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CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A Monday night fire in Clearlake destroyed one mobile home and two nearby outbuildings, and killed two dogs, while the human residents were able to escape unharmed.

The fire was first reported at 8:35 p.m. at Cache Creek Mobile Home Park, located at 16535 Dam Road.

Minutes later, Central Dispatch reported over the air that it was receiving multiple calls about a fire in one of the units.

Lake County Fire and Cal Fire held unified command on the incident, according to Lake County Fire Chief Willie Sapeta.

Units on scene reported one fully involved mobile home with exposures to many others.

Shortly after 9 p.m., it was reported that the fire was contained and forward progress stopped, with units to remain on scene for mop up and overhaul.

There was a road closure at Lake Street and Dam Road as a result of the fire, according to radio reports. Dam Road reopened just after 11 p.m.

Altogether, the fire burned one single-wide mobile home and two nearby outbuildings, and did some damage to a roof of another nearby structure, Sapeta said.

Two male residents of the home got out safely, but Sapeta said two dogs in the residence died.

He explained that the fire had been an immediate threat to several other structures, and at one point it had appeared that more buildings were on fire due to the way the fire lapped over the mobile home that was burning.

Sapeta said Red Cross was called and made housing arrangements for the two displaced residents.

Altogether, Sapeta said four engines, a water tender, two company officers and two medic units responded to the fire from Lake County Fire and Cal Fire.

Units were preparing to clear the scene at about 11:30 p.m., but Sapeta said monitoring would go on through the night.

It was the end of a long day for firefighters, who earlier in the day had fought the 9.3-acre Horse fire on Bryant Road, as Lake County News has reported.

“The crews are pretty beat,” Sapeta 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.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Firefighters on Monday responded to two wildland fires near Lower Lake and a residential structure fire in Nice, with all of the incidents quickly contained.

The Horse incident was first dispatched at around 2 p.m. Monday in a field across from 16725 Bryant Road, based on reports from Lake County Central Dispatch.

Cal Fire, Lake County Fire and the US Forest Service sent units to the incident. Lake County Fire Chief Willie Sapeta said a total of about 15 fire units were on scene.

The fire put up a large column of smoke, leading to numerous 911 calls, according to radio reports.

Due to the fire moving toward nearby homes, the call was put out for an immediate need strike team of engines from other local fire districts to protect structures.

Cal Fire air attack responded, as did tankers from Sonoma and Mendocino counties and Copter 104 from the Boggs Mountain Helitack base, according to reports from the scene.

Air attack reported that the north end of the fire bumped up against the creek, which helped contain it.

Just before 2:30 p.m., Cal Fire reported over the air that the forward progress on the fire had been stopped. Shortly afterward, tankers and other units began to be released, while a bulldozer was directed to continue in.

The fire was reported to be contained just before 3 p.m., according to scanner reports.

Shortly after 3 p.m., Sapeta told Lake County News that mop up and overhaul was under way at the scene, with that work expected to take at least a few hours.

He said there were no structures lost, and no injuries.

The fire’s cause is under investigation, Sapeta said.

At about 3:20 p.m., several Cal Fire and Lake County Fire units were released from the Horse incident to respond to the report of another grass fire, this time in the area of 17975 Morgan Valley Road. Cal Fire Copter 104 also responded to look for that fire.

When firefighters arrived in the area at about 3:30 p.m., they found a small spot fire that had been extinguished by locals, according to scene reports.

In other county fire news, on Monday morning Northshore Fire – assisted by Cal Fire and Lakeport Fire – responded to a structure fire in the 4100 block of E. Highway 20 at Burpee Drive in Nice.

Northshore Fire Chief Jay Beristianos said the fire was located in the home’s garage, and was started by a leaking propane line to a gas clothing dryer.

He said a woman was using the dyer and when she pushed the button to turn the appliance on, the fire erupted.

Beristianos said that the woman not only escaped injury, but then immediately ran outside to turn the gas off at the tank.

“She did all the right things,” he said. “She probably saved her house by doing that.”

As a result of the woman’s quick action, Beristianos said there was only mild damage – he estimated about $2,000 worth – to the home’s garage, with firefighters able to quickly put out the fire.

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.
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LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport City Council held a special meeting Monday evening to consider three items of business that needed to be taken care of before month’s end.

