Chamise Cubbison returned to work, and not a courtroom for the first time in more than a year and a half following this week’s legal victory. Mendo Fever says the champagne wasn’t flowing, but it was sweet for Cubbison who chose to fight the allegations leveled at her by District Attorney David Eyster just over 2 years ago. For her part, she released a statement saying, "I look forward to getting back to the important work the people elected me to perform.” She went on to say that she’s proud of what her team accomplished in her absence and hopes to continue in that positive direction. Lastly, she added that she’s grateful to the judge for dismissing the charges.
The Record Bee is reporting that a Clearlake man, in custody and charged with murder may not stand trial for his crimes.The court ordered that Drs. Taylor Fithian and Thomas Rodriguez evaluate Martin Jimenez-Patricio, and prepare a report regarding the defendant’s competency to stand trial. Jimenez-Patricio has been charged with murder, assault with a deadly weapon and possession of a controlled substance stemming from an incident in Clearlake last December where a male victim was found dead. For now, the jury trial set for March has been vacated. It will be rescheduled if the defendant is found competent to stand trial.
The Mendo Fever is reporting that a 29-year-old Ukiah man died Wednesday night after being taken into police custody following a 911 hang up call. According to the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office, they traced the call to an apartment complex, where they encountered the man, who they recognized from previous brushes with the law. He fled the scene in a pick up that had been reported stolen in Contra Costa County. Hours later, after 10, police responded to reports of a man yelling near the Orr Creek Bridge. Ukiah police, along with the CHP, took him into custody right out of the creek. Moments later, he lost consciousness and was given Narcan. He was transported to Adventist Health Ukiah Valley where he was pronounced dead.
The Ukiah Police Department says it’s grateful for the generous donation of medical supplies from Medstar Ukiah Ambulance and training sponsored by the Western Regional Counterdrug Training center. The Mendo Fever says the medical supplies will go a long way toward boosting their mass casualty kits, along with enhancing the department’s ability to quickly respond during large-scale emergencies. The donated medical supplies include items essential for an immediate and efficient medical response in emergency situations. The WRCTC training covered life-saving techniques, giving first responders the tools they need when faced with medical emergencies in the field.
It’s all about the whales beginning tomorrow as the Mendocino Coast Chamber of Commerce kicks off the Mendocino Whale Festival.The festival celebrates the spring migration of the gray whales as they head from Baja to Alaska…so close to shore that you can see the tips of their flukes in the ocean. So, to celebrate, several coastal communities host educational events and activities showcasing whales during the annual Whale Festival for two weeks. The Mendocino Voice reports this year’s festival runs through March 16.Events include coastal walks at the Mendocino Headlands to campfires and story hours at Van Damme State Beach. It all starts tomorrow morning at 10, with a chowder tasting and wine walk at Crown Hall in Mendocino, hosted by the Mendocino Coast Chamber of Commerce.
California is taking a big step to address its shortage of affordable housing by offering up some of its empty land for development. Governor Newsom has announced that 23 vacant plots of state-owned land will now be available for builders to create affordable homes. The initiative targets the ongoing housing crisis in the state and could lead to the construction of around two-thousand new homes. It builds on a program started in 2019, which led to over 43-hundred housing units and 32 building projects.
