A Lakeport woman who was arrested in a murder case appeared at Lake County Superior Court for a bail review hearing. Melinda Fred was represented by defense counsel who presented letters in her support as well as her registration under Megan’s Law. The law requires authorities to make registered sex offenders information public. Ms. Fred has been charged with murder, assault with a deadly weapon and corporal injury, according to the Record Bee. Last month, Lake County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a stabbing on Red Feather Lane in Lakeport. There, they found Christopher Burrows on the ground with a knife wound. Burrows died from his injuries. Fred was arrested after an investigation. Bail was denied, but the court said it could be revisited after a prelim hearing in July.
The Lakeport City Council got a report on crime statistics during their regular meeting yesterday. The Record Bee reports response times, incidents, types of crimes and use of force were included in the information. The Lakeport Police Chief said the numbers are similar to 2021’s numbers. One exception was that response times decreased from 3 minutes to 4 for Priority 1 crimes. During 2022, there were over 300 arrests, 70 of those were felonies. The good news is that there were 0 homicides in the city. The police department is working with Lake County Behavior Health to work with them on issues in the community. Staffing is down about one third of where they were last year, but that training is daily and ongoing.
The funeral procession for local Cal Fire Captain Ronnie Boyd yesterday wound from Napa to Lake County. Boyd died June 11th in an off-duty motorcycle crash. His wife, Dena also passed due to injuries from the crash that happened east of Butts Canyon Road in Napa County. It began at the Napa County Coroner’s Office and traveled to the Twin Pine Casino through Middletown to a funeral home in Lower Lake. Engines from Humboldt County, Napa County, the South Lake Fire Protection District and more lined the way. The Press Democrat reports that Boyd began his career in 2003 as a firefighter for the Sonoma-Lake-Napa of Cal Fire. His most recent position was as the Humboldt-Del Norte Fire Captain. Boyd was known for his contagious smile and willingness to serve the public.
Cadet exams applications are open in California State Parks. The academy teaches how to serve California as rangers, lifeguards and more for visitors in the 280 state parks. The minimum age to be a peace officer is 21 and candidates must have 60 units of college credits. The Lake County News reports applications will be accepted through the end of July. The selection process and academy take about 15 months. Cadets will be testes physically, mentally and emotionally before entering the state park workforce. The academy instructs on investigations, physical arrests, firearms use and emergency response. Candidates may be in college and have at least 21 units of gen ed credits. They are looking for degrees in park administration, natural sciences, social sciences, law enforcement or a related field. Monthly salaries begin at around $4,000.
There will be a Point Arena City Council Study Session on Housing next Tuesday. The city issues a press release in MendoFever announcing the monthly meeting session for both in-person and via zoom. They will focus on the housing crisis and ways to solve it. Topics will include changes to commercial and multi-family zoning districts, requirements for the Hay Annexation area, standards for single room occupancy and more. The meeting is next Tuesday, June 27th, 6pm at the Point Arena City Hall. Residents are encouraged to come and bring their insights into the city’s affordable housing.
The Department of Cannabis Control announced awards to 18 local communities to establish retail licensing pathways. 14 communities were chosen to support licensure of cannabis equity in the legal cannabis market, according to a release in MendoFever. The Local Jurisdiction Retail Access Grants are the first of a kind, awarding $4 million in regions throughout the state to improve customer access to the plant. The grants are designed to meet demand in areas where retail access is limited if any at all. Recipients can use the funds to develop retailer licensing programs in issuing licenses. The grants will help with codifying ordinances, hiring staff and holding community outreach and engagement. Economic and environmental studies would also be developed as well as application and online portals for processing and regulating licenses.
Representative Mike Thompson spoke about the $600 million investment from the Inflation Reduction Act and infrastructure Law rolling out in California communities for climate resilience projects. Thompson said “we are seeing the direct impact of these laws through investments in California and across our country. The successes of the last Congress are just a first step…” The funds, announced by President Biden and Governor Newsom are part of a Climate Resilience Regional Challenge to help coastal communities, including tribes ready for extreme weather and impacts of the climate crisis, according to the Lake County News. California will get over $67 million initially to modernize the electric grid and ensure the reliability of the power sector.