During the half-hour meeting, the council approved granting a monthly stipend for an assistant city manager and a contract for thermoplastic striping on a portion of 20th Street, and rejected a bid on the accessibility upgrades to the Carnegie Library.

City Manager Margaret Silveira presented the request to approve the $500-per-month stipend, which she said is part of the city’s goal of establishing succession planning for the leadership in its departments.

She said this was to plan for the future of her own position, “Not that I'm planning on going anywhere soon.”

Silveira said the goal is to allow current staffers the opportunity to work outside of their areas of expertise, do more assignments in other departments and work closely with her.

The assignments would last from six months to a year, she said.

Councilman Kenny Parlet said succession planning is important, as the city has had trouble keeping staff. Those who do stay, he said, do so because they are vested in the community, not because of how much they are paid.

Silveira noted that when transitioning from one city manager to another, it’s an easier process if there is a qualified individual in the organization.

The indications were at Monday’s meeting was that no one has yet been selected. Councilman George Spurr asked what would happen if more than one person wanted the assignment; Silveira said she would use her best judgment, and may rotate people to give the opportunity to more than one person.

Spurr said he saw the assignment as a way of getting people to branch out and realize they could have another opportunity.

Mayor Stacey Mattina said it could also help staff develop a greater understanding of the job.

Silveira recalled that when she took her first city manager’s job, she called the city manager from the city where she had previously worked to say how much more she appreciated that person.

Parlet moved to approve the stipend, with Councilwoman Mireya Turner seconding and the council voting 4-0. Councilman Tim Barnes was absent for the meeting.

In other business, city Public Works Director Doug Grider presented to the council a proposed contract with the company Striping Graphics for thermoplastic striping on 20th Street from Hartley Street to Will O View Court as part of a traffic mitigation measure.

“Twentieth Street has been an issue for quite awhile,” said Grider.

In November, the council had to raise the speed limit from 25 to 30 miles per hour on 20th Street between Alden Avenue and Hartley Street due to the requirements of a speed survey, as Lake County News has reported.

That raised concerns for neighborhood residents, who said speeds already were too high in the neighborhood.

The city then began to consider striping as a less-expensive way to calm traffic and bring down speeds, with the council approving that plan in December.

Grider said it would be used to make the road appear more narrow.

Grider worked with City Engineer Paul Curren to complete the design and then went out to bid, noting that they were surprised by the responses.

Striping Graphics’ bid of $17,010 was the lowest of three, but still well over the $10,000 the city budgeted for the project, according to Grider.

“We're finding this coming back on all of our projects right now,” he said, noting that with the economy improving and repairs still under way due to the winter storms, getting available contractors is becoming an issue.

A memorandum for the meeting from Curren explained, “The high prices reflect the remote location of Lakeport with increased cost to mobilize for a limited scope of work and the large volume of available work due to the storm damage last year.”

Grider said they had expected half a dozen bids but only got three. “I really believe this is the best we're going to get,” he said, asking for the council to approve the Striping Graphics bid.

He said the work on 20th Street is meant to be a permanent traffic calming measure, with the goal of soon doing another speed survey to drop speeds in the area.

The striping was the least expensive way to get speeds lowered, he said, with other options being medians and bulbouts, which are much more expensive.

“I'm glad to hear that this is more of a permanent calming measure,” said Councilwoman Mireya Turner, adding she didn’t want to see the speeds be reduced only to rise again.

Silveira also suggested that city staff speak to residents about forming a Neighborhood Watch group to deal with speeding issues.

Community member Mary Ann Larrea asked about roadway condition and when the roadway where the striping is to be put would need to be replaced.

Grider said 20th Street isn’t on the 10-year list, so it’s at least 10 years out and that’s the expected lifetime of the striping.

Turner moved to approve the contract, with Parlet seconding and the council voting 4-0.

The third and final item on the council’s special Monday meeting agenda related to the accessibility upgrades at the city’s 99-year-old Carnegie Library.

The city had sought bids for a project including the installation of an interior lift to make the second floor accessible under Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines, as well as updating an exterior travel path to the lift, updating the bathrooms, and repairing the ceiling and replacing the lighting on the second floor.

Community Development Director Kevin Ingram said that with this project, the city experienced to a “dramatic degree” the same kinds of issues finding contractors as Grider had.

