NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena) announced Monday that $2 million in emergency relief funds from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is being allocated to help the California Department of Transportation and local agencies cover repair costs for infrastructure damaged by the Aug. 24 earthquake.

“This earthquake severely damaged a lot of our infrastructure and these funds will go a long way towards helping our community recover,” said Thompson. “I will continue working with the DOT and all federal agencies to make sure our district gets the emergency resources we need to rebuild and recover.”

Caltrans has identified numerous locations with damage to bridges and roadways, with preliminary cost estimates already totaling at least $10 million at this time.

The earthquake caused widespread surface cracking on roadways, such as S.R. 121 north of the Sonoma/Napa County line at Cuttings Wharf, and significant stress to joints on bridges, including the Napa River Bridge on S.R. 29.

All bridges are safe and open to traffic. The state’s primary focus is determining whether bridge joints should be repaired or replaced.

On Sunday, a magnitude-6.0 earthquake struck the Napa and Solano County area at approximately 3:20 a.m.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the epicenter was three miles from American Canyon, six miles from Napa, and eight miles from Sonoma.

The earthquake was the largest to hit the Bay Area in 25 years.

Gov. Brown has declared a state of emergency, as have the Napa County Boards of Supervisors and the city of Napa.

Thompson represents California’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Lake County's premier family event, the Lake County Fair, is set to open this week.

This year's event runs from Thursday, Aug. 28, through Sunday, Aug. 31.

Lake County Fair is one of Lake County's favorite summertime events, and is enjoyed by nearly 40,000 people each year. The fair features a variety of entertainment, food, exhibits, a carnival, and livestock shows.

This year's fair theme is “Hot August Family Fun!”

The fair parade, the kick-off event for the annual Lake County Fair, takes place on Thursday, Aug. 28.

The parade starts at 5:30 p.m. at Natural High in Lakeport, travels south on Main Street, and ends at the main gate to the fairgrounds with the ribbon cutting ceremony, led by Grand Marshals Phil and Toni Scully.

Upon arrival at the main gate, everyone who enters the parade with a float will receive free entry to the fair.

Special features for the 2014 fair include the Walk on the Wild Side exotic animal displays, a canned food drive, the annual Junior Livestock Auction, and more than 3,500 exhibits entered in various competitions.

Fairgoers also can expect appearances by a variety of local musical acts and attractions on two stages, as well as clowns, magicians, and other strolling performers.

Fiesta Latina activities will take place on the Lake County News Stage area on Sunday, Aug. 31.

Events in the grandstand arena include the Lake County BMX Bicycle stunt show and UTV races on Thursday, the Mendo Lake Mudd Bog Nationals race on Friday, the WGAS Cal State Tuff Truck Finals on Saturday, and the Lakeport/Ukiah Bomber Series Finale on Sunday.

All grandstand shows start at 7:30 p.m.

Local participants also are encouraged on all nights.

Sponsors include St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake, Twin Pine Casino and Hotel, Robinson Rancheria Resort and Casino, and the Lake County Tribal Health Consortium.
 
Live local entertainment occurs continuously on two stages.

The Lake County News Stage will showcase national touring act Twice As Good on Saturday at 8 p.m.

Other local acts, including the LC Diamonds, The Funky Dozen and the Fargo Brothers also will play the main stage.

The Mediacom Stage will host a variety of acts including Travis Rinker, Michael Barrish, and the Cherry Road Gang.

The annual Lake County Talent Competition will take place on Saturday evening, and is presented by Robinson Rancheria Resort and Casino.
 
A special appearance by the Air Force Band will occur on Sunday, Aug. 31, with sets at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

Fair buildings and grounds swell to bursting with the thousands of displays made, grown, or raised for entry by talented residents both young and young at heart.

Entries for judging in the fair include most types of fine arts, home arts and crafts, photography, amateur wine and beer, many types of agriculture and floriculture, livestock, small animals, and horses.

Walk on contests this year include a car hop competition, a “hot tamale” contest, a “cool shades” contest, and a “best dressed flip flops” contest. Horse and wagon rides will be provided free of charge.

The annual Junior Livestock Auction takes place on Saturday, Aug. 30, at 1 p.m. in the Baldwin Pavilion.

