A frost advisory for coastal and southwestern areas and a freeze warning for northern and southeastern interior areas of Mendocino County is in effect this morning. The frost advisory until 9 for the entire Mendocino Coast, from Westport to Gualala, and the southwestern interior, including Anderson Valley, according to the National Weather Service. Meantime, a freeze warning remains in effect also until 9 for inland Mendocino County, including Leggett, Covelo, Laytonville, Willits, Ukiah, Hopland and Lake County.
Governor Gavin Newsom is ordering state workers, who have been working remotely, to return to the office starting in July. Experts predict that some high-performing tech workers will quit and move to the private sector. Some carve-outs are already being made to the governor’s order. The California Department of Human Resources says those who have a telework arrangement in their contract could be exempt.
A Mendocino County woman who’s claimed for years that her elderly father is a prolific serial killer responsible for murders worldwide since the 1950s is not credible. After more than a year of investigation, the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office says it’s turned over no evidence linking him to any homicides. Sheriff Matthew Kendall told The Press Democrat that their investigation began in January 2023, focusing in part on a Mendocino County homicide from the 1970s after the woman, Maria “Galina” Trefil, told investigators her father had confessed, but detectives were unable to substantiate her claims. He said investigators also took a DNA sample from her father back in 2023, but it did not match any evidence from the crime scene. Trefil began posting on social media about the alleged killings in 2012. She claims that her 86 year old father has admitted to killing at least one person a month from 1965 to 1999, in California, Idaho, Illinois, Oregon and Virginia, as well as Canada, France, the Netherlands and the Mexican border. Kendall says his office will investigate any potential links between the man and unsolved cases but so far he says, there is no evidence to support the allegations.
The Western Region Town Hall is meeting this Wednesday to discuss a letter sent to the California Department of Water Resources, detailing concerns regarding the Upper Lake levees. Luca Moretti, afield representative for Congressman Mike Thompson as well as with John Speka, senior transportation planner for the Area Planning Council will both be in attendance. Lake County News says Barbara Morris also will give an update on the latest regarding local efforts to oppose a biochar update project approved by the Lake County Planning Commission back in December.
The Mendocino County Farm Bureau, the Mendocino Women’s Political Coalition and the Mendocino County Democratic Central Committee have launched a petition asking the county to rescind its decision to consolidate the auditor-controller and treasurer-tax collector positions into one department. Estelle Clifton, the president of the Mendocino County Farm Bureau and a proponent of the petition to reestablish the auditor and tax collector position in two departments, explained that the petition seeks to pressure the county to honor its promises on increasing transparency. It was published earlier this week and is gaining momentum on Facebook, where it’s being shared. Although the petition has only 42 signatures, Clifton said it is in a “soft launch” phase and that more coordinated efforts will be made to bring awareness to the community.
The City of Ukiah wants your help on how the emergency response system should work in Ukiah and the surrounding unincorporated areas also served by the Ukiah Valley Fire Authority. Tonight’s meeting, which aims to get as many opinions as possible, follows the failure of Measure V to pass in November. The Mendocino voice reports that the measure would have added an annual tax to properties served by the fire authority to support fire and emergency response management. You should know that Ukiah and the fire authority are working together, along with the Center for Public Safety Management to create the fire authority’s strategic plan. They are a Washington, D.C. based consulting firm. Tonight’s meeting begins at 5:30 at the Ukiah Valley Conference Center.
