James Eddie, better known as Jim Eddie, a lifelong resident of Potter Valley and a fourth-generation member of two pioneer families, passed away at home on July 13 after a battle with cancer. As a dedicated public servant, he represented Mendocino County’s 3rd District on the Board of Supervisors from 1974–1994 and later served 18 years on the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District board. He was also chairman of the Mendocino Public Safety Foundation, since he was a major supporter of local law enforcement. As a lifelong rancher, his Potter Valley Ranch was his center. As a fourth generation rancher, he expanded it into a cow-calf operation that includes leased forest service parcels in the surrounding mountains. Today, The Ukiah Daily Journal says the Eddie Ranch
concentrates on “reduce, reuse, and recycle” practices, including rehabbing farm equipment that’s 50 years or more of age.. Eddie is survived by three children, eight grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. Jim Eddie was 90 years old.
A Fort Bragg man and woman are recovering from a knife attack allegedly by the woman’s son during a family argument. It happened on Thursday night around 11 p.m. Fort Bragg police say a person flagged down police at Safeway, and said that a woman who was stabbed was his neighbor, and that he saw both the woman and the man taken to a hospital. When officers arrived at Adventist Health Mendocino Coast, the victims initially denied the stabbing and said they had been in an ATV accident. The Mendocino Voice says the man eventually fessed up saying both he and the woman had been stabbed by her son, 32 year old Danynes Cox-Pabo. He was arrested and booked into the Mendocino County jail. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Fort Bragg police department.
The Senate Rules Committee, led by Senate President pro Tem and North Coast representative Mike McGuire, has reappointed Ann Notthoff to the California Coastal Commission. Notthoff, a longtime environmental advocate from Carmel Valley, previously served nearly 40 years with the Natural Resources Defense Council and was a founding member of the California League for Coastal Protection. She has held various state coastal leadership roles, including on the State Coastal Conservancy from 2005 to 2023. The Redheaded Blackbelt reports McGuire praised her as a trusted leader dedicated to protecting California’s coast.
The Ukiah Branch Library will host the LOBA Poetry Series open mic event this Saturday. Everyone is invited to share or listen to poetry. This month’s featured guest is Jessica Cohn. She’s a nonfiction writer presenting her new poetry collection, Gratitude Diary, which explores themes of regret and illumination. Mendocino Voice says the event will be held this Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. at the Ukiah Branch Library, on North Main Street.
AmeriCorps has received a temporary legal reprieve to continue operations, but its future is uncertain due to proposed federal budget cuts. Trump’s budget plan eliminates AmeriCorps funding after 2026, threatening the program’s existence unless alternative funding is found. The sudden cuts have disrupted around 50 California projects and jeopardized public service efforts that rely on federal education grants. CalMatters says The loss would significantly impact schools serving low-income students, as well as food banks, health clinics, and disaster relief programs. California has already lost over 5,600 AmeriCorps workers and more than $60 million in funding.
North Coast Opportunities’ Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and the Lake County Public Health Department have entered a Mutual Aid Memorandum of Understanding which went into effect July 1. The agreement establishes a two-way training partnership to strengthen local disaster preparedness. CERT will train Public Health staff in emergency response, while Public Health will train CERT volunteers to assist with vaccine clinics and public health crises like wildfire smoke, disease outbreaks, and pandemics. Lake County Public Health is contributing $15,000 to support the initiative. NCO says the funding bolsters programs including the Preparedness Program Awareness for Seniors, a first of its kind high school program dubbed TEEN CERT and Disaster Pet Preparedness. Mendofever says North Coast Opportunities is a long-running Community Action Agency based in Ukiah that serves Lake and Mendocino counties.
Looking for something unique to do? Jackson Demonstration State Forest will host a free, banana slug-themed nature walk tomorrow morning from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. It’s being led by Leslie’s Accessible Walks and biologist Robert Douglas. This one of a kind event will explore the habits and ecological role of banana slugs. Mendofever says the stroll will roll out on the wheelchair-accessible Gravel Pit Road near Fort Bragg. Since no registration is required, just show up and be ready to take some cool pics.
Two Mendocino County water agencies are advancing a plan to improve drought resilience in Redwood Valley. The Mendocino County Russian River Flood Control & Water Conservation Improvement District or (RRFC) proposes to annex the entire Redwood Valley County Water District (RVCWD) service area into its boundary. This would not change RVCWD’s governance, but it would allow the district to purchase and use RRFC water from the Russian River and Lake Mendocino. This action would align Redwood Valley with other local water retailers that already have contracts with RRFC. Additionally, it’s seen as vital for long-term water security, emergency preparedness, and agricultural stability in the Ukiah Valley. Public comments on the proposed Negative Declaration are open until July 29. Mendofever says the RRFC Board will review an update on August 4 and may take a vote on approving the declaration September 8.
