LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Rodeo Association directors announced the selection of Carol Thorn as grand marshal of this year's Lake County Rodeo.

The rodeo this year takes place Friday, July 12, and Saturday, July 13, at the Lake County Fairgrounds, 401 Martin St. in Lakeport.

Thorn will ride in the annual rodeo parade on Main Street in downtown Lakeport, which begins at 11 a.m. July 13.

The search for the 84th annual rodeo's grand marshal began in February, when the rodeo association put out the call for nominees. They were looking for community members who supported the rodeo way of life, showed respect for others and their community. Thorn's selection resulted from that months-long process.

Thorn's love of horses began at age 5 when she lived in Los Altos. Upon moving to Lake County in 1971 she found her very first horse “Synbad” and won her very first ribbon, third place, at the Lake County Fair. At that point, she was hooked on horses.

She continued advancing her horsemanship by riding in many western horse shows, gymkhanas and play days. She also participated in English riding.

As a teenager she rode in the Clear Lake Junior Horsemen's drill team on her horse Syndy. She remained an active member in the Junior Horsemen through her teen years.

Her mother told her, “If you want to learn to drive my truck, you've got to learn how to back the trailer first.” Thorn can back a trailer anywhere and also has also grown to love driving carts.

To this day she has dedicated an unbelievable amount of time founding, participating in and leading many horse and driving events.

Some of her many activities include being a founding member and officer of Hooves and Wheels Driving Club; more than 20 years as drill master/advisor of the Junior Horsemen's Club; sponsor to numerous high school rodeo participants; countless hours of volunteer work and sharing her expertise at various rodeo events and the Clear Lake Junior Horsemen Winter Gymkhana series; leader for horse and dog projects for Scotts Valley 4-H and buckle co-sponsor (with Jaxan Christenson) for large Animal Round Robin 4-H Award at the Lake County Fair in memory of Dr. Coral Ashby.

A testimony to Thorn's constant contributions to Lake County youth came from Jessica Leishman.

“Carol Thorn is one of the most compassionate horse and any other animal people I have ever met. I personally have fond memories of her when I was a youngster growing up and in my adult years as well. I truly believe with Carol here in our community, many events would have not run as smoothly as they have or, may not have happened at all. She is always willing to answer questions and offer a helping hand to all ages,” Leishman said.

Thorn has for many years served as drill master, Leishman said. “Carol always made sure everyone was on task and had an impeccable way of getting us all to work together as a Drill Team. She has always handled herself in a graceful manner and set an excellent example for the children and adults alike. If there were more Carol Thorns in the world, kids and animals would all be better off, I truly believe that.”

For more information about the Lake County Rodeo, visit http://lakecountyrodeo.sharepoint.com/Pages/default.aspx .

Only about half of U.S. adolescents are physically active five or more days of the week, and fewer than one in three eat fruits and vegetables daily, according to researchers at the National Institutes of Health.

In a survey of youth in 39 states, NIH researchers questioned nearly 10,000 students between 11 and 16 years old about their activity levels and eating habits. They also asked the students to describe their emotional health, body image, and general satisfaction with life.

“The students showed a surprising variability in eating patterns,” said lead author Ronald J. Iannotti, Ph.D., of the Prevention Research Branch of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), the NIH Institute in which the study was conducted. “But most – about 74 percent – did not have a healthy pattern.”

Dr. Iannotti conducted the research with NICHD colleague Jing Wang, Ph.D. In addition to NICHD, funding also was provided by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau of the Health Resources and Services Administration.

Their findings appear in the Journal of Adolescent Health.

The researchers found that the adolescents’ diet and activity habits could be classified into three general categories. They described the first group as unhealthful. This group accounted for 26 percent of participants.

The second group, classified as healthful, accounted for 27 percent. Because it was the largest group – including 47 percent of participants – the researchers classified the third group as typical.

The researchers surveyed participants about: their daily amount of physical activity, the amount of time they spent in front of a computer screen or other electronic screen, and the amount of healthy and unhealthy foods they consumed. Other questions sought information on symptoms of depression and self-satisfaction with their bodies.

The analysis of the survey results showed that the typical youth were least likely to exercise five or more days each week or to eat fruits and vegetables at least once a day.

