LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Northshore Dive Team has begun a search in Lakeport for a man who went missing at a city dock Saturday afternoon.

The dive team was dispatched to the Lakeport Yacht Club, located at 15 Fifth St., shortly before 3:30 p.m., according to radio traffic.

Lakeport Fire Chief Doug Hutchison said the person who is the focus of the search is a man who was loading up his boat.

Witnesses reported that the man went to retrieve something and then disappeared, Hutchison said.

The search was under way shortly before 4 p.m., Hutchison said.

The Fifth Street boat ramp is closed while the search takes place.

Additional information will be posted as it becomes available.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

The first two human infections with West Nile virus in California this season have been reported by Contra Costa and San Joaquin counties, announced Dr. Ron Chapman, director of the California Department of Public Health and state health officer.

The patient from Contra Costa County has since recovered and been released from the hospital, and the patient from San Joaquin County has tested positive for the virus but is not showing symptoms at this time.

“These reported West Nile virus cases remind us that taking a few minutes to protect ourselves and our families from mosquito bites can make a big difference,” said Chapman. “West Nile virus activity is greatest during the summer.”

West Nile virus is transmitted to humans and animals by the bite of an infected mosquito. The risk of serious illness to most people is low. However, some individuals – less than 1 percent – can develop a serious neurologic illness such as encephalitis or meningitis.

People 50 years of age and older have a higher chance of getting sick and are more likely to develop complications. Recent data also indicate that those with diabetes and/or hypertension are at greatest risk for serious illness.

To date in 2014, West Nile virus has been detected in mosquitoes and birds in 19 California counties.

So far this season, Lake County has had three cases of dead birds and two mosquito samples that tested positive for West Nile, according to the state.

CDPH recommends that individuals prevent exposure to mosquito bites and West Nile virus by practicing the “Three Ds”:

• DEET – Apply insect repellent containing DEET, picaradin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR3535 according to label instructions. Repellents keep the mosquitoes from biting you. DEET can be used safely on infants and children 2 months of age and older.
• DAWN AND DUSK – Mosquitoes bite in the early morning and evening so it is important to wear proper clothing and repellent if outside during these times. Make sure that your doors and windows have tight-fitting screens to keep out mosquitoes. Repair or replace screens with tears or holes.
• DRAIN – Mosquitoes lay their eggs on standing water. Eliminate or drain all sources of standing water on your property, including buckets, old car tires, rain gutters, birdbaths, and pet bowls. If you know of a swimming pool that is not being properly maintained, please contact your local mosquito and vector control agency.

California’s West Nile virus Web site, http://www.westnile.ca.gov/ , includes the latest information on West Nile virus activity in the state.

Californians are encouraged to report all dead birds on the Web site or by calling toll-free 1-877-WNV-BIRD (968-2473).

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Local blues band Twice As Good, which regularly tours throughout the United States, will headline the Lake County News Stage at 8 p.m. Friday, June 20, opening night of the new Lake County Spring Fair.

The Hip Replacements will perform several sets on the same stage Friday afternoon, and the Mark Weston Band will perform on the Mediacom Gazebo Stage.

Twice As Good is the professional name of the music duo formed by Paul Steward and his father, Richard Steward, who are from Clearlake Oaks, and are members of the Elem Indian Colony.

Richard Steward has grown up around music all his life, mostly admiring blues & soul music. When Paul Steward was a young teenager, Richard taught him to play guitar. Paul, was inspired by B.B. King and began imitating the electric blues guitar he heard on the radio and also learned to sing lead vocals.

In May 2003 they debuted as "Twice As Good, and since then they have been all over the the USA, released four award-winning albums, shared the stage with many legends and famous artists, and continue to garner success and praise from many corners of the musical world.

The name “Twice As Good” isn't a claim of status. To the Stewards it is a dedication to hard work and quality of craft.

They were once told, “You can't make it in the music business, you got to be twice as good.” So they replied, “Well all right then. We will be, Twice As Good.”
 
The Lake County News Stage will also host the Fargo Brothers on Saturday, and the Cherry Road Gang on Sunday, with several sets each day.

The Mediacom Gazebo Stage will host the Snake Alley Band on Saturday, and Sunday.

In addition to the musical acts, Fill-up the Clown will be strolling the grounds performing magic tricks, creating balloon animals, and generally creating laughter. A face painter will be active near the carnival entrance from the grandstands area.
 
