CLEARLAKE PARK, Calif. – Firefighters are battling a wildland fire in the Clearlake Park area.

The fire, dispatched just after 4 p.m., is reported to be located in the 11000 block of Patterson Drive at Lakeshore Drive.

Shortly after 5 p.m. the fire was estimated to have reached 25 acres, according to reports from the scene.

Just after 6 p.m., Cal Fire officials at the scene were estimating the fire had reached 30 acres and was 75 percent contained.

Lake County Fire Protection District, Cal Fire and Northshore Fire responded, according to radio reports.

The fire is reported to be moving rapidly uphill. Structures are reported to be in its path. The right flank of the fire is under power lines.

A total of three air tankers and two helicopters were reported to be assigned to the incident. A bulldozer was working the ridgeline.

The fire's large column of smoke was moving eastward over the city of Clearlake, resulting in numerous 911 calls reporting additional fires. However officials are reporting that it is the same fire.

County road officials responded to shut down Lakeshore Drive to through traffic as the firefighting effort continued.

Fire resources were anticipated to be on scene until between 11 p.m. and midnight.

Additional details will be posted as they become available.

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. – On Wednesday the California Highway Patrol issued a report on a Monday evening crash that injured two valley men.

The report said the crash victims were 27-year-old Anthony Hodges of Fair Oaks and Tyler Demeola, 31, of Sacramento.

Hodges was driving a 2007 Chevy Silverado pickup westbound on Highway 20 west of Cache Creek with Demeola as his passenger when the crash occurred at approximately 7:19 p.m., the CHP said.

The CHP said Hodges' pickup veered to the right and onto the dirt shoulder before striking a large tree. The pickup came to rest in a pasture north of Highway 20.

Both front airbags deployed, and Hodges and Demeola were both wearing seat belts at the time of the crash, according to the CHP report.

Hodges was flown to UC Davis Medical Center by a CalStar air ambulance, while Demeola was transported by REACH helicopter to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital. Both men had moderate injuries, the CHP said.

The CHP said alcohol is not suspected to have been a factor in the wreck, which is still under investigation.

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.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Lake County’s talented young people will get the chance to show off their hard-won musical skills on Sunday, June 9, when they perform at Lakeport’s Soper-Reese Community Theatre.

The concert, which begins at 3 p.m., will feature not only the acclaimed Clear Lake Performing Arts Youth Orchestra but also a performance by the CLPA String Class, made possible by a generous grant from the Lake County Wine Alliance.

The concert is sponsored by Clear Lake Performing Arts, with the Soper-Reese providing the venue free of charge.

Susan Condit, music director and conductor of the orchestra, has selected a program appropriate to the talents of her charges, opening with the K-2 Violin Class 1 playing two numbers “Motorcycles Stopping on the D Ladder” and “Hot Cross Buns.”

The next Violin Class 1 follows with “Ode to Joy” and “Are You Sleeping” while Violin Class 2 presents the “Brandenburg Concerto No. 5” and “Terra Nova.”

All of the pieces are from the instructional, manual “String Explorer” by well-known music educators Andrew Dabczynski, Richard Meyer and Bob Phillips.

“These youngsters will provide much of the basis for good music in our county as they graduate into the Youth Orchestra and, hopefully, the Symphony,” Condit said. “We sincerely hope the people in our community come to the concert to give them the recognition and encouragement they deserve.”

The full CLPA Youth Orchestra will introduce the first half of their program with Carold Nunez's “M to the Third Power,” a mixture of melodic and harmonic forms in D minor. It features rapid meter changes and shifting of accents, which makes for music that is interesting but also difficult to play.

The next number, “Tango Expressivo” by Matt Turner, is an energetic and passionate accompaniment for the most popular of the South American dances – the Tango.

As expected, it features a strong, rhythmic bass drive that complements the G-minor melody presented by the violin section.

