The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office and other agencies are still looking for a missing man after a 16-20 foot boat capsized near the Ten Mile Dunes last Friday. One man was found dead on the beach after washing ashore near Fort Bragg, according to the Ukiah Daily Journal. The body of Charles Case of Lake County was discovered with the capsized boat about half a mile away. A second man, Kenneth Silva, also a Lake County resident is still missing. The US Coast Guard, Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team, California State Park Rangers and volunteers searched the shoreline and ocean for 24 hours after Case’s body was discovered. The Sheriff’s Office continues to search daily for the missing man.
Small businesses in Ukiah are getting ready for the first ever “Pink Friday” on November 17th. The inaugural event mission is to engage with the community and invite residents to shop small and support local businesses before Black Friday next week. There will be local cuisine, giveaways, sales and specials. The Ukiah Daily Journal reports there will be over 50 participating businesses. The event organizer says Pink Friday will help support local economic development and the families who work hard. People are urged to participate and share hashtag Pink Friday Ukiah on social media to get the word out and help support small businesses as the holiday quickly approach.
The Lake County Board of Supervisors voted to continue the Emergency Declaration for a shelter crisis this week. The original declaration was made last January. The Record Bee reports the measure allowed use of the former Juvenile Hall to shelter people overnights as severe weather spread across the area. The shelter services will be guided by the Housing and Homeless Incentive grant program with the state’s Homeless Housing Assistance program. The board approved a nearly $2.5 million agreement for contractor Redwood Community Services to manage the facility. A board member says the program is modeled after the Building Bridges program run by Redwood Community Services in Mendocino County. Lakeport’s Chief of Police supports the shelter initiative and says they are working on keeping the shelter open 24/7.
California just launched the “Outdoors for All Strategy” that works to make this state’s natural spaces more accessible, more welcoming and less expensive. The strategy maps out a six-point plan to reduce the nature gap by building more parks and green space, improving public transportation to natural areas, prioritizing the needs of local community members, building pathways to make the workforce at parks and their parent agencies more diverse. The California News Service reports the program will guide agencies such as the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Department of Water Resources and Cal Fire as they try to mitigate climate change and preserve 30 percent of our land by 2030.
CHP announced a grant for their program to help the senior community with free specialized training. The Keeping Everyone Safe, or KEYS grant of $225,000 along with funding from the California Office of Traffic Safety will help fund the program aimed at helped educate drivers over 65 in a course. CHP has been providing the program since 2008. The course focuses on how age related physical changes may affect driving ability. Lake County News reports the Age Well, Drive Smart class helps seniors drive longer and more safely. The two hour class is available at any CHP office.
The Lake County Board of Supervisors say they are applying for funding through the Cal Jobs First Catalyst Fund to develop an emergency facility and more during their meeting this week. The Record Bee reports the Catalyst Fund will allocate $600 million across 13 regions in the state, including the Redwood Region. The state is seeking the region’s overall plan for projects that would aid the community with an emergency hub and other uses year round that would help the local economy. A supervisor said Lake County has a good shot for the grant. They discussed the synergy of emergency and non emergency uses of the project design. The board has discussed the need for an emergency center in the region that has been vulnerable to wildfires and floods while also addressing the need for spurring the local economy. A regional group is working on the proposed application.
The Mendocino Major Crimes Task Force and the Department of Cannabis Control are investigating a large cache of marijuana found during a routine traffic stop last week. Last Thursday around 11:30am, a truck hauling an enclosed trailer was pulled over for speeding south of the Ridgewood Scales near Willits. KymKemp reports CHP uncovered about 300 pounds of illegal unprocessed marijuana. Carlos Sanicrenoj of Ukiah was ticketed and released. He is expected to be charged with possession, illegal cultivation and illegal transportation of marijuana.
The Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum was largely constructive in San Francisco this week. Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Governor Newsom early in the week, and with President Biden yesterday. NBC reports they reached an agreement on several issues including the resumption of military to military communications and cooperation on curbing the ingredients China makes that contribute to the fentanyl crisis in the US. At a dinner last night the US Commerce Secretary and US trade and investment leaders joined in discussions and heard a half hour speech from Xi. Notably, the Chinese President says pandas may soon be returning to California. Recently, pandas across the country had been returned to China as they were only here on loan in a program that began over 50 year ago called Panda Diplomacy. The move is seen as a friendly gesture as talks between leaders continued during the summit this week.
The Noyo Ocean Collective is looking for community members to join a Community Outreach Team to help develop a long range use plan for the harbor. The Mendocino Beacon reports the collective is looking for volunteers to work with residents in the community about Noyo Harbor planning. The organization is looking to engage with the public and reach out to a diverse community. It’s part of the Blue Economy Symposium working committee. The Special Project Manager for the City of Fort Bragg says volunteers will be guided by expert consultants and scientists as they seek out community input. Information about the position is available at City Hall and can also be found at the Noyo Ocean Collective’s webpage. The collective is set to meet next on December 7th to answer questions and have more information.
The Department of State Hospitals Conditional Release Program has custody of a Cobb man charged with attempted murder and informed Lake County Superior Court that they will continue the matter next February. The Record Bee reports Peter Guerrero was committed to the state as a mentally disordered offender, after reportedly beating his father to death. It was recommended that Guerrero be placed in a locked facility and contained to the state hospital.
The Lake County Board of Supervisors is looking for residents who live in Southern Lake County to fill a vacancy on the Cannabis Ordinance Task Force. They are aiming to appoint someone during their December 19th Board of Supervisors Meeting. The county is asking that interested candidates should apply be December 13th. Applications are at the Lake County Courthouse in the Clerk of the Board Office in Lakeport. Interested residents can also check out more information on the position at Lake County’s webpage. It is a volunteer position for the Cannabis Ordinance Task Force advisory board.
The Fort Bragg Unified School District is looking for residents to fill a vacant position on the board of trustees. The district is looking to appoint someone to fill the position by the November 24th General Election next year, according to MendoFever. Application packets are available at the district office. They are accepting applications through December 15th. The board will schedule interviews with selected candidates. For information on the Board of Education and duties of a board member, residents are asked to contact the Superintendent Joseph Aldridge.
The Fort Bragg City Council is terminating an agreement with Mendocino County on the operation of an animal control facility. The facility was closed earlier this year out of financial concerns. The Mendocino Beacon reports the Mendocino Coast Humane Society will work with city staff to incorporate the adjacent building in expansion of their operations. The council also approved professional help in finding a new City Manager after City Manager Peggy Ducey’s resignation was accepted last month. During the meeting the council also approved an agreement to develop Fort Bragg’s Wastewater Collection System Master Plan with mapping and modeling of the project expected to be complete next summer with a final project report in May of 2025.
There is more information coming from the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office about the man killed on Albion Ridge Road this week. The Press Democrat reports that Thomas Shoemaker was driving his truck at a high rate of speed when he veered off the road near Middle Ridge Road. Not wearing a seatbelt, he was thrown from the truck. Emergency responders pronounced him dead at the scene. CHP is continuing the investigation into the accident.
