THIS STORY HAS BEEN UPDATED.

NORTH COAST, Calif. – Firefighters from state and federal agencies are responding to a fast-moving new wildland fire in the Cow Mountain area.

Cal Fire and US Forest Service firefighters worked for about a half hour to reach the remote fire – called the “Scotts Incident” – at about 2 p.m. Friday after a “massive column” of smoke was reported near Cow Mountain, which straddles Lake and Mendocino counties.

Shortly before 2:30 p.m. the fire was estimated to be between 175 and 200 acres, and rapidly moving up small drainages, burning up grass and other vegetation, according to reports from the scene.

Firefighters were able to access the fire off Scotts Valley Road and off of Highway 20. At first it was not clear if the fire was on the Lake or Mendocino side of the mountain. Cal Fire later said it was in Mendocino County, but Lakeport Fire Chief Ken Wells said it also was in Lake.

Julie Cooley, a fire prevention specialist with the Cal Fire Mendocino Unit, said initial information indicated that the fire was near the headwaters of Scotts Creek.

Air resources were being diverted from the 16 Complex in Colusa County to go to the new fire, which was going to be difficult to access from the ground, according to radio reports. A call was being made for aircraft and bulldozers.

A total of five tankers and one helicopter were assigned, with one additional helicopter to be assigned, according to reports from the scene.

Visibility is poor due to heavy smoke, making the going difficult for the air resources, radio reports indicated.

Additional details will posted as they become available.

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

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Here’s a rundown of prep football games involving Lake County teams and other teams of interest this weekend.

Middletown (0-1) at Upper Lake (1-0), Saturday, noon/2 p.m.: Upper Lake, a 52-6 winner over Kelseyville last week, faces a Mustang team that gave up plenty of yards to Salesian (including 252 from running back Micahel Page) but only one touchdown in a 7-3 loss. The Pride  gave away three fumbles, which helped Middletown stay close.

On Saturday that diminutive Mustang defense tries to contain the Cougars’ formidable running game, which features halfback Ward Beecher (11 carries, 123 yards, 3 TDs against Kelseyville), fullback Joey Valdez (10 carries, 91 yards, 2 TDs) and quarterback Travis Coleman (7 carries, 65 yards, TD), who rely on their big offensive line anchored by two-way all-leaguer John Karlsson.

Senior Jeremy Martin, who last played football on the Pop Warner level, made his high school debut last week by returning the opening kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown and also returned punts and played in the defensive secondary.  

Middletown, which has some quickness, has more balance on offense than run-happy Upper Lake, and  quarterback Ben Pike (13 for 23, 88 yards, 1 interception) could shoulder more responsibility if the Mustangs can’t get their running game going.

Tyler Drew led MHS rushers against Salesian with 59 yards in 9 carries. He also kicked the 22-yard field that gave Middletown a 3-0 lead at the half.

Prediction: Upper Lake 33, Middletown 24.
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Stellar Prep (1-1) at Clear Lake (0-1), Friday, 5:30/7:30 p.m. In the  27-21 loss at Durham last week, the Cardinals gained some redemption by demonstrating the ability to play with a solid Div. III team.

Running back Luke Punzalan broke loose for 163 yards in 19 carries and the CL defense showed promise, shutting down Durham’s offense except for a couple of busted plays.

Josh Larsen shines on the Cardinal line. The mostly sophomore Stellar Prep  club has some good athletes, including a QB with  a strong arm and  two big linemen who will try to inflict their will on the smaller Cards.

Prediction: Clear Lake 33, Stellar Prep 27.

Kelseyville (0-1) at Swett (1-1), 5:30 p.m.: The Knights  can win this one if they show up ready to play and avoid those costly turnovers. A good showing will help them forget last week’s sloppy opener against Upper Lake.

Prediction: Kelseyville 20, John Swett 13.
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Arcata (1-1) at Lower Lake  (0-1), 5:30/7:30 p.m. The Trojans played with Hoopa Valley for nearly a half, thanks mostly to Jared Thompson, who had a 50-yard kick return and finished with 85 yards in 11 carries. Arcata isn’t as good as Hoopa, which beat the Trojans, 41-14, but they’re still 10 points better than Lower Lake.

