LAKEPORT, Calif. – One of the Lakeport Senior Activity Center's big fundraising events of the year will take place later this week.

The Hot August Nights dinner-dance will be held from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 23, at the center, 527 Konocti Ave.

This event benefits Meals on Wheels and the Lakeport Senior Activity Center's services.

Doors open at 5 p.m., with a no-host bar. Dinner, which includes a choice of pork loin or chicken, starts at 5:30 p.m. Music, provided by the LC Diamonds, and dancing begin at 6 p.m.

The evening will include raffle prizes and a cool and funky sock contest, so dig out your poodle skirts, denims, and blue suede shoes and join the fun.
 
Tickets, which are still available, cost $30 each or $35 each for VIP seating. To reserve a VIP table for eight, which includes two bottles of wine, the cost is $280. All VIP tables are up front and right next to the dance floor.
 
Tickets can be purchased at the Meals on Wheels Thrift Store, 120 Main St. in Lakeport, or at the Lakeport Senior Activity Center, 527 Konocti Ave.

For more information, call the center at 707-263-4218.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Police have arrested a Lucerne man who is alleged to have crashed into a Lakeport business early Sunday morning.

Christopher Don Coffer, 25, was arrested a short after he allegedly hit the building housing Hillside Honda, according to Lakeport Police Chief Brad Rasmussen.

Rasmussen said that Lakeport Police officers were dispatched to Hillside Honda, located at 460 S. Main St., at approximately 5:56 a.m. Sunday to investigate a report of a vehicle having just crashed into the building.

He said dispatch advised responding officers that witnesses reported the driver and two passengers were fleeing the scene on foot.

However, the driver returned and began efforts to pull his vehicle free from the wreckage. He rammed the building before finally pulling free and fleeing north on S. Main Street at a high rate of speed, Rasmussen said.

Officers arrived on scene and immediately began looking for the vehicle but did not initially locate it, according to Rasmussen.

He said officers interviewed four witnesses in the area and learned that just prior to the collision the suspect vehicle, a 2013 Toyota Scion, ran a stop sign from westbound Esplanade Street onto southbound S. Main Street and nearly collided with a motorist heading southbound on S. Main Street.

The Scion continued across S. Main Street, hitting the west curb and then traveling southeast across all lanes of S. Main Street before crashing into the west wall and window of the Hillside Honda store, Rasmussen said.

Officers continued to search the area for the Scion and driver, and located a trail of glass approximately 10 blocks north to Seventh Street, Rasmussen reported.

At approximately 6:57 a.m., witnesses advised police that the Scion was in the area of S. Main and Martin streets. Rasmussen said officers responded and located the Scion and the driver – who was identified as Coffer – at C and S. Main streets.

Through the witness statements and physical evidence located at the crash scene and on the Scion, Rasmussen said officers determined that Coffer was the driver of the vehicle both before and after the crash.

Coffer was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and for hit and run causing property damage. Rasmussen said no injuries were reported.

Rasmussen and his department thanked the numerous witnesses who provided detailed information to assist them with identifying and arresting Coffer.

LUCERNE, Calif. – A three-vehicle crash on Sunday afternoon partially blocked Highway 20 and left several people with minor injuries.

The crash occurred at around 2:42 p.m. on E. Highway 20 at Rosemont Drive near the Davis Rest Area.

Firefighters arriving at the scene a few minutes later reported that the crash had blocked the highway's eastbound lane and left two of the vehicles with moderate damage, based on scanner traffic.

When firefighters arrived they found six crash victims, all of whom appeared to have suffered minor injuries.

The vehicles involved included a green Pontiac sedan and a silver Honda sedan, both of which had rear-end damage, and a full-sized white Ford pickup with minor damage to its front end.

One-way traffic control was put in place as rescue personnel worked at the scene and the vehicles were removed from the roadway. A tow company was dispatched from Upper Lake.

John Jensen contributed to this report.

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

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake Transit Authority reported Monday that transit services that were curtailed due to a strike are being restored at an accelerated pace, but workers who chose to return to the job still haven't been called back at work.

Last week Teamsters Local 665 said the 28 striking Lake Transit workers it represents had voted to return to work to help bring services back online.

The strike began on July 29, with the union citing a breakdown in negotiations with Paratransit Services – Lake Transit's operator – over wage step increases.

Paratransit Services moved forward with hiring permanent replacement workers and last week Lake Transit began the first phase of a plan to restore services that had been rolled back after the strike began.

