CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A Clearlake man was seriously injured when he was hit by a vehicle late last week.

The crash occurred at 10:35 p.m. on Thursday, according to Sgt. Tim Hobbs of the Clearlake Police Department.

Hobbs said 71-year-old James Gettle of Lower Lake was driving his 1998 Toyota pickup on Lakeshore Drive near the Valero gas station when 63-year-old Chris Bender ran out into the roadway.

Gettle's pickup hit Bender, who Hobbs said sustained major head injuries.

A Lake County Fire Protection District ambulance transported Bender to St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake, where he was picked up by an air ambulance and flown to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, Hobbs said.

Hobbs said the last update police had received on Bender's condition was that, while seriously hurt and remaining in the hospital for some time, he was expected to make a full recovery.

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.

“The flowers of late winter and early spring occupy places in our hearts well out of proportion to their size.” – Gertrude S. Wister

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Trillium has, in the past decade, beat out all of the other flowers – both wild and cultivated, as the first to arrive, but this year the daffodils beat out the trillium by blooming in January!

Once the trillium was up, in February, it took over the shaded areas pushing up through the detritus of old leaf matter.

Also known as 'tri flower, wakerobin or birthroot, it proliferates all throughout mild regions of North America and even Asia.

Another late winter flower in Lake County is that of the alder tree.

Alder flowers resemble hoards of caterpillars hanging from the bare tree, and prefer moist homes near other moisture-seekers such as bay laurel and cottonwood trees.

These brownish-green appendages are called catkins.

Alder catkins litter the ground and float upon the creek, reminiscent of nature collaborations by artist Andy Goldsworthy.

Some varieties of alder catkins are edible, and boast a high protein content. Lake County Yuki Indians called alder, “Um-se,” while the Pomo Indians named it, “Ga-shet.”

Historically, the tannic acid in the alder allowed for its use in tanning hides, and a dye also could be made from the tree.

Alder bark has been used for everything from smoking fish to various medicinal rubs. There is a town in Austria known as Grossari that depicts a drawing of the alder tree as the town's coat of arms.

Bay laurel trees also are in the running as the first to flower in late winter to early spring.

Their lively yellow flower clusters stand out amongst the glistening green branches of the California bay laurel, or Umbellularia californica, drawing pollinators, such as bees to them.

Bay laurels mature in many habitats – enjoying shade, sun, forest or coast. They belong to the same family as the avocado. When found in dry areas, the bay trees are scrubby in nature, while those near streams take on a much larger form.

Bay laurels have been called California bay, pepperwood tree, balm of heaven and spice bush.

Lake County Pomo Indians called the bay laurel, “Ba hem,” while the Yuki Indians named it, “Pol-cum ol.”

According to the book, “Indian Uses of Native Plants,” California Indians used the fruit of the bay tree by peeling it, then roasting it, then used it as a condiment or pepper.

Bay laurel tree leaves have been dried and used in culinary endeavors for centuries, but have always been removed from the dish prior to serving, as the dried leaves can sometimes be razor-sharp.

Other uses of the bay include decorative wreaths for the home and discouraging ants in the kitchen.

Critters such as woodrats like to include bay leaves in their nests, possibly to prevent fleas and other irritants from taking up residence.

Manzanita's evergreen shrubs bloom in late winter as well. The delicate pink-to-white beauties form in stunning, hanging clusters.

Manzanitas are, thankfully, quite drought resistant. They are located in various habitats, from the coast to woods and mountains in California.

Many California Indian groups enjoyed manzanita's nutritional berries: the Cahuilla, Wailakis, Concow, and also, more local groups such as Pomo and Miwok.

For a fascinating look at the very first flowers, those found in fossils around the world, be sure to check out the PBS DVD, “First Flower” at your local library.

