Willits man killed identified

Authorities on Tuesday released the name of a Willits man who died Friday evening in a crash near Fort Bragg. 81 year old Kenneth Wickstrom crashed Friday evening on Highway 20, according to the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office. Wickstrom was driving east when he drove off the road and went down a steep embankment about … Read more

Bucket Brigade Blood Drive Challenge

19 fire departments across Sonoma, Lake and Mendocino counties, is proud to announce the 17th annual Bucket Brigade Blood Drive Challenge. The challenge is a friendly competition among participating fire departments to see which department can host the largest blood drive between December and January by enlisting firefighters, friends, family and members of the area … Read more

Middletown Area Town Hall

The Middletown Area Town Hall this week will get updates from the county Community Development Department and take final board nominations 7 p.m. Thursday in the Middletown Community Meeting Room/Library. The meeting is open to the public. Guest speaker Mireya Turner, director of the Lake County Community Development Department, and Andrew Amelung, the Cannabis Program … Read more

Nighttime Attack with a Baseball Bat

In the early morning of Monday, 33-year-old Christopher Roy Kirsch is suspected of entering a Willits home and beating an occupant’s head and face with a baseball bat. Willits Police Department Chief Fabian Lizarraga says the victim sustained “pretty serious injuries” and law enforcement county-wide is now actively searching for any sign of Kirsch. The … Read more

The Mendocino Cannabis Department

The Mendocino cannabis department has moved from the county administrative campus on Low Gap Road in Ukiah to the Justice Center in Willits. But the department is still short-staffed. At last week’s cannabis department meeting, Director Kristin Nevedal says the majority of permits were issued without environmental review, which might not be completed until 2024. … Read more

Let It Glow Ukiah Valley House Lighting Competition

If you think your house has the best lights in Ukiah,then join the competition! The Let It Glow Ukiah Valley House Lighting Competition is a fun way to light up the Ukiah Valley. Addresses of participating residential homes are updated daily on the event’s website cityofukiah.com/letitglow. Spectators can vote until Dec. 19 at noon. Winners … Read more

Ordinance to amend zoning maps

The Lakeport City Council is set to hold the second reading of an ordinance that will allow a developer to move forward with a new apartment complex next to Westside Community Park. The council will meet at 5 p.m. today, for a closed session performance evaluation of City Manager Kevin Ingram before the public portion … Read more

Process to appoint sheriff-coroner

Lake County Board of Supervisors this week will consider how to proceed with appointing a sheriff-coroner now that the current sheriff has announced his retirement. Sheriff Brian Martin announced in October that he planned to retire on December 30th. The board will meet beginning at 9 this morning in the board chambers on the first … Read more

State Route 20 Traffic Accident

An 81-year-old Willits man dies in a State Route 20 traffic accident. It happened on December 2nd on SR-20 east of Fort Bragg. For reasons still under Investigation, the driver ran off the south road edge down the embankment. The vehicle overturned and collided with multiple trees and came to rest on it’s top. The … Read more

Burglary at The Elk Store

The Elk Store in Elk was robbed on Friday. One of the co-owners posted on social media about the self-described “holiday season bummer.” The general store and deli suffered a broken window and the theft of thousands of dollars of merchandise. The store’s antique counter cash drawer was broken. No money was stolen as only … Read more