Two people were killed and a toddler injured in a car crash earlier this week. Devin Hendry of Ukiah died when he crashed into another head-on. A woman from Wilton also died in the accident, and her two year old daughter is hospitalized with major injuries. It happened south of Sacramento Tuesday night. CHP reports a preliminary investigation shows Hendry may have been drinking. The collision happened just before 9:30pm on Dillard Road east of 99. Hendry was apparently driving erratically when he veered to the left while the woman maneuvered right around a crash, both cars hit head-on. While the mother was wearing her seatbelt, Hendry was likely not, according to a release in KymKemp.
The Ukiah Valley Fire Authority will be doing a controlled training burn tomorrow. The south end of the airport will be the place where live fire exercises will commence, beginning at 8:30am.
Friday, roadwork 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.
There was a fire on Scotts Valley Road northwest of Clear Lake last night. Just before 6pm fire attack air resources were called from the Ukiah Airport. In a report in KymKemp, the incident commander indicated a building was in danger. Firefighters were working to get to the blaze, as the bridge nearby could not support their engines. The three acre fire burned slowly through oak woodland. Within an hour Air Attack resources reported nearby buildings were no longer threatened. Just before 7pm, the fire was controlled, as reported by the Incident Commander
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. The board voted to table the issue for a future meeting.
The Lake County Library is offering free resources to individuals with low vision. The Lakeport Library is inviting the public to an event next Tuesday from 1 to 3pm where the resources will be explained. Large type books, mp3 players, eAudiobooks and more will be available for those with vision issues. The Lake County Libraries will have a Tech Tuesday every week from 10am to 4:30pm and invites people to bring in devices Tuesday afternoons where library staff will provide guidance on the technology.
The Mendocino County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services will hold their Mental Health Treatment Act Citizens Oversight Committee hearing next Wednesday. The 1pm meeting at the Behavioral Health Regional Training Center is looking for public input. In the released agenda, the committee will be discussing Measure B related items and projects. The Board of Supervisors approved the $9.6 million dollars grant in April for a Regional Training Center. The group request approval for funds to create a Long-Term Financial Plan. They plan to review information and schedule a meeting date for Fort Bragg. The group will also set up an Ad Hoc Committee for Substance Use Services.
The California State Fair announced winners in the second annual cannabis awards. MendoVoice reports that Mendocino County farms excelled in outdoor cultivation winning three of the “golden bear” awards. Mendocino County grows also won six out of ten gold medals in outdoor cultivation and a unique gold award. Wood Wide Farms, a Mendocino County grower also won a gold medal for indoor cultivation. There were two gold medal winners in the mixed light competition. The winners will be showcased at the California State Fair in Sacramento next month with an awards ceremony on July 15. Growers hope the winners in the county will help energize Mendocino County’s market.
The nation’s median age went up to about 39 years last year. Birth rates have declined over the last twenty years as baby boomers age and young adults are waiting to have kids longer. Lake County is one in five counties in the state to show a decrease of .5 percent in median age, according to Lake County News. The median age in the county went from 39 to nearly 43 years. In the nation, Hawaii had the largest increase up about half a year to nearly 41 years for median age. Last year in California the state had the largest White population. The Golden State also had the largest Asian population with the largest Asian population gain. California also had the largest American Indian and Alaska Native as well as Hispanic population in the nation.
The Center for Biological Diversity filed a lawsuit yesterday against the US Fish and Wildlife Service for not finalizing protections for the foothill yellow-legged frogs in California under the Endangered Species Act. In a release in MendoFever, the Center said protections for the frogs have been stalled for over 10 years. Their habitat is along the coast and in the Sierra foothills. The Endangered Species Act is protecting only 11 species per year under the Biden administration, compared to 65 species under Clinton and 36 annually under Obama, despite a backlog of about 400 species. The yellow-legged frogs are threatened by dams, water diversions, logging, mining, urban development and more. The Center’s lawsuit also includes 12 other species including the cactus ferruginous pygmy owl, Humboldt marten and other species in Texas and Washington.
The Department of Veterans Affairs has a new hotline to report sexual assault or harassment at VA facilities. The number, 1-800-my VA 411 is open for people to confidentially report incidents 24/7. In a release in Lake County News, the VA says follow-up healthcare and support will also be available. The number is part of the department’s “no wrong door” reporting policy for sexual assault and harassment. The VA has a zero-tolerance policy and says they are actively working to create a culture free of those incidents. In addition to the hotline, the VA reports other steps in supporting victims. The department reportedly has points of contact to accept reports and is providing bystander intervention training. They are urging employees and veterans to take the White Ribbon VA Pledge to never commit sexual harassment, assault, domestic violence or to stay silent.