“Cloudburst” by Carl Stommen is next, followed by the popular theme from “Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.” Entitled “May It Be,” it was written by Eithne Ni Bhraonain, Nicky Ryan and Roma Ryan, and arranged by Larry Moore. This half of the concert concludes with “Galena Milwaukee Breakdown” by Catherine McMichael.

The first half will end with a special recognition of individual student awards and accomplishments as well as presentations of the Allegro Music Scholarships by well-known local musician Thomas Ganoung, who underwrites the awards.

The concert’s second half opens with “Rondo Alla Turca” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart as arranged by Larry Clark, followed by “Theme from Canon in D” by Johann Pachelbel, arranged by John Caponegro, and another Mozart composition, Symphony No. 40, also arranged by John Caponegro.

“Crystallize” by popular young fiddler Lindsey Stirling, will feature a violin duet by concertmaster Clayton Rudiger and Edison Serena, with the finale the theme from “Les Miserables” written by Alain Boublil and Claude Michael Schonberg and arranged by Larry Moore.

Backing up the young musicians on the finale selection will be guest performers from the Lake County Symphony, violinists Andi Skelton and Sienna S’Zell; Jeff Ives, viola; Jerry Mundel, cello; Austin Ison, bass; and Patricia Jekel, flute. Anne Barquist also will assist on piano.

Admission to the concert is free for youths under 18, while others will be charged an admission fee of $5 to help defray costs of the concert, and also support CLPA’s youth music programs. Seating is on a “first come, first served” basis.

Ed Bublitz, president of Clear Lake Performing Arts, urges members as well as the general public to show up for the concert.

“I’m sure everyone will be impressed with the skills of the musicians but also their presence will be sure to be a confidence booster for them,” he said.

The Soper-Reese Community Theatre is located at 275 S. Main St., Lakeport.

Visit the theater online at www.soperreesetheatre.com .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Main Street Association has announced the appointment of Kathy Windrem to the position of executive director of the association.

Windrem will succeed outgoing Executive Director Carol Hays.

The executive director provides support and assists with implementing the goals and projects of the LMSA.

Areas of focus of the LMSA include economic development, historic preservation, business retention and recruitment, and promotion of tourism.

Windrem’s first projects as executive director will include the June Membership Drive, planning for Lakeport’s Fourth of July activities and working on the Taste of Lakeport event scheduled for Aug. 24.

Windrem is a nearly lifelong resident of Lake County who has spent many years working in both the private and public sector.

Her experience includes tasting room manager for Konocti Winery, elementary school teacher, site supervisor for Lake County Office of Education and many years’ active involvement with a variety of community organizations.

“I look forward to using my skills and interests to assist the Lakeport Main Street Association to realize its goals. Promoting economic development, historic preservation and a vibrant city has a major positive impact on Lakeport as well as the wider Lake County community,” explained Windrem.  

Windrem and her husband, Peter, have a small farm near Kelseyville where they raise winegrapes and hay.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake Planning Commission will host a public hearing on a proposal from a cell phone company to increase the number of antennas it has at a Clearlake location.

The commission will meet beginning at 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 4, in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.

Before the commission will be an application from US Cellular, which wants to amend its current use permit for antennas located at 15764 B Woods Ave., property which is owned by the Konocti County Water District.

City staff is recommending the commission approve the application, which would allow US Cellular to install three additional antennas and three additional coax lines to the existing cell facility at the location.

The staff report for the meeting said the three new antennas would be located on existing water district towers.

US Cellular's current use permit on file, approved by the commission in 2003, consisted of the installation of a wireless communication facility on one of three existing municipal water storage tanks, and included nine directionally mounted antennas, two global positioning satellite antennas and associated electronics housed within a 350-square-foot shelter, according to city documents.

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.

060413 Clearlake Planning Commission - US Cellular application

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Demolition of the remains of the Lake County landmark is under way and expected to be completed soon, with the property's owner looking for new uses for the location.