Prediction: Arcata 24, Lower Lake 14.

Willits (1-0) at Ukiah (0-1): Willits wins a defensive battle.

Prediction: Willits 13, Ukiah 6.

Prediction record: Last week: 6-0. Season: 6-0.

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

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Two Kelseyville men have been arrested as the result of a narcotics investigation that began because of an out-of-state traffic stop.

Robert Baratz, 53, was arrested on Aug. 17 and 47-year-old Greg Andrew Gordon was arrested on Wednesday, according to Sgt. Steve Brooks of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.

Along with the arrests, the Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force seized 261 marijuana plants and $44,741, Brooks said.

On Aug. 15 narcotics detectives were contacted by a special agent from the Utah Bureau of Investigations who reported that a Utah state trooper had conducted a vehicle stop and seized 35 pounds of processed marijuana, Brooks said.

During the Utah trooper’s investigation, the driver of the vehicle admitted to receiving processed marijuana on at least five different occasions from a “friend” in Lake County, according to Brooks. The driver would then transport the marijuana to Milwaukee, Wis.

Utah investigators located evidence with the marijuana that identified Gordon as the possible origin of the marijuana, Brooks reported.

Based on that information, on Aug. 15 narcotics detectives conducted surveillance at Gordon’s residence and noticed a large green house which contained numerous growing marijuana plants, Brooks said.

Brooks said that on Aug. 16 detectives secured a search warrant for Gordon’s person, home and vehiclen. On Aug. 17 at approximately 8:48 a.m. narcotics detectives served the warrant at Gordon’s home, which is located on Kelsey Creek Drive in Kelseyville.

When narcotics detectives entered the property, they contacted Baratz, who Brook said was detained without incident. Baratz said he was living on the property and tending the marijuana plants for Gordon, who was not home. Baratz said Gordon had traveled to Wisconsin with a friend.

During a search of the home, detectives located and seized more than three pounds of processed marijuana and 261 marijuana plants, Brooks said.

Detectives also located $44,741 inside a safe in the master bedroom, which was seized for asset forfeiture. In addition, Brooks said detectives located indicia showing that Gordon was shipping marijuana outside the state of California for sale.

Brooks said Baratz was arrested the cultivation of marijuana, possession of marijuana for sale and the possession of a deadly weapon. He was transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility and booked, with bail set at $15,000. Jail records indicated he later was released from custody.

On Aug. 29, narcotics detectives obtained a warrant of arrest for Gordon. On Wednesday detectives arrested Gordon on the arrest warrant, Brooks said.

Gordon was transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility and booked, with bail set at $15,000. Jail records indicated he later was released.

The Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force can be contacted through its anonymous tip line at 707-263-3663.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Continued firing operations on two wildland fires in Colusa County resulted in heavy smoke in parts of Lake County on Friday, with more firing operations set to take place to try to slow down the fast-moving fires.

The two-fire 16 Complex grew by about 2,800 acres overnight, with Cal Fire reporting Friday morning that it had burned a total of 12,500 acres, with containment remaining at 20 percent.

The fires, burning since Tuesday, are located four miles apart off of Highway 16 in the Rumsey Canyon area.

Cal Fire estimated the incident will be fully contained on Monday.

Reports of smoke were coming in from around the county on Friday.

Cal Fire said firing operations to get rid of vegetation in the fire’s path had gone on throughout the night, and on Friday shortly before 2 p.m. radio reports indicated more firing operations were about to begin.

On Friday there were 1,268 personnel assigned to the incident, along with 63 engines, 48 fire crews, three airtankers, 10 helicopters, 22 bulldozers and 12 water tenders, Cal Fire said.

So far, three structures have been damaged, with dozens of homes on the Cortina Rancheria threatened. The rancheria remained under an evacuation order on Friday.

Highway 16 from the junction of Highway 20 to the town of Rumsey remained closed.