They were more likely to spend time watching television, playing video games or on a computer than the healthful group, and less likely to do so than the unhealthful group. They infrequently ate fruits and vegetables but also infrequently ate sweets, chips or fries, or had soft drinks.

Youth in this group were more likely than youth in the other two groups to be overweight or obese and to be dissatisfied with the appearance of their bodies.

The unhealthful group consumed the most sweets, chips, french fries, and soft drinks. They also were more likely than the other groups to report watching TV, playing video games and using a computer more than two hours a day.

Despite the caloric foods they consumed, youth in the unhealthful group were more likely to be underweight and to report needing to put on weight.

Youth in this group also were more likely to report symptoms of depression and of poor physical health, such as backaches, stomachaches, headaches or feeling dizzy.

Nearly 65 percent of students in the group that the researchers termed healthful reported exercising five or more days per week – the highest rate of the three groups.

These students were least likely to spend time in front of a screen and were most likely to report eating fruits and vegetables at least once a day.

Students in this group also were least likely to consume sweets, soft drinks, chips and French fries. They reported the lowest rates of depressive symptoms and the highest life satisfaction ratings.

All three groups could stand to improve their health habits, Dr. Iannotti said, whether walking or biking between home and school or eating more fresh produce each day.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans External Web Site Policy, children and adolescents should get one hour or more of moderate or vigorous aerobic physical activity a day, including vigorous intensity physical activity at least three days a week.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Young tribal members are invited to come out and put their athletic prowess to work at an annual competition set to take place this week.

The Native Youth Olympics will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, June 28, at the Lake County Fairgrounds, 401 Martin St. in Lakeport.

The day offers friendly competition for ages 4 through 17.

Main events include T-ball, water balloon toss, softball throw, sack race, three-on-three basketball, the 25-yard run and, the day's finale, the tug-of-war.

Lake County Tribal Health Consortium sponsors the event, which is meant to encourage better health – with a view to helping tribal members avoid diabetes – and offer alcohol- and drug-free fun.

For more information, call the consortium at 707-263-8382, Extension 186.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The county's transit agency is preparing for a strike action by transit workers that's expected to take place early next week.

The strike by members of Teamsters Local 665 is anticipated to take place on Monday, July 1, and Tuesday, July 2, in response to a breakdown in negotiations with Paratransit Services, the Bremerton, Wash.-based nonprofit that has operated Lake Transit Authority since 2007.

Negotiations toward a new three-year agreement broke down after employees met and failed to ratify Paratransit Services' offer on Sunday, according to Mark Wall, Lake Transit Authority's general manager.

He said union members informed Paratransit Services that they would strike July 1-2 and return to work on Wednesday, July 3.

The majority of the roughly 36 Paratransit Services employees represented by Local 665 are expected to strike, said Don Staler, the union's local shop steward and a Lake Transit driver for the last four years.

When Local 665 members voted for how long to strike – two days or a week – the two-day strike won by only two votes, which Staler took for an indication of solidarity among workers. He said a federal mediator was at the last negotiating session.

Randy Grove, director of operations and human resources for Paratransit Services, said in a written statement that a 2.2-percent wage rate increase was offered to Lake Transit employees.

Grove said that followed a 2.6-percent increase provided last year, and represents a cumulative 23.1- percent in wage rate increases over the six-year period of Paratransit Services’ administration of transit services for Lake Transit Authority.

“We have experienced increased operating costs, rising medical costs, and are seeing decreased transit funding in California,” Grove said.

He said the 2.2-percent wage increase was “incredibly fair in light of layoffs, furloughs and business closures experienced by others in the region,” adding that the union was seeking an overall wage and benefit package increase totaling 8.2 percent for 2013.

Staler, who estimated he makes only $0.50 more an hour today than he did when he started four years ago, did not have available the breakdown of the union’s requests for wages and benefit increases, but he said there are a number of issues on the table.

Those issues include bereavement pay for part-time workers; lack of accrued sick days; health benefits, which Staler said only about half a dozen workers can afford to take; and low morale and turnover, which Staler suggested is an outgrowth of Lake County's Paratransit Services workers making $2 to $3 an hour less than surrounding counties and roughly half of them working only part-time.

