Morning News for Friday, February 15th
While rumors about possible CalTrans actions to block the protest site against the Willits Bypass continue to spread, an Redwood/Earth First Nonviolence Training for Civil Disobedience will held this Saturday Feb. 16, from 9:30--4:30 at the Little Lake Grange, 291 School Street
in Willits.
They ask volunteers to bring lunch items to share. Soup, salad and/or
sandwiches and healthy snacks welcome. Utensils, hot crock, cups and tea will be provided.
Dress in layers as the Grange is cold in the morning. Please RSVP Naomi at 459-0548 or email
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
so we can plan for lunch.
For those who can't, another training will be offered the following weekend.
Call Naomi to express a preference for Sat or Sun. 2/23 or 2/24.
The Willits City Council met Wednesday night and Council member Ron Orenstein asked for a reconsideration regarding the Carry Out Bag Ordinance. At the last meeting an ordinance eliminating single use plastic bags was voted down 3-2. Orenstien, one of the majority who voted against it, will be bringing an alternative ordinance forward which will differ from the one that governs the rest of Mendocino County.
Police Chief Gerry Gonzales announced his plan to develop a K9 unit for the Willits PD, using use asset forfeiture funds .
The council unanimously approved a tentative employment agreement for the interim city manager, Adrienne Moore equivalent to $104,000 annually.
The employment agreement for former City Manager Paul Cayler was amended to allow outside employment since it does not end until March 3rd and he'd been relieved of his duties two weeks ago.
Meanwhile, Cloverdale is about to hire him as their city manager.
Mendocino Coast District Hospital announced effective Feb13th that it has cut its workforce by 20 positions with savings of $1.5 million in wages and benefits, annually. The affected individuals will receive severance pay in accordance with the hospital's compensation policies. The reduction in force is based upon seniority and affects eleven departments .
CFO Wayne Allen explained "The reductions will not compromise patient quality and or safety. I do not expect additional cuts in the foreseeable future." The action follows losses for the first six months of nearly $1.9 million.
College of the Redwoods will retain its accreditation, and the vital state and federal funding that comes with it, at least until October.
The college will be removed from “show cause” status and placed on “probation” .
In their letter, the commission acknowledged that CR officials had resolved several issues that led to being placed on show cause status, including inadequate assessment of student progress.
CR has until Oct. 15 to demonstrate continued progress in five areas the commission cited the campus as being non-compliant. Two require the college to create a hiring plan to increase diversity among employees and the remaining three about the college's fiscal stability, may be more challenging .
