Ukiah Police issued a Nixle alert on a structure fire this afternoon. They are asking the public to avoid Leslie Street between Peach and Gobbi Streets. They’re asking the public to use an alternate route.
Mendocino County Sheriff’s Deputies were called to Ukiah in reports of a gunshot victim. The initial report noted the victim said he accidentally shot himself in the shoulder. Tuesday evening deputies arrived and found the injured man with his girlfriend. The pair said he accidentally shot the gun while cleaning it. He was airlifted to the hospital. During the investigation at the scene, authorities discovered the girlfriend, Mandy Vanarsdale and the victim had been fighting. They believe she shot the victim, and arrested her for felony attempted murder. She is being held on a quarter million dollar bail according to the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office.
The Mendocino County Board of Supervisors denied a cannabis prohibition zone in Redwood Valley this week. An attorney for cannabis growers reflected that prohibition zones are contrary to established farming rights on the agricultural zoned lots, when CPs were considered. KymKemp reports legal growers in the Redwood Valley have gone through legal permitting and licensing. Cannabis applicants called the petition to have prohibition zones was an example of racist gerrymandering. Those who petitioned for the CPs listed crimes, spoiled views and heavy water use among more. The board denied the CPs, but wants code enforcement to crack down on those creating problems in the Redwood Valley.
The governor announced new investments yesterday for mitigating wildfires and their impacts. Its part of a $52 billion California Climate Commitment budget to support nearly 100 prevention projects statewide with a portion dedicated to underserved communities. Lake County News reports the projects support the state’s Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan and the Strategic fire Plan. In Lake County over $1.7 million is being allocated to the second phase in a project by the Clear lake Environmental Research Center. The county will also get over $370,000 to focus on the Resource Conservation District’s Tree mortality Mitigation and Public Safety in Lake County Project.
This week there was an update announced with the Mendocino Cannabis Department about the Accela portal as they continue to make it better for users. They also have announced that in person operations will reopen on Bush Street in Ukiah by September 1st. As the department went through upgrades and has been streamlined by the board of supervisors. The state has granted an additional year for the transition of provisional licenses for annual license holders. They will now have expanded counter service hours and will be open weekdays from 8a to 5p in addition to having the new online portal available.
The Mendocino Board of Supervisors voted to consider a department of finance in their meeting this week. IN light of recent problems in financing, it’s the first step to create the department for best practices according to reporting in MendoFever. Supervisors noted the necessity for information, especially when handling the public’s money. The board discussed empty positions within the county that need to be filled. Good record-keeping was discussed to provide checks and balances. They need to decide if the position to lead a new finance department would be elected or appointed. They also noted the need for codified policies and procedures for work with the county’s finances.
The Lake County Library system announced is has free online language resources. Mango Languages programming offers personalized learning with enhanced tools in over 70 languages, including endangered and Indigenous languages. They also have 20 specialized English courses. The new software has voice comparison to help with pronunciation and cultural notes. Check with the Lake County Libraries for more information on the Mango Language programming.
The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office issued a release on convicted murdere Dino Blackbear Lincoln’s sentence yesterday morning. Lincoln was sentenced to 76 years to life for the murder of Kenneth Whipple in September of 2021 when he left a bar in Covelo walking south on Highway 162. When a car pulled over in front of them, Lincoln pulled out a gun and fired and hit Whipple, killing the man. Lincoln is a two time felon meaning this third strike under the law affected his sentencing. Lincoln was only 43 days into a released parole when he decided to shoot his gun at someone.
A man and his two dogs died yesterday near Cloverdale when his car drove into Yorty Creek. It happened just before 4:30pm at Lake Sonoma Yorty Creek Recreation Area when a white sedan was seen in the water. The Press Democrat reports a witness tried to do CPR on the driver, who was pronounced dead. The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office said they are investigating.
California’s fast food workers have a right to continue to wear masks. Companies like In-N-Out attempted to ban face masks but will not be allowed to. The company will ban masks in other states where it operates like Texas, Utah and Nevada. CalMatters reports California’s COVID workplace rules continue to protect workers rights to decide for themselves. IN a memo, In-N-Out said they want customer experiences to include workers’ smiles. They would allow employees who are sick to continue to weak masks for medical reasons. In-N-Out followed the state’s COVID rules during the pandemic, but was a vocal critic of vaccine mandates. All of California’s employers can require workers to wear a mask, with exceptions for those who can’t wear one for medical reasons.
The Bureau of Land Management has made agreements with Cal Fire, Caltrans and the CCC to increase restoration work, fuels reduction and forest health project on managed public lands in the state. Lake County News reports the three agreements are being funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The Department of Interior will get $1.5 billion in those funds to invest in wildfire mitigation and preparedness, $15 million is set to go to BLM areas in California. Plans include cross-jurisdictional coordination for landscape restoration with projects like the Good Neighbor Authority. The California Conservation Corps project with $4.2 million will be used for restoration work including fuel breaks, post-fire burned area rehab, controlled fires and habitat improvement. A Caltrans project with $4.2 million will scale up forest management; reduce wildfire hazards and more on BLM lands near highways.
Another insurer in the state will stop offering new policies. This time, it’s Liberty Mutual who announced starting in October they’ll no longer offer business owners policies, citing inflation and increased catastrophic losses. Reuters reports the company will also stop renewal of some current clients starting in December. Liberty Mutual joins a group including State Farm, All State and more. The exodus of property insurance companies is creating stress in the state as both home owners and business owners have to search out insurers.
Local legislators introduced a bill that would exempt fire victims from taxes on help from funds paid to wildfire victims. Representatives Mike Thompson and Doug LaMalfa yesterday gave a revised protection to cover payments from the $13.5 billion settlement in the Fire Victim Trust for wildfires from 2015 through 2018. Lake County News reports Thompson and LaMalfa don’t want survivors to pay taxes on compensation. The two discussed working with the Joint Committee on Taxation, the Ways and Means Committee and Congressional leadership. The revised bill relieves wildfire victims of being taxed on the money. The bill that was introduced yesterday would also remove requirements that limit payments to the trust funds to protect disaster aid recipients.
There is more information about the body of a man found near a Highway 101 on-ramp in Ukiah this week. The Press Democrat reports the body seemed to be someone simply sitting beneath a tree at first. The person who spotted the body, drove by again a couple days later and saw the body in the same place. The witness got out to check on the man, when they discovered he was dead. Mendocino County Sheriff’s Deputies arrived and found he had some personal stuff surrounding him, leading them to believe he was transient. The body had decomposed through multiple days of 100 degree heat, so he was not immediately identifiable. Officials don’t think foul play was related to the death.
The popular reality show, American Pickers, plans to return to NorCal for episodes to be broadcast this September. MendoFever reports the History Channel show is headed to the area and wants to find hidden treasure. They are specifically looking for people with unique antiques and more who are not part of a public collection. The show runners are following safe filming regulated by the state and the CDC.
