The Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens will host its annual summer fundraiser, Art in the Gardens, on Saturday, August 2, and Sunday, August 3. This family-friendly event features over 50 artists showcasing ceramics, photography, jewelry, woodwork, and more. Proceeds support the nonprofit garden’s mission to conserve plants and enrich lives. A free parking shuttle will run both days from Mendocino Community College. The Ukiah Daily Journal says tickets and more information are available online.
A Mendocino County jury quickly found 43 year old Julian Tun, of Fort Bragg, guilty of misdemeanor DUI charges stemming from an October 2024 incident. He was convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol and with a blood alcohol level of .08% or higher. The Ukiah Daily Journal says the jury also confirmed a special allegation that his BAC was .15% or higher at the time.
Lake County authorities are looking for 15-year-old Savion Elijah Lee Cole, who was seen leaving his Clearlake Oaks home last night. Savion is described as 5 feet tall, 100 pounds, with short black hair, brown eyes, and wearing black square glasses. He was last seen around 5 near the 13000 block of 3rd Street wearing blue shorts and carrying a backpack and a brown wheeled suitcase. Mendofever says anyone with information about Savion’s whereabouts is urged to call Lake County Dispatch
The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue (SAR) Team completed an advanced helicopter awareness training on June 1 at Lake Mendocino’s Emergency Spillway. The training focused on helicopter loading/unloading, hoist operations, and rapid deployment in remote areas, simulating real-life rescue scenarios. Volunteers trained with certified flight crews, which emphasized safety and coordination between air and ground teams. Mendofever says regional SAR teams from multiple counties and aviation partners, including CalFire and the U.S. Coast Guard. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and local businesses including Ukiah Natural Foods Co-Op, Starbucks, and Taqueria Michoacan supported this successful training event.
California lawmakers are proposing a bill that would limit public access to elected officials’ personal information, such as home addresses and phone numbers. The move follows the deadly shooting of a Minnesota lawmaker and attempted murder of another in their homes. Assembly Bill 1392, introduced by Assemblymember LaShae Sharp-Collins and backed by the Secretary of State’s office, would block journalists from accessing this data through voter registration records. Supporters argue it enhances safety for public servants, while press freedom advocates warn it would limit journalists’ ability to verify officials’ residency and hold them accountable. Cal Matters says an earlier version of the measure only applied to state and federal officials, but it has since been expanded to apply to local elected officials and candidates for office and allows the secretary of state’s office to make the information private sooner.
Three children were injured in a golf cart crash last night near Nicholas Way and Tinilyn Drive, close to Hidden Valley Lake in Lake County. It happened after 7. One child was seriously injured and flown to UC Davis Medical Center, while the other two suffered less serious injuries. They were taken to Adventist Health Clear Lake. The California Highway Patrol is calling this crash a major-injury collision and Mendofever says they filed a child endangerment complaint.
The City of Ukiah has purchased the former Carousel Carpet Mills property at 1 Carousel Lane for $7.6 million. The just under 8-acre site includes a 98,000-square-foot industrial building. FedEx Ground and West Coast Ag Products will remain tenants for now. The city plans to relocate its corporation yard from the municipal airport to the new site, with tenant improvements moving ahead after a design team evaluation. Mendofever says the move aims to happen in a year, although it’s unclear if it will happen in phases or at the same time.
The California High Speed Rail Project just lost billions of dollars. The Trump Administration says it’s withholding four-billion dollars in federal funding for the majorly delayed rail project. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is also directing the Federal Railroad Administration to review other grants related to the project. Duffy went on to say that federal dollars come with a promise to deliver, and California has let the overdue and over budget project go on far too long. Governor Newsom claims pulling the money is illegal and he’ll fight it.
The California State Parks Foundation is hosting its annual Photo Contest, inviting photographers of all skill levels to submit up to three photos that capture the beauty, wildlife, and recreational activities of California’s state parks. Entry is free, and winners will receive a California Explorer Vehicle Day Use Annual Pass, valued at $195, and have their photos featured in the foundation’s 2026 calendar. Mendocino County is home to 19 state parks including Mendocino Headlands, Russian Gulch, Navarro River Redwoods, and Standish Hickey State Recreation Area. The Mendocino Voice says there are 280 state park units. For rules and more information go to calparks.org/photocontest.
Gas lines were accidentally hit during road work on Main Street, which is part of the Gobbi/Perkins/Main infrastructure project, causing work delays and disruptions for businesses and residents. The city says those gas lines were not marked and PG&E was unaware of them, likely because they’re older than the modern mapping systems. PG&E is now working with the city to avoid further issues. The Mendocino Voice says the project is moving forward, with contractor Ghilotti set to grind the west side of North Main Street today with the goal of wrapping it up by mid-next week.
