Morning News for Tuesday, March 19th
NOTICE:
A computer error ran Friday's news instead of Monday's. We've corrected the problem.
Here's the latest update on the Willits Bypass protests. According to Sara Grusky, one of the SOLLV leaders, over 40 people answered the call to meet Monday morning at Warbler's treesit. Some twenty others massed at the East Hill Site as well.
Atlas Tree Service once again revved the motor on their chippers but left after being told them that they were in violation of the Fish & Wildlife requirement that a biological survey be completed before work can begin.
There was no CHP presence at either location.
The Lake Board of Supervisors is set to take up a proposed vote of no confidence on the county’s sheriff Tuesday, and also will hear a presentation on making public television available for free locally and consider closing the Middletown Library temporarily.
The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, March 19, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St.,Lakeport. The meeting will be broadcast live on TV8.
The board’s proposed no confidence vote on Sheriff Frank Rivero is scheduled for 10 a.m. The board will also discuss seeking the sheriff’s resignation.
At 9:15 a.m., the board will hear a presentation regarding options to provide Lake County residents with over-the-air public television.
Larry Stratton, chief engineer and operating officer of KRCB Channel 22 in Rohnert Park, will make the presentation.
The Sheriff's Department and CAL FIRE are investigating a blaze that destroyed an Albion home Saturday. At about 6 p.m., the Albion Fire Department responded to a call of a residential structure fire at 30520 Albion Ridge Road. "This residence was vacant, without electrical service, and no cause for the fire was discernible. The fire was extinguished without incident before it could endanger other homes ," said Sheriff's Lt. Greg Van Patten.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Deputy Jonathan Martin at (707) 961-2421.
The Golden Gate Bridge no longer has human toll-takers.
The $6 cash fee will no longer be accepted, and travelers must pay in one of 4 ways - open a License Plate or FasTrak account for the bridge, receive a mail invoice, or pay at a cash station.
If you open a License Plate Account, the technology will scan your license plate and make an automatic charge to your credit card. Or, you can pay in advance, using the same License Plate Account.
If you use a FasTrak account, you will receive a $1 discount on the $6 current toll, but you must pay beforehand by putting money into your FasTrak account and pay $25 for a toll tag. You can get this at Bay Area Safeway, Costco, or Walgreens; $20 of this is a refundable deposit.
Toll Invoice is another option. Your license plate is scanned and an invoice is sent in the mail to the registered owner of the vehicle for the toll amount. If it isn't paid within 21 days, you receive a $25 fine.
The fourth option for paying your toll is by going to a cash station to pay - these will be kiosks at various places in SF. You can pay within 48 hours after your bridge crossing.
If you have any questions, go to goldengate.org.
San Diego may soon permit marijuana sales from vending machines. Medical marijuana patients would collect pot from the machines inside brick-and-mortar dispensaries. To prevent fraud, the machines require a fingerprint and a prepaid card.
The $50,000 machines are built by the firm Medbox which has begun taking location deposits for up to 30. Medbox says 150 medical marijuana dispensaries in the U.S. and Canada have installed them.

