LAKEPORT, Calif. – A woman injured in a water skiing accident was flown to a regional trauma center on Sunday.

The woman, whose name was not released, suffered a head injury while out on Clear Lake, according to Capt. Rick Bergem of the Lakeport Fire Protection District.

Bergem said Lakeport Fire personnel had been committed to other calls when the injured woman was reported at about 11 a.m., so a Northshore Fire medic unit from Nice assisted and responded to the scene.

The woman initially had lost consciousness when hitting her head on a ski, which Bergem said is not an uncommon injury in the sport.

By the time firefighters saw her, she was conscious and had been transported to a private residence in the 1900 block of Lakeshore Boulevard, Bergem said.

He said the decision was made to fly the woman out to a regional trauma center on a precaution due to her head injury.

The woman was transported by REACH air ambulance, which Bergem said landed at the old Natural High School property on the lakeshore in the 800 block of N. Main Street.
        
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

The first Martian rock NASA’s Curiosity rover has reached out to touch presents a more varied composition than expected from previous missions.

The rock also resembles some unusual rocks from Earth’s interior.

The rover team used two instruments on Curiosity to study the chemical makeup of the football-size rock called “Jake Matijevic” (matt-EE-oh-vick).

The results support some surprising recent measurements and provide an example of why identifying rocks’ composition is such a major emphasis of the mission. Rock compositions tell stories about unseen environments and planetary processes.

“This rock is a close match in chemical composition to an unusual but well-known type of igneous rock found in many volcanic provinces on Earth,” said Edward Stolper of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, who is a Curiosity co-investigator. “With only one Martian rock of this type, it is difficult to know whether the same processes were involved, but it is a reasonable place to start thinking about its origin.”

On Earth, rocks with composition like the Jake rock typically come from processes in the planet’s mantle beneath the crust, from crystallization of relatively water-rich magma at elevated pressure.

Jake was the first rock analyzed by the rover’s arm-mounted Alpha Particle X-Ray Spectrometer (APXS) instrument and about the thirtieth rock examined by the Chemistry and Camera (ChemCam) instrument.

Two penny-size spots on Jake were analyzed Sept. 22 by the rover’s improved and faster version of earlier APXS devices on all previous Mars rovers, which have examined hundreds of rocks. That information has provided scientists a library of comparisons for what Curiosity sees.

“Jake is kind of an odd Martian rock,” said APXS Principal Investigator Ralf Gellert of the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada. “It’s high in elements consistent with the mineral feldspar, and low in magnesium and iron.”

ChemCam found unique compositions at each of 14 target points on the rock, hitting different mineral grains within it.

“ChemCam had been seeing compositions suggestive of feldspar since August, and we’re getting closer to confirming that now with APXS data, although there are additional tests to be done,” said ChemCam Principal Investigator Roger Wiens (WEENS) of Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico.

Examination of Jake included the first comparison on Mars between APXS results and results from checking the same rock with ChemCam, which shoots laser pulses from the top of the rover’s mast.

The wealth of information from the two instruments checking chemical elements in the same rock is just a preview. Curiosity also carries analytical laboratories inside the rover to provide other composition information about powder samples from rocks and soil.

The mission is progressing toward getting the first soil sample into those analytical instruments during a “sol,” or Martian day.

“Yestersol, we used Curiosity’s first perfectly scooped sample for cleaning the interior surfaces of our 150-micron sample-processing chambers. It’s our version of a Martian carwash,” said Chris Roumeliotis (room-eel-ee-OH-tiss), lead turret rover planner at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif.

Before proceeding, the team carefully studied the material for scooping at a sandy patch called “Rocknest,” where Curiosity is spending about three weeks.

“That first sample was perfect, just the right particle-size distribution,” said JPL’s Luther Beegle, Curiosity sampling-system scientist. “We had a lot of steps to be sure it was safe to go through with the scooping and cleaning.”

Following the work at Rocknest, the rover team plans to drive Curiosity about 100 yards eastward and select a rock in that area as the first target for using the drill.

For more about the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover mission, visit www.nasa.gov/msl and http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl .

You can follow the mission on Facebook and Twitter at www.facebook.com/marscuriosity and www.twitter.com/marscuriosity .

Usually, waking up before sunrise is a good way to get a head start on the day.

On Oct. 21, waking up early could stop you in your tracks.