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

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – A Colusa County wildland fire complex burned more than 2,500 acres on Thursday, with firing operations planned for Friday.

The 16 Complex’s two fires have scorched a total of 9,754 acres, with firefighters achieving 20 percent containment, Cal Fire said Thursday night.

The fires – located four miles apart off of Highway 16 in the Rumsey Canyon – are burning grass, brush and oak woodland in the area’s steep, rugged terrain, according to Cal Fire.

Cal Fire and cooperating agencies had 1,268 fire personnel, 63 engines, 48 fire crews, four airtankers, seven helicopters, 22 bulldozers and 12 water tenders assigned to the incident on Thursday.

So far, three injuries have been reported, said Cal Fire.

On Thursday Cal Fire said the fires continued burning toward the junction of Highway 20 and Highway 16. As a result, Highway 16 remains closed from Highway 20 to the town of Rumsey.

The Cortina Rancheria is in the fires’ path, and is under an evacuation order. Cal Fire said efforts are under way to protect structures and cultural values in the rancheria and fire area.

Approximately 31 buildings – 23 of them residences – are threatened by the fire, Cal Fire said.

Firefighters made progress on Thursday in constructing fire line and determining strategic locations to access the fire, according to Cal Fire.

On Friday officials plan to burn out areas of unburned fuel within control lines, which will lead to more smoke being visible.

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

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – The two wildland fires burning since Tuesday in the Rumsey Canyon area of Colusa County more than doubled in size overnight.

The 16 Complex, located off of Highway 16 south of Highway 20, had burned 7,236 acres by Thursday morning, with containment remaining at 10 percent, according to Cal Fire.

Personnel assigned increased to 1,312, with 58 fire engines, 54 fire crews, 21 bulldozers, eight helicopters and four airtankers, Cal Fire reported.

Cal Fire said the complex is burning in a mix of grass, brush, and oak woodland in steep and rugged terrain, with firefighters working to build and strengthen containment lines.

The fire is continuing to move north toward the junction of Highway 20 and Highway 16, and and was threatening the Cortina Rancheria area, where an advisory evacuation warning was in effect. Cal Fire said no structures have been damaged so far.

Officials said Highway 16 is closed from Highway 20 to the town of Rumsey.

The 16 Complex has been sending smoke and haze into Lake County. Lake County Air Quality Management District issued an air quality alert for Thursday, with conditions expected to range from “moderate” to “unhealthy.”

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

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Three dead birds and one mosquito sample collected in Lake County tested positive for West Nile Virus this week, local officials reported Friday.

The three West Nile Virus-positive dead birds were American Crows found in Lower Lake, Clearlake Oaks and Lucerne, according to the Lake County Vector Control District.

The positive mosquito sample was collected south of Kelseyville, near Highway 175, the district said.

This year a total of 13 West Nile Virus-positive mosquito samples and five West Nile Virus-positive dead birds have been detected in Lake County, the district reported. No other West Nile Virus activity has been reported in Lake County in 2012.

“We have been fortunate in not having any reports of human West Nile Virus illness in Lake County this year, but we need to remain vigilant and continue to protect ourselves from mosquito bites,” said Lake County Health Officer Dr. Karen Tait.

“West Nile Virus season lasts well beyond Labor Day,” said Jamesina J. Scott, Ph.D., the district manager and research director of the Lake County Vector Control District. “We are still finding infected mosquitoes and dead birds, which means that that people could be exposed.”

Officials encourage residents to protect themselves from mosquito bites by avoiding being outside at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active, and to wear long sleeves and use an insect repellant containing an EPA-registered active ingredient like DEET, Picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR353.

Residents are advised to dump out buckets, wading pools and other sources of standing water where mosquitoes can develop in their yards.

The Lake County Vector Control District provides free mosquito-eating fish to Lake County residents for use in animal water troughs, ornamental ponds, and out-of-service (“green”) swimming pools.  

The Vector Control District traps and tests mosquitoes throughout the county to identify the areas that have the highest risk, and targets those areas for source reduction and treatment using an integrated vector management program.  

