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CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The city of Clearlake is urging property owners to clear overgrown weeds and vegetation because of fire season.

Each year from May 15 to Nov. 1 there is an increased fire danger throughout Northern California due to excessive weeds and brush.

As the citizens of Lake County know all too well, dry, overgrown vegetation is excellent fuel for fires and can be a threat to people, structures and animals.

Last year’s Sulphur fire, and before that the Clayton, Valley, Jerusalem and Rocky fires have increased awareness of the danger of overgrown weeds and vegetation.

More than 150 structures were lost in the Sulphur fire due to high winds that drove the fire to spread very quickly through brush and vegetation and onto homes.

Last year, the Clearlake City Council adopted a strategic plan for improving the city of Clearlake. One of the primary adopted goals was to “Make Clearlake a visibly cleaner city” and one of the identified objectives was to eliminate weeds citywide.

As summer approaches and weeds and vegetation grow and dry out, Code Enforcement staff are out notifying property owners to remove the overgrown weeds and vegetation.

City officials said it is the responsibility of property owners to keep their properties free of overgrown weeds and vegetation. Not only is it unsightly and contributing to neighborhood blight, but it also can be a fire hazard.

The city of Clearlake is teaming up with the Lake County Fire Protection District to enforce ordinances designed to reduce blight and reduce fire hazards.

Failure to remove overgrown weeds and vegetation after notification by the city’s Code Enforcement staff can lead to significant fines.

“We are going into the tourism season and the city of Clearlake is working on a number of programs to reduce visual blight and make Clearlake a visibly cleaner city,” said City Manager Greg Folsom. “Keeping your property free of weeds and overgrown vegetation will not only improve the image of Clearlake as a wonderful vacation spot, but it will also improve the image of your neighborhood and improve your property value.”

Code Enforcement Supervisor Lee Lambert added, “The city is expending tremendous efforts in code enforcement to clean up garbage throughout the city and eliminate abandoned vehicles. Property owners need to help by cutting down the overgrown vegetation on their property. So avoid fines and do your part. But more importantly, make Clearlake a nice-looking place for all of us and our visitors by cutting down your weeds.”

Clearlake Waste Solutions is the city of Clearlake’s franchise waste hauler. CWS provides containers for landscape green waste, as well as normal trash and recycling.

South Lake Refuse and Recycling operates the Quackenbush Mountain Compost Facility for larger loads needing disposal. Quackenbush Mountain is located at 16520 Davis St., Clearlake.
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CLEARLAKE, Calif. – At its meeting on May 10, the Clearlake City Council voted unanimously to rescind the Property Assessed Clean Energy, or PACE, Program, previously authorized by the city.

PACE programs allow an owner to finance energy efficiency and water conservation improvements to their property.

The cost of installation is paid over time by the owner as a property tax assessment lien. These improvements can range from a high efficiency furnace to solar panels. The city authorized two providers to offer the program within the city limits in 2015.

The city recently discovered that program participation has been very low, with only one property owner having completed improvements under PACE.

As the property owner discovered, one of the limitations to PACE is that a property cannot be sold or refinanced with the PACE lien in place.

Further complicating the program implementation, the program administrators do not currently have required agreements with the county auditor-controller to place the liens on the property tax roll. This requires the PACE administrators to invoice property owners independently.

The way PACE is structured, the city does not have oversight authority on the program, and participation can result in high financing costs for owners.

Based on both the local issues and the overall program complications, after careful deliberation, the council elected to rescind the authorized PACE programs.

While only one property owner has completed improvements under the program, there are seven other property owners that have received financing approvals from a PACE provider, and are under construction.

The council authorized those owners to continue with their approved projects, but no additional project applications will be accepted or approved by the PACE providers.

“While we value and encourage property owners to achieve energy efficiency and water conservation measures where possible, the current complications with PACE place Clearlake residents at risk of paying too much for these improvements. We encourage property owners to fully research their financing options when installing these types of upgrades," said City Manager Greg Folsom.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A Lucerne man was injured Monday night when he was involved in a motorcycle crash.

Erik Jones, 44, was flown to a regional trauma center following the wreck, which occurred at 8:10 p.m. Monday, according to the California Highway Patrol’s Clear Lake Area office.

The CHP said Jones was riding a 1994 Honda motorcycle eastbound on Highway 20, west of Irvine Avenue in Upper Lake, at approximately 55 miles per hour.