Blame Halley’s Comet. Every year in mid- to late October, Earth passes through a stream of dusty debris from Comet Halley, and the predawn sky lights up with a pretty display of shooting stars.

“We expect to see about 25 meteors per hour when the shower peaks on Sunday morning, Oct. 21,” said Bill Cooke, the head of NASA’s Meteoroid Environment Office. “With no Moon to spoil the show, observing conditions should be ideal.”

Because these meteors streak out of the constellation Orion, astronomers call them “Orionids.”

“The Orionid meteor shower isn’t the strongest, but it is one of the most beautiful showers of the year,” noted Cooke.

The reason is its setting: The shower is framed by some of the brightest stars and planets in the heavens. Constellations such as Taurus, Gemini and Orion provide a glittering backdrop for the display. But that’s not all.  

This year, Venus and Jupiter have moved into position with Sirius, the Dog Star, to form a bright triangle in the eastern predawn sky.  

On the morning of Oct. 21, blazing pieces of Halley’s Comet will cut straight through the heart of this celestial triad.

To see the show, Cooke suggests going outside one to two hours before sunrise when the sky is dark and the constellation Orion is high overhead.

Lie down on a blanket with a broad view of the heavens. Although Orionids emerge from a small area near the shoulder of Orion, they will spray across the entire sky.

“Be prepared for speed,” he added. “Meteoroids from Halley’s Comet strike Earth’s atmosphere traveling 148,000 miles per hour. Only the November Leonids are faster.”

Speed is important because fast meteors have a tendency to explode. Occasionally, Orionid fireballs will leave incandescent streams of debris in their wake that linger for minutes.

Such filaments of meteor smoke twisted by upper atmospheric winds into convoluted shapes can be even prettier than the meteors themselves.

“It really is a wonderful morning to be awake,” said Cooke. “Just don’t plan on going anywhere in a hurry.”

Dr. Tony Phillips works for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

There are dozens of varieties of pumpkins, from large ones with thin flesh for carving Jack-O-Lanterns to small ones with sweet, dense flesh for pies.
 
Pumpkins are a type of winter squash and share a family tree with summer squashes, cucumbers, and gourds. In other parts of the English-speaking world, such as Australia, the word “pumpkin” means any type of thick-skinned winter squash, rather than the orange-skinned varieties that are exclusively referred to by the moniker here in the United States.
 
Pumpkins and other winter squash will ripen off the vine, so those that are not quite ripe when their vine dies (such as from frost) will continue to develop color and flavor, both in the field and after they’re picked.
 
The word itself has an interesting history. It originates from the Greek word for large melon, pepon, which the French adapted to pompon. The British morphed the French word into pumpion, and, finally, American colonists changed that to the word we know today, pumpkin.
 
The exact origin of pumpkin is not known, but they are believed to be native to North America. The oldest evidence for this are ancient pumpkin-like seeds found in Mexico that are estimated to be from sometime between 7000 to 5500 B.C.
 
The ancestor of today’s pumpkin was elongated with a crooked neck and was cultivated in ancient American cultures along creek banks in companion plantings with sunflowers and beans.
 
These pumpkin relatives were cultivated before maize, the ancestor of modern-day corn. Once maize became a staple crop, ancient farmers grew it with pumpkins and beans using a method known as the “Three Sisters.” In this tradition, maize stalks served as trellises for the climbing beans, the beans provided stability for the maize and added nitrogen to the soil, and the squash plants sheltered the shallow roots of the corn and shaded the ground, which discouraged weeds and preserved moisture.
 
These American Indian peoples relied on the pumpkin as a food source that sustained them through the winter. They utilized the entire fruit, including the flesh, which they roasted, baked, boiled, and dried; the seeds, which they ate and used medicinally; and the blossoms, which they added to stews.
 
In addition, the flesh which was dried was ground into flour, and pumpkin shells were dried for bowls and storage containers. Strips of dried pumpkin were even made into mats that could be used for trading.
 
Pumpkins are grown successfully on every continent save Antarctica. They’re enjoyed in cuisines throughout the world, including China, where, for example, the leaves are used as a vegetable or an ingredient in soup; India, where it’s used in a variety of regional cuisines and sometimes cooked with butter and spices; Thailand, where its flesh is used in curry dishes and small, custard-filled pumpkins comprise a dessert; the Middle East, where it’s enjoyed in sweet dishes; Japan, where it’s used in tempura; Mexico and the southwestern U.S, where the blossoms are enjoyed; Italy, where it stuffs ravioli and flavors beverages; and Kenya, where pumpkin flesh is boiled and the leaves (called seveve there) are used in popular dishes.
 