A main issue is restoration of step increases, which Staler said the union agreed to suspend several years ago due to the economy with Paratransit Services not allowing them the step increases back. Staler said those step increases are written into the Lake Transit contract.

Demand for Lake Transit's services have continued to go up, with Staler pointing out that 400,000 were transported by the agency last year.

Last year, Lake Transit put up its rates. “That never got to us,” said Staler, who believes the company is able – but unwilling – to pay its employees what they're worth.

Paratransit Services and its Lake County employees have had negotiations stalemates previously that came close to resulting in strike actions.

In August 2010, a federal negotiator brought the two sides to the table, with a new contract approved about two weeks later, as Lake County News has reported.

Most recently, Lake Transit workers had been days from a planned strike last November during negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement contract opener on wages, health and welfare issues, when the two sides agreed to return to the table for mediation.

As a result of next week's planned strike, transit officials said the following limited services will operate July 1-2:

• Clear Lake / Lakeport Dial-a-Ride (DAR) will operate from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.;
• Routes 5 and 6 will run from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.;
• Route 4 westbound will operate at 7:05 a.m. and 1 p.m.;
• Route 1 eastbound will operate at 8:31 a.m. and 2:21 p.m.

As a result of Lake Transit’s large increase in ridership over the last several years, plans have been made to offer expanded services in the Clearlake area, including adding a third route and extending the operation day from 5:19 a.m. until 10:52 p.m. as of July 1, Wall said.

The strike will have the added effect of delaying that service expansion until after employees return to work, Wall said.

Wall said riders who would like to be kept informed of service conditions can register to receive automated telephone updates by calling 707-994-3334. Riders also can visit www.laketransit.org .

Staler acknowledged that the strike could have a huge financial impact on the county, even though it's meant to be short-lived.

As for whether there might be any meetings this week that could stop the strike, Staler said that the next move is up to Paratransit Services.

“They know what we're going to do and when we're going to do it,” he 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.

On Monday, the California Department of Public Health Drinking Water Program submitted a corrective action plan to the US Environmental Protection Agency that addresses all 29 of the issues raised by the federal government in April.

“We have worked closely with our federal partners during this process and we appreciate their guidance,” said Dr. Ron Chapman, CDPH director and state public health officer. “We look forward to continuing our collaborative efforts with US EPA to achieve our mutual goal of providing safe drinking water for the people of California.”

In an April 19 letter, the US EPA informed CDPH that it was not in compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act.

The US EPA reported that $1.5 billion has been provided to California to capitalize the Safe Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. However, as of October 2012, $455 million remains unspent.

The action plan CDPH submitted Monday reflects the distribution of $84 million by the end of this week to water projects across the state.

CDPH officials said the agency will disburse nearly $200 million in total funds in fiscal year 2013-14 and in the following two fiscal years, will disburse an additional $600 million, to help water systems deliver safe drinking water to their communities and put CDPH on track to meet the targets set by the US EPA.

Among CDPH's current list of executed funding agreements for water projects is one with the county of Lake for $1,809,760, which will fund construction of surface water treatment plant improvements for the community of Spring Valley.

“This administration is committed to ensuring safe drinking water for all Californians as evidenced by Gov. Brown’s signature on AB 685, which establishes a state policy that every Californian has a human right to safe, clean, affordable and accessible drinking water,” added Chapman.

During the two years since Gov. Jerry Brown took office, notable progress has been made in California’s Revolving Fund program, and CDPH remains committed to the work that needs to be done to reach the mutual federal and state goals and to maximize the use of the available dollars, Chapman reported.

Some recent changes to get money out to water projects faster, fund more projects and make the application for funding simpler include: offering funding for planning as well as construction, facilitating greater opportunity for grant funding for public water systems that serve disadvantaged and severely disadvantaged communities, and streamlining the application processes, according to CDPH.

The US EPA is expected to respond to the corrective action plan by July 1.

The plan is available on the CDPH Web site, http://cdph.ca.gov/programs/Documents/CDPHresponse_EPA06242013.pdf .

In observance of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Month, the Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD invites the public to participate in its “Take the Step” campaign.

