Neighbors of a “drug house” in Fort Bragg are thanking police for putting two alleged drug dealers behind bars. Fort Bragg Police arrested a pair of brothers, Ivan and Esteban Gaeta last week after finding a cache of narcotics on Dick Williams Way. Officers got a search warrant and found xanax, cocaine, illegal cannabis and more as well as distribution material and a couple grand in cash. Esteban was charged with felony conspiracy and possession of controlled substances for sale. Ivan was charged with misdemeanors of possession of marijuana for sale. MendoFever reports authorities included a bail enhancement for the brothers, setting their bail at a quarter million dollars each.
The Lake County Board of Supervisors are authorizing temporary cannabis processing structures. In their meeting yesterday, the board emphasized there is a safe path for drying plants for new or existing permits. Though they don’t like the idea of generators in temporary spaces, they do hope to connect them to electrical lines in the future. The Record Bee reports some previous permits did not allow dehumidifiers and they say the Planning Commission is wrangling with generator rules. An executive with the Farm Bureau said if they want to use ag-exempt structures that use electricity, then the applicant has to go through a separate building permit application with additional fees. A supervisor noted the proposed amendments are rock solid in establishing a permanent process. They plan to revisit the issue in next week’s meeting.
There is more news coming from the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office on the murder in Point Arena with the identity of a second suspect in the homicide of Jesus Romero. It began Sunday night when an assault was reported on a family member at a bar in Point Arena. Deputies found Romero dead six miles from the city. The first suspect, Antonio Coria Garcia was arrested and is being charged with the murder. Authorities found that a second suspect was also involved, Edgar Arteaga Coria as a person of interest. He is five foot 10 inches tall, weighs around 165 pounds with brown eyes and black hair. Coria has a tattoo on the left side of his neck and the name Arteaga tattooed on the back of his neck. Sheriff’s Detectives say Coria is considered armed and dangerous and has left Mendocino County. Anyone with information on Coria is urged to call the Sheriff’s Office.
Mendocino National Forest officials are asking for your help with weeds…. Not cannabis, but invasive plants that are infesting the native ecosystem. They say there are nearly 2,000 known infestations of non native invasive plants that may have spread with fire suppression efforts more recently and others that have been there for a long time. They’d like to minimize risks to the environment and human health to eradicate the species while they are relatively smaller in size. A public meeting is scheduled for next week, October 4th at the Mendocino National Forest headquarters in Willows starting at 4pm. Forest service officials would like to include organizations, tribes and state and local governments as well as the public.
The Mendocino County Public Health Department is issuing an update for the beginning of the fall season. They are confirming the rise of COVID and more COVID related hospitalizations. Wastewater surveillance is confirming the increase of the virus across the state. They are urging residents to consider getting the latest COVID vaccine, as well as the flu shot and the new RSV vaccine. The department is letting immuno-compromised people to wear a mask when indoors and general hygiene for everyone as the virus gains traction. Though not as urgent now with vaccine and prior illness, they want people to be prepared and armed with as much information as possible. The RSV vaccine has been approved by the CDC for seniors and should be available at your pharmacy as well as the flu shot and COVID vaccines.
Roads are closed in the Jackson Demonstration State Forest due to the onset of the rainy season. The closure affects all ATVs, motorcycles and vehicles, but can be used for hiking, biking and horseback riding. If there are roads that aren’t formally closed but are wet, drivers are discouraged from driving on the wet and soft surfaces, in order to prevent further damage to forest roads. There are some roads that are open thru the winter, but may close periodically depending on weather conditions or forest management activities. All State Forest campgrounds will be closed from October thru spring.
Mendocino County Sheriff’s Officials are charging a group of alleged drug runners after finding over 50 pounds of illegal cannabis during a traffic stop in Ukiah last week. CHP pulled over a blue Hummer last Friday around 11pm after it was seen weaving over the solid white line on US 101 north of North State Street. Officers found 50 pounds of illicit weed. The three from Santa Rosa include driver Jose Luis Bribiessca Armenta along with Jorge Alberto Lozanocasillas and Anthony Escutia Martinez who were booked for possession and transportation of weed and more. MendoFever reports the group was charged with felony conspiracy as well. Their bail was set at $15,000 each and they were bailed out within hours.
California is working with tribal leaders, law enforcement and lawmakers in creating a new Feather Alert tool to help authorities notify the public about missing Native Americans. Lake County News reports AB1314 took effect in January and effectively authored the Feather Alert to work similarly with the Amber and Silver alert systems in place. Assemblymember James Ramos with CHP and local, state and tribal authorities worked in a roundtable discussion in LA yesterday about how and when the Feather alert will be activated. Ramos emphasized that on reservations, the homicide rate for Native American women is 10 times the national average. Just last spring, the Round Valley Indian Tribes in Mendocino County declared a state of emergency after two members were found murdered.
The town hall scheduled for today in Lakeport on Homelessness and Mental Health will happen at 6pm tonight in the Soper Reese Theatre. Lake County News reports the event including the Lakeport Police Department, the Behavioral Health and Lake Family Resource Center will also be streamed on the LPD YouTube channel. They will issue a public survey link after the meeting and offer a chance for the public to ask questions or give feedback. The agenda tonight includes legislative and voter changes to criminal justice laws and individual treatment, local mental illness response and problems agencies face in rural areas. The Lakeport community would like everyone to engage the issue of homelessness and mental illness as it affects the area, with hope for coordinated efforts.
The Pear Capitol of the World is prepping for the largest free event in Lake County this week. The 29th Annual Kelseyville Pear Festival is slated to start on Saturday and may draw up to 12,000 people. Lake County News reports the event will host 150 vendors with a parade and live music and events. New this year is the Kid’s Town with activities for children at a new location at the old Pioneer Park behind Studebakers. Local farmers will feature Bartletts, Bosc, Rosie Red and more pears in a tasting booth. There will be a Farm to Fork Dinner that will officially begin the Pear Festival Friday night with 500 people seated family-style on main street.
The Community Economic Resilience Fund is distributing money across 13 regions in California to support projects to create high quality jobs in sustainable industries. The Ukiah Daily Journal reports North Coast Opportunities is reaching out to the Redwood Region including Lake and Mendocino County and Tribal Lands. The region’s CERF initiative is called Redwood Region RISE and is inviting residents to join in the first regional community conversation. One official says the organization is letting municipalities, businesses and tribes contribute to assessments of where they are in economic development plans over the next decade to get an understanding of what is available or will be needed to achieve economic goals. There is meeting scheduled for tonight at the Lake County Middletown Art Center from 5:30 to 7:30pm.
The Mendocino National Forest Service plans to conduct a prescribed fire on Friday at the Red Bluff Recreation Area to reduce wildfire risk. The operation is meant to also restore native grasses and other plants in the area. The fire crews will burn around 300 acres that is primarily grass and woody debris, shrubs and downed trees. In the planned burn, firefighters will protect ecological and cultural resources including elderberry plants. Depending on weather conditions, they’ll start up the blaze on Friday and mop up and patrol through the weekend. Access to the Red Bluff Recreation Area will be limited on Friday and they’re asking the public to avoid the area. Smoke may be visible in Red Bluff and along the I-5 corridor.
