LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The winter storm hitting Lake County on Thursday night and early Friday morning resulted in trees and power lines down, rocks and water in the roadways, and gusting winds.

Firefighters along with the California Highway Patrol and sheriff’s deputies responded to calls throughout the night as the storm continued to pound Lake County.

There were numerous reports of line down – on Jerusalem Grade and Spruce Grove Road near Middletown, Anderson Springs Road and Foard Road, Highway 175 at Salmina Road and Gold Hill Drive near Kelseyville and in the Morgan Valley Road area. In several of those cases, falling trees had knocked the lines down.

A tree that fell on Soda Bay Road and Mission Rancheria Road led to a noninjury crash when a vehicle hit the downed tree.

There also were reports of trees down on the Glasgow Grade portion of Highway 29, where one lane was blocked, as well as Wight Way in Kelseyville.

A boulder also had been reported in a lane of Highway 20 near Lucerne, with water reported to be covering a portion of Highway 29 south of Lower Lake near Murphy Springs Road and on Highway 175 at Harrington Flat Road early Friday morning.

Pacific Gas & Electric reported several small outages late Thursday night and early Friday morning, including one in Cobb affecting 60 customers and four in Hidden Valley Lake affecting another 211 customers.

The National Weather Service said wind gusts of 29 miles per hour were possible overnight.

Rain and winds are forecast to continue throughout Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with showers expected to stop Sunday evening, according to the National Weather Service forecast.

Because of the continued rain in the forecast, the National Weather Service issued a flood watch for Lake County on Thursday which will remain in effect until Friday afternoon.

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.

NORTH COAST, Calif. – A Hidden Valley Lake woman was arrested early Wednesday for public intoxication and violations of alcohol sale laws at her Mendocino County bar.

Marcia Gail Martinez, 47, was arrested shortly after 3 a.m. at her bar, the Boonville Saloon, located on 14161 Highway 128 in Boonville, according to Lt. James Van Hagen of the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office.

Arrested for public intoxication along with Martinez was 30-year-old Boonville resident Jared Paul Titus, Van Hagen said.

At 2:15 a.m. Wednesday Mendocino County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a call for service in the Boonville area, Van Hagen said. When they drove by the Boonville Saloon, they noticed numerous cars parked out front and it appeared there were still patrons in the bar after closing hours.

When the deputies cleared the call for service they responded back to the Boonville Saloon. They parked down the street and approached the bar on foot, Van Hagen said.

He said when the deputies arrived at the bar they noticed the front door was locked from the inside. They could hear music playing and when they looked in the bar window they could see five subjects – two female and three male – drinking alcohol and dancing to the music from the jukebox, well after the 2:30 a.m. closing time.

The deputies stood outside the bar for approximately 30 minutes and watched the two females serving alcohol to the male subjects and also drinking shots themselves, Van Hagen said.

At 3 a.m. a very intoxicated male subject, identified as Titus, exited the bar and the deputies made contact with him. As deputies spoke with Titus, Van Hagen said they could see he was too intoxicated to care for his safety so they arrested him for public intoxication.

He said the deputies then entered the Boonville Saloon and contacted the remaining subjects, including Martinez, who they confronted for serving alcohol to patrons after bar hours.

Martinez was very intoxicated and unable to care for her safety, and subsequently was arrested for public intoxication. Van Hagen said deputies then contacted and identified the remaining subjects in the bar. They were later released without charges.

The bar’s liquor license was checked and it was expired, Van Hagen added.

Martinez and Titus were transported and booked into the Mendocino County Jail for public intoxication, later to be released with a court appearance date, according to Van Hagen.

He said Martinez also will have two additional charges filed against her through the Mendocino County District Attorney's Office for sales of alcohol during closing hours and consumption on premises during closing hours.

Van Hagen said the report on the arrests also will be sent to the Alcohol Beverage Control Board for further review.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A transit worker strike that had been set to take place next week has been called off in order for the two sides to sit down for mediation.

Teamsters Local 665 had called the strike for Dec. 3-5 against Paratransit Services, the Bremerton, Wash.-based nonprofit that has held the contract for Lake Transit Authority since 2007. Thirty-five Lake County employees are represented by the union.

However, on Tuesday, Teamsters Local 665 President Ralph Miranda said the union and Paratransit were going back to the negotiations table.

“We are suspending the strike pending a meeting with the company, with the presence of a federal mediator, prior to our strike action,” Miranda told Lake County News.