“Every day of the year, we should focus on assisting those who have served our nation,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “In June, during PTSD Awareness Month, we take special care to help veterans with PTSD. VA is a leader in providing state-of-the-art, high-quality mental health care that improves and saves veterans’ lives. PTSD treatment can help and there is hope for recovery for veterans who need mental health services.”

Throughout the month, online at www.PTSD.va.gov , the campaign has highlighted different topics so visitors can “Take the Step” to: know more about PTSD; challenge their beliefs; explore the treatment options available; and reach out to make a difference.

VA provides effective PTSD treatment for veterans and conducts extensive research on PTSD, including prevention of stress disorders.

Veterans are encouraged to use VA’s PTSD resources so they are able to recognize symptoms and seek help if the need arises. VA also encourages veterans to share what they learn with someone they know to build awareness and support systems.

Following exposure to trauma, most people experience stress reactions but many do not develop PTSD.  Mental health experts are not sure why some people develop PTSD and others do not.

However, if stress reactions do not improve over time and they disrupt everyday life, VA encourages veterans to seek help to determine if PTSD may be a factor.

“Many barriers keep people with PTSD from seeking the help they need,” said Dr. Matthew Friedman, executive director of VA’s National Center for PTSD. “Knowledge and awareness, however, are key to overcoming these barriers. For those living with PTSD, knowing there are treatments that work, for example, can lead them to seek needed care. Greater public awareness of PTSD can help reduce the stigma of this mental health problem and overcome negative stereotypes that may keep many people from pursuing treatment.”

PTSD Awareness Month highlights include:

• The purpose of PTSD Awareness Month is to raise public awareness of PTSD and its effective treatments so that everyone can help people affected by PTSD.
• Throughout June explore weekly features at www.ptsd.va.gov .
• “Ten Steps to Raise PTSD Awareness” provides links to materials that foster greater understanding of trauma, PTSD and treatment. It offers practical suggestions for the public to raise PTSD awareness in their own community.
• For continued involvement, please sign up for the PTSD Monthly Update, http://www.ptsd.va.gov/about/subscribe.asp . Stay up on new information about PTSD and trauma year round.

On June 3, VA announced it had hired a total of 1,607 mental health clinical providers to meet the goal of 1,600 new mental health professionals outlined in the President’s Aug. 31, 2012, executive order.

Additionally, VA had hired 2,005 mental health clinical providers to fill existing vacancies, as well as 318 new peer specialists towards the specific goal of 800 peer specialists by Dec. 31, 2013 as outlined in the executive order.

Throughout the summer, VA will hold mental health summits at each of its 152 medical centers across the nation to establish and enhance positive working relationships with their community partners. The summits will help encourage community engagement in order to better address and understand the broad mental health care needs of veterans and their families.

For more information about PTSD, professionals and the public can go to The National Center for PTSD Web site at www.ptsd.va.gov . The site offers resources such as:

• PTSD Coach mobile app, this award-winning app provides symptom-management strategies and it’s always with you when you need it.
• Continuing education opportunities for providers, including PTSD 101 courses, on the best practices in PTSD treatment (CEs/CMEs offered).
• AboutFace: An online video gallery of Veterans talking about PTSD and how treatment can turn your life around.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – As the steady drizzle with periods of heavy and record-setting rainfall for late June began tapering off Tuesday afternoon, much warmer and drier weather was anticipated to return beginning Wednesday and continuing throughout the weekend.

This has been an unusual year for rainfall, according to the University of California Watershed Sciences.

That organization said recently that this water year – Oct. 1 through Sept. 30 – began as one of the wettest on record. A series of storms in early December brought more than 18 inches of rain to Cobb Mountain – which received the most rain in California in that storm system – before the arrival of the driest January on record, as previously reported.

Then it rained in June, not just once, but twice, thanks this last time from an “atmospheric river” – also known as the Pineapple Express – which usually occurs in late fall into early winter.

This rare early-summer storm system brought measurable amounts of rain throughout Northern California and Lake County, with several areas breaking records for rainfall at this time of year including Sacramento, San Francisco and the Napa Valley, according to the Weather Channel.

Rainfall totals for Lake County were less than initially forecast with this rain system, with most areas around Lake County receiving less than one inch.

