Thursday, 27 February 2025

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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – After a long and dry summer and early fall, the forecast for this weekend and next week includes predictions of rain.

The National Weather Service’s specific forecast for Lake County said there are chances of rain beginning on Saturday and Sunday, and more slight chances of rain through Tuesday.

The forecast then shows sunny and clear conditions returning on Wednesday and Thursday.

Temperatures also are forecast to drop into the high 60s during the day and the mid 50s at night across the county through Tuesday.

Daytime temperatures are forecast to rise into the high 70s again by midweek.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
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Amanda Ann Guajardo, 23, of Lakeport, Calif., was arrested on Tuesday, September 25, 2018, after she was found on the Lower Lake High School campus in Lower Lake, Calif., in possession of drugs. Lake County Jail photo.

LOWER LAKE, Calif. – A Lakeport woman who was taken into custody on Tuesday after a deputy found her on the Lower Lake High School campus in possession of pepper spray and meth pipes later was found to have concealed in her clothing several drugs, which authorities believe she planned to sell at the school.

Amanda Ann Guajardo, 23, of Lakeport was arrested in the case, according to Lt. Corey Paulich of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.

On Tuesday at approximately 1 p.m., a Lake County Sheriff’s school resource deputy was patrolling the Lower Lake High School campus when he observed a Toyota Corolla, driven by a female with two male passengers, drive through the school parking lot to the rear of the school, Paulich said.

Paulich said the vehicle drove to an area where only school staff and students are allowed. It appeared to the deputy that all the occupants in the vehicle were adults. Students on campus were also on their lunch break.

The vehicle parked illegally in a handicapped space. The deputy saw the female driver, later identified as Guajardo, get out and walk away from the vehicle while the male passengers stayed at the vehicle. Paulich said the deputy contacted Guajardo and escorted her back to the vehicle.

Guajardo told the deputy she was at the school to pick up her cousin. Paulich said the deputy checked with school staff and learned that Guajardo’s cousin was not a student at the high school.

The deputy conducted a records check on the three subjects and found that one of the males was on parole and that Guajardo was a convicted felon, Paulich said.

Paulich said the deputy conducted a search of the three subjects and the vehicle. He did not locate any illegal items on the males or in the vehicle. While searching Guajardo, he located a small canister of pepper spray and two glass methamphetamine pipes.

Guajardo was placed under arrest and transported to the Lake County Jail for being a felon in possession of pepper spray, possession of glass methamphetamine pipes, being on school grounds with no lawful reason and driving on a suspended license, Paulich said.

During the booking process, correctional officers located a plastic bag containing approximately 1 gram of heroin, 7.4 grams of methamphetamine, and 14 ecstasy pills that were hidden in Guajardo’s bra, according to Paulich’s report.

The deputy believed Guajardo possessed the items with the intent to sell them on school grounds, Paulich said.

Paulich said Guajardo was additionally booked for possession and transportation of a controlled substance for sale, possession and transportation of a narcotic substance for sale, drug sales on school grounds, and bringing a controlled substance into the correctional facility. Guajardo was also on felony probation and remains in custody on a no bail hold.

Drugs and paraphernalia found in the possession of Amanda Ann Guajardo, 23, of Lakeport, Calif., on Tuesday, September 25, 2018. Lake County Sheriff’s Office photo.
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MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Work is under way to repair a damaged water line in Middletown that on Wednesday left area homes without water.

Cal Fire Battalion Chief Mike Wink said early Wednesday evening that the water system in Middletown proper has had a temporary shutdown due to a line break.

He said Callayomi County Water District staff are on scene working on repairs and using a backhoe to dig up the damaged area.

Repairs are expected to be completed by Wednesday night, Wink said.

Wink said Cal Fire and South Lake County Fire have plans in place should an emergency water supply be needed, including having extra water tenders ready for immediate response.

He didn’t have information on what caused the line break.

A call to the water district was answered by the district’s answering service, which said they had only been informed by the manager that there was an emergency and water would be restored as soon as possible.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
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Marijuana plants seized during a search warrant service in south Lake County, Calif., in September 2018. Photo courtesy of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Two men were arrested this week, and hundreds of marijuana plants and a stash of weapons were seized during a search warrant service in the south county.

Pedro Landa-Alvarez, 40, of Lower Lake and Jose Trinidad Carrillo-Gonzalez, 44, of Clearlake were arrested at a location in Lower Lake while harvesting marijuana, according to Lt. Corey Paulich of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.

On Friday, Sept. 21, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit served a search warrant in the 13000 block of Spruce Grove Road in Lower Lake related to illegal marijuana cultivation, Paulich said.

During the service, detectives located a total of 271 mature marijuana plants being cultivated outdoors and inside a greenhouse. Paulich said no suspects were located on site, but during eradication, detectives observed the plants were possibly contaminated with a dangerous illegal insecticide.