Christie Scheffer, Paratransit Services’ executive vice president and chief operating officer, confirmed that late Tuesday afternoon they received word from Local 665 that it had suspended the strike action. She said they were trying to coordinate a meeting with federal mediation services on Dec. 5.

In an email sent to county officials Tuesday night, Lake Transit General Manager Mark Wall called the development “great news for all involved, but particularly for Lake Transit passengers and those workers who contribute everyday to their safe and affordable transportation.”

Paratransit said the strike would have been illegal – and therefore unprotected – and the union was taking part in regressive bargaining.

At the same time, the union is filing an unfair labor practice complaint against Paratransit Services for unilaterally implementing changes in the health care program prior to negotiations being completed.

Scheffer maintained the changes were not significant and that the union was given adequate notice by letter, in addition to the changes having been discussed in early October bargaining sessions.

Local 665 and Paratransit Services have been negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement contract opener on wages, health and welfare issues.

However, after negotiations broke down following the union’s second rejection earlier this month of Paratransit’s best and final offer, the union informed Paratransit on Nov. 19 that it would strike, Scheffer said.

Scheffer said the Paratransit Services’ best and final offer was for a 2.6 percent wage increase, an offer she said was “incredibly fair.” However, with the union rejecting the best and final offer, it reverted to a .75 percent wage increase.

The union and Paratransit Services offered slightly differing versions of what workers were seeking.

Miranda said the union was seeking the equivalent of  3.5 percent wage increase, based on the consumer price index, along with a reinstatement of wage step increases and a return to the previous health care plan. “Stop gutting our medical benefits that we cannot afford anyway,” he said.

Scheffer said the wage step increases represent an average 4-percent wage increase a year plus a 3.1 percent consumer price index.

According to Scheffer, since the 2007-08 contract the employees will have received 19.05 percent increase in wages while Paratransit Services has received 11.77 percent in contract rate increases.

Paratransit Services and its employees had last reached agreement on a contract in September 2010 following a threat of a strike, as Lake County News has reported.

Miranda explained that in the 2010 contract both sides agreed to reopen the contract every year to revisit wages, health and welfare issues, as they were doing this year.

He said he had confidence that a federal mediator would be able to assist the union and Paratransit Services in finding a workable resolution.

Federal mediators, he added, “don’t have the same emotions as the parties at the table.”

In a Tuesday memo to Wall, Scheffer wrote, “We care about our employees and their families and hope we can resolve these matters quickly and in a manner which honors our values of respect and integrity and preserves our professional relationships with our employees.”

However, as they don’t know how mediation with go, Scheffer said Paratransit Services is continuing to prepare for the possibility of a strike, which includes running temporary recruitment ads, preparing to contact riders, providing information to employees and making a backup service plan.

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.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – A years-long battle by a Northern California business to keep operating in Point Reyes National Seashore has come to an end.

A week after he visited the Drakes Bay Oyster Co., Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar on Thursday issued a decision that will allow the business’ operating permit to expire at Point Reyes National Seashore in California according to its terms, and will return the affected area to wilderness.

Drakes Bay Oyster Co. is owned by Kevin Lunny and his family. Lunny has worked since 2004 to convince officials to allow his business to continue operating in Drakes Estero.

The Lunny family was reported to have been stunned by the decision, as were their supporters, including U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who had championed Lunny’s efforts to remain in business.

“I am extremely disappointed that Secretary Salazar chose not to renew the operating permit for the Drakes Bay Oyster Co.,” Feinstein said in a Thursday statement.

“The National Park Service’s review process has been flawed from the beginning with false and misleading science, which was also used in the Environmental Impact Statement,” Feinstein added. “The secretary’s decision effectively puts this historic California oyster farm out of business. As a result, the farm will be forced to cease operations and 30 Californians will lose their jobs.”

In 1972, the National Park Service purchased the land that housed the oyster operation and the owner reserved a 40-year right to continue its activities through Nov. 30, 2012.

In 2004, Drakes Bay Oyster Co. acquired the business from the prior owner and attempted to get the operating permit extended.

Thursday’s decision will end the company’s commercial operations within the national park, including an onshore oyster processing facility and offshore oyster harvesting activities that occur on over 1,000 acres in the estuary.

Feinstein’s colleague in the U.S. Senate, Barbara Boxer, supported Salazar’s decision.

“This has been a very challenging issue, but I have great respect for the decision made by Secretary Salazar to allow this permit to expire at the end of its term,” said Boxer. “He studied the issue carefully, he listened closely to all sides and, in the end, he made his decision based on the science and the law.”

