A Redwood Valley resident is in jail for fatally shooting a trespasser. Just before 8pm last night Timothy Abshire was shot in the chest on Richards Road. The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office issued a release noting the shooter, Clinton Maxwell called in the emergency request, saying he shot someone trespassing on his property. Emergency responders arrived to Abshire with three gun shots in his chest. Around 8:23pm, he was pronounced dead at the scene. Maxwell was arrested and charged with homicide. He is being held in lieu of a $500,000 bail. Anyone with information about the events last night is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office.
Cal Fire and the Bureau of Land Management are partnering together in a Good Neighbor Authority agreement. In a release issued today, Cal Fire and BLM entered into a contract worth around $4.5 million to coordinate on projects to mitigate fires and restore forests. About 15 percent of land in California is under the purview of the BLM. The two agencies will pair goals to work together on wildfire resilience and enhanced responses. The Deputy Director says the Good Neighbor Authority agreement is the first step for the two to work together and said management opportunities will go beyond wildfire to include climatic events like floods and drought. The agreement gets rid of jurisdictional boundaries. Together they’ll work on the National Environmental Policy Act to include fuel reduction and watershed restoration. The goal of the partnership is to treat one million acres of forest and wildlands annually by 2025.
Cal Fire is working on a prescribed burn at the headquarters on Highway 101 in Willits. The 10-acre controlled fire was started around 10am and will continue through about 3pm. The fuel reduction project is aimed at promoting natural regeneration and fire personnel training. Smoke will be visible to area residents, as well as fire air resources.
Northern Mendocino and Southern Humboldt Counties are getting 10 new Type Six fire engines. KymKemp reports the remote locations with rural fire districts and departments are in need of the resources. Departments in Mendocino County that will get a new fire engine include Covelo, Laytonville, Leggett, Piercy and Westport. Cal Fire announced $6 million in Fire Prevention Grants to Mendocino, Humboldt and Sonoma counties’ fire departments. Mendocino will get $4 million for their fire fighting organizations.
The Redwood Empire Fair livestock auction broke a new record with over $1.1 million in total auction sales. MendoVoice reports there were over 220 exhibitors with rabbits, sheep, goats, pigs, beef and poultry. There are about 24 more exhibitors this year over last, with 2022 sales just below this year’s record. Sales of Market Steer from 4H were down about $55,000 while 4H Market Swine increased about $30,000 and Market Lamb sales were up over $20,000. Turkey bidding was significantly higher topping out at over $21,000. Poultry was up as well, at nearly double last year’s numbers at nearly $17,000. The local 4H and FFA groups saw increased interest this year as residents support the families and kids who dedicated their time to raising these animals.
Mendocino County is hosting a series of public meetings in census tracts designated by CalOES. Grant funds were awarded last year in a “Jumpstart” fund. There will be a meeting in Hopland a week from today, Thursday the 17th from 5:30 to 7pm in Hopland at the Veteran’s Memorial Building. The county is planning listening sessions in Boonville, Redwood Valley, Covelo, Ukiah, Willits and more, according to a release in MendoFever.
The counties of Sonoma, and Mendocino, along with the Leave No Trace organization, have launched an initiative to help coast-seeking visitors contribute to a Cleaner California Coast. With over 10 million visitors each year who visit the coastline and its neighboring counties of Marin, Sonoma, and Mendocino. Over 55,000 pounds of litter were picked up from the coastal environment across the three counties last year. Mendocino County aims to adopt practices from Leave No Trace. Residents can help at an upcoming clean-up event: this Saturday with the Mendocino Land Trust. It’s the Second Saturday Beach Clean Up at Hare Creek (Park at Mendocino College, Coast Campus) Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023, 10:00 AM – Noon
The Ukiah Library will be hosting Fire Preparedness with the Mendocino County Fire Safe Council next Saturday at 3 p.m. at 105 N. Main Street. This event will go over the core programs that Mendocino County Fire Safe Council leads, help residents learn how they can prepare for wildfires at home, give tips for home hardening and more, according to the Ukiah Daily Journal. For more information, visit www.mendolibrary.org or contact the Ukiah Library Branch.
The California Department of Public Health is reminding residents to get your updated vaccines, especially as students return to school. State law requires vaccinations to enroll in public schools and childcare centers. Families can check out ShotsforSchool and Don’t Wait, Vaccinate webpage run by the Department. Vaccines that aren’t required but recommended are available as well including HPV. The seasonal flu shot is on its way as well as the updated COVID vaccine that is targeted at the latest strain. Check with your local health department or your medical care provider for what vaccinations they recommend.
A man from Clearlake will be spending the rest of his life in prison for sexual crimes against three children. Yesterday a judge sentenced Travis Hill up to 75 years to life after a jury trial found him guilty of nine counts of sexual assault. Lake County News reports Hill was arrested about 2 years ago, charged with sexual assault on three kids at his home in Lucerne from 2015 through 2017. The District Attorney’s office confirmed the kids were aged 6 to 9 years old. Hill’s trial was in April and sentencing was delayed but finally happened yesterday.
Senator Dianne Feinstein took a fall in her home and was taken to the hospital for a short time. The Associated Press reports her office confirmed the hospital visit yesterday. The senior Senator returned home after a brief check up. Feinstein has experienced health problems related to shingles and has vision and balance impairments from the infection. Some are urging her to step down, while others are supporting her last term in office. She will not seek reelection next year. If she leaves before then, the Governor would have to name her replacement; one he’s said would be a diverse candidate. The Senator did ask to be replaced on the Senate Judiciary Panel, but Republicans refused to allow it. The Senate is expected to return to work next month.
A special workshop to reduce stress is planned for this weekend. The free workshop called “Building Resilience: Self-Empowering Tools for Reducing Stress and Trauma as Close as Your Own Hands.” Lake County News reports the Kelseyville Presbyterian Church is hosting the event. The first session is Saturday, August 12th at 4:30pm with a second session the next day at noon. The workshop highlights ways to relieve stress through body based skills to help balance yourself. Techniques like breathing and visualization are part of the session as well as Tai Chi, emotional freedom tapping, acupressure and more. The event is hosted by Reverend Judy Slater, who is trained in healing. She is active with the Red Cross and works with people on anxiety and emotional issues.
