LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The revelations last week that State Parks officials were hoarding millions of dollars while park closures were taking place around California has raised questions about how the situation could affect local parks.

The California Department of Parks and Recreation has held $54 million in two accounts over the past 12 years, according to recent disclosures that came to light through a Sacramento Bee investigation.

The resulting controversy has resulted in the resignation of State Parks Director Ruth Coleman – who visited Lake County in April 2011 to dedicate the new education pavilion at Clear Lake State Park – and her second-in-command’s firing.

The funds have been held aside at the same time as threats to state parks – from deferred maintenance to the more recent threats of closures – have arisen. A $22 million general fund cut to State Parks had resulted in the proposal to close 70 state parks by July 1.

Over the last several years, both Clear Lake State Park and Anderson Marsh State Historic Park have been listed among the proposed closures.

While Clear Lake State Park was taken off the list, Anderson Marsh was set for closure July 1, but spared thanks to negotiations between State Parks and the Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association for the group to operate the park.

AMIA President Roberta Lyons said the developments surrounding the funds have so far not affected the group’s negotiations with the state.

“We are currently negotiating the contract that will allow us to take over partial operation of the park,” Lyons told Lake County News. “We are hopeful that we will reach an agreement soon. They have approved our Operating Agreement, which is our proposal for the types of things we will be doing, the next step is actual approval of the contract.”

State Sen. Noreen Evans, who represents Lake County, has been involved with legislation to spare the parks set for closure, and she is asking that plans immediately be submitted to the Legislature for the reopening of every park that has been closed or incurred shorter operating hours.

She said State Parks officials who were involved in hiding the funds “are responsible for the decay at every park in the state that suffers from maintenance that has gone undone, the job losses across the state from shortened park hours or partial closures, the dollars lost by local communities and businesses that depended on the tourism dollars parks bring in to the state.”

Evans also is calling on Gov. Jerry Brown to conduct an administration-wide audit of every department and every division.

The California State Parks Foundation, which has worked to rally the public and raise funds to help keep state parks open, issued a statement in which it said it was “disappointed and shocked” about the revelations of the hidden funds.

“We are especially frustrated that this occurred at the same time CSPF and the parks community has been working diligently and against tremendous odds to help temporarily keep threatened parks open,” the group said in a Friday statement.

Foundation President Elizabeth Goldstein sent parks supports an email message late last week noting that “the crisis that our state parks face is still very real.”

Goldstein said budget cuts to state parks over the years have decimated the system, with the general fund allocation for state parks reduced by 33 percent over the past four years and the system also facing a growing $1.3 billion deferred maintenance problem.

The effort to preserve a local treasure

Henry Bornstein, an AMIA board member and the group’s treasurer, said he was shocked by the news of the State Parks Department’s hidden $54 million.

“The local parks people are doing a great job. I imagine they’re pretty angry themselves,” Bornstein said, noting they’re dealing with diminishing resources and the fact the state has spent nothing on parks in years.

He called it especially distressing in light of nonprofits like AMIA scurrying around to try to keep parks open.

“Our nonprofit wasn’t designed to run parks,” Bornstein said, adding that he would like to see all of the parks taken off the closure list as a result.

In addition to the resignation of Coleman and her deputy’s firing, Bornstein said AMIA has heard that the lawyer negotiating with them also may have been dismissed.

“We’ve been working incredibly hard,” he said. “I have no idea what happens now.”

He said AMIA believes it’s close to reaching a deal on its operating agreement with the state, “assuming we get final agreement on everything,” although Bornstein was concerned the work may be delayed because of the parks scandal.

Bornstein said AMIA is going to keep up its work. “Right now our park is open.”

AMIA also is planning a 30th anniversary park for Anderson Marsh on Saturday, Aug. 11.

To run Anderson Marsh, only a small amount is needed. He estimated AMIA could keep the park open for as little as $12,000 a year.

He said the state does not keep track costs on a per-park basis, and he doubts the accuracy of the state estimate of how much it’s spent on Anderson Marsh – $80,000 a year, with overhead.

Bornstein also raised the issue of the possible fallout for the parks themselves, which he calls an amazing asset for California, and like nothing found elsewhere in the world.

People need to understand parks are worth saving, he said.