Kathleen Scavone, M.A., is an educator, potter, writer and author of “Anderson Marsh State Historic Park: A Walking History, Prehistory, Flora, and Fauna Tour of a California State Park” and “Native Americans of Lake County.” She also writes for NASA and JPL as one of their “Solar System Ambassadors.” She was selected “Lake County Teacher of the Year, 1998-99” by the Lake County Office of Education, and chosen as one of 10 state finalists the same year by the California Department of Education.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The mother of two men on trial for a 2013 home invasion robbery and shooting in Clearlake Oaks was the last witness to take the stand during the defense's final day of testimony on Friday.

Dion Andre Davis II, 27, and his half-brother, Gregory Pierre Elarms, 30, both of San Francisco, are on trial for the home invasion on June 26, 2013, at the home of Ronnie and Janeane Bogner, whose adult son was shot during the incident.

Charges against Davis and Elarms include robbery, burglary, assault with a firearm on Jacob Bogner and on Lt. Tim Celli of the Clearlake Police Department, car theft, theft, vandalism and conspiracy, with Davis – the alleged shooter of Bogner – also charged with attempted murder. Their trial began late last month.

Elarms' attorney, Doug Ferguson, called Shunae Morgan as the first witness during the Friday afternoon session.

Morgan and Elarms have a 5-year-old young daughter together, and lived together on and off in the same San Francisco neighborhood where they grew up. She's studying business and management at City College and has her cosmetology license, with hopes of having her own business.

During questioning, Morgan explained that she saw Elarms on a daily basis in 2013, and that in June of that year he was working on an apartment complex renovation project around the corner from her home.

She said she would have known if he missed work, and he came home every night. Ferguson asked if she would have been upset if Elarms hadn't come home. Morgan laughed. “That's an understatement.”

She explained that they have children – the daughter they share as well as Elarms' older son from another relationship – and not being on a schedule “messes up the program.” Morgan said he took the children to school in the morning.

Under Anderson's cross-examination, Morgan said she and Elarms split time about 50-50 between her home and his; he and his son also lived with his mother, Regina McGee, at her home a short walk away.

Davis wasn't living at McGee's home at the time, and Morgan said she wasn't sure where he was. “I would just see him from time to time,” noting that “Uncle Dion” would show up and play with the children.

Morgan said that Elarms was still taking the children to school even during the summer break, as the school had a summer program. She estimated that Elarms worked from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., and she was at school until 3 p.m.

She said she was sure Elarms was following his usual routine on June 26, 2013, and that he was preparing birthday parties for the children.

McGee took the stand next.

“I know this may be hard for you,” said Ferguson.

“Extremely,” McGee replied, noting Elarms is her eldest son.

McGee works for the city of San Francisco doing maintenance scheduling for SFO Airport. She studied criminal justice, received a bachelor's degree in 2012 and also is a minister at a Baptist church in Daly City.

She said she recalled seeing Elarms during the last week of June 2013, explaining that at that time she saw him every day.

Ferguson showed her a ticket for a car parked on her street. It was for a gray Chevrolet Malibu belonging to Davis. She and Davis had an argument and so at that time he wasn't living at her home, but he was there daily.

During questioning she estimated Elarms was staying there 90 percent of the time, compared to the 50-percent estimate Morgan had given.

Anderson asked if Davis had at any point rented a Chevy Malibu; that was the kind of rental car that the suspects were driving when they were being pursued by Clearlake Police. McGee said she didn't know.

McGee remembered her son stressing about the back-to-back birthday parties for his children, and his concerns about getting them gifts and having the money to do it.

Anderson also asked McGee about Jenaya Jelinek, who was at the wheel of the rented Malibu when police took her into custody on the day of the home invasion.

Jelinek, who had no prior criminal history according to the prosecution, pleaded out to second degree burglary last year and testified in the early days of the trial.

Jelinek and Davis were longtime friends, and also were described in the Friday testimony as being in a relationship. They were frequently at McGee's home when Davis was staying there in 2012, with Jelinek sometimes staying overnight in violation of McGee's rules.

After he was done with cross-examining McGee, Anderson asked the court to let him make McGee his witness, which retired Placer County Judge James Garbolino gave him permission to do.

Anderson then continued his questioning, asking her about her knowledge of where Elarms was working in June 2013. She was aware of the renovation project but didn't know when it stopped.

