This week, reports came out about four men held captive on a cannabis farm in Calaveras County, adding to growing national conversation about the seamy underground of Northern California’s marijuana gardens. We’ve compiled a round-up below, with non-marijuana news links afterwards:
Threats and Beatings Used to Keep Four Brothers Working on Marijuana Farm, Alleges Calaveras County Sheriff – Kym Kemp’s Redheaded Blackbelt.
Kemp reposted the original press release from the Calaveras Sheriff’s Office.
Police: 4 Men Held at California Pot Farm, Forced to Work – Associated Press in SF Chronicle.
The original story comes via AP.
Update: 2 more sought in kidnapping of 4 brothers held captive at California marijuana farm – The Cannabist, based in Colorado.
The Cannabist updates this story, which has been reposted in news outlets around the country.
California Pot Farm Violence Concerns Rise During Harvest – Press Democrat
The Press Dem’s take on the recent trimming coverage, published today.
Abuse is Rampant Among Pot Growers – SF Weekly’s Chem Tales column
This weekly column offers a response to the investigative report from Reveal released last week and asks whether pot growers should receive certifications for employee safety and labor law compliance.
Pot Growers Call for Labor Regulation After Abuse Disclosures – Reveal
A follow-up interview with California Growers Association’s Hezekiah Allen about Reveal’s investigative report.
In non-cannabis coverage, Mendocino made the news this week for real estate sales, a ceremony in memory of the mental health patients in the now-closed county facility, fires and drought discussion in the Mendocino National Forest, a local publisher winning a journalism award, medical billing in rural areas, injunction granted halting timber plan for Gualala River area, and in a discussion on drunk driving in the North Coast.
Gov. Brown signs bill allowing rural hospitals to hire doctors – Press Democrat
Brown signs a bill sponsored by north coast Assemblyman Jim Wood changing medical billing practices.
Gualala River logging project suspended by Sonoma County Judge – Press Democrat
Judge grants preliminary injunction to the Friends of the Gualala River over disputed timber plan.
Forest workshop talks beetles, drought – Appeal Democrat
Mendocino National Forest drought and Beetle discussion.
Small wildland fire reported on Mendocino National Forest
A small fire in the Mendocino National Forest.
Mendocino County ranch sold for over $6 million – Press Democrat
Mendocino ranch sells for $6 million.
Forgotten Mendocino mental hospital patients commemorated at mass graves – Press Democrat
Ceremony memorializing people buried in unmarked graves at the county’s now closed mental health facility.
DiMauro honored for her work in community journalism – The Fort Bragg Advocate News
Coast publisher wins community journalism award.
You and Me and the Keys – The North Coast Journal
An editorial by Thad Greenson dealing with drunk driving and the North Coast.
Thanks for reading! That’s it for today’s version of The Mendo Wire – where we report what others reported.