And it’s time to ready for wildfire season. Officials and wildfire mitigation professionals say to focus on the zero to five foot zone around your home. It’s important to be wary of flammable material like mulch, chair cushions and recycling bins especially on red flag warning days, according to the Press Democrat. Using gravel or cement in the five foot range around your home is ideal. Low growing plants that don’t shed are good options and keeping plants watered helps mitigate fire risks. From 5 to 30 feet areas around your home experts say to stay lean, clean and green. Roofs should be metal and should be kept clear of leaves and other vegetation. Covering vent openings with metal mesh is another way to help fortify your space.
Mendocino College announced it has the highest percentage of Native American students throughout the 116 community colleges in the state. In a release and in the MendoVoice, the school reported for Spring semester this year over 5 percent of its students identified as Native American. The college says ongoing efforts for a more diverse and inclusive learning space helped them reach the achievement, serving students from historically marginalized communities.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced an agreement to crack down on organized theft rings yesterday. The agreement calls for retailers and online marketplaces to work with the state to find stolen goods and those behind the sales. Bonta announced an portal for online sellers to report suspected theft activity. The Press Democrat reports Bonta’s announcement is aimed at groups of people in organized thefts. Large scale theft and fraud from groups who resell online have hit California hard in recent years. Companies like CVS, Walgreens, Home Depot, Target and Amazon have singed on to join the effort. The agreement is directed by legislation passed to report and collaborate on organized crime. The California Retailers Association is pushing for changes to fix Prop 47 to punish repeat offenders.
A study comparing public school students to charter schools in the state was released this month. In it, charter school students outperformed public school students in reading and math. The report shows test scores for charter school students translate into the schools having 40 percent more learning in a year. The Record Bee reports charter schools run by non profit boards aren’t as regulated as public schools but are held to teacher credential codes and testing mandates. Over the last 14 years, charter schools have grown to outpace public schools, especially with minority progress in math and reading.
California is not the state with the highest gas prices anymore. CNN reports Washington has the nation’s most expensive fuel. The state saw a 32 cent increase over the last month to just under $5 per gallon, 7 cents ahead of the Golden State. It’s the first time Washington has eclipsed California in gas prices, according to GasBuddy. Washington’s average gas price is about $2 a gallon more than the rest of the country. Nationally, the average price of gas is about $3.58 per gallon, down $1.40 from last year.
The state’s reservoirs have made a historic comeback since last winter’s storms. A new study of satellite data from NASA found that last winter brought the greatest net gain of water in the state’s lakes in the 22 years since it’s been tracked. Between fall of last year and spring this year California’s lakes, rivers, soil and underground waters increased twice the average gain. The LA Times reports groundwater levels remain depleted and could stay that way for a while, according to experts. In the latest Russian River Water update, Lake Mendocino was at about 89 percent capacity and Lake Sonoma levels were at about 97 percent capacity.
And in Mendocino County, the once dormant Pier Chowder House in Point Arena has reopened serving California Coastal Cuisine, according to the MendoVoice. It’s hours are only listed as open Friday through Monday, with hopes to expand hours later this month. The Noyo River Grill in Fort Bragg has relocated to a new location at the former Cliff House. The Medina family moved t he popular spot to a place with stunning views of the ocean and a great place to watch boats come in and out of the harbor. The City of Ten Thousand Buddhas reopened on the site once inhabited by the first major Buddhist monastic community in the US. And sadly, the Company Kitchen in Philo announced it will close at the end of this month.
An acre burned this afternoon in Redwood Valley. The blaze was first reported just before 1:30pm with initial reports saying a trailer caught fire on west Road and spread into nearby brush. KymKemp reports the fire burned through grass and trees and was threatening a mobile home. Around 2pm fire air resources claimed the fire was getting contained and crews plan to be mopping up for several hours. The Mendocino County Sheriff sent out an alert on Nixle.
There will be prescribed burns in Sonoma County including one that is closing Shiloh Ranch Regional Park today. The Press Democrat reports smoke may be visible from Highway 12 through the weekend. Over 6 acres of grassland on the east side of Shiloh Ranch Park will be in a controlled burn with the Audubon Canyon Ranch’s Fire Forward program. Friday, the group along with the Sonoma Land Trust will burn about 35 acres of oak savanna next to Glen Ranch Preserve in Glen Alley.
