A former Ukiah Police Department Sergeant is stripped of his credentials by the state. Kevin Murray has been at the center of criminal misconduct and was decertified in September. The new law, Senate Bill 2 named types of conduct that rise to serious misconduct like abuse of power, physical or sexual abuse and more. The legislation mandated his name appear on the Police Officer Standard and Training website with a number of other California police officers who’ve been suspended or their certification revoked since the start of the year. The Sonoma County Probation Department recommended he be sentenced to a year in state prison with offences including seven felony crimes including burglary and rape. MendoFever reports he pled no contest to the crime of preventing a victim from reporting a crime and was sentenced to a couple years of probation with a suspended two-year sentence. He can never serve as a law enforcement officer again.
The State Water Resources Control Board’s Division of Water Rights has developed new compliance assistance resources related to diversion measurement and reporting requirements, referred to as SB88. In this week’s Russian River Water Forum Update this week, the new compliance assistance resources will reportedly include: Recording of the December 7, 2023 SB88 Measurement and Reporting Guidance Workshop; Updated Website for the Water Measurement and Reporting Regulation; and One-on-One Office Hours with Division Staff. The office hours provide an opportunity for diverters, consultants, and any other stakeholder to meet with technical staff to discuss obligations under the measurement and reporting regulation. They have an updated Water Measurement and Reporting Regulation website for guidance and an overview of the new regulations.
A grocery store in Laytonville has been closed, and there was no notice to the community or the county. Geiger’s Long Valley market on Highway 101 closed its doors and it may be permanent. MendoVoice reports it’s Laytonville’s only full service grocery store and has been through controversial inventory shortages and more. Recently food was reportedly over priced and has even prompted new food bank users in the area. Residents reported the quality of the foods for sale declined as well. The owners were sued by General Produce last spring, alleging the grocer failed to pay for the nearly $76,000 bill for wholesale items. The owners have mentioned that revenues were down by over 50 percent last fall. There is no word on reopening and residents are going elsewhere to stock their pantries.
The Clear Lake Hitch are in trouble with inadequate flows and long term declines in their population among other problems. In a release from the State Water Resources ontrol Board, they yesterday adopted emergency regulations to get information from water users to determine how pumping affects creek flows that are critical to the species. MendoFever issued the release from the agency confirming there is a threat to the Hitch, or “chis” survival. The board, along with local tribes and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife with county departments and the community have tried to move to help the hitch since the beginning of the year. Check the California Water Board website for more details.
Mendocino National Forest is announcing trail closures on all National Forest System trails designated for off-highway vehicle use due to wet weather. The Grindstone District and Upper Lake Ranger District are included. Temporary wet conditions closures go into effect when two inches of rain falls within a 24 hour period or when the soil is saturated. The forecast shows a 90-100 percent of more rain through tomorrow. The limited closures will remain in effect until no measurable precipitation falls within 48 consecutive hours. The closures are in effect for public safety, the protection of natural resources during and after storms to allow time for trails to dry out before resuming use. Check the Mendocino Forest website for more details on the closures.
The owner of the Vista Point Shopping Center in Lakeport has about 30 days to bring the property up to code or face having the city take over abatement and perhaps demolish the building units that can’t be stabilized. Lake County News reports the City Manager says based on the city’s communications with Matt Riveras of Donica LLC, it’s uncertain he will comply. It was sixteen years ago that the city council voted to sell the shopping center to the son-in-law of the then mayor. Riveras says he is working to make the repairs. The council made the decision to go forward on the abatement at a meeting earlier this month.
California’s largest long-duration energy storage project is slated to being development of an iron-air battery project at a PG&E substation in Mendocino County. Energy storage developer Form Energy will build its first project in the state capable of discharging energy to the grid for 100 hours. Last week, the California Energy Commission approved a $30 million grant for the project. In the publication UtilityDive.com, Form Energy is reportedly planning to build the battery storage project and be online by the end of 2025. The project uses reversible rusting, a system that absorbs oxygen from the air and converts iron to rust and charges by using electrical current to turn rust back into iron. The commission also awarded around $30 million for similar projects in southern California.
The Lake County Board of Supervisors will meet for the last time this year at 9am this morning. They’re set to consider funds to buy the Kelseyville Senior Center and lease it back to Kelseyville Seniors for continued use, among other actions. Another item on the agenda includes hearing results of an audit of the Elijah House, that ran the county’s emergency homeless shelter for a couple of years, starting in 2020. Lake County News reports the board will discuss a three year, $1.5 million contract for LG Sonic Technology to abate toxic algae in Clear Lake. The work would include a couple of sonic buoys to treat the lake and collect data to inform the county with early cyanobacteria levels. They’ll approve terminating the contract between Blue Shield and Adventist Health. The Courthouse Roof Replacement Project is on the agenda as well as various grants to fund prevention, preparedness and other education events at local fire districts and more.
California will be the 2nd state to approve rules for turning wastewater into drinking water. ABC news reports regulators are set to vote on new rules today, to let water agencies recycle wastewater and distribute it for drinking water to homes, schools and businesses. With recent droughts and issues storing and delivering water the move signals a shift in public opinion with conservation groups advocating for recycled water. The state has used recycled water for other uses, like ice rinks and refilling underground aquifers. The new rules would allow water agencies to take wastewater, treat it for pathogens and viruses and send it into the drinking water system.
The suspended Mendocino County Auditor, Chamise Cubbison attempt to have California’s Attorney General recuse DA Eyster from her court case. Mendocino County Superior Court Judge Faulder is set to hear the recusal motion this week. MendoFever reports Eyster filed a declaration last Friday with the Attorney General’s office summarizing key findings of the investigation into allegations of misuse of public funds. The investigation began last year when Cubbison’s co-defendant was suspected of embezzlement. DA Eyster claims Kennedy knew the payments were illegal, with Cubbison helping her keep amounts under $1,000 to keep from getting flagged. The sheriff recommended the two women be charged with three felonies related to the misappropriation of funds and more.
The Lake County Registrar of Voters is releasing the final list of candidates for county races to be on the presidential primary election ballot. The deadline for candidates to file ended last week. The ballot will include uncontested judicial, sheriff’s and supervisor seats. One judicial seat will be contested with Judge Shandra Harry running in her first reelection run and faces attorney Anna Gregorian in the seat for Department 4. Lake County News reports there are candidates for districts 1, 4 and 5 supervisors. The election is set for March 5th.
Two more days of rain is expected with a couple more inches forecast before we dry out up to Christmas. The National Weather Service says up to 2 and a half inches fell in the North Bay area yesterday. The Press Democrat reports areas near the coast averaged 1.5 to 2 inches. Scattered showers are expected today with a chance of thunderstorms. The next round of moderate to heavy rain is forecast for tomorrow. There was a gale warning yesterday along the Mendocino County Coast, and has been extended through early tomorrow morning. Valleys could see high gusts of wind along with heavy rain at times.
