UPPER LAKE, Calif. – A vehicle stop conducted Sunday night led to the arrests of five men and a male juvenile, the seizure of $66,000 in cash and nine fighting roosters, some of which showed signs of abuse and injury.

Lt. Steve Brooks of the Lake County Sheriff's Office said deputies arrested Oscar Salvio Barajas, 35, of Chowchilla; Valentine Valencia Chavez, 37, of Stockton; Francisco Zavala Infante, 28, of Los Angeles; Anthony Alarcon Jimenez, 31, of Merced; Ociel Mendez, 26, of Chowchilla; and a 17-year-old juvenile male.

Brooks explained that at 8:40 p.m. Sunday a sheriff's deputy noticed a green Ford Expedition with a defective brake light traveling westbound on Highway 20 in Upper Lake. The deputy conducted an enforcement stop on Highway 20, near Old Lake County Road in Upper Lake.

The driver was identified as Jimenez. Brooks said the deputy explained the reason for the stop and asked Jimenez for the vehicle registration.

The front passenger, who was identified as Mendez, opened the glove box to retrieve the registration. The deputy immediately noticed a hypodermic syringe in the glove box when it was opened. Brooks said the deputy also detected the odor of marijuana emitting from the vehicle and noticed a small amount of loose marijuana on the floor of the vehicle.

During a search of the vehicle, deputies located $24,000 cash which was loose on the floor. All six of the vehicle's occupants denied ownership of the $24,000 and said they did not know who it belonged to, according to Brooks.

He said deputies located an additional $42,000, which was the combined total seized from all six subjects.

The vehicle also contained nine roosters which had been physically altered for fighting purposes. Brooks said the roosters' wattles and combs had been cut because they bleed easily and can interfere with the birds as they are fighting. This is a common procedure performed on fighting roosters, which is also referred to dubbing.

Deputies located a bag in the vehicle which contained numerous metal spur blades which are razor sharp. Brooks said the spur blades are attached to the roosters' legs and are used during the fights to cut the opponent bird. Some of the spur blades located had what appeared to be dried blood on them.

He said the bag also contained several leather spur covers which are used during the prefight sparing. The roosters were kept in individual cardboard boxes and each bird had its weight written on the box.

The deputies inspected the birds and noticed some had visible injuries to their head and beak area. Lake County Animal Control responded to the scene and confirmed the roosters were abused and being used for fighting purposes. They took possession of the roosters and transported them to their facility, Brooks said.

During the interviews, the subjects in the car advised deputies that they were from Merced, Chowchilla and Stockton. Brooks said the men stated that they had traveled to Lake County for a rooster show, but never made it. One of the subjects said they went to a rooster show at a ranch off of Highway 20 in Lake County, where subjects were fighting roosters for money.

Jimenez, Mendez, Barajas, Chavez and Infante were arrested for cruelty to animals, making/taking bets on contest, possession of fighting bird equipment, possession of fighting roosters and permitting a bird fight. They were transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility and booked, Brooks said.

Bail for Barajas, Jimenez and Mendez was set at $15,000 each. Jail records indicated they later posted the required percentage of bail and were released, while Chavez and Infante remain in custody on immigration holds.

The juvenile was arrested for possession of bird fighting equipment and possession of fighting roosters. He was transported to Lake County Juvenile Hall and booked, Brooks said.

Brooks said the $66,000 was seized pending asset forfeiture proceedings.

HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE, Calif. – Julianne Carter, a student representing Coyote Valley Elementary School, achieved individual Highest Honors in the recent WordMasters Challenge, a national vocabulary competition involving nearly 150,000 students annually.

Competing in the Blue Division of the WordMasters Challenge, Julianne achieved a perfect score of 20 on the second of three challenges to be held this school year.

Nationally, only 32 sixth graders achieved this result.

Julianne said her study for the test was fun.

“I look over the list and study the meanings of each word,” she explained. “I look up synonyms, antonyms and various forms of the word that might have different meanings. My family and I have a game we play where we each try to use the word in a story or sentence in as many different ways as possible. It is a game we play when we are in the car.”

Julianne has another WordMasters Challenge test coming up later this month.

“I am excited for the next test,” she said. “It gets harder each time because the words from the last test can also appear on the new test. It is cumulative. Also, this is the first year we are taking the test on the computer. The normal test taking strategies of crossing off the wrong answers and circling the two that you narrow down are not as easy to apply on a computer. I think that will add some challenge to the test.”

Julianne isn't just talented when it comes to language; she's also a gifted musician, who has been accepted to study violin this summer at the renowned Interlochen Arts Camp in Michigan: http://bit.ly/1jKrxBc .

