LAKEPORT, Calif. – A Willits man who attempted to outrun law enforcement following an attempted traffic stop in the Lakeport area was taken into custody early Saturday.

John Paul Wilson, 32, was arrested at 2:50 a.m. Saturday, according to Lake County Jail booking records.

Radio reports indicated that a sheriff’s deputy had attempted to pull over Wilson, driving a Cadillac Escalade, for reckless driving near Lake County Juvenile Hall on Whalen Way, which resulted in the pursuit.

Wilson led the deputy down Lakeshore Boulevard, with Wilson reported to be driving in the middle of the road, radio reports indicated.

Lakeport Police Officer Joe Eastham said he was staged in the area and joined the chase when Wilson turned onto Alterra Drive.

Eastham said the chase had reached speeds of 75 miles per hour on Lakeshore Boulevard before he joined the pursuit.

Once Eastham joined the chase, “It only lasted probably three blocks,” he said.

Alterra Drive dead ends into Stubbs Street, and that’s where Wilson drove off the road and into an orchard area, where his vehicle got stuck, Eastham said.

He said Wilson attempted to flee on foot before he was apprehended by the deputy.

Wilson was booked into the Lake County Jail on a misdemeanor charge of driving on a suspended license, and felonies for possessing a billy club and evading an officer, according to jail records.

His bail was set at $35,000, and jail records indicated that he remained in custody on Sunday, with a court date set for Jan. 22.

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

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – In the wake of the death of a young Kelseyville man shot during a Friday night armed robbery, the shaken community has reacted with remembrances and an effort to raise a substantial reward.

Forrest Seagrave, a clerk at Mt. Konocti Gas and Mart – also known as “Store 24” – was shot in the chest at close range with a handgun during the nighttime robbery, as Lake County News has reported.

The assailant was described by witnesses as having worn dark clothing, including a hoodie, and a bandanna around his face.

After shooting Seagrave the male suspect was reported to have fled on foot across a nearby field, making away with a small amount of cash. He remained at large on Saturday.

Seagrave, who had worked at the store since 2006, was taken to Sutter Lakeside Hospital, where it was reported that he had died early Saturday morning.

A candlelight vigil in Seagrave's memory is scheduled to take place at Mt. Konocti Gas, located at 5475 Main St., beginning at 7 p.m. Saturday. Organizers are asking the community for donations to help Seagrave’s family.

County Supervisor Rob Brown, whose district includes the Kelseyville area, knew Seagrave, who had gone to Kelseyville High School at the same time as Brown's eldest son.

On Saturday morning Brown said he confirmed Seagrave's death with the Lake County Sheriff's Office, which had not yet put out a report on the shooting by early afternoon.

The gas station, which is temporarily closed for the investigation, was taped off shortly after the shooting, and sheriff's detectives along with Lake County District Attorney's Office investigators were working at the scene on Saturday. K-Corps was conducting a grid search of the field through which the suspect had fled.

On Saturday morning, Brown – who called the shooting a “senseless and tragic event” – began an effort to put together a $10,000 reward to lead to the arrest of the suspect.

In an email to community leaders, Brown wrote, “Not only is this sad for his family and our community, it is a frightening event in the seeming evolution of our little town as of late,” pointing out that the store is near Kelseyville High School.

Brown said the community needed to act, and he was beginning by raising the reward money to help the sheriff's office in its effort “to capture the animal that did this.”

He set as a goal a $10,000 reward, and by 1:30 p.m. said he had between $7,500 and $8,000 of it collected. Anyone wishing to donate can contact Brown at 707-349-2628.

Brown, who works as a bail bondsman, vowed to use his resources – both financial and his informants – to help capture the suspect.

Not long after it was reported he had died, Seagrave's Facebook page began to fill up with posts from his devastated friends, who wrote of their shock, sorrow and disbelief.

They also recalled his kindness, generosity and fun, paying tribute to his “heart of gold.”

Lake County News also was told by community members about Seagrave's courtesy to the store’s customers, including chivalrously walking women to their cars if he felt they needed protection.

Those posting on Seagrave’s Facebook page said he didn't have friends, he had family. He was generous, thoughtful, and concerned about those in his life.

His friend David Shary wrote, “Things like this never make sense. They never will. You were the nicest person I knew, the nicest person a lot of us knew.”

Shary told Lake County News in a separate message, “Whenever someone dies, everyone says the person was the kindest person alive. Well, in this case, it was actually true.”

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.