Residents are encouraged to call the district for mosquito problems, to get mosquito fish, or to report neglected (“green”) pools and other mosquito sources at 707-263-4770 or to fill out a service request online at www.lcvcd.org .  

For more information about West Nile virus, visit http://www.westnile.ca.gov/ .

NORTH COAST, Calif. – Firefighters on Thursday continued to build fire line and increase containment on two wildland fires burning in northern Mendocino County, while more resources were released from the incident.

The North Pass Fires continued to hold at a total of 41,983 acres on Thursday, with containment now at 70 percent, according to Cal Fire and the US Forest Service.

The fires, located in the Williams Valley 10 miles northeast of Covelo, were sparked by lightning on Saturday, Aug. 18.

A total of 16 structures have been destroyed to date, with nine injuries reported, according to the latest report.

Some evacuations remain in effect along Indian Dick Road (Forest Road M-1) and Mendocino Pass Road (Forest Highway 7), Cal Fire and the US Forest Service reported.

The Covelo Ranger District north of Mendocino Pass Road to the Six Rivers and Shasta-Trinity National Forest boundaries also remains under closure order, although the closure area is being reevaluated each afternoon, officials reported.

Personnel and resources continued to be rolled back on Thursday. Approximately 901 personnel were on scene, along with 34 engines, 15 fire crews, one air tanker, five helicopters, five bulldozers and 24 water tenders.

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

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – As losses go, Clear Lake’s 27-20 defeat at Durham last week left a nice aftertaste.

A wine connoisseur might say it was the kind of loss that first pounded the palate with heavy tones of frustration and disappointment, then gave way to subtle hints of promise and potential with lingering undertones of confidence.

As losses go, Kelseyville’s 52-6 defeat at the hands of Upper Lake in the Knights’ home opener on Friday had a bitter taste to it from the opening kickoff, which Jeremy Martin returned for a touchdown (and a 7-0 Cougar lead 15 seconds into the game). Six days later, it still tastes bad.

First, let’s expand on the Cardinals’ opener at Durham, a bigger and more experienced team and allegedly one of the Northern Section’s better Div. III outfits.

The initial frustration was severe because Clear Lake, overwhelmed by the Trojans, 40-10, in last year’s opener, nearly won. Maybe even should have.

Durham needed a 40-yard fluke of a pass play to score the winning touchdown, and the Cards still rallied in the closing minutes, marching from their own 20 to inside the Trojans’ 6-yard line, where they took three shots at the end zone before time ran out.

“We had every chance to win,” said head coach Milo Meyer, whose team plays its home opener Friday against Stellar Prep of Hayward. “We made some mistakes, but overall, I’m pleased with the way we played, especially on defense.”

The Cards’ undersized defense shut down Durham – except for a couple of long TD passes, one being an “Immaculate Reception” kind of play.

“Defensive coordinator Steve Newnham did an outstanding job with a defense that basically took away their spread offense,” Meyer said.   

The Cardinals, who trailed 13-7 at the half, rallied for a 20-13 lead in the third quarter,  and were clinging to a 20-19 advantage in the fourth quarter when Durham backup quarterback Hayden Southam, on a fourth-and-10, threw long to receiver Zach Marks, who earlier in the half had scored on a 70-yard pass play.

The Cardinals had Marks covered this time – double covered in fact, which in this case caused a problem.  

When defenders David Mansell and Jonah Wilcox went up to knock down the pass, they collided, with the ball caroming into the hands of Marks, who completed the 40-yard touchdown play.  The two-point PAT gave Durham a 27-20 lead.

Mansell is one of four players on the Clear Lake varsity with no previous football experience. Meyer, anticipating a low turnout (the Cards have 20 players on the varsity), scoured the campus last spring for athletic types to fill out the roster, and he found a “project” in Mansell, who otherwise is known for his basketball skills.

