A Red Flag Warning will be in effect for Lake County from late Thursday to Saturday evening due to impending strong gusty winds and very low humidity. The National Weather Service says the Red Flag Warning replaces yesterday’s Fire Weather Watch with winds now expected to gust at 40 mph and sometimes up to 60 mph. They say the humidity will be around 10 percent during the day Friday and Saturday with not much recovery at night. Officials say any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. With the elevated wildfire threat, PG&E is warning of potential public safety power shutoffs.
Two people from Ukiah have been arrested on gun and other charges after officers responded to a report of a woman suffering a mental health crisis. It happened Sunday at the Royal Motel on South State Street when police were called about a woman screaming and banging on the wall. UPD brought in the Mendocino County Behavioral Health Unit and the 18-year-old woman was taken to an area hospital. But as this unfolded, police say they saw a gun in the room and after running the ID’s of the other two people there they learned they had criminal backgrounds that allowed for searches. Police say they turned up a 9mm ghost gun with a threaded barrel which makes it an assault weapon and also a 9mm magazine loaded with hollow point ammunition. Ashtyn Phillips Taylor and Priscilla Nicole Ronco were each arrested on a long list of charges.
Dredging of the Lucerne Harbor looks to be moving forward. At their last meeting the Lake County Board of Supervisors voted to award a contract to Marz Engineering of Ukiah which put in a bid at just over $211,000. Lake County News reports the project is fully in the Special Projects section of the County budget with some of that having come from selling the Lucerne Hotel. The dredging project has been in the works for years but has been stymied by delays including the pandemic and then an apparent archaeological issue. Officials say dredging out the sediment will allow more boats to pass and give a boost to the local economy.
A Ukiah man has been convicted by a jury on charges related to willfully violating a restraining order. The Mendocino DA says Thomas Anthony Thorson was found guilty of two misdemeanor counts of contempt of court for two incidents that happened last month. Mendocino County Jail records show Thorson was sentenced to time served for the incidents that happened more than 30 days ago and was released yesterday. The records show he has another order to appear for an alleged DUI charge.
The newest Community Services Officer at the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office is home grown. Sheriff Matt Kendall welcomed Tristin Milani to the force at a ceremony Tuesday. He says Tristin comes from Mendocino County roots and they are thankful he will be serving the community in which he grew up. Also on Tuesday the Sheriff welcomed lateral Deputy Sheriff Steven Diaz and returning Deputy Sheriff Christopher D’Orazio. Kendall says it is very significant that peace officers with law enforcement experience are choosing the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office and hopes to continue having it become what he calls a destination agency for experienced officers.
A free Art Therapy program for cancer patients is now being offered at Adventist Health Ukiah Valley. Officials say the goal of the classes, which are offered free for the whole community, are to find hope and a sense of control but also to join a community of others on the same journey. Art Instructor Sue Sweet, who herself is a cancer survivor, is also a licensed therapist. She tells the Ukiah Daily Journal that art provides a medium to communicate difficult emotions and experiences but also gives patients a sense of control when they choose color, space, medium, and more. Adventist Health’s Focus on Healing Art Therapy is an eight-week program at the Alex Rorabaugh Center.