Curren’s estimate of the work’s cost was $320,920, Ingram said. The one bidder, Cupples and Sons, submitted a bid of one bidder, $607,901.

Ingram said that caused city staff to go back to the drawing board.

As a result, he said staff was asking the council to reject the bid and let them prepare another bid request that would separate the project out into pieces.

He said the restroom replacement aspect has run into some issues with the existing water and sewer infrastructure which is driving the cost up. Specifically, he said they found a broken water line that wasn’t on their radar until they got into the foundation.

At this point, Ingram said the lift, an ADA-accessible exterior travel path, repairs to the ceiling and replacement of the lighting are key to getting the building reopened to the community.

Ingram said they also found that contractors are too busy to do projects in rural areas like Lakeport.

He said they’ve started to research elevator companies and have found one that has the kind of lift the city needs for the building. The city is now looking at buying the lift directly from the manufacturer.

Time is of the essence, as Ingram said they have to spend the grant funds for the project by the end of October.

If the project is broken up into several pieces, Ingram said they believed they could engage local contractors.

Silveira said if the city purchased the lift directly, the elevator company can install it.

She said that a nearby city restroom which is ADA accessible can serve the Carnegie Library for events, although she noted that it’s probably not nicest choice for an elegant event.

The bigger issue, she said, remained the lift.

Spurr asked where the lift would be located. Silveira said it will be in an interior corner. It will require one corner window to be covered on the interior by the elevator shaft, although Ingram said the window will remain in place on the outside of the building.

Parlet moved to reject the lone bid, with Spurr seconding, and the council voting 4-0.

Silveira said they can bring back the issue regarding purchase of the lift at the council’s Aug. 8 meeting.

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.

072417 Lakeport City Council special meeting packet by LakeCoNews on Scribd

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LAKEPORT, Calif. – An update on this year’s cyanobacteria blooms in Lake County’s waters will be the topic of a presentation to the Board of Supervisors this week.

The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, July 25, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.

The meeting can be watched live on Channel 8 and online at https://countyoflake.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx . Accompanying board documents, the agenda and archived board meeting videos also are available at that link.

In an item time for 10:15 a.m., the board will get a multi-agency perspective on the cyanobacteria blooms, which were first reported this spring, as Lake County News has reported.

Also on Tuesday, at 9:10 a.m. the board will present proclamations honoring Fire Captain David Miinch and Greg Giusti, who recently retired as Lake and Mendocino County director and advisor for forests and wildland ecology for the local University of California Cooperative Extension.

In an untimed item, the board will consider approving a proposed joint powers agreement with Yolo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District for a power purchase agreement, an idea discussed earlier this summer, as Lake County News has reported.

The board also will consider a short-term closure of the Lake County Library’s Lakeport Branch to the public from Aug. 1 through 5. That item also is untimed.

The full agenda follows.

CONTRACT CHANGE ORDERS

6.1: Approve Contract Change Order No. 2 for Dry Creek Road at Dry Creek Bridge Replacement Project, Federal Project No. BRLO-5914(080); Bid No. 16-04 for an increase of $2,637.36 and a revised contract amount of $800,924.36; and authorize the chair to sign.

6.2: Approve Contract Change Order No. 3 for Foard Road at Anderson Creek Bridge Replacement Project, Federal Project No. BRLO-5914(068); Bid No. 16-03 for a decrease of $9,476.70 and a revised contract amount of $730,994.09; and authorize the chair to sign.

CONSENT AGENDA

7.1: Adopt proclamation commending Fire Captain David Miinch for his years of service to Lake County.

7.2: Adopt proclamation commending Greg Giusti for his years of service to Lake County.

7.3 Approve agreement between the county of Lake and This Is Crowd USA Inc., from July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018 in the amount of $33,640; authorizing the county administrative officer to sign.

7.4: Approve leave of absence request for Hannah Lee, staff services analyst, from July 2, 2017 to Aug. 2, 2017 or until such time as the Social Services Department has completed recruitment and is ready to make an offer of employment to fill the position, whichever date is sooner.

7.5: (a) Waive the formal bidding process, pursuant to Lake County Code Section 38.2, as it is not in the public interest due to the unique nature of goods or services; and (b) approve the agreement between the county of Lake and Redwood Community Services Inc. for the Transitional Age Youth (TAY) Peer Support Program for Fiscal Year 2017-18 for the amount of $40,000 and authorize the board chair to sign the agreement.