Businesses and individuals are invited to bid on the prize-winning livestock raised and exhibited by local youth. Various livestock species are displayed throughout the fair, including swine, beef, sheep, goat and horse exhibits from local 4-H and FFA exhibitors.

Small animals are represented as well, with chickens, turkeys, rabbits and cavies all residing in the barn areas.

Also in the Baldwin Pavilion, the annual round robin contests pit the best showmen and showwomen in each species against each other to be named the best showperson of the Fair. The round robin takes place at 6 p.m. on Saturday, immediately following the Livestock Auction.

Regular admission prices for the 2014 Lake County Fair are unchanged from 2011. Prices are $10 for a regular ticket, $6 for a senior over age 60, and $6 for children ages 6 through 11. Children under 6 years old are admitted free every day. Children through age 11 are admitted for $3 on Thursday, Aug. 28, only, for “Kid's Day.”
 
A special admission program is in place for Sunday, Aug. 31. Anyone who brings four cans of food to the gate between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. will receive free admission, with the food benefiting local food pantries through Lake County CAN.

Visit the Lake County Fair online at www.lakecountyfair.com or like the fair on Facebook.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Fair Board has named local pear industry leaders Toni and Phil Scully the grand marshals of the 2014 Lake County Fair parade.

Each year the board of directors selects individuals who have had a large and significant impact on Lake County.

“Phil and I are deeply touched to be honored by the fair like this,” said Toni Scully. “Lake County has been a wonderful place to live and raise a family, and we never expected anything like this.”

The fair parade is the kickoff event for the annual Lake County Fair. The 2014 fair theme is “Hot August Family Fun!”

The Scullys will lead the parade, which this year will begin at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28.

The parade route starts at Natural High in Lakeport, travels south on Main Street, and ends at the main gate to the fairgrounds, where the Scullys will cut the ribbon and declare the Lake County Fair open for another year.

In 1974, Toni and Phil Scully moved their young family to Lake County when Phil became manager of Mt. Konocti Growers. Together, they have been a Lake County institution ever since.
 
While at Konocti Growers, Phil Scully pioneered the practice of packing pears from earlier districts, thus extending the season and increasing the product lines for Lake County packing houses.

In 1984 Phil and Toni formed Scully Packing Co. and leased the Lolita Packing House, which was the oldest operating shed in the county. They purchased the facility two years later and over the years have transformed it into a state-of-the-art pear packing facility.

With the facility now in its 31st season, the couple's sons, Pat and Andy, share in the ownership and management of the family business.

Scully Packing Co. packs, stores, ships and markets the pears grown by 10 Lake County farming families as well as farming families from the Sacramento Delta and Mendocino County.

During the peak season of pear harvest, Scully Packing Co. employs approximately 450 workers, of which more than 30 are current high school students.
 
Phil Scully has been a strong advocate for Lake County pears throughout his career, and is known in the industry as an honest, dependable marketer with an excellent product to sell. 

He has served on the boards of the California Grape and Tree Fruit League and the CA Pear Advisory Board, and serves on the finance committee of St. Mary's Church.
 
Toni Scully has been selected as a recipient of the 2014 Common Threads Award. The award recognizes Northern California women who have deep roots in agriculture and have chosen to make a difference in their communities through their contribution of time, talent and treasure.

She worked tirelessly with local leaders, school district administrators, and Congressman Mike Thompson to pass a bill that would allow local teens the chance to work in the harvest and packing sheds during pear season. Since its inception in 1996 the bill has been renewed every year.

Toni Scully has also been a staunch advocate of farming practices and programs that protect the health and safety of local and migrant farm employees. She made national headlines in 2006 – including the front page of the New York Times – when Lake County and other California farming areas were up against a severe labor shortage during harvest.

She worked with California Senator Diane Feinstein in support of the AgJobs bill, a farm labor law that would provide agricultural employers with a stable, legal labor force while protecting farmworkers.
 
