Mendocino County’s Auditor-Controller elect was arrested with the county’s former payroll manager. MendoFever reports Chamise Cubbinson and Paula Kennedy were booked into county jail yesterday afternoon. Both were reportedly released quickly on the single felony charge of misappropriation of public funds. Mendocino County’s District Attorney filed criminal complaints on Friday, alleging Kennedy was given over $68,000 in unauthorized pay. The women are accused of knowingly, unlawfully and serially embezzling public funds. Chamise Cubbinson’s lawyer told MendoFever that there is nothing indicating Cubbinson, nor did any of the money go to her.
The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a suspicious death uncovered in a car crash. Last week, October 8th, CHP responded to a collision in the Brooktrails Subdivision in Willits. A Toyota Sienna van involved in the crash drove away from the scene. Officers found the van empty some distance away. A witness told deputies they saw the driver of the van walking on Birch Street. Officers found Root Birimisa also Eureka who was arrested for DUI and hit and run, and booked into jail. The van he was driving was found out to be part of a missing person’s investigation of Christine Randolph. Her body was found under the floorboards of the van while in police custody. The suspicious circumstances of her death are being investigated by the coroner. There was an autopsy Friday, with results yet to be published. Anyone with information about the accident, or Christine Randolph is urged to call Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office.
Pro-Palestinian advocates in Santa Rosa drew up to 80 people to rally yesterday in support of the Palestinian people, condemning the Israeli government’s campaign to clear the Gaza Strip, just over a week from a violent Hamas attack in Israeli settlements. There were some counter protesters holding an Israeli flags across the street. The two groups were seen arguing with one another around the Courthouse Square demonstrations. The Press Democrat reports Jewish people were part of the rally, and expressed anger over the occupation of Gaza. The North Coast Coalition for Palestine, the Peace and Justice Center of Sonoma County and the Jewish Voice for Peace were some of the groups behind yesterday’s rally. Meanwhile, Santa Rosa Police are on heightened alert for any local violence or hate crimes connected to the Israeli war against Hamas.
Lake County is engaging with residents on the future of local parks, trails and recreation. In a recent announcement, the Public Services Department is asking people what they’d like to see as they develop a Parks, Recreation, and Trails Master Plan. The Parks Round 3 Survey’s aim is to prioritize development of parks and trails based on community priorities. Lake County is intending on creating strategies that include public comment. Today, there is a Community Visioning Forum Planning Committee meeting at 5:30pm at the courthouse in Lakeport. Check out the county webpage for more details.
The Mendocino Cannabis Department is issuing a policy update regarding referrals to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The aim of the policy update is to clarify county code on the Cannabis Cultivation Business License application review process. The department says applications for the license will be reviewed by it and other agencies and renewed annually. Any referral to or consultation with an agency other than the department must be reviewed within 30 days. The policy update aims to avoid delays in legal licensing. Working with the Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Cannabis Department will inspect the site and determine if it includes habitat for sensitive species and can further investigate before final determination. The county is working with Fish and Wildlife to avoid impacts to natural communities and ecosystems.
This month, Cal OES has been touring the state with the first in the county earthquake early warning technology. The statewide tour began last week as part of the campaign, the Great California ShakeOut. The simulator can replicate a 7.0 magnitude earthquake. Last week, the tour stopped in Sacramento and San Francisco, and will head south this week. On Thursday, October 19th millions of residents will take part in an earthquake drill to practice life saving actions like drop, cover, and hold on.
Lake County will swear in the new chief public defender at the Board of Supervisors meeting planned for tomorrow morning at 9am. Raymond Buenaventura will take his oath of office. Lake County News reports Buenaventura was hired in September to create the new public defender’s office, after being the Mayor of Daly City. During the meeting the board will also hear a presentation on the Clear Lake Integrated Preparedness and Resilience Plan for Mussel Management. The agenda for the meeting tomorrow also includes approval of the fiscal year budget for 2023-2024 for the Sheriff-Coroner and Budget Unit, jail facilities and compensation adjustments for deputy and dispatcher positions. The board is expected to approve services for the Hammond Park Improvements Project. They’ll go over litigation
CalFire is setting $30 million aside for Green Schoolyard Grants to lessen impacts of climate change and give nature based solutions to the next generation. In a release, Cal Fire’s Urban Community Forestry Program is opening this year’s grant guidelines that include projects to convert pavement into green spaces, plant trees and improve the environment for students and more. The department is looking for projects to reduce greenhouse emissions, address climate change resilience and improve urban forests. They’ll focus on facilities in disadvantaged communities. The Schoolyard Greening application portal is open through the first of December. The $30 million available ads to more than $100 million in funding Cal Fire announced last spring.
Groups that fight hunger are calling for a fair shake in the upcoming farm bill, which provides federal matching funds for programs that help low-income families afford fresh produce. The Market Match program gives people on Cal Fresh about 15 dollars per market per day to spend at 270 sites across the state. The California News Service reports the current Farm Bill expired September 30th and negotiations are ongoing for a new bill to cover the next five years. Groups such as the Farmers Market for All Coalition and the Alliance for California Farmers Markets are asking Congress to fund programs such as Market Match across the country.
The Lakeport City Council is set to meet tomorrow evening at 6pm. City Manager Kevin Ingram is poised to ask the council to consider renaming the park on North Main Street to Xabatin (Ka-bah-ten) or Big Water Community Park. It’s the former Natural High School site funded by a nearly $6 million grant from Prop 68 and the State Parks and Water Board. The park first known as Lakefront Park will be officially named to pay tribute to the area’s Native American Pomo heritage. During the meeting, the police chief will give an overview of the town hall on homelessness and mental illness held last month.
A Fort Bragg business owner is asking the City Council to withdraw its legal action against the Skunk Train. MendoVoice reports owner of Union Lumber Company Store, David Figueiredo says new legal papers served to the Mendocino Railway by the city has halted a deal to sell the lumber company’s building to the railway. County court files do not show a new suit, but actually is part of a response to the railway’s motion to further delay the ongoing suit contesting the train’s claim it operates under federal railroad law making it not subject to city or state regulations. The lumber store occupies about half a block in downtown Fort Bragg. The railway tracks are inches behind the store, having been part of the Mendocino Railway at one time. Figueiredo says he’s been negotiating for the sale for five years and is ready to retire. He found out last week that the deal was off the table.
The North Coast is settling after a couple of moderately sized earthquakes early this morning. KymKemp reports a magnitude 4.8 quake hit Humboldt just east of Petrolia around 3:20am. It was followed by a 4.1 magnitude quake 11 minutes later just off the coast east of Eureka. The US Geological Survey reports the quakes were about 20-30 miles deep with over 600 residents reporting feeling the shaking this morning. Last night along the same fault line in Ojai a 2.7 magnitude quake shook southern California residents.
