The City of Ukiah is announcing the retirement of Police Chief Cedric Crook. Crook has served the city and department for 28 years, including the past three years as Chief. Chief Crook began his career with the Ukiah Police Department as a reservist in 1997. After graduating at the top of his class from the police academy, he was promoted to full-time police officer in 1998. Over the years, he served in nearly every role within the department, and was a member of the Mendocino Major Crimes Task Force. In 2002, he was honored as Ukiah’s Police Officer of the Year. As a Ukiah native, he says it’s been the honor of a lifetime to serve the community along with such a talented team. Ukiah Police Captain Tom Corning will succeed Chief Crook as the new Police Chief. Corning, a U.S. Army combat veteran, has been in law enforcement for 16 years. He’ll be officially sworn in next Wednesday, during the Ukiah City Council meeting and Chief Crook’s retirement will become official August 2, to allow for a smooth transition.
Mendocino County’s Department of Planning and Building Services will hold five meetings over the next few weeks ahead of a proposed expansion of the county’s short-term rental ordinance into the inland areas. Tonight is meeting number one. The county is looking to incorporate feedback from residents and others regarding policies and solutions in the short-term rentals space and their impact on residents, tourism, and real estate. The Mendocino Voice says the listings on Airbnb, Vrbo, and other platforms, can affect transient occupancy tax revenue, housing availability, and the overall environment of local neighborhoods. Residents have also expressed concerns regarding noise and parking at the rental locations. Regulations for the short term rentals within the county’s zoning ordinance are set for the coastal region and the town of Mendocino, but there are regulations in place for the inland area. Tonight’s meeting is at 6 at the Fort Bragg Veterans Memorial Building.
California education officials say they may not follow a Trump administration order to eliminate DEI programs. The federal government has warned that states could lose billions in funding if they do not comply within ten days. The Trump administration argues DEI programs are discriminatory and violate civil rights laws. However, California’s Department of Education questions the federal government’s authority and has not told districts to dismantle the programs or report their status within the 10 day time period.
California’s Office of the State Auditor has launched a major audit of all of Mendocino County’s operations and departments, according to state Sen. Mike McGuire. McGuire, who’s Senate President, says the comprehensive audit of all county departments and accounts aims to establish a roadmap for long-term stability. McGuire’s office says the county “will be working with the Office of the State Auditor over the next several months, along with the Board of Supervisors to ensure that everyone will know what it finds and understand what the recommendations are in order to make the right decisions for the county moving forward. The Ukiah Daily Journal says funding for the audit was approved as part of the 2024-25 state budget signed by Governor Newsom last year.
The Mendocino County Behavioral Health Advisory Board Meeting regular monthly meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 23 from 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM. The meeting will be held at the Behavioral Health and Recovery Services, Conference Room 1, in Ukiah. It’s open to the public and you are encouraged to come and ask questions, obtain information, and provide feedback regarding mental health services.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office has released the identity of the woman whose remains were found in Rodman Slough in Lake County last year. 62 year old Ellen Adams from Napa was last seen May 24, 2024 at Robinson Rancheria Resort and Casino, less than 3 miles from the slough. Her body was discovered May 27. SFGate says surveillance footage showed her leaving the casino in her car with a man and together they drove to the slough, but police say he left Adams while she was still alive and do not believe he’s linked to her death. The Lake County Sheriff’s office says the investigation into Adam’s death is ongoing and that her family is offering a reward for more information.
Conservation Works has been awarded two Cal Fire grants totaling $5.9 million for wildfire prevention projects. The North Bay environmental conservation nonprofit says the grants will be used by their forest improvement program to plan for and implement wildfire risk reduction and forest health projects on private property in Lake, Mendocino, Sonoma and Napa counties. Mendocino Voice reports that the program will provide financial investments to landowners to reduce wildfire risk, while guiding them through the land stewardship process. Conservation Works says it’s aiming to treat 2,000 acres owned by approximately 200 landowners.