Jones lost control of the motorcycle, which slid to the right shoulder and came to rest against a metal guardrail, the CHP said.

Medical personnel responded to the scene and transported Jones by REACH air ambulance to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital where he was treated for moderate injuries, according to the CHP.

On Tuesday Officer Kory Reynolds said the CHP did not have an update on Jones’ condition.

The CHP said Jones was using his safety equipment, and driving under the influence is not suspected as a contributing factor in the wreck.

CHP Officer Piers Pritt is investigating the crash.

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.
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Steven Russell Miller, 40, of Hidden Valley Lake, Calif., shown here in a mugshot dated from May 31, 2017, was ruled incompetent to stand trial for his daughter’s murder on Tuesday, May 15, 2018. Lake County Jail photo.


LAKEPORT, Calif. – A judge has ruled that a Hidden Valley Lake man charged with killing his daughter last May is mentally incompetent to stand trial.

The decision regarding Steven Russell Miller’s mental status came at the end of a competency bench trial on Tuesday, Miller’s 40th birthday.

Judge Stephen Hedstrom declared Miller incompetent after he was evaluated by three separate doctors, said Senior Deputy District Attorney Trang Jensen.

Miller is charged with the murder of his 20-year-old daughter, Hannah Welch, on the night of May 30, 2017, as Lake County News has reported.

Authorities said Miller shot Welch at their home on Spyglass Road before he fled the scene. He was arrested later that night in Hidden Valley Lake.

The District Attorney’s Office has charged Miller with homicide, with a special allegation that he personally used a firearm which caused great bodily injury and death to his daughter, and with brandishing a gun at his mother, who called law enforcement.

As for what led to the shooting, “He was unhappy that the daughter was living with him,” Jensen said. Despite the brandishing incident, “He was very protective of his mother.”

She said Miller hadn’t liked other family members living with them, noting there also had been issues with a cousin who stayed at the home previously.

Jensen said there were two doctors ordered to initially evaluate Miller. “One found that he could be competent if medicated. The other found him to be incompetent.”

So a third doctor was brought in to evaluate Miller, and that doctor found him incompetent, Jensen said.

She said those reports were submitted as part of the Tuesday morning bench trial before Judge Hedstrom to determine Miller’s competence.

Defense attorney Andrea Sullivan said that, altogether, a total of seven doctors have evaluated Miller’s mental state, which included private evaluations and not guilty by reason by insanity evaluations.

“What the doctors overwhelmingly say is he is schizophrenic,” said Sullivan, explaining that Miller was officially diagnosed with schizophrenia as part of this case.

While Sullivan believes that psychiatric condition is the driving force of the case, she said there is more to it, describing it as a “very, very complicated situation” regarding ongoing health problems and previously undiagnosed schizophrenia.

She said Miller has had 5150 holds for mental health issues as long ago as 10 years ago. He also has a very minimal previous criminal history, with a misdemeanor battery conviction against his father.

With Hedstrom finding Miller incompetent at the Tuesday trial, the criminal proceedings now come to a halt, Jensen said.

“Criminal proceedings were suspended until his mental competence is restored,” she said.

She said a June 12 hearing has been set for further proceedings. By that date she said it’s expected that it will be determined where Miller will be placed.

Jensen said he likely will be sent to the Napa State Hospital, where the county continues to have challenges getting placements for individuals with mental health issues.

Sullivan said a report will need to be prepared on placement, and Miller could end up being sent to any state hospital.

“There has to be a placement and then he has to be given a chance to regain competency,” she said.

She said the maximum time allowed is three years. “If he can’t be restored to competency, he can't be prosecuted but there could be a conservatorship.”

Sullivan added, “If he does regain competence, we’re ready to go to trial.”

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.
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University of California-Merced students Herbie LeBlanc and Tshu Xiong won the YETI FLW College Fishing event at Clear Lake on Saturday, May 12, 2018. Photo by Jesse Schultz.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The University of California-Merced team of Herbie LeBlanc of Gilroy and Tshu Xiong of Merced won the YETI FLW College Fishing event at Clear Lake presented by Bass Pro Shops on Saturday with a five-bass limit weighing 19 pounds, 10 ounces.

The victory earned the Bobcats bass club $2,250 and a spot in the 2019 FLW College Fishing National Championship.