Her other achievements include being named Woman of the Year by Wes Chesbro of the Second Senate District in 2006; Lake County Farm Bureau Presidents’ Club member for 23 years; membership in the California Grape and Tree Fruit League since 1984, where she serves as a director and active member of its legislative committee; grower spokesperson for the California tree fruit industry; and charter member of the Lake County California Women for Agriculture chapter, serving as its president from 2010-11, and currently serving as vice president.
 
Phil and Toni Scully just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. They have have raised four children in Lakeport, and they have nine grandchildren.
 
Regular admission prices for the 2014 Lake County Fair are $10 for a regular ticket, $6 for a senior over age 60 and $6 for children ages 6 through 11.

Children under 6 years old are admitted free every day. Children through age 11 are admitted for $3 only on Thursday, Aug. 28, for “Kid's Day.”
 
The Lake County Fair traditionally occurs Labor Day weekend each year at the fairgrounds in Lakeport. The 2014 fair dates are Thursday, Aug. 28, through Sunday, Aug. 31.

Lake County Fair is one of Lake County's favorite summertime events, and is enjoyed by nearly 40,000 people each year. The fair features a variety of entertainment, food, exhibits, a carnival and livestock shows.

Visit the fair online at www.lakecountyfair.com .

LUCERNE, Calif. – A weekend power outage led to Monday classes being canceled for Lucerne Elementary students.

Lucerne Elementary School, the Lake County Office of Education Preschool and after school programs were impacted by the Monday closure, according to school officials.

Lisa Cockerton, Lucerne Elementary's business manager, said a Pacific Gas and Electric transformer was triggering brownouts, which led to the weekend power outage.

The power loss to the school caused food in the kitchen's refrigerator to spoil, affected the phone system and the student database, Cockerton said.

PG&E fixed the issue on Sunday, but due to the need to replace the spoiled food and deal with the database, school was put off a day, according to Cockerton.

On Monday, the school received deliveries of new milk and produce, and the Lake County Office of Education worked on the school's computer services, Cockerton said.

Cockerton said Lucerne Elementary's 260 students have a 180-day school year, which can drop to as few as 175 days, according to state standards. She said the district is planning to adjust to a 179-day calendar to make up for the lost time.

All of the issues are being resolved so students can get back to class on Tuesday, she said.

“All the lights are on and everything is functional, so we are good to go,” Cockerton 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.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – This week Lake County Animal Care and Control has another full house of summertime kittens available for adoption.

The kittens are all 8 weeks old, with the shelter also having a 3-year-old adult cat cleared to go to a new home.

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”).

Male gray tabby kitten

This male gray tabby kitten is 8 weeks old.

He has green eyes and a short coat, and has not yet been neutered.

He's in cat room kennel No. 12a, ID No. 40660.

Female gray tabby kitten

This female gray tabby kitten is 8 weeks old.

She has green eyes and a short coat, and has not yet been spayed.

She's in cat room kennel No. 12b, ID No. 40661.

Black male kitten

This black male kitten is 8 weeks old.

He has green eyes and a short coat, and has not yet been neutered.

Find him in cat room kennel No. 12c, ID No. 40662.

Black female kitten

This black female kitten is 8 weeks old.

She has green eyes and a short coat, and has not yet been spayed.

She's in cat room kennel No. 12d, ID No. 40663.

Black male kitten

This black male kitten is 8 weeks old.

He has green eyes and a short black and white coat, and has not yet been neutered.

Find him in cat room kennel No. 12e, ID No. 40664.

'Bob'

“Bob” is a 3-year-old orange tabby.

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

He's in cat room kennel No. 66, ID No. 40641.

Female gray tabby kitten

This female gray tabby kitten is 8 weeks old.

She has a short coat and gold eyes, and has not yet been spayed.

The kitten is in foster, ID No. 40610.

Male gray tabby kitten

This male gray and white tabby kitten is 8 weeks old.

He has a short coat and gold eyes, and has not yet been neutered.

The kitten is in foster, ID No. 40611.

Black male kitten

This black male kitten is 8 weeks old.

He has a short coat and gold eyes, and has not yet been neutered.

The kitten is in foster, ID No. 40612.

Female tuxedo kitten

This female tuxedo kitten is 8 weeks old.

She has a short coat and gold eyes, and has not yet been spayed.

The kitten is in foster, ID No. 40613.