From the below-normal daytime temperatures early this week, highs will climb back into the 80s Wednesday, with muggy and humid conditions, according to Western Weather Group Lake County, before reaching above-normal temperatures by this weekend.

Friday will be hot and sunny in the low- to upper 90s as the thermometer ticks upwards each day throughout the weekend and into early next week, when the hottest locations will reach the century mark or higher.

Overnight lows Wednesday will be a bit cooler as skies clear – in the upper 40s- to mid-50s – then also will trend upwards according to forecasters throughout the weekend.

A slight decline in temperatures doesn't look possible until near or after the July 4 holiday, forecasters predicted.

Email Terre Logsdon at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – On Monday, state Senate leaders made good on their promise to vote on an amended state budget rider that removed provisions damaging to the state's public records act law.

The Senate voted 28-11 to pass SB 71 with amendments that concurred with changes implemented by the Assembly last week.

Week before last, legislators had passed SB 71 in the Senate and AB 76 in the Assembly, budget riders with provisions that would have removed the requirements for local agencies and governments to adhere to the California Public Records Act, as Lake County News has reported.

Legislators and Gov. Jerry Brown targeted the 45-year-old law, considered a pillar in the effort to keep governments at all levels transparent, because of a mandate that requires the state government to reimburse local jurisdictions for fulfilling public records act requests from journalists and everyday citizens.

Outside of a projected savings of “millions of dollars,” state officials gave no specific amount of savings anticipated from the changes.

Open government advocates countered that the damage to government transparency would be far more expensive, and rallied last week against the budget bills.

As a result, the Assembly changed course and agreed to amend the bill, with the Senate at first balking before also agreeing to revisit and amend SB 71.

Last Friday, Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) and Sen. Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) introduced a constitutional amendment to put before voters in June 2014.

SCA 3 would require all local government agencies to comply with the California Public Records Act and the Ralph M. Brown Act and removes the mandate that the state reimburse local entities for the costs of following these laws.

It must pass the Legislature by a two-thirds vote in order to go to next June's ballot. The governor has signaled his support for such a constitutional amendment.

SCA 3 already is working its way through committee, according to legislative records, and could make its way to the Senate floor for a vote later this week.

During Monday's Senate vote, Sen. Noreen Evans, whose constituency includes Lake County, voted for the revised bill after having voted against the previous incarnation of SB 71 due to her concerns that it made the California Public Records Act unenforceable.

Lake County's other representative in the Legislature, Assemblymember Mariko Yamada, voted for the revised budget bill last week after initially voting for the original version.

The updated budget bill now goes to Gov. Brown for signing.

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. – A Lucerne woman died Monday morning from injuries she sustained after her car was hit head-on by a pickup whose driver lost control on Highway 20 due to rainy conditions.

Elizabeth Town, 37, died at Sutter Lakeside Hospital in Lakeport, where the California Highway Patrol said she was taken after the early morning crash.

The CHP said the collision that killed Town involved three vehicles and occurred at 7:15 a.m. on Highway 20 west of Henderson Drive near Clearlake Oaks.

The other drivers involved were Brian O'Rourke, 30, of Sacramento and Frank Hutton III, 50, of Lucerne, the CHP said.

O'Rourke was driving his 2012 Chevrolet pickup westbound on Highway 20 west of Henderson Drive, while Town was headed eastbound in a 2007 Kia Rio with Hutton, in a 2005 Chevrolet PT Cruiser, directly behind Town, according to the report.

The CHP said O'Rourke was driving too fast for the wet roadway conditions, causing him to lose control as he was negotiating a righthand curve in the highway. The pickup went over the highway's double-yellow lines and into the eastbound lane, hitting Town head-on.

Town's car was pushed off the roadway and onto the south shoulder, where it hit a tree, the CHP said.

After hitting Town, the CHP said O'Rourke's pickup continued in the eastbound lane and side-swiped the driver's side of Hutton's vehicle.

The CHP said both O'Rourke and Hutton had minor injuries, with O'Rourke reporting pain in his left foot and Hutton suffering neck pain.

All three drivers were wearing their seat belts, the CHP said.