LOWER LAKE, Calif. – One person was reported to have died in a crash early Saturday morning near Lower Lake.

The solo vehicle wreck occurred on Highway 29 north of Bell Avenue, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The CHP’s Ukiah Dispatch Center said the first report came in at approximately 12:09 a.m. Saturday.

The CHP confirmed that one person had died in the crash, which involved a white Chevrolet Malibu.

Reports from the scene indicated that the car flipped several times and had only one occupant.

The CHP said one-way traffic control was in effect around the crash site.

Additional details will be posted as they become available.

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

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Registration for the 23rd annual Konocti Challenge is now open.

The popular cycling event will be held Saturday, Oct. 5.

Once again, the Rotary Club of Lakeport – the sponsor for the event – is offering an “early bird discount” for online registration through April 30.

Save $10 on your 40-, 65- and 100-mile routes if you register online by April 30, so don’t delay.

The Konocti Challenge is a fun-filled cycling event for all ages.

The challenging 65 and 100 mile routes encircle beautiful Clear Lake, while the more subdued 40 mile route travels up Lakeshore Boulevard through Scotts Valley and then around gorgeous Big Valley through Kelseyville and back to Lakeport.

They also have a family friendly 20 mile ride that children enjoy.

There are seven well placed and fully stocked rest stops located around Lake County.

All stops are manned by local nonprofit groups competing for your votes and their share of a $5,000 prize pool. This equates to themes, decorations and all sorts of crazy antics to get your vote.

In addition, they have plenty of support and gear support on all routes to assist riders, and the end-of-ride barbecue on the shores of beautiful Clear Lake at the Lakeport Yacht Club is something not to miss.

Register by Aug. 31 and get a free t-shirt, bottle and patch. All of this included in the price of your registration.

Also, back by popular demand this year is the Sunday Guided Wine Adventure with an emphasis on “adventure.”

Organizers also are looking for volunteers to help with the event.

All proceeds benefit the Rotary Club of Lakeport’s local and international projects.

For more information about the event, to volunteer or to register, go to www.konoctichallenge.com , or contact Jennifer Strong at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 707-349-0815.

LOWER LAKE, Calif. – A Clearlake man died early Saturday when his vehicle went off the road and hit a tree.

The 29-year-old man, whose identity was not being released pending family notification, was the lone victim of the crash, which occurred at approximately 12:08 a.m. Saturday, according to the California Highway Patrol's Clear Lake Area office.

The driver was heading northbound on Highway 29 north of Marsh View Way in a 2012 Chevrolet Malibu when, for reasons still under investigation, he drove off the right shoulder and hit a tree, the CHP said.

The CHP said the man sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The report noted that the man was not wearing his seat belt.

The crash remains under investigation by CHP Officer Matt Norton.

THIS STORY HAS BEEN UPDATED.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – A man was shot Friday night during a reported armed robbery at a Kelseyville convenience store and gas station.

The incident happened at around 11 p.m. at Mt. Konocti Gas & Mart, known to locals as Store 24, located at 5475 Main St.

Based on reports from the scene a male store clerk was shot in the chest and in the hand by a male suspect wearing a dark hoodie and dark clothing, with a bandanna around his face.

The male suspect asked for money and when the clerk tried to stop him, the suspect pulled out a handgun and shot him.

The suspect allegedly took a small amount of money and ran across a nearby field, according to witnesses.

There was no official confirmation on the identity of the victim, but reports from the scene indicated it was store clerk Forrest Seagrave of Kelseyville.

Kelseyville Fire Protection District ambulances responded to the scene to transport the shooting victim to Lampson Field, where a REACH air ambulance originally was to have taken him to a regional trauma center, radio reports indicated.

Paramedics reported the shooting victim was complaining of shortness of breath, but he was said to be reported to be alert and oriented.

A short time later, the Kelseyville Fire ambulance was reported leaving the airport and heading to Sutter Lakeside Hospital, according to Tyler Elsa and Rodney Gard, who were in the area. They said no air ambulance came to the airport.

Sheriff’s deputies and California Highway Patrol officers were at the gas station, which Elsa said was cordoned off with crime tape. A nearby road also was closed off.

Elsa said it appeared that there had been a struggle in front of the counter and doorway, with items all over the floor.

The gas station was the same location that a man who had been stabbed about a dozen times was found nearly two weeks ago, as Lake County News has reported. The stabbing victim was reportedly transported and left at the station.

Additional details about the shooting will be posted as they become available.

