Lake County issued an urgent message to residents today. The temporary emergency shelter operated by Blue Horizons Foundation at 1111 Whalen Way, Lakeport, will not open tonight. Blue Horizons staff is on-site to notify people who present to the building of this closure. Further information will be provided tomorrow (11/2). The County of Lake is working with Blue Horizons to reopen the shelter as soon as possible.
The alleged carjacker that had Hopland residents sheltering in place earlier this week has been captured. Christian Beyer escaped from Mendocino County Deputies last Sunday when several local agencies began the manhunt. MendoFever reports he was found yesterday over sixty miles away in Petaluma. Petaluma Police found Beyer at a home and arrested him. Early this week, there were reports that Beyer had possibly carjacked a vehicle and tried to run people over, but clarification is needed from the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office. He was seen running away from near the Hopland Antique Store carrying a large knife. Witnesses say he made it over the Russian River to the east side of the valley.
There is another prescribed burn set for today and possibly through Saturday along Highway 53 and Anderson Ranch Parkway near Lower Lake. Lake County News reports the Lake County Fire Protection Agency, and the California Department of Parks and Recreation Northern Buttes District will coordinate the blaze, weather permitting. CHP and CalTrans will help control traffic. The aim of the fire is to reduce fuel next to Highway 53, reduce invasive plants and provide live fire training for fire crews. Smoke will be visible and with current conditions should travel to the east.
An atmospheric river is approaching Northern California. Arctic air is setting up a powerful winter-like jet stream this weekend, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. It looks like tomorrow a storm is expected to bring up to 5 inches of rain from Eureka south to Cape Mendocino and last through the weekend. The National Weather Service predicts heavy rain in coastal Sonoma County as well. Officials are concerned about the Smith River Complex burn area, as Humboldt and Del Norte counties could get the brunt of the storm. Another system is predicted to hit NorCal early next week and some say it could mean even more rain than the first system coming tomorrow.
The owner of the Palace Hotel in Ukiah has 30 days to stabilize the building or get a permit to demolish it. The Ukiah City Council voted in a special meeting for the action yesterday. The Ukiah Daily Journal reports the city manager says they hope to preserve the historical structure, but their first concern is safety. The Chief Building Official noted in September that the hotel has deteriorated recently, with even more damage done after the late winter storms. An attorney for the owner says the timeline is unreasonable and asked the city to work with the owner to help find a buyer. The council decided action needed to be taken and voted unanimously on the 30 day timeline.
An advisory committee is sending their recommendations to Congress as part of the Not Invisible Act Commission, created by Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland. The group made up of law enforcement, tribal leaders, family members of missing and murdered individuals and survivors were mandated to develop the recommendations the government can take to address public safety among the nation’s indigenous population. Lake County News reports the Justice Department along with the Department of the Interior must act on the recommendations within 90 days. At a White House Tribal National Summit last year, the Inter Department’s Bureau of Indian Affairs and the FBI announced an agreement to administer criminal investigations in tribal lands. Secretary Haaland developed the Missing and Murdered Unit to direct interagency work with missing and murdered Indigenous people. The Not Invisible Act Commission was created in 2020 and has already began working on finding the missing and prosecuting those responsible.
The Mendocino County Board of Supervisors will borrow $6.8 million in mental health taxes to build a new jail. They voted unanimously this week on the move and declined to fund a proposal for an addiction treatment and recovery facility. MendoFever reports funds will come from Measure B, a voter approved sales tax that has accumulated about $6.3 million. They’ll also use about $5.8 million for the project from a capital facilities reserve account. Staff from the Behavioral Health Department submitted a recommendation for the Ford Street Project be funded with the Measure B funds. The board created an ad hoc committee to look into the measure last month. The new jail has been in the works for years, since 2017 with a $25 million grant from the state, but the state fire marshal reportedly delayed approval.