Davis' attorney, Bill Conwell, asked McGee if her memory was clear about the summer of 2013. “About some things,” she said, explaining she had memories of Elarms planning his children's birthday parties. “He makes stuff happen for his kids.”

Ferguson asked if Elarms was “somewhere else” at the start of July 2013. She said he may have spent the night out.

Ferguson then brought up the fact that Elarms had been incarcerated at about that point. She said she didn't recall, as she remembered him being around on July 1, which is his son's birthday.

When she was excused from the stand, she asked if she could hug her two sons. The judge said to wait until the session was over.

During a break following McGee's testimony, after the jury had been briefly excused, the judge and attorneys discussed working on a stipulation that Elarms had been arrested on July 1, 2013, and was in the San Francisco Jail on a matter unrelated to the home invasion.

After the break, Ferguson told the court he wanted to bring both Morgan and McGee back for further questioning.

Back briefly on the stand, Morgan said she recalled Elarms being taken into custody and remaining there until February 2014. However, she thought he was arrested after his son's birthday.

Ferguson asked McGee about Elarms being in custody, and she also thought it was after her grandson's birthday, as she remembered him being at the party. She said she was sure Elarms was in San Francisco the last week of June 2013.

Anderson asked her how long Elarms was in custody. She couldn't recall. He said Elarms was in custody through February 2014, but McGee said she didn't know the dates of his incarceration.

“You keep trying to catch me,” she said.

In followup questioning Ferguson asked her, “Is this whole process difficult for you?”

“It's very difficult,” she said.

He asked if, as a minister, she answered to a higher power. She said yes. He then asked if she would lie for her son. She said no. “I'm on the side of right.”

When Ferguson asked her if she would lie before God, she said no.

The defense rested, and Anderson said he would have a short rebuttal that he would offer when court resumes next Wednesday.

In addition to Anderson's rebuttal, Garbolino told the jurors they could expect counsel's final arguments  on Wednesday, when the case resumes at 9 a.m.

“We're getting down to the last phase of the case,” Garbolino said.

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.

COBB, Calif. – The Friends of Boggs Mountain has received an educational trail building grant from the International Mountain Biking Association, with the Subaru/ International Mountain Biking Association Trail Care Crew scheduled to come to Lake County in early April.

The Subaru/International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA) Trail Care Crew, on the road since 1997, is IMBA’s grassroots educational program, with regional trail crews that travel throughout the US in Subaru-sponsored vehicles.

This is an in-kind grant valued at about $4,500, which covers the cost of the professional trail building instructors, their travel and training handouts for about two days, according to according to Gigi Stahl, Friends of Boggs Mountain volunteer and treasurer.

The IMBA crew coming to Boggs will feature a “trails duo,” Jordan Carr and Lani Bruntz.

The crew will hold presentations on the benefits of trails to communities, as well as sustainable trail building techniques based on IMBA’s highly-respected Trail Building School in the classroom as well as outdoors in Boggs Forest.

“The application process was paperless, completed online and exhaustive. With our busy lives, we nearly missed the deadline, so we’re real jazzed about this educational grant,” Stahl said. “One of the biggest requirements was outreach to the entire community of all trail users, including hikers and horseback riders. So we’re planning to reach out to government and community leaders, and folks on the Konocti Regional Trails distribution list to inform them of this wonderful opportunity. Naturally, the newly-formed IMBA Chapter, the Lake County Trails Coalition, will also play a big role in this program.”

Celebrating its 13th year in 2015, the Friends of Boggs Mountain was among a select few to have received this nationwide, competitive grant.  

And this isn’t the IMBA Trail Care Crew’s first time at Boggs.

The first crew came out here a few years after Friends of Boggs Mountain was formed. Back then, the Trail Care Crew worked with Friends of Boggs Mountain volunteers to improve a seasonal creek crossing at popular Gail’s Trail, near Boggs’ main parking lot.

In the hope of enlisting greater participation in other areas of the county, Friends of Boggs Mountain plans to hold one presentation in Lakeport on “Better Living Through Trails” with case studies on how trails have benefited communities. The other venue will be in Cobb, which will cover trail building techniques.