This list, of course, is partial, both in terms of the cuisines listed and the manner in which pumpkin is used, but it serves to show the diversity of ways pumpkin can be prepared. All parts of the pumpkin, its flesh, seeds, leaves, and blossoms, are edible.
 
Pumpkin seeds, also known as pepitas, are especially healthy. They may be slippery and hard to handle when scooped out of the hollow of a pumpkin, but they’re easily transformed into a delicious toasted snack. They're also wonderful when topping soup or a salad.
 
Wash them to remove the bits of fiber that may be clinging to them and pat them dry. Toss them with a bit of oil, lightly salt them, and spread them out on a baking sheet.
 
Bake them in a low oven, about 250 degrees Fahrenheit, until they’re golden, crisp, and dry, which takes about an hour. Stir them every 10 minutes or so to prevent scorching.
 
Alternatively, they may be toasted on the stovetop in a skillet or in a hotter oven. In both cases, they’ll cook much more quickly, but should be hovered over to prevent burning.
 
Canned pumpkin is quick and convenient for things such as pies, soups, or custards (try combining it with coconut milk and Thai spices for soup, for example); however, when fresh squashes are available, a bit of effort will yield a lovely home-made puree.
 
If doing this, be sure to use pumpkins that are intended for use in pies or cooking. Pumpkins grown for carving Jack-O-Lanterns have little flesh, and since they’re not bred for eating, the taste is inferior.
 
To make fresh pumpkin puree, cut a pumpkin into wedges of about 4 or 5 inches and brush the flesh sides with melted butter or olive oil. Arrange them flesh side down in a roasting pan and cover with aluminum foil.
 
Roast the pumpkin pieces in a 400 degree Fahrenheit oven until the flesh is very tender and may be pierced with a fork, about two hours, turning after the first hour. Remove the foil and let the pumpkin cool.
 
Once cool, discard any liquid that may have collected, scoop out pumpkin flesh, and puree in batches in a food processor. Transfer the puree to a large sieve or colander with several layers of cheesecloth set over a large bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator to drain at least 8 hours or overnight.
 
Pumpkin is low in calories and sodium, but high in fiber, and the seeds are rich in protein, iron, and B vitamins. The flesh has high stores of beta-carotene, an antioxidant that converts to vitamin A. Research has shown that beta-carotene is helpful in preventing heart disease and some cancers, and even helps delay the aging process.
 
Today’s recipe is adapted from the medley of roasted vegetables I offered in a culinary demo last season at the Lake County Farmers’ Finest Market at Steel Winery in Kelseyville, Calif. The original recipe utilized butternut squash, but pumpkin will substitute well.
 
Use a small to medium-sized cooking pumpkin, cut it into wedges, and then cut into cubes. I find it’s easier to remove the outer skin by cutting it off once the pumpkin’s been cubed. Enjoy!
 
Roasted pumpkin with apples, onion, and crispy sage

About six cups of cubed fresh pumpkin, skin removed
3 large or 4 medium apples, any variety other than the most tart, peeled and cubed
2 large onions, peeled and cubed
20 or more fresh sage leaves, stems removed
Extra virgin olive oil, ½ cup to crisp sage plus more for roasting
Kosher salt and cracked black pepper
 
Toss the pumpkin, apple, and onion together in a large bowl with just enough olive oil to coat so each piece is glossy.
 
Spread mixture on a baking sheet (you may need more than one) and roast in a 400 degree Fahrenheit oven for an hour or so, stirring every 15 minutes, until cubes are fork tender and caramelized. Typically, they will be tender after 30 minutes, but will need to stay in longer to brown.
 
Meanwhile, heat olive oil over medium-high heat in a small saucepan on stovetop until hot. (It’s ready when a drop of water makes it sizzle.)
 
Throw in a few sage leaves in the hot oil and cook for a few seconds until crispy. (Be careful as oil may splatter!) The leaves are ready when their green color deepens and they become crisp. If they become brown, they lose flavor. Remove leaves to a paper towel to drain. Repeat until all leaves are crispy.
 