Lake Transit Authority General Manager Mark Wall said Monday that about 60 percent of Lake Transit weekday schedules were in operation.

By this Thursday, Wall said all routes would be in operation and 88 percent of weekday schedules will be operating, including the following:

• Route 1: North Shore, Clearlake to Lakeport via Highway 20, all schedules operating.
• Route 2: Middletown to Kit's Corner via Cobb Mountain, all schedules operating.
• Route 3: Clearlake to Middletown, Calistoga, St. Helena, nine of 11 schedules.
• Route 4: South Shore, Clearlake to Lakeport via Highway 29, 13 of 16 schedules.
• Route 4A: Kit's Corner to Lakeport, all schedules operating.
• Route 5: City of Clearlake-Clearlake Park, operates 7 a.m.-5 p.m., 10 of 14 schedules.
• Route 6: City of Clearlake-Lower Lake, operates 7 a.m.-5 p.m., 10 of 11 schedules.
• Route 7: Lakeport to Ukiah, six of eight schedules including connections to Greyhound and Amtrak.
• Route 8: City of Lakeport, all schedules operating.

Wall said services will be fully restored by Sept. 3.

Just who will be driving the buses is still being determined, according to the union and Paratransit Services, Lake Transit's operator.

As to putting back to work the union members who voted to return to the job, Christie Scheffer, chief operating officer and executive vice president of Paratransit Services, said Monday that the process of recalling staff is under way.

“We are still working to insure the recall list takes into account all employment categories and circumstances,” she said in an email message. “Both Paratransit Services and the union's attorney are in communication on these matters. Once a decision is reached, those employees who are recalled will report for work as agreed.”

Ralph Miranda, president of Teamsters Local 665, said Paratransit Services told the union that they've replaced everyone but that they have one full-time driver position and one part-time dispatcher position, with the possibility that another driver spot may also be available.

He believes that Paratransit Services is trying to qualify all of its new drivers so that they don't have responsibility to their union employees.

The union has maintained that the new drivers cannot be qualified in such a short period of time to replace the more experienced workers and that they have had safety issues, including jumping curbs and not taking proper turns.

He said the union and Paratransit Services are meeting at 2 p.m. Tuesday, at which time they will make arrangements for recalling some of the workers who had been on strike and the details about what jobs are available also will be finalized.

“The parties have agreed that they'll be called back by seniority,” Miranda said of the Teamsters members who had been on the picket line.

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.

CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – After two days of work, firefighters were able to fully contain a wildland fire along Highway 20 on Sunday evening.

The Double Fire, burning off of the highway at Mule Skinner Road east of Clearlake Oaks since Friday night, was 100-percent contained at 70 acres, Cal Fire said Sunday.

The fire had burned primarily in grass and oak woodland, and no structures were reported threatened or damaged.

A total of 10 engines, two fire crews, four bulldozers and five water tenders remained on scene Sunday, Cal Fire said.

Officials said the cause remains under investigation.

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 Santa Rosa man was seriously injured in a Saturday night ATV crash.

Damon Gronlund, 28, sustained major injuries in the crash, which occurred at around 9:45 p.m. at 12379 Bartlett Springs Road above Nice, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The CHP said Gronlund was riding a 1999 Polaris ATV northbound on Bartlett Springs Road at an unknown speed when, for reasons that still haven't been determined, he was ejected from the vehicle.

Gronlund was not wearing a helmet and sustained major head trauma, the CHP said.

A REACH air ambulance responded to the scene to transport Gronlund. Radio traffic indicated the helicopter – which didn't have a landing zone set up for it because firefighters on the ground hadn't yet arrived at the remote location – tried to land twice before finally getting on the ground safely.

The CHP said REACH took Gronlund to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital.

Alcohol appears to be a contributing factor in the crash, according to the CHP report.

The crash remains under investigation by Officer Ryan Erickson.

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.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – A man was flown to a regional trauma center on Saturday after being seriously injured in a boating accident near Kelseyville.

The accident occurred at about 1:45 p.m. on Clear Lake, according to Kelseyville Fire Chief Mike Stone.

Stone said the man – whose name was not available – fell off the back of his boat into the lake.

When the man fell into the lake, the boat's propeller hit him in the back, Stone said.

Stone said the sheriff's patrol picked the man up and transported him to Braito's Marina, where Kelseyville Fire crews met them.

By the time firefighters saw the man, he already was bandaged up, so Stone could not offer additional details about his injuries.

A landing zone was set up for an air ambulance at Buckingham, and the victim was flown to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, Stone said.

