The US Department of Defense is announcing that the Secretary of Defense will meet with the Minister of Defence and Deputy Prime Minister of Australia along with the Secretary of Defence to the UK in California this weekend. The three leaders will go over progress in the Optimal Pathway to provide Australia with a conventionally armed, nuclear powered submarine and discuss collaboration between the three country’s ecosystems and defense industry. US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin will also go over the adoption of commercial technology in the military and growing the national security innovation base. Secretary Austin will deliver a keynote address on December 2nd at the Reagan National Defense Forum.
The Mendocino Transit Authority Board of Directors will get a presentation on the draft Ukiah Transit Center feasibility study at their meeting next week, December 6th at the Ukiah Valley Conference Center at 1:30pm. Information published in the Ukiah Daily Journal reports the plan will focus on a recommended transit center site, north of Kohls on North Orchard Avenue in Ukiah. The public is invited as the project is aimed at including community and stakeholders input. The final plan is expected to be finished in January. The feasibility study is funded by the Mendocino Council of Governments with Local Transportation Funds.
The man who changed his non guilty by insanity plea to guilty has been acquitted of murder charges and found guilty of involuntary manslaughter. Drew Price was in Mendocino County Superior Court for the murder of Deborah Garner-Flicker of Ukiah. The charges go back to March of 2022 when a woman was killed with obvious signs of struggle inside the Willow Terrace Apartments. The Ukiah Daily Journal reports her death was deemed suspicious at the time when police learned that suspect Drew Price was seen leaving the apartment during the time of her death. Price now faces a sentence of up to four years in county prison with fines up to $10,000. With his time-served credits, Prices only has a few months left behind bars. His formal sentencing is set for January 10th.
The Jackson Demonstration State Forest Advisory Council got back to work on issues tabled at their September meeting. With facilitator Emily Smith and new Mendocino Unit Chief Brandon Gunn three items postponed came to light this month. The timber harvest plan was approved, along with a Scope of Work for a new management plan. MendoVoice reports there were still contentious issues revolving around co-management with local tribal governments and Cal Fire. Though the council doesn’t have the authority to make decisions, the California Board of Forestry, via Cal Fire, California Natural Resources Agency and Tribal Advisory Council all weigh in on project and plan approval. Unlike in September, the meeting proceeded to the field tour to see the first ever pyrosilv site. The pyrosilva plan will be voted on at the next JAG meeting in March.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a burglary at Lower Lake High School. Earlier this month, a maintenance worker found the chain to the maintenance gate had been cut, five vehicles tampered with, and several power tools and fuel were stolen. Surveillance footage showed two males break in the area at midnight on November 19th siphoning gas from vehicles then return later to steal tools and more. The suspects left in a green Honda Civic. A Deputy searched the Clearlake area and found the driver who was on probation. Upon searches of his car and home, nearly $8,700 worth of power tools and school laptops were found. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office investigation continues. Anyone with information should call Deputy Reynolds.
The Lakeport Police Department is setting a meeting for December to discuss the use of military equipment. Lake County News reports they’ve scheduled it for December 28th at 1:30pm in Lakeport City Hall. The meeting will be open to the public with a question and answer session on the annual military equipment report.
Governor Newsom is announcing new legislation to increase penalties for the trafficking of xylazine, known on the streets as “tranq.” In a release from the governor’s office in Lake County News, the animal tranquilizer has no approved use for people and is increasingly being found being trafficked in the illegal drug trade. The legislation would make xylaine a controlled substance, exempt from legitimate veterinary use. Newsom says that although tranq hasn’t been seen in California at the same rate as other parts of the country, he wants to stay ahead to curb drug dealers and work on treatment and resources for those struggling with addiction. Nationwide, xylazine-related deaths have tripled in recent years and have caused severe wounds leading to amputation. The legislation would build on the Governor’s Master Plan for Tackling the Fentanyl and Opioid Crisis and seeks to increase awareness on the trending tranquilizer.
California is allotting nearly $300 million to build on progress to help around 10,000 homeless residents. In a release from the governor’s office in Lake County News, California has removed over 5,600 encampments and provided over $415 million to move people into housing. The California Interagency Council on Homelessness is now accepting applications for grants. So far, 66 communities have been granted about $414 million since the start of the program in 2021. The office estimates $750 million has been allocated to help around 23,000 move away from dangerous conditions on the streets. The Encampment Resolution Grants is an effort with CalTrans to connect homeless people with housing resources with local partners.
The ukiaHaiku Festival is returning after a three year hiatus. MendoFever reports the open competition is returning this year with categories in English and Spanish, youth and adult competing for the prestigious Jane Reichold International Prize. Submissions will be accepted through February 8th. The festival is planned for the end of April and is free and open to the public. The Haiku traditionally is a three line poem and is a Japanese poetic form. There are regional categories open to residents of Sonoma, Lake, Mendocino and Humboldt Counties. For the first time, in honor of the Pomo culture there is an open call to Pomo Tribes as the name Ukiah is of the Pomo language.
The Yuba Community College District Board of Trustees is planning a meeting for tomorrow about the Woodland Community College’s Lake County Campus. It is open to the public in Marysville, and will also be available virtually. The planned discussion will include the Lake County Campus meeting held earlier this month in Clearlake. Lake County News reports during the November 9th meeting, former and current students and staff discussed the lack of resources in the Lake County Campus. The meeting will start at 10am tomorrow, with the board conducting its self evaluation.
Rain is moving into Northern California with a low pressure system that may also bring lightning to coastal areas. The National Weather Service predicts up to an inch of rain may fall in the coming weekend for parts of Mendocino, Sonoma and Lake Counties. Winds are expected to pick up tomorrow with gusts up to 25 miles an hour along the shoreline. The Press Democrat reports the system may lift the cold overnight lows that have created frosty conditions. Windy and wet conditions are expected to continue thru the weekend. Forecasters say normal seasonal temperatures will return next week.
The City of Fort Brag City Council is holding a special meeting tomorrow at 5:30 in a closed session to discuss the appointment of City Manager.