The agency said alcohol and drugs were not factors in the crash, which is being investigated by CHP Officer Mark Crutcher.

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. – Varying weather conditions seem to have everyone guessing about how much blue‐green algae might appear in Clear Lake this summer.

Accumulations have been observed in some areas, only to vanish overnight.

Although accurate predictions about this year’s blue‐green algae patterns may be difficult, experts in Lake County’s Water Resources Department verify the presence of blue‐green algae and note that the current dominant type is Lyngbya, similar to previous years.

There are many types of blue‐green algae (technically cyanobacteria). Some of them are capable of producing toxins that can have a variety of harmful effects on humans and animals, according to county health officials.

Although cyanotoxin tests in Clear Lake have consistently been well within recommended limits for safe recreation, health officials still recommend caution in areas with accumulations of algal mats, visible surface scum, or a “pea soup” appearance of the water.

In these areas, swimming and wading in the water should be avoided by people of all ages. Officials said pets should not be allowed to swim in these areas or drink lake water.

Another condition health officials said people should know about is “swimmer’s itch,” a fairly common cause of rash in people who swim or wade in areas of lakes and ponds where aquatic water plants and weeds flourish. It is an allergic reaction that results from a tiny parasite that is released from snails.

The parasite normally burrows into the skin of various birds and mammals. In the case of humans, the parasite quickly dies, but produces an allergic reaction that results in an intensely itchy rash. The condition generally resolves without special medical care, health officials reported.

Swimmer’s itch is not a condition that must be reported to public health authorities, but unofficial reports have been common this year.

Tips for safe recreation in lake water include:

Avoid contact with water in areas with thick surface foam, scum, a pea soup appearance, heavy growth of aquatic plants and water weeds. After swimming, towel off promptly. Even better, shower with fresh water. After pets swim, rinse with fresh water and towel them dry. Do not allow them to lick fur dry. Never drink untreated lake water. Boiling lake water does not guarantee that it is safe to drink.

By observing a few simple precautions, visitors and residents can safely recreate in and around Clear Lake and enjoy all of the beauty and outdoor activities it has to offer.

For more information, visit http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Environmental_Health/Blue-Green_Algae.htm?PageMode=Print ,
http://www.cdph.ca.gov/healthinfo/environhealth/water/pages/bluegreenalgae.aspx or  http://www.cdph.ca.gov/HEALTHINFO/DISCOND/Pages/SwimmersItch.aspx .

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – A Kelseyville woman suffered major injuries in a Saturday afternoon crash when she went off the road and hit a tree while reaching to pick up a cell phone.

Jeanne Marie Rixen, 70, was flown to a regional trauma center after she crashed her 2006 Lincoln, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The CHP said the crash occurred at 2:10 p.m. Saturday on Kelsey Creek Drive north of Rose Way.

Rixen, who was alone in the car, was driving eastbound at an unknown rate of speed when she took her eyes of the road to retrieve a ringing cell phone, the CHP said.

She drifted off the road and into a walnut orchard, where she crashed head-on into a walnut tree, the CHP said.

Due to the extensive damage to the car as a result of the crash, Kelseyville Fire personnel had to use the jaws of life to extricate Rixen, according to CHP and reports from the scene.

Kelseyville Fire personnel transported Rixen to the Kelseyville High School football field, where a REACH air ambulance picked her up for transport. Radio reports indicated she had a severe injury to her lower leg, possibly a compound fracture.

The CHP said Rixen was transported to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital for treatment of her injuries.

Alcohol and drugs were not believed to be factors in the crash, and Rixen was wearing her lap and shoulder belts, the CHP 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. – Two men arrested last month in connection to a large marijuana cultivation operation also are facing human trafficking charges for having brought from Southern California a 15-year-old runaway girl who they allegedly kept at their remote grow location and sexually assaulted.

Ryan Alan Balletto, 30, of Lakeport and Patrick Steven Pearmain, 24, of Clearlake, both remain in the Lake County Jail on no-bail holds following their arrests on May 1.  

Since the May arrests investigators have found evidence that the two men had kept a Southern California teenager at the location and sexually assaulted her, according to court documents.

The men also are alleged at one point to have kept the girl in a large box as a punishment, according to District Attorney Don Anderson.