“In our pre-fishing we had found that the water was very clear on the north end and a bunch of shad were up shallow, so we decided to start our tournament there,” said LeBlanc, a junior majoring in earth systems science. “When we got to our first spot, we realized that everything had been blown out from the wind. The lake went from 3-foot of visibility down to about 5 inches, so our pattern was toast.

“So, we decided to stay in the north end of the lake and look for areas that were secluded and weren’t affected by the wind,” LeBlanc continued. “We found a lagoon with a bunch of docks, and when we went in I got a bite in the first 30 feet of entering the area. We ended up staying there all day and fishing the whole thing.”

The duo estimated that they caught around 15 keepers and said that they caught their fish on two baits – LeBlanc fished a Texas-rigged Okeechobee Craw-colored Zoom Brush Hog, while Xiong fished a weightless Texas-rigged black and blue Yamamoto Senko.

“We flipped our baits into the tules and grass, and fishing slowly and methodically was very important,” said Xiong, a senior majoring in human biology who was fishing his very first College Fishing tournament. “The bite was a lot better in the morning, from 7 to 11 (a.m.)”

“I think the key was ignoring the bed fish and the southern end of the lake completely,” LeBlanc went on to say. “I could see the bed fish and I could just tell that all of those fish had been fished for and beat up, so we disregarded those fish completely. During practice we found that the bite was much better up north, so we spent our entire tournament there.”

The top 10 teams on Clear Lake that advanced to the 2019 College Fishing National Championship are:

First: University of California-Merced – Herbie LeBlanc, Gilroy, Calif., and Tshu Xiong, Merced, Calif., five bass, 19-10, $2,250.

Second: California State University-Chico – Cole Lauchland, Chico, Calif., and Logan Schwab, Davis, Calif., five bass, 16-12, $1,410.

Third: California State University-Chico – Chad Sweitzer, Chico, Calif., and Matthew Pusateri, Grand Terrace, Calif., five bass, 15-2, $710.

Fourth: California State University-Chico – Carson Leber, Dixon, Calif., and Tyler Bounds, Chico, Calif., five bass, 14-10, $500.

Fifth: California State University-Chico – Michael Klemm and Nick Klein, both of Oroville, Calif., five bass, 14-7, $500.

Sixth: New Mexico State University – Ty Faulconer and Daylon Smith, both of Las Cruces, N.M., five bass, 12-14.

Seventh: Sonoma State University – Trenton Wells, Windsor, Calif., and Brock Trudeau, Lancaster, Calif., five bass, 12-6.

Eighth: California State University-Chico – Austin Crane and David Griswold, both of Oroville, Calif., five bass, 12-2.

Ninth: Sonoma State University – Tyler Owens, Santa Rosa, Calif., and B.J. Kendrick, Morgan Hill, Calif., five bass, 11-13.

Tenth: California Polytechnic State University – Hugh Cosculluela, The Woodlands, Texas, and Patrick Ellis, San Diego, Calif., five bass, 11-9.

Complete results for the entire field can be found at www.FLWFishing.com .

The YETI FLW College Fishing event at Clear Lake presented by Bass Pro Shops was hosted by the Konocti Vista Casino Resort & Marina, and was the second of three regular-season qualifying tournaments for Western Conference anglers in 2018.

The next YETI event for FLW College Fishing anglers will be the 2018 FLW College Fishing National Championship.

The event will take place May 30 to June 1 on the Red River in Shreveport, Louisiana, and is hosted by the Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission & Red River Waterway Commission.

YETI FLW College Fishing teams compete in three regular-season qualifying tournaments in one of five conferences – Central, Northern, Southern, Southeastern and Western. The top 10 teams from each division’s three regular-season tournaments and the top 20 teams from the annual FLW College Fishing Open will advance to the 2019 FLW College Fishing National Championship. Additional teams will qualify for the National Championship if the field size in regular-season events exceeds 100 boats.

YETI FLW College Fishing is free to enter. All participants must be registered, full-time students at a college, university or community college and members of a college fishing club that is recognized by their school.

For complete details and updated information visit www.FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow YETI FLW College Fishing on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat.
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Drugs, cash, weapons and other items seized during a search warrant service in Clearlake, Calif., on Wednesday, May 9, 2018. Lake County Sheriff’s Office photo.


CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Narcotics detectives last week made four arrests in connection to the service of a search warrant that uncovered evidence of heroin and methamphetamine sales.