The damaged shell of the main Wisedas Resort building at 14375 Lakeshore Drive, which burned Feb. 17, began to come down last week after months of work by property owner Ed Meyer and local agencies to finalize the demolition plan.

The resort was once a popular spot in Clearlake, but in recent years had not been open for business.

Meyer told Lake County News that remediation of the property – including engineering and demolition – is estimated to cost between $200,000 and $250,000.

Those costs, in addition to rebuilding, are being paid for directly by the Meyer Family Trust, as the building's insurer, the Scottsdale Insurance Co., has only given the trust $20,000 to date. Meyer alleged that the company has used continual delay tactics to avoid paying the claim on the building.

“This has been a traumatic experience for me,” said Meyer.

Clearlake City Manager Joan Philippe said a number of agencies – Lake County Fire Protection, Lake County Air Quality Management District, Lake County Environmental Health, Lake County Health Services, Clearlake Public Works and California Department of Fish and Wildlife – were involved in determining what had to happen in terms of the demolition and property cleanup before the city issued Meyer a demolition permit.

Because of asbestos, lead paint and other hazardous materials found on the site – issues that resulted from the age of the building – Philippe said appropriate mitigations needed to be put in place. Those included analysis by an environmental engineer, which then required review by the local agencies.

In the months since the fire, local agencies have been involved in monitoring the site. Philippe said Lake County Fire had done some testing there, and Lake County Air Quality Management District and Lake County Environmental Health officials also said they had been involved with testing or monitoring activities.

“With a burned out property, there are always concerns,” said Lake County Air Pollution Control Officer Doug Gearhart.

Gearhart said his agency had monitored air quality for particulates a short distance from the property. During windstorms earlier this spring, they were particularly concerned about dry material blowing off the side of the building. While there were some particulate spikes, Gearhart said nothing exceeded health standards.

Ray Ruminksi, director of Lake County Environmental Health, said after initial monitoring his department was not doing ongoing activities at the site. After the fire, he said they did work with the fire department to collect samples of debris and run off. He said they would increase their involvement if there were problems with the cleanup.

Meyer told Lake County News that he has only owned the building since last August.

A mediator and arbitrator who works in Hollywood, Meyer came across the resort while researching properties within the state that he said fit the mold of Konocti Harbor Resort and Spa, with an entertainment angle.

One of the draws, said Meyer, was that the property has a dormant card room casino license. That license, he said, could potentially be moved to another property. “That has a lot of value,” he said.

He said that since Wisedas burned he's been contacted by people interested in purchasing the card room license.

Meyer said he also is involved with a foundation that offers activities for disadvantaged Southern California children, which is seeking locations where the children can go for outings.

Meyer, who is from Malibu, drove up to Clearlake with his son to check the property out. He said when they toured it, the building's downstairs had been refurbished, and there were new bathrooms and a dance floor.

Eventually he decided to purchase the building, but added, “I didn't have any grandiose plans” for running anything at the location.

“The use of the property is not for any financial gain,” Meyer said.

It would turn out that Meyer – in the six months he owned the building – did not have the chance to establish a new use for it.

As for what might lie ahead for the lakeside property, there are various potential options, according to Meyer.

In an email sent to Phillipe on Monday, Meyer said he wanted to immediately begin the process for applying for permits for a new building. He said he had selected a contractor, Williams-Scotsman which has drawings already in place and that he was prepared to begin rebuilding immediately.

He said Monday that he has a standing offer from a motel operator who is interested in having Meyer build a facility to suit a franchised motel operation, which the operator would then lease from Meyer.

Meyer said he's not yet sure of what he may do with the remaining motel building that's being left on the property. He said that it likely would be replaced if he goes with a build-to-suit plan for a new motel at the site.

In another Monday email to Phillipe, Meyer said he was willing to field an immediate offer of a long-term, 100-year lease or outright purchase of the entire property or part of it by the city of Clearlake, which has a park property next door.

