Clearlake Police are looking for a missing teenager. Lake County News reports Anthony Hopper was last seen Tuesday near Lower Lake High School. The 17-year-old has dirty blond hair and blue eyes. He is 5 foot 4 and weighs around 120 pounds. Anthony was last seen in a black sweatshirt and blue washed out jeans. If anyone has information on Anthony please call Clearlake Police.
The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a violent incident around Usal Beach. On Tuesday afternoon, deputies arrested James Padgett after he allegedly beat and imprisoned an elderly man in Westport. Padgett was speaking with a crisis line operator after admitting to locking a 72 year old man in a shipping container. Deputies were able to unlock the container and find the victim with many traumatic injuries. Padgett reportedly went to the man’s home and confronted him. When the senior tried to call for help, Padgett apparently beat him to the ground with a rifle and dragged him into the container. Padgett was found armed with a handgun when deputies arrived to arrest him and charge him with kidnapping, elder abuse, assault with a deadly weapon and more. Padgett was booked into jail and is being held in lieu of a $100,000 bond.
Firefighters are mopping up a fire that started near Covelo yesterday afternoon. A wildfire was reported in a situational awareness alert on Nixle on Barnes Lane. KymKemp reports the Barnes Fire burning at the north end of Round Valley was reportedly contained within an hour. In another fire reported near the Mendocino/Humboldt County line firefighters worked to contain a fire in the Cook Valley area starting just after 6pm last night. Air resources were called into the fire with other equipment and it was burning about a quarter acre. In about 90 minutes the fire was reported under control as crew began mopping up just after 7:39pm.
A woman is alleging the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office mistreated her during an arrest last week in Mendocino. The Ukiah Daily Journal reports Kelli Johnson spoke to the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors during a public comment session Tuesday. She says she was arrested walking to the beach with a glass of water that she says authorities smashed into the street before she was pushed into the back of a police car. Johnson says she was forced to urinate in the police car when she asked to get to a restroom, claiming she was experiencing a bladder infection. The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office reports she was arrested on September 5th after getting a call of someone causing a disturbance. She was arrested on suspicion of disorderly conduct and public intoxication and could not comment further due to pending litigation.
In a meeting in the village of Mendocino this week, the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors heard from residents. During the public comment session, the board heard how they’d like more visits, representation and services. Some are asking that they include Mendocino Village and Fort Bragg who bring in a large portion of taxes and revenues for the county. Residents from unincorporated areas of the county say they lack a garbage collection service and a water source. The Ukiah Daily Journal reports the board plans to hold more meetings in the coastal area more often. Illicit marijuana grows were discussed in the Covelo area.
Lake County is announcing a change in leadership at the Health Services Department. The Chair of the Lake County Board of Directors issued a release saying they terminated Jonathan Portney as Health Services Director at their meeting this week. There was no comment on the details of the termination. The board appointed current County Administrative Officer, Susan Parker as the Interim Health Services Director. The board will begin recruiting for the position of Director. Dr. Noemi Doohan was sworn in as Public Health Officer Tuesday and is working to get acquainted with the staff and county programs.
The Noyo Harbor Blue Economy Visioning, Resiliency and Implementation Plan is slated to begin soon. The City of Fort Bragg, the California Sea Grant and California Coastal Commission are funding the plan, according to a release in MendoFever. It’s part of a regional effort of the Noyo Ocean Collective to put the coastal area in a blue economy investment position. The aim is to support the fishing industry with local heritage and create new industries to address environmental, social and economic issues. The group is putting together an engagement plan for the public and more with an outline of the project.
Legislation is approved and headed to the Governor’s desk that would help wheelchair users get their own equipment repaired. Lake County News reports the bill would eliminate manufacturer delays and reduce costs to California’s immobilized population. The bill was brought by Senator Dodd who says it stops manufacturers from imposing repair restrictions. SB 271 would help streamline the process for wheelchair users to get them repaired. The legislation aims to make it easier for small businesses and more to repair wheel and power chairs including restrictive software giving owners more access and control over their equipment.
The Jackson Advisory Group is meeting Friday, September 15th in Fort Bragg. They plan to go over future plans at the Jackson Demonstration State Forest. The traveling meeting is scheduled from 9am to 12:30pm, starting off at the First Presbyterian Church on South Sanderson Way. The Coalition to Save Jackson Demonstration State Forest issued a release, anticipating a large group of forest advocates and the public is expected to attend. CalFire is asking JAG to approve a Scope of Work for a new forest Management Plan. The group says CalFire has left out an environmental review of the new management plan, ignoring some considerations and is ending a pause in logging. A facilitator hired to run the advisory meetings recently quit, saying the current process is not truly collaborative. An officer with the Coyote Valley Band of Pomo Indians is planning to be there and express frustration with CalFire’s lack of response to the Tribe’s efforts in co-management.
Middletown Unified School District is moving sixth grade from elementary schools to middle schools, starting next year. The Record Bee reports part of the reasoning includes new state requirements for public schools to offer transitional kindergarten. At the end of the current school year, elementary schools will hold a step-up rally for both fifth and sixth graders to celebrate their graduation from elementary school as they head to middle school. In the Fall of 2024 sixth graders will go to the middle school campus but with specially tailored schedules for an easier transition. The sixth graders will have access to elective courses and the opportunity to join school sports teams.
US Representative Jared Huffman and Senator Alex Padilla sent a letter to US Attorney General Garland calling for the DOJ to put dedicated personnel in California as part of their Missing or Murdered Indigenous Women and People Regional Outreach Program. In a release issued in KymKemp, Huffman says they recently established an MMIP program to put lawyers and coordinators in 10 states to help in the prevention and response but excluded California. The Golden State has the largest population of Native Americans in the country. Huffman and Padilla are asking for dedicated support in the US Attorney’s Offices in the state. The two legislators have called for the Governmental Accountability Office to examine tribal criminal justice.
The California Legislature approved a ban on forever chemicals, or PFAS, used in the manufacturing of artificial turf. AB 1423 is headed to the Governor, and would take effect on January 1st, 2026. Artificial turf has recently been shown to expose athletes in dust from the PFAS used in its production. Lake County News reports as sports fields’ age they give off small particles of the chemicals which can be inhaled or ingested and released into the environment. Those PFAS can remain in the air, water and soil indefinitely. Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont have also introduced bills to regulate PFAS in turf, California would be the first to approve a ban.
September is National Preparedness Month. Cal Fire and other emergency responders have a way to create a basic emergency go bag. MendoVoice reports it’s important to be prepared to respond to emergency situations quickly, including evacuations. Wildfires, earthquakes, floods and more are just some catastrophic situations that you should be prepared for. Medical supplies and medications, copies of insurance and ID paperwork, a light source and emergency radio are some of the vital ingredients of your go-bag. Authorities recommend you have a three day supply of water and food and blankets. The publication has an emergency guide as well as tips on how to stay alert to local warnings.
