> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.mendolocal.news/llms.txt
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# Mendo Local Weekly News — April 4, 2026
- URL: https://www.mendolocal.news/weekly-news-april-4-2026/
- Published: 2026-04-04T18:16:38.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-13T19:54:49.000Z
- Description: An election forum in District Three, a seawall project nears completion, and a court crackdown on juror no-shows
- Author: Elise Cox
- Tags: Weekly News

## 🗳️ Mendocino County

**Four Candidates Vie for District 3 Supervisor Seat**  
*By Elise Cox, MendoLocal.News*  
Four candidates—Eric Hart, Buffy Wright Bourassa, Clay Romero, and Russell Green—outlined positions on economic development, roads, county finances, and public safety during a March 26 forum. The forum will be broadcast on KMUD Tuesday, April 7, at 5:30 p.m.  
🔗 [Read more](https://www.mendolocal.news/p/candidates-forum-district-three)

**County Overhauls Reserve Policy**  
*By Elise Cox, MendoLocal.News*  
Supervisors approved a new reserve structure dividing funds into contingency (5%), rainy day (up to 15%), and infrastructure reserves. About $14 million was reallocated without new spending.  
🔗 [Read more](https://www.mendolocal.news/p/county-overhauls-reserve-policy)

**Great Redwood Trail Master Plan Approved**  
*Great Redwood Trail Agency, Willits Weekly*  
After three years of planning, officials approved a roadmap for designing, building, and managing the regional trail project.  
🔗 [Read more](http://www.willitsweekly.com/?ref=mendolocal.news)

**Courts Launch Juror Compliance Program**  
*Mendocino County Superior Court,* *Willits Weekly*  
Starting April 10, residents who ignore jury summons may be required to appear before a judge under a new enforcement calendar.  
🔗 [Read more](http://www.willitsweekly.com/?ref=mendolocal.news)

**Forest Bill Raises Concerns as JAG Leader Resigns**  
*By Frank Hartzell, MendocinoCoast.News*  
The resignation of Amy Wynn coincides with a proposed state bill that expands forest use but lacks local oversight provisions.  
🔗 [Read more](https://mendocinocoast.news/amy-wynn-steps-down-as-jag-chair-john-anderson-also-planning-to-leave-the-crucial-local-forest-organization-as-new-proposal-nears-vote/?ref=mendolocal.news)

**Opinion: Sales Tax for Roads Criticized**  
*By Alan Stein, The Mendocino Voice*  
A resident argues new road taxes are unnecessary, citing high gas taxes and flaws in state funding formulas.  
🔗 [Read more](https://mendovoice.com/2026/04/letter-to-the-editor-voting-for-a-county-tax-on-gas-is-dumb/?ref=mendolocal.news)

**Roadwork to Cause Delays Through April 9**  
*Caltrans*  
Motorists should expect 5–30 minute delays on Highway 1, Route 20, and U.S. 101, especially near Elk and Westport.  
🔗 [Read more](https://www.mendolocal.news/p/roadwork-through-april-9)

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## 🚗 Boonville

**Fatal Crash Leads to Manslaughter Arrest**  
*By Frank Hartzell, MendocinoCoast.News*  
An 18-year-old passenger died in a suspected DUI crash; the teen driver was arrested and faces manslaughter charges.  
🔗 [Read more](https://mendocinocoast.news/we-have-confirmed-it-was-18-year-old-who-died-in-boonville-crash-alcohol-was-involved-driver-was-also-18/?ref=mendolocal.news)

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## 🌊 Fort Bragg

**Stories of Shark Attack Survivors**  
*By Elise Cox, MendoLocal.News*  
Following a recent Fort Bragg attack, survivors describe tactics that helped them live through encounters.  
🔗 [Read more](https://www.mendolocal.news/p/they-survived-shark-attacks)

**Sea Level Rise Threatens Coastal Roads**  
*By Mandela Linder, The Mendocino Voice*  
Residents are helping prioritize which vulnerable road segments should be studied as climate risks grow.  
🔗 [Read more](https://mendovoice.com/2026/04/mendocino-coast-residents-discuss-roads-at-risk-from-sea-level-rise/?ref=mendolocal.news)

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## 📶 Gualala

**Cellphone Service Outages Grow**  
*By Chelsea Randall, Independent Coast Observer*  
Residents along the Mendocino Coast report increasingly unreliable cellphone service, with some attributing the issues to T-Mobile’s acquisition of USCellular last August.  
🔗 [Read more](http://www.mendonoma.com/?ref=mendolocal.news) *(subscription required)*

**Bottle Redemption Kiosk Sees Heavy Use**  
*By Susan Wolbarst, Independent Coast Observer*  
A new Bottlebank kiosk in Gualala is processing about 150 bags of CRV containers daily—roughly ten times the volume reported in Santa Rosa, according to staff.  
🔗 [Read more](http://www.mendonoma.com/?ref=mendolocal.news) *(subscription required)*