Torbie kitten

This torbie kitten is 8 weeks old.

She has a short coat and gold eyes, and has not yet been spayed.

The kitten is in foster, ID No. 40614.

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.

“I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore … I hear it in the deep heart's core.” – William Butler Yeats

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Limnologists tell us that our county's namesake, Clear Lake, is thought to be around a half a million years old – one of the oldest lakes in North America.

Since the 1960s its waters have been getting clearer. This has allowed sunlight to pierce its surface deep into the waters, which then allows rooted plants to grow and thrive, reaching the top of Clear Lake's relatively shallow waters. This can make recreation on the lake difficult in some areas.

Clear Lake's vast 44,000 acres of surface waters sits complacent among the parched yellow hills. With a ribbon-like smoothness a kayak can glide silently over its ancient surface.

From Clear Lake State Park, which requires a nominal day-use fee, you can launch your kayak from the boat ramp. If you head west you will meet up with Cole Creek, then Kelsey Creek. 

Kelsey Creek is an important tributary of the Big Valley watershed. One of Lake County's native fish species, the Clear Lake hitch, once ran thick in these creeks. They can be seen during their spawning runs each year in March and April.

In times past the hitch were so prolific that the creek was congested with millions of fish. They are a species of particular concern today, as their population is dwindling. In fact, the State Fish and Game Commission recently granted “threatened” status to Clear Lake hitch under the California Endangered Species Act.

Now paddle east to Cole Creek's mouth and keep heading east toward Mount Konocti. This geological formation is a dormant multi-peaked volcano.

Hugging the shore, you need to watch for algae mats and rocks which are more visible during drought conditions.

You are entering Clear Lake State Park's swim beach, then on to Dorn Bay. This is a great place for wildlife and bird-watching. Here you will observe bubbling volcanic gases rising to the surface of Clear Lake from the carbonated water at the bottom of the lake.

As you keep paddling you come to Soda Bay, where even more volcanic bubbling action occurs. The two small islands you will soon see in Soda Bay are where the historic Soda Bath Springs were utilized in the early 1900s.

Back then, the Soda Bay Resort had a walkway from the resort on the mainland to the soda baths. The resort and the walkway were destroyed by fire in 1940. 

It was quite fashionable for the health conscious to “take the waters” here at Soda Bath Springs in the early 1900s. There were many, many hot spring resorts in Lake County back then, such as Seigler Springs and Howard Hot Springs.

Then, there was a bath house erected around the lake's springs for bathing in the healing waters. Now, there are signs warning of the dangers of breathing in too much of the released gases, and the bath house's cement walls are all that remain of the structure.

In the old days, some bathers became asphyxiated due to a buildup of carbon dioxide and an oxygen shortage. The Bureau of Land Management now oversees this area.

Kathleen Scavone, M.A., is an educator, potter, writer and author of “Anderson Marsh State Historic Park: A Walking History, Prehistory, Flora, and Fauna Tour of a California State Park” and “Native Americans of Lake County.” She also writes for NASA and JPL as one of their “Solar System Ambassadors.” She was selected “Lake County Teacher of the Year, 1998-99” by the Lake County Office of Education, and chosen as one of 10 state finalists the same year by the California Department of Education.

NICE, Calif. – The former Nice Frostie building provided a training location for the Northshore Fire Protection District Saturday morning.

Battalion Chief Mike Ciancio explained that the district had been notified that demolition was imminent and hurried to utilize the building.

As fire crews trained, former Nice Frostie owner Judy Swenson Thompson stopped by to observe the training. Swenson Thompson had owned and operated the business for 35 years.

The building is slated for demolition on Tuesday or Thursday of this week, Ciancio said.

The site will become the site for a new Dollar General store.

Dollar General Corp., based in Goodlettsville, Tenn., is planning the stores in Clearlake Oaks and Nice, company spokeswoman Jaclyn Dees confirmed to Lake County News in May.

THIS STORY HAS BEEN UPDATED.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – A 6.0-magnitude quake early Sunday morning was centered in Napa County but felt by thousands of people around Northern California.

The US Geological Survey said the quake occurred at 3:20 a.m.

