Saturday, 07 September 2024

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NORTH COAST, Calif. — The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office said three people were injured in a plane crash on Friday.

On Friday at 1:15 p.m. Mendocino County Sheriff's Office deputies were dispatched to a possible airplane crash in the area of Usal Road in Whitethorn.

Deputies from the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office, the California Highway Patrol, Cal Fire, Southern Humboldt Tech Rescue, and members of the Whale Gulch, Shelter Cove and Whitethorn Fire Departments responded to assist.

Upon locating the crash site, the three occupants from the airplane were found to have only suffered minor cuts and scratches. The three occupants of the airplane were identified as a 38-year-old male, 38-year-old female and 2-year-old female, all from Santa Rosa.

During the investigation, sheriff's deputies learned the airplane's engine lost power about five minutes after taking off. The pilot began to troubleshoot why the airplane lost engine power, but had noticed the plane's altitude was too low for recovery.

At that point, the pilot deployed the airplane's Cirrus Airframe Parachute System which slowed the airplane's descent. The parachute carried the airplane until it ultimately crashed into trees in a heavily wooded area of Yellow Road in Whitethorn.

Deputies initiated the aircraft accident protocols and contacted the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board, who have the primary responsibility for investigating accidents involving civilian aircrafts.

The Mendocino County Sheriff's Office thanked the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office, California Highway Patrol, Cal Fire, Southern Humboldt Tech Rescue, and members of the Whale Gulch, Shelter Cover and Whitethorn Fire Departments who quickly responded to assist with this incident.
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The greater sage-grouse. Photo courtesy of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is seeking data and public comments on a petition to list the greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) under the California Endangered Species Act, or CESA.

On Nov. 21, 2022, the Center for Biological Diversity submitted a petition to the California Fish and Game Commission to list the greater sage-grouse as a threatened or endangered species under CESA.

The commission published findings of its decision to make the species a candidate for listing as a threatened or endangered species on June 30, 2023.

As a result of the status review process, the greater sage-grouse now receives the same legal protections afforded to an endangered or threatened species until that process is completed.

CDFW has 12 months from June 30, 2023, to conduct a status review that will inform the Commission’s final decision on whether to list the greater sage-grouse under CESA. As part of the status review process, CDFW is soliciting information regarding the species’ ecology, genetics, life history, distribution, abundance, habitat, the degree and immediacy of threats to its reproduction or survival, the adequacy of existing management, and recommendations for management of the species.

CDFW requests that data and comments be submitted before April 12, 2024, to allow sufficient time to evaluate this information during the status review period.

Please submit data and comments to CDFW by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and include “greater sage-grouse” in the subject line.

Data or comments may also be submitted by mail to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Wildlife Diversity Program, Attn: CESA Unit, P.O. Box 944209, Sacramento, CA 94244-2090.

CDFW will produce a peer-reviewed report based upon the best scientific information available, which will include a recommendation as to whether the petitioned action to list greater sage-grouse as threatened or endangered under CESA is warranted. The report will be publicly available on CDFW’s website for at least 30 days before the Commission considers acting on the petition.

The commission, which is a legally separate entity from CDFW, is charged with making the final determination on whether to list a species as threatened or endangered under CESA. CDFW serves in a scientific advisory role to the Commission during this process. See the California Fish and Game Commission webpage for details on submitting comments to the Commission and receiving email alerts for upcoming Commission meetings.

The listing petition, CDFW’s petition evaluation report and updates on the listing process are available on the Commission’s website.

The greater sage-grouse is found in sagebrush habitat throughout two distinct areas of California. The bi-state sage grouse population consists of birds from Alpine, Mono and Inyo counties, while the northeastern California population occurs in Modoc, Lassen, Plumas and Sierra counties. Greater sage-grouse are lekking birds, which means males perform elaborate displays to attract mates at communal breeding sites.

The birds’ primary food source is sagebrush, but they also eat a variety of other plants, including chicory, dandelion, clover, buckwheat, yarrow and milk-vetch. Insects like grasshoppers, beetles and ants are an important food source for chicks and hens. Threats include the loss, modification and fragmentation of habitat, as well as predation, climate change, loss of genetic diversity and disease.
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Assemblymembers James C. Ramos (D-San Bernardino), Joaquin Arambula (D-Fresno), and Senator Anna Caballero (D-Salinas) expressed their thanks to Fresno County voters for strongly opposing an effort to bypass state law and Fresno County supervisors’ efforts to continue using an offensive and derogatory slur against Native American women.

The Fresno County Registrar of Voters reports Measure B failed on a 63.75% to 36.25% vote.

Ramos, who successfully authored AB 2022, the law banning use of the word said, “We are appreciative that Fresno County voters opposed efforts to circumvent a law that removes the ‘S word’ as a place name. As a state we stand opposed to a word that demeans women and Native Americans.”

