A neighborhood brawl led to the arrest of an Ukiah man. In a release Wednesday afternoon, police say Jesse Reynolds shot gun at a group of kids in a dispute that led to a car chase. Reynolds’ stepson and another young man were in an argument, with a group kids encircling Reynolds’ home. The group allegedly made threats to his wife and step-kids. After his stepdaughter chased off the group with a baseball bat, Reynolds got in his car and chased them west on Clara Avenue. The kids’ vehicle turned around and acted aggressively towards Reynolds car. Reynolds says he thought one person had a gun on them, so he pulled his out and shot towards the group’s car, hitting it. Reynolds was arrested for assault with a firearm and for shooting into a vehicle. Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call Ukiah Police.
The Ukiah Zoning Administrator is deciding on whether to allow an ambulance service on North State Street. At their meeting next Tuesday Medstar/Ukiah Ambulance will apply for a permit for ambulance services in two buildings. There is one main building and a smaller on developed with an existing parking lot at the property. The Ukiah Daily Journal reports the smaller building would become an ambulance station, and the larger structure would be for administrative office. The company would like to use one ambulance with two crew members for non emergency basic life support, and will not be taking emergency calls. Taking those calls may be an option in the future. There will be a public hearing next Tuesday morning at 10am in the Ukiah Civic Center.
A man from Upper Lake was sentenced to life in prison for a serious domestic violence charges. Arturo Gutierrez violently assaulted his girlfriend and was sentenced last week to life in prison after being convicted of felonies including spousal abuse, assault, false imprisonment and causing great bodily injury. Gutierrez had two prior “strike” convictions for attempted murder and for kidnapping. He had spent 20 years in prison. In April a jury convicted him guilty and his crimes considered his third “strike.” He was formally sentenced to 40 years to life, according to Lake County News.
The former Willits Police Lieutenant is under investigation by California’s Commission on Peace Office Standards and Training. According to KymKemp today, his law enforcement credentials have been suspended while they agency looks into the claims of abuse of power and bias. Raymond Hendry was accused of multiple charges against women he worked with at the Willits Police Department as well as alleged sexual acts on a civilian woman while in uniform. In August of last year, Hendry was the target in a criminal investigation by the Lake County Sheriff Office Major Crimes Unit. Last December, Willits Police Chief said charges were recommended to the Mendocino County District Attorney’s Office.
The Avenue of the Giants will be closed for replacement of a fish barrier culvert with a bridge south of Phillipsville. The Ukiah Daily Journal reports that Cal Trans will get rid of the fish-barrier, install a bridge and restore a natural streambed. The new bridge will be 32 feet wide and 42 feet long and will create 2.5 miles of fish habitat near the South Fork Eel River. Cal Trans says it is a high priority to remove the barrier so that habitat for spawning fish will be recreated and protected and also act as a cold water refuge for young fish year-round. The scenic road will be closed at mile post 4.81 until the project is finished in September.
Federal assistance applications have been extended to July 20 for Mendocino residents. The extension allows those who went through the February and March storms to register for federal aid with FEMA. The North County Mobile Registration Intake Centers have closed but residents can still apply at the Disaster Recovery Center in Willits or online at Disaster Assistance.gov.
There was a prescribed burn in Sonoma County that closed Shiloh Ranch Regional Park yesterday. The Press Democrat reports smoke may be visible from Highway 12 through the weekend in other controlled burns. 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.
The Cal Fire Wood Products and Bioenergy Team is giving away $16 million in grants this week. The funds are for projects that create healthy, resilient forests across the state. Non-profits, small businesses and manufacturing facilities across California will be offered 14 grants. The aim is to reduce roadside hazards and other forest fuels to help mitigate wildfires. Forestree Collective in Sonoma County is one of the awardees and will expand their capacity to mill lumber. In the last year, the Wood Products and Bioenergy Team has given $67 million to businesses and projects that help with California’s climate mitigation and economic development goals. The department is accepting grant applications. More information can be found at Cal Fire’s Wood Products and Bioenergy webpage.
California companies Upside Foods and Good Meat were granted permission to sell their products. Cells of animals grown in steel tanks, called cultivated meats include a variety of chicken, beef, pork and lamb. People can expect these lab grown proteins in restaurants and a small amount of retail stores in the next five years, and in grocery stores within 10 years, according to the Associated Press. The cell-based meat is made from a fertilized egg and put in a mixture of nutrients so the cells can grow and divide. Skeletal muscle, fat and connective tissues grow and in weeks the tissues are shaped into products like nuggets. Research into how the public will respond shows about half of people will try the new food.