“An offer from the City of Clearlake, which includes a Bass Fishing Museum on the property, would enormously please the Trust. Also, the Trust would like to see evidence of community input, as to what the City would/should do with the site,” he said in the email.

Meyer said that in March he had spoken with Phillipe and Clearlake Public Works Director Doug Herren separately and at length about several different potential uses, including a possible city lease or purchase of the land.

Outside of the Monday email about rebuilding, Phillipe told Lake County News that she had not had any discussion with Meyer about his specific plans for rebuilding at the site, and that she didn't know what he was proposing and whether it would fit with current zoning.

Philippe said that until she knows what he's proposing, she was hesitant to say how long it would take for Meyer to process a building application, “particularly with the back portion of the resort not being demolished and what his intentions are for that building.”

She added, “He had at one point indicated he wanted to talk with the city about possibly using the site for parking but I haven’t had any further indication from him that he might still be interested in that idea. It seems that may no longer be the case with this recent e-mail.”

Shortly after the Feb. 17 fire that damaged the building, police arrested a homeless man, Richard Teruel, 35, who along with other homeless had reportedly been staying in the building. At the time the fire Teruel allegedly made comments to witnesses claiming that he set the building on fire.

Teruel is set for a preliminary hearing on June 12, according to Chief Deputy District Attorney Richard Hinchcliff.

Teruel originally admitted to police that he set the fire, but since then authorities have received conflicting accounts from witnesses about where Teruel was at the time the fire started, Hinchcliff said.

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.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Assemblymember Mariko Yamada (D-Davis) will again partner with local food banks in her district to highlight the problem of food insecurity as she takes the “Hunger Challenge” June 3-7.

This is the fifth consecutive year Yamada has participated as a state legislator.

June is National Hunger Awareness Month and Yamada takes up her annual challenge to live for one week on the nation's average Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) budget.

This year, the allotment is $4.98 per day for five days, or $1.66 per meal, a temporary increase over previous years.

This federal program, known in California as CalFresh, will be the subject of her blog describing the challenges of preparing tasty and nutritious meals on the same food budget as millions of other Americans.

According to the latest numbers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, more than two million households in California have experienced food insecurity—defined as being unsure of where their next meal will come from.

 In the six counties represented by Assembly District 4 – Colusa, Lake, Napa, Solano, Sonoma and Yolo – an estimated $105,750,000 in 100 percent federal benefits is lost because of underenrollment.

"Hunger is a daily reality for millions of Californians," said Yamada. "Children, the elderly, the disabled, and students are the faces of hunger amidst plenty. While my annual hunger challenge lasts for just one week, far too many struggle with hunger every day.”

Yamada purchased the following five days’ worth of groceries using the $4.98 per day SNAP budget at her local Safeway on June 2: one loaf of wheat bread for $ .99; one package of chicken thighs for $2.95; 1 package of brown rice for $1.79; one zucchini squash for $.79; three Roma tomatoes for $1.23; overripe bananas for $.73; one package of pasta for $.99; one jar of pasta sauce for $.99; one can of tuna for $1.00; three yogurts for $3; one package of American cheese for $1.99; one-half gallon of orange juice for $2.50; one pound of coffee for $3.99; one Odwalla bar at $1.

The total of her purchases was $23.94 with a reserve of $.96.

Despite the high rates of hunger among Americans, the House of Representatives recently passed a Farm Bill reauthorization that could cut $20 billion from SNAP/CalFresh over 10 years, limiting access to the program for millions of Americans.

Sequestration, the automatic federal spending cuts imposed in the absence of a federal budget deal, will make food insecurity even more acute for California’s elderly as hundreds of thousands of dollars have been cut from senior nutritional programs.

“We should remind those in Washington about the tough decisions working families are forced to make every day,” Yamada said. “Parents are choosing between rent and food for their children; seniors are choosing between food and medicine.”

Follow Assemblymember Yamada as she writes about her experiences living on $4.98 per day on the Solano & Contra Costa County Food Bank Web site, http://www.foodbankccs.org/index.php . 