Lake County's new Spring Fair opens for its second year this Friday, June 20, and runs through Sunday, June 22.

The Lake County Spring Fair includes a Butler Amusements carnival, commercial exhibits, a car show, and vocational education exhibits. Other attractions include a variety of fair food, two stages of local entertainment, motorized grandstand activities, and a laser tag building.
 
Events in the grandstand arena include mud bogs on Friday evening, tuff truck and buggy and ATV races on Saturday evening, and stock car races on Sunday evening. All grandstand shows start at 7:30 pm. Local participants are also encouraged all three nights.
 
Spring Fair gates open all three days at 2 p.m., and admission is $5 per person for ages 6 and older. Children under age 6 may attend for free.

Carnival unlimited ride wristbands will be $25 each at the fair. Parking is $5 per car, and benefits the Kelseyville High School softball program.
 
More information about the Lake County Spring Fair can be found at www.lakecountyfair.com or https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-Fair/138978582794813 .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A Willits man has been charged with vehicular manslaughter for the crash that killed a young husband and father of three last December.

The District Attorney's Office filed charges against Wayne Leroy Caldwell in the case on June 13, according to Chief Deputy District Attorney Richard Hinchcliff.

Caldwell is charged with two misdemeanors – vehicular manslaughter and driving on a suspended license – for the crash on Dec. 7, 2013, that killed 26-year-old Brandon Helmer of Kelseyville.

The California Highway Patrol said that Caldwell, driving a 1994 Dodge Ram pickup northbound on Highway 29 south of Cruickshank Road outside of Kelseyville, crossed the double-yellow lines and drifted into the path of Helmer's 1992 Acura Integra, hitting it head-on.

Helmer died at the scene, while Caldwell suffered minor injuries, according to the original report.

The Clear Lake Area office of the CHP confirmed to Lake County News this week that Caldwell was driving on a suspended license at the time of the crash.

Two tests of Caldwell's blood showed he was not impaired by alcohol or any substances, the CHP said.

Hinchcliff said Caldwell has not yet made a court appearance in the case, and no arraignment has yet been scheduled.

Helmer left behind wife Kate, three young daughters and a baby to be born this summer.

A Go Fund Me page for the Helmer family, http://www.gofundme.com/HelmerFamily , was started in December and remains active. It has raised more than $45,000 to help the young family make ends meet.

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 Colorado man was arrested Monday night for having four out of state arrest warrants and being in possession of a stolen travel trailer.

John David Heston, 20, of Longmont, Colo., was taken into custody in the case, according to Lt. Steve Brooks of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

On Monday a patrol deputy received information that Heston was living in Kelseyville and had four out of state arrest warrants, Brooks reported.

Brooks said the deputy contacted the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office in Colorado and confirmed they had four arrest warrants for Heston. They also confirmed that they would extradite Heston if he was located.

The Boulder County Sheriff’s Office provided the deputy with their most recent booking photograph of Heston to assist with identifying him, Brooks said.

Shortly before 8:30 p.m. Monday, deputies located Heston in Kelseyville, riding as a passenger inside a vehicle. Brooks said the vehicle pulled up to the fuel pumps at Mount Konocti Gas and as Heston was exiting the vehicle, he was detained by the deputies.

Heston attempted to identify himself multiple times as John Mcninch, Brooks said. The deputies showed Heston the booking photograph provided by the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office and he continued to identify himself as Mcninch.

The deputies noticed that Heston had a California license plate in his possession. Central Dispatch conducted a records check of the license plate and advised it was from a Coleman RV trailer which was reported stolen, Brooks reported.

A witness told the deputies that Heston was currently living in a new trailer which was parked at an address on Clark Drive in Kelseyville. Brooks said the witness also reported that Heston was looking for someone to help him tow his trailer to another location.

Deputies responded to an address located in the 4000 block of Clark Drive in Kelseyville and located the stolen trailer Heston was living in, Brooks said.

Brooks said Heston was arrested for possession of a stolen vehicle, providing false identification to a peace officer and the four out-of-state arrest warrants.

During the booking process Heston continued to identify himself as Mcninch, Brooks said.

Correctional officers obtained Heston’s fingerprints and sent them electronically to a law enforcement data base. A short time later the results came back, confirming Heston’s identity. Brooks said Heston admitted he lied about his identity because he is facing 15 to 25 years in prison when he is transported back to Colorado.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – It's that time again – when masters of duct tape will assemble creations to race on Clear Lake during the city of Lakeport's Independence Day celebration.