After conducting a further search of the cultivation site, detectives located a product label for a dangerous toxic substance known as “Carbofuran.” This substance is manufactured in Mexico and is illegal in the United States, Paulich said.

While on site, Paulich said detectives learned the subject responsible for the operation was Landa-Alvarez.

On Monday, Sept. 24, detectives served a search warrant at a residence for Landa-Alvarez in the 18000 block of Horseshoe Road in Hidden Valley Lake. Paulich said that during this search, detectives located evidence of marijuana cultivation and sales.

Detectives located a total of $10,000 of US currency and a 2017 Chevrolet 2500 truck which was determined to be proceeds of illegal marijuana sales and subsequently seized. Paulich said detectives located additional evidence which led to a search warrant service at a residence in the 19000 block of Mountain Meadow South in Hidden Valley Lake, which had been completely transformed to cultivate marijuana indoors.

From left, Pedro Landa-Alvarez, 40, of Lower Lake, Calif., and Jose Trinidad Carrillo-Gonzalez, 44, of Clearlake, Calif., were arrested on Monday, September 24, 2018, in Lower Lake, Calif. Lake County Jail photos.


Paulich said a total of 537 marijuana plants were located and eradicated from this residence which was only being used to cultivate marijuana.

Detectives also learned of another associated property and obtained a search warrant for the location in the 14000 block of Spruce Grove Road in Lower Lake. Paulich said that during this search, detectives located Landa-Alvarez and a second Hispanic male identified as Carrillo-Gonzalez.

Both men were actively harvesting and processing marijuana from a large indoor grow at this location. During the search of the property, Paulich said detectives located three loaded 1911 semi-automatic pistols, a loaded AR-15 style assault rifle and several additional hunting style rifles.

Approximately 400 pounds of bulk processed marijuana was located and seized from the property. Paulich said Landa-Alvarez was also in possession of over $9,000 in US currency which was also seized as illegal proceeds.

Both Landa-Alvarez and Carrillo Gonzalez were placed under arrest for violations of cultivation of marijuana while using a hazardous substance, being armed while committing a felony, conspiracy to commit a crime, possession of marijuana for sale and possession of an assault weapon, Paulich said.

Paulich said both subjects were later booked into custody at the Lake County Jail where they were later released after posting bail.

Weapons, processed marijuana and currency were seized on Monday, September 24, 2018, in south Lake County, Calif. Photo courtesy of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
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LAKEPORT, Calif. – Local and state officials hosted a Wednesday forum to discuss recovering the county’s tourism industry.

The hour-and-a-half-long “Visit California Crisis Tourism Recovery Community Forum” took place at the Soper Reese Theatre in Lakeport, hosted by Visit California and the county of Lake.

Visit California is working with partners to help restore the region's tourism economy following the recent wildfires.

The full presentation is show in the video above.
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LAKEPORT, Calif. – During a brief Tuesday morning public hearing, the Board of Supervisors considered and approved the budget for the new fiscal year, which the county’s administrative officer warned is likely to be the last in which county operations and services follow the normal pattern.

The board had held lengthy budget hearings in June to go over the details of the budget. The Tuesday budget discussion lasted less than 20 minutes.

The final recommended budget totals approximately $242,986,990, $12 million more than the budget the board approved at this time last year.

Supervisor Tina Scott and County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson were absent from the meeting. However, for the budget discussion staff presented a video of Huchingson giving her budget message to the board.

“We are still severely challenged financially here in Lake County, not only with the slow recovery but also from the long series of unprecedented wildfire disasters,” she said, noting that no less than three additional disasters – the Pawnee, Ranch and River fires – have occurred since the board considered an earlier version of the budget in June.

Huchingson said the county also is severely constrained by 10 years of stagnant revenues and mandated increases they’re facing in retirement contributions and minimum wage rates.

“This budget before you today provides very little additional discretionary revenue to support new positions or new initiatives,” she said.

General fund appropriations show only about a three tenths of one percent increase over the prior year, while the net county cost change for the general fund budgets remains relatively unchanged from last year. Huchingson said the cost of any new general fund positions have been absorbed within the previous year’s funding levels.

“While the near term outlook may appear bleak, this budget also focuses on long term solutions,” she said, explaining that it invests in operational efficiencies and it commits to replenishing reserves.

Huchingson said the budget continues to emphasize the ongoing administration of the master fee schedule, continues the recently implemented grant writing position and includes consultant support to identify opportunities for improved organization efficiencies.

The budget also invests in needed upgrades to technological systems, continues to set aside money in a fund the board recently established to put the county in a better position to deal with increased pension contributions that will start in 2019-20, she said.

“The fiscal year 2018-19 budget is likely to be the last in a series of years in which county operations and services could be considered business as usual,” which Huchingson said the board recognized with its recent acceptance of a pilot program that closes some county offices on Fridays.