Lt. Corey Paulich said that on May 9 Lake County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit detectives served a search warrant at a residence belonging to Eric Jeffery Klein, 42, and Alexis Rose Coulter, 26, in the 15000 block of 32nd Avenue in Clearlake.

Paulich said detectives located and seized evidence associated with the sales of heroin and methamphetamine.

Approximately 40 grams of black tar heroin was located in a small shed with packaging materials and digital gram scales, Paulich said. Detectives also located a hidden safe, which upon inspection contained over four ounces of crystal methamphetamine, US currency and an additional 20 grams of tar heroin.

Klein and Coulter were also in possession of a stolen .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol that was loaded, Paulich said.

From left, Eric Jeffery Klein, 42, and Alexis Rose Coulter, 26, of Clearlake, Calif., were arrested on Wednesday, May 9, 2018, on drugs and weapons charges as well as child endangerment. Lake County Jail photos.


Klein was arrested for violations of possession of heroin and methamphetamine for sale, possession of a stolen firearm, felon in possession of a loaded firearm, and possession of a controlled substance while armed, according to Paulich’s report.

Paulich said Coulter also was charged with possession of heroin and methamphetamine for sale, possession of a stolen firearm and possession of a controlled substance while armed. Klein possessed more than $2,300 of currency which was seized per asset forfeiture laws.

Detectives determined Klein and Coulter were living in the residence with a small child under 4 years old, Paulich said.

Two additional people, Adam James Gates, 37, and Shanel Alisha Blevins, 29, were living behind the residence in a trailer with a small child. Based on the evidence located, Paulich said detectives additionally notified Child Protective Services and charged all four subjects with crimes associated with child endangerment.

Klein remains in custody at the Lake County Jail with his bail set at $500,000. Coulter, Gates and Blevins also remain in custody with their bail set at $75,000, Paulich said.

From left, Shanel Alisha Blevins, 29, and Adam James Gates, 37, of Clearlake were arrested for child endangerment during a search warrant service in Clearlake, Calif., on Wednesday, May 9, 2018. Lake County Jail photos.
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LAKEPORT, Calif. – As the June primary approaches, the two candidates in this year’s district attorney race discussed policy and answered questions during a Monday night campaign forum.

Steven Brown and Susan Krones took part in the hour-and-a-half-long event at the Lake County Courthouse in Lakeport.

The full video of the forum is published above.

The event was the fifth and final campaign forum of the primary season hosted by Lake County News, the Lake County Bar Association and the Lake County Economic Development Corp.

The other forums hosted the candidates for District 2 and District 3 supervisor, Lake County superintendent of schools and the Lake County Superior Court.

Those videos can be found on this Web site or by visiting Lake County News’ YouTube page.
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Miguel Saucedo Hurtado, 30, of Clearlake, Calif., was arrested on Tuesday, May 15, 2018, during a search warrant service regarding illegal marijuana cultivation. Lake County Jail photo.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – One person was arrested and hundreds of marijuana plants were seized in Clearlake during a Tuesday search warrant service.

Clearlake Police Det. Leonardo Flores said that officers with the Clearlake Police Department Investigations Unit executed a search warrant regarding the commercial cultivation of marijuana for sale in the 2800 block of Seventh Street on Tuesday.

He said officers were investigating a possible illegal marijuana growing operation in violation of state cannabis laws and city ordinances.

During the execution of the search warrant, a total of 464 growing marijuana plants were located, and indicia, chemicals and materials associated with the illegal cultivation and sales of marijuana were also located and seized, Flores said.

Miguel Saucedo Hurtado, 30, of Clearlake fled from the property upon entry but was apprehended and taken into custody, according to Flores.

Anyone with information on these investigations is encouraged to contact Det. Leonardo Flores at 707-994-8251, Extension 315.
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CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The service of search warrants in Clearlake this week led to the seizure of hundreds of marijuana plants, processed marijuana and other materials.

On Monday officers from the Clearlake Police Department Investigations Unit executed search warrants regarding the commercial cultivation of marijuana for sale at two residences located in the 3800 and 3900 blocks of Laddell Avenue, the agency reported.

Police said the residences had been identified as illegal marijuana growing operations in violation of state cannabis laws and local city of Clearlake ordinances.

During the execution of the search warrants, a total of 418 growing marijuana plants were located along with processed marijuana. Indicia, chemicals and materials associated with the illegal cultivation and sales of marijuana were also located and seized, police said.