The venue locations and program details will be forthcoming.

For now, save the date of Friday, April 10, for the Lakeport presentation at 3 p.m., and Saturday, April 11, for the Cobb classroom instruction at 9 a.m. and Boggs trail work at 1 p.m.

For updates, visit www.boggsmountain.org , and for more information on the IMBA Trail Care Crew, visit www.imba.com .

The Friends of Boggs Mountain was founded in 2002 to provide a source of funding for Boggs Mountain Demonstration State Forest’s trail maps.

Since then, it has developed and continues to maintain a self-guided interpretive trail, procures and installs trail markers to help visitors navigate the 3,433-acre forest, organizes free hikes and speaker events that have included dog trainers, naturalists, and local historians, and holds monthly trail maintenance days.

The next trailwork day is scheduled for Sunday, March 8.

For further information and a list of events, please visit www.boggsmountain.org .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – An interesting and varied group of dogs is available for adoption at Lake County Animal Care and Control this week.

Dogs available for adoption include mixes of Chihuahua, dachshund, Doberman, English Bulldog, German Shepherd, Labrador Retriever, pit bull, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Shar Pei and terrier.

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.

In addition to the animals featured here, all adoptable animals in Lake County can be seen here: http://bit.ly/Z6xHMb .

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”).

Male Chihuahua mix

This male Chihuahua mix is 6 years old.

He weighs 5.4 pounds and will be neutered when he's adopted.

He's in kennel No. 2, ID No. 1751.

'Buckshot'

“Buckshot” is a male terrier and dachshund mix.

He has a short black and tan coat, with some white markings.

He's in kennel No. 4, ID No. 835.

Pit bull terrier mix

This handsome male pit bull terrier mix has a short tan and white coat.

He is about 2 years old and weighs 70 pounds. He was found in the Kelseyville area as a stray.

Shelter staff said he loves people and can't wait to be in a new home.

He's in kennel No. 6, ID No. 1664.

'Copper'

“Copper” is a young male pit bull terrier mix.

He has a short red and white coat, and already has been neutered, so he has a low adoption fee.

Copper is in kennel No. 8, ID No. 1738.

Pit bull terrier mix

This female pit bull terrier mix has a pretty face and a short gray and white coat.

She's 2 years old and weighs 53 pounds.

Found as a stay, she is friendly loves to play with other dogs, male or female. Shelter staff doesn't recommend her for a home with cats, but she has no food guarding issues.

She's in kennel No. 9, ID No. 1663.

Labrador Retriever mix

This female Labrador Retriever mix has a short black coat.

She's in kennel No. 15, ID No. 1771.

Labrador Retriever-German Shepherd mix

This male Labrador Retriever-German Shepherd mix had a medium sable and black coat.

He's in kennel No. 16, ID No. 1770.

Shar Pei-pit bull mix

This 6-month-old male Shar Pei-pit bull mix has a short, dark-colored coat.

Shelter staff said he's very intelligent and energetic.

He gets along with both male and female dogs, and loves to play. He's not recommended for a home with cats and could use some training.

He's in kennel No. 17, ID No. 1684.

English Bulldog mix

This female English Bulldog mix has white and brown brindle markings on a short coat.

She's in kennel No. 31, ID No. 1734.

Rhodesian Ridgeback mix

This female Rhodesian Ridgeback mix, along with her brother, came in as a stray from the Hendricks Road area in Lakeport.

She is 4 years old, weighs 54.5 pounds, and has a short brown coat and black markings.

Shelter staff said she is mellow, very sweet and a little shy, but warms up once she's had a chance to get to know a person.

She is heartworm positive so she will need treatment. Call for a quote for medications.

She's in kennel No. 32a, ID No. 1757.

Rhodesian Ridgeback mix

This male Rhodesian Ridgeback mix came in with his sister, and is also 4 years old.

Shelter staff says he gets along well with cats; his tail wagged as he watched them play.

