We’ve got a road closure this week in the city of Lakeport. Giselman Street will be closed today and tomorrow all day, from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. from Lakeshore Boulevard to Sayre Street so you’ll need to use alternate routes. Lake County News says it’s due to construction.
After at least eight tries in the Legislature, California may finally join every other state in providing at least some tax exemptions for military retirement income, which supporters argue will help veterans stay in the state and contribute to a skilled workforce. A bill has been introduced in the Assembly that would allow veterans to exempt up to $20,000 of their federal pensions if they make under $125,000 a year. A similar bill is under consideration in the Senate. The goal of both bills, according to the politicians, is to try to keep more military retirees in California.
Come Wednesday, the Office of Emergency Services in Del Norte, Humboldt, and Mendocino counties will issue test alerts encouraging the public to practice their earthquake and tsunami plans. If you are in a tsunami zone, they advise you topractice your evacuation plan by walking out of the tsunami zone. If you are not, you can stay where you are.
But, you are advised to take some time to think about what you would do in the event of a damaging earthquake. A reminder that dangerous tsunami waves can last a long time; up to 24-48 hours after the first wave. In a real event, do not enter the tsunami hazard area until you receive notice from officials that it is safe to do so
District Attorney David Eyster continues to host steak house banquets for employees and their guests, violating county policies under the guise of labeling them “Continuing Education Staff Workshop Annual Debriefing.” He’s tapping into a questionable asset forfeiture program to cover this year’s $3,600 one-night stand at The Broiler Steakhouse in Redwood Valley. MendoFever is reporting that internal documents obtained under California’s Public Records Act show County CEO Darcie Antle approved Eyster’s most recent claim in February, a week before the banquet was held. Asset forfeiture regulations allow use of seized funds for law enforcement training. Eyster claims the dinners are continuing education for his employees. However, he has been challenged by the Auditor’s Office in the past because his guests were not employees, and did not receive any so-called training.
Everyone has something to say about how PG&E’s planned shutdown of its Potter Valley hydropower plant would impact the region’s water supply. More than 200 people from Humboldt to Marin counties packed the Cloverdale Veterans Memorial Hall Thursday night for a town hall meeting to discuss the project, which involves the removal of the Scott and Cape Horn dams and PG&E’s hydroelectric facility in Lake County. The Press Democrat reports that residents and some elected officials worry the project will spark the potential loss of water from the Eel River to the Russian River that people from Mendocino, Sonoma and Marin counties have relied on for more than 100 years. Cloverdale Fire Protection District Chief Jason Jenkins says the plan is unacceptable and a first generation sheep farmer from Sebastopol, said the project is setting farmers “up for failure. But, Sonoma County Fourth District Supervisor James Gore and others, including engineers from Sonoma County’s water agency, say the plan, while not perfect, will provide the region with enough water to meet public safety, residential and business needs. You should know that July 29 marks the deadline for PG&E to submit and distribute its “final surrender application and decommissioning plan” with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which has final say over the project.
Mendocino County’s Economic Development Division will hold a cannabis sector meeting this Thursday in Willits to discuss how small growers can compete in a market dominated by large-scale growers and decreasing prices. Growers, dispensary employees and other community members are welcome to attend and talk about the issues they are collectively dealing with in the cannabis industry. The Mendocino Voice says Representatives from the county economic development department, planning and building services, and the cannabis department, plan to be there. Steve Amato, president of the Mendocino Cannabis Alliance says more input from the community is needed for elected officials to understand exactly what the industry needs to function and grow. The meeting runs from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Willits City Hall Community Center.
A woman from Mendocino County who’s claimed online, in viral posts that her elderly father is a prolific serial killer, and responsible for murders across multiple states and countries since the 1950s, is much ado about nothing, according to the Mendocino County Sheriff’s office. They say, after more than 2 years of investigating her claims they have found zero evidence linking the nearly 90 year old man to any homicides. The Press Democrat says according to her LinkedIn profile, the woman, Maria Galina Trefil, lives in Fort Bragg and identifies as a rabbi and author of historical fiction and Gothic novels. She claims to have two murder weapons and says her father was connected to at least two other serial killers who were aware of each other’s crimes. Trefil has not said where her father is living, and authorities say his health is poor.
The Lake County Board of Supervisors has approved a contract with a physician to cover the job of Lake County Public Health Director on a temporary basis.
since Dr. Noemi Doohan resigned, effective March 31 to take a position as the Health Officer for the City of Berkeley. Dr. Anju Goel, MD, has been contracted with the county on a temporary six-month term, beginning April 1 through September 30. Health Services Director Anthony Arton says Dr. Goel is very qualified for this role and has served as an independent medical doctor for the CDC. He says without the appointment of a Public Health Officer, vital records and immunization services will be immediately impacted, among other services, Lake County News says Goel will be paid $165 for every hour of her service, and $10.50 an hour for on-call.