The WordMasters Challenge is an exercise in critical thinking that first encourages students to become familiar with a set of interesting new words (considerably harder than grade level), and then challenges them to use those words to complete analogies expressing various kinds of logical relationships.

Working to solve the analogies helps students learn to think both analytically and metaphorically. Although most vocabulary enrichment and analogy-solving programs are designed for use by high school students, WordMasters Challenge materials have been specifically created for younger students in grades three through eight.

They are particularly well suited for children who are motivated by the challenge of learning new words and enjoy the logical puzzles posed by analogies.

For more about the WordMasters Challenge program, visit http://www.wordmasterschallenge.com .

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The effort to finalize the purchase of Konocti Harbor Resort and Spa is still under way, with the sale contingency period extended.

That's the latest word from Grant Sedgwick, president of the San Francisco-based Resort Equities, the firm which is seeking to purchase Konocti Harbor.

Last Aug. 1, Resort Equities signed a purchase agreement to purchase Konocti Harbor from its longtime owner, UA Local 38 Convalescent Trust, as Lake County News has reported.

The purchase price for the resort hasn't been disclosed.

The resort, which closed in November 2009, sits on 90 acres – of which about 58 acres is developed – on the shores of Clear Lake.

Konocti Harbor needs major upgrades, according to Sedgwick, who told Lake County News in an interview last fall that he estimated it could cost between $50 million and $70 million to renovate what was, at one point, Lake County's premier resort.

The Resort Equities proposal includes building a new 75-unit hotel and 15 two-story fourplexes at the resort, demolishing 121 existing units, renovating 150 units along with the pool and main lodge areas, building 175 new boat slips, expanding and repairing the resort's system of docks and piers, more parking and greater shoreline access.

The plans also call for offering 164 timeshare and fractional ownership units at full buildout.

In December, the Lake County Planning Commission gave unanimous approval to Resort Equities' plans for the resort, and approved a mitigated negative declaration, a major use permit and shoreline variance for the renovation plans.

At the time of the December planning commission meeting, Sedgwick had estimated escrow could close in the first half of March.

However, Sedgwick told Lake County News in a recent interview that escrow has not yet closed.

He said the purchase effort is still under way and is moving in “a positive direction.”

Konocti Harbor's current owners are very satisfied that Resort Equities is making progress in arranging the necessary financing for the project, according to Sedgwick.

“They have cooperated in extending the contingency period under the agreement until the end of May,” he said.

Sedgwick added, “A construction start is still planned for this summer.”

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.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Two men were arrested Sunday on charges of drug manufacturing and child endangerment after a concentrated cannabis oil lab they were alleged to have been operating resulted in an apartment fire.

Matthew Richard Carr, a 24-year-old transient, and 22-year-old Dylan Alex Nevarez of Clearlake were arrested in the case, according to Sgt. Nick Bennett of the Clearlake Police Department.

At 3 p.m. Sunday Lake County Fire Protection District responded to an apartment fire at the Adagio Apartments, located on the 15000 Block of Olympic Drive in Clearlake, Bennett said.

After extinguishing the fire in the apartment the firefighters observed items in the apartment that appeared suspicious and they subsequently notified the Clearlake Police Department, according to Bennett.

Det. Travis Lenz responded and observed items used for extracting concentrated cannabis oil – also known as “honey oil” – from marijuana. Bennett said those items, which included butane bottles and other apparatus used in this manufacture process, also caused the apartment fire.

Bennett said Carr and Nevarez had been in the apartment with four children, ranging in age from 1 month to 2 years.

He said both Carr and Nevarez were arrested on charges of manufacturing a controlled substance and child endangerment, with both booked into the Lake County Jail.

Both men remained in custody on Tuesday evening, with bail for each set at $100,000, according to jail records.

Anyone with any information on this incident is encouraged to contact the Clearlake Police Department at 707-994-8251.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The city of Lakeport Economic Development Advisory Committee, or LEDAC, will review its goals for this year and get an update on the county's marketing program when it meets this Wednesday, April 9.

The meeting will take place from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. at WorkForce Lake, 55 First St. in Lakeport.

Jill Ruzicka, senior administrative analyst for the county of Lake's marketing program, will offer a presentation on the destination marketing strategy for 2014 and beyond.

The main discussion topic for the meeting will be the review of the 2014 LEDAC goals and implementation.

The agenda also includes updates on regional economic development, the Carnegie Library feasibility study, committee reports and business outreach efforts.

LEDAC advocates for a strong and positive Lakeport business community and acts as a conduit between the city and the community for communicating the goals, activities and progress of Lakeport’s economic and business programs.