The Lakeport Yacht Club will once again sponsor the annual Cardboard and Duct Tape Regatta on Friday, July 4.

The sixth annual event will be held at Library Park near the Third Street launch ramp in the swimming beach across from TNT on the Lake restaurant.

Sign up starts at 9:30 a.m., with the races beginning at 11 a.m.

Rules require that the boats – which may be of any design, size or shape – be made using only cardboard and duct tape. Paddles may be of any material.  

For the boats to qualify at the end of the races, the participants must be in them.

Life jackets are required for all participants. Unruly pirates will walk the plank.

There are three age groups: ages 6 to 11 (parents may assist but not propel the boat); 12 to 19; and 20 and above.

Trophies will be awarded to first, second and third place in each age group.

This year the Yacht Club also will award a trophy for the crowd favorite boat.

This is an entirely free event to thank Lake County residents and city staff and to start the July 4 celebration.

For more information, contact Larry Wiggins at 707-263-4601 or Brandy Cubbage at 432-614-7707.

California saw a slight decrease in vehicle theft in 2013, the California Highway Patrol reported this week, with that trend also holding true locally.

The CHP said the 2-percent decline is a positive sign for the state, following an 11 percent surge in vehicle theft in 2012.  

According to statistics compiled by the CHP, more than 171,000 vehicles were stolen statewide in 2013, which is an estimated value of $1 billion.

“A combination of advances in technology, aggressive police work by all law enforcement agencies involved in joint auto theft task forces, and preventative measures by the public are making it more difficult for thieves to steal a vehicle,” said CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow.

Among the vehicles stolen last year in California, 58.9 percent were automobiles, 25.8 percent were personal trucks and vans, 4.5 percent were commercial trucks and trailers, and 4.4 percent were motorcycles.  

All other vehicles – recreational, construction and farm equipment, and special construction – accounted for 6.4 percent of vehicles stolen.

The CHP statistics showed that Lake County had a 1.8-percent decrease in thefts in 2013. That year, thefts totaled 168, down slightly from the 171 thefts reported in 2012.

Recoveries of stolen vehicles in Lake County went down in 2013. Last year, 125 stolen vehicles were recovered, as opposed to 144 the previous year.

The CHP reported that Southern California continues to be a hotbed for car thieves, with nearly half of all vehicle thefts occurring in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego counties. In fact, Los Angeles County accounted for nearly one quarter of all vehicle thefts.  

Car thieves in Northern California, specifically the San Francisco Bay Area, accounted for 18.9 percent of all thefts, the CHP said.

The Honda Accord continues to be the car that thieves most love to steal, ranking as the No. 1 stolen vehicle statewide, according to the CHP statistics. Toyota pickup trucks are also popular with thieves and have consistently, since 1984, been the most frequently stolen pickup truck.

“Vehicle theft is a crime of opportunity,” added Commissioner Farrow. “The last thing anyone should do is make it easier for or enable criminals. The public can take a few extra precautions with their vehicles and decrease the odds of becoming a victim.”

These simple deterrents can be used to prevent vehicle thefts:

• Park in a secure or highly visible location.
• Lock vehicle doors.
• Use an alarm system.
• Do not leave a car running unattended.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – This week several young men were celebrated for completing the South Lake County Fire Protection District Fire Academy, setting them on the path to firefighting careers.

The graduation was held Tuesday evening at the district's Station 60 in Middletown.

Seven volunteers graduated from the six-month, 300-hour academy which began in January, according to Tony Allegra, a paid call fire captain for the district and president of the South Lake County Volunteer Firefighters Association, which has 24 active members.

The graduates are Alex Davis, Chris Edwards, Jon Henry, Rich Hoberg, Saul Preciado, Russell Rosenthal and Andrew Welter, Allegra said.

Allegra said the academy selection process began eight months ago.

He said each of the recruits was required to take a special physical agility test, which they had to travel to Livermore or Sacramento to take at their own expense. To be hired and accepted into the academy, each applicant had to be at least 18 years of age.

Over the last six months, Allegra said the academy class met twice weekly, going over a variety of specialties including confined space training, emergency medical responder tasks, emergency vehicle operations, hazardous materials, low angle rescue and ropes, vehicle extrication, and wildland and structure firefighting.

The district has been running the academies about every two years, said Allegra, with another group already lining up for the training.

