FEMA’s updated flood maps go live Sept. 19 in Ukiah and Mendocino County, pulling more homes into flood risk zones. The city tried to fight the changes, but FEMA stuck with only a few tweaks before locking them in. With winter storms coming, officials are telling folks to make sure their insurance is up to date. You can get more details through FEMA or from the city, links to the new maps can be found with this story on our website. www.cityofukiah.com/flood-maps.
The Middletown man at the center of a wild crime spree that included arson, carjacking, and kidnapping stood in a Napa County courtroom Thursday and pleaded not guilty. Deputies say 37-year-old William Ralph Harbour IV torched his father’s Mercedes, ran him over, and later carjacked a woman with her young daughter still inside the car. The chase ended in Napa County after officers safely recovered the child and took Harbour into custody. He’s being held without bail, with a preliminary hearing now scheduled for Oct. 17.
Authorities say a Manchester man torched a cabin and tent on Rancheria Road before dawn Thursday, then vandalized a tenant’s car for good measure. Fire crews and deputies rolled in around 4:45 a.m. and quickly zeroed in on 41-year-old Steven Ronald Harper, who lives just steps away from where the fire started. Witnesses told deputies Harper had been drunk, hassling neighbors, and even threatening to set their things on fire earlier in the night. Investigators confirmed the blaze was no accident, and Harper was eventually arrested. He’s now sitting in the county jail without bail on arson and other charges.
Lake County wants your voice in shaping how the community deals with climate change, and the deadline to take the survey is Sept. 18. The answers will guide a countywide plan to handle wildfire, smoke, and other threats tied to climate shifts. A recent study showed outdoor workers, tribal members, people with chronic health issues, and low-income families are among the most vulnerable. Big targets at risk include power lines, homes, roads, and farms. Details can be found here.
Middletown is coming together Saturday to remember the Valley Fire and celebrate how far the community has come. A 4 p.m. ceremony in Middletown Square Park will feature Cal Fire’s Mike Wink and local leaders, with an open mic for residents to share their own memories. People are encouraged to bring photos, flowers, or notes to add to a Memorial Wall that organizers say honors both loss and resilience.
Main Street in Kelseyville will get a colorful new look Sept. 16 as 40 Mexican flags go up for Mexican Independence Day. The Kelseyville Business Association says it’s a way to honor the town’s strong Mexican roots and start a tradition that lasts for years. Residents pitched in to pay for the flagpoles, even though this year’s festival had to be canceled. Organizers say it’s a simple but powerful way to celebrate the day and show pride in the community.
California’s lawmakers and Governor Newsom cut a big climate-and-energy deal this week, locking in some major changes before the session wraps. The package keeps cap-and-trade running through 2045. It puts another $18 billion into the wildfire liability fund and sets up a new program to track pollution in vulnerable neighborhoods. Lawmakers also want California to team up with nearby states on a shared electricity market, and they’ll vote on all of it tomorrow.
