Willits has said farewell to its celebrity resident Edith “Edie” Ceccarelli. Ceccarelli, who lived to the age of 116, was laid to rest on Friday. She died on February 22nd, a little more than two weeks after her birthday. At the time of her death, she was the oldest living American and second oldest person in the world. Gerontology scientists say only about 30 people have ever reached the age of 116.
The US Coast Guard Cutter Alder was off the coast of Fort Bragg Friday morning when it accidentally dumped 500 gallons of diesel fuel. It was heading to Humboldt Bay when the spill happened, about 30 miles offshore. According to Coast Guard Officials, they don’t anticipate any environmental impact for the Mendocino County shoreline. In a press release, Coast Guard officials said the spill happened sometime between midnight and 1:25am and the fuel was expected to drift about 2 miles east and be evaporated by 7pm Saturday. Mendocino Voice reports the Coast Guard is still investigating the cause of the diesel spill.
The Mendocino County office of Emergency Services is launching new software to help with evacuation mapping. The site Medo Ready dot ORG plans to launch the new Genasys Project tool today. The tool will help first responders plan, communicate, and execute evacuations in times of emergency. Residents will be able to see all advisories, warnings, and orders that have been issued in the county in one convenient spot. It will also give the public access to a list of evacuation points, centers, shelters, and other resources. Visit Mendo Ready dot ORG to get familiar with the new tool and find the zones for your home, work, children’s schools, and the homes of family members.
Lake County will hold a meeting today for the Countywide Community Visioning Forum Planning Committee. The meeting is scheduled for 7pm at the Courthouse in Lakeport and over Zoom. The meeting is open to the public. Agenda items include getting public input on the working draft recommendations document from the Honoring All Voices series and next steps. This meeting will include community members from Lake County, Lakeport and Clearlake, and Tribal governments.
Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office tracked down and arrested a suspect linked to a gang related shooting in Fort Bragg. It happened early Saturday morning when MCSO got a report of a shooting on Highway 1. Deputies got there just as the suspect vehicle was leaving the area. Fort Bragg Police and MCSO searched for and finally found the white Honda Sedan. Its driver was a female with ties to a gang who was out on pretrial release for another shooting case. According to a press release, the female was associated with Dylan Dixon, a known suspect in another shooting. Through the female, deputies were able to track down Dixon at a home on Dryer Lane, but he ran when Deputies approached. They were eventually able to find him in the nearby woods hiding behind a tree. He was arrested on multiple charges including numerous firearm charges, violating the terms of his release, and possession of controlled substances. Dixon was booked into the Mendocino County Jail.
Ridgewood Ranch will be the site of the North Coast Farmer’s Convergence tomorrow. It’s an annual event that gathers farmers from Lake, Mendocino, Sonoma, and Humbolt counties together with chefs, activists, and retailers to celebrate farming along the North Coast. It’s been going on since 2013, and this year participants will focus on how to rebuild what they call the local food web. The food web is what links local food producers with those who sell the food, and the community that buys it. The event is put on by North Coast Opportunities, an agency serving Lake and Mendocino Counties. Click here for more information.
Mendocino County Sheriff’s Deputies saved a man’s life with NARCAN over the weekend. On Saturday, MCSO responded to a call from a local business in Redwood Valley. They found an unresponsive man in the business bathroom. Deputies administered multiple doses of NARCAN until the man responded. Medics took it from there, and the man was taken to a hospital for further treatment. The victim has not yet been identified. MCSO started issuing NARCAN nasal spray units to employees as part of their PPE in 2019. NARCAN blocks the life threatening effects of an opioid overdose. Since they started carrying NARCAN, MCSO employees have used it in 19 separate incidents and have saved 19 lives.
