Today, local faith leaders are hosting a gathering for the National Day of Prayer in Ukiah. It’s the 74th year of the national observance, which was signed into law by President Harry S. Truman in 1952. Baptist pastors Joe and Aaron Donnell will speak, and musician Carole Hester will perform at noon outside the Mendocino County Courthouse. The Mendocino voice says people of all faiths are encouraged to attend.
A local family is asking for help to find a missing man who was last seen in Ukiah. 63 year old Randy Wilson, was last seen at his residence on Vichy Springs Road near Ukiah on the morning of April 17. The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office says was reported missing on April 21. The Mendocino Voice reports that Wilson is believed to be driving a 1990 white Pontiac Sunbird convertible with a black top. He may be in Covelo, the Sanhedrin Wilderness area of Mendocino National Forest near Potter Valley, or at the coast. Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriff’s office.
We’ve got an update to the boil water alert story which has caused a lot of anger, concern and confusion over the past 48 hours. The state water board issued citation and compliance orders to three restaurants yesterday that were not named. They are Café Beaujolais, Luna Trattoria, and Frankie’s. Jaime Placido, with one of the state-licensed water operators who services the restaurants’ wells, says those orders came without notice and caused a “bunch of hysteria.” Tens of thousands of gallons of water were dumped between the three, some say unnecessarily. Stefan Cajina, North Coastal Section Chief for the water board’s division of drinking water, clarified that the restaurants had all been disinfecting their water, but had not installed mandated water filtration systems. The orders require each restaurant to install a filtration system that meets state requirements. In the meantime, the Mendocino Voice says the restaurants can keep operating using water purchased from licensed suppliers.
An improvised explosive device or IED as they’re called, was found in a ditch near the Ukiah Valley Fire Authority station on Talmage Road yesterday afternoon. Battalion Chief Ryan Nelson says it was found by someone removing weeds near the station. Nelson says once he inspected the device, he could see a fuse attached and recognized it as an IED. He then called the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad who responded to the station with a robot that moved the bomb a safe distance away and destroyed it. Officials were not sure how long it had been there and that the UVFA had not received any prior threats. The investigation is ongoing and being handled by the CHP and other law enforcement agencies.
The Mendocino College Spring Dance Festival 2025 will showcase original choreography, live music, and visual arts. The festival theme "Experience the Magic" runs today through May 4. The Ukiah Daily Journal says the four day event highlights students and honors the importance of storytelling through dance. You should know that the Mendocino College Gallery, in conjunction with the festival, is hosting the Annual Student Art Show, running now through May 18. This is the College Gallery’s biggest show of the year, featuring more than 200 artworks from students at the Ukiah Campus, Coast, Lake, and North County Centers.
The California DMV is warning residents to keep an eye out for a phony text message scam. Many have received a text message appearing to be from the DMV with a link to resolve alleged outstanding toll charges. Officials say those links lead to a fake payment page to steal personal and financial information. The DMV recommends that you use its official website for most services.