“People have a hard time separating the parks from the people who are running them,” Bornstein said.

As for the controversy over the funds, he said, “I can’t imagine this is the end of it.”

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

NORTH COAST, Calif. – Congressman Mike Thompson (CA-1) will hold a telephone town hall for constituents of California’s First Congressional District.

The event will take place beginning at 7 p.m. Pacific Standard Time on Wednesday, July 25.

Constituents who would like to participate can call toll-free at 888-886-6603, Extension 19416.

Thompson represents California’s 1st Congressional District, which includes the Counties of Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Sonoma, Napa and Yolo.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Animal Care and Control is working to find homes for a full house of kittens at the shelter this month.

Kitten season is in full swing, and so the number of the little felines needing homes escalates during summer months.

That’s where people with loving homes can make a difference.

Cats that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are either neutered or spayed and microchipped 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 there, hoping you'll choose them.

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

Adult gray tabby

This male gray tabby is 1 year old.

He weighs 7.4 pounds, has a medium-length coat and has been neutered.

He’s in cat room kennel No. 11, ID 33504.

Domestic long hair mix

This female kitten is 15 weeks old.

She has a long black coat and green eyes. She has not yet been spayed.

She’s in cat room kennel No. 53b, ID No. 33249.

‘Tiger’

“Tiger” is a 12-week-old male tabby.

He’s a domestic short hair mix that has not yet been altered.

He’s quite playful, enjoys people and likes to be held.

He’s in cat room kennel No. 56, ID No. 32823.

Gray tabby kitten

This female gray tabby kitten is 4 months old.

She has green eyes, a short coat and has been spayed.

Find her in cat room kennel No. 65a, ID No. 32839.

Gray tabby kitten

This male gray tabby kitten is 4 months old.

He has a short coat and green eyes, and has been neutered.

Find him in cat room kennel No. 65b, ID No. 32840.

Male domestic short hair mix

This male domestic short hair mix kitten is 4 months old.

He has gray and black coloring and green eyes, and has been neutered.

He's in cat room kennel No. 65c, ID No. 32841.

Brown tabby kitten

This male brown tabby kitten is 4 months old.

He has a short coat and green eyes, and has been neutered.

Find him in cat room kennel No. 65d, ID No. 32842.

Orange tabby kitten

This male orange tabby kitten is 14 weeks old.

He has blue eyes, weighs just over 2 pounds and has a medium-length coat. He has not yet been neutered.

He’s in cat room kennel No. 105a, ID No. 33323.

Orange tabby kitten

This male orange tabby kitten is 14 weeks old.

He has blue eyes, weighs just over 2 pounds and has a medium-length coat with dilute coloring. He has not yet been neutered.

He’s in cat room kennel No. 105b, ID No. 33324.

Orange tabby kitten

This male orange tabby kitten is 14 weeks old.

He has blue eyes, weighs just over 2 pounds and has a medium-length coat. He has not yet been neutered.

He’s in cat room kennel No. 105c, ID No. 33325.

Orange tabby kitten

This male orange tabby kitten is 14 weeks old.

He has blue eyes, weighs just over 2 pounds and has a medium-length coat. He has not yet been neutered.

He’s in cat room kennel No. 105d, ID No. 33326.

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

Please note: Cats 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. .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Local education officials say that state budget Gov. Jerry Brown’s has signed contains drastic cuts to California’s early childhood education system.

The reductions have wielded another blow to a structure already struggling under the weight of constant funding reductions, according to a Lake County Office of Education report.

The agency said $130 million in cuts to early childhood education will impact families throughout the state, and Lake County is no exception.

These cuts to early childhood education include a reduction of $30 million to state preschool and, for the first time, the implementation of parent fees; other child care and development programs are cut by over 10 percent, bringing the total reductions over the past two years to a staggering 25 percent; and alternative payment voucher-based child care programs are reduced by $20 million.  

The funding Lake County received for early care and education to low income families only provided enough preschool slots for approximately 30 percent of the eligible children, the Lake County Office of Education reported. With these new reductions in funding, that percentage will drop even lower.

The budget reductions are forcing the closure of the Early Connection Preschool operated by Lake County Office of Education on the campus of East Lake School, and the elimination of eight slots at the Early Connection Preschool operated by Lake County Office of Education on the campus of Lower Lake Elementary School.  

