old, and not to let them idle when not working. According to California regulators, diesel emissions are responsible for about 70% of cancer risk to Californians’. In a statement The Association of American Railroads said “there is no clear path to zero emissions locomotives.”
The Lake County Probation Department was recently awarded over $220,000 in a grant to establish a Mobile Probation Service Center. The grant will fund a vehicle to provide homeless probation clients access to services, including court appearances, probation programs, check-ins, and more. The probation team intends to use the mobile center to reduce technical violations and decrease recidivism. The office says about a quarter of those on high-risk probation in Lake county are homeless. Assembly Bill 178 established funding for the Mobile Service Center, and will help the department build telecommunications and other equipment into the mobile probation vehicle.
After a tough year for grape growers, the numbers are in. The 2022 Preliminary Grape Crush Report for Mendocino County says grows crushed it with production up 29% from last year. In the Mendocino Voice online today, grapes worth and estimated 108.5 million dollars could produce around 22,500 bottles of wine, and although most of harvest will be going to wine makes outside of Mendocino County, some will be used by local winemakers.
Ukiah homeless shelter has to do more with less. Funding cuts are leading to staff shortages, with little relief in sight. Emergency relief money from the federal government during the pandemic allowed more staff and resources, now that the emergency is over, so are the benefits. In the Ukiah Daily, Sage Wolf at Building Bridges said they got a lot more money during the pandemic, now all that money has dried up. With tax revenues down, the shelter could see even more funding cuts.