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.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Five dogs are ready for adoption this week at Lake County Animal Care and Control.

The dogs include a terrier puppy and several adult dogs that are mixes of Labrador Retriever, Pomeranian, Chihuahua and Rottweiler.

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”).

Pomeranian mix

This male Pomeranian mix is 2 years old.

He has a long black and white coat, is small in size and has been neutered.

He’s in kennel No. 7, ID No. 35274.

Male Chihuahua mix

This male Chihuahua mix is 3 years old.

He has a short gray coat, weighs just under 12 pounds and has been altered.

Visit him in kennel No. 8, ID No. 35284.

Jack Russell terrier mix pup

This male Jack Russell terrier mix puppy is 11 weeks old.

He has blue eyes, a short black and white coat, and weighs 4.4 pounds. He has been neutered.

Find him in kennel No. 20e, ID No. 34891.

‘Pluto’

This male Labrador Retriever mix, dubbed “Pluto” by shelter staff, is 2 years old.

He has a short black coat and is of medium size. It was not reported if he had been altered.

He’s in kennel No. 14, ID No. 35282.

‘Koda’

“Koda” is a year and a half old Rottweiler mix.

He weighs 87 pounds, has a short black and tan coat and a docked tail, and has been neutered.

Find him in kennel No. 16, ID No. 35273.

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. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The seasonal flu is gaining steam in California, with state health officials reporting Friday that the annual illness is now widespread across the state, although no increase of cases has been reported locally.

Flu activity in California has reached higher levels than expected for this time of year, Dr. Gil Chavez, deputy director for the Center for Infectious Diseases and state epidemiologist, said Friday.

Chavez said the seasonal flu usually peaks around late February and early March.

Despite a greater number of cases occurring earlier thus far in the season, the California Department of Public Health said the state’s seasonal flu outbreak remains within the normal range of cases seen in previous years.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that high flu activity is ongoing nationwide, with the season having started earlier than normal.

In California this past week another flu-related death was reported in a person under age 65, bringing the total to five deaths for that age group for the flu season so far, said Chavez. The deaths were reported in the Sacramento, Southern California and Central Valley areas of the state.

Chavez said mortality in the under 65 age group is monitored to gauge how virulent the flu is. He said the state doesn’t have a means for tracking total cases.

No pediatric flu deaths have been reported so far this flu season in California, and there also have not been reports of any novel flu strains, according to the state flu surveillance report.

The good news, according to Chavez, is that nearly 100 percent of the strains now active in California and nationwide are in this year’s flu vaccine.

The California Department of Public Health said in its weekly flu surveillance report that three flu specimens tested from California residents were all components of the 2012-13 flu vaccine.

Chavez said the strains active this year include influenza Type A strains H1N1 and H3N3, the latter being more predominant.

Lake County Public Health Officer Dr. Karen Tait said there has been no significant flu activity reported in Lake County, either anecdotally or reportable cases, the latter referring to deaths of patients under age 65.

However, Tait said she expects to see more flu activity in the coming months, as the state moves toward the traditional peak time.

“Bottom line – get vaccinated,” she said.

Tait said Lake County Public Health has been giving a lot of flu shots, and they are now down to their last couple hundred doses, so they are going to ask the state about ordering more.

State and local health officials continue to emphasize the importance not just of being vaccinated but also following other basic health care precautions, including staying home if one is sick, washing hands frequently, and not touching one’s eyes, nose or mouth.

Health care workers statewide have a flu vaccination rate of about 60 percent, according to the state’s 2010-11 Influenza Vaccination Report, and Chavez said they are encouraged to be vaccinated as a way of ensuring safety for their patients.

For those with underlying health issues, as well as those who are elderly or very young, the flu can be particularly severe, said Chavez.

Chavez said the flu vaccine is still available. There are 15 million doses of flu vaccine remaining with the manufacturers ready for distribution and many doses already in the current pipeline to secondary distributors, retail pharmacies and health care providers.

He said so far this flu season 18 million doses have been distributed to health care providers and pharmacies in California, including 1.8 million doses for the California Department of Public Health’s Vaccine For Children’s program and 629,000 doses to local health departments.

For people with flu risk factors such as pregnancy, diabetes, asthma and heart disease, or if they are a senior or young child, Tait emphasized the importance of seeing a doctor early if symptoms such as fever, sore throat and cough arise.

