Change is coming at the top of the Mendocino County Public Health and Behavioral Health departments. The Board of Supervisors has voted to consolidate to one position to oversee both departments. Behavioral Health and Recovery Services Jennie Miller has been in charge of both departments since December. Officials say it isn’t a merger, calling it an integration of two jobs to save money. Not everyone is happy with the move. Former county public health officer Dr. Andy Coren says Public Health and Behavioral Health are two distinct fields that require different leaders. Meanwhile, the county continues reviewing applications to replace Dr. Coren as health officer.
Police have identified the woman who died in a crash in Lakeport earlier this week. Linda Jean Smith was alone in the Toyota Tacoma that went off Highway 29 north of 11th Street in Lakeport Wednesday afternoon. CHP continues its investigation but troopers don’t think impairment was involved.
Clearlake police are looking for a missing boy. 16-year-old Aiden Atkins has not been seen since last Friday at the DollarTree in Clearlake. He is white, blond shaved hair and blue eyes. He is 5 feet 4 inches tall and 130 pounds. When Aiden was last seen, he was wearing black pants with no shirt. You can contact Clearlake PD with any information.
A heads up for PG&E customers in Willits. The utility is planning an overnight shutoff on Saturday, June 22nd from 11:30 PM until 5:30 Sunday morning. They’ll be doing some safety upgrades and need to turn off the power. That work was supposed to happen last month, but PG&E says they changed the date to accommodate concerns from some larger users. Those impacted should have received notification. About 6,000 customers will be affected.
A man wanted on several charges of sex abuse of a minor has been arrested in Willits. Mendocino Sheriff’s deputies had been looking for Christopher Kreiger of Clearlake after an investigation of the abuse that started almost a year ago. Deputies say Krieger found out about the investigation and left the state but eventually returned to the area. Somehow, investigators say Kreiger got wind that police were closing and tried to hide out until he could come up with the amount of bail he knew he would need if he got caught. Detectives finally tracked Krieger down Thursday at an illegal cannabis operation where he fled into the woods. Police found him and booked him into the county jail. His bail–a million dollars–not the $425,000 Kreiger thought he would have to post. The charges include at least four felony sexual offenses against a minor.
The Mendocino County Air Quality Management District Office is moving – meaning limited in-person services through July 8. The district’s new offices at 1100 Hastings in Ukiah should open then, but until they do, staff may not be there to handle your request. The office says it will handle priorities as quickly as possible but non-urgent matters may take longer than usual. You should call first to confirm the availability of staff and services at the Air Quality Management District Office. Online services should run normally.
The fight over California’s new law banning so-called “junk fees" is not over. Lawmakers are considering changing the law set to take effect July 1st. The change would let restaurants continue charging additional fees as long as they are posted conspicuously. Restaurants have been lobbying hard for that addition. Sponsors of the revision say it clarifies what places can and can’t do while still preventing diners from an unexpected sticker shock when they get the check.
