Senator Diane Feinstein has passed away. The leader who spent three decades in the Senate died last night in her DC residence, according to a family member. The Press Democrat reports Feinstein suffered from frail health and memory issues that made it hard to function. Representative Jared Huffman says Feinstein is leaving an enduring legacy from gun safety to human rights. Governor Newsom posted on social media that the senior senator was powerful and trailblazing. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said California and the nation are better for her dogged advocacy.
The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in the Point Arena murder of Jesus Romero last weekend. As the office issued a release naming a second suspect in the homicide this week, they are actively looking for anyone who may have security camera video along Old Stage Road between Ten Mile Cutoff and Highway 1 in Gualala. They are looking for footage from last Saturday between 11pm and Sunday at 5am. The initial suspect, Antonio Coria Garcia was arrested and is being charged. Authorities are still searching for the second suspect Edgar Arteaga Coria, who they say is armed and dangerous and may have fled Mendocino County.
Clearlake Police are searching for a missing teenage boy. Connor Howells is a white 14-year-old with brown hair and hazel eyes. Lake County News reports Connor is 5 foot 10 inches tall and weighs around 150 pounds. He was last seen yesterday near 31st Avenue in Clearlake in a dark gray shirt, blue jeans and white shoes. If you have any information on Connor please call Clearlake Police.
A Ukiah man is acquitted of the crime of assault. Vincent Brock was found not guilty of an assault on his father this week in court. Late February, the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office investigated the death of Brock’s 67 year old father. The Mendocino County District Attorney issued a release of the one-day trial on social media with new Mendocino County Superior Court Judge Kieth Faulder presiding.
Willits Police are investigating a fatality and more. Yesterday around noon a resident went to the Willits Police Department saying she went to an associate’s home in Willits and found two men unconscious and unresponsive in a home on North Street. First responders arrived and found a 60 year old man lying on the front porch, where they pronounced him dead. There were no apparent injuries or cause of death. Inside the home, they found a 41 year old man found unconscious on a bathroom floor. He was taken to Adventist Health Howard Memorial Hospital. Officials say there are no signs of foul play but police continue to investigate. Anyone with information is urged to call the Willits Police Department.
The Mendocino National Forest Service plans to conduct a prescribed fire today 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, 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 today and mop up and patrol through the weekend. Access to the Red Bluff Recreation Area will be limited and they’re asking the public to avoid the area. Smoke may be visible in Red Bluff and along the I-5 corridor.
A heated argument in Willits is being investigated after it resulted in the destruction of a fire hydrant on Bittenbender Lane. Wednesday evening, Willits Police saw a recently vandalized truck in the lot of a market on North Main Street. Witnesses told police a couple were arguing around the truck just before the officer arrived. The two were identified but weren’t near the truck. Around 9:45pm people were calling dispatch reporting the woman had been trying to run over the man and instead crashed into the hydrant sending water shooting into the air. Renee Dominga Leggett was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon and driving under the influence. Anyone who witnessed the scene is asked to call Willits Police .
Northshore Fire and Cal Fire are investigating a house fire that broke out last night in Nice. Crews were called to a home on Keeling Avenue before 7pm with a report that a room in a home was on fire. Lake County News reports within minutes of the blaze firefighters knocked it down and kept it from spreading to nearby homes. Two people in the home were able to get out with no injuries. Firefighters say about half of the home was damaged.
US Forest Service Hotshots are getting caught in a Washington, D.C. quagmire. In a study by the University of Montana and an article in Lake County News, after the extreme fire seasons of 2020 and 2021, Congress funded a temporary bonus for wildland firefighters by 50 percent. The increase expires after tomorrow, decreasing many federal firefighters back to earning the minimum of $15 per hour. A permanent raise is in line with Congress, as they are tangled in the pending government shutdown. Not only would that remain stalled, but a shutdown would halt all their pay as they continue to battle the worst fires in the nation. A large number of firefighters could quit, according to the National Federation of Federal Employees. Forest Service officials and others are worried the shutdown and lack of a significant pay bump will worsen crew retention in a workforce that is extremely demanding, and is down on personnel.
Mendocino County Health Centers have received a donation from the Frank R. Howard Foundation with the old hospital property at 1 Madrone Street. In a release issued today, the Foundation Executive Director says when the hospital moved from Madrone Street to its new facility at 1 Marcela Drive in 2015 they hoped to repurpose the building for a healthcare related facility, but a retrofit was too big. Instead, the Foundation talked with MCHC and the board enthusiastically supported the donation. Foundation officials say MCHC has been committed to the community in Willits and continues to grow to meet the needs of the area. Within the next year, MCHC has plans to hold visioning session with Willits residents to hear ideas on the most urgent healthcare needs.
There are a couple of new judges for two-year terms in the Mendocino Superior Court. Judge Keith Faulder is the new Presiding Judge, and Judge Carly Dolan will be the Assistant Presiding Judge beginning on January 1st. Judge Faulder was elected to the bench in 2016 serving in the district attorney’s and public defender’s offices and worked in private practice with criminal, civil and family law. Judge Dolan was appointed to the bench by Governor Brown in 2017 and has presided over criminal and family law. In a press release yesterday, current Presiding Judge Jeanine Nadel who has served for the past two years says she knows the court will be in good hands. Nadel notes the new judges will help lead efforts to design and build a new courthouse in Ukiah.
The Ukiah City Council is considering the latest draft for a proposed Redwood Credit Union branch downtown. At a special meeting today, the Council will go over the 7th design with planning staff saying the applicant is including modifications recommended by the city council at a meeting in July. In previous hearings the bank branch proposed for Main Street at the former business called the Dragon’s Lair, the public expressed opposition to the plan that did not conform with what they called fundamental elements of Ukiah’s Downtown Zoning Code. Ukiah officials worked with Redwood Credit Union in helping suggest modifications that would muster support. Last week, the bank submitted the 7th revision meeting requirements for zoning and more. Today the council will hold a public hearing, decide on the demolition permit request and may overturn the Planning Commission’s past denial of the project. The meeting is scheduled at 3:30pm in the Civic Center.
The Mendocino County Board of Supervisors are considering the authorization of over 3,000 acres into an agricultural preserve with The Wildlands Conservancy in the Round Valley Area. In their meeting this week, the board denied making the Willits area Cannabis Prohibition Zone, and heard enforcement measures in the Redwood Valley area. In closed session, the board appointed an Agricultural Commissioner and Acting County Librarian. . They approved over $10,000 in funds for the Open Records Request Software Platform. The board discussed hiring Doris Rentschler for the Position of Executive Director for the Mendocino County Employees Retirement Association through 2026.
The Lake County Board of Supervisors is considering a purge of carp in Clearlake to help the local hitch. Carp are considered invasive in many areas across the country. The Record Bee reports the bottom feeders can be aggressive and kick up sediment in lakebeds stirring up phosphorous that harms the ecosystem with harmful bacteria. The Lake County Fish and Wildlife Advisory Committee have tagged about 30 carp last year to study their behavior and whereabouts within the lake. The county is considering getting rid of the fish, that was first introduced in the area in the late 1880s. The board noted the abundant rainfall that is helping the lake ecosystem, but plans to keep an eye on the carp for future mitigation.
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.