Voters in the state may decide on support the use of state funds for programs to improve health, education and economic well-being of racial, ethnic and sexual or gender groups, according to the Press Democrat. Three years ago, Californians voted to ban using race, sex, ethnicity and more as factors in public university admissions. New legislation, Assembly Constitutional Amendment 7 would let state agencies request a waiver to avoid the country’s first ban on affirmative action. The amendment will show up as a proposition in the November ballot next year. The amendment is aimed to compensate for historical prejudice on groups of people like housing discrimination and police profiling. CalMatters reports the measure is expected to pass and get on next year’s ballot as opposition to Prop 16 grows. There are predictions that the US Supreme Court will strike down affirmative action this month.
A Californian was sentenced to over 12 years in prison for his role in the January 6th Capitol riot. CBS reports Daniel Rodriguez admitted he attacked former DC police officer Michael Fanone with a taser. The officer lost consciousness as he worked to protect Congress that day as rioters attacked to stop the certification of results from the 2020 presidential election. Rodriguez must also pay almost $100,000 to cover medical treatment of the officer and in restitution for the destruction on January 6th. Rodriguez was remorseful, according to his defense council, and wrote an apology letter to Fanone. However, when he was sentenced yesterday, Rodriguez yelled to the court “Trump won.” His attorney said the blame rests with former President Trump, leading Rodriquez to believe he was there on behalf of the President to support the United States.
The California Department of Insurance is inviting the public to a workshop on how insurance companies use of risk assessment. In a release in Lake County News, the department wants to get input as they think about future regulations that may help consumers with increased insurance coverage options, pricing and recognition of federal, state, and local wildfire safety and mitigation investments. The virtual workshop is scheduled for July 13 and is part of an effort of their campaign “Safer from Wildfires” that began 3 years ago. The Insurance Commissioner is looking at several actions in response to an increased wildfire risk due to climate change. The campaign includes regulations to mandate discounts to policy holders who work to mitigate effects from fires in homes and businesses. The Commissioner said the workshop will help consumers with more coverage choices and resiliency in California’s marketplace.
Friday, work will begin in Westport at the Wages Creek Bridge and north of Hardy Creek, both with one-way traffic delays. Tomorrow, utility work begins at Broaddus Creek. Highway 101 work began this week at Reeves Canyon Road with slight delays. Pavement work began on Highway 197 Friday.
State Senators Padilla and Thompson are leading new legislation to protect the wine industry from wildfire smoke. Wildfire taint has ruined wine grape harvests in recent years costing growers hundreds of millions of dollars. The Press Democrat reports a pair of bills will be introduced today would invest in more research into smoke taint, and order federal regulators to create insurance policies against smoke damage. The fire season of 2020 created around $600 million in lost grapes. The representatives want over $32 million dedicated to smoke taint research, ways to screen for impacted grapes and even solutions to get rid of taint from wine. The Smoke Exposure Crop Insurance Act would also focus the US Department of Agriculture to create insurance policies for growers that includes removing smoke taint from crops before seeking insurance payouts.
The Mendocino Unified School District Board of Trustees met last week and discussed incendiary language at the Mendocino Community Network. Prior to the meeting, the District Superintendent met with the network Advisory Committee to consider removing the network from the district. In one comment about the issue, threats, slander, taunt and other strong language was reported. While the board talked of supporting free speech others pointed out the hateful comments on the network contradict the schools values, according to the Mendocino Beacon. Solutions brought up include blocking offensive language and restrictions to who can participate. The student representative for the board asked why hateful language can’t be blocked. The board voted to table the issue for a future meeting.
The California Department of Education is working to continue offering books and lessons on diversity and inclusively in schools. The LA Times reports the Superintendent of Public Instruction met with legislators yesterday as part of a new task force to commit to materials that are “free from discrimination and inclusive of the diverse narratives that reflect the student body of California.” Textbook publishers in the state were part of the meeting on Wednesday and say they are committed to diversity and inclusion. California approved “social content” standards 10 years ago that require schools to accurately portray the cultural and racial diversity of the population. The task force talked about potential laws that would hold school boards accountable as school boards want to maintain local control.