When roasting process is complete, turn roasted cubes into a large bowl. Crumble sage leaves over mixture and toss to combine. Taste and add more salt and/or pepper, if needed.
 
Serve warm as a side dish or at room temperature as an autumn salad.

Esther Oertel, a freelance writer, cooking teacher, and speaker, is passionate about local produce and all foods in the vegetable kingdom. She welcomes your questions and comments and may be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

NICE, Calif. – A Lucerne man was in critical condition at a regional trauma center Saturday night after he was seriously injured in a motorcycle crash earlier in the day.

Ramsey Wade Milks, 39, was injured in the wreck, which the California Highway Patrol said occurred at about 5:10 p.m.

Milks was driving his 1982 Yamaha 500 motorcycle and exiting the northbound Highway 29 offramp to the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff when, according to the CHP, he illegally passed a vehicle on the left while failing to step for the posted stop sign at the base of the offramp.

The CHP said Milks continued driving his motorcycle in a reckless manner and at a high rate of speed eastbound on the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff east of Lakeshore Drive. He then allowed his motorcycle to travel to the right of the paved eastbound lane.

Milks lost control of the motorcycle on the soft dirt and gravel shoulder that borders the eastbound lane and the motorcycle went down the sloped embankment, the CHP said.

The left side handlebar of Milks’ motorcycle struck a power pole on the east shoulder of the cutoff, and the impact caused Milks to be ejected into the power pole, according to the CHP.

The CHP said Milks was transported via REACH air ambulance to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital.

Milks was admitted to the hospital’s intensive care unit, where he was being treated for a skull fracture and brain swelling, the CHP reported.

A trust beneficiary with a future right to part or all of the remaining balance of a trust estate provided they survive the current beneficiary is called a contingent remainder beneficiary.

Before the remainder beneficiary’s future rights in the trust can vest, however, he or she must first survive the current beneficiary.

This situation can create tensions between the current and remainder beneficiaries over the use and investment of trust assets while the current beneficiary is alive.

What present rights then do contingent remainder beneficiaries have to protect their future interests in the interim while they are still waiting to inherit?

Consider, for example, a deceased husband whose trust provides lifetime benefits for his surviving second wife and also provides that at her death the remainder goes to those of his children (from his first wife) who survive her.

Here the surviving second wife is the current beneficiary and the deceased husband’s children who survive him are contingent remainder beneficiaries. That is, the children’s right to inherit depends upon their still being alive when the surviving wife later dies; at that time each child’s rights vest provided he or she is still alive.

Under California statutory law contingent beneficiaries do not have an automatic right to receive an annual trust accounting from the trustee, unless the trust provides otherwise. Nonetheless they still have important rights.

All beneficiaries, including contingent beneficiaries, have the right to request the trustee to provide them with information about the trust’s assets, liabilities, receipts (income) and disbursements (expenses) of the trust, the acts of the trustee and the administration of the trust relevant to the beneficiary’s interest, including a complete copy of the trust.

Requesting such information is a preliminary step to showing that there is a problem with the trustee’s administration. The trustee’s response or lack thereof provides the grounds for petitioning the court for relief.

A contingent beneficiary can petition the court to order an accounting, to change the trustee, and/or to instruct the trustee (or successor trustee) as to the proper administration of the trust.

Furthermore, a contingent beneficiary has standing to petition the court to recover trust property that belongs to the trust.

For example, if the trustee improperly distributes assets to himself in violation of the trust, the contingent beneficiary can petition the court to recover the assets for the trust.

The contingent beneficiary does not have to stand by idly while the current beneficiary as a self-serving trustee plunders or misuses the assets of the trust to the detriment of the contingent remainder beneficiaries.

Nonetheless, contingent beneficiaries often fail to act for a variety of reasons, such as, they lack the money to pursue legal action; they do not know their legal rights; or they believe that any court petition would trigger the trust’s “no contest” clause and forfeit their inheritance rights.

A good faith meritorious petition to remove a trustee who is improperly administering the trust, however, will not trigger a no-contest clause that includes an attempt by a beneficiary to remove the trustee.

Conflicts between current and contingent beneficiaries can sometimes be prevented, or at least lessened, by good estate planning before the benefactor dies.

