Lake County Sheriff’s Deputies are searching for a missing man. Christopher Vetter of Upper Lake has been missing since August 9th. Vetter was last seen in Upper Lake early on Wednesday, August 9th. He is a white man who is 5 foot 9 inches tall and weighs around 120 pounds. Christopher has brown hair, brown eyes and a mustache and beard. He has a medical condition and has been missing from his family. If anyone has any information on Christopher, please call the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
The largest health care strike in US history continues today. KCRA reports patients were experiencing delays at Kaiser pharmacies. The 75,000 member strike includes licensed vocational nurses, home health aides, radiology professionals, pharmacy and ER workers. There were some reports of 3 hour waits for medical appointments and pharmacy delays. The AP reports the massive strike over wages and staffing heads into its third day today with no deal between Kaiser and the unions. The strike will officially end Saturday morning at 6am. Kaiser Permanente workers on strike today say another walkout is possible without employer concessions. The Press Democrat reports this morning the two sides scheduled bargaining sessions for one week from today and tomorrow, the 12th and 13th.
The Mendocino County Board of Supervisors will meet next Tuesday to discuss continuing streamlining of the Cannabis Department Programs. The Cannabis Department has been streamlining the online portal with the Accela Program. In recent Canna Notes, the department is also asking licensees and applicants to provide demographic data to improve information and help inform state resources that may be available.
The quarter 3 Unified Cannabis Enforcement Taskforce update is out. The state Department of Cannabis Control thwarted over $100 million in illegal cannabis products and took more than 69 crime-linked firearms, an over 300 percent increase. There were 35 percent less search warrants in the quarter, compared to last year, but close to the same amount of illegal products and grows halted. In the last year since the department’s inception, they’ve seized nearly $300 million in unlicensed cannabis, pulling over 277,000 plants and over 100 guns.
19 local fire departments, fire agencies and community groups are being awarded wildfire safety grants totaling over $300,000 from the California Fire Foundation with PG&E. The Press Democrat reports the utility’s vice president says everyone must work together to combat the state’s growing wildfire threat, particularly in the North Coast region. According to the Cal Fire Foundation, the grants will help implement projects like fuels and hazards reduction to public education and outreach as well as new specialized equipment for firefighters. In Mendocino County fire agencies and departments will get over $72,000. Lake County will receive $40,000 for tribal wellness and for the Lake Pillsbury Fire Fighters Association.
Mendocino County Battalion Aviation Chief of the Ukiah Air Attack Base Ray Taglio is retiring. Taglio says he doesn’t officially retire until November 20th, after firefighting for 27 years. The Ukiah Daily Journal reports Taglio began with Cal Fire in 1992 with the Sonoma County Unit, before it merged with Lake and Napa Counties. He joined the Mendocino Unit as a helitack fighter in 1995. This week, Taglio was working to train others in the air fire fighting force. He says you have to really multi-task to succeed in the complex position of leadership and determination.
Ukiah residents are prepping for the 17th Annual Empty Bowls Event at Plowshares this Saturday. The event will be a drive-thru dinner with proceeds supporting Plowshares’ programs to feed the community. The Ukiah Daily Journal reports tickets usually sell out, but can be purchased online at plowshares feeds.org or at the office on South State Street. They’ve been feeding the community of Ukiah for 4 decades and are almost entirely community supported. In the last year, the program has given over 77,000 meals to those in need. 100 percent of this weekend’s event will go towards Meals-On-Wheels and more locally. Ceramic bowls are provided by Mendocino College Ceramics Club potters and local artists.
The Mendocino Historical Review Board is adopting an amended policy for approval of commercial signs and more. During their meeting this week, the board also approved a policy for supporting signs so that when a business relocates, a previously approved sign permit can remain valid and the sign copy can be changed. The board received an application to convert the green warehouse on Lansing Street to an unspecified commercial use with changes to the roof, the barn door and new windows. With some opposition about modernizing an historical structure, they continued the application until December’s meeting. They also heard from the Planning and Building Services Director on the County Board of Supervisors direction on temporary tents, with enforcement deprioritized for a year as agencies address the issue.
The Fort Bragg City Council is meeting next week at 6pm in Town Hall on Tuesday. The agenda includes approval of the Noyo Harbor District’s Grant Application. They’ll receive a report and consider adopting a cooperative agreement with Housing Mendocino Coast and work for the Water Treatment Plant Rehab Project. In closed session the council will confer with legal counsel on anticipated and existing litigation including the suit versus the Mendocino Railroad. They’ll also present proclamations declaring next Monday, October 9th as Indigenous Peoples Day and October as Domestic Violence Awareness month.
Cal Fire Mendocino Unit will conduct a prescribed burn in the Howard Forest starting at 9am this morning through 4pm this afternoon. Smoke will be visible in the area between Redwood Valley and Willits today. It’s part of the fuels reduction goals of the California Fire Plan. Depending on conditions, the burn will be managed by Cal Fire and may continue into tomorrow as they mop up the blaze.
The Mendocino Coast Children’s Fund is donating over 350 soccer balls to Coast Youth Soccer League for the players to keep. The league’s players have been increasing over the last several years and it’s the largest recreational sports league on the coast. IN a release in MendoFever, the organization says the increase is due to scholarships given by the Mendocino Coast Children’s Fund. MCCF also provided new soccer balls to the Mendocino K8 and Fort Bragg Middle School soccer teams. Check out their new location at the Community Center of Mendocino.
The Lakeport Planning Commission is meeting next Wednesday at 5:30 in Lakeport City Hall. On the agenda is consideration to recommend retail storefront cannabis businesses and/or temporary cannabis events in the city. They’ll decide on recommending cannabis businesses to the City Council. Lake County News reports the council passed a few codes in 2018 that regulates commercial cannabis in the city but so far the Council hasn’t allowed it. Community Development Director Joey Hejnowicz says nearby jurisdictions like Clearlake, Ukiah, Willits, Fort Bragg all permit retail storefront cannabis sales to various degrees, and hopes the Council will allow those legally permitted to go forward.
Mendocino County’s 3rd District Supervisor John Haschak has issued his monthly letter to MendoFever. In it, Haschak says he’d like to see an increase in short term rental taxes, but that it was shot down. The Board approved going forward with the Sherwood Road emergency access routes, allowing the residents of Brooktrails and others to vote on paying an annual assessment to maintain Firco Road and Willits Creek Trail for emergency purposes. It would allow fuel reduction projects, road maintenance and more. Supervisor Haschak will be at the Brickhouse Coffee in Willits next Thursday at 10am for his Talk with the Supervisor monthly event.
The Mendocino County Deputy Sheriff’s Association is hosting a bbq this Saturday in Ukiah. Big Earl’s BBQ will be on hand as residents and deputies engage with each other and the community. The event is free and will be at the Sheriff’s Office on Low Gap Road in Ukiah, starting at noon.
A job fair is planned for next week. The Empowering Mendocino Workforce through Diversity Equity and Inclusion will host the fair at Coyote Valley Casino next Wednesday, the 11th from 10 am to 2pm. The Redwood Coast Regional Center and Career Point are helping organize the fair. The post on the Ukiah Valley and Willits Community Group on social media has more details.