Anyone who is interested in adopting him and who has dogs already is asked to submit an application and introduce bring their dogs in for an introduction.

He is slightly shy but with some training he could be a wonderful addition to your family or for an individual.

He's in kennel No. 32b, ID No. 1762.

'Mel'

“Mel” is a 1-year-old male Doberman Pinscher-Shar Pei mix, with a short brown and white coat, and stunning green eyes, who is looking for an active family or individual to give him a new home.

If you want a dog that loves to be by your side 24/7, Mel would be perfect for you.

Shelter staff doesn't recommend him for a home with cats. Those with dogs wanting to adopt Mel should submit an application and bring their dogs in for an introduction.

He's in kennel No. 33a, ID No. 1718.

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, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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

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

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

The state Board of Forestry and Fire Protection will be holding several public hearings across California to hear feedback on proposed maps of the State Responsibility Area, or SRA.

The hearings are part of the board’s deliberative process in adopting changes to the SRA.

California Public Resources Code 4125 requires the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection to classify all lands in California to determine financial responsibility for preventing and suppressing wildfires.

The new plan would add 4,729 acres to the SRA statewide.

In Lake County, the proposed changes would add 253 acres to the SRA in the Upper Lake area.

The schedule is as follows:

Redding City Council Chambers
777 Cypress Ave., Redding
Feb. 26 – 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

San Diego DGS Building
1350 Front St., San Diego
Feb. 27 – 1 to 6:30 p.m.

Natural Resources Auditorium
1416 Ninth St., Sacramento
March 4 – 9:30 a.m.

For more information on the hearings and proposed changes visit http://bofdata.fire.ca.gov/board_committees/resource_protection_committee// .

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Saturday was a banner day for the Lake County Polar Plunge benefiting the county's Special Olympics chapter.

The event on the edge of Clear Lake at Lakeside County Park in Kelseyville reached a new high in both funds raised – $21,500 – and the number of participants – 100 – in the six years it's been taking place locally, according to organizers.

Past years have seen the average of total funds raised ranging between $12,000 and $16,000, as Lake County News has reported.

A dozen teams took part in this year's event: Early Lake Lions, Lake County Probation, Lakeport Kiwanis, Lakeport Police Department, Polar Penguins, Purple People, Saderlund Splashers, Shivering Sheriffs, Team Engle, Team People Services Chickens, the Lake Plungers and The Nailor Way.

In addition to those plunging into the lake there were “chickens,” who also participated in fundraising but who only tested the water temperature with their toes.

There also were plenty of colorful and fun costumes.

The event is the main fundraiser for Lake County Special Olympics, which this year has about 100 athletes taking part in its programs, according to event organizer Peggy Buchholz.

Buchholz said all of the money raised locally will be used for local athletes.

The littlest plunger at Saturday's event was Shelby Nailor of Nice, age 3.

Was Shelby there just to get her toes wet?

“No,” said dad, Jim Nailor, leader of The Nailor Way team. “She’s taking the whole plunge. She’s been talking about it for weeks.”

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

NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) and ESA’s (European Space Agency) XMM-Newton telescope are showing that  fierce winds from a supermassive black hole blow outward in all directions – a phenomenon that had been suspected, but difficult to prove until now.

This discovery has given astronomers their first opportunity to measure the strength of these ultra-fast winds and prove they are powerful enough to inhibit the host galaxy’s ability to make new stars.

“We know black holes in the centers of galaxies can feed on matter, and this process can produce winds. This is thought to regulate the growth of the galaxies,” said Fiona Harrison of the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in Pasadena, Calif.

“Knowing the speed, shape and size of the winds, we can now figure out how powerful they are,” said Harrison, the principal investigator of NuSTAR and a co-author on a new paper about these results appearing in the journal Science.

Supermassive black holes blast matter into their host galaxies, with X-ray-emitting winds traveling at up to one-third the speed of light.

In the new study, astronomers determined PDS 456, an extremely bright black hole known as a quasar more than 2 billion light-years away, sustains winds that carry more energy every second than is emitted by more than a trillion suns.

