Authorities have identified the man who stumbled off of a cliff on the shore near Headlands State Park as Quinn Thomas Green. The search began on Saturday when a witness saw Green fall from the cliff and land in the Pacific. He was last seen floating face down in the water. A search and rescue team was called that night with a boat from the Coast Guard, a drone, and multiple agencies on the ground, until dark. Sunday afternoon at about 3pm, after searching coves up and down the beach, efforts were suspended.
A man was hurt in a fire yesterday morning, according to the Ukiah Valley Fire Authority. The house fire that began around 7:40am was on Zephyr Court. When firefighters got there two people had gotten out of the house. The homeowner tried to put out the fire, but was injured and taken to Adventist. Fire authorities say it was an accident, after the homeowner had done some work on the home early that morning. Some of the equipment used for a home improvement project was left on, and caught the porch on fire, according to the Battalion Chief. The two-story house was significantly damaged, but they were able to contain the fire and prevent nearby homes from burning, according to the Ukiah Daily Journal.
Huttopia Wine Country at Six Sigma Ranch and Winery in Lower Lake is set to open at the end of this month. The family-owned European elevated camping brand is known for its luxury camping concepts. The Lower Lake location will be the sixth spot in North America and will open June 30th. Huttopia wine Country will have fully solar-powered facilities with a swimming pool, main lodge and more on the 4,300 acre Six Sigma Ranch and Winery, according to Lake County News. The location will have 63 solar-powered canvas and wood tents in varying sizes from two to five guests. Brand manager for Huttopia’s Lower Lake location says it was a natural fix at Six Sigma Ranch with shared values and a family-run business.
Last month was the 11th warmest May on record, according to a NOAA release in Lake County News. The nation’s average temperature for the fifth month of the year was over 64 degrees. Temperatures were a little below average on the East Coast, and above average across the west. The average rain for May was about 2.5 inches, ranking the driest third of the record. Rain for the first five months of this year was half an inch above average at just under 13 inches. Drought conditions improved about 44 percent over the last seven months, the fastest decline in drought coverage since May, 2020.
A Gun Violence Prevention Task Force announced a legislative strategy yesterday. Representatives Mike Thompson and Lucy McBath with Assistant Democratic Leader Jim Clyburn and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries are part of the task force that are championing the Bipartisan Background Checks & Enhanced Background Checks Acts and the Assault Weapons Ban. In Lake County News, members of the task force have been appealing to House Republicans to find common ground over the last several months. In a live Facebook post, Task Force Chair Representative Mike Thompson said that daily, 100 people die due to gun violence. He mentioned that there have been more mass shootings than days this year. He said their common sense bills would make the community safer. Once petitions receive 218 signatures, a motion to discharge the bills can be offered on the Floor and put to a vote.
The Pudding Creek Bridge in Fort Bragg will undergo continued work with 24-hour one-way traffic on Route 1 beginning next Monday. The work is expected to last the summer through the end of August. Up to half hour delays for drivers are expected on weekends. The project will widen the bridge to a couple of 12 foot lanes and 8 foot wide shoulders and include two 6 foot walkways and railings, according to Lake County News. Street improvements will be worked on from Pudding Creek Bridge south to Elm Street and north to Pudding Creek Drive. There will also be work on drainage improvements and the city’s waterline will be moved from the Pudding Creek Dam to Route 1.
This weekend is Middletown Days and begins with a rodeo on Friday. The Middletown Parade is Saturday at 10am. Tournaments, vendors and dances will continue on Sunday. This year Jack Barker will receive the Pioneer Award at the Middletown Days Parade. Barker is known as the “Mayor of Middletown” according to the Record Bee. A lifelong resident, Barker is involved in all of the town’s events from helping Santa Claus to volunteering and helping put out wildfires. He celebrated his 80th birthday a month ago and says he’s still busy with local high school sports and throughout the community as a volunteer. He has volunteered for the local fire department since age 16. Barker will be feature on a float during the parade, as the Middletown community cheers him on.