Alternative estate planning approaches vary with each situation. In the above example the deceased husband might have provided some assets or rights of occupancy and/or life insurance to his second wife but left the balance of his estate to his children immediately at his death.

Alternatively, the deceased husband might have at least appointed an impartial trustee (i.e., not his wife or children) to administer his trust estate.

Lastly, a final consideration, where parties are open to compromise, is to seek qualified mediation services. This can avoid costly litigation, emotional turmoil and protracted delays in reaching an outcome.

Dennis A. Fordham, attorney (LL.M. tax studies), is a State Bar Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Probate and Trust Law. His office is at 55 First St., Lakeport, California. Dennis can be reached by e-mail at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by phone at 707-263-3235. Visit his Web site at www.dennisfordhamlaw.com .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – More than 750 cyclists took part in the 22nd annual Konocti Challenge on Saturday, Oct. 6, once again setting an attendance record for the popular event.

Many of the riders in this year’s challenge came from outside Lake County. Out-of-county participants comprised 83.6 percent of the riders, according to Ride Director Jennifer Strong of the Lakeport Rotary, which puts on the annual fundraiser event.

The ride also was a boon to local hotels, according to a rider survey Strong shared. She reported that 59.5 percent of the early respondents indicated they stayed in local lodging.

Strong said she felt that percentage would remain consistent and that “there was not a single hotel room from Nice to Kelseyville,” as riders from around the country descended on Lake County for the annual event.

The rest stop competition saw a tie for first place between the People Services “Pirate Cove” and the Operation Tango Mike “Margaritaville.” The Scotts Valley Women’s Civic Club took third place with their rest stop themed ‘HofBruas Haus’.

Hundreds of riders took part in a barbecue lunch held at prepared by Rotarian Kenny Parlet and culinary educator Joe Parker who brought students to help prepare food for the group.

Popularity of the Konocti Challenge has grown to the point that organizers are contemplating a cap on the number of riders to preserve the small town charm of the ride.

Take a few minutes and tag along on portions of the ride by viewing the video above.

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

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A week of workshops focused on reinventing and revitalizing Clearlake’s Lakeshore Drive drew significant attendance this past week.

Officials said that the participation in the events dedicated to the Lakeshore Drive Downtown Corridor was very high and extremely positive.

On Friday evening, a final workshop and community reception were held, which included the unveiling of the preliminary designs that a design team came up with based on community involvement. Lake County News will have a followup article on the specifics of those preliminary designs.

The “Envisioning the Future of Clearlake’s Downtown Lakeshore Corridor” events earlier in the week began with a walking assessment followed by a workshop in Clearlake City Hall on Tuesday evening.

Mayor Joey Luiz welcomed participants at the workshop at city hall and Paul Zykofsky, associate director of the Local Government Commission, moderated the evening’s event.

Special guest, Irwin Kaplan – former interim city of Clearlake Community Development director and head of the City’s Vision Task Force – discussed how the task force’s document and design guidelines that were used as blueprints for the current Lakeshore Drive planning project.

The Vision Task Force Report can be found at http://theclearlakevisiontaskforce.wikispaces.com/Report .

Kaplan reiterated a quote that still holds true, five years after he said it during the presentation of the task force’s report: “If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there.”

With the new Caltrans grant that is helping to fund the Lakeshore Drive Downtown Corridor project, rather than reinventing the wheel, the Vision Task Force Report is an informative blueprint containing, “precious things to the community,” Kaplan said.

He reminded the audience and community that they were stakeholders, “with a chance to make things better.”  

Alluding to the majestic trees that fill the city of Clearlake, Irwin compared improving the city to, “precious oaks – they don’t grow overnight.”

Zykofsky asked the audience for their vision of the Lakeshore corridor in 10 to 20 years down the road.  

Community members were asked to write their answers on index cards that were provided. Then, they were asked to put down five different words about what they valued and why they connected with the city. These words were written on sticky notes and pasted together on the wall behind the audience.

The goal for improving Lakeshore Drive was to help design a livable and healthy community, and to “encourage your hopes, not your fears,” Zykofsky said.  

Advisory and focus group meetings, along with the Lake County/City Area Planning Council, had weeks earlier helped set the tone for the evening’s events and the rest of the week’s.

Community members would become community designers, using aerial photographs to sketch suggestions and communicate their ideas for changes to the project area.  