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Two men were flown to regional trauma centers Monday evening following a single vehicle crash along Highway 20 east of Clearlake Oaks.

The California Highway Patrol said the wreck happened shortly before 7:30 p.m. on Highway 20 just west of Cache Creek.

Northshore Fire Deputy Chief Pat Brown said the two men – whose names he did not have for release – were injured when the white full-size, extended cab pickup in which they were traveling crashed into a walnut tree.

The driver told authorities he was reaching for a cell phone when he lost control of the vehicle, according to Brown.

Two air ambulances were dispatched to the crash scene, based on radio reports.

The first helicopter, REACH 6, lifted off for Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital shortly after 8 p.m., while CalStar 4 lifted for UC Davis Medical Center just after 8:30 p.m., radio reports indicated.

The CHP's initial reports from the scene said the men had major injuries, however Brown described their injuries as moderate in nature.

In addition to the CHP and Northshore Fire, Cal Fire also responded to the incident, said Brown.

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.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – A Lake County supervisor helped take a jail escapee into custody on Friday.

Supervisor Rob Brown confirmed to Lake County News that he helped catch the inmate who escaped from the facility late Friday night.

He identified the inmate as Anthony Ray Castro, 45, of Kelseyville, a jail trustee whose booking sheet said he was being held on misdemeanor drug and felony vandalism charges.

Brown, who also works as a bail bondsman, was at the jail to do a bail transaction, he said.

“And then I saw correctional officers running out” of the jail, he said.

Brown said he asked one of the correctional officers what was going on, and the officer told him there was an escape.

The officers began searching the outside of the jail, said Brown.

Based on information from the officers about where they had last seen Castro, Brown said he decided to drive down Hill Road.

As Brown drove down Hill Road and south of the jail, out of sight of the searching correctional officers, he saw Castro crouching down by the side of the road, wearing the recognizable blue trustee attire.

Brown said he got out of his truck in order to detain Castro.

“There was a little bit of a scuffle,” he said.

They went to the ground in the struggle but Brown was able to detain Castro, he said. Brown estimated that about 30 seconds later some correctional officers ran up and handcuffed Castro.

Castro was then taken to nearby Sutter Lakeside Hospital to be checked out, said Brown.

Brown, who frequently has to detain people in his line of work, was not injured in the struggle despite the fact that he not exactly dressed for the occasion – he was in a t-shirt, shorts and flip flops.

Brown said he didn't want to take anything away from the work of the correctional officers. “This is what the correctional staff do every day,” he said.

Sheriff's command staff did not return messages seeking comment left by Lake County News.

Late last year Brown also helped catch a drunk driver who he spotted while traveling to a wrestling match with Kelseyville High School wrestlers.

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.

MENDOCINO COUNTY, Calif. – Mendocino County officials are attempting to locate a Redondo Beach man whose abandoned vehicle was found over the weekend in a remote area near Willits.

Erik Swan Lamberg, 51, was reported missing to Mendocino County Sheriff's officials on the night of Wednesday, May 29, according to Lt. Shannon Barney.

Barney said a family member reported that Lamberg was experiencing difficulties with his vehicle when she last spoke to him on Sunday, May 26, around 11:30 p.m.

At that time Lamberg had his vehicle, a silver 2004 Honda Odyssey, towed to Laytonville after it broke down in Leggett, said Barney.

Barney said Lamberg had the vehicle repaired and stayed two nights at a local hotel in Laytonville, at which time he phoned his family and said he was “fine.” His family has not seen or heard from Lamberg since.

A missing persons case was taken and a “be on the lookout” issued to all Northern California law enforcement agencies. Backspace, Barney said.

Mendocino County deputies later confirmed Lamberg's vehicle was repaired by a local mechanic and he had stayed in the motel for two nights, but had checked out on Tuesday, May 28, according to Barney.

