There’s a new twist in the ongoing legal case against suspended Mendocino County Auditor Chamise Cubbison and fired payroll manager Paula Kennedy. The two were charged last year with misusing county funds to pay Kennedy more than she was owed even though lawyers say Cubbison was the one who had asked for a review of the disputed payroll. The defense had wanted the case tossed due to a lack of evidence claiming several emails were missing due to the county’s faulty archival system. But Mendo Fever reports an outside prosecutor asked to review the case by Mendocino County District Attorney David Eyster says the missing emails are not a reason to dismiss felony charges because the defense has not shown the missing emails were significant to the case. The judge is set to hear a series of motions on November 13.
A California appeals court has reportedly sided with those against a planned resort in Lake County over concerns about the wildfire risk. Mendo Fever cites a release from the Center for Biological Diversity saying the court has said no to Lake County’s environmental review and approval of the plans for the proposed Guenoc Valley resort and residential development which would cover about 16,000 acres on a site the Center says has a long history of wildfires. The Center sued Lake County in 2020 for approving the project which they called a violation of the California Environmental Quality Act. In 2022 the Lake County Superior Court ruled that the county violated CEQA due to how the project could affect wildfire evacuations but the California Court of Appeals ruling adds that the County did not assess whether the development could raise wildfire risks.
There’s one more month for building permit violators in Mendocino County to come forward without a penalty before the county starts cracking down. The County says they have extended a one-year amnesty to now go until December 31 that waives all Violation/Penalty fees related to building permits submitted after work has already started or is even is already done. Officials say as long as there is no confirmed code enforcement case happening there will be no penalty. But you must complete an amnesty building permit application and submit it on or before December 31. And amnesty building permits must meet all standards for their zoning district.
Work starts today on the next phase of Lakeport’s ongoing water and sewer main replacement project. The City says with work on Lakeport Boulevard just about done, they are set to start today on Martin Street. Officials tell Lake County News the project is a “crucial effort” to replace aging water and sewer lines. The sewer mains and laterals on Lakeport Blvd have pretty much been fully replaced and crews are finishing up with water main, service and fire hydrant replacements from S. Forbes Street to Bevins Street. The work on Martin Street will happen during the day time hours so expect some temporary lane closures and detours. The city thanks you for your patience.
The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended its search for several people missing after a crabbing vessel capsized off the Sonoma County coast Saturday night. Searchers working from late Saturday night until 630pm last night found one 11-year-old boy alive and recovered the body of a teenager but officials say three adults and a child are still missing. The Press Democrat reports there were six people aboard a 21-foot Bayliner that set out from Bodega Bay for recreational Dungeness crabbing Saturday. The group had five members from one family plus a friend. They were reported missing around 10pm Saturday. The boy was found around 8am Sunday along South Salmon Creek Beach. He was wearing a life jacket and told first responders the boat had capsized.
California has a new assistant state fire marshal. The Cal Fire Office of the State Fire Marshal says Governor Gavin Newsom has appointed Vickie Sakamoto to the position. Sakamoto, who has nearly 40 years of experience in fire protection and public safety, will oversee Code Development and Analysis, Fire and Life Safety, Pipeline Safety and State Fire Training. Among Sakamoto’s many leadership roles have been Deputy State Fire Marshal, Chief of the Fire Engineering Division and the Fire and Life Safety Division and Chair of the High Rise Task Force and Smoke Alarm Task Force.
The Ukiah Branch Library has kicked off their annual cold weather clothing drive. From now through January 31, the library is accepting donations of new or clean and gently used coats, jackets, sweaters, scarves, hats and wet weather gear which they will give out to visitors to the library that ask for them. Donations can be dropped off at Ukiah Branch Library during business hours. The library is closed on Mondays and Sundays.
