A fire has triggered evacuations in the tiny towns of Willow Creek and Salyer. Firefighters have spread out into Humboldt and Trinity counties where the Six Rivers Lightning Complex spreads. The fire has increased to more than 10,000 acres with zero percent containment. It grew 2,000 acres in the last day or so. The Trinity County Sheriff’s Department sent out a new evacuation warning yesterday afternoon. The Forest Service is also warning the fires that make up the complex can mushroom in size as they spread uphill, and that there could be extreme fire behavior. The area has not burned in years, so fuels are ripe to burn. Firefighters were preparing the area by wetting it down. Cal Fire is working with the US Forest Service on the Complex, which is the 3rd largest on Cal Fire’s map at the moment.
Controversy as the former Mendocino County CEO also speaks out on the so-called financial crisis the county is in. Mendo Fever interviewed former CEO Carmel Angelo who says the county has reserves of about $20 million dollars, at least it did when she retired earlier this year, and that the Board of Supervisors knew that. She says they were fully briefed about the jail construction project and labor negotiations with county employees. But she says recent criticism of herself, and the board is “wrong and unfair”. She went on to say if there’s a lack of fiscal leadership at the county level it’s due to the board. This comes after county finance officials, one former, said the board did not allow open comment and they don’t understand the financial complexities of operating the county.
The Lake County Planning Commission is considering a major use permit for a cannabis operation. Lamberti Farms is trying to get a permit for a marijuana grow in Clearlake Oaks. It includes a mitigated negative declaration after an initial study on over 430,000 square feet. They’ll also consider a request for a major use permit from Konocti Christian Academy for a new private school, of pre-K through ninth grade in Kelseyville. The school has been situated on land at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Lakeport.
An open house is being hosted by Caltrans to get public comments on a proposed wildlife overcrossing on State Highway 20. The town hall is next Thursday, a week from tomorrow in Contra Costa County, at the Williams City Hall at 6pm. They will show maps and other information connected to the plan, including the draft environmental document. Caltrans staff are on hand to answer any questions about the $9 million project about 10.5 miles west of Williams. They say the project will restore Tule Elk range and habitat connectivity between Cortina Ridge and Bear Valley.
Students are back in school already. Actually, tomorrow is the first day for kids to head back to the classroom in Lakeport. With that the School District has issued a traffic advisory to be sure they get to school safely. Along with Lakeport Police, school staff are reminding drivers to use extreme caution as they drive in school areas and on school grounds as they’re expecting heavier than normal car and pedestrian traffic in the mornings and afternoons. There will be more traffic cops in the area.
Free breakfast and lunch is being offered to children in the Potter Valley Community Unified School District. The District is home to about 275 students. The meals are being offered for the entire 2022/2023 school year. The only cafeteria for the schools is centrally located in the elementary school. It provides meals for three sites, the state pre-school, there at the elementary school, and the seventh-eighth grade junior high school and a comprehensive high school. They’re already been giving kids meals through their Seamless Summer Program for the last two years compliments of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), for free, to promote food security.
Another report has been released by the Lake County Civil Grand Jury, this one about the difficulty the county has finding and keeping a Public Health Officer. The jury also looked at why it’s taking so long for Human Resources to hire the officer as we’re still in the midst of the COVID19 pandemic. The report says they need a more “aggressive, proactive, user-friendly hiring and retention process/program for all vacant positions and with contracted search firms.” They recommend the county has a designated recruiter, better training, exit interviews and a more fluid process for succession and transition for new hires. The report says Human Resources has no dedicated person to follow up on hires, which could help minimize future turnover.
The death penalty could be on the table for a man from Occidental accused in the murder of a Lucerne man. 26-year-old Nova Maye Deperno is charged in the death of Ronald Meluso. He’s also charged with burglary, car theft and buying, selling and receiving stolen property after Deperno helped show deputies where the body was located. Deperno’s lawyer told the court he is not qualified to represent his client in the case if the county seeks the death penalty. The Deputy DA on the case says no decision has been made. The case will now be set for potential consideration of a new lawyer unless the death penalty is not sought. The next court date is next Tuesday. Deperno’s held in jail on more than $3M dollars bail.
Proposals are sought by the City of Lakeport for medium to large sized sculptures, or mixed or multimedia art installations for a new lakefront park in the downtown area. Those who are chosen will get between $5,000 to $20,000, depending on the size of their piece and the budget they need for materials, labor, installation needs, and any travel expenses. All interested are strongly encouraged to submit their proposals which are due by September 19th. There are no geographical restrictions for who applies. The art must be able to sustain outdoor environments and extreme weather. The art must be secured to the ground or a base.
For more information, contact Jenni Byers, Community Development Director, (707) 263-5615, Ext. 201, jbyers@cityoflakeport.com.
The Governor is asking lawmakers to speed up cutting greenhouse gases and getting to 100% clean energy quicker. Newsom’s also reportedly trying to get new regulations from the state Air Resources Board for oversight on projects to remove carbon dioxide from the air and sequester it underground. The Governor’s been trying to get this all passed by the Legislature before the current session ends. The Assembly Speaker says they appreciate Newsom’s bold actions, and support it, and they’ve already been working on it. And the State Senate is also apparently looking over Newsom’s proposals.
Police in Ukiah are asking anyone who may have seen a car crash into a mom pushing a stroller to come forward. The accident happened Sunday night. Police and firefighter medics arrived in the area near the Redwood Empire Fairgrounds finding a woman down on the ground with major injuries. She was taken to a hospital, then flown out of county for further treatment. Her baby was also taken to the hospital but was uninjured. The driver of the car that hit them admitted to police he was driving. They say he seemed intoxicated, so they arrested him. German Dominguez-Galindo was booked into jail. But police say the woman may have been walking outside of the crosswalk, so they’d like to interview anyone who may have seen the incident.
