Lake County’s CARE Court system is underway. Lake County Behavioral Health Services announced Monday they’ve launched the Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment, or CARE, Court which aims to divert people struggling with specific schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders away from the criminal justice system and into a civil court process to get them treatment and support. CARE Court is designed for those 18 and older who meet specific health and safety criteria. Lake County Behavioral Health Services says petitions for CARE Court can be filed by family, roommates, healthcare providers, clinicians, first responders and county behavioral health staff.
Fort Bragg Police want to make sure Kia and Hyundai owners know you may be at a higher risk of your car being stolen. They say these makes are more likely to be targeted because some models do not have an immobilizer, which is an anti-theft device that prevents it from starting when someone tries to use a key that doesn’t match the car. And since this has been promoted as a challenge on popular social media platforms a lot of would-be thieves and pranksters know about it. It happens with Kias from 2011-2021 and Hyundais from 2015-2021. The manufacturers have upgrades available.
Mendocino County Sheriff Matt Kendall is laying out his vision and priorities for 2025. In a post on social media the Sheriff says he believes drastic improvements for public safety are line, citing the fact that voters in all 58 counties passed Proposition 36 which he calls a “tough-on-crime” measure that reforms parts of a previous proposition which he says “ham stringed” law enforcement and courts. Kendall also says they continue to hire deputy sheriffs and corrections deputies. And construction of the behavioral health wing of the Mendocino County Jail is on track which he says will help with many of the state mandates for services for those in jail to have more positive outcomes.
A new law that goes into effect in California tomorrow changes how car break-ins are viewed. The so-called “locked door loophole” had forced California car owners to prove their car was locked when it was broken into. But SB 905 no longer requires signs of forcible entry to prove the crime of auto burglary. The bill was written by State Senator Scott Wiener who has been trying since 2018 to close the loophole which he has called a “senseless barrier to holding auto burglars accountable.” He says it not only has been a problem for residents but also for tourists who rented a car and can’t come back to testify under oath that they locked the doors so criminal cases have been tossed.
Some good news for pet owners with Mendocino County announcing the launch of a Mobile Spay & Neuter Van which is designed to bring essential services to communities across the county. Earlier this year they did a trial run at the Humane Society where 34 surgeries were completed and the van is now ready to hit the road. The first public event will be January 14 at JD Redhouse in Willits. They say spay and neuter surgeries are already fully booked for that day but walk-in vaccine services will be available. Additional dates in February may include Laytonville and Hopland and a return to Willits. For more information contact Mendocino County Animal Care Services.
The major road upgrade continues at the Ukiah intersection of Perkins Street and Main Street. They are potholing today and are off tomorrow for the holiday. But on Thursday and Friday work begins on the Main Street water main installation. The City says a section of Main will be closed north of Perkins and Eastbound lanes of Perkins will be closed from State to Main. Westbound lanes will remain open with controlled traffic and watch for intermittent closures on Main near Perkins.