Lake County Office of Education continues to offer state preschool programs at Burns Valley School, Pomo School, Kelseyville Elementary School, Lakeport Elementary School, Lucerne Elementary School, Middletown Elementary School and Lower Lake Elementary School.  

Additionally, The Learning House offers state preschool programs at their facility in Clearlake.  

“This reduction of funding has forced us to make some very difficult decisions,” said Cindy Adams, director of Child Development Programs at Lake County Office of Education.

“The closure of the program located on the campus of East Lake is distressing,” Adams said. “We are hopeful that these children will be served through the new Transitional Kindergarten program at East Lake, or parents may elect to enroll their preschooler in another LCOE program. We thank Debi Malley, Principal at East Lake School and the Konocti Unified School District for all their support of the East Lake Early Connection Preschool for the past 15 years.”

Adams, along with Elaine Robinson, owner of The Learning House state preschool, also shares her frustration with the implementation of the family fees now required in the governor’s budget. Family fees will range from $20 per month to $177.60 per month, based on family income and size.  

“For a single parent, doing their best to provide for their family, these monthly family fees are a tremendous burden, and calls are already coming from frustrated parents trying to find some solution that will allow them to give their children this important experience to help them succeed in school,” Adams said.

The true victims of this shortfall will be the children who, according to Shelly Mascari, director of the Lake County Child Care Planning Council, will be deprived of the life-changing impacts of quality early care and education, when families resort to leaving their young children with unlicensed caregivers with no regulations, no education program.

According to Mascari, state preschools are only one of the programs being impacted by these reductions.  

With $20 million in cuts to the alternative payment program, private licensed centers and family child care programs will be forced with tough decisions when families are no longer receiving subsidized child care support and must foot the bill.

“Quality child care is a critical component to turning our economy around, and building strong communities throughout Lake County in the years to come,” said Mascari. “Early childhood education adds 200,000 jobs and $11 billion to California’s economy. These cuts are job killers for parents and the small businesses who serve them.”

Concerned citizens are urged to contact their state government representatives to share their concerns: State Assembly Member, Wesley Chesbro, 707-463-5770; and State Senator, Noreen Evans, 707-468-8914.

LUCERNE, Calif. – Authorities have released details about a Saturday afternoon armed robbery of a restaurant in Lucerne, along with surveillance photos of the suspect.

Fosters Freeze, located at 6552 Highway 20, was the target of the robbery, as Lake County News has reported.

At approximately 3:42 p.m. Saturday Lake County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the restaurant for a reported armed robbery, according to Sgt. Steve Brooks.

Brooks said the suspect entered the restaurant and approached an employee who was working the cash register.  

The suspect removed a handgun from his pants and demanded all the money from the till. Brooks said the suspect took just over $200 and left in an unknown direction of travel.  

The suspect is described as a white male adult, approximately 5 feet 5 inches tall, in his early 20s. Brooks said the suspect also was described as having short blond hair, was unshaven and had bad teeth.

A witness noticed that the suspect had a marijuana leaf tattoo on the inside of his forearm. The witness was not sure but believed the tattoo was located on the inside of his right forearm. He was reported to be wearing baggy jeans and a black hooded sweatshirt, according to Brooks.

This investigation is ongoing and anyone who may have information regarding this case is encouraged to contact the Lake County Sheriff’s Office at 707-263-2690.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Firefighters are getting close to fully containing a fire that broke out on Saturday in Yolo County.

The “Forest Fire” – originally titled “Forrest” – began burning shortly after 10 a.m. Saturday off of Forest Avenue and Highway 16 at Guinda, south of Rumsey Canyon, according to Cal Fire’s Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit.

The approximate acreage Cal Fire reported Sunday evening was 520, down slightly from estimates given Saturday. It was 85-percent contained.

Cal Fire said overnight progress aided firefighters in building containment line around the fire and extinguishing hot spots.

Throughout Sunday firefighters put out numerous additional hot spots, with crews to be on the line Sunday night to continue the hot spot patrol, according to Cal Fire.

Several homes and outbuildings remain threatened by the fire, the cause of which is still under investigation, Cal Fire said.