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## 🏫 Manchester

**119-Year-Old Schoolhouse Gets a Second Chance**  
*By Alessandra Rizzo, The Mendocino Voice*  
After nearly 50 years vacant, the historic Manchester Schoolhouse—built in 1907 from old-growth redwood and listed on the National Register of Historic Places—has a new owner. This news was originally reported by *The Independent Coast Observer*.  
🔗 [Read more](https://mendovoice.com/2026/03/119-year-old-manchester-schoolhouse-gets-a-second-chance/?ref=mendolocal.news)

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## 🎨 Point Arena

**Community Honors Slain Pomo Woman with Mural**  
*By Chelsea Randall, Independent Coast Observer*  
Family and community members gathered March 28 to unveil a mural honoring Nicole Florencia Smith, a member of the Manchester-Point Arena Band of Pomo Indians who was murdered in 2017\. The case remains unsolved.  
🔗 [Read more](http://www.mendonoma.com/?ref=mendolocal.news) *(subscription required)*

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## 🌾 Potter Valley

**Rogers Addresses Dam Removal Concerns**  
*By Monica Huettl, Anderson Valley Advertiser*  
Residents voiced concerns about PG&E’s plan to decommission Scott Dam at a packed town hall.  
🔗 [Read more](http://theava.com/?ref=mendolocal.news) *(subscription required)*

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## 🔥 Ukiah

**Ukiah Man Arrested After Late-Night Fire**  
*By Elise Cox, MendoLocal.News*  
A man faces arson and prowling charges after a fire near a business; he is scheduled to appear in court Monday on unrelated an misdemeanor charge for another fire.  
🔗 [Read more](https://www.mendolocal.news/p/ukiah-man-arrested-on-arson-prowling)

**Redwood Credit Union Opening New Branch**  
*By Justine Frederiksen, Ukiah Daily Journal*  
A new branch will open April 20 in a renovated former bank building on Perkins Street.  
🔗 [Read more](https://www.ukiahdailyjournal.com/2026/04/02/new-rcu-branch-to-open-this-month-in-ukiah/?ref=mendolocal.news) *(subscription required)*

**The Lot on Main Returns for the Season**  
*By Sydney Fishman, The Mendocino Voice*  
The popular downtown market resumes April 3 with vendors, music, and community events.  
🔗 [Read more](https://mendovoice.com/2026/03/the-lot-on-main-returns-with-vendors-and-music-in-downtown-ukiah/?ref=mendolocal.news)

**Courts Seek Local Photographers for New Courthouse**  
*Mendocino County Superior Court*  
Residents can submit photos for display in the new Ukiah courthouse; deadline is July 31.  
🔗 [Read more](https://www.mendocino.courts.ca.gov/new-ukiah-courthouse-photography-contest?ref=mendolocal.news)

## 🌊 Westport

**Seawall Nears Completion, Land Transfer Advances**  
*By Frank Hartzell, MendocinoCoast.News*  
A major seawall project at Blues Beach is wrapping up as a long-delayed land transfer to a tribal nonprofit moves forward.  
🔗 [Read more](https://mendocinocoast.news/the-stories-beneath-the-stories-blues-beach-the-redwood-trail-and-the-rogers-jdsf-bill-take-sharp-unseen-turns-behind-the-public-narrative/?ref=mendolocal.news)

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## 🌲 Willits

**Willits Man Arrested After Allegedly Attempting to Meet Teenage Girl**  
*By Elise Cox, MendoLocal.News*  
A 38-year-old man was arrested after allegedly attempting to meet someone he believed to be a 14-year-old girl.  
🔗 [Read more](https://www.mendolocal.news/p/willits-man-arrested-after-setting-meeting-with-14-year-old)

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## 🐟 California

**State Ends Salmon Restoration Partnership**  
*By Rachel Becker, CalMatters*  
Funding cuts halt a major tribal-led effort to restore Chinook salmon to the McCloud River.  
🔗 [Read more](https://calmatters.org/environment/water/2026/04/salmon-shasta-dam-mccloud-newsom/?ref=mendolocal.news)

**State Considers Insurance for Factory-Built Housing**  
*By Ben Christopher, CalMatters*  
A proposed bill would have California backstop insurance for modular housing to boost construction.  
🔗 [Read more](https://calmatters.org/housing/2026/03/factory-built-housing-insurance/?ref=mendolocal.news)

**Green-card Holders Lose Access to SBA Loans**  
*By Levi Sumagaysay, CalMatters*  
Green-card holders are no longer eligible for SBA loans, impacting a large share of California entrepreneurs.  
🔗 [Read more](https://calmatters.org/economy/2026/03/sba-loans-green-card-holders/?ref=mendolocal.news)