Lake County Public Health is offering flu shots, as are North Lake Medical Pharmacy and the pharmacies at Kmart, Safeway and CVS in Lakeport, and Lake Pharmacy and Rite Aid in Clearlake, according to www.flu.gov .

For information on getting a flu shot, call Lake County Public Health at 707-263-1090 or call your local health provider, who also may have shots available.

Information about the flu and vaccine availability, including a map of local flu shot providers, can be found at www.flu.gov .

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.

On Jan. 1, 2013, important amendments to California’s law governing “Multiple Party Accounts,” including Joint Tenancy Accounts, took effect.

Let us examine how the amendments protect joint tenants from excessive withdrawals by their other joint tenants.

Generally, while all original parties to a multiple account are alive, each party’s ownership is based on that party’s own net contributions (deposits less withdrawals).

Also, on a party’s death, any life insurance deposited to the account due to that party’s death increases his net contributions.

For example, consider a joint tenancy account opened by an adult college student with his parents to pay college related expenses.

The parents contribute $10,000 of their own community property earnings and the child contributes his $5,000 student loan.

The parents own two-thirds of the account and the student owns one-third. As the student withdraws money, his ownership decreases until he withdraws all of his $5,000 contribution.

Subsequent withdrawals are presumed to involve the parents’ contribution, except where there is clear and convincing evidence to the contrary.

Here the parents gave $10,000 to help son pay his college related expenses. Provided he used the money for such expenses it is consistent with the parents’ intentions, and they would not have any right to reimbursement.

What, however, if the college student used some of the parents’ $10,000 for any of a multitude of unintended reasons?

Then the parents might arguably be entitled to reimbursement of any of their misspent monies. Further examination is required.

If son paid emergency medical expenses for which the parents would otherwise be held responsible then a court at its discretion might reduce or eliminate the parents’ claim.

Next, consider a co-habiting unmarried couple who open a joint tenancy account to pay shared living expenses.  

Later, if they separate and one withdraws more than his/her net contributions then the other is entitled to reimbursement. This is new. Previously, one joint tenant could lawfully empty the entire joint account to the detriment of the others.

Next consider what happens when a party to a multiple party account dies. Each surviving party retains his proportionate share in the account and also inherits an equal share of the deceased party’s proportionate share, all as computed at the party’s death. That is longstanding law.

With a joint account with right of survivorship, any money withdrawn while still alive by a now deceased joint tenant is not subject to the surviving joint tenants’ right of survivorship; thus, the deceased tenant while alive can withdraw and transfer his net contributions into a separate account in his name alone and defeat the surviving joint tenant’s expectation of inheritance.

Now, under the amended law, the surviving joint tenant receives some protection. That is, if the deceased tenant’s lifetime withdrawals exceeds his net contributions then the surviving joint tenant has a right for reimbursement of the excess withdrawal (which depleted the surviving joint tenants’ contributions).  Previously the survivor would simply be out of luck.

Returning to the unmarried couple example, hypothetically speaking if one party withdrew $6,000 from say his/her $10,000 in net contributions and died, the survivor would receive the remaining $4,000 in the account contributed by the deceased tenant – in addition of course to the surviving party’s own net contributions on deposit – but has no rights to the withdrawn $6,000.

If instead the deceased tenant withdrew more than his $10,000 net contribution, however, then under amended law the survivor has a right to the excess amount against the decedent’s estate.

Lastly, California’s community property laws also come into play here when married joint tenants are concerned. In all cases, persons should consult an attorney before reaching any conclusions regarding their legal rights discussed herein.

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 .

Out near the orbit of Jupiter, a faint speck of light is moving through the black of space.

At first glance it doesn’t look like much, no brighter than a thousand distant stars speckling the velvet sky behind it; indeed, it takes a big telescope make out that it is a comet.

But what a comet it could turn out to be ….

Later this year, “Comet ISON” could blossom into a striking naked eye object visible even in broad daylight.

“Comet ISON is a sungrazer,” explained Karl Battams of the Naval Research Lab. “The orbit of the comet will bring it very close to the sun, which we know can be a spectacular thing.”

Russian astronomers Vitali Nevski and Artyom Novichonok found the comet in September 2012. It bears the name of their night-sky survey program, the International Scientific Optical Network.

As 2013 unfolds, the comet is still very far away—near the orbit of Jupiter. That’s why it looks like a speck.

“But for an object at such extreme distance, it is actually very bright,” said Battams.