A slideshow was presented by Zykofsky, with projected improvements, including complete streets that support safe, comfortable and convenient routes, where transit, pedestrians and those using wheelchairs could proceed on the roads. The vision was for streets designed not only for cars but for people.

Several different towns were highlighted, showing their progress. In Shasta County, Cottonwood’s Main Street was featured, with new curb extensions and planters, bringing plazas and parking to life.  Its roads, speed zones and gateway designs all changed positively with improvements.

Other examples presented included having 5-foot buffers, for side by side walking, crosswalk visibility and crossing islands. Street improvements included having skewed intersections and right angle-cross walk intersections.  

Popular features on Lakeshore Drive are its bike lanes. Ten feet of space is needed for lanes, but it was explained that 12 feet would be even safer.

Back-in angled parking is a feature that is developing in numerous towns. Off Highway 16 in Esparto, the feature, with directions posted, allowed cars to back in, leaving their trunks facing the sidewalks, away from the main road, and car doors opening to a point of safety as well.

Roundabouts, a modern feature, can be found in two places in Lake County. Instead of a three- or four-way stop, roundabouts move traffic at a better capacity, according to traffic studies. Clearlake’s Olympic and Lakeshore Drive was deemed a good example for such a feature. The design team suggested that beautiful intersections could be created with roundabouts.  

The city of Clearlake has three lakefront parks, and suggestions for improving them offered at the workshop included farmers’ markets and the kinds of improvements made at Lucerne’s waterside parks, where new grass, benches, lighting and other features were installed.

Having places to sit, lighting, murals and fountains also were highlighted in the presentation.  

Kaplan reminded the audience that few cities have a main road that caters to tourist traffic as does Lakeshore Drive.  

Community members then became “community designers.” They divided into several smaller groups for the design workshop portion of the evening. At each design table, groups were to design their solutions, writing and sketching their ideas, issues and concerns and present to the rest of the group.

Email Nathalie V. Antus at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The service of a search warrant on Thursday by the Lake County Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force has resulted in three arrests, the seizure of 10 firearms, 181 pounds of processed marijuana and $73,220 in US currency.

During the operation, Mark Christopher Ramsey, 49, of Nice; Ricky Huie, 50, of Whitney, Calif.; and Jaime Rodriguez, 39, of Manor Pelham, New York, were arrested, according to Sgt. Steve Brooks.

Brooks said that narcotics detectives secured a search warrant on Wednesday for a residence located in the 1900 block of the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff in Nice. The following day, at approximately 8:30 a.m., they served the search warrant.  

As they approached the residence a male subject fled the area on foot, Brooks said. Detectives entered the residence where they located Ramsey and Huie, detaining both without incident.

During a search of the property detectives located and seized 215 mature marijuana plants, 660 pounds of drying marijuana and 181 pounds of processed marijuana, Brooks said.

Narcotics detectives also located and seized six rifles, four handguns, one gram of methamphetamine, three sets of night vision monoculars, one money counter and $73,200 in US currency. Brook said most of the money was vacuum sealed in large bags.

Both Ramsey and Huie were arrested for cultivation of marijuana, possession of marijuana for sale, armed in the commission of a felony and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Brooks said Ramsey also was arrested for possession of methamphetamine.

While narcotics detectives were at the residence, Rodriguez arrived at Ramsey’s residence, Brooks said.

When contacted by detectives, Rodriguez attempted to drive away. Brooks said detectives were able to stop and detain Rodriguez.

A search of Rodriguez’s vehicle revealed that he was in possession of both methamphetamine and cocaine, and he was arrested for possession of a controlled substance.

Brooks said Ramsey, Huie and Rodriguez were transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility and booked.

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

LAKEPORT, Calif. – A group of dogs are available this week, as Lake County Animal Care and Control holds its second adoption event.

Dogs of all sizes and ages are waiting at the shelter to find new homes, and the adoption event reduces the cost to give a dog a good home.

The county’s $30 adoption fee will be waived. Male dogs will be available for $116, which covers surgery, vaccines (including rabies), heartworm test, license and microchip. Female dogs weighing 60 pounds and under will cost $126, and it will cost $141 for those weighing more than 60 pounds.

Thanks to Lake County Animal Care and Control’s new veterinary clinic, many of the animals offered for adoption already are spayed or neutered and ready to go home with their new families.