California pension officials say personal information of nearly 770,000 retired employees and beneficiaries was stolen by Russian cyber-criminals. The breach in a popular file-transfer application called MOVEit was discovered last month with hundreds of organizations hit globally. The cyber criminal gang called Clop, is extorting victims, threatening to share their data online if they don’t pay, according to the Associated Press. The California Public Employees’ Retirement System said that a third-party vendor was breached, using the file transfer program to inform people of deaths and validate payment eligibility. The information includes names, birth dates, and Social Security numbers and may include family members’ information. The organization says it was notified on June 6th.
Attorneys in the Golden State must report misconduct by their peers beginning August 1st. The state Supreme Court announced the new rule yesterday that obligates lawyers to notify the State bar if they have evidence that another attorney has committed a criminal act and more. The LA Times reports it is another major reform to come from the Tom Girardi scandal that was highlighted in the reality show Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Those who don’t report misconduct could face up to a three year suspension of their licenses.
CalTrans reports that Route 1 in Westport at the Wages Creek Bridge and north of Hardy Creek will undergo work today with one way traffic until 4pm. Tree work is happening today on Route 20 west of Little Lake Road and east of Three Chop Road until 3pm. And utility work at Broaddus Creek will slow traffic until 3pm. Starting Monday on Route 20 tree work will begin west of Three Chop Road until 4pm Monday afternoon. On US 101 road work from Comminsky Station Road to the Pieta Creek Bridge begins today with lane closures thru 5pm. Emergency work in Willits at 101 and Route 20 begins Monday. Utility work near the Standish-Hickey State Recreation Area will begin on Monday as will work at the Dora Creek Bridge with lane closures thru 4pm. On Route 253 utility work at Singley Cattlepass will start Monday. Culvert work on Route 271 near the 101 Cummings Road Undercrossing begins today with one way traffic through 6pm.
The Mendocino Council of Governments is almost done with a study of transportation needs and solutions for Covelo, Laytonville, Brooktrails, Potter Valley and Hopland. Next Tuesday at 5pm there will be a virtual public meeting with an update for residents with a public comment period. The study illustrates innovative and low cost programs for life line transportation in the communities, with ideas to fund the services.
Cal Fire is suspending burn permits for outdoor residential burning in Colusa, Napa, Solano and Yolo Counties as of next Monday. Cal Fire is also suspending all residential burning in Sonoma County effective on July 3. The Press Democrat has an interactive map of wildfire risk in Sonoma County. This year, Cal Fire and agencies across California have already reported nearly 2,000 wildfires, according to Lake County News. As warming temperatures and winds dry out vegetation that grew abundantly after last winter and early spring’s storms, now is the time to enhance your defensible spaces. Cal Fire recommends clearing dead or dying brush 100 feet around buildings. They also urge people to landscape with fire resistant plants and nonflammable ground cover instead of mulch. Check Ready For Wildfire.org for more tips and information.
A body was found near Portuguese Beach in Mendocino yesterday. There was a multi-agency response Thursday afternoon and authorities arrived to recover the body. The discovery came 12 days after Quinn Green of Mendocino tragically fell down the bluffs and was washed out to sea, according to MendoFever. The Public Information Officer for the Mendocino Volunteer Fire Department urged people not to jump to conclusions and to wait for confirmation from the Sheriff’s Office. Just after 1:30 yesterday, the body was found between two big rocks off the bluffs.
Mendocino County Search and Rescue posted tips in case you get lost or become stranded. The group said if your cell has low battery power, to change your voicemail message to include your location, time and date so that if people are looking for you, your information will be there.
There was a carjacking last week according to the Ukiah Police Department. June 16th just before 2:30pm police were called to Honey Fluff Donuts on North State Street. An officer with the California Fish and Wildlife had a suspect in cuffs. Apparently Travis Alvarez jumped into a truck that had stopped for a break by KFC. A shipping company was using U-Haul trucks when they stopped to rest. One of the shipping employees jumped into his truck and followed Alvarez and performed a maneuver to stop the stolen truck near Ford Road. Alvarez rammed the truck then put it in reverse then ramming vehicles behind him. The employee who got rammed got out and grabbed Alvarez out of the stolen truck and began fighting him. A Ukiah Police Officer helped the Fish and Wildlife warden as the two were nearby.
Congratulations are in order to the Ukiah Daily Journal in their help raising funds for the Ukiah Boys and Girls Club. The group has reached $60,000 out of their $65,000 goal for the organization. The Journal reports that relationships with youth forges supportive, meaningful and healthy connections, to foster a sense of belonging and purpose with opportunities to lead.
