Two women in Ukiah were hospitalized on Thursday after a police chase. An SUV was trying to dodge Ukiah police officers on North State Street. He turned down Elm and tried to slip into the parking lot of Honey Fluff Donuts. Officers were able to eventually stop Aaron Norbury of Ukiah, after he ran his Chevy Tahoe into an Audi with two women inside. The women, both from Ukiah, were taken to the hospital to be treated for injuries from the crash. Norbury was arrested with help from the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office on suspicion of driving under the influence.
A woman was medevacked, and another was taken to the hospital for injuries caused by a police chase. Ukiah police were chasing a suspect on North State Street when Aaron Norbury crashed into an Audi with the two women inside. Norbury was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and taken in by the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office. Both women are from Ukiah, they have not yet been identified. UPD is still investigating the incident.
Ukiah Police responded to a hit and run at the Days Inn Friday afternoon. When officers arrived, they found a vehicle had crashed into the pool house of the hotel and had also uprooted two trees. Security footage showed John Bostick driving his Chevy Avalanche through the parking lot and causing damage. Bostick was arrested two weeks ago for a similar incident on Lake Mendocino Drive. UPD Detectives were able to locate Bostick a short time later, and he was arrested again. Bostick has been booked into the Mendocino County Jail on a charge of misdemeanor hit and run.
The Lake County Board of Supervisors is recruiting. They’re hoping to find a few people interested in being on the General Plan Advisory Committee. The committee will guide the Lake County General Plan update and help update other local area plans. They’re hoping for GPAC members from all walks of life with expertise in a variety of areas. If you’re interested, you can apply online at LakeCountyCA.GOV or in person at the Lake County Courthouse on North Forbes Street in Lakeport. Applications must be received by Friday, February 16th.
If you’ve got junk to get rid of in Clearlake, you’re in luck. There’s a free dump day this Saturday at the East Lake Landfill on Davis Avenue. You’ll be able to offload your junk for free from 9am to 1pm. You will need to prove you live in Clearlake, so bring your ID or a piece of mail with your current address. The free dump day is being sponsored by Citizens Caring for Clearlake. They ask that you separate recycling, oil and paint from your e-waste – items like computers, TVs and other electronics. Recycling is free all year at the Recycling Center on Davis Street. Compost will not be accepted during free dump day. Get more details at CleanClearlake.com.
It could be the biggest birthday party in the country, and it’s for Willits resident Edie Ceccarelli. Edie is officially the oldest living person in the US. She’ll turn 116 on February 5th, and we’re all invited to celebrate on Sunday, February 4th. The celebration includes a parade past Edie’s residential home on Grove Street. Organizers request anyone who drives by decorate their vehicles with signs, streamers, balloons, and flags. Edie was born at home on February 5th, 1908, the first of 7 children. She graduated from Willits High in 1927. When asked how she made it to 116, she said she never smoked, and only had an occasional glass of wine with dinner. Edie said staying out of squabbles, being honest, working hard, appreciating the little things, and always finding time to dance are the secrets to her longevity.
Mendocino County PD has announced new hires at all three departments. According to a Facebook post, the Ukiah PD hired August Kinney as a new sergeant. The post said Kinney comes to the department with 6 years of experience, most recently as a deputy for the MCSO. The Willits PD also announced that officer Jaime Cary has completed her training. And in Fort Bragg, Austin Hopper was welcomed as a new police recruit. Hopper now heads to the police academy in Eureka to start their 5 month program.
Fort Bragg City Council is holding a meeting tonight. The meeting is scheduled for 6pm at the Town Hall on Main Street and online over Zoom. Agenda items included discussion of a resolution to approve the integration of the CV Starr Community Center as a city owned and operated facility, and compensation for its employees.
The Mendocino County Board of Supervisors will be discussing the Cannabis permitting process at their regular meeting tomorrow. The board will meet at 9am in Board Chambers at the County Administration Center, and over Zoom. Agenda items include the discussion and possible action on an ordinance that would amend the Mendocino County Code to help streamline cannabis cultivation permitting.
The US Department of Transportation recently awarded Caltrans over 63 million dollars in federal funding. The money will go to fix and install over a thousand EV chargers at 300 sites all over the state. The money comes from the federal Electric Vehicle Charger Reliability and Accessibility Accelerator Grant Program, which is part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. In order to meet new federal standards for EV charging infrastructure, the state will replace broken charging stations and install more chargers.
The Mendocino – Lake Community College District will hold a special meeting of the Board of Trustees this week. The meeting is scheduled for Wednesday at 4pm, in person at the district office in Ukiah and online over Zoom. Agenda items include a review of the college budget for 2024 and 2025.
A Kentucky man was arrested in Cloverdale last week on charges of identity theft. Police say Mark Buckler tried to use forged documents to steal client information at a Cloverdale bank. Luckily staff at the Redwood Credit Union recognized Buckler as someone who’d tried the same thing at other bank locations. Bank staff called Cloverdale PD, and Buckler was arrested. He was booked into the Sonoma County jail on charges of suspicion of felony forgery, felony burglary, and misdemeanor identity theft.
If you’re an aspiring farmer you may want to look into the School of Adaptive Agriculture in Willits. They recently announced a new Farm Incubator program. The school says they will provide land and opportunity for those who’d like to learn how to farm, homestead, bee keep, and anyone into herbal medicine. The Incubator is at Ridgewood Ranch, near Willits, and includes fenced land and irrigation for a small monthly fee. Read more about the program, and apply at SchoolofAdaptiveAgriculture.ORG