“Now we know quasar winds significantly contribute to mass loss in a galaxy, driving out its supply of gas, which is fuel for star formation,” said the study’s lead author Emanuele Nardini of Keele University in England.

NuSTAR and XMM-Newton simultaneously observed PDS 456 on five separate occasions in 2013 and 2014.

The space telescopes complement each other by observing different parts of the X-ray light spectrum: XMM-Newton views low-energy and NuSTAR views high-energy.

Previous XMM-Newton observations had identified black hole winds blowing toward us, but could not determine whether the winds also blew in all directions. XMM-Newton had detected iron atoms, which are carried by the winds along with other matter, only directly in front of the black hole, where they block X-rays.

Combining higher-energy X-ray data from NuSTAR with observations from XMM-Newton, scientists were able to find signatures of iron scattered from the sides, proving the winds emanate from the black hole not in a beam, but in a nearly spherical fashion.

“This is a great example of the synergy between XMM-Newton and NuSTAR,” said Norbert Schartel, XMM-Newton project scientist at ESA. “The complementarity of these two X-ray observatories is enabling us to unveil previously hidden details about the powerful side of the universe.”

With the shape and extent of the winds known, the researchers could then determine the strength of the winds and the degree to which they can inhibit the formation of new stars.

Astronomers think supermassive black holes and their home galaxies evolve together and regulate each other's growth.

Evidence for this comes in part from observations of the central bulges of galaxies – the more massive the central bulge, the larger the supermassive black hole.

This latest report demonstrates a supermassive black hole and its high-speed winds greatly affect the host galaxy.

As the black hole bulks up in size, its winds push vast amounts of matter outward through the galaxy, which ultimately stops new stars from forming.

Because PDS 456 is relatively close, by cosmic standards, it is bright and can be studied in detail. This black hole gives astronomers a unique look into a distant era of our universe, around 10 billion years ago, when supermassive black holes and their raging winds were more common and possibly shaped galaxies as we see them today.

“For an astronomer, studying PDS 456 is like a paleontologist being given a living dinosaur to study,” said study co-author Daniel Stern of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena. “We are able to investigate the physics of these important systems with a level of detail not possible for those found at more typical distances, during the 'Age of Quasars.'”

NuSTAR is a Small Explorer mission led by Caltech and managed by JPL for NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington.

For more information, visit www.nasa.gov/nustar and www.nustar.caltech.edu/ .

When a provider dies, his or her surviving spouse – or registered domestic partner – and/or minor children can soon find themselves without the necessary resources to maintain themselves in their accustomed manner of living. 

Under California law these persons have entitlements regarding a place to live, the use of certain personal property and a family allowance. (Note: A dependent parent and an adult child may sometimes be given a family allowance.) Let’s discuss.

The surviving spouse or registered domestic partner and minor children are immediately entitled to retain possession of the family home, clothing, appliances, household furniture, the decedent’s vehicle and tools. Initially no court involvement is required.

Such immediate rights last until 60 days after the filing of the inventory and appraisal, unless that time frame is modified by court order on good cause.

These rights apply even if these family members are not beneficiaries under the decedent’s will. Thus, a disinherited widow has these rights.

Once the inventory and appraisal is filed, the surviving spouse and minor children may then petition the probate court for a family allowance, set aside of exempt property, and/or a probate homestead. Let’s examine.

First, the surviving spouse and minor children are entitled to petition for a family allowance from the estate necessary to maintain themselves in their accustomed manner of living through the conclusion of probate, in a solvent estate, or up to one year from the date of the decedent’s death, in an insolvent estate.

Once granted, the family allowance is often retroactive to the decedent’s date of death. If the surviving spouse remarries or the minor children become adults, however, then the allowance terminates because their eligibility has ceased, even if the probate continues.

The family allowance is a charge against the decedent’s entire estate, including any community property jointly owned with the surviving spouse; thus, the surviving spouse’s share of any community property can be used to pay the family allowance, on a proportionate basis.

It must be paid as soon as funds become available. This can sometimes mean selling assets to create available cash.