The Redwood Valley County Water District Board is getting $200,000 in a fire insurance claim settlement. The board met in October to go over the latest from the Russian River Water Forum, consolidation of water districts, Groundwater Sustainability Agency fees and more. MendoFever reports the board is urging water districts to move forward as the city of Ukiah takes over service contracts to manage the Willow Water District. Administrators of the Ukiah Valley Groundwater Sustainability Agency are proposing a $2 million budget for management. The state is asking the agency for costly studies of surface water and groundwater. Various other topics were discussed at the meeting, and will be continued in the next scheduled meeting on November 16th.
Cal Fire is announcing $117 million dollars in Wildfire Prevention Grants are available. Starting yesterday, grant applications are open. The newly appointed State Fire Marshal Chief Daniel Berlant says the Wildfire Prevention Grant program has been an important part of providing communities the support they need to reduce wildfire risk. They allow the state to invest in local projects that protect, engage and educate people and communities across the state. Completed applications are due on January 10, 2024. The agency is looking for projects that reduce hazardous fuel, fire prevention planning and education. Projects should aim to protect communities and improve public health. There will be a virtual workshop on the grants available that will be on November 8th. Check Cal Fire’s Wildfire Prevention Grants webpage for details.
Friends of Boggs Mountain is sponsoring a free map and compass class this Saturday, Nov. 4, at 10 a.m. Lake County News reports the class will be at the Little Red School House on Bottle Rock Road in Cobb. The instructor will help people understand a topographic map, proper use of your compass, magnetic north, true north, and map symbology. Students will get time to practice orienting a map in proper north direction and understanding contour lines. The class for people of all ages is an introduction to outdoor navigation and map reading on Boggs Mountain Demonstration State Forest. People are urged to RSVP and bring their own compasses.
Hospice Services of Lake County is holding a free bereavement camp for families this weekend. Lake County News reports the event is aimed at families with kids ages 5 years and older who have experienced loss this Saturday, November 4th from 10am to 2pm in Clearlake. The agency wants to recognize and address the ways children grieve and heal after the death of a loved one. The Wings of Hope Bereavement Camps are offered periodically throughout the year and are run by counselors and trained volunteers. Call the Hospice Service of Lake County for more information.
Lake County is taking registration for an event aimed at helping businesses get funding. The “How To Get A Business Loan” session is set for next Tuesday, November 7th from 11am to 1pm at the Lucerne Alpine Senior Center. The event will be hosted by the Community Development Services as part of the Small and Micro Business Assistance Program. Topics will include accessing capital, accounting, credit building and loans. Check with Community Development Services within the county for more details and for registration.
The Mendocino County Department of Public Health is reminding people to get the latest COVID vaccine. The shots are available at local pharmacies for insured patients, and those on Medi-Cal. In a release this week, the department lists pharmacies like Rite-Aid, Safeway, CVS, Walgreens and Walmart have the newest vaccine.
The West Business Development group is providing free webinars this month and is hosting an online holiday marketplace beginning on the 15th. Along with the Small Business Development Center for Mendocino and Lake Counties, the organization is planning the first webinar on Saturday the 4th at 9:30am for an E-Commerce Digital Lab. There are also webinars planned for next week including How to Apply for small business loans. Their newsletter also is announcing the 100 Women Strong Inland Mendo for meet-up at Campovida in Hopland tonight at 8:30. It’s the organizations last event of 2023. The group is hosting 3 non-profits as they campaign for funds raised to positively affect the community.
The Fort Bragg Police Department is planning some events centered around engaging the public on the problem of driving under the influence. The department got a grant from CHP earlier this year to study DUI enforcement and more. Grant funds come from voter approved Prop 64, the Cannabis Tax dedicated to law enforcement projects. The Advocate News reports Fort Bragg will use the $47,000 grant in multiple education events downtown during peak DUI hours. Some events will be held at local bars, where breathalyzers will be available to customers and bartenders to see what their blood alcohol content is. People who guess the right number will win prizes. Other projects will include publicizing drunk driving data and specialized training to stop impaired drivers. Tomorrow, Fort Bragg Police will be at the intersection of E. Redwood Avenue and N. Franklin Street from 9 to 11pm.