Point Reyes National Seashore was designated as a unit of the national park system by Congress in 1962 to protect more than 80 miles of California coastline.

The park’s authorizing legislation also enables the Secretary of the Interior to lease designated areas within the park for dairy and cattle-ranching purposes.

On Thursday Salazar directed the National Park Service to pursue extending the terms of agriculture permits from 10 to 20 years to provide greater certainty and clarity for the ranches operating within the national park’s pastoral zone and to support the continued presence of sustainable ranching and dairy operations.

He directed the affected areas within Drakes Estero within Point Reyes National Seashore to be converted from potential to designated wilderness.

In 1976, Congress identified Drakes Estero as potential wilderness – the only marine wilderness area on the west coast of the continental United States outside Alaska – and directed that it automatically become wilderness when the commercial operation ended.

“Carrying out steps set in motion by the United States Congress over three decades ago, we are taking the final step to recognize this pristine area as wilderness,” said Salazar. “The Estero is one of our nation’s crown jewels, and today we are fulfilling the vision to protect this special place for generations to come.”

Additionally, Salazar directed the National Park Service to work with the oyster company to remove its personal property from the lands and waters within 90 days, and asked the National Park Service to use all existing legal authorities to help employees who might be affected by this decision, including assisting with relocation, employment opportunities and training.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Nineteen marine protected areas (MPAs) will become effective next month, completing the statewide network of MPAs in California’s coastal regions.

The California Department of Fish and Game said the new MPAs will go into effect Dec. 19 on the North Coast. That effective date is weeks earlier than expected.

The State Office of Administrative Law recently approved the north coast MPA regulations and boundaries adopted by the California Fish and Game Commission in June.

The commission approved and adopted these regulations to create a suite of MPAs on the North Coast between the California/Oregon border and Alder Creek, near Point Arena in Mendocino County.

Developed pursuant to the California Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA), this North Coast network includes 19 MPAs, one State Marine Recreational Management Area and seven special closures, covering approximately 137 square miles of state waters and 13 percent of the region.

The new MPAs include four of the five pre-existing MPAs on the north coast. The MPA at Punta Gorda (Punta Gorda State Marine Reserve) will be removed from the network.

A complete listing of all north coast MPAs, including detailed regulations and maps, can be found at www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa/ncmpas_list.asp .

DFG’s MPA mobile Web site, located at www.dfg.ca.gov/m/MPA , will be updated on Dec. 19 to reflect the new MPAs going into effect.

The mobile Web site allows the public to locate any current MPA boundaries and regulations by using an interactive map or searching by name, county or general area.

A mobile device’s GPS can also be used to find and track a person’s current location relative to any MPA.

In addition to the mobile Web site, boaters can view MPAs on nautical charts or other background maps by visiting MarineBIOS at www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/gis/viewer.asp , DFG’s interactive online marine and coastal map viewer.

For more information on the north coast MPAs or the MLPA, visit www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa .

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Police arrested a Clearlake woman last week after she allegedly assaulted her roommate and her roommate’s children during a nighttime confrontation.

Monique Rushele Bird, 35, was arrested on Monday, Nov. 19, for burglary, terrorist threats and child endangerment, according to a Clearlake Police Department report.

The agency reported that its officers were dispatched to a residence in the 3900 block of Manchester Ave. just before 9:30 p.m. for a report of an intoxicated female causing a disturbance.

When officers arrived on scene they contacted 32-year-old Rebecca Bruster of Clearlake, who reported that her roommate, Bird, had assaulted her at their residence during a verbal argument, according to police.

Police said Bruster told officers that during the incident Bird had a 5-inch butcher knife in her hand while threatening her life.

Bruster said her two children were with her while Bird was threatening her and, at one point, assaulted them as well, police reported.

Bruster told police she fled the residence in fear with her two children and ran to a friend’s residence, which also is located on Manchester Avenue, according to the police report.

Police said Bird followed shortly after and contacted the tenant who would not allow her into the residence and locked the front door.

Bird then physically forced open the door, causing damage to the door frame, and enter the residence, where she continued to threaten Bruster’s life. Police said Bird struck the locked door to the bedroom where Bruster and her children were hiding.

Bird subsequently was arrested, police said.

Bird was booked into the Lake County Jail with bail set at $50,000. She remained in custody on Wednesday morning.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to call Officer Thompson at the Clearlake Police Department, 707-994-8251.

MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. – As a result of this week’s storms and the continuing wet weather forecast for this week, the Mendocino National Forest is implementing one wet weather closure and encouraging visitors to monitor the weather and check conditions before visiting forest recreation sites.

