The Mendocino Board of Supervisors is suspending Chamise Cubbison as Auditor Controller Treasurer Tax Collector after her felony charge of misappropriation of public funds. During their board meeting yesterday, the board appointed Sara Pierce as Acting Auditor Controller. District Attorney David Eyster was given evidence of the misappropriation about a year ago from the CEO. Human Resources and the IT department worked together to understand the extent of the issue and preserve evidence. The board also brought on a forensic auditing firm last March to assess internal controls. The county is also awaiting the close of an audit being done by State Controller with Supervisor Williams saying they welcome the opportunity to understand where systems can be improved. Cubbison and co-defendant Paula Jane Kennedy have yet to enter pleas; their next court appearance is set for October 31st.
Governor Newsom signed AB 436 which repeals all bans in cruising state wide. The car culture of California could not be happier. From car clubs to regular people cruising has been a part of California since there were cars, and this move is intended to bring back a time honored tradition of cruising in your car. Drag racing and side shows however are still very illegal. The new law starts in 2024.
The missing woman whose body was found beneath the floorboards of a van is still being investigated and no cause of death yet determined. The Ukiah Daily Journal reports an autopsy was done last Friday after the crash that led police to search Root Mirimisa’s Toyota Sienna. The crash on the 8th is where Mirimisa was found after fleeing the scene, which led police to search the van days later where they found missing person Christine Randolph’s body. Mirimisa was found to be Randolph’s son, the two traveling together. The Mendocino County Sheriff Captain Greg Van Patten says there were no obvious signs of foul play, related to her demise. They are still waiting for those toxicology results from last week’s autopsy. Anyone with information is urged to call the Sheriff’s Tip-Line.
The Clearlake City Council is set to meet tomorrow evening. There is a resolution on the agenda to support the Konocti County Water District’s proposal of annexation of over 100 acres in the Dam Road area. Lake County News reports the City Manager is expected to explain about the annexation and how it will eliminate the service of two districts. The Creekside Mobile Home Park water system was destroyed in the Cache fire and has been getting water service from the Konocti County Water District. The move would let the water district install a new main line and upgrade water service to the area. The council also plans to go over 8 city-owned properties as surplus. The meeting begins tomorrow at 6pm in the Clearlake City Hall.
Tomorrow is California’s Great ShakeOut. The statewide earthquake drill encourages people to practice how to protect themselves during quakes to reduce injuries and more. Lake County News reports more than 53 million people worldwide are participating in drills this year including over 17 million in the US. Tomorrow, October 19th, many are holding the drill at 10:19am. Nearly 10 million people in California are participating. In Lake County, over 7,000 were signed up to take part in the Great ShakeOut. The Lake County Board of Supervisors will participate. There is still time to officially register to take part in the earthquake drill, at ShakeOut.org. The MyShake app will get a test alert along the west coast as one of many ways to get the alert sent by the USGS.
A Lakeport man is guilty of felony assault with a deadly weapon. The Mendocino County Superior Court jury deliberated early Tuesday to announce the guilty verdict. Jacob Coleman had a prior Strike conviction of felony assault with a firearm in Lake County last year. The prosecutor proved six separate circumstances in aggravation, according to MendoFever, providing factors that may influence his sentencing. Coleman‘s case is now with the Adult Probation Department for investigation and sentencing recommendation. Coleman’s sentencing is scheduled for November 14th.
A couple of brothers and their mother out of Sacramento have pled guilty to conspiracy in a nationwide catalytic converter theft scheme. According to national news outlets, $600 million worth of stolen catalytic converts were shipped from California to New Jersey. The converters contain small amounts of precious metals. Three members of a family in California pled guilty on Monday for their role in transporting the stolen car parts, where they got $38 million for their part. 21 people from California and New Jersey have been charged in the case.
The City of Ukiah is announcing the start of Phase 4 construction of the Ukiah Recycled Water Project. The city release in MendoFever indicates the funding is from an over $53 million grant. City residents can expect traffic delays and construction sites at Bush Street and Low Gap and State Streets starting next week. On Monday, the 23rd, crews will be digging holes in the side of the street to find underground utilities, primarily on the west side. A week from today, work will be directed to the section of Low Gap Road between State and Bush Streets. Low Gap will have one-way traffic from 7am to 5pm through Friday. The section is getting water and sewer infrastructure replaced along with recycled water installation with work through next month.
Testing for California Basic Education Skills and other teacher credentialing may change. The Record Bee reports the Pearson contract expires about two years from now and currently tests teachers statewide. Last Friday, the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing was directed to research how to best improve assessments in the state. California has been thinking about moving away from the standardized testing for years. In 2021, legislation passed that gave teacher candidates the option to take the approved coursework instead of commission testing. Some say the standardized testing causes disproportionate harm to people of color. Others say there is an urgent need to review testing as California faces a teacher shortage.
The last year is been among the wettest ever in California. Maven’s Notebook reports atmospheric rivers that slammed the state along with rain from Hurricane Hilary have added more water than ever. California’s annual rainfall year is typically measured from October 1 to September 30th. This week, state data indicates that the state got 141 percent of its annual average. The snowpack reached its deepest level recorded in 4 decades. The precipitation has replenished the state’s lakes and groundwater with reservoirs currently at 128 percent of the average for this time of year. After years of extreme drought, the water has been welcome, for the most part. Less that a quarter of California’s acreage burned in wildfires this year with just over 300,000 acres burned compared to over 1.5 million annually. Experts are warning of El Nino, the phenomenon expected to last through the winter with forecasts of continued wet weather.
The California Trucking Association is suing the Air Resources Board over new regulations. The lawsuit claims the state cannot begin regulating trucking emissions without getting permission from the Federal EPA. The “Advanced Clean Fleets” regulation mandates all new trucks sold after 2045 would be zero-emission vehicles. KCRA reports the trucking association is asking the regulations be declared invalid and wants an injunction to stop the board from enforcing regulations. The phasing out of diesel big rigs was created with the Clean Truck Partnership and Air Resources Board with participating companies like GM and Daimler.
The Mendocino County Planning and Building Services is establishing a one year amnesty program waiving all violations and penalty fees related to building permits that don’t have a confirmed code enforcement case. The waiver also applies to permits not already under review or to programs that do not apply to zoning violations. The county issued a release today, confirming the amnesty program from November 1st this year to November, 2024. All amnesty building permit applications must be submitted on or before November 1st 2024 to be eligible. Residents are invited to self-report any unpermitted structures and legalize improvements during the year long program.
CHP Clear Lake is investigating a possible hit and run fatality. Last night, CHP responded to reports of a possibly injured person near State Route 29, north of Hofacker Lane near Lower Lake. MendoFever reports a Hispanic man was pronounced dead at the scene. The Northern Division Investigative Services Unit of CHP is asking anyone with information on the events of last night in the area, to contact the CHP Clear Lake Area Office.
