[title News 11/26/2025
Lakeport police say a chaotic stretch of Monday night ended with a drunk driving arrest after two separate hit-and-run crashes. Officers first got a call just before 11 PM about a parked car smashed on Forest Drive, then linked up with CHP when a second crash was reported on Lakeshore Boulevard. They found the suspect’s battered car tucked behind a nearby building, and officers say the driver was clearly impaired before failing field sobriety tests. The driver was booked on DUI and hit-and-run charges, with police saying they’re focused on keeping impaired drivers off the streets.
Lakeport is reminding residents that trash service will take Thursday off for Thanksgiving, which means the pickup schedule is sliding back a day. Thursday’s routes will run on Friday and Friday’s will be handled on Saturday. The city says to set bins out according to the shifted schedule so nothing gets skipped. Anyone unsure about their pickup can call Lakeport Disposal for details.
The Clearlake City Council has approved a nearly 3.2 million contract to start the Burns Valley Arrowhead Olympic Drive Road project. City Manager Alan Flora–telling the council that the city has followed all the regulations in drawing up the proposal for the work on a two-mile stretch of road. He also told the council that no tribal artifacts from the Koi nation will be disturbed. The contract with Lehman Construction also includes an additional 10%, in case there are any unexpected costs.
A Clearlake man is charged in an alleged motel robbery from October 19th. Police say a man told authorities he was attacked by four women and another man after he paid two sex workers and took them to the motel. The only suspect charged so far is 18-year-old Dwayne Yiggins of Clearlake, who said reportedly he was at the motel to visit his girlfriend, later identified as one of the other suspected robbers. Authorities say the victim was attacked and robbed by five suspects, including being pepper-sprayed and choked.
Fort Bragg has officially tapped Eric Swift as its new permanent police chief, wrapping up a months-long search shaped heavily by community input. Swift had been leading the department in an interim role, and City Manager Isaac Whippy praised him for steady leadership and a clear-eyed approach to what the department does well and what still needs work. Swift called the job an honor and said his focus is working with the community to strengthen safety and trust moving forward.
Ukiah officers say a Saturday morning DUI crash sent a Mini Cooper straight into a school building, ending with the arrest of 47-year-old Alexa Harz. Police found the car wedged against the cafeteria wall with beer cans scattered inside and say Harz was intoxicated but unhurt. Security video showed she blew through a stop sign at high speed before hitting the building and knocking loose a utility pole guy wire, prompting a response from city crews and firefighters. No kids were on campus at the time, and Harz was booked on DUI charges at the county jail.
Mendocino County’s Animal Care Services just received a huge lift, with supervisors accepting a $408,000 donation to grow spay and neuter services countywide. The money comes from the Margery Pfund Living Trust and arrives at a time when shelters are full and families are struggling with the cost of pet care. The county says the specifics are still being planned, but the entire gift will go toward spay and neuter programs to ease overpopulation.
