Vacation rental owners in certain parts of Sonoma County have until June 15th to apply for a license through the County Permitting Department. This affects people who own vacation rentals in non-coastal unincorporated areas. It comes after the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors approved a business license program last year. It set up standards for vacation rentals, penalties for violations and limits to where vacation rentals can be. About two-thousand vacation rentals require licenses. The county has received 500 applications so far.
As wildfire season approaches in California, it’s crucial to remember the importance of a go bag. Jonathan Cox with Cal Fire underscores the importance of being prepared. A paper street map is best since cell phone GPS is sometimes interrupted. Have a meeting point for family. Pack a three-day supply of medications. Include clothing, shoes, and cell phone chargers, including portable chargers in case the power goes out. Credit card readers and ATMs may be out of service after a wildfire, so pack some cash. A flashlight, radio, and batteries are a must. A small first aid kit and a blanket should also be included. Pack three days’ worth of toiletries, non-perishable food, and water. Copies of your important paperwork are crucial and should be in your go bag as well. You should have a go bag packed for each member of your family. Consider having one in your car, too.
The attorney for a Hotel Healdsburg employee charged with involuntary manslaughter is arguing for the charges against his client to be dismissed. A motion filed in Sonoma County Superior Court earlier this month says Romario Cisneros killed a man in self-defense last July. A judge is scheduled to consider the motion on June 26th. The man who was killed, 41-year-old Abel Garza, was found dead after threatening hotel staff twice. Garza was allegedly armed with a hammer and a four-foot-long metal object. Cisneros is accused of killing Garza with that object after hotel staff took it from Garza.
City officials in Ukiah have announced a conditional permit to demolish the historic Palace Hotel. The announcement came Thursday, after the owner of the hotel submitted a permit application a week earlier. Deputy City Manager Shannon Riley said in a press release that once a contractor is secured, work can begin. The Palace Hotel has been standing for over 133 years. Current owners hope to tear down the hotel and build a new commercial building and entertainment space in it’s place. City officials say they granted the conditional permit because the Palace Hotel has become a matter of public health and safety. Demolition could begin in the next few weeks, if all conditions of the permit are met.
A reminder, there’s a vegetation management prescribed burn happing this week on Jackson Demonstration Forest. CAL Fire Mendocino Unit announced the burn last week. It started yesterday and will continue through Friday. Burning is happening between 10am and 3pm daily, weather permitting. While the burn continues, smoke and aircraft may be visible in the area along Highway 20 between Willits and Fort Bragg.
It only took a Mendocino County Superior Court jury half an hour to find a woman guilty of DUI and gun charges last week. On Wednesday, Melissa Derenia, of Covelo, was found guilty of driving a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol of .08 or higher, and unlawfully carrying a loaded firearm in a vehicle, both misdemeanors. According to a release from the Mendocino County District Attorney, Derenia will be back in court on June 14th for sentencing.
Clearlake Police need your help to find a missing teenager. 17 year old Antonio Lopez Padilla was last seen on 8th Street in Clearlake on Sunday night. He’s described as 5 foot 6 inches tall with black hair and brown eyes, weighing about 140 pounds. He was last seen wearing a white shirt and black shorts, with long white socks. Anyone with information on Antonio’s location is asked to call Clearlake Police Department.