Huchingson said the county has a vacancy rate of at least 20 percent, with staff struggling to keep pace with workload.

She said she’s working with department heads on a plan for what county operations will look like in the future. “Sadly, our ability to take on new initiatives will be severely limited in the years to come.”

As is required by law, the county’s 2018-19 budget is balanced, with sufficient revenue to support appropriations. However, Huchingson said that, like last year’s budget, it is not structurally balanced, which means it uses unreserved fund balance carryover to support ongoing general funds operations.

In the face of unprecedented challenges, Huchingson said county staff has continued to show extraordinary dedication, providing public programs and services despite diminishing operational budgets and employee retention issues.

She also lauded the budget team in her office for their work as well as the efforts of county Auditor-Controller Cathy Saderlund, who despite overseeing funding for nine disasters managed to get the necessary work done for the budget.

“The challenges we face in the years to come are significant,” said Huchingson, who added that she’s confident that with the board’s “thoughtful direction,” along with the efforts of department heads, the county can approach the new fiscal year with positive momentum.

Supervisors Jeff Smith said the county department heads are doing the hard work, continuing to work with the public while dealing with less resources and making the board look good.

He said it’s amazing what the county has done over the last 10 years with nothing. “You guys always keep doing more with less,” he told county staff.

Supervisor Rob Brown said they’re struggling to come up with ideas to address the county’s challenges, adding that he doesn’t think any idea should be off the table at this point.

While he agreed that the county is on the mend, he said it needs to be making changes to the way its operations are done.

“I don’t see good years for a long time to come. They will come, but it’s going to be awhile,” Brown said.

In order to make the good years come quicker, Brown said the county needs to make tough decisions now, including cutting some vacant positions to give increases to current staff. He also cited operations costs including the county’s vehicle use policy, as needing to be reviewed.

“You guys are doing so much with so little,” he told staff.

“This is a time of opportunity as much as it is a time of challenge,” said Board Chair Jim Steele, explaining that a lot of rural counties are having similar conversations.

He said there are a lot of grant funding opportunities that the county has to look at and pursue. Steele also suggested that it may be time to once again look at community choice aggregation for power purchasing to lower county costs.

The board then unanimously approved resolutions adopting the budget for fiscal year 2018-19, establishing new classifications and canceling general reserves, and also approved continuing the informal hiring freeze for general fund departments, delegating authority to Huchingson to waive the hiring freeze as appropriate.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
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MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Repair crews are working to restore power to thousands of south county customers impacted by an outage first reported on Thursday afternoon.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office said the outage is impacting Middletown and parts of Cobb Mountain.

The electrical outage is not fire-related, the agency said.

Pacific Gas and Electric reported that the outage began at approximately 12:43 p.m.

It is impacting approximately 4,490 customers, PG&E said.

As of 2:30 p.m., PG&E had not reported a cause and said its crews were assessing the cause.

PG&E estimated power would be restored by 4:30 p.m. Thursday.

The sheriff’s office asked community members to not call 911 to report the electrical outage.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Mendocino Complex fire, the largest wildfire in California’s history, burned close to 460,000 acres from the time it began on July 27 until it was fully contained Sept. 19.

In this Caltrans News Flash, the agency reports on the devastation from the Lake and Mendocino County fire and how it responded and supported the emergency efforts.
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Dam Road Extension paving in Clearlake, Calif. Photo courtesy of the city of Clearlake.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Clearlake’s Measure V road tax is funding new road projects now being carried out in the city.

Calling this week one of the most extraordinary in the city’s history, officials said that, for the first time since the city’s formation nearly four decades ago, multiple paving projects are under way.

The Dam Road Extension project began paving on Tuesday and will continue for the next several days.

It will be the first new major road constructed in the history of the city of Clearlake and will link Woodland Community College and the Walmart shopping area with the “Avenues,” connecting at Phillips/18th Avenue.

This project has been a priority project of the Clearlake City Council and is being funded by Redevelopment bond proceeds.

Granite Construction crews also are at work on the Country Club Road/Kings Lane rehabilitation project and the Pine Street rehabilitation project.

Granite Construction has installed new drainage in Country Club and Kings Lane and is in the process of grinding out the existing pavement in order to put down new asphalt.

Pine Street has had sidewalk repaired and handicap ramps installed and is ready for new asphalt. Both of these projects are being funded by Measure V proceeds.

In addition, crews from Chrisp Co. are out restriping the main arterial and collector roads in order to make the roads safer for motorists.

The Clearlake Police Department is sending out daily Nixle alerts to notify residents where the crews will be out working on the re-striping as the work does impact traffic.

“This is a very exciting time in the City of Clearlake,” said City Manager Greg Folsom. “Not only do we have all these road projects happening right now, but we also have significant grading operations going on with the unpaved roads, and we are working on plans for additional projects for next year and beyond.”