On Saturday, June 1, the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office received a report of an abandoned vehicle approximately 20 miles west of Willits on Sherwood Road. Barney said deputies responded and located Lamberg's vehicle.

Barney said it appeared the vehicle had gotten stuck in a ditch in the road and was abandoned. Search efforts around the vehicle were conducted but Lamberg was not located. The vehicle was towed to clear the road.

Lamberg is described as a white male with sandy blond hair and blue eyes. He is 6 feet, 5 inches tall and weighs approximately 200 pounds. Barney said it is unknown what clothing Lamberg had on when he went missing.

His family told authorities that Lamberg may be experiencing mental health issues but has shown no violent tendencies in the past, according to Barney.

The Mendocino County Sheriff's Office is requesting anyone who has information or who might have seen Lamberg to contact the Sheriff's Dispatch Center at 707-463-4086.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A community group is doing its part to help bring increased medical services to Lake County.

Representatives of St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake administration and members of the Rotary Club of Clearlake met last Thursday, May 30, for a presentation of the second $5,000 installment of the $25,000 pledge, made by the Rotary Club of Clearlake to the new emergency department.

“The Rotary Club of Clearlake is proud to do our part to bring a state-of-the-art emergency medical facility to our community” said Rotary Club of Clearlake President Bill MacDougall. "This is a much needed improvement that will benefit our entire community.”

The new emergency department is being built from the ground up, according to hospital officials.

When completed, the project will more than double the size of the current emergency department and have a total of 12 private patient rooms, including two rooms designated for trauma.  

State-of-the-art equipment, a new board certified medical staff, private ambulance bay and walk in entrances are a few of the enhanced services the new emergency department offers.

“The support of our community members and organizations, such as Rotary, is greatly valued,” said David Santos, vice president of operations at St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake. “Our new emergency department is designed to meet the needs of our community members.”

Naming opportunities are available. If you are interested in learning more or making a donation, contact our St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake Development Office at 707-995-5678.

For more information about the hospital visit www.sthelenahospitals.org .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – In the high valleys, benches and ridgelines of the Mayacamas and Vaca Mountains, the terroir of Lake County reveals wine of great quality, intensity and typicity.  

Once again, the opportunity to professionally evaluate the wine from this distinct region has arrived and every winery producing wine from a least 75 percent Lake County grapes is encouraged to enter the 2013 Lake County Wine Awards Competition.

Entry forms and guidelines may be found at www.lakecowineawards.org . Entries will be accepted until Friday, June 14.

An esteemed panel of judges, led by Ray Johnson, director of the Lake County Wine Awards Competition, director of Sonoma State University’s Wine Business Institute and Assistant director of the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, will convene at Brassfield Estate Winery July 10-12 to perform the professional blind judging.

The panel includes:

• Deborah Parker Wong, tasting panel editor;
• Mike Dunne, Sacramento Bee wine writer;
• Martha Dunne, Winegigs.com creator and writer;
• John Buechenstein, Culinary Institute of America and UC Davis Extention wine educator;
• Don Neel, Practical Winery & Vineyard editor;
• Catherine Fallis, San Francisco’s premiere female master sommelier;
• Lee Reinsimar, Dean and Deluca Wine and Spirits buyer;
• Bob Ecker, Chicago Tribune, Dallas Morning News, Decanter, and others, freelance writer;
• Christopher Sawyer, Carneros Bistro & Wine Bar sommelier;
• Joel Riddel, Dining Around with Joel Riddell, host and executive producer.

Each gold medal recipient will have the opportunity to feature their wines at the Lake County Wine Awards Dinner at Twin Pines Casino on Wednesday, July 17, where the Best in Show Awards will be announced.  

In addition, the top three medal winners in each category will advance to the People’s Choice Competition held at the Lake County Fair on Saturday, Aug. 31.

Limited sponsorship opportunities are available for the 2013 People’s Choice Competition. Contact Jacquelyn Farrington, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , or Megan Hoberg, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , for more information.