Second, to avoid dispossession after the immediate right to possession expires, the surviving spouse and minor children may petition the court to allow them to retain possession of the household furniture, appliances and family car until the probate is concluded.

Such continued possession, however, is entirely discretionary with the probate court, and involves a facts and circumstance analysis.

Third, the surviving spouse and minor children may petition the court to create one probate homestead.

Unlike the family allowance and the set aside of exempt property, the probate homestead can continue past the close of the probate estate, sometimes for many years.

In the case of a surviving spouse, the probate homestead may last for the remainder of his or her life, so long as he or she does not remarry.

For minor children, the probate homestead terminates upon reaching adulthood.

The application of these rules in the context of a specific probate can become complicated and contentious as interested third parties – such as creditors and beneficiaries – become involved.

The decedent’s will may even expressly force the surviving spouse to elect between inheriting gifts under the will (and receiving such gifts at the end of probate) or asserting these protections contrary to the will and foregoing such gifts.

If granted, a probate homestead does not have to involve the existing family home. The court will apply the following factors to select a residence: (1) The decedent’s intentions; (2) the creditor’s rights; and (3) the interests of other beneficiaries under the will.

These rules are more complicated than can be discussed in this article.

Well drafted wills say whether a family allowance and homestead should be granted. Planning ahead can protect surviving loved ones.

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 870 S. Main St., Lakeport, California. Fordham 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. – The first part of superintendent is “super,” which is what the late Dr. William “Bill” Cornelison was as superintendent of the Middletown and Konocti unified school districts and through three terms as Lake County’s superintendent of schools.

Metaphorically speaking, Cornelison, who died on Jan. 29 at age 78 after a sudden and brief illness, also was the last word in the education of Lake County.

There are buildings that were constructed during his 27 years (1979-2006) of school administration in the county, academic leaders who have Cornelison to thank for their fine tuning, and organizations that are productive (and not necessarily educational) owing their existence or continued growth to Dr. Bill.

Credit Dennis Euken as a man of vision. He was one of four men – the only one still alive – who interviewed, then recommended Cornelison for Middletown’s superintendent position in 1979.

Up to that time, Cornelison had served as an administrator at several California schools.

Euken, Bill Hecomovich, George Hoberg and Bill Johnson soon knew that their man was the right one to settle issues involving teachers and parents.

“At the time we were having a little contract problem with our teachers and we found that he had to get right into the thick of it ,” said Euken.

“He was one of those guys who’d read it through his ears before he started opening his mouth,” said Euken. “That’s the kind of person you want as superintendent of schools. That way you get along with and get along with teachers and don’t let any fires start.”

As it developed, a foul up by the teachers ended their picketing.

“One morning they had a picket out front and they had their picket signs,” Euken said. “One teacher had spelled teacher wrong. That upset a lot of people in town, who said they want a raise and they can’t even spell teacher … They should get back in the classroom.”

Cornelison ushered the Middletown district through its largest growth cycle. Euken put the total number of students at about 350 when Cornelison came to the district in 1979 and four times that when he moved on to Konocti in 1986. Much of the growth was attributed to the district’s thermal industry.

Through the intense growth period, said Voris Brumfield, then closely associated with the school district, “Bill guided the (Middletown School) Board through hiring staff, building a new gymnasium, library and science buildings.”

“Bill was quite a leader in Middletown,” said Wally Holbrook who was the superintendent for the Kelseyville school district when Cornelison was at Middletown and retired last year as Lake County superintendent of schools.

“He had an excellent reputation, not just for being an administrator but an educational leader. The reason we remember him so fondly is that he really did focus on students, and his programs and services made a difference for students,” said Holbrook.

“He probably has had an impact on more educators in this area than people would realize,” Holbrook added. “At his memorial services there were probably 10 superintendents who would attribute their growth to somehow having Bill help guide them in their growth as a superintendent.”

People didn’t know much about what Cornelison did or tried to do because he was not inclined to talk about it.

Few knew, for instance, that Cornelison studied for the priesthood after his graduation from San Bernardino High School class of 1954.

