NEWS ARTICLE ARCHIVE — in chronological order, with pagination below
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Mendocino Coast
Why is our flag important? Ask the Iversens, who never came back to the Mendocino Coast
This is Veterans Day! We were going to go to Veterans Hall for the ceremonies. I grew up with my dad a WWII Veteran so I know this day is for the living veterans while Memorial Day is for the departed and especially those who gave all. This was a Memorial Day Story but I…
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Crime Reports
50 year old man arrested in Westport on gun charges, but this really doesn’t impact your life
Editor’s Note: Below is a press release about an arrest made by the Sheriff’s Office on November 9. As usual, it’s well put together by Capt. Quincy Cromer, who’s done his part. Now it’s in the courts. There’s about a 1% chance this case will affect your life. What will affect your life—and this case…
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Police & Courts
Court executive says there is no plan to close Coast courthouse, surprise cuts are blamed on Judge Brenann’s sudden retirement but there is much more to this story, stay tuned
With two unelected judges recently appointed and another on the way, it’s time to speak up for Fort Bragg about cutbacks to the Coast. Coastal supervisors, we need you! At MendocinoCoast.news, we’re calling on Supervisors Ted Williams and Bernie Norvell to speak publicly about the future of the Fort Bragg courthouse. We’ve had to take…
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Fort Bragg
7 people hurt in big accident on Highway 20 East of Fort Bragg- not as bad as feared, two extricated, helicopters called off, injured taken by ambulance
From the CHP Ukiah log… more details when we get them. 1:03pm CANCEL SONOMA COUNTY 1, AIR AMBULANCE. 12:58PM ALL PATIENTS TRANSPORTED. SOME WENT BY PRIVATE VEHICLE. 12:33PM 2 w/MINOR INJ. TRANSPORTED TO HOSPITAL ON COAST. REACH 5 CANCELED. 11:59AM ALL OCCUPANTS GETTING OUT, MAIN CONCERN IS TRANSPORTING PULL AHEAD OF STATE PARKS, WILL NEED…
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Frankly Speaking
NTSB Releases Report on Reach Air Crash; Fort Bragg Lions To Launch Thanksgiving Love Package from the Coast
Paramedic Margaret “DeDe” Davis was the one who called the Mayday after noticing the power had gone out—just moments before the Reach helicopter crashed in Sacramento on Oct. 6. The crash severely injured Davis, pilot Chad Millward, and flight nurse Suzie Smith. Smith succumbed to her injuries four days later. Davis and Millward have since…
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Police & Courts
Letter to the Editor- Wellington- I want to serve but Mendo Courts make it much harder for jurors than need be
Dear Editor, I finally made it to jury duty in Ukiah on Monday because they said they were no longer allowing anyone to get out of it because of distance. There were over 150 of us (many from the coast) at 9 am waiting for a felony trial that never happened because the defendant got…
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Frankly Speaking
First Friday Sparkles: Good News & Gorgeous Faces
Gotcha! We’ve had our fill of grouchy news lately—time to lighten the mood. Word Press has a very irritating main photo feature. So we run our main photo twice. Each photo from the rambles of Caesar, Brutus, and me comes with a story we hope brings a smile (and maybe a little learning too). We’re…
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Frankly Speaking
Mendocino County’s Judges Eliminate Civil Court in Fort Bragg-Without Telling the Public- Fort Bragg Courthouse: Criminal Court continues here but Death by a Thousand Cuts?