Correction: This story previously incorrectly stated the landing zone was set up at Kelseyville High School. It was in fact set up at Buckingham.

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.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake Planning Commission this week is set to consider a time extension request from Clearlake Cottages and Marina for a permit and subdivision tentative map.

The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 20, in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.

City Manager Joan Phillipe is asking the commission to consider the request, which is the Tuesday evening meeting's main item of business.

Her report explains that in 2008 the commission approved a permit to construct 33 housing units and one storage unit at 13885 Lakeshore Drive under the name Lake Escape.

The same resolution approved a tentative map for the submittal of a subdivision map creating 19 ground level building pads and eight air space envelopes, according to Phillipe.

In 2010, the property was acquired by Kila Clearlake LLC, which operates the property under the name of Clearlake Cottages and Marina, she said.

In October of that same year, Kila made a formal request to the city, asking for a four-year extension of all rights, entitlements and deadlines set forth in that approval, Philippe wrote in her report.

However, Philippe's report explained that the city administrator at that time – Dale Neiman – resigned his position and no action was taken. Company officials then made contact with an interim city administrator but due to a short tenure and staff turnovers, nothing happened.

Philippe said earlier this year the facilities manager contacted city staff to discuss the request and the fact it had not moved forward.

She said the matter is being brought to the commission for determination and action because significant time has lapsed since the request for the extension was received. Staff also hasn't been able to determine whether or not any other authorization may have been given for the extension.

In her report Philippe noted that Clearlake Cottages and Marina has been an asset to the community.

“The city is moving forward on several fronts with efforts to provide opportunity to encourage investment in the community and a project like this one would fit with that goal,” said Philippe.

She added that staff does not see an adverse impact to granting the extension, “particularly given that there remains a valid tentative map.”

Philippe said in her report that the projects eventual construction “would very likely result in increased transient occupancy tax collections to the city.”

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.

082013 Clearlake Planning Commission - Clearlake Cottages and Marina report

082013 Clearlake Planning Commission - Cottages and Marina tentative subdivision map by LakeCoNews

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – With special weather watches in effect for a large part of Northern California, state fire officials are urging residents to be prepared for conditions that could exacerbate the late summer season's fire danger.

Cal Fire said Sunday that more than 5,000 firefighters are on the frontlines of the 10 major wildfires burning in California.

While many of these fires are in remote areas, several fires have forced hundreds of residents to evacuate, the agency said.

Firefighters are making good progress, however, weather conditions could pose a challenge in the coming days as gusty winds and dry lightning are forecasted, according to officials.

The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning due to the possibility of dry lightning in combination with gusty winds for many of the coastal counties from Mendocino down to Monterey. The warning goes into effect Monday at midnight and is expected to last through Wednesday.

A red flag warning indicates weather events that may result in extreme fire behavior within 24 hours. It's the highest weather alert.

A fire weather watch for lightning has also been issued starting Monday morning for most of the mountains and foothills of Northern California.

Fire weather watches, one level below red flag warnings, mean weather conditions in which extreme fire behavior could occur will exist in the next 12-72 hours.

The thunderstorms are expected to initially be dry, which will heighten the fire danger, but should begin to bring some rainfall by midweek.

For more information on the warnings visit: http://calfire.ca.gov/communications/communications_firesafety_redflagwarning.php .

Residents are urged to be extremely cautious, as during this time a simple spark can cause a major wildfire.

Major fire incidents around the state include the Double Fire, burning along Highway 20, east of Clearlake Oaks.

It remained at 70 acres and 80 percent containment on Sunday morning, according to Cal Fire.

Other major incidents in state jurisdiction include the following:

• Swedes Fire, located southeast of Oroville in Butte County; 1,850 acres and 20 percent contained; 700 structures threatened; evacuations in effect.
• Bridges Fire, southeast of Vallecito, near New Melones Lake in Calaveras County; 60 acres, 35 percent contained.

Major incidents in federal jurisdiction:

• American Fire, Placer County; US Forest Service – Tahoe National Forest, northeast of Foresthill; 12,950 acres, 45 percent contained.
• Rim Fire, Tuolumne County; US Forest Service – Stanislaus National Forest, northeast of Groveland; 200 acres, 0 percent contained.
• Cleghorn Fire, San Bernardino County; US Forest Service – San Bernardino National Forest, Interstate 15 in the Cajon Pass; 110 acres, 45 percent contained.
• Orleans Complex, Siskiyou County; US Forest Service – Six Rivers National Forest, 10 miles east of Somes Bar; 15,446 acres, 24 percent contained.
• Salmon River Complex, Siskiyou County; US Forest Service – Klamath National Forest, one mile west of Sawyers Bar; 13,002 acres, 80 percent contained.
• Corral Complex, Humboldt County; US Forest Service – Six Rivers National Forest, east of the Hoopa Indian Reservation; 3,900 acres, 0 percent contained.
• Aspen Fire, Fresno County; US Forest Service – Sierra National Forest, near Huntington Lake; 22,546 acres, 90 percent contained.