Dogs that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are either neutered or spayed, microchipped and, if old enough, given a rabies shot and county license 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 hoping you'll choose them.

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

Labrador Retriever-beagle

This female Labrador Retriever-beagle mix is 8 months old.

She weighs 28 pounds, has a short black coat and has not yet been altered.

She’s in kennel No. 4, ID No. 34315.

Labrador Retriever-beagle

This female Labrador Retriever-beagle mix is of undetermined age.

She weighs nearly 37 pounds, has a short black coat and is not yet spayed.

Find her in kennel No. 5, ID No. 34314.

Male dachshund-Chihuahua mix

This male dachshund-Chihuahua mix is just over 2 years old.

He has a short black coat and weighs 15 pounds. It was not reported if he was altered yet or not.

He’s in kennel No. 6, ID No. 34206.

Male shepherd mix

This male shepherd mix is 4 years old.

He has a long black and tan coat, weighs 52 pounds and has not yet been neutered.

Find him in kennel No. 16, ID No. 33870.

‘Moose’

“Moose” is a Labrador Retriever mix.

He is 3 years old, weighs 66 pounds and has been neutered.

He’s in kennel No. 19, ID No. 34643.

Female pit bull terrier mix

This female pit bull terrier mix is 6 years old.

She has a short coat and weighs 61 pounds. It was not reported if she had been altered or not.

Find her in kennel No. 27, ID No. 34514.

Male pit bull terrier mix

This male pit bull terrier mix is 1 year old.

He has a short black and white coat, and has been neutered.

He’s in kennel No. 29, ID No. 34591.

Female pit bull terrier mix

This female pit bull terrier mix is 1 year old.

She has a short brown and white coat, weighs nearly 33 pounds and has not yet been spayed.

Find her in kennel No. 32, ID No. 34588.

Male pit bull terrier mix

This male pit bull terrier mix is 6 years old.

He weighs 43 pounds, has a short tan coat and has not been neutered.

Shelter staff said he has an injury on his right ear.

He’s in kennel No. 34, ID No. 34586.

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

Please note: Dogs 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. .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Registrar of Voters Office reported that work is set to begin next week on the processing of vote by mail – or absentee – ballots, with testing of computer equipment and software used for ballots also to take place this month.

At 8 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 16, Registrar of Voter Diane Fridley and her staff will begin processing vote by mail ballots for the statewide Consolidated General Election on Tuesday, Nov. 6.

Fridley said the processing of the vote by mail voter ballots will continue through Election Day as well as, during the official canvass.

Counting of the official ballots will commence on Nov. 6 in the Registrar of Voters Office, Room 209 of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St. in Lakeport; however, results will not be announced until after the close of the polls at 8 p.m., Fridley reported.

The official canvass will commence at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 7, and will continue daily – excluding weekends and holidays – until completed, according to Fridley.

Observers are invited to view the processing and counting of the ballots, but shall not interfere with the election process, Fridley said.

Fridley also reported that, pursuant to regulations of the California State Commission on Voting Machines and Vote Tabulating Devices, a logic and accuracy test will be conducted for the ballot tabulation computer and software to be used for the Nov. 6 election.

The test will run on Thursday, Oct. 25, at 2:30 p.m. in the Registrar of Voters Office. All interested persons are invited to observe this test.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Registrar of Voters Office reported this week that the deadline to register to vote in the Nov. 6 election is fast approaching.

To be eligible to take part in the fall general election, new voters and new county residents must register by Monday, Oct. 22, the Registrar of Voters Office reported.

That also is the deadline for reregistration for voters who have moved to a new address, changed their mailing address within the county or changed their name, officials said.

The completed voter registration form must be either personally delivered to the Registrar of Voters office on or before Oct. 22, or be postmarked on or before Oct. 22 and received by mail by the Registrar of Voters office.

Please be aware that pursuant to Section 2101 of the California Elections Code: “A person entitled to register to vote shall be a United States citizen, a resident of California, not in prison or on parole for the conviction of a felony, and at least 18 years of age at the time of the next election.”

Residents may register to vote at the Lake County Registrar of Voters office, Room 209, Courthouse, Lakeport, or may phone the Registrar of Voter’s office at 707-263-2372 for information.

Registration forms also are available at most local post offices, libraries, senior centers, city offices and chamber of commerce offices.