The comet’s glow suggests that is spewing gas and dust from a fairly large nucleus – “in the 1 to 10 km range,” estimated Matthew Knight of the Lowell Observatory.

On Nov. 28, 2013, this “dirty snowball” will fly through the sun’s atmosphere little more than a million km from the stellar surface.

If the comet survives – a big IF – it could emerge glowing as brightly as the Moon, briefly visible near the sun in broad daylight. The comet’s dusty tail stretching into the night sky could create a worldwide sensation.

Some reporters have started calling ISON the “Comet of the Century,” but Don Yeomans of NASA Near-Earth Object Program thinks that’s premature.

“I’m old enough to remember the last ‘Comet of the Century’,” he said.

In 1973, a distant comet named Kohoutek looked like it would put on a great show, much like ISON.

The actual apparition was such a letdown that Johnny Carson made jokes about it on The Tonight Show.

“It fizzled,” said Yeomans. “Comets are notoriously unpredictable.”

“Comet ISON has the potential to live up to the hype, but it also has the potential to do nothing,” agreed Battams.

One hazard is the sun. Tidal forces and solar radiation have been known to destroy comets.

A recent example is Comet Elenin, which broke apart and dissipated in 2011 as it approached the sun. Elenin, however, was a much smaller comet.

A better comparison, perhaps, is Comet Lovejoy, which flew through the sun’s atmosphere in 2011. Lovejoy emerged intact and wowed observers with a garish tail for weeks.

“Comet ISON is probably at least twice as big as Comet Lovejoy and will pass a bit farther from the sun’s surface,” said Knight. “This would seem to favor Comet ISON surviving and ultimately putting on a good show.”

One of the most exciting possibilities would be a partial breakup.

“If Comet ISON splits, it might appear as a ‘string of pearls’ when viewed through a telescope,” said Battams. “It might even resemble the famous Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 that hit Jupiter in 1994.”

A breakup would pose no threat to Earth, said Yeomans. “Comet ISON is not on a collision course. If it breaks up, the fragments would continue along the same safe trajectory as the original comet.”

Whatever happens, northern sky watchers will get a good view.

For months after it swings by the sun, Comet ISON will be well placed for observers in the northern hemisphere.

It will pass almost directly over the North Pole, making it a circumpolar object visible all night long.

Will Comet ISON fizzle ... or sizzle? Stay tuned for updates.

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

MENDOCINO COUNTY, Calif. – A Lake County man was arrested by a Mendocino County Sheriff’s deputy on Wednesday after he allegedly was found in possession of a number of prescription drugs for which he allegedly did not have prescriptions.

Michael Dean Calas, 28, of Clearlake, was arrested following a traffic stop, according to a report from Lt. Greg Van Patten of the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office.

At about 10:30 p.m. Wednesday a deputy observed Calas allegedly engaging in an exhibition of speed violation while driving near the intersection of North State Street and Empire Drive in Ukiah, Van Patten said.

The deputy pulled Calas over in the 900 block of North State Street and obtained permission to search the vehicle, according to Van Patten.

Van Patten said the deputy found a backpack which contained numerous prescription pharmaceuticals.  The deputy discovered some of the pharmaceuticals were controlled substances.

Calas allegedly did not have a prescription for any of the pharmaceuticals and was subsequently arrested for the listed violations, Van Patten said.

Calas was transported and incarcerated at the Mendocino County Jail where he was to be held in lieu of $10,000 bail, according to Van Patten.

NORTH COAST, Calif. – A Rohnert Park man was sentenced to two years’ probation and fined $5,000 for the unlawful commercial take of 20 abalone.

A Mendocino County Superior Court judge also imposed a lifetime fishing ban on Jason McMillen, 30.

On June 23, 2012, California Department of Fish and Wildlife officers investigated reports of a large unattended bag filled with abalone.

The bag, which held 17 red abalone, was located in shallow waters along the Mendocino coastline south of Hare Creek.

Wildlife officers waited for McMillen, who returned to the area and retrieved the bag of abalone the following day.

The investigation revealed McMillen had unlawfully taken 20 abalone with the intent of selling them.

California regulations prohibit an individual from taking more than three abalone per day or possessing more than three abalone at any one time.  

Pursuant to the Fish and Game Code, the possession of more than 12 abalone is prima facie evidence that a person possesses the abalone for commercial purposes.

Reports from concerned members of the public along with prosecution efforts from the Mendocino County District Attorney’s Office and penalties placed by the Mendocino County Superior Court have been fundamental in protecting this precious resource.