A former health services director who worked at the County of Lake’s Health Services Department for nearly two years is suing the County. Jonathan Portney, who was fired back in September of 2023, says he was terminated after the Board of Supervisors received a letter written by employees in his department. The letter stated that the staff expressed no confidence in his abilities as the agency’s Health Services director. Portney disputes that and claims he was fired because he spoke out about issues including race discrimination and harassment, illegal workplace conduct and unethical behavior involving local fire chiefs trying to influence entities to ensure they’d get the contractor they wanted for government work. The Lake County Record Bee says he’s asking for $20 million in general damages and is also suing for special damages and all attorney’s fees. The civil complaint was filed last month.
Congratulations are in order for Ukiah High School’s Mock Trial Team. The high school teams from Fort Bragg and Laytonville did very well and are this year’s county champs! As a result, Ukiah High School will represent Mendocino County in the state finals, taking place in Los Angeles next month.
Three horses are dead. It happened when a motorhome crashed and tipped onto its side while towing a horse trailer along State Route 20 east of Clear Lake last night. The horses died after the trailer they were in tumbled down an embankment. The CHP says it happened near Watertrough Road. No reports of serious injuries to the motorhome’s driver and passengers.
A new state bill plans to employ California firefighters year-round to address staff shortages and improve emergency response. The Fight for Firefighters Act proposes elevating around three-thousand seasonal firefighters into full-time roles to ensure more firefighters are available when needed. CAL FIRE Battalion Chief Liz Brown has claimed California’s fire season no longer threatens the state for just three-to-four months.