7.6: (a) Waive the formal bidding process, pursuant to Lake County Code Section 38.2, as it is not in the public interest due to the unique nature of goods or services; and (b) approve the agreement between the county of Lake and Crestwood Behavioral Health for adult residential support and specialty mental health services for Fiscal Year 2017-18 for a contract maximum of $500,000 and authorize the board chair to sign the agreement.

7.7: (a) Waive the formal bidding process, pursuant to Lake County Code Section 38.2, as it is not in the public interest due to the unique nature of goods or services; and (b) approve the agreement between the county of Lake and Redwood Community Services Inc. for the MHSA Transitional Age Youth (TAY) Drop-In Center for Fiscal Year 2017-18 for the amount of $61,200 and authorize the board chair to sign the agreement.

7.8: (a) Waive the formal bidding process, pursuant to Lake County Code Section 38.2, as it is not in the public interest due to the unique nature of goods or services; and (b) approve the agreement between the county of Lake and North Valley Behavioral Health LLC for Acute inpatient psychiatric hospital services for Fiscal Year 2017-18 for a contract maximum of $200,000 and authorize the board chair to sign the agreement.

7.9: (a) Waive the formal bidding process, pursuant to Lake County Code Section 38.2, as it is not in the public interest due to the unique nature of goods or services; and (b) approve the agreement between the county of Lake and FIRST 5 Lake Commission for the Mother-Wise Program (Post-Partum Depression Initiative) for Fiscal Year 2017-18 for a contract maximum of $65,000 and authorize the board chair to sign the agreement.

7.10: (a) Waive the formal bidding process, pursuant to Lake County Code Section 38.2, as it is not in the public interest due to the unique nature of goods or services; and (b) approve the agreement between the county of Lake and Konocti Senior Support Inc. for senior support counseling services for Fiscal Year 2017-18 for a contract maximum of $108,378 and authorize the board chair to sign the agreement.

7.11: (a) Waive the formal bidding process, pursuant to Lake County Code Section 38.2, as it is not in the public interest due to the unique nature of goods or services; and (b) approve the eighth amendment to the agreement between the county of Lake and Cerner Corp. for Anasazi software and support services for Fiscal Year 2017-18 for a contract maximum of $50,000 and authorize the board chair to sign the amendment.

7.12: Approve contract between county of Lake Health Services and Trina Maia for physical therapy services in support of the California Children's Services Program (CCS) and the Medical Therapy Program (MTP) from July 18, 2017, through June 30, 2018, with a maximum contract amount of $81,375; and authorize the chair to sign.

7.13: Adopt resolution approving a controlled access highway agreement with the state of California - State Highway Route 29 and authorize chair to execute agreement.

7.14: Approve inspection agreement for Alvaro Valencia and Bill Stone as a condition of a Minor Use Permit (MUP16-01), Assessor's Parcel No. 024-231-12 for the county of Lake to provide engineering services for the review of plans, specifications and inspection of work; and authorize the chair to sign.

7.15: (a) Waive the formal bidding process, pursuant to Lake County Code Section 38.2, as it is not in the public interest due to the unique nature of goods or services; and (b) approve contract between the county of Lake and Lake Transit Authority in the Amount of $73,920, from July 1, 2017, to June 30, 2018; and authorize the chair to sign.

7.16: Approve the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the California Automated Consortium Eligibility System (CalACES) and the county Of Lake; and the CalAces Amended and Restated Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement (JPA); and authorize the chair to sign.

7.17: Approve contract between county of Lake and Regional Housing Authority for Administration of Home Program (HUD HOME Partnerships Investment Program) for the amount of $117,518 from July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2019; and authorize the chair to sign.

TIMED ITEMS

8.2, 9:10 a.m.: (a) Presentation of proclamation commending Fire Captain David Miinch for his years of service to Lake County, and (b) presentation of proclamation commending Greg Giusti for his years of service to Lake County.

8.3, 9:16 a.m.: Consideration of continuation of a proclamation of a declaration of a local emergency due to wildfire conditions, pertaining to the Rocky, Jerusalem and Valley fires.

