Several people were hurt in a serious head-on crash Sunday morning on Highway 20 west of Willits. The wreck between a Honda CRV and an SUV happened around 11:30 near mile marker 12 and was declared a mass casualty incident, with seven people reported injured. Four were taken to Coast Hospital, with the status of three others unknown as of this report. CHP and local fire crews are still investigating what caused the crash.
Lakeport’s Planning Commission meets Wednesday night to consider two downtown projects, one for a residential space behind a commercial building and another for a new LED sign. The first request, at 240 North Main Street, would convert part of the building’s rear into living space while keeping the front for business use. The second proposal, from Country Air Properties, would update a freestanding sign at 460 South Main Street. The meeting starts at 5:30 pm at City Hall.
Thirty-nine new Cal Fire company officers are ready to take command after graduating Friday from the department’s Ione Training Center. The class, known as Fire Control 25-12, wrapped up an intense 10-week program focused on leadership and field operations. Fire Chief Joe Tyler led the ceremony, congratulating the graduates for their dedication and the instructors for keeping up a record-setting training pace. Cal Fire says it’s already graduated more than 575 new officers this year and expects to top 650 by December, the most in the agency’s history.
Lake County’s annual Veterans Day ceremony takes place tomorrow at Konocti Vista Casino in Lakeport. Doors open at 10 a.m., and the program kicks off at 11 with music from the Clear Lake High School Band, local speakers, and a three-volley salute to those who served. The Lake County United Veterans Council is hosting the event to recognize local service members and their families. A free lunch will follow the ceremony while supplies last.
Ukiah officials are weighing a 3 percent water rate hike that would kick in March and keep stepping up through July 2029. A consultant told the City Council last month that Ukiah’s bump would be smaller than the sharper increases expected in some neighboring districts. Residents will get protest notices in mid-November and can block the hike if a majority of property owners file written objections before a February hearing. The council meets next on Nov. 19 at 5:15 pm at the Civic Center, and you can join online too.
Fort Bragg’s Extreme Weather Shelter Program is looking for volunteers to help keep people safe and warm this winter. Run by the Mendocino Coast Hospitality Center and the city, the program opens extra beds during storms and cold snaps when local shelters fill up. Helpers are needed for check-ins, weekend shifts, and offering compassion to guests who come in from the cold. Those wanting to pitch in can reach out to cru to learn more.
A new kind of cemetery is coming to Humboldt County after planners approved the Sacred Groves green burial project near McKinleyville. The site will allow natural burials without embalming or concrete vaults, while continuing to serve as farmland and forest. Supporters called it an eco-friendly, soulful return to tradition that fits the county’s values. County officials say all environmental and safety concerns have been addressed, clearing the way for burials to begin soon.
Health officials are warning parents after a batch of ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula was linked to a multistate outbreak of infant botulism. The California Department of Public Health says it notified the CDC, triggering a nationwide recall and investigation. State health experts first spotted an unusual uptick in cases earlier this year. Since August, 13 babies in ten states have been diagnosed or suspected of having the illness.
California’s wine country is shrinking fast, with growers ripping out vineyards as sales slump and Americans drink less alcohol. The state’s 2024 grape harvest was the smallest in 20 years, forcing many farmers to abandon unprofitable vines. A report found over 38,000 acres of vineyards were removed in less than a year. Lodi took the hardest hit, losing around 8,000 acres, about one-tenth of its vineyards.