Are Mendocino County’ s judges trying to axe the Fort Bragg Courthouse once again? The year 2025 has seen slow cutting of Coast court services, all of them unannounced. The biggest hit so far has just come. Civil court on the Coast will be no more as of Nov. 14. What about the clerks? Will…
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Albion
Albion-Little River parcel tax for fire services may be reduced from $600 to $400 after committee listened to residents, discussed and revised
An informal committee of elders from Albion and Little River has now proposed a $400 annual property tax to support the local fire department. This ia a HUGE change from the initial $600 amount proposed. The amount is actually $200 per parcel, but any parcel with a residence gets taxed at $400. The previous tax…
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Covelo
Brick Walls and Burning Questions: Seeking Truth in Covelo -No Answers Yet: The Unfinished Story of Chief Bill Baker – Covelo history trip
We’ve hit wall after wall trying to uncover the truth in this troubling case. Attached are the CHP’s courteous but unyielding responses, and the only official facts we’ve received—a month-old press release that leaves the most pressing questions unanswered. Though Covelo isn’t our usual beat, we thank the three readers who sounded the alarm about…
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Fourth of July
Be a Yankee Doodle—vote today with the hope of a Revolutionary and the resolve of a Tory
Today is a day for courage. A day to be an American. A day to VOTE. I say VOTE YES and help save our country. But even if you vote no—VOTE. Because this isn’t just about policy. It’s about showing up for democracy. Most of us have already cast our ballots. But today, we celebrate…
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Crime Reports
Ukiah High teacher and prominent local journalist arrested Nov. 3, police seek help finding others contacted online by “Johhnyender”, suspended by district after allegations on Oct. 16
Matt LaFever, 37, founder of MendoFever and widely considered the county’s most-read journalist, was arrested this morning by Ukiah Police on suspicion of annoying or molesting a minor under 18. LaFever teaches journalism at Ukiah High School and serves as North Coast Contributing Editor for SFGATE. He has also worked with the Independent Coast Observer…
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Noyo Harbor
Makela Bros to be Reborn: Urchin Farm planned, Ice House has new incarnation, Handmade Meets Tech-we need both!
John Henry Leaves Noyo Harbor, But His Legacy Stays Anchored John Henry is finally leaving Noyo Harbor. What he built there—what he stood for—won’t be forgotten. So much of it is still standing, still working, still fishing. Makela Brothers and Howard Makela were among Fort Bragg’s own John Henrys: hands-on builders of legacy, labor, and…
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Mendocino
Surfwood fire: All residents safely evacuated; bottom floor of home remains intact. County elections office follows up with calls after email delay—short staffing cited as cause
Surfwood fire: swift response, safe escape, and a reminder of who shows up when it matters. Everyone—including the dog—made it out safely and was already outside when the Mendocino Volunteer Fire Department arrived to battle Wednesday night’s blaze in Surfwood. The fire broke out shortly after 9 p.m. and tore through the second floor of…
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Fort Bragg
2025 Halloween Fun Tonight —Let the Screams Begin!
Wall Street Is Terrifying—But Only One of Them Deserves It Wall Street in New York? Scary year-round. Greed, chaos, BADness—365 days of it. Wall Street Turns Wicked—But Only Ours Does It Right There’s a Wall Street that haunts us year-round— a canyon of greed, where the lights never flicker, and the only masks are worn…
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Albion
No, It’s Not Just a Tax: Albion’s $600 Fire Measure Could Save Lives -Would Guarantee Two Responders Per Call-and Lower Your Insurance Premiums
An informal group of elders from Albion and Little River has proposed a $600 annual property tax to fund the local fire department. At two recent meetings, residents discussed in detail how the measure could ease the burden on overworked staff, replace aging equipment, and potentially lower fire insurance rates. The big meeting is tonight—Wednesday…
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Albion
Letter to the Editor on Albion Fire Tax idea: Meyer- more communication needed from the district
Dear Editor – thank you for your very thoughtful article in the MendocinoCoast.News. I feel you succinctly identified issues and proposed alternatives that nailed the issue. Last year I was heavily involved in trying to pass the exact same measure that’s on the table now. The measure failed to achieve the 2/3rds vote it needed…
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Albion
A Path Forward: MendocinoCoast.News Proposes a Plan for Albion–Little River Fire Beloved Fire Department Services
A group of Albion and Little River elders is proposing a new parcel tax to support the critical needs of the Albion Little River Fire Protection District. Under the plan, parcels with residences would be taxed $600 annually; non-residential parcels would be taxed $300. The funds would replace outdated equipment and help hire two additional…
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City of Fort Bragg
No Public Portal: Flock System Lacks Promised Access by Fort Bragg Police
Surveillance Sparks Social Media Storm Ahead of Tonight’s Council Meeting People are freaking out about Flock in Fort Bragg— and that freak out Echoes Far Beyond the Coast. “Has anyone else seen the flyers on bulletin boards in downtown Fort Bragg about the Flock surveillance cameras? They caught my eye and I started looking into…
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Albion River Bridge
Albion Bridge Stewards Sues Caltrans Over Albion River Bridge Project, Alleging Violations of CEQA
This is the press release from the Stewards. We are all working our other jobs today so we will put out something with more info and an interview later in the week. We are also working on a story on the Albion Fire Department’s prospective bond… Albion, Mendocino County, Calif. — October 27, 2025 —…
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