LAKEPORT, Calif. – Summer is rapidly approaching and the Lakeport Police Department would like to remind you of some important safety tips and general information.

Traffic safety will be extremely important this summer as pedestrian and vehicular traffic increase.

The summer concert series and Independence Day celebration at Library Park bring heavy traffic flow through the downtown area. Please take extra care to watch for pedestrians and bicyclists as you drive about Lakeport.

The Lakeport Police Department will do its best to enforce this, and all other traffic laws, but will also be counting on the public to be mindful of the risks to drivers and pedestrians alike.

Within the past few weeks the police department has received calls regarding children left unattended inside vehicles.

Children are often innocent victims when left in vehicles during the summer months and the police department reminds community members that leaving children in a vehicle is very dangerous and could lead to criminal prosecution. Vehicles can very easily become ovens even with the windows down.

Additionally, and for similar reasons, pets should not be left in vehicles. Always be prepared with water if your animal is traveling with you.

For those with pick up trucks, please remember that even though the animal is in the open air, the bed of the truck can become extremely hot. Always have a bed or platform that your animal can lay or sit on to protect their feet from the heat.

Summer is garage sale season and we want to remind you that the city of Lakeport has an ordinance prohibiting the posting of any type of handbill or advertising on any public property in the city of Lakeport.

The ordinance is designed to keep public areas free from clutter and resulting litter when the signs fall down. In addition, signs can obstruct the view of motorists therefore; signs should only be posted on private property and, only after obtaining permission, from the property owner.

The police department will be monitoring compliance with this ordinance.

The Lakeport Police Department team is always happy to hear from the community, and wishes everyone a great summer.

The agency invites community members to call them with questions and concerns. Visit the department’s Web site or Facebook page, or call 707-263-5491.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake Police Department is investigating a shooting on Thursday evening that injured a man.

Sgt. Tim Hobbs said the department received a report of a shooting at 7:20 p.m. Thursday on Old Highway 53 just south of Lakeshore Drive.

He said officers arrived on scene a short time later to find a 31-year-old male victim lying on the sidewalk with one apparent gunshot wound. 

Medical personnel arrived on scene a short time later and transported the victim to St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake, Hobbs said.

During interviews with witnesses it was discovered that the victim had been in a vehicle that was driving north on Old Highway 53 approaching Lakeshore Drive in the left turn lane, Hobbs said.

While in the turn lane the victim exited the vehicle and was then shot by one of the occupants who was still inside the vehicle, Hobbs said.

After the shooting, the vehicle left, headed west on Lakeshore Drive, according to Hobbs’ report.

Hobbs said officers located the suspect vehicle a short time later and it was stored as evidence. 

He said the victim, who has not been fully cooperative with officers, is being treated for non-life threatening injuries.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Officer Travis Parson at 707-994-8251, Extension 507.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake Police Department is planning to hold a National Night Out event on Tuesday, Aug. 1.

Clearlake’s inaugural National Night Out will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. at Highlands Park on Lakeshore Drive.

Residents are invited to this free community party, with an emphasis on safety.

National Night Out reflects the Clearlake Police Department’s ongoing effort to promote community policing in programs that also include Neighborhood Watch.

Although this first National Night Out will be held at a public park, the department hopes to hold these community functions in various neighborhoods in the future throughout Clearlake.

The department is meeting with public service agencies and accepting donations for the event.

The Lake County Fire Protection District has confirmed it will participate, bringing an engine, ambulance, personnel and possibly an antique engine to put display.

A bounce house for the children is being provided by Lopez Jumpers and Party Rentals free of charge, along with donations of prizes to be raffled off.

Griffin's Furniture on Lakeshore in Clearlake has donated a beautiful girls bike, From Me to You emporium and  People Services are donating a fine party gift basket and $25 gift certificate, respectively.

Hot dogs, water and other snack foods also will be featured.

For more information on the event, participating or donating, please contact Linda Peralta at the Clearlake Police Department, 707-994-8251, Extension 321.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Sheriff’s Office has released an update on its investigation into the causes of a single-boat crash late last month that killed a Lakeport man.

Roy Brian Everhart Jr., 58, died as a result of the crash, which occurred on the afternoon of Thursday, May 25, as Lake County News has reported.

Everhart was operating a boat near Way-Aft-Whyle Island, which is north of Rocky Point off of Lakeport, with Christopher O’Bryan from Lucerne his passenger in the boat, according to Lt. Corey Paulich of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.

Paulich said that as Everhart was driving the boat, he struck a limb of a tree that was growing in the lake.

According to the original incident report, O’Bryan drove the damaged boat to the Skylark Motel, where he was met by the Sheriff’s Marine Patrol and Lakeport Fire.

The call came in as a man with a head injury. Lakeport Fire Chief Doug Hutchison told Lake County News that firefighters found Everhart down in the boat, where he had fallen after the crash, and declared him dead.

Paulich said the investigation found that Everhart’s blood alcohol level was more than four times the legal limit of 0.08.

“The cause of the accident was determined to be operator error with speed and alcohol being contributing factors,” Paulich said.

The crash was the first fatality reported on Clear Lake this season. Last year’s summer season saw five deaths, all of them from drowning and four involving boating, as Lake County News has reported.
 
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.