The Mendocino County Sheriff with Ukiah Police are investigating a high speed pursuit in a stolen vehicle. A Ukiah woman was taking trips back and forth to the laundromat when Robert Berg allegedly took off in her car Monday night. Within an hour, the stolen vehicle was caught on UPD’s camera inside the city. Ukiah Police sped up to the car speeding north on Highway 101 near North State Street. A traffic stop was attempted but Berg reportedly accelerated to speeds over 100 miles an hour, swerving in and out of lanes during hazardous weather conditions. He lost control and crashed over the embankment to the right of the on-ramp, sliding 10 feet down. CHP, Mendocino County Sheriff’s Deputies and Ukiah Police were able to place Berg into custody. He’d been on probation and was unlicensed. He was locked up after medical clearance and will be charged accordingly. The vehicle was badly damaged.
CHP Clear Lake is investigating a crash. Four people were hurt in a collision on Highway 29 near Highland Springs Road on Sunday. Lake County News reports a woman in a Ford Fusion was driving north on Highway 29 as a man was driving his Ford Truck westbound. CHP says both vehicles entered the intersection and hit broadside. A passenger in the Fusion had major injuries and was flown to UC Davis. People in the Ford truck had minor injuries and were taken to Sutter Lakeside Hospital. Everyone was wearing seat belts, and no drugs or alcohol were suspected.
The City of Lakeport with the Lakeport Police and Overdose Lifeline will host an event on January 17th, a week from today, at the Soper Reese Theatre in Lakeport. There will be a presentation on the opioid crisis in Lake County, as well as solutions to address it. Lake County News reports Overdose Lifeline Inc is a nonprofit that addresses the opioid epidemic via harm reduction and education. The nonprofit along with staff from Lake County Behavior Health Services will have information on substance abuse and services available to help addicts locally. There will be a question and answer period. In the week leading up to next Wednesday’s event, Overdose Lifeline will visit local schools to talk to students and educators about drug issues.
The Jackson Demonstration State Forest will hold a meeting with the Recreation Task Force. It’s happening at the Woodlands Fire Station in Mendocino on January 18th from 9:30am through 12:30pm. The group plans to discuss a general recreation update after setting things up for a new year. There will be a discussion on public trails and the group plans to introduce a draft unsanctioned trail rating criteria. There will be time for public discussion and comment. Comments must be submitted by next Tuesday, January 16th.
A body found near the shore in northwest Mendocino County has been recovered but not yet official identified. The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office reported a body was found among the rocks on the beach on the 6th by people searching for Rebecca Jones who went missing after walking away from a campsite nearby with a friend. She was last seen on the 5th before noon walking towards the ocean. The body was recovered Monday afternoon, but due to the condition, will need time to be confirmed by the coroner’s office. The sheriff says they’ll use DNA to id the body.
Ukiah veterans and others are concerned about a quick decision to move the veterans’ service office in Ukiah from a house on Observatory Avenue to an office space at the county Public Health building. The move is slated to happen next week. The commander from the American Legion post in Ukiah says they didn’t learn about the move until the end of December. A Vietnam veteran told the Board of Supervisors yesterday that the space on Observatory Avenue is special to him and others. MendoFever reports fellow veterans suffering with PTSD and other trauma found it secure and comforting. The caregivers union members joined the veterans, complaining to the board about the imminent move with short notice. The head of the Behavioral and Public Health discussed the new space including a private reception area, saying they’ll make the area inviting. Supervisor Haschak says the communication might not have been ideal, and that the Air Quality Management will move into the former veterans’ center.
Rain is expected to return today, according to forecasters. It’s going to stay windy with gusts up to about 35 miles an hour. A coastal flood advisory is in place from 8 to 11am this morning due to King Tides in the Sonoma area with minor flooding in low lying areas along the shore. In Mendocino County there is a small craft advisory in effect thru tomorrow night at 9pm. From Cape Mendocino to Point Arena out 10 nautical miles hazardous conditions are expected, especially for small crafts.
CHP and the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office are working together on public safety. On New Year’s Eve, CHP caught a Chevy truck on camera doing donuts at an intersection in Covelo. A witness saw the license plate and gave it to CHP. The department got a court order to seize the truck, signed by a Mendocino County judge. On the 5th, a sheriff’s deputy found the Chevy in the Covelo area and it was impounded. The Mendocino County Sheriff posted the incident online. The court order authorizes the impoundment of a vehicle based on violations of reckless driving and evading law enforcement.
The Governor is calling for new laws to expand criminal penalties and help police and prosecutors in retail crimes. Newsom would like to see prosecutors have tools to address organized auto theft and eliminate a sunset provision for organized retail crime in the state, according to Lake County News. The Governor’s Office released details on a framework that include new penalties for retail thieves in reselling stolen merchandise, increasing felony penalties and prison time. Other proposals include the combination of multiple thefts to reach the threshold for grand theft. Increased penalties for stolen car parts, and to resellers are included. In an announcement yesterday, the Governor’s Real Public Safety Plan aims to make the state safer.
The 31st Annual Professional Pianist Concert series will feature eleven different pianists at the Mendocino College Center Theatre in Ukiah on January 27th and 28th. The musicians trade stories and songs with a pair of pianos on stage with improvisation and style. The event usually sells out with the quality of music and humor that will entertain people of all ages. Each concert will be different with musical styles ranging from Broadway, to jazz to classical genres and more. The performances will benefit the Ukiah Community Concert Association, Mendocino College Recording Arts Club and the Allegro Scholarship Program. Tickets are on sale at the Mendocino Book Company in Ukiah.
California lawmakers will consider a new tax on the wealthiest residents, as legislators brace for a major budget deficit and the actions that will have to follow. KCRA reports the State Assembly’s Revenue and Tax Committee is looking at AB 259, first introduced last year. The law would impose a 1.5 percent tax on assets of Californians with a global net worth of $1 billion as soon as this year, and a 1 percent tax on people with a net worth of $50 million by 2026. The legislation would need a two thirds vote from the State Senate and Assembly before voters have their say. Governor Newsom’s Office posted that wealth tax proposals aren’t going anywhere in the state, while Republicans have also said they’ll reject it.
The Fort Bragg Rotary and Mendocino Coast Sports Foundation are hosting their annual drive-thru Crab Feed Fundraiser on the 20th from 2 to 5pm behind the Fort Bragg Firehouse. Crab, locally made chowder, salad, dessert and more will be available. Tickets are $60 and must be purchased in advance. Raffle tickets will also be available, as the group raises funds for the community. You can even schedule delivery.