He added, “This is a word that contributes to making Native American women appear less than others. That ignorance and bigotry is a factor in the epidemic of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People. I am happy to see that voters chose to close the door on this painful chapter of Native American history.”

Ramos, the first and only California Native American elected to the state legislature, is chairperson of the California Native American Legislative Caucus.

Arambula stated, “The people have spoken. Today’s results ensure that California’s first people are listened to and respected now and in the future.”

Caballero commented, “I sincerely want to thank Fresno County voters for rejecting a misguided effort to continue using the ‘S’ word. The ‘S’ word evolved in another century when violence and bigotry prevailed in the treatment of Native Americans. This word was used to demean and devalue Native American women and deserves to be banned and regarded as unacceptable expression of hate.”
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The Eureka Slough Bridges. Photo courtesy of Caltrans.

Caltrans invites you to participate in a virtual meeting on March 12 to discuss the proposed replacements of the Eureka Slough Bridges along U.S. 101 in northern Eureka.

The meeting will take place from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 12.

Join the meeting at tinyurl.com/eurekasloughmeeting.

The project aims to replace the northbound and southbound Eureka Slough Bridges located near Target.

These replacements are intended to address seismic deficiencies and improve the function and geometrics of both bridges. The project involves replacing the existing bridges with two new, mirrored structures.

Each bridge will feature two traffic lanes, standard inside and outside shoulders, and a separated bicycle and pedestrian path on the outside edge.

The project is currently in the environmental phase and construction is targeted to commence in 2029.

For more information about the project, visit tinyurl.com/eurekaslough or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Posted On

A rock slide on Highway 70 in Butte County, California, has resulted in an extended closure. Photo courtesy of Caltrans.

BUTTE COUNTY, Calif. — Caltrans is alerting motorists that State Route 70 (SR-70) will continue to be closed from Jarbo Gap to the Greenville Wye in Butte County after another large rockslide in the area this morning.

The closure is expected to extend for an additional two weeks. Once the boulders have been cleared and the road is safe for travel, Caltrans will reopen the route to one-way traffic control.

Neil’s Controlled Blasting, in collaboration with Caltrans' Geotechnical engineers, is actively scaling the mountainside along SR-70. Caltrans assures motorists that safety remains paramount during these operations and every endeavor is directed toward restoring the highway to save travel.

Motorists are encouraged to check Caltrans’ QuickMap before traveling for current road conditions and chain requirements or download the QuickMap app from the App Store or Google Play.

Road information is also available on Caltrans’ website or by calling the California Highway Information Network automated phone service at 1-800-427-ROAD (7623).
Posted On

CDFA’s Office of Farm to Fork is announcing the Urban Agriculture Grant Program — awarding $11.67 million to 33 projects across California that enhance the viability of urban agriculture.

“Urban agriculture provides places for community gathering, skills-sharing, workforce development, agricultural literacy, and increased food security,” said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross. “This investment by Gov. Newsom and the Legislature brings a much-needed boost to local, innovative projects across the state dedicated to creating and enhancing local food production.”

Two types of grants have been awarded. Track 1 is the Systems Builder Community-Based Block Grant for community organizations, which will provide between $5,000 and $60,000 to urban agriculture projects in their regions.

Recipients of this grant include $783.933 to Agroecology Commons in the Bay Area to uplift and reduce barriers for marginalized farmers by providing farm seed grants, mentorship, and technical assistance.

Track 2 is the Urban Agriculture Practitioners Grant for direct funding to urban agriculture projects. The funded projects include infrastructure, workforce development, community engagement, community gardens and more. Track 2 grant awards include:

• $300,000 for Black Thumb Farm in Los Angeles County to provide an enriching after-school experience for BIPOC youth to learn sustainable farming approaches to improve food equity through mentorship, leadership training, and hands-on training workshops.
• $246,689 for the Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians in Sonoma County to increase indigenous food sovereignty through the creation of cultural demonstration areas, hosting gatherings to educate on traditional food production/harvesting methods, providing access to fresh fruits and vegetables, highlighting traditional food pathways, and restoring landscapes to include edible native vegetation.

All funded urban agriculture projects are either led by or serve priority populations as defined by the California Climate Investments Priority Population mapping tool.

This means 100 percent of the funding will serve communities that are especially vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, and include disadvantaged communities, low-income communities, and low-income households.

More than $68 million was requested during the application period, highlighting the interest and need for urban agriculture across California.

Upcoming Calendar

9Sep
10Sep
09.10.2024 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Farmers' Market at Library Park
10Sep
09.10.2024 3:00 pm - 5:30 pm
City of Clearlake community open house
14Sep
14Sep
09.14.2024 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Farmers' Market at the Mercantile
17Sep
09.17.2024 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Farmers' Market at Library Park
21Sep
09.21.2024 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Farmers' Market at the Mercantile
21Sep
09.21.2024 4:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Passion Play fundraiser
21Sep
09.21.2024 4:30 pm - 10:00 pm
Lake County Wine Auction

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