Fire Chief Says Fire Season Is Now Year-Round

With so little precipitation this year, incoming  Mendocino County Fire Chief Luke Kendall says fire season no longer exists, and area residents must be vigilant year-round.  Multiple burn pile fires escaped and started small wildfires in March, and Kendall points out that the forested areas are much drier in the hills around Ukiah, which normally … Read more

Mendocino County Has New COVID-19 Dashboard, Cases Dropping

Mendocino County Public Health has implemented a new Covid-19 data dashboard. The new dashboard will include more details about certain types of data, such as vaccinations and fatalities, as well as changes like using California’s statewide data for hospitalizations and deaths. Dr. Andy Coren reports as of March 31, only one Mendocino County resident was … Read more

Two Involved in Fatal Head-On On Hwy 20 Identified

Two of the three people involved in the crash on Hwy 20 that interrupted the afternoon commute yesterday near Blue Lake have been identified. Jennifer Peters of Ukah and her passenger, Ronald Hoel Jr. of Redwood Valley, were driving westbound when they crossed the center lines and collided head-on with an as of yet unidentified … Read more

Lakeport to Receive Funding For Transportation Plan

The city of Lakeport’s transportation district has been included in funding to help plan sustainable transportation projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve the state highway system, enhance access to safe walkways and bike paths, and increase natural disaster preparedness. Caltrans announced earlier in the week that some $34.7 million in state and federal grants … Read more

State Clean-Up Program After Cache Fire Is Complete

The owners of properties participating in the statewide Consolidated Debris Removal Program after last year’s Cache Fire have finished the debris removal process and have been returned to the city to begin reconstruction permitting. The owners of 79 or 84 parcels participated fully in the program and five others took part in the hazardous tree … Read more

One Dead, One Injured After Crash on Highway 20 Yesterday

One person is dead after a head-on collision yesterday afternoon on Highway 20 near Blue Lakes. The CHP confirmed the wreck and had to shut down the highway in both directions for almost three hours. When they arrived on scene, officers found the road blocked by a pickup truck and a sedan. Medics confirmed one … Read more

Former Lakeport Chief of Police Has Died

The once Chief of Police for the city of Lakeport has died. Kevin Burke worked for the city of Lakeport for almost five years and spent about half that time serving as interim city manager as well as Chief of Police. Burke had announced earlier this year that he was planning to run for the … Read more

Mendocino County Board of Supervisors Approves Hiring Bonus

The Mendocino County Board of Supervisors has given the go-ahead to a plan to offer a $20,000 hiring bonus for deputies recruited from outside the department. According to Sheriff Matt Kendall, “lateral transfers” have a higher success rate than hiring right out of the academy and cost less than putting someone through the academy. The … Read more