KUKI News

Mendocino County moved into the Yellow Tier of the state’s blueprint for a safer economy this week. The lower risk level allows for most indoor operations to resume. Mendocino County Public Health Officer Dr. Andy Coren attributed moving to the least restrictive tier, to high vaccination rates and resident’s attention to social distancing and face coverings. Dr. Coren said while certain events and gatherings can now reopen or expand capacity, it is important to continue to gather outdoors or in well ventilated areas, whenever possible.

Annual burn bans in Lake and Mendocino counties start tomorrow. Wildfires have already begun in the region, and the burn bans address concerns over both fire hazard and air quality. Burn permits can be applied for online and burning will only be permitted on permissive burn days as determined by the Lake and Mendocino County Air Quality Management Districts.

An outside firm is being selected to investigate the the use of force in a controversial arrest on April 1st by Ukiah Police. The incident involved 25-year-old Gerardo Magdaleno, who was naked on South State Street, and resisting arrest. While on the ground and still resisting, video shows police officers punching Magdaleno in the head. The city is looking at hiring Independent Investigative Consultants, based in Windsor to investigate the arrest.

During his last appearance before the Board of Supervisors this week, outgoing Lake County Public Health Officer Dr. Gary Pace said the county has an ample supply of vaccine. He also reported that over one-third of Lake County residents ages 16 and older are now fully vaccinated. About 47% of residents ages 16 and older are partially or fully vaccinated. Supervisors and staff thanked Pace for his service. He is leaving the position to return to private practice. The county is using a recruiting firm to help find a new a new Public Health director. Dr. Evan Bloom, helping during the transition.

A Lake County man was among the ceremonial guests of Congressman Mike Thompson for last night’s Presidential address to Congress. Normally the guests get a seat in the House gallery, but due to the pandemic, the invites this year were ceremonial Weston Seifert, Owner of Saw Shop Public House in Kelseyville was among the guests that Thompson selected to help highlight the recovery in the 5th Congressional District.

The Kelseyville Fire Protection District will hold a virtual community meeting this evening to discuss a proposal for a fire community facilities district. The meeting will start at 6:30 p.m. to RSVP and receive the telephone/Zoom login information before the meeting. visit: civicmic.com/kelseyville-fire-protection.

An update on a double missing person’s case in Willits. The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office reports that two deceased bodies have been recovered at the investigation scene and 1 arrest has been made. Christopher Wayne Gamble is currently being held at the Mendocino County Jail on a No Bail status. Sheriff’s Detectives are continuing this investigation. The case us associated with a marijuana/cannabis growing operation in the 20000 block of Timber Road in Willits, California.

The Lake County Fair, which was cancelled last year, will happen this year. The fair board voted this week to hold it again in September. The fair dates will be Thursday, Sept. 2, through Sunday, Sept. 5, and planning for the event will start next month. The fair will likely be smaller, and concessions and activities will be spaced further apart to allow for social distancing.

A Covelo man has been sentenced in an arson attack. The Mendocino County District Attorney’s Office reports that 31-year-old Derek Steven McCormack, was convicted by plea in August of last year of having committed arson of an inhabited residence – the home of a Potter Valley family. The Judge denied McCormack’s bid for a sentence of supervised probation after having reviewed the Probation Department’s background study and sentencing recommendation. McCormack was sentenced to 108 months in prison, the maximum allowed by law. Once released, he will be required to register annually for life with local law enforcement as a convicted arson offender.

Ukiah Firefighters were able to save a small dog from a house fire yesterday. They found the dog lying in a bedroom in the home in the 700 block of Walnut Avenue. Fire personnel took the dog outside and revived it with oxygen.