Police say they suspect two people found dead Saturday night in a Cloverdale home likely died by murder-suicide, though the investigation is ongoing. Neighbors, who had not seen the couple in recent days, requested police conduct a welfare check at the home, which is located in the middle of the city. The Press Democrat reports that a weapon was found in the residence, that investigators say points to a possible murder-suicide. Autopsies will be conducted this week, and Cloverdale police are asking anyone with information to come forward.
A new partnership between three organizations is set to explore options for raising the dam at Lake Mendocino in order to boost the water supply which supports local agriculture and recreation. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers met with state and local politicians and tribal officials this past Friday to formalize a cost-sharing agreement for the Coyote Valley Dam General Investigation Study. The Mendocino Voice says the study, led by a partnership between the commission, the Lytton Rancheria and the Corps of Engineers, will analyze the prospects of having a greater water supply and potential federal interest in reducing flood risks. It will also check out ways to restore fish, like the local salmon and steelhead population. The cost of the study is around $3 million and will be paid for by federal sources.
The lineup has been released for the Mendocino Music Festival with Grammy Award winners Charlie Musselwhite and the Villalobos Brothers, and an international lineup of artists ranging from classical to country. The festival runs from July 12-26 in Mendocino with the main concert tent located on the Mendocino Headlands. The Mendocino Voice says the kids aren’t forgotten as there will also be a children’s day camp, lectures and film screenings, a Cajun/Zydeco gala celebration and more. Tickets go on sale May 5. For more information online, check out mendocinomusic.org.
This Wednesday, at its regularly scheduled meeting, the Ukiah City Council will consider whether to move forward with an annexation initiative. If the Council gives it the green light, the city staff would draft a formal annexation application for submission to the Mendocino Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo) later this year. Ukiah City Manager Sage Sangiacomo says they’ve already seen the benefits of greater regional coordination as Ukiah has led efforts to provide quality recreation, water, and emergency response services to areas beyond city boundaries. If the Council votes to proceed, staff will move forward with preparing an application that would come back to the Council this summer for adoption and approval of any relevant analysis. If Council approves the application at that time, a formal public review process, led by Mendocino LAFCo, would begin later this year and include public hearings and opportunities for input. Wednesday evening’s meeting begins at 5:15 p.m.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the annual 8-hour Bike Monkey Endurance Relay Race at Boggs Mountain Demonstration State Forest. The race is scheduled for May 2 & 3.. During this time, you are asked to stay clear of designated routes to allow for event staff and emergency services. Trail and road closures for the event will have displayed signage and they include Forest Roads: 100, 200, 210, and Mac’s Trail on Friday, May 2.
Forest Roads: 200, 210, 500, 540, 541, Boggs Peak Trail, Hardtail Trail, Berrys Trail, Mac’s Trail, and Gails Trail will be closed to the public on May 3. To check out the route online, go to boggs.rocks.com.
Lake County will have its own entry, for the first time, in the worldwide “City Nature Challenge." It encourages all interested parties to use their phones or cameras to take pictures of all forms of life from April 25 through April 28. Lake County News says the goal is to further develop the inaturalist.org catalog of the world’s life forms. Anyone can participate using the inaturalist app or at the inaturalist.org web site. You should know that you can make observations on your own, or can take part in two special events, called "bioblitzes" with a guided group in a particular area. The events take place Sunday morning , April 27, beginning at 9 at the Lake County Land Trust’s Rodman Preserve in Lakeport; and Monday morning , April 28, at 9 at the McLaughlin Preserve, on Morgan Valley Road, east of Lower Lake.
The Central Region Town Hall is meeting tonight at 6 at the Lucerne Alpine Senior Center. Agenda items include, but are not limited to, a presentation from Senior Transportation Planner John Speka regarding the Lake Area Planning Council’s update of the Regional Transportation Plan, a presentation from Public Works Director Glen March regarding transportation concerns and future projects and an update from Supervisor EJ Crandell. Lake County news says the Board includes Chair Becky Schwenger, Vice Chair Austin Pratt, Recorder Atlas Pearson, and members Jon Karlsson and Jacob Blue. The meeting is also available via Zoom.
The North Bay Legislative Delegation, including Senate President pro Tempore Mike McGuire, Senator Christopher Cabaldon, and Assemblymember Chris Rogers, helped pass a funding bill which allocates $185 million to advance wildfire mitigation projects across California. The wildfire funding will directly support State Conservancies vegetation management and fuel treatment programs. The Record Bee says the legislation includes $33.5 million for the State Coastal Conservancy. The agency has funded several dozen wildfire mitigation projects throughout the North Coast region over the past several years. Additionally, they partnered with the Karuk Tribe to secure $10 million in state funding to build a regional Fire Training Center in northeastern Humboldt County.