Pearmain’s attorney, Tom Quinn, declined comment at this stage in the case, and Balletto’s attorney, Mitch Hauptman, did not respond to messages seeking comment.

Deputy District Attorney Ed Borg, who is handling the sex crimes case against the men, said they are facing charges of human trafficking, statutory rape, oral copulation on a person under age 16, sodomy, false imprisonment, annoying or molesting a child. Balletto also is charged with lewd and lascivious acts on a child under age 14 or 15.

They could each face nearly 16 years in prison if convicted of all the charges, Borg said.

While the California Attorney General's Office has put increased focus on fighting human trafficking, which the agency said is the world's fastest growing enterprise, human trafficking cases are rare in Lake County, Borg said.

“It’s the first time I’ve ever charged it,” he said.

Balletto and Pearmain were arrested during the service of a search warrant on Balletto’s 681-acre property near Clearlake Oaks, where the Lake County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team, Narcotics Task Force and Major Crimes Unit found nearly 1,500 marijuana plants and more than $4,000 in cash, as Lake County News has reported.

Also seized at that time was as a large cache of weapons, including high-powered military grade sniper and assault rifles, automatic assault rifles and pistols, and ammunition, high capacity magazines, military grade body armor and military grade scopes.

Lake County Sheriff’s officials said it was the largest and most sophisticated bulk of weapons seized in the agency’s recent history.

According to court documents, it's estimated that the street value of Balletto's marijuana cultivation operation was $22 million annually.

Originally, Balletto was booked with bail set at $10 million, with Pearmain's bail set at $1 million. They've since had holds put on them preventing them from posting bail.

Balletto’s girlfriend, Christa McConnell, also arrested on May 1 for weapons and child endangerment charges, pleaded earlier this month to a misdemeanor child endangerment arising from a weapon having been found in proximity to her children at the Lakeport home she shares with Balletto. Borg said McConnell had no record to speak of previously.

At the time of Balletto and Pearmain’s arrest the sheriff’s office had indicated the men were being investigated for numerous sex crimes, with that work leading to the second case.

Borg said the marijuana cultivation and weapons case against the men is being handled separate from the case involving human trafficking and sex crimes.

Both cases are scheduled for preliminary hearing July 10, according to court records.

Borg said there may be an effort at some point to join both cases against Pearmain and Balletto.

Human trafficking allegations come to light

A number of different agencies are involved in the human trafficking case, Borg said.

He said the human trafficking charge alleges that the teen girl was brought from some distance to Lake County.

“It’s not clear to me she had any real idea where she was,” he said.

Borg said Los Angeles County officials contacted local authorities about the missing girl. Court documents relate that Los Angeles authorities had information that Balletto had brought the girl to Northern California to use in a child pornography operation.

Borg said it doesn’t appear as if the girl initially was coerced to come to the area.

It’s believed the girl was on the property for about a month before she and Pearmain were picked up in another county on April 30, Borg said. He did not divulge where that April encounter with law enforcement occurred, other than to say it happened in Northern California.

The girl has since gone into protective custody outside of Lake County, Borg said.

The situation involving the girl also involves a third suspect.

Eric George Edgar, 45, was arrested on May 16 in connection with the case, Borg said.

Edgar is charged with statutory rape for having allegedly raped the teenage girl when they were alone together on the property. He's also facing charges for making criminal threats and attempting to dissuade a witness, Borg said.

The girl was being kept in a small group of trailers on the property, while Edgar was staying in a trailer more than an hour’s hike across a canyon. Edgar is alleged to have happened upon the girl and raped her, Borg said.

Edgar’s bail originally was set at $1 million, but jail records indicated he has since been released.

His attorney, Lisa Proffitt, said the case against her client isn’t a strong one.

“There’s no forensic evidence connecting him to the incident in any way, shape or form,” she said.

The only evidence so far is the girl’s recorded statements against Edgar, according to Proffitt, who said it’s unusual in a case of such gravity to not have witnesses or forensic evidence to back up the allegations.

Borg said Edgar also is alleged to have been involved in the marijuana cultivation taking place on the property, but he hasn’t been charged in that separate case and probably won’t be.

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