Cornelison’s son Jon, who works in the high tech industry, talks about the organizations to which his father lent his acumen.

“He started an organization called ‘CASH,’ the Coalition for Adequate School Housing,’” said Jon. It’s a big organization that he started in the '80s that inspects buildings and facilities.”

Cornelison’s daughter Kristi Williams, a registered nurse, remembered that he would donate his free days to riding the Clearlake Transit system.

“He would just sit on the bus and ride it all day long and talk to parents, asking them what they would do to improve the school system,” she said.

“He liked to go to every single graduation and meet the parents,” said Williams.

“I never went with him – I wish I had,” she added.

Her father, Williams said, was “always there” for the family.

“He was never not there,” she said.

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

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A fire on Saturday afternoon did significant damage to a Clearlake home.

The fire, which according to radio reports was dispatched at around 1 p.m., burned a home at the corner of Blue Gum Street and Walnut Avenue, according to Lake County Fire Protection District Battalion Chief Charlie Diener.

Diener said the stick-built home was about half-involved by the time firefighters arrived.

“We were able to stop the advance of the fire pretty much where it was when we got there,” he said.

While the home wasn't destroyed, he said it had smoke and water damage throughout.

One person was at home at the time, and got out safely. Diener said no injuries were reported.

Lake County Fire and Cal Fire sent units to the incident, Diener said.

Diener said the cause of the fire is still under investigation.

He said the family of four who lives at the home was displaced due to the fire, and are receiving assistance from Red Cross.

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.

NASA's Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution has completed the first of five deep-dip maneuvers designed to gather measurements closer to the lower end of the Martian upper atmosphere.

“During normal science mapping, we make measurements between an altitude of about 93 miles and 3,853 miles above the surface,” said Bruce Jakosky, MAVEN principal investigator at the University of Colorado's Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics in Boulder. “During the deep-dip campaigns, we lower the lowest altitude in the orbit, known as periapsis, to about 78 miles which allows us to take measurements throughout the entire upper atmosphere.”

The 16 miles altitude difference may not seem like much, but it allows scientists to make measurements down to the top of the lower atmosphere. At these lower altitudes, the atmospheric densities are more than ten times what they are at 93 miles.

“We are interested in the connections that run from the lower atmosphere to the upper atmosphere and then to escape to space,” said Jakosky. “We are measuring all of the relevant regions and the connections between them.”

The first deep dip campaign ran from Feb. 10 to 18. The first three days of this campaign were used to lower the periapsis. Each of the five campaigns lasts for five days allowing the spacecraft to observe for roughly 20 orbits. Since the planet rotates under the spacecraft, the 20 orbits allow sampling of different longitudes spaced around the planet, providing close to global coverage.

This month's deep dip maneuvers began when team engineers fired the rocket motors in three separate burns to lower the periapsis. The engineers did not want to do one big burn, to ensure that they didn't end up too deep in the atmosphere. So, they “walked” the spacecraft down gently in several smaller steps.

“Although we changed the altitude of the spacecraft, we actually aimed at a certain atmospheric density,” said Jakosky. “We wanted to go as deep as we can without putting the spacecraft or instruments at risk.”

Even though the atmosphere at these altitudes is very tenuous, it is thick enough to cause a noticeable drag on the spacecraft. Going to too high an atmospheric density could cause too much drag and heating due to friction that could damage spacecraft and instruments.

At the end of the campaign, two maneuvers were conducted to return MAVEN to normal science operation altitudes. Science data returned from the deep dip will be analyzed over the coming weeks. The science team will combine the results with what the spacecraft has seen during its regular mapping to get a better picture of the entire atmosphere and of the processes affecting it.

One of the major goals of the MAVEN mission is to understand how gas from the atmosphere escapes to space, and how this has affected the planet's climate history through time. In being lost to space, gas is removed from the top of the upper atmosphere. But it is the thicker lower atmosphere that controls the climate. MAVEN is studying the entire region from the top of the upper atmosphere all the way down to the lower atmosphere so that the connections between these regions can be understood.