A portion of funds from the voter approved Prop 64 will help the Fort Bragg Police Department with CHP to gather data on DUI enforcement. A part of the Cannabis Tax is being set aside for law enforcement grants and projects. Fort Bragg announced is has received about $47,000 to host educational events, publicity of DUI offenders and get specialized training in recognizing drivers under the influence of not only alcohol, but marijuana and other drugs. The first event will be next Friday, November 3rd from 9 to 11pm at the intersection of E. Redwood Avenue and North Franklin Street.
A Fire Weather Watch is in place for the weekend in Mendocino, Lake and Sonoma Counties. The National Weather Service predicts gusty winds and relative low humidity for the state. Winds are forecast to gust up to around 20 miles per hour in the interior, with higher elevations gusting up to 50 miles per hour. Fire and emergency officials are warning Californians to exercise fire safety precautions and have an emergency plan. The watch is in effect from 5am tomorrow morning through 5pm Sunday evening. The critical fire weather comes as a dry low-pressure system dives into Northern California pulling a cold, dry air mass into the region. Simultaneously, a ridge of high pressure is developing to the east, and the low pressure front is expected to create a pressure gradient that helps winds develop.
Caspar Beach is open for swimmers. The beach had been closed recently due to an influx of bacteria. Warning signs were posted on October 19 following positive testing for high levels of enterococcus. MendoVoice reports there was a dead sea lion floating in Caspar Creek before the warnings were posted last week. The latest warning was the only one this year that the county tested for on several beaches. Mendocino County Environmental Health will test the beaches again on Halloween for the last time until next spring. Last week’s positive test was the first one in years at Caspar Beach.
Governor Newsom is announcing two significant Cal Fire appointments; Chief Deputy Director Anale Burlew and State Fire Marshal Daniel Berlant. Both have a long history with the department. Chief Burlew has been working with Cal Fire for 25 years. She began in the Nevada Yuba Placer Unit and was promoted to Battalion Chief in 2011. In February of 2022 Chief Burlew was appointed as the Assistant Deputy Director of Fire Protection Operations statewide. Chief Daniel Berlant was appointed State Fire Marshal by the governor on October 6th. He has worked with Cal Fire for over 20 years, starting off as a volunteer and moving up to Assistant Deputy Director at the Office of the State Fire Marshal in 2016. Chief Berlant will continue oversight of Fire Engineering and Investigations Division.
The Mendocino County Department of Public Health is issuing a health care workers masking order. Personnel with patient contact working in health care facilities to be masked with strong recommendations to get the seasonal flu and COVID vaccinations. The order is aimed at preserving the capacity of health care workers during the cooler months, aka flu season. Effective November 24th thru the end of April the mask mandate will be in place. Starting next year, the order will be in place beginning in October. Mendocino County Health Officer Dr. Andrew Coren says vaccinations are the safest and most effective way to prevent severe infection, hospitalization or worse from viruses. High quality and well fitting masks will help prevent staff from spreading viruses and other infections.
The Mendocino Unit of Cal Fire announced that the prescribed burn plan for Shamrock Ranch near Laytonville has been postponed until further notice. Cal Fire does have plans to continue burning piles at the unit headquarters on Highway 101 in Willits. Smoke will be visible from Redwood Valley through Willits today and tomorrow.
There are details emerging from the plane crash one week ago in Covelo. A Beechcraft A-36 plane went down west of Covelo killing two passengers. KymKemp reports the pilot, Vaughn Porter and his girlfriend Jamie Rust from Utah had planned a trip to Shelter Cove. The couple planned to fly to the Humboldt County Airport but stopped at the Round Valley Airport and refueled, hoping to avoid the fog. The plane they were in crashed shortly after take-off. Utah TV station KSL reported that the pilot, Vaughn Porter had over three decades of flying experience; sadly, his wife and mother of his four children was a fatal victim to COVID in 2022. The family of both people have set up a Go-Fund-Me page to help cover the funeral expenses. The NTSB and FAA continue to investigate how the crash occurred.
The Measure B Committee was recently formed to advise the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors discussed funds for the behavioral health wing of the new jail as well as the Ford Street Project. MendoFever reports the board put off the decision last week, and created an ad hoc committee to research the Measure B budget. The Ford Street Project has requested additional funds for their health facility. The board put off their decision about awarding over $4 million in Measure B funds to for the Ford Street Project, hoping to use funds to help cover the behavioral health wing of the future new jail. They decided to vote on jail funds next Tuesday. They did vote to pass a proposal of support to the Board of Supervisors.
The future of California’s zero-emissions goals may depend on Governor Newsom’s trip to China this week. The Record Bee reports most metals needed for electric car batteries are in China. Newsom is the third California governor to make the trip east to discuss climate regulation to technology and more. The governor met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Wednesday, keeping the focus on climate change and cooperation. New laws are on the books in California that force large companies to disclose their emissions; those laws include US company operations in China. Newsom has plans to visit an offshore wind facility in the country, as well as the Tesla Shanghai gigafactory there. Newsom is cementing the relationship between California and China moving forward.
The Fort Bragg Food Bank’s annual Turkey Challenge is on. The Thanksgiving fundraiser aims to reach the goal of $50,000 to feed the hungry. The Mendocino Beacon reports there various ways to participate in the community wide event. People can pledge money with local businesses matching individual donations of $200 up to $25,000. Another avenue to help in the fundraiser is donations at the Harvest Market. The food bank will be able to purchase turkeys and more with the funds. People can also give directly to the Food Bank in person on North Franklin Street.
A couple from Willits will face a jury next month, in the charges of drug possession after their storage unit was seized by police. James Biocca and Melody Yadon had stored methamphetamine and fentanyl in a Kelseyville storage unit. Police are charging the couple with possession, transportation and sales of controlled substances. Lakeport Police arrested the defendants after the search in February. Biocca had a previous charge of possession earlier this year. Yadon and Biocca both were taken into custody, and are out of jail on bond. The trial is scheduled to begin on November 15th.
Harvest Mendocino has expanded dates for the annual festival. October 27th through November 12, the tourism organization, Visit Mendocino has several events featuring locally produced produce and craftsmen. This weekend, the Fort Bragg Magic Market will have local foods and gifts with Halloween themes along Franklin and Laurel Streets. Saturday, there will be a costume and pet parade, live music and kids activities. The first ever Craft Cannabis Cornucopia event is set for Saturday afternoon with live music, foods and flower tasting. You can meet the California State Fair winners. The county tourism site also has information on Fungi Walks and Talks with the Mendocino Botanical Gardens and more.
Tomorrow is National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. The Lakeport Police Department is working with the US Drug Enforcement Administration on the take-back between 10am and 2pm on Saturday. Lake County News reports the drug take back will be in the front lobby of the police station on South Main Street. They’ll accept all over-the-counter or prescription medications in all forms including schedule 2 through 5 controlled and non-controlled substances. The containers should be emptied with pills in a plastic bag so they can be seen. They are also collecting vape pens and other e-cigarette devices without batteries. Lakeport Police will not accept illegal drugs, needles or inhalers.