The quake's epicenter was located three miles northwest of American Canyon, five miles south southwest of Napa and eight miles north northwest of Vallejo, at a depth of 6.7 miles, the survey reported.

Within about an hour and a half after the quake occurred, the US Geological Survey had received nearly 3,000 shake reports from around Northern California and even Nevada.

Clearlake and Hidden Valley Lake residents were among those filing the reports, according to the survey.

Marisa Chilafoe, Lake County's Office of Emergency Services manager, was monitoring the situation early Sunday.

“There have been no immediate reports of damage or injury and the Lake County Office of Emergency Services remains engaged in the incident,” she told Lake County News.

On social media, Napa County residents reported damage to homes, broken glass and gas leaks.

Lake County residents on Facebook and Twitter – some of whom said the quake jolted them from sleep – described the quake as long and rolling.

The US Geological Survey rated the quake's shaking as “violent,” with potential for heavy structure damage.

The California Highway Patrol early Sunday reported defective traffic signals in areas in Napa County along Highway 121 and Highway 29, cracked and elevated roadway sections on Old Sonoma Highway and Old Sonoma Road, and trees and rocks in some roadways.

Pacific Gas and Electric's online outage center was reporting a number of electrical outages around the North Coast at around the time the quake occurred.

Shake reports can be submitted to the US Geological Survey at http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/nc72282711#dyfi_form .

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. – Lake County Animal Care and Control this week has another group of dogs from a variety of breeds and backgrounds.

The dogs – six males and two females – include mixes of German Shepherd, boxer, golden retriever, pit bull, Shih Tzu, Manchester Terrier, toy fox terrier and Catahoula Leopard Dog.

Dogs that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are either neutered or spayed, microchipped and, if old enough, given a rabies shot and county license 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 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 dogs at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption (additional dogs on the animal control Web site not listed are still “on hold”).

'Jo Jo'

“Jo Jo” is a 3-year-old male terrier-Shih Tzu mix.

He has a long brown and white coat, and green eyes, weighs nearly 14 pounds and has been neutered.

According to shelter staff, Jo Jo – who currently is in a foster home – is very sweet but timid until he warms up to you. He would make a great companion for a lonely adult or home with not a lot of action. He is affectionate and is full of personality.

Rottweiler-golden retriever mix pup

This female Rottweiler-golden retriever mix puppy is 12 weeks old.

She has a short black coat and brown eyes, and has been spayed.

She's in kennel No. 3c, ID No. 40411.

Male Manchester Terrier mix

This male Manchester Terrier mix is 10 years old.

He has a short black and brown coat, weighs 16 pounds and has been neutered.

He's in kennel No. 5, ID No. 40653.

Male German Shepherd mix

This male German Shepherd mix is 3 years old.

He has a medium-length black and tan coat, weighs 74 pounds and has not been neutered.

Find him in kennel No. 7, ID No. 40646.

'Chief'

“Chief” is a 1-year-old Catahoula Leopard Dog mix.

He has a short black and gray coat, weighs 60 pounds and has not been neutered.

He's in kennel No. 10, ID No. 40505.

'Snap'

“Snap” is a 1-year-old male pit bull terrier-boxer mix.

He has a short white coat, weighs 67 pounds and has not been neutered.

He's in kennel No. 16, ID No. 40550.

'Honey'

“Honey” is a 10-year-old toy fox terrier.

She has a short brown and white coat, and floppy ears. Shelter staff did not report if she has been spayed.

Find her in kennel No. 31, ID No. 40582.

Male pit bull terrier mix

This male pit bull terrier mix is 2 years old.

He has a short brown coat and weighs 68 pounds. Shelter staff did not report if he has been altered.

Find him in kennel No. 34, ID No. 40504.

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.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Military Funeral Honors Team of Lake County will conduct a dedication ceremony for newly placed markers on the graves of three veterans of the Civil War on Saturday, Aug. 30.

The special dedication will take place beginning at 11 a.m. at Hartley Cemetery, 2552 Hill Road East.

The public is cordially invited to attend the dedication ceremony.

There are six unmarked graves of Civil War veterans buried at Hartley Cemetery.