Four minor injuries were reported due to the fire, Cal Fire said.

Approximately 412 personnel were on scene Sunday, along with 34 engines, 16 fire crews, two air tankers, five helicopters, 10 dozers and three water tenders, according to the report.

Cooperating agencies include Cal Fire, Capay Valley Fire Protection District, Yocha Dehe Fire Department, numerous local fire departments from Yolo County, Bureau of Land Management, US Forest Service, Yolo County Sheriff, California Highway Patrol and California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

Also on Sunday, firefighters were working on the Ranch Fire, located off of West Ranch Road and Ciarlo Lane northwest of Vacaville in Solano County. It was 75 acres and 75-percent contained Sunday evening, according to Cal Fire.

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

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – A Clearlake woman and a child were injured in a Sunday crash near Kelseyville.

The single-vehicle rollover occurred at 4:40 p.m. on Highway 29 north of Highway 175/Cobb, according to a Monday report from the California Highway Patrol.

Tabitha Martinez, 31, was driving a Ford Excursion northbound on Highway 29, with two children – an 8-year-old female and a 7-year-old male – riding with her, the report noted.

The right side tires of the vehicle traveled onto the highway’s north gravel shoulder. Martinez overcorrected, losing control of the vehicle, causing it to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction back across both lanes of Highway 29, the report explained.

The CHP said Martinez’s SUV went off the west road edge and down a steep downhill embankment, where it overturned, causing major damage to the vehicle.

Martinez suffered minor injuries, including complaints of pain to her left arm, neck and back. The CHP report said the 8-year-old had a small laceration to her left hand and abdominal pain, while the 7-year-old was uninjured.

A REACH air ambulance flew Martinez to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital while CalStar flew the children to Children’s Hospital and Outreach Center Oakland, the CHP said.

The CHP said the section of Highway 29 where the crash occurred was restricted to one-way traffic control for approximately one hour.

Officer Steve Curtis is investigating the collision.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Lake County Sheriff’s officials are investigating a reported burglary at the Tri Counties Bank in Middletown.

At approximately 8:12 a.m. Monday, deputies responded to the Tri Counties Bank, which is located at 21097 Calistoga Road in Middletown, for a reported burglary, which was discovered as employees arrived for work this morning, according to Sgt. Steve Brooks.

He said it appeared the suspects were able to enter the bank sometime Saturday night and compromise the ATM machine located inside. An unknown amount of US currency was removed from the ATM.  

Numerous Lake County Sheriff’s Office patrol deputies, detectives and command staff responded to the scene, Brooks said. Crime scene investigators also responded to the scene to collect evidence. The Federal Bureau of Investigation also was contacted and notified of the burglary.  

Additional information regarding this case will be released as it is obtained, Brooks said.

This investigation is ongoing and anyone who may have information regarding this case is encouraged to contact the lake County Sheriff’s Department at 707-263-2690.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – A Sunday evening vehicle pursuit led to a vehicle crash into a power pole, a power outage and road closure, and an ongoing search for the suspect.

The collision occurred shortly before 6 p.m. at Live Oak Drive and Cruickshank Road in Kelseyville, according to the California Highway Patrol.

At approximately 5:49 p.m. CHP Officers Randy Forslund and Steve Curtis were directing traffic at the scene of a single-vehicle rollover on Highway 29 between Highway 175/Cobb and Bottle Rock Road when they observed a gray Mitsubishi SUV heading northbound on Highway 29, the CHP reported.

The SUV’s male driver was holding a meth pipe in his hand. The officers tried to wave the driver over and get him to stop, but the CHP report said he failed to yield to their hand gestures and vocal commands.

Officer Curtis got into his patrol car and attempted to stop the subject, who continued northbound on Highway 29 at approximately 60 miles per hour until just south of Cole Creek Road, the CHP said.

Near Cole Creek Road, the suspect accelerated to approximately 85 miles per hour, with the CHP reporting that a pursuit began at that point.

The SUV driver turned to go west on Cruickshank Road, and while trying to negotiate a right turn to head north on Live Oak Drive, he lost control of the vehicle and hit a power pole, the CHP said.

The CHP said the crash caused the power pole to be sheered off at the base, with the lines knocked to the ground.

