The Mendocino County Sheriff Search and Rescue team are looking for a missing person. Deputies got a message from worried family members on Thursday, after Scott Graves disappeared from his home without his car or belongings. Graves had trouble leaving his home with unsafe roads that were waterlogged in Piercy. He last spoke with his family a week ago today, saying he would try to leave Tuesday. By Thursday the family went to his home but he was not there. Friday evening, deputies arrived at the property on Island Mountain Road and searched the immediate area for him for several house. The Search and Rescue team was deployed again thru Saturday and are still actively searching. He is 5 feet and 11 inches tall and weighs around 180 pounds. If anyone has seen Graves or knows where he may be, they are urged to call the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office.
Adventist Health Mendocino Coast’s Hospital Administrator, Judy Leach says they regret they terminated contract with Blue Shield but do offer some options for residents covered by the insurer. In a public release, Leach says services with Blue Shield expired on the 1st. Medical imaging, labs and other hospitals based services may be continued by calling Blue Shield and asking about Continuity of Care benefit and Out-of-Network Referrals. The Hospital Administrator says the contract with the insurer’s clinic providers and physicians is still in effect and not currently terminated. They tried to negotiate with Blue Shield over the last year hoping for an agreement, but did not come to one. The hospital group says they’ve faced significant financial losses and have unprecedented increases in labor and supply costs.
CHP is looking for a passenger of a Ford Mustang who fled when a deputy was finally able to pull over the car. MendoFever reports the chase began around 5:30pm when the Mustang did not stop immediately on Highway 20 east of Fort Bragg. When the car finally did pull over, someone jumped out and fled into the woods. The other remained in the car where CHP was seen holding them at gunpoint over 10 minutes after the initial traffic stop was initiated. The deputy requested backup reporting the remaining person was being held at gunpoint. More details are yet to be released as CHP continues to investigate.
Cal Trans and Mendocino County are offering a Free Clean California Community Dump Voucher in Laytonville, this Friday, on the 15th. Vouchers will be handed out at Harwood Hall on the 15th, from noon to 5pm. The voucher allows residents to drop off large items for free. There is a limit of one voucher per family and is good for a load of household items to be taken to the Willits Transfer Station on Franklin Avenue. Hazardous waste, tires, business waste and construction debris will not be allowed. Caltrans is reminding people to secure and properly cover your load to keep the roads and waterways clean.
The Palace Hotel in Ukiah now has fencing to protect people walking in front of the historic building. Scaffolding is also in place in an effort to protect people walking by. The Ukiah Daily Journal reports the City Manager says they’re working to update formal communications with the owner and city officials on the future of the property and the safety of the community. The Chief Building Official says within hours of getting a permit application, it was approved for the pedestrian protection plan. The city is working to be transparent in the community and all involved as the future of the hotel still remains uncertain.
The role of Lake County’s District Attorney’s Office Victim-Witness Division Program is an essential element of justice. At the Judge’s Breakfast in Clearlake last week, the Program Administrator Tatsuhiro Suzuki discussed the department’s duties and their varied programs. Suzuki says the unit is governed by the state that mandates services including crisis intervention, orientation to criminal justice, resource referral, direct counseling and more. The Ukiah Daily Journal reports the office on Second Street in Lakeport employs three advocates to help victims and work with the court behind the scenes to reduce trauma to criminal victims and safety to witnesses. The department also provides financial help with unexpected costs and medical treatment. The Judge’s Breakfast is open to the public and held every Thursday morning at 7am at the Masonic Lodge.
The City of Fort Bragg is holding a special city council meeting today at 4pm. They plan to confer with legal council on litigation between the Mendocino Railroad and the city as well as anticipated litigation in closed session. They also plan to discuss public employment for the City Clerk position regarding the hiring of Diana Sanchez. During the regular city council meeting at 6pm, the council plans to consider adopting a resolution to extend the temporary waiver of the parking in lieu fee for the Central Business District. They’ll discuss extending the Water Capital Improvement Fee and Wastewater Capital Improvement Fee Deferment for Restaurants and other eateries. Also on the agenda is consideration of approving Isaac Whippy for City Manager. The council plans to introduce changes to ordinances regarding residential district site planning and building standards, and regulations for accessory dwelling units. The Fort Bragg Planning Commission’s recommendation for a Local Coastal Plan Amendment Application will also be considered. The council will receive a Financial Update for fiscal year 2023-2024 and more with a full agenda.
Mendocino County issued an update on the Bower Park Restoration and Improvement Grant update to begin development to work on eliminating hazards and addressing safety. Phase I includes hazardous tree removal. Phase II includes repairs on the spillway, fencing, the amphitheatre stage and improvements in ADA accessibility. The project includes electrical and plumbing upgrades and drainage, lighting and safety improvements to the playgrounds and park. Upgrades to the drinking fountains, parking lot, restrooms, storage, sports courts and more are planned with an emphasis on community input. They’ll begin seeking funding, design and engineering, environmental review and more before bidding and construction can begin.
Caltrans is hosting a large item dump day event next weekend in Caspar in partnership with the county and Solid Wastes of Willits as part of the Clean California initiative. Residents can drop off large items for free from 9am to 1pm or until capacity is reached. Free Dump Day collection is limited to household items like furniture, appliances, mattresses, scrap metal and other bulky items. They will not accept tires, construction debris, electronics, business waste, hazardous waste or asbestos. Caltrans is reminding people to cover your load to preserve the safety of the roads and land.
Candidate filing is open for a couple of Mendocino County supervisor districts until this Wednesday. The deadline for other elected positions was Friday in a number of local and statewide offices. MendoVoice reports in the primary election on March 5th, if no candidate wins a majority, the top two will go on to compete in the November election. Supervisors for Districts 1 and 4 are leaving office and candidates have until 5pm on the 13th to file. So far there are three candidates for District 1 who have filed, and two in District 4. District 2’s incumbent Supervisor is running against new competition. Supervisors for Districts 3 and 5 will be up for election in 2026. State Assemblyman for the North Coast, Jim Wood announced he’ll be stepping down and two candidates have filed to run in that race. There are two judicial incumbents who are running uncontested. US Congressman Jared Huffman has a couple of challengers for the 2nd congressional district.
Governor Newsom’s administration is moving forward on their water tunnel project. Friday, an environmental review for the underground tunnel was completed. It would be about 45 miles long and 36 feet wide; large enough to funnel over 160 million gallons of water an hour. The project would move water from Northern California to the South. Newsom says it’s a necessary upgrade to California’s deteriorating infrastructure and will help protect the water supply from earthquakes and keep more water from rainfall. Environmental groups and Tribal advocates say the project will take more water out of rivers and harm endangered species of fish and more. ABC news reports the project must still finish a federal environmental review and get state and federal permits, a process that could take another two years. One estimate for the cost of the project is $16 billion.
Today the Wreaths Across America truck will make the annual visit to Lakeport. The Lakeport Police and Fire Protection District will escort the semi loaded with wreaths to be placed on local veterans’ graves. The route will start around noon on South Main Street on Highway 29 and head north to 11th, according to Lake County News. Community members are invited to line the streets and help usher in the annual delivery aimed at honoring veterans’ graves with the evergreens.