“His play was a very pleasant surprise,” Meyer said of the 6-foot, 185-pound junior, who along with playing in the defensive secondary, started at wide receiver and caught three Kenny Henninger passes, including a 7-yarder that gave Clear Lake an early 7-0 lead.

The Cards, who don’t have a lot of experience, struggled offensively at times – but still had success moving the ball both on the ground and through the air.

Luke Punzalan rushed for 163 yards on 19 carries and a touchdown and Henninger,  the  5-7, 140-pound junior, hit on 7 of 18 passes for 110 yards (including the TD toss to Mansell).

But he also threw a couple of interceptions, one that was returned 70 yards for a touchdown that pulled Durham even at  7-7 in the second quarter.

The Cardinals (0-1) will again face a bigger opponent on Friday, but Stellar Prep (1-1), with 19 sophomores and two juniors on an all-underclass team, don’t have a lot of experience.

Sort of like Clear Lake, whose poise and resilience last week indicated they were growing up in a hurry. And made for a very nice aftertaste.

Kelseyville’s loss to Upper Lake was a different kind of tasting experience – yucky all the way through.

First Martin returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown. Then the Knights took over and promptly fumbled the ball back over to Upper Lake. Kelseyville lost another fumble in the first quarter and the Cougars cashed in for an early 28-0 lead.

“Historically, we haven’t started games very well,” said Ishihara, in his third season as the Knights’ head coach.  “And that was certainly the case against Upper Lake.”

The fumbling problem isn’t new, either. Last year they coughed the ball up at the most inopportune times, costing them a chance to win two, maybe three games.

Ishihara addressed the problem this summer by running extra “strip drills,” when his ball carriers were subjected to a mob of defenders intent on whacking, poking, punching or wrestling the football out of their hands.

But you wouldn’t have known from their opener.

The Knights weren’t going to win this game, of course, but in a season-opener in front of a home crowd, you know Ishihara expected a better showing – a close game for a quarter, maybe even a half.

“The touchdown on the kickoff and then the fumble – it was the worst way to start a game,” said Ishihara, whose Knights (0-1) travel to Crockett to play John Swett (1-1) on Friday night.

“It affected a lot of the kids,” Ishihara said. “We’re going to have to play a lot better.”

Good enough, hopefully, to wash that bitter taste from the palate.

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

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Next week, Lake County will be among several hundred locations around California participating in cleanup efforts to improve lakes, creeks, streams, shorelines and the ocean itself.

The California Coastal Commission’s 28th annual California Coastal Cleanup Day – the state’s largest volunteer event – will take place from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 15.

The commission said the event will take place at more than 850 locations around the California, comprising the largest single effort to remove the debris that has accumulated on California’s beaches and inland shorelines over the past year.

This year’s cleanup also will provide one of the first opportunities for organizers to measure a baseline of debris on California’s shores that may have washed up as a result of last year’s devastating tsunami in Japan, the commission reported.

Carolyn Ruttan of the Lake County Department of Water Resources is coordinating the local event.

“I want everybody in Lake County to go to their closest waterway and clean it, basically,” she said. “That’s what I would love to happen.”

Ruttan said the focus doesn’t have to be Clear Lake – working to improve creeks, streams and other waterways also is important.

For many years the cleanup had a large local presence, but more recently it has fallen off, with Ruttan estimating that the trash problem near local waterways became worse in the interim.

Now, Ruttan is trying to build public participation in waterways cleanup back up again. “We need to get back on the map,” she said.

She’s coordinating with local waste disposal companies to pick up trash that is recovered from the shoreline and local creeks. Those companies are donating free trash pickup, dumpsters and trash bags.

“It’s amazing how people want to help,” Ruttan said.

She said there will be a dumpster at the Northshore Fire Protection District’s Clearlake Oaks station, 12655 Highway 20, and another at the Lake County Fire Protection District station at 14815 Olympic Drive, Clearlake.

There also will be a dumpster at Natural High School on N. Main Street in Lakeport and others in different parts of the county if Ruttan is able to arrange them them.

Ruttan said if every person picked up a bag of trash or recyclables it would add up.