The Upper Lake Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) trail system was closed at noon Thursday due to more than 2 inches of accumulated rain in 24 hours saturating the trails. The trails are anticipated to reopen after at least 48 hours of no measurable precipitation.

The closure order is formally referenced as Order Number 08-12-18 and is available online at www.fs.usda.gov/mendocino .

Grindstone Ranger District staff is currently monitoring conditions on their OHV trail system to determine if a closure order is needed.  

The Grindstone OHV trails were heavily impacted by the Mill Fire this summer, adding to the risk of flooding and landslides as stormy weather continues.

Lake Red Bluff Recreation Area, which is on the banks of the Sacramento River, is also at risk of flooding by the weekend.  Visitors to the area are encouraged to closely monitor weather conditions and be prepared to evacuate if necessary.

With wet weather and winter conditions returning to the Mendocino National Forest, all visitors are asked to be cautious when recreating on the forest, whether they are driving, hiking, camping, or enjoying other recreational pursuits – including selecting a Christmas tree.

Many popular trails and some access points to recreation sites on the Mendocino National Forest involve crossing normally small creeks and streams.

Caution should be used at these stream crossings. People and vehicles can be swept away by currents in even relatively shallow water. Also, conditions can change rapidly and a stream that was easy to cross in the morning can become impassable by afternoon, trapping people on the wrong side.

Following are some additional safety suggestions for those recreating in the forest this winter:

• Plan your trip: Check the weather, bring plenty of warm clothes, water, emergency food, tire chains, shovel and any other supplies necessary for the activity. Call to check if the area you are planning to visit is still open and accessible.
• Make sure you have a full tank of gas when you leave and are prepared for changing conditions in the mountains.
• Let someone know where you are going and when you plan to be back.
• Keep vehicles on designated roads and trails and be aware of changing weather and road conditions. Wet dirt roads can quickly turn to mud, making it possible to get stuck and causing damage to road, soil and water resources. If there are puddles in the road, mud flipping off the tires or you can see your ruts in the rearview mirror, consider pulling over to hike or turning around and finding a different area.

For more information, please contact the Mendocino National Forest at 530-934-3316 or visit www.fs.usda.gov/mendocino .

MENDOCINO COUNTY, Calif. – The cause of death for a Redwood Valley man who died in an October house fire has been ruled accidental.

The body of Courtney James Collins, 66, was found in his home in the 3800 block of Radical Ridge Road on the evening of Oct. 3, as Lake County News has reported.

The Mendocino County Sheriff's Office reported that it was dispatched to the burned home for a coroner’s case after Cal Fire found the remains.

A Sonoma County forensic odontologist later assisted in identifying the human remains as Collins through the use of dental comparisons.

On Wednesday, the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office concluded the coroner's investigation into Collins’ death.

After review of the Cal Fire investigation report and the forensic autopsy report the coroner’s office classified Collins’ death as being accidental with the cause of death being fourth-degree thermal burns.

MENDOCINO COUNTY, Calif. – A Lake County man was arrested on drugs and weapons charges last week by Mendocino County officials.

Matthew Alan Labrash, 38, of Lakeport, was taken into custody following a vehicle stop on the evening of Friday, Nov. 23, according to Lt. Greg Van Patten of the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office.

Shortly before 8:45 p.m. Mendocino County Sheriff's deputies pulled Labrash over for an expired registration in the 100 block of Washington Avenue in Ukiah, Van Patten said.

When deputies contacted Labrash, Van Patten said they smelled the odor of marijuana inside the vehicle and discovered Labrash was on formal probation out of Sonoma County for possessing marijuana for sales.

Deputies searched the interior of the vehicle and located a methamphetamine pipe and approximately 2.5 pounds of processed marijuana, as well as drug packaging paraphernalia associated with the transportation and sale of marijuana, Van Patten said.

Van Patten said they located a metal pipe prepared as a billy club-type weapon and also found a spring operated folding knife on Labrash's person.

Labrash was arrested on felony charges of transportation and sale of marijuana, possession of a billy club and a probation violation, and misdemeanors of driving while unlicensed and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to his booking sheet.

Van Patten said Labrash was booked into the Mendocino County Jail without bail due to his probation status.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The first of three weather systems rolled through Lake County on Wednesday, bringing heavy rains and gusty winds, and removing most of the remaining autumn leaves from trees.

The rain isn’t over yet, with forecasters reporting that two more intense storms are taking aim for Lake County.

