LAKEPORT, Calif. – Police have arrested a man who they say attempted to rape a Lakeport woman and then stalked her.
Richard Alvin Hamilton, 59, of Lakeport was taken into custody on Thursday, according to Lt. Jason Ferguson of the Lakeport Police Department.
Ferguson said Hamilton is charged with assault with intent to commit rape, false imprisonment, stalking, sexual battery and attempted rape by force, all felonies.
At 8 a.m. Monday Lakeport Police officers were contacted at the police department by a Lakeport woman reporting she was being stalked and harassed by Hamilton, Ferguson said.
Ferguson said that during the interview with the woman, officers learned she and Hamilton were previously known to each other.
The woman reported that in July Hamilton came to her residence to talk. While they were inside her residence, the woman said Hamilton pushed her down on the couch, forcefully held her wrists to control her and started pulling her clothing off as well as his own clothing, Ferguson reported.
Ferguson said the woman told officers that she continued to tell Hamilton no and to stop but he continued to hold her down. During the struggle the woman was able to defend herself by physically pushing Hamilton off of her and Hamilton left the residence.
The woman reported that since the incident in July, Hamilton had driven by her and continued to send her text messages, emails and Facebook messages, causing her to believe she was being stalked by Hamilton, Ferguson said.
A Lakeport Police detective initiated an investigation and over the course of the next few days, developed information to obtain an arrest warrant for Hamilton, according to Ferguson.
Just before 5 p.m. Thursday a Lakeport Police detective responded to an address in the 1700 block of Montana Vista in Lakeport and contacted Hamilton, placing him under arrest, Ferguson said.
Hamilton was transported to the Lake County Jail where he was booked on Thursday evening, according to jail records.
His bail was set at $50,000, with jail records indicating he later posted the required portion of bail and was released.
Hamilton is tentatively scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 22, according to his booking sheet.
LOWER LAKE, Calif. – The 76th quilt block on the Lake County Quilt Trail is “Jody’s Sunflower.”
Its design was chosen to honor the memory of Jody Blanchero, the daughter of Larry Blanchero and niece of Madeline Wenn-Murphy.
Jody Blanchero passed away at the young age of 17. She loved sunflowers. “We cannot pass a sunflower without thinking of Jody,” said Wenn-Murphy.
“Jody’s Sunflower” is installed outside the picnic area of Gregory Graham Winery, located at 13633 Point Lakeview Road in Lower Lake.
Owners, Gregory and Marianne Graham, constructed the winery in 2006 and opened for tasting in August of 2007.
The winery sits at the bottom of their 27-acre Crimson Hill Vineyard where they grow Cabernet, Zinfandel, Grenache, Syrah, and Petite Sirah.
Greg Graham grew up on a vineyard in Ohio, which is where he discovered his passion for winemaking. Therefore, it is very fitting that the quilt square the Grahams were asked to sponsor is a variation the the traditional design called “Ohio Star.”
The Lake County Quilt Trail is an agricultural and tourism project designed to promote community pride.
The 4-foot by 4-foot quilt block was drawn and painted by the Lake County Quilt Trail team, a group of dedicated quilters, graphic artists, painters, writers, carpenters and a videographer.
COBB, Calif. – Cobb residents packed the Cobb Elementary School on Monday night to hear a number of agencies and organizations discuss the issue of tree removal following the Valley fire.
County Supervisor Rob Brown hosted the event, which was intended to discuss the reasons for removing thousands of trees in the 76,067-acre fire area.
He said the forest is one of the single most important reasons why many people chose to live on Cobb.
Brown opened the meeting before inviting the representatives of various organizations to address the group.
Below is a list of speakers and the times in the video when they spoke, as well as their topics:
– Cal Fire Assistant Chief Jim Wright, 5:34: Tree health and reasons for removing trees.
– Phil Frisbie, public information officer, Caltrans District 1, 19:30: Caltrans' role in tree removal.
– Carl Schoenhofer, Pacific Gas and Electric senior division manager, 52:44: PG&E and the hazardous tree removal process, protection of power facilities.
– Rob Brown and other officials, 56:35: Explaining the “x” marks on the trees, removing felled trees from lots that are in the way of the cleanup.
– Korinn Woodard, district conservationist, United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Services, 1:10:40: Tree cleanup programs.