Anything that can help the county get back on track with the cleanup effort is “going to ripple through everything we do,” she said, adding that agencies that give grants also will look at such creek and watershed cleanup efforts.

Ruttan is also considering starting an “adopt a shoreline” – Clear Lake has 120 miles of shoreline – or an “adopt a watershed” program to place more focus on the importance of keeping local waterways clean.

For Lake County residents wanting to take part in a local cleanup, call Ruttan at 707-263-2256 or email her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

For those who cannot attend Coastal Cleanup Day, the Coastal Commission maintains a calendar of events taking place during the three weeks following the cleanup, known as “Coastweeks.”

For more information about the Coastal Cleanup Day and ongoing events, including Coastweeks, visit www.coastalcleanupday.org .

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

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – While smoke has continued to pour into Lake County from wildland fires in Colusa and Mendocino counties, conditions are expected be better on Friday, air quality officials reported.

The smoke Lake County residents have seen in the air this week is coming from the 16 Complex in Colusa County and the North Pass Fires in Mendocino County.

The Lake County Air Quality Management District issued a Thursday afternoon report explaining that weather forecasts indicate favorable conditions should continue to push smoke away from the Lake County air basin. However, settling of smoke into the basin is likely and could result in intermittent air quality degradation.

Air Pollution Control Officer Doug Gearhart said air quality conditions were significantly better than forecast for Thursday, due primarily to better meteorological conditions that are anticipated.

Areas close to the fires experienced some degradation of air quality Thursday, but most areas of the Lake County experienced good to moderate air quality, Gearhart said. Levels of ozone and particulate were elevated, but did not exceed state health-based air quality standards.

Gearhart said the prediction for Friday is for “good “ to “moderate” air quality in Lake County. The Northshore, Clearlake and the county’s southeastern portions could see more impact.

Smoke impacts are most likely to occur during the early morning hours through midday Friday, Gearhart said.

At times on Friday, areas of the county could experience “ unhealthy” air quality levels as smoke settles into the basin, he said.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Wildland fires burning in Colusa and Mendocino counties are sending smoke into Lake County's air basin, resulting in the Lake County Air Quality Management District issuing an air quality alert for Thursday.

By Wednesday night the 16 Complex in Colusa County had reached 3,500 acres, while the North Pass Fires in northern Mendocino County was 41,983 acres, according to Cal Fire. The fires have resulted in smoke, haze and degraded air quality for Lake County.

The Lake County Air Quality Management District reported that weather forecasts indicate favorable west winds will push smoke away from the Lake County air basin on Thursday afternoon. Overnight settling of smoke is likely and could linger into the morning hours.

Air quality conditions significantly improved through most of the county from early morning to late afternoon on Wednesday, due primarily to better meteorological conditions, Air Pollution Control Officer Doug Gearhart reported.

Areas close to the fires experienced significantly degraded air quality on Wednesday, but most areas of Lake County experienced good to moderate air quality, according to Gearhart. Levels of ozone and particulate were elevated, but did not exceed state health-based air quality standards.

Gearhart said air quality on Thursday is expected to be in the “moderate” to “unhealthy” range. The greatest concern exists for the Northshore communities, Clearlake and the southeastern portions of Lake County, although all areas of the county may be impacted.

Smoke impacts are forecast to be most significant from the early morning hours through mid-day Thursday, Gearhart said. At times on Thursday, areas of the county could experience “unhealthy” to “hazardous” air quality levels as smoke settles into the basin.

Smoky conditions can cause irritation of the eyes, nose and air passages. These conditions can be hazardous for sensitive individual including young children, the elderly, and individuals with heart conditions, and those with chronic lung disease such as asthma, bronchitis and other respiratory conditions.

The moderate to unhealthy air quality alert results from fine particulate in the smoke and ground level ozone, generated by combustion products in the smoke combined with the high temperatures, significant sunlight, and humidity.

Other chemical reactions reduce visibility by forming secondary particulates. Poor air quality, haze and particulate from the ongoing wildfires is expected to continue throughout Lake County until the fires are out.