The first storm in the series moved out of Lake County early Wednesday afternoon, leaving behind more than an inch of rain in most areas, according to Western Weather Group.

The National Weather Service in Sacramento is forecasting rain accumulations of 6 to 12 inches by Sunday in areas of Lake County. A flood watch in urban areas and small streams remains in effect throughout the weekend, as summer-dry creeks have begun flowing for the first time of the season on Wednesday.

Steady rains will continue to increase throughout the day Thursday as the second of the third storm systems moves through, becoming heavier into the overnight, with accumulations of up to 4 inches or more predicted.

A wind advisory also is in effect, and winds will continue to increase throughout the day, raising chances for localized power outages due to downed power lines from falling trees as the ground becomes saturated.

Temperatures are forecast to remain mild – in the 50s – throughout the day and into the evening, as the second, warmer storm drops copious amounts of rain in Lake County and much of Northern California.

Forecast models currently have the slightly cooler third storm moving in on Friday, bringing the chance of thunderstorms to Lake County, but with less rain than the previous two storms, and lingering throughout Saturday.

Rain is likely to continue on Sunday according to the National Weather Service in Sacramento, with slightly cooler temperatures, but will still remain in the 50s during the day with overnight temperatures in the 40s.

A wind advisory currently is in effect until Saturday according to the National Weather Service in Sacramento. Some areas may see gusts up to 70 miles per hour at higher elevations. A flood watch remains in effect through Sunday afternoon.

Residents are urged to use caution when driving through areas impacted by the summer wildfires, particularly Highway 20, as debris flows and mudslides can overwhelm creeks and roadside ditches, causing water to cover the road and make driving hazardous.

Remember to use caution at all times when driving in inclement weather including reducing driving speed, increasing the distance between the car in front of you, and to not drive through standing water that covers road.

Email Terre Logsdon at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow Lake County News on Twitter, @LakeCoNews.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Foley Family Wines announced Wednesday that it has completed the purchase of Langtry Estate and Vineyards and is now the majority owner of the iconic Guenoc Valley producer.  

“Langtry and Guenoc are important additions to our portfolio,” said Bill Foley. “They bring high quality, acclaimed wines which have a presence in important national and regional accounts.”

“We are thrilled to further develop our partnership with Foley Family Wines,” said Easton Manson, president of Langtry Farms. “The Foley Family Wines team has the skills necessary to be able to continue to build our winery and brands.”

Foley said the Langtry winery property, including the historic Langtry House – once home to the “Jersey Lily,” English actress Lillie Langtry – will be important assets within the Foley Food and Wine Society.

Foley Family Wines previously had entered into an agency agreement in August, so the Foley Family Wines sales force is currently selling both the Guenoc and Langtry brands into wholesale.  

The company said it will now manage all aspects of the winery, including direct to consumer sales and hospitality, operations and production.

The Langtry Estate is steward to 23,000 acres within both Napa and Lake counties.

With the establishment of the Guenoc Valley AVA on Dec. 21, 1981, Langtry became the first winery in the nation with its own appellation.

Under the Langtry and Guenoc brands, the winery currently crafts approximately 150,000 cases annually.

The winery offers four tiers of wines: Langtry Single Vineyard Wines (limited, estate, single-vineyard, luxury), Guenoc Lake County Wines (premium, single-AVA), Guenoc North Coast Victorian Claret (Bordeaux blend) and Guenoc California Selection Wines (value, broad distribution).

The winery has enjoyed significant critical success for its wines.

The Guenoc Petite Sirah ranks in the Top 5 in US sales within its price segment. The Guenoc California Selection Sauvignon Blanc is in the top 10 in US sales in its price segment.

NICE, Calif. – One person was flown to a regional trauma center Tuesday afternoon following a two-vehicle collision on Highway 20 in Nice.

Firefighters were dispatched to the t-bone crash, which was reported to have taken place in front of 2580 E. Highway 20 near Hammond Avenue just before 4 p.m.

It involved a white four-door sedan and a white van, according to radio reports and the California Highway Patrol.

The eastbound lane of Highway 20 was blocked as firefighters worked to extricate one of the crash victims.

One person was reported to have suffered major to moderate injuries, and firefighters on scene requested an air ambulance.

REACH 6 responded to a landing zone near Sentry Market to pick up the patient, lifting off just before 4:30 p.m., reports from the scene indicated.

Northshore Fire Chief Jay Beristianos said one patient was transported by ground ambulance to Sutter Lakeside Hospital, while REACH 6 took the more seriously injured patient to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital.

The CHP reported that both vehicles were to be towed.

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.