– Greg Giusti, University of California Cooperative Extension director and advisor for forests and wildland ecology in Lake and Mendocino counties, 1:13:13: The reforestation process.
– General questions and answers: 1:54:55 to the end of the meeting, 2:34:50.
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – “Domestic Violence Awareness Month” was recently designated in the city of Clearlake, with community members urged to support efforts of agencies assisting victims of domestic violence and increase their involvement in efforts to prevent it.
Representatives of Lake Family Resource Center were on hand Oct. 8 at Clearlake City Hall to accept the proclamation presented by Vice Mayor Gina Fortino Dickson.
An event to raise awareness of domestic violence will be held Saturday, Oct. 24, at Kelseyville Presbyterian Church.
The “Because We Have Daughters” workshop invites father and daughters – girls ages 10 to 18 – to join in the interactive event.
“The intent of this event is to give fathers the opportunity to understand their daughters better and to help take a stand at ending violence in women's lives,” Sheri Young, LFRC program manager, said. “We are actually opening the invitation to any male role model who has a significant young female in his life.”
According to the proclamation presented, in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015, Lake County law enforcement agencies responded to more than 409 incidents of the domestic violence.
In the past year, the Victim Witness Division of the Lake County District Attorney's Office served more than 377 victims, prosecuting 68 felonies and 182 misdemeanor acts of domestic violence.
Additionally, Lake Family Resource Center responded to 335 crisis line calls, served victims and sheltered 101 domestic violence victims and their children for a total of 6,383 bed nights.
Young said there are currently 22 women and children at that the domestic violence shelter, “Freedom House.”
“These are the people who were able to escape, get safe and report,” Young said.
The proclamation cites family violence as a community problem. Stopping the cycle, it states, requires not only the strength and courage of survivors, but also the support and involvement of all members of the community.
“It takes just one person to reach out and talk about domestic violence,” Young said.
To register for the “Because We Have Daughters” workshop, contact Lake Family Resource Center at 707-279-0563.
Email reporter Denise Rockenstein at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Registrar of Voters Office has issued an update on the Nov. 3 General District Election.
Registrar of Voters Diane Fridley said the election is not a countywide election, and consists of only three districts with candidates’ names on the ballot.
She said the election is to elect candidates in the following jurisdictions because there were more candidates than there were offices to be filled:
– Upper Lake Union Elementary School District: Three candidates' names are printed on the ballot. However, there are only two positions to be filled at this election (vote for no more than two).
– Lake County Fire Protection District: Four candidates' names are printed on the ballot; there are only three positions to be filled (vote for no more than three).
– Clearlake Oaks County Water District: Five candidates' names are printed on the ballot; there are only three positions to be filled (vote for no more than three).
Not all candidates submitted a “candidate’s statement of qualifications” to be printed in the sample ballot booklet, according to Fridley.
Fridley said candidates are not required to submit a candidate’s statement for printing and if a candidate does submit a statement, the candidate is responsible for the printing cost of his/her statement.
For this election, the cost to have a candidate’s statement printed in the sample ballot booklet ranged from $414.80 to $670.68, Fridley said.
Fridley's office has contact information for each one of the candidates running for the elective offices and the “candidates list” is available to any voter who requests the list either by mail, in person or by email.
Contact the Lake County Registrar of Voters office by phone at 707-263-2372 or drop by the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Room 209, Lakeport during regular business hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to pick up the candidates list for the upcoming November election.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – In response to the devastating Valley fire in Lake, Napa and Sonoma sounties, Larkmead Vineyards of Calistoga is raising $50,000 for those affected by the fire by matching up to $25,000 in donations to the Valley Fire Relief Fund.
More than $20,000 has been donated by supporting individuals so far, and with Larkmead’s matching, the total is now over $40,000.
They hope to reach their goal of $50,000 by the end of the month.
“So many businesses and homes have been destroyed by this brutal catastrophe,” owner Cam Baker said. “We feel it is our responsibility as a neighbor and member of the community to come together and do what we can to help. Over 1,400 homes have burned and so many people have lost their place of employment and their jobs. We want to help our friends and families in Lake County in this time of great need.”
The Valley Fire Relief Fund is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit and is channeling funds to two primary organizations.