The remaining three will be similarly honored when family members are located and contacted. The Veterans Administration requires a request from a family member to provide a headstone for a veteran.

This is the second such ceremony in recent months, the team reported.

Last October, a ceremony was held at Middletown Cemetery for a veteran of the Civil War, Union soldier Pvt. Lorenzo T. Adams, whose grave had gone unmarked and eventually covered over by brush.

It was discovered by a descendant of the veteran who was searching for it as part of her research into her family heritage. The Lake County Historical Society enlisted community volunteers to assist in the search.

The Lake County Veterans Service Office ordered a marble gravestone from the Veterans Administration and had it set at the grave. The Military Funeral Honors Team provided a well-attended dedication ceremony to honor Adams.

The full story about the ceremony can be found at http://bit.ly/1ed0N6L .

The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2015 in Lakeport has embarked upon a project to identify and record the burial place of all military veterans in Lake County. Post Historian Darrel Bittle, a Vietnam veteran, has undertaken this monumental task.

The Aug. 30 ceremony honoring the marking of three previously unmarked graves of Civil War Veterans buried in Hartley Cemetery represents Bittle's latest efforts in this project.

Thus far, the graves of more than 2,790 veterans of American wars ranging from the War of 1812 to the present have been located and cataloged.

Included are veterans from the following wars: War of 1812, Black Hawk War of 1832, Mexican American War, Civil War, Spanish American War, World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, as well as recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. A digital pictorial record of the gravestones is being compiled.

HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE, Calif. – The California Highway Patrol is seeking witnesses to an early Saturday morning bicycle crash that seriously injured a Hidden Valley Lake man.

Daniel Renninger, 21, suffered major injuries in the crash, which occurred at 1:45 a.m. Saturday, according to a report from the CHP's Clear Lake Area office.

The report explained that CHP Dispatch was contacted at 10:45 a.m. Saturday and notified of a possible major injury bicycle crash on Deer Hill Road, north of Hidden Valley Road in Hidden Valley Lake, that had occurred earlier that morning.

It was reported to the CHP that the bicycle's rider was convulsing and unresponsive, and had been flown to Vacaville Kaiser Hospital for treatment, the CHP said.

After local CHP officers arrived on scene, it was requested that a Vacaville CHP officer respond to the hospital to identify the bicycle rider, according to the report.

Vacaville CHP officers arrived at the hospital to find the rider was still unresponsive and had not been identified. The CHP said the Vacaville Police Department responded to the hospital with an electronic fingerprint identification device and was still not able to identify the rider.

Clear Lake Area CHP officers and Lake County Sheriff's personnel began canvassing the Hidden Valley Lake area with photos of the bike rider in an attempt to identify him, the CHP said.

Eventually, the rider's family contacted the Lake County Sheriff's Office and identified the injured man as Renninger, according to the CHP report.

Based on its investigation into the crash and information from witnesses, the CHP determined that Renninger was riding his bicycle southbound on Deer Hill Road, approaching Hidden Valley Road, when – for unknown reasons – he lost control of the bike and fell onto the road, which resulted in major head injuries.

The CHP said Renninger did not have a forward light on the bicycle and was not wearing a helmet.

Any witnesses to the incident are asked to call the Clear Lake Area CHP office at 707-279-0103.

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 – A Saturday afternoon rollover near Colusa killed four people.

The California Highway Patrol said the single-vehicle crash occurred at 3:10 p.m on Highway 20 just east of the city of Colusa.

The CHP said the crash killed four Yuba City residents – the 50-year-old male driver and another 50-year-old man riding as a passenger, and two female passengers, ages 40 and 50.

A fifth person, 65-year-old Suman Bala, also of Yuba City, survived the wreck with minor injures. The CHP said she was transported to Colusa Regional Medical Center for treatment.

The driver was traveling eastbound on Highway 20 east of Niagara Avenue at an unknown speed when, for an unknown reason, the vehicle ran off the roadway to the right, the CHP reported.

The Honda went down an embankment and overturned in a canal, according to the CHP.

The CHP said the driver and three passengers were pronounced dead at the scene.

Reports from the scene indicated the highway was closed for more than two hours – with a detour in place – while officials worked to recover the bodies and the vehicle.

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.