Country Club Road pavement grinding in Clearlake, Calif. Photo courtesy of the city of Clearlake.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A blue ribbon committee tasked with recommending ways to improve water quality at Clear Lake will hold its inaugural meeting Oct. 10, in Lake County, Natural Resources Secretary John Laird announced.

The meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 10, is open to the public and will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Running Creek Casino, 635 State Highway 20, in Upper Lake.

The agenda and additional information be found here.

The 12-member Blue Ribbon Committee for the Rehabilitation of Clear Lake, created by Assembly Bill 707 (Aguiar-Curry) of 2017, includes representatives from tribes, Lake County, UC Davis and the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board.

It also includes four members appointed by Lake County with expertise in agriculture, economics, environment and public water supplies.

“I am proud to chair the initial meeting of the Blue Ribbon Committee,” Laird said. “The Committee has been given the important charge of making recommendations for rehabilitating Clear Lake, which is critical to Lake County’s economy, ecosystem, and heritage. The expertise of these committee members will be invaluable to restoring this precious resource.”

Creation of the committee is part of the State of California’ ongoing investments in Clear Lake, which include a $2 million multi-year scientific research contract with UC Davis, $5 million in voter-approved bonds from Proposition 68 and a recent $15 million bond-funded investment to aid in the Middle Creek Restoration project.

“This committee is a first step towards revitalization of the local economy,” said Assembly Member Cecilia Aguiar-Curry. “Whether the work of the committee establishes a scientific record that Clear Lake is doing fine or we have work to do to protect and restore it, my goal is to provide proof the ‘anchor’ of Lake County is a healthy, valuable lynchpin in the local economy. I look forward to working with the California Natural Resources Agency, Board of Supervisors, Lake County Tribal Community, and all the stakeholders to ensure Clear Lake is Clear.”

Blue Ribbon Committee members include: Karola Kennedy, Elem Indian Colony; Sarah Ryan, Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians; Cecilia Guevara Zamora, Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians; Linda Rosas, Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake; Alix Tyler, Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians; Jennifer LaBay, Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board; Dr. Paul Dodd, UC Davis;
Supervisor Jim Steele, Lake County Board of Supervisors; Wilda Shock, Lake County, local economic development expert; Brenna Sullivan, agriculture expert, Lake County Farm Bureau executive director; Dr. Harry Lyons, Lake County, environment expert; Jan Coppinger, Lake County Special Districts administrator.

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NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Cal Fire investigators have arrested a Lincoln man for setting a series of fires last year.

Kyle Jeptha Bridgman, 30, was booked into Placer County jail on five counts of arson.

Authorities said Bridgman confessed to deliberately setting five fires in the Lincoln area of Placer County between June 19 and Aug. 3, 2017.

A team of Cal Fire investigators, identified Bridgman following the fires in 2017 and again this year.

While investigating Bridgman, the team identified another arsonist in August culminating in the arrest of Gregory Scott Courtney, 30, of Yuba City.

In both cases, Cal Fire said it was assisted by the Placer County Sheriff’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Placer County District Attorney’s Office and the Placer County Probation Department.

“I am so very thankful for the efforts of our investigators and assisting agencies,” said Cal Fire NEU Unit Chief George Morris III. “The community is safer today because of their extraordinary efforts.”

Bridgman’s bail is set at $160,000.
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Lakeport, Calif., Mayor Mireya Turner. Photo courtesy of the city of Lakeport.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The League of California Cities elected Lakeport Mayor Mireya Turner to its 2018-19 Board of Directors on Sept. 14 during the League’s Annual Conference & Expo in Long Beach.

Mayor Turner was elected to represent the Redwood Empire division and will serve a one-year term.

Grass Valley Council Member Jan Arbuckle was elected to serve as the League’s president, Murrieta Council Member Randon Lane to serve as its first vice president and Yountville Mayor John Dunbar as second vice president.

South San Francisco Council Member Rich Garbarino, who served as the 2017-18 president, became immediate past president.

City officials serving on the National League of Cities, or NLC, Board of Directors also serve on the League of California Cities board of directors for the duration of their term on the NLC board (two-year term). The league board typically meets on a quarterly basis at locations throughout the state.

“It is an honor to be elected to the League of California Cities board of directors. I look forward to serving with the League’s officers and full board to strengthen the policies that strengthen local control and give our cities more tools to meet the needs of their residents. Together we can work with the Legislature to solve some of the many challenges that cities face today,” said Turner.

“Each member brings a wealth of expertise in public service to the League board and they work closely with our organization in our efforts to protect local control and develop policies that support California cities. It is an honor to work alongside so many city officials who are committed to serving their own communities and contributing their efforts to advocate for policies that benefit all California cities,” said Executive Director Carolyn Coleman.

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