State Controller John Chiang has updated his public employee compensation Web site with the latest wage and benefit data for State and California State University (CSU) employees.

The site – www.publicpay.ca.gov – offers maps, search functions and custom report-building tools. It also allows users to download raw data for their own research.

This update covers calendar year 2012, the fourth full year of data for State and CSU employees available on the site.

“Government works best when its citizens are well-informed and vigilant over how public resources are being spent,” said Chiang. “Bringing the public sector into the digital age, my office is driving to make compensation data for virtually every public employee in California available with a keystroke.”

This latest update adds wage and benefit data for 341,475 positions, with more than $17.5 billion in wages paid in 2012.

Since the site's launch in 2010, it has registered more than 6.6 million page views online.

The controller completed an overhaul of the public Web site in late 2012, adding additional search, browse and mapping functions.

Those visiting www.publicpay.ca.gov can:

• View compensation levels on map graphics, and search for compensation by region;
• Develop charts, trend-line and trend graphs;
• Quickly see lists of top earners at cities, counties and other local governments;
• Generate side-by-side comparisons of local government payrolls;
• Create local agency summaries;
• Export custom reports or raw data from the site.

A series of video tutorials also are available to guide users through the new site's interface.

The site currently includes annual compensation data for positions at cities, counties, higher education institutions, special districts and state departments.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. –Lake County Animal Care and Control has seven new cats awaiting adoption this week.

The cats, males and females, range in age from 6 months to 2 years. All are spayed or neutered, and vaccinated before being sent home with new families.

In addition to spaying or neutering, cats that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are microchipped before being released to their new owner. License fees do not apply to residents of the cities of Lakeport or Clearlake.

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

The following cats at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption (other cats pictured on the animal control Web site that are not listed here are still “on hold”).

Dilute calico

This female domestic medium hair mix is 2 years old.

She has dilute calico coloring and has been spayed.

She's in cat room kennel 6a, ID No. 37510.

Female brown tabby

This female brown tabby is 1 year old.

She has a short coat and shelter staff did not report if she had been altered.

She's in cat room kennel No. 6b, ID No. 37515.

Domestic short hair mix

This male domestic short hair mix is 1 year old.

He has a short black coat, weighs 9 pounds and has been neutered.

You can find him in cat room kennel No. 16, ID No. 37516.

Male lynx point mix

This male lynx point mix is 1 year old.

He weighs 9 pounds, has a long coat and blue eyes, and he's been neutered.

Find him in cat room kennel No. 19, ID No. 37517.

Brown tabby

This female brown tabby is 7 months old.

She has a short coat, weighs nearly 4 pounds and has been spayed.

She's in cat room kennel No. 29, ID No. 37410.

Domestic short hair mix

This male domestic short hair mix is 1 year old.

He has a flame point-colored coat, weighs nearly 6 pounds and has been neutered.

Visit him in cat room kennel No. 51, ID No. 37512.

'Tigger'

“Tigger” is a 6-month-old female domestic medium hair mix.

In she has an orange and white coat, weighs nearly 6 pounds and has been spayed.

She's in cat room kennel No. 74, ID No. 37464.

Adoptable cats also can be seen at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Cats_and_Kittens.htm or at www.petfinder.com .

Please note: Cats listed at the shelter's Web page that are said to be “on hold” are not yet cleared for adoption.

To fill out an adoption application online visit http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Dog___Cat_Adoption_Application.htm .

Lake County Animal Care and Control is located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport, next to the Hill Road Correctional Facility.

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Visit the shelter online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control.htm .

For more information call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.

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

CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – A wildland fire burning east of Clearlake Oaks is nearing full containment, after firefighting efforts were stepped up during the day on Saturday.

The Double Fire, which began early Friday evening along Highway 20 at Mule Skinner Road, has burned 70 acres, and was reported to be 80 percent contained Saturday night, according to Cal Fire.

Cal Fire Battalion Chief Greg Bertelli told Lake County News that the cause was under investigation.

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.