The male suspect then fled the area on foot, heading eastbound on Live Oak, into a nearby mobile home park, the CHP reported.

Firefighters returning from the vehicle crash on Highway 29 responded to the scene, where they helped shut down the roadway.

A sheriff’s K9 responded to help with the search, but the CHP said the suspect eluded them. The incident is still under investigation.

Pacific Gas & Electric responded to the scene shortly after 6:30 p.m., with the company reporting that as many as 346 customers were out of power. AT&T also was on hand to deal with resulting phone outages.

County road staff were requested to help with lane closures, according to the CHP.

The CHP said the intersection of Cruickshank and Live Oak Drive will be closed for repairs through the night, with the intersection expected to reopen at 5 a.m. Monday.

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

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – A fire in Yolo County burning since the weekend is nearing full containment, while firefighters in other parts of the state responded to lightning fires.

The Forest Fire is located off Forest Avenue and Highway 16 at Guinda, south of Rumsey Canyon. It’s been burning since Saturday morning.

Cal Fire’s Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit reported that the fire remains at 520 acres, and rose to 95 percent containment on Monday.

Firefighters have continued building containment lines and extinguishing hot spots, Cal Fire reported.

There were approximately 173 fire personnel assigned to the fire on Monday, along with 15 engines, 14 fire crews and two helicopters.

The fire’s cause remains under investigation.

In other parts of Northern California, 2,400 lightning strikes resulted in more than 50 new fires, all of which were held at small acreage, Cal Fire reported.

Among those fires, the 16-fire Amador Complex in El Dorado and Amador counties had burned 79 acres by Monday night, according to Cal Fire.

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

LUCERNE, Calif. – A popular Northshore restaurant was robbed at gunpoint on Saturday afternoon.

The incident occurred at Foster’s Freeze, located at 6252 E. Highway 20 in Lucerne, between 3:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday, according to the restaurant’s manager, William Claunch.

Claunch said a male suspect came into the lobby, armed with a handgun.

He said there weren’t many people in the lobby at the time but the dining room was full of customers who didn’t know what was going on.

The restaurant handed over video of the robbery to the sheriff’s office on Sunday, Claunch said.

Claunch said they’re also reviewing the surveillance video for a good image of the suspect, which they hope to release Monday.

“He wasn’t masked or anything,” said Claunch, which leads to the hope that an image of him released to the community will help identify him.

It’s the second time in less than a week that an armed robbery has been reported at a local business.

Last Tuesday, July 17, a suspect robbed Catfish Coffee House on Lakeshore Drive in Clearlake, as Lake County News has reported.

The Clearlake suspect was described as a white male adult, about 6 feet tall.

Claunch said the suspect who robbed Foster’s Freeze wasn’t the same individual, as he was much shorter, about 5 feet 3 inches tall.

Claunch did not have additional details on the suspect on Sunday, however postings on Facebook indicated the man may have had a marijuana leaf tattoo on his forearm and left the scene in a white SUV.

Lake County Sheriff’s Office command staff couldn’t be reached over the weekend for comment on the case.

Additional details on the robbery 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. .

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – A single-vehicle rollover resulted in two air ambulances flying patients out of the county with injuries on Sunday evening.

The wreck occurred on Highway 29 just east of Bottle Rock Road at about 4:40 p.m., according to radio reports.

An SUV went off the roadway and rolled over, the California Highway Patrol reported. Lanes were blocked as Kelseyville Fire personnel arrived.

Two juveniles who were belted and secured in safety seats and one driver were reported to be in the vehicle, radio reports indicated.

Lakeport Fire sent mutual aid units, including an ambulance and an engine with extrication equipment, which reports from the scene said was needed to free those riding in the vehicle.

Two air ambulances were requested to come to the scene.

REACH 6 arrived near the scene shortly after 5 p.m., and lifted off about a half-hour later en route to Children's Hospital & Research Center of Oakland.

CalStar 4 touched down at a landing zone set up at Kelseyville High School around 5:40 p.m. to pick up a 31-year-old female with a broken femur, according to radio report.

Radio reports indicated CalStar 4 lifted off en route to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital at 5:55 p.m.

It was not clear if the second child was injured.

No additional details about the identities of the crash victims were immediately available Sunday evening.

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