The State Controller’s Office is auditing Mendocino County’s annual financial statements. The audit comes after county officials expressed concerns on the financial reports that are required to be given to the state. Lake County News reports the Board of Supervisors requested the State Controller’s Office take a look at what some refer to as a financial crisis. The county was recently warned its credit rating may be put under review unless the county finishes its late financial statements. State Controller Malia Cohen said the county’s failure to deliver the reports on time could put the county at a disadvantage.
The Golden Fire is expected to be contained today! Cal Fire is reporting the blaze that began along Highway 101 between Ukiah and Willits was at 95 percent containment as of last night and is being held at under 12 acres. The Ukiah Daily Journal reports the fire began near the entrance to the Golden Rule RV Park last Sunday. Firefighters had it half contained by Monday and have kept it at about 11.5 acres. It was a small part of the smoke effects in the county, as the larger complex fires in the very northern parts of the state have created bad air quality for folks around Mendocino and Lake Counties. The forecast for the weekend is better air quality with winds and some rain expected.
Letts Lake Campground is open with water and other services through the fall. The mud slide that affected the M10 Road has been repaired temporarily. Drivers should use caution and drive slowly on the one lane road and watch for rain events if you do go to the campground, according to the Mendocino National Forest.
California Highway Patrol will be doing a Maximum Enforcement Period this Labor Day weekend. The enforcement will begin today at 6pm and continue through midnight on Monday, September 4th. Law enforcement will be looking for traffic violations and helping drivers. They will be working to arrest drivers who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Impaired driving continues to be a leading cause of traffic deaths and injury. Last year CHP officers made over 900 DUI arrests in the state along with 5,700 speeding tickets. Labor Day of 2022 saw 52 people killed in crashes on California’s roadways.
Mendocino County cannabis growers are being celebrated. Visit Mendocino County and the Mendocino Cannabis Alliance honored the county’s winners last week who won big time at the California State Fair in the cannabis divisions. The Willits News reports nine farms from Mendocino County took home 18 State Fair Cannabis Awards this year. The state fair presented three Golden Bear Awards to several local growers including outdoor cultivation and mixed and indoor light grows. At a reception on the 20th in Anderson Valley, leaders and tourism officials congratulated the winners. Growers reported that the industry in Mendocino County is difficult to comply with, but in the end, the winners say it was worth it.
Fort Bragg Police have a car theft suspect in custody. A new Dodge Ram 1500 was stolen from the Motel 6 on South Main Street yesterday morning around 7am. Police learned the victim left the truck running while he went into his room to grab something, returned and found it had been driven away. He left his phone in the truck, and the suspect, Shawn Wick answered it. They negotiated with Wick, who fled when he saw officers. MendoFever reports Mendocino County Sheriff’s deputies and Fort Bragg officers boxed the suspect in at Cedar Street and Sanderson Way. Officials learned Wick was in a traffic accident on Wednesday, and made sure he got medical care. He was cleared and booked into jail on felony auto theft and felony assault with a deadly weapon as well as felony evading.
Unhealthy pine trees in Low Gap Park are being removed, according to Mendocino County officials. County staff expect to remove about 8-10 deteriorated trees near public areas the park. The Ukiah Daily Journal reports arborists have had their eye on the dying trees and for the past several years tree removal has been ongoing. At Low Gap Park, wildfire fuels have been targeted are part of the vegetation management being done in the park and other parks. Tree removal and fuel management has also been happening at Mill Creek Park near Cow Mountain.
New legislation is going through the capital that would change the way homeless death data is shared. AB 271 would take county level information and make it accessible to government agencies and organizations who work with the homeless. The Press Democrat reports the goal is to analyze data to find ways to save lives of people experiencing homelessness. The bill would help methodically record deaths and would track progress of policies on the issue. If passed, counties would be able to work on developing death review committees and share data.
Lots of end of summer travelers will be out this weekend, including the notorious mosquito. The Lake County Vector Control District is reminding people that West Nile Virus has been found in the area. Officials are reminding people to wear DEET, long sleeves and pants during dawn and dusk, and to drain standing water to avoid the blood suckers. Lake County News reports the virus was found in mosquitoes in Clearlake Oaks, Cobb, Kelseyville, and more around the county and in the state. One in 150 people who get the virus will be hospitalized with severe symptoms. As of yesterday, there have been 55 cases of West Nile in California residents.
California State Parks are celebrating biodiversity. Over 40 parks throughout the state are hosting special events and activities all week long from tomorrow through the 10th. Lake County News reports there will be a bioblitz for Clear Lake State Park, it’s a friendly competition to see who can record the most species of plants and animals. This is the fifth annual celebration of California Biodiversity Day since it began in 2018. Governor Newsom’s 30 x 30 strategy and other actions have built on the state’s unique natural resources that everyone is encouraged to enjoy. There is a free app to help people use their phones to record different species of plants and animals called the iNaturalist app, according to California State Parks.
California’s second free fishing day is tomorrow, September 2nd. Lake County News reports the California Department of Fish and Wildlife are urging residents to get outside and try fishing this weekend. Fishers are encouraged to check out the departments website for information, rules and regulations, and maps on where to find fish in California’s lakes, streams and rivers. Kids 15 and younger can fish for free every day in the state, but Free Fishing Days offer the same to families and friends.
Lawmakers are moving to help striking workers in the state. Yesterday, a last minute proposal was passed to give unemployment benefits to workers on strike. The bill, SB 799 was introduced last week as labor negotiations and strikes continue throughout the state. Opponents of the bill say the unemployment fund faces debt while advocates say it will help workers put food on the table as they negotiate for fairer wages and conditions. The governor said yesterday that he would not comment on pending proposals as they make it to his desk.
Caltrans is announcing that is has awarded over $41 million in grants to 90 sustainable, climate resilient transportation projects in the state. The move to address local and region impacts of extreme weather events are part of investments in Governor Newsom’s clean transportation package in the state budget. Over $20 million will go to local, regional, tribal and transit agencies for transportation and land use planning. Over $18 million will go to groups for transportation related climate adaptation development. The additional funding follows over $12 million from SB1 funding for sustainable transportation strategies. The bill provides $5 billion in transportation funding each year for road projects and infrastructure investments.
