A fourth commercial flock in Sonoma County has tested positive for the highly contagious avian flu. The deadly spread of the flu has resulted in over half a million commercial poultry to be euthanized in recent weeks. The Press Democrat reports this latest case is at an egg producer in the southern part of the county and is the largest loss of farm raised birds so far this season. Of the five counties in the state, Sonoma accounts for over half the toll of over a million chickens, ducks and turkeys being put down in less than two months. The high pathogenic avian influenza is usually spread by migrating birds that can shed the virus which can become airborne.
A convicted murderer will spend 25 years to life in prison for killing his half-brother in 2021. Mark Schwinghammer was convicted in November in Mendocino County Superior Court after reaching a plea agreement in one count of murder. Schwinghammer killed Timothy Sweet in Westport on their mother’s birthday in September, two years ago. The Mendocino County District Attorney says Sweet died from a stab to his neck and strangulation. The Mendocino County Probation Department noted during sentencing that the defendant’s actions will have a lasting impact on the family.
Community leaders and residents are urging for the expansion of the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument. At the meeting in Woodland yesterday, Lake County News reports tribal leaders, local elected officials, conservation advocates and residents met with the deputy director at the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service in support of the proposed expansion area. Molok Luyuk, is on the east edge of the monument and includes nearly 14,000 acres of BLM land in Lake and Colusa Counties. Over 88,000 supporters have signed a petition for the president to use the Antiquities Act for the move. The goal is to establish co-management with the Tribes for the area known as Condor Ridge.
The Lake County Registrar of Voters Office is holding a random alphabet drawing for next year’s State Assembly District 4 election. The drawing will happen today at the elections office in Lakeport at 11am. The drawing will be used in the arrangement of names of candidates on the ballot in Lake County’s March 5th Presidential Primary Election for the legislative office of State Assembly member for District 4.
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.
New laws coming into effect on the first on the year will see some workers make more money. The state minimum wage will be $16.00 and hour, health care workers and food service workers will all see bumps in pay. Employers are no longer allowed to discriminate against employees who use cannabis outside of working hours and away from the workplace. Employers are prohibited from entering into any non-compete agreements with employees and voids any existing non-compete agreements.
Cal Fire will be doing a prescribed burn at Shamrock Ranch near Laytonville starting today and ending tomorrow. Smoke may be visible fro Laytonville and US 101. The announcement issued in MendoVoice indicates the burn will treat around 100 acres of grasslands and understory vegetation within oak woodlands and mixed conifer habitats. Burning is set to begin at 11am this morning through 5pm today and tomorrow. It’s the departments goals to meet state fuels reduction as directed by the California Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan.
The Mendocino Cannabis Department is asking for license information. Earlier this week, the department sent out over 200 email notifications to applicants, asking for updated information. They’re urging cannabis licensees and applicants to check their Canna Notes and submit your current license via email. They ask that cannabis operators respond to the email, and if you don’t currently have a license, to request you remain in the program. If you don’t want to stay in the program, they’re asking that you submit a withdrawal. It’s all in an effort to update the departments work in streamlining the process to make it more efficient for users and effective for enforcement.
Middletown Rancheria is getting a grant from PG&E for habitat restoration. Half a million dollars was granted to one of each of PG&E’s five regions through its Better Together Nature Positive Innovation Grant Program. Lake County News reports the Middletown Rancheria of Pomo Indians plan to develop a project to protect native plants and animals on tribal land in Lake County. The Tribal Chair says they look forward to increased community engagement, cultural understanding, and protection of its ancestral territories native habitats and providing local environmental stewardship and promotion of cultural keystone species and habitats in the region.
The House of Representatives is considering a new bill that would modernize the federal poverty line, which hasn’t been substantially updated since the 1960s. Many aid programs such as CalFresh, Head Start and Medi-Cal are pegged to the so-called F-P-L, and raising the maximum people can make would help millions more low-income families qualify for aid. The California News Service reports the poverty line dictates who can and cannot get federal assistance. This bill would update the federal poverty line so that it more accurately reflects the cost of living. That includes things such as housing, food, clothing, phone, internet, and health care. It also considers whether a family has children and is regionally adjusted to consider things like the cost of rent or child care.
It’s the time of year for the Redbud Audubon Society to conduct its Christmas Bird Count this Saturday. It’s the 49th annual tradition of Audubon Societies nationwide. In a release issued in the Record Bee, the group says they’ve sent past participants information about meeting times and places, and that new participants are welcome. They’ll meet at either the Anderson Marsh State Historic Park or Clear Lake State Park at 8am, or can count in smaller individual groups. Counters are then invited to meet at 5pm at Kelseyville Pizza for a Count Dinner hosted by the Redbud Chapter. The Christmas Bird Count has been held for 126 years. The official counts usually start in mid-December and ends the first week of January. Every individual bird and species encountered is recorded during the event. The data helps scientists better understand how birds and the environment are faring throughout the continent and what can be done to protect them.
The C.V. Starr Center in Fort Bragg is changing its hours of operation to streamline service to its guests and the community. The Advocate News reports the changes will be effective on December 24th. The pool and gym hours during weekdays have been extended to 7pm for the pool, and 8pm for the gym. The pool will be open on Fridays from 9am to 1pm, and be closed on Sundays.
