An injured mountain lion that some Caltrans workers and California Highway Patrol officers tried to rescue in Willits last week has died. The CHP Ukiah office posted the story of the workers finding the big cat on their social media. The big cat had apparently been hit by a vehicle on State Route 20 and was seriously hurt but described as “fighting to live”. Responders from the Department of Fish and Game and Mendocino Wildlife Association came out and secured the big cat and took her to the Sonoma Wildlife Rescue. But the Executive Director of the Rescue confirmed to Mendo Fever she died a short time later.
A Rohnert Park man has been convicted of drunk driving by a Mendocino County jury. The Mendocino DA says Bruce Gallyot was convicted of misdemeanor driving under the influence and misdemeanor driving with a blood alcohol .08 or greater for the incident in June in Navarro River Redwood State Park at the Navarro Beach campground. The DA says a concerned eyewitness called 9-1-1 to report Gallyot’s driving.
There’s a planned fire today in Hopland. CalFire says a controlled burn that was scrapped last week will happen today on the University of California’s Hopland Research and Extension Center property. They plan to burn about 150 acres of grasslands in the area in the southern portion of Mendocino County, east of Highway 101. The burn is set to run from 8am to 3pm. They say the plan is to create what they call a mosaic of variously burned vegetation and islands of unburned habitat.
You can learn the history of the Palace Hotel with a new book by author Karen Rifkin. Called “The History of Ukiah’s Palace Hotel”, the book tells the history of the hotel from its beginnings in 1895 right up to the latest attempts to save it from demolition. You can buy it at the Ukiah Valley Conference Center Monday through Friday from Noon to 1:30pm. And the Historical Society of Mendocino County will be hosting a Book Party on Saturday, November 16. Everyone is welcome to share your own stories and memories of the Palace Hotel and explore its history along with some artifacts.
There are a couple of trick or treat events in Downtown Ukiah on Thursday afternoon. From 3:30-5:30pm kids can take part in the City of Ukiah’s Trick or Treat Downtown with many stores and businesses handing out treats. Officials thank the Ukiah Main Street Program Committee for their work in putting together that event. And Police, Fire and other public safety agencies have teamed up for a Trunk or Treat at Alex Thomas Plaza. Kids can not only get treats but also hang out with many local first responders.
