A hot weekend is ahead in the interior areas of Mendocino and Lake Counties. The national weather service says highs will march upward each day, peaking on Sunday with highs around 100 across most interior valleys. At least on Sunday, the potential for highs above 100 is very high, but probabilities drop quickly for higher temperatures, with a slight chance of highs hitting 105. There is a moderate risk of heat-related illness, so it’s a good idea to limit outdoor activity during the heat of the day. Forecasters say while it will be dry, there is only a low chance of lightning that could touch off fires. Still, authorities say you should remember fire safety if you’re outside over the next few days and into the Fourth of July weekend.
With the Fourth just a week away now, and safe and sane fireworks about to go on sale in Lakeport, Cal Fire is reminding people about the risk. They say the best way to prevent fires and injuries is to leave the fireworks to the professionals. If you do set off your display, Cal Fire says you should only use approved fireworks, have an adult present, and be sure to extinguish the sparks properly. Lakeport is the only community in the area where you can buy safe and sane fireworks, with limited places you can use them, and you can’t take them out of the city. The state fire marshal says in the last year alone, fireworks have started more than 1,200 fires and caused more than 35 million dollars in damage.
Lake County has a new budget in place. Supervisors have approved the 420 million dollar spending plan after a day and a half of hearings. The budget is up from 397.6 million dollars this year. General fund expenses come in at just over 100 million dollars. While they have approved the plan, it is still not final. That will come after a public hearing in September, with the adoption required by October 2nd. Among the additions approved after the public hearings– 100,000 for a new fence around the county jail and another $400,000 for Hammond Park and Middletown pool projects. Technically, the County’s fiscal year ends Monday, but state law allows the books to stay open on THIS fiscal year until August 30th., Supervisors say that doesn’t leave them a lot of time to review any changes before the budget deadline of October, so the eventual adopted budget may look different than what supervisors have approved this week.
California lawmakers have approved a state budget, meeting the July 1st deadline. The final number–321 BILLION dollars, which includes spending cuts and other adjustments to close a 12 billion dollar budget gap. Inside the numbers—education spending will stay the same, with new funding approved for school districts to increase early literacy, after-school and summer school programs, and teacher recruitment and retention. Law enforcement officials are slamming one part of the budget. They say cuts will gut Prop 36, passed last year to address rising property crimes. The California District Attorneys Association and the California Sheriffs’ Association call the budget a slap in the face to those who voted for the proposition.
Residents in the Redwood Valley-Calpella Fire District won’t have to spend a dime for a sign that could be a lifesaver. The Mendocino Fire Safe Council has given the district a grant to buy 100 reflective address signs to help first responders find property in an emergency. The signs are California fire code compliant, and the district says they’ll be a big help in locating places after a 9-1-1 call for a fire or medical emergency. To get a sign, you can visit the district’s Facebook page, scan a QR code, and fill out the form with your physical address and whether you’d like a vertical or horizontal sign. You can also drop an email to the department with your info. They will let you know when your sign is ready. The RVCFVD says the signs are critical because they can’t help you if they can’t find you.