In addition to the seven new firefighters, the district also promoted three men from firefighter to engine operator, which Allegra said means they can operate fire engines within the district.

Allegra said the new engine operators are Robert Taylor, Byran Atkins and Matt McCabe.

After a year, if engine operators don't have any major incidents, they are reevaluated and moved up to engineer, Allegra said.

Allegra explained that the district's paid positions are provided by Cal Fire, and that while they're called “volunteers,” the district does pay volunteers to respond to calls.

Also on Tuesday, two Middletown High School students – Rich Hoberg and Hunter Duncan – each were awarded $500 scholarships at the ceremony, according to Allegra.

“I couldn't think of anyone more deserving of this scholarship money,” Allegra said.

Allegra said this is the first year in some time that the scholarship has been offered. “We need to give back to the community.”

The scholarship required that applicants carried at least a 3.2 grade point average, were involved in the community and are planning a career in the fire service or a related field, he said.

He said Hoberg and Duncan worked hard on their applications and did very well in their interviews.

The South Lake County Volunteer Firefighter Association's annual dinner and auction fundraiser – which brings in funds for district needs, like equipment, as well as the Field of Dreams group that provides trips and events for special needs children and veterans– also helped fund the scholarship, Allegra said.

This year's third annual fundraiser takes place Friday from 5 to 10 p.m. at Twin Pine Casino in Middletown.

Dinner includes hand-carved Angus prime rib or and salmon fillet, raffles, door prizes and a live auction. The cost is $40 per person, with 100-percent of proceeds going directly to the association.

Tickets can be purchased at the Middletown Fire Department, 21095 Highway 175, telephone 707-987-3089; through firefighters; or at the door.

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.

California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) Director Ken Pimlott issued an order to suspend open burning across 31 million acres of State Responsibility Area in California.

The suspended burning order is part of Cal Fire’s continued efforts to mitigate the increased threat of wildfire due to the state’s drought emergency.

“The increase in fire activity this year, coupled with record-setting drought conditions, requires us to take every step possible to prevent new wildfires from starting,” said Chief Ken Pimlott, Cal Fire director. “In support of the Governor’s Drought State of Emergency, I am ordering each of the 21 unit chiefs and six contract county chiefs to issue local proclamations suspending burning on State Responsibility Area lands in their respective jurisdictions, effective no later than July 1, 2014.”

The process of geographically specific burn bans will allow for greater flexibility to cancel individual bans locally during the fall months if conditions warrant.

The localized proclamations will include suspension of all residential burn permits, forest management, hazard abatement, and other industrial-type permitted burning. Campfires may still be allowed in designated campsites.

For information, visit your nearest Cal Fire station – http://calfire.ca.gov/contacts/index.php .

Cal Fire has already responded to 2,118 fires this year, a nearly 70-percent increase in the average number of fires for the same time period.

Residents are urged to visit www.ReadyForWildfire.org for tips on how to prepare their homes and family for wildfire. The Web site also links to important water saving tips, a resource critical to the control of wildfires.

California Gov. Edmund G. Brown Jr. on Friday signed a balanced, on-time state budget that pays down debt, shores up the teachers’ retirement system, builds a solid Rainy Day Fund and directs additional funding for local schools and health care.

“This on-time budget provides for today and saves for the future,” said Brown. “We’re paying off the state’s credit card, saving for the next rainy day and fixing the broken teachers’ retirement system.”

The budget includes a plan of shared responsibility among the state, school districts and teachers to shore up the State Teachers’ Retirement System (STRS).

The first year’s contributions from all three entities total approximately $276 million, growing in subsequent years to more than $5 billion annually. This is projected to eliminate the unfunded liability in the system by 2046.

The budget also directs $1.6 billion into the state Rainy Day Fund – the first deposit into the fund since 2007.

The fund is expected to grow to $4.6 billion by 2017-18, if voters approve of the measure on the November ballot that was proposed by the Governor and passed by the Legislature.

When Brown took office, the state faced a massive $26.6 billion budget deficit and estimated annual shortfalls of roughly $20 billion. These deficits, built up over a decade, have now been eliminated by a combination of budget cuts, temporary taxes approved by voters and the recovering economy.

