A late-night head-on crash in Willits sent one person to the hospital Sunday and shut down a southbound lane on South Main Street for a short time. It happened around 10:45 p.m. near Mariposa Market when a Jeep slammed into another vehicle. One person was taken to Howard Memorial, but officials haven’t released their condition yet. Crews blocked part of the road while they cleaned up and sorted out what happened.
Fog pushed back day two of the Bass Anglers Magazine’s Super 60 Championship on Clear Lake after officials held boats at the dock for two hours to keep anglers safe. Once lines hit the water, Auburn’s Karl Okerman scored the day’s Big Fish at just under 10 pounds, grabbing a cash prize and new Costas. Tournament staff then cut fishing time to six hours and reset the weights for the top ten heading into Sunday’s showdown. Bakersfield angler Mason McAbee topped the leaderboard with more than 54 pounds over the first two days.
Mendocino County is rolling into Thanksgiving week with a full slate of free community meals, as volunteers once again will step up to feed neighbors across the region. Fort Bragg, Laytonville, Ukiah and Willits each have holiday dinners planned, with some offering curbside pickup, delivery or dine-in options depending on the site. A few events need reservations, and groups say extra volunteer help wouldn’t hurt. Residents can check the hosts’ websites or call ahead for details and last-minute updates.
People who get CalFresh SNAP benefits may soon have to reapply and prove they actually need help. The Agriculture Department, which funds the program administered by the state, says it’s an attempt to cut down on food stamp fraud. People who get those benefits in California are already required to verify their eligibility every year to continue to get benefits, so the logistics of re-application and proof are not yet clear. Millions of people temporarily lost their assistance due to the government shutdown, but all November benefits should now have been paid.
A deadly crash on Highway 20 east of Clearlake Oaks killed a Modesto man Friday morning after a van lost control and tumbled down a steep embankment. CHP says the 2003 Chevy Express flipped several times, ejecting 30-year-old man, who died shortly after being flown to a Vacaville trauma center. Two unrestrained passengers in the back were hurt, but the driver and another front passenger walked away unharmed. Investigators don’t believe drugs or alcohol played a role, and traffic was down to one lane while crews pulled the van out.
Lakeport is pushing business owners to complete the annual Business Walk survey as teams wrap up their face-to-face visits around town. The survey helps the city figure out what’s working, what’s not and what problems local shops are dealing with before the results go to council. This year’s teams pulled in police, economic development groups and other community partners to get a fuller picture. Owners can fill out the online survey using the link the city posted.
Mendonoma Health Alliance is rolling out free flu shots Wednesday as its mobile clinic hits three spots along the southwest Mendocino Coast. It’ll stop at Manchester Elementary in the morning, Point Arena High late morning, and the Sunstrom Mall lot in Gualala early afternoon. No appointments, no paperwork, just walk up. The group says it’s aiming to get more people protected before flu season hits full stride.
A major UC-system strike is off the table after the university and the California Nurses Association agreed to a tentative four-year contract on pay and benefits. The deal covers around 25,000 nurses at 19 UC sites and wraps up months of talks that started back in June. It follows another agreement reached last week with the union representing 21,000 healthcare, research and technical workers. UC officials say the back-to-back deals help steady campuses and medical centers heading into the new year.