Members do not have to be Lakeport residents. Current members include Chair Wilda Shock and Vice Chair Mireya Turner, along with Carol Cole-Lewis, Bill Eaton, Melissa Fulton, Pam Harpster, Christine Hutt, George Linn, Paula Pepper-Duggan and Taira St. John. City staffers Andrew Britton and Margaret Silveira are ex-officio committee members.

The committee is next scheduled to meet from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. Wednesday, May 14, at Lakeport City Hall.

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.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that more than $300 million will be paid to 41 states and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico in support of local schools and roads as part of the Congressional reauthorization of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act.

The disbursement includes $30 million in Title II funding to complete special conservation projects on federal lands proposed by resource advisory committees.

Funding is provided through the U.S. Forest Service.

"This support is part of the Obama Administration’s long-standing commitment to rural communities, schools and American youth," said Vilsack. “The Forest Service’s century-long support of America's public schools and roads is one of many ways in which USDA contributes to rural communities becoming self-sustaining and prosperous."

The payments from the Forest Service may be used for supporting public schools and public roads, for projects to help maintain and improve the health of forests, and for county projects including "Firewise Communities" programs, reimbursements for emergency services on national forests and development of community wildfire protection plans.

These forest projects were reviewed and recommended by resource advisory committees made up of local residents working together to improve the environment and help provide jobs in rural communities.

California received $32,703,151 for its 2014 payment and $2,916,342 in Title II funds, for a total of $35,619,493.

Lake County will receive a total of $441,066.56 based on the Mendocino National Forest, at a rate of $1.73 per acre, which is above California's rate of $1.58 per acre.

Since 1908, the Forest Service has shared with states 25 percent of gross receipts from timber sales, grazing, minerals, recreation, and other land use fees on national forests to benefit public schools and public roads in the counties in which the forests are situated.

In the late 1980s, due largely to declines in timber sale receipts, payments began to fluctuate and drop significantly. In 1994, Congress provided "safety net payments" to counties in northern California, western Oregon and western Washington.

In 2000, Congress passed the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act that provided enhanced, stabilized payments to more states through 2006.

The act was extended for one year and then reauthorized in 2008 for four more years with a one-year reauthorization in 2012.

The program was reauthorized in 2013 to provide benefits for an additional year.

The actual amount of each state's payment is determined by a number of factors written into the law, including how many counties ultimately decide to share in that payment.

Each county's share of their state's payment amounts can be found on the Forest Service’s Web site at http://www.fs.usda.gov/main/pts/securepayments/projectedpayments .

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Clearlake's eighth annual “Andy Day” will be celebrated this Saturday, April 12.

The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Austin Park Skate Park, also known as Andy Johnson Memorial BMX/Skatepark.

Andrew Johnson was a young BMX and skateboard enthusiast in Clearlake who helped lead the efforts to have a skate park built in Austin Park.  

Once the skate park was built Johnson switched from skateboarding to riding a BMX bike, quickly growing in his skills.

While the rivalry between BMX riders and skateboarders can resemble the rivalry between skiers and snowboarders on the winter slopes, Johnson's dual talent and friendly, outgoing approach helped him to bring the skateboarders and the BMX riders together as one big group that could enjoy the skate park together.  

Johnson died in a car crash on April 14, 2006, at the age of 18.

His efforts and impact on the youth in the Clearlake community has had a lasting effect. The skate park was renamed the Andy Johnson Memorial BMX/Skatepark in 2008 in honor of his legacy.  

Many riders and skaters also plan on riding in memory of Johnson on Monday, April 14.

Come on down and ride with all your friends, listen to some live music, eat some hot dogs and take part in the available raffles.  

Bands currently slated to play are Cosmic Tea, Hexifiend and As All Else Fails.  

Raffles will offer BMX goodies and other miscellaneous prizes.

NICE, Calif. – A vehicle stop conducted by the Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force last week resulted in one arrest, and the seizure of approximately 3 ounces of methamphetamine along with prescription pills.

Bradley Steven Holt, 31, of Lakeport was arrested following the stop, which took place on the afternoon of Friday, April 4, according to Lt. Steve Brooks.

On April 4 at 1:30 p.m. a narcotics detective was traveling eastbound on Lakeshore Boulevard, near the intersection of Stokes Drive in Nice, when he noticed a gray Hyundai sedan traveling towards him on Lakeshore Boulevard, according to Brooks.

The Hyundai crossed over the double yellow lines, into the detectives’ lane of traffic, and then traveled back into the appropriate lane, Brooks said.

As the vehicle passed, the detective positively identified the driver as Holt. Brooks said the narcotics detective was familiar with Holt due to prior contacts, and knew he was on felony probation with a search clause.