Founder of a sexual wellness company called One Taste, Nicole Daedone turned herself into a New York federal courthouse yesterday after being indicted on forced labor charges. The court released her on a $1 million bond after she pled not guilty according to the AP. Federal prosecutors allege the “orgasmic meditation” company manipulated traumatized people into debt and abused them sexually. One Taste’s former head of sales, Rachel Cherwitz was indicted a week ago on the same charges. Cherwitz lives in Philo where the company has a retreat center. She was released on $100,000 bail after appearing in federal court in San Francisco last Tuesday. She’s headed to the New York court next week. Defense attorneys for the two women say the charges stem from a Bloomberg Businessweek article that was riddled with errors.
A bill advanced yesterday, aimed at protecting LGBTQ+ youth. AB 957 encourages parents to affirm their child’s gender identity, according to ABC News. The bill says courts deciding custody cases must consider if each parent affirmed the child’s gender. It encourages parents to support their kids gender identity. Plenty of opponents voice their opposition in Sacramento, saying the bill weaponizes a trend that is unhealthy. The bill would classify parents as abusive they don’t affirm their child’s gender. AB 957 is now headed to the Senate for a vote.
Boonville is hosting the Sierra Nevada World Music Festival after a five year hiatus due to illness, the founder’s death and COVID pauses. This year’s festival is dedicated to its founder, Warren Smith after his passing. Ska, rocksteady and reggae music and the music of the world will be on display for the three day festival this weekend. Smith’s wife, Gretchen Franz calls this years festival bittersweet saying it’s the best tribute he could have, according to the Ukiah Daily Journal. It’s a family affair with kids activities and lots of dancing. Tickets are $90 for the entire 3-day event, but single day tickets are also available at the Mendocino County Fairgrounds.
The Middletown Art Center announced that next Monday, Juneteenth will be celebrated with a speech by Social Activist, Minister and musician Clovice Lewis, according to the Record Bee. The Gospel band Joyful Noise will perform starting at 5:30 with a speech by Lewis at 6:15. Lewis will talk about misinformation and propaganda and violence but will also commemorate the emancipation of slaves in the US and their continued struggle for racial justice. Tickets are available online at MACLake.org and will also be available at the door.
Ukiah Unified Trustees voted to approve intent to sell the Redwood Valley Elementary School property. In a release today, the Ukiah Unified School District says they will put the 12 acre property on School Street up for sale in a two phased bidding process. The minimum bid begins at $900,000. Sealed bids will be accepted before the board meets on August 10th. The District accepted the 7-11 Committee’s recommendation to close the school back in 2009. The Board deemed the property to be Exempt Surplus Land and began trying to sell it. For bidding details check the Ukiah Unified School District website.
The California Legislature settled on a compromise plan for the budget last weekend and will ask members to pass their proposal for a $312 billion state General Fund tomorrow, to meet the deadline. In the Record Bee, if passed Thursday, they will have two more weeks to work out the details with the governor on critical education and transit funding. The Legislature left Newsom’s priorities in the budget which covers school districts’ basic expenses and an over 8 percent cost of living increase. They are leaving $80 for county office of education and $300 million that addresses needs in high poverty area schools. Still on the table, is taking back educational grants and delaying funds for projects approved last year.
California families are paying way too much for child care, according to the 2023 Kids Count Report out today from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. The new data shows that single mothers in California pay 31-percent of the average median income for family-based child care, and couples pay 10 percent, the third-highest rates in the country. Kelly Hardy with the nonprofit Children Now says hundreds of thousands of California families need subsidized child care, but can’t find it. She hopes the new state budget, being finalized this week, will address this issue. The research ranks the Golden State 35th for children’s overall well-being and 43rd for economic well-being. Those issues are linked to the high cost of housing, according to the California News Service.
A two-year streak of rising rent seems to be over as empty units hit a two-year high. In the last six years, rent in the state rocketed up a whopping 22 percent. Last month, rent averaged nearly $2,000 a drop of less than 1 percent from last year, the first decrease since spring of 2021. Rent went up 15 percent annually a year ago. Vacancies are returning to pre-pandemic levels, helping renters with options. Last month over 5 percent of units were vacant in California, the highest percentage in two years. In the Orange County Register, landlords are being force to compete for renters for the first time in a couple of years as life returns to close to normal.