8.4, 9:17 a.m.: Consideration of continuation of a proclamation of a declaration of a local emergency due to Clayton fire.

8.5, 9:18 a.m.: Consideration of continuation of a proclamation of a declaration of a local emergency due to the atmospheric river storm.

8.6, 9:20 a.m.: Public hearing, consideration of resolution amending the master fee schedule for departmental services rendered by the county.

8.7, 9:30 a.m.: Public hearing, sitting as the Lake County Sanitation District Board of Directors, proposed rates and fees for Anderson Springs sewer.

8.8, 10 a.m.: Hearing, nuisance abatement assessment confirmation and proposed recordation of notice of lien in the amount of $1712.76, for 10314 Boren Bega Drive, Kelseyville CA (APN 043-422-12, McManus, James & Victoria).

8.9, 10:15 a.m.: Cyanobacteria blooms, a multi-agency perspective presentation to the board.

UNTIMED ITEMS

9.1: Discussion regarding preparation of response to the 2016-17 Grand Jury Report.

9.2: Consideration of memorandum of understanding (MOU) by and between the County of Mendocino and the County of Lake for sealer of weights and measures service.

9.3: Consideration to close the Lake County Library’s Lakeport Branch to the public from Aug. 1 through 5.

9.4: Consideration of resolution approving the exit of Lake County from Title IV-E Child Welfare Waiver Demonstration Project effective Sept. 30, 2017.

9.5: Consideration of approval of joint powers agreement with Yolo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District for a power purchase agreement.

CLOSED SESSION

10.2: Conference with Legal Counsel: Significant Exposure to Litigation pursuant to Government Code section 54956.9 (d)(2)(e)(3): Claim of Bishop.

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.
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LAKEPORT, Calif. – There are six cats at Lake County Animal Care and Control this week all set to go to new homes, they just need someone to come and adopt them.

This week’s cats include both adults and kittens, with one of them offered to an approved home for free thanks to the contribution of an anonymous donor.

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

For those looking for a barn cat to keep the rodents at bay, be sure to ask about the barn cat adoption program. Feral barn cats are adopted out for $1 each, which includes altering, ear notching and vaccines.

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”).
This adult female domestic short hair cat is is in cat room kennel No. 33, ID No. 7854. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.
Female domestic short hair

This adult female domestic short hair cat has a tuxedo coat and gold eyes.

She already has been spayed.

Thanks to a donor, her adoption fees are covered so she is free to a new home with an approved application.

She is in cat room kennel No. 33, ID No. 7854.
This male flame point kitten is in cat room kennel No. 60a, ID No. 7789. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.
Flame point kitten

This male flame point kitten has a light coat and blue eyes.

He already has been neutered.

He’s in cat room kennel No. 60a, ID No. 7789.
This female orange tabby kitten is in kennel No. 60c, ID No. 7791. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.
Orange tabby kitten

This female orange tabby kitten has a short coat and gold eyes.

She already has been spayed.

She’s in cat room kennel No. 60c, ID No. 7791.
This male domestic short hair mix cat is in cat room kennel No. 80, ID No. 7948. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.
Male domestic short hair mix

This male domestic short hair mix cat has a gray coat and green eyes.

He already has been neutered.

Thanks to a donor, he is free to a new home with an approved application.

He’s in cat room kennel No. 80, ID No. 7948.
This female domestic short hair cat is in cat room kennel No. 91, ID No. 7951. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.
Female domestic short hair

This female domestic short hair cat has a calico coat and gold eyes.

She already has been spayed.

She’s in cat room kennel No. 91, ID No. 7951.
This adult male gray tabby in cat room kennel No. 103, ID No. 7987. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.
Male gray tabby

This adult male gray tabby has a short coat and gold eyes.

He already has been neutered.

He’s in cat room kennel No. 103, ID No. 7987.

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, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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.
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LAKEPORT, Calif. – A man who spent more than 25 years working to study, preserve and conserve Lake County’s natural resources has been honored with the “Conservationist of the Year” award.

Dwight Holford, who now lives in Sacramento, made the trip to Lake County last week to receive the award and proclamation from the Board of Supervisors.

His name will be added to a plaque honoring previous award winners that hangs in the courthouse lobby.