Significant details of the 2014-15 budget:

Paying down debts and liabilities

The budget reduces the Wall of Debt by more than $10 billion by paying down $5 billion in deferred payments to schools, paying off the Economic Recovery Bonds one year ahead of schedule, repaying various special fund loans and reimbursing $100 million in mandate claims that have been owed to local governments since at least 2004. Under the budget plan, the Wall of Debt would be completely eliminated by 2017-18.

Investing in education and health care

The budget continues the state’s reinvestment in local schools, providing more than $10 billion this year alone in new Proposition 98 funding. This includes $4.7 billion for the second year of implementation for the Local Control Funding Formula, which directs new education revenues to districts serving English language learners, students from low-income families and foster youth.

The budget also expands the number of low-income preschool students served, increases the rates paid to preschool providers and provides grants to improve the quality of these programs.

In health care, last year the state adopted the optional expansion of Medi-Cal under the Affordable Care Act, providing millions of Californians with affordable health coverage.

Enrollment is now expected to rise from 7.9 million in 2012-13 to 11.5 million in 2014-15, for a total cost increase of $2.4 billion.

Addressing climate change

The budget includes $872 million of Cap-and-Trade auction proceeds – authorized by AB 32 – for greenhouse gas reduction, with an emphasis on assisting disadvantaged communities.

The plan will modernize the state’s rail system, including high-speed rail and public transit, and encourage local communities to develop in a sustainable manner.

It also will increase energy, water and agricultural efficiency, restore forests in both urban and rural settings and create incentives for improved recycling.

The budget permanently allocates 60 percent of future auction proceeds to sustainable communities, public transit and high-speed rail. The remaining proceeds will be allocated in future budgets.

Additional details on the 2014-15 budget, including line-item vetoes, can be found at www.ebudget.ca.gov .

CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – The Clearlake Oaks County Water District is pursuing federal loans and grants in an effort to upgrade its aging water and sewer systems.

General Manager Matt Bassett said that, altogether, the district is aiming at $7.7 million in low interest loans from the US Department of Agriculture Rural Development for projects on both the water and sewer sides.

USDA Rural Development offers a variety of funding opportunities for upgrading water systems like Clearlake Oaks'. The city of Lakeport also has received several million dollars in grants and loans for its water and sewer systems, as Lake County News has reported.

Bassett said the district has completed environmental and preliminary engineering reports for its application.

USDA gave preliminary approval to the district's funding application, and now the district board needs to make some decisions in order to finish up the application process, Bassett said.

That includes finalizing a list of projects and deciding the final amount that will need to be borrowed, as well as exploring what grants the district could get, he said.

Some of the projects up for consideration include a water clarifier for the sewer system and replacing the district's original, 1960s-era redwood water tanks, according to Bassett.

In order to prepare for the next steps in the process, at its regular Thursday afternoon meeting the district's board unanimously voted to begin negotiations with MC Engineering of Sacramento to handle all engineering for the USDA loan projects.

The board will hold a special meeting at 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 1, in the board meeting room at the district headquarters, 12952 Highway 20, to discuss the capital improvement projects – and  their estimated costs – to include in the USDA application.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – A crash this past weekend injured a Clearlake woman and resulted in the arrest of the vehicle's driver on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol.

Sara Coughlin, 26, of Nice was arrested after she left the scene of the crash that injured 26-year-old Alicia Staub, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The CHP's report, issued Thursday, said the crash occurred at 12:25 a.m. Sunday, June 15.

Coughlin was driving a silver 1996 Volvo 850 northbound on Lakeshore Boulevard at Robin Hill Road in the north Lakeport area, with Staub as the right front passenger. For unknown reasons, Coughlin allowed the Volvo to leave the road, the report said.

The Volvo hit a small dirt embankment, with both air bags deploying, the CHP said.

The CHP said Staub suffered moderate injuries including a possible broken jaw and lacerations to her face, arms and legs. Coughlin sustained minor injuries, which included cuts on her arms, legs and face.

Coughlin attempted to flee the scene in the Volvo but was unable to drive away from the embankment, the CHP said.

Prior to the arrival of the CHP and emergency personnel, Coughlin fled the scene on foot and subsequently was located in Nice, according to the report.

The CHP said Coughlin was arrested for felony DUI causing injury and felony hit and run causing injury.

The Lakeport Fire Protection District transported Staub to Sutter Lakeside Hospital for treatment of her injuries, the CHP reported.

Both Coughlin and Staub were wearing their seat belts at the time of the crash, which the CHP said is being investigated by CHP Officer Glen Thomas.

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.