Narcotics detectives conducted an enforcement stop in the parking lot of the Sentry Market in Nice. When detectives contacted Holt and advised him of the reason for the stop, he became argumentative and refused to follow their directions, Brooks said.

Brooks said Holt refused to comply when detectives were conducting a search of his person, pursuant to the conditions of his probation.

As the detectives were talking to Holt, he exhibited signs of being under the influence of a central nervous system stimulant. Holt denied using any stimulants and said “It’s been a year and eight months” since he last used, Brooks said. Narcotics detectives conducted a series of tests to determine if Holt was under the influence, which he failed.

During a search of Holt’s vehicle, detectives located a rubber medical glove behind the glove box, which was keeping the glove box from closing. Brooks said the glove appeared to contain something and was tied in a knot at the wrist portion of the glove.

Inside the glove detectives located a clear plastic bag containing a crystalline substance, which they recognized to be methamphetamine. Brooks said detectives located another plastic bag inside the glove which contained three additional bags, also containing methamphetamine and 12 Hydrocodone pills.

When Holt noticed that the narcotics detectives had located his methamphetamine and pills, he immediately denied ownership and began yelling, “Can someone call the cops?” Brooks said Holt became aggressive, refused to follow directions and accused the detectives of planting the drugs in his vehicle.

Holt was arrested for possession of a controlled substance for sale, transportation of a controlled substance, possession of a narcotic controlled substance, violating the terms and conditions of his probation, being under the influence of a controlled substance and obstructing/resisting a peace officer, Brooks said.

Brooks said Holt was transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility and booked. Holt is currently still in custody and being held without bail due to his probation violation.

The methamphetamine was later weighed and determined to have a gross weight of 88.3 grams or 3.1 ounces. The pills and an imprint of M367, and were identified as 10 milligram Hydrocodone pills, according to Brooks.

The Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force can be reached through its anonymous tip line at 707-263-3663.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Animal Care and Control has three cats available for adoption at the shelter this week.

The cats, two males and a female, range in age from 1 to 5 years.

In addition to spaying or neutering, cats that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are microchipped before being released to their new owner. License fees do not apply to residents of the cities of Lakeport or Clearlake.

If you're looking for a new companion, visit the shelter. There are many great pets there, hoping you'll choose them.

In addition to the animals featured here, all adoptable animals in Lake County can be seen here: http://bit.ly/Z6xHMb .

The following cats at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption (other cats pictured on the animal control Web site that are not listed here are still “on hold”).

'Atlas'

“Atlas” is a 1-year-old male Siamese mix.

He has a short coat with seal point markings and blue eyes, and has been neutered.

He's in cat room kennel No. 38, ID No. 39285.

Female domestic short hair mix

This female domestic short hair mix is 3 years old.

She has a coat with torbie markings and gold eyes. Shelter staff did not report if she has been altered.

Find her in cat room kennel No. 46, ID No. 39321.

Male tuxedo cat

This male tuxedo cat is 5 years old.

He has a short coat and green eyes, and has been neutered.

Find him in cat room kennel No. 80, ID No. 39342.

Adoptable cats also can be seen at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Cats_and_Kittens.htm or at www.petfinder.com .

Please note: Cats listed at the shelter's Web page that are said to be “on hold” are not yet cleared for adoption.

To fill out an adoption application online visit http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Dog___Cat_Adoption_Application.htm .

Lake County Animal Care and Control is located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport, next to the Hill Road Correctional Facility.

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Visit the shelter online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control.htm .

For more information call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.

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.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Two men were sentenced on April 3 for illegally spotlighting deer in Lake County last year.

Salvador Buenrosto Cacho from Sunnyvale and Francisco Mendoza Robledo of Yakima, Wash., entered pleas in the case last week, according to Chief Deputy District Attorney Richard Hinchcliff.

Hinchcliff reported that last Sept. 1, local California Fish and Wildlife wardens Mike Pascoe and Patrick Freeling were involved in a nighttime investigation and surveillance operation in an effort to catch poachers during the early A Zone deer hunting season in Lake County.

Assisting the wardens was a Department of Fish and Wildlife aircraft looking for illegal spotlighting activity, Hinchcliff said.

It is illegal to use any artificial light while in possession of a firearm to look for game animals, or to kill a game animal after hours of darkness. Hinchcliff said “spotlighting” is a common illegal method used by poachers to kill wildlife illegally.

At approximately 11:30 p.m. on Sept. 1 the operators of the aircraft contacted the wardens on the ground and advised they had spotted a vehicle spotlighting in the Pine Mountain area of the Mendocino National Forest, north of Upper Lake. Hinchcliff said the aircraft operator provided the coordinates to the wardens on the ground and advised lights could be seen shining from both sides of the vehicle from the side windows.