Greg Giusti, chair of the Lake County Fish and Wildlife Advisory Committee, introduced Holford and detailed his accomplishments, explaining that the committee was recommending him for the award.

“One of the most pleasurable things that we have to do is to identify people in the county that make a special contribution to fish and wildlife resources,” Giusti said.

Giusti said they try to go through that process annually, but said it hasn’t happened in several years.

“This one’s overdue. This one should have been done years ago, there’s no question about it,” Giusti said.

Holford is a Korean War veteran who went on to receive a Bachelor of Science degree in fisheries in 1959 from Humboldt State University.

After a 32-year career in the US Department of Defense, he retired and in 1988 moved to Lake County.

In 1996 Holford was one of the founding directors of the Upper Putah Creek Stewardship, Giusti said.

Giusti said Holford volunteered and assisted with youth programs such as Field Days in the Creek, developed the “Trout in the Classroom” program in local schools and pioneered bioassessment water quality monitoring in Lake County.

He also managed several successful grants that led to bioassessment training, invasive weeds mapping and eradication, recruitment and training of volunteers to collect water samples, watershed restoration projects and workshops, native plant production and long-range planning, according to the proclamation.

Holford also served as watershed coordinator for the Upper Putah Creek Watershed, building exceptional partnerships with local, state and federal agencies, local tribes, schools, and environmental and watershed groups, Giusti said.

In addition to that work, the proclamation outlined Holford’s other community involvement, including chairing the California Garden Clubs Inc., acting as a director of the Middletown Senior Center and working with the East Lake Resource Conservation District. He also was a member of the Middletown Area Plan Advisory Committee, the Lake County Fish and Wildlife Advisory Committee and a Lake County Hunger Task Force volunteer.

In 2002, Holford was one of the founding directors of the Sacramento River Watershed Program, as Lake County News has reported.

Giusti said Holford continues to work on a number of environmental programs, adding that he’s one of the special people who should have been recognized long ago.

Holford and wife, Joelle, left Lake County in 2014. In February of that year, he also received a proclamation from the Board of Supervisors, honoring him for his extensive contributions.

Supervisor Moke Simon presented the proclamation to Holford after Giusti’s introduction.

Holford was modest about his efforts.

“If anybody thinks that this was an effort all by myself, they don’t how things go,” he said.

“The real winners are sitting out here,” he added, pointing to those in the audience who had come to honor him, who he said were the teams and people who got involved.

“For me it was just something that I was interested in, and it kept me off the street, kept me busy,” he said.

Holford is still keeping busy. He said he’s now a member of the Yolo Resource Conservation District.

“It’s really a pleasure,” he said of the honors the board gave him.

He said he really loved Lake County. “Thank you very much.”

Board Chair Jeff Smith offered Holford his personal thanks.

“Without people like you, we wouldn't get a lot of this stuff done,” Smith said.

Supervisor Jim Steele added that when someone steps up as a leader in the community, they are valued as gold.

“You are, sir, a rare breed,” said Steele.

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.
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NORTH COAST, Calif. – A Clearlake man was arrested early Monday in Sonoma County after deputies found him to be unlawfully in possession of two loaded handguns due to his convicted felon status.

Johnny Perez, 30, was arrested in Santa Rosa, according to a report from Sgt. Spencer Crum of the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office.

Crum said that at about 12:25 a.m. Monday, Sonoma County Sheriff’s deputies were at a home in the 2600 block of Westberry Drive in Santa Rosa conducting a probation search when Perez showed up.

Perez knocked at the front door, apparently unaware that deputies were inside conducting the search, Crum said.

The deputies opened the door and greeted Perez, asking if he had any weapons on him. Crum said Perez admitted that he was in possession of two handguns.

Crum said the deputies detained Perez and found two loaded handguns in his pockets.

One handgun was a Smith and Wesson .32-caliber revolver, loaded with six rounds. The other was a Hi-Standard .22-caliber semi-automatic handgun, loaded with eight rounds, Crum said.

Crum said deputies are following up to determine if the handguns were stolen or not.

They did, however, determine that Perez is a convicted felon, therefore he is not legally allowed to possess handguns or ammunition, Crum said.

Perez was booked into the Sonoma County Jail on charges including felon in possession of a firearm, felon in possession of ammunition and felon in possession of a loaded firearm in public. He is being held on $30,000 bail, Crum said.

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