Investigators also seized 2.7 grams of cocaine which was packaged for sale at one of the residences, according to police.

Asset forfeiture proceedings were started from the investigation at one of the residences, authorities said.

This investigation is ongoing with identified suspects. Anyone with information on these investigations are encouraged to contact Detective Leonardo Flores at 707-994-8251, Extension 315.

The Clearlake Police Department reminds citizens that Proposition 64 allows up to six plants to legally be grown inside a residence. Under the City of Clearlake ordinance No. 197-2017 no more than six plants total are allowed to be grown on a property, whether indoors or outdoors, and a permit is required to cultivate marijuana outdoors for personal use.

For information on the permit process you can visit the City of Clearlake Web site at www.clearlake.ca.us or contact City Hall at 707-994-8201.

Due to past trends and violent crimes associated with the illegal commercial growing of marijuana, the Clearlake Police Department reported that it is continuing to take a proactive approach on enforcement of all state laws and local ordinances associated with the cultivation and sales of marijuana and marijuana associated products.

Authorities said the illegal growing of marijuana in the city of Clearlake will not be tolerated. Suspects who choose to involve themselves in the illegal activity subject themselves to arrest, prosecution and civil liability for environmental crimes.

Anyone who observes illegal activity in their neighborhood is urged to contact the Clearlake Police Department or Code Enforcement.
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School children joined local officials in raising the US Flag at Austin Park in Clearlake, Calif., on Tuesday, May 15, 2018. Photo courtesy of Greg Folsom.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A crowd gathered on Tuesday morning in Clearlake’s Austin Park for the annual tradition of raising the large American flag donated by the Park Study Club.

Burns Valley School second graders joined members of the Park Study Club, Lake County Fire Protection District, Clearlake Police Department, Clearlake Public Works Department, as well as Clearlake City Council members and planning commissioners, and members of the public in keeping the oversized flag from touching the ground.

Once the flag was raised, in honor of Peace Officers Memorial Day, the flag was lowered to half-staff for the day.

“The raising of the flag in Austin Park is really a fun tradition that we have every year,” said City Manager Greg Folsom. “The kids from Burns Valley School come out and do a great job of holding up the flag and learning flag etiquette and respect. Big thank you to the Park Study Club for once again donating the flag.”
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LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Police Department is asking for the community’s help in locating a male subject who attempted to abduct a woman in downtown Lakeport on Tuesday afternoon.

The agency said that at approximately 4 p.m. Tuesday Lakeport Police officers were dispatched to contact a 26-year-old female who reported the incident.

The woman told officers that a male subject approached her at the end of Fourth Street near Library Park at about 3:15 p.m. and offered her money for sex, police said.

The female reported that she said no and the male then grabbed her by the arm and attempted to pull her into his vehicle. Police said the woman reported that she broke free from the man’s hold and he then fled in the vehicle.

The vehicle is described as a shiny red Lexus sedan with gold badging bearing a unknown state license plate, white with black lettering, first three letters EYU.

The driver is described as a black male adult, in his mid 50s, 6 feet in height and weighing 225 pounds, with short curly salt and pepper-colored hair. He is clean shaven and wearing a black short-sleeved shirt, black jeans, and black and grey shoes.  

The investigation is ongoing and police are asking that anyone who may have seen anything or who may have information on the man or his vehicle contact the Lakeport Police Department at 707-263-5491, send an anonymous message from your cellular telephone by texting the words TIP LAKEPORT followed by your message to 888777 or send a private message on Facebook @LakeportPolice.

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CLEARLAKE, Calif. – It is an annual tradition in Clearlake for the Park Study Club to donate a large American Flag to fly in Austin Park over the summer months.

On Tuesday, May 15, come join members of the Park Study Club, the city of Clearlake, and the Lake County Fire Protection District in celebrating the annual flag raising ceremony at Austin Park.

In honor of Peace Officers Memorial Day, the flag will then be lowered to half-staff for the day.

The ceremony will begin at 10 am.

“Thanks to the generous donation of the flag from the Park Study Club, the annual flag raising ceremony is the symbolic beginning of summer and the tourism season in Clearlake. Come join us as we celebrate our flag, honor the peace officers who have lost their lives or become disabled in the line of duty, and look forward to a great summer season,” said City Manager Greg Folsom.

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