The wardens on the ground responded and  detained the suspect vehicle and its two occupants, Cacho and Robledo. Inside the vehicle wardens located two hunting rifles, including a loaded rifle, and two flashlights, one of which was found stuffed in between the seats that was still on, Hinchcliff said.

The suspects initially claimed they were doing nothing wrong, and had just been taking a bath in the Eel River. Hinchcliff said the men also advised the wardens they did not believe them when told aircraft had spotted them spotlighting.  

On Oct. 1, Hinchcliff, who also files and supervises the prosecution of fish and wildlife crimes, filed charges against the  suspects for spotlighting, possession of a loaded rifle in a vehicle, hunting at night and fraudulently obtaining a California hunting license.

The case was set for trial on April 3. On the morning of trial, as prosecutor Danny Flesch was getting ready to select a jury, the suspects changed their pleas, Hinchcliff said.

Hinchliff said Robledo pleaded to possession of a loaded firearm in a vehicle and Cacho pled to spotlighting and hunting at night.

They were each ordered by Judge Michael Lunas  to pay $1,155 in fines, sentenced to three years probation including no hunting for three years, and ordered to forfeit a Savage 7 millimeter rifle and Ruger 77MKII rifle for destruction, according to Hinchcliff.

Hinchcliff praised the local Fish and Wildlife wardens for another successful case in which wardens worked diligently to protect local wildlife from poachers.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Police arrested a Clearlake man on Sunday night for domestic violence and shot the man's dog after it attempted to bite an officer.

James Allen Nelson, 57, was arrested on several felonies including domestic violence, assault with a deadly weapon, false imprisonment, criminal threats and a misdemeanor violation of a domestic violence restraining order, according to the Clearlake Police Department.

At 10:22 p.m. Sunday, two Clearlake Police officers were dispatched to the 3300 block of 12th street on the report of a domestic violence incident that was in progress. Police reported that the reporting party told the dispatcher a male was beating a female and threatening to kill her.

Officers arrived on scene and heard glass breaking inside the residence. A male, later identified as Nelson, was heard yelling he was going to stab someone and a female voice was heard inside screaming “please stop,” police reported.

Through a window, officers observed Nelson on top of the female victim, with one hand raised. One officer ordered Nelson through an open window at gun point to show his hands while another officer entered the residence through the front door, due to the exigent circumstances, according to the police report.

As the officer made entry into the residence, he was met by an aggressive pit bull dog. Police said the dog advanced on the officer, growling and attempting to bite him.

The officer was forced to discharge his firearm at the dog to protect himself and safely make entry into the residence to provide assistance to the victim. The officer fired one shot, killing the dog as it was trying to attack him, Clearlake Police reported.

Officers then entered the residence and detained Nelson, according to the report.

Nelson  was transported to the Lake County Jail and booked, with bail set at $25,000, according to jail records.

Police said the dog was collected by officers to turn over to Clearlake Animal Control at the request of the female victim, whose name is being withheld due to privacy laws.

Neither officer was injured as a result of this confrontation, the Clearlake Police Department reported.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Hospice Services of Lake County is moving its clinical and administrative offices to its new location at 1862 Parallel Drive in Lakeport this week.

The new building is large enough to accommodate the staff, meeting rooms and storage space for records and equipment.

“We’ve been operating out of two office locations and multiple storage facilities in Lakeport for years and this is the first time we can consolidate everything and everyone into one location,” said Anja Koot, executive director of the agency.

Since 2009 the daily patient load has doubled. The increased demand for services caused the agency to outgrow its present space.

The Parallel Drive property was purchased in December 2012 and construction began in August 2013 after successfully working through the City of Lakeport planning process.

The building, originally a church, required a major remodel to convert the space to usable offices and storage space.

An 800-square-foot addition was incorporated in the remodel to provide a conference room that may be used for trainings and workshops, plus the construction of Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant bathrooms and a reception area.

The approved plans called for hookups to the city of Lakeport’s water and sewer systems plus code upgrades to the building.

The project has been completely funded through the operating budget, Koot said.

No donation money was used for the purchase or remodel costs of the building. Local contractors, subcontractors and suppliers were used whenever possible throughout the project, and materials were recycled, Koot reported.

Koot promised that there will be no interruption in services to its patients as a result of the move.

“The clinical staff has done a wonderful job preparing for this move and thought ahead for all possibilities that relate to patient care,” she said.

Hospices phone numbers will remain the same at the new location. For more information call 707-263-6222.