The Up Valley Family Center provides immediate aid to families who are struggling with large bills such as mortgages, utilities and car payments as well as providing funds for urgent daily needs such as food, diapers and toiletries in the form of gift cards.
The Rotary of Middletown will also receive money to help aid families who were renting with no insurance and suffered severe losses.
If you would like to make a donation that will be part of the Larkmead Vineyards match, please send a check to Larkmead Vineyards (note Larkmead Match) at 1100 Larkmead Lane, Calistoga, CA 94515, care of Amy Rushforth or to the Calistoga Chamber of Commerce at 133 Washington Street, Calistoga, CA 94515.
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Organizers of the #LakeCountyRising fundraising effort report they have begun distributing funds from its Fire Relief Fund with the first round of giving designed to support the needs of youth in the impacted communities.
The organization has been working directly with community leaders to help identify some of the most pressing community needs and funding gaps.
As a result, an initial round of checks are being distributed to the following beneficiaries:
– $40,000 to the Middletown Unified School District to support the following programs: Sixth Grade Science Camp for students attending elementary schools in Cobb, Middletown and Hidden Valley Lake; the K-12 music program; gift cards for students impacted by the Valley fire.
– $10,000 to the Lake County Fair Foundation to support Future Farmers of America (FFA) and 4-H youth programs to assist with the replacement of jackets, uniforms, equipment, tack and animal needs.
– $10,000 to the Lake Family Resource Center to support immediate housing and other needs of client families who lost homes in the Valley fire.
Based on an initial assessment of community needs, the steering committee agreed to distribute $60,000 of the funds raised to date to help restore some sense of normalcy for children who have suffered as a result of the fire.
Many youth lost equipment, instruments, supplies, uniforms, even animals used in agricultural programs, all of which are vital to their extracurricular activities.
Also at risk are other youth programs, like science camp and music programs, which require monetary support through fundraising drives in their communities – a difficult task given the devastation of the Valley fire.
Donors contribute more than $500,000
In the first few days after the Valley fire swept through the southern part of Lake County and decimated communities like Cobb, Middletown and Anderson Springs, #LakeCountyRising was established to provide a way for individuals and businesses to respond.
“The outpouring of support has been remarkable,” said Debra Sommerfield, president of the Lake County Winegrape Commission.
To date, more than $500,000 has been donated or pledged to the Lake County Rising Fire Relief Fund.
The fundraising effort was kicked off with a $50,000 donation from Andy Beckstoffer of Beckstoffer Vineyards. “We hope this will motivate other people to give,” Beckstoffer said at the time.
Since then, numerous businesses, associations and individuals have generously offered their support to survivors of the Valley fire with contributions to #LakeCountyRising including:
– U.S. Congressman Mike Thompson and supporters: $52,500. “Tragedies have a way of showing what a community is made of, and the Valley fire is no different. This is one of the worst fires in California’s history, but it’s shown the absolute best of Lake County. We are a community of strength, resolve, gratitude and generosity, and that is how I know Lake County will rise again,” said Thompson.
– Trinchero Family Estates: $100,000. “We were saddened to see the devastation caused by the recent Valley fire,” said Roger Trinchero, chairman and CEO of Trinchero Family Estates. “We know these funds will be put to good use in helping residents in Lake and Napa counties rebuild their homes and their lives.”
– Savings Bank of Mendocino County: $20,000. “We are saddened by the tremendous loss our neighbors have suffered as a result of the Valley fire,” said David Weiss, Savings Bank director. “Our employees, executives and stockholders live and work in these communities, and we are committed to helping our neighbors and local businesses who were affected by the Valley fire through recovery and rebuilding.”
– Calpine Corp.: $15,000. Calpine's geothermal operations at The Geysers is one of Lake County’s largest employers and many of its employees lost homes in the Valley fire. “Calpine has supported #LakeCountyRising from the beginning,” said Danielle Matthews Seperas, manager, Government & Community Affairs at Calpine. “We feel this was the one local organization that could immediately help those impacted by the fire. All of our events and outreach are focused on supporting this cause so we can help our community rebuild as quickly as possible.”
– The Hess Collection: $25,000. “We experienced devastation firsthand – we are still rebuilding after the Napa earthquake,” said Tim Persson, CEO, Hess Family Wine Estates. “Lake County is part of the Hess Community and we feel strongly about helping the recovery from this devastation.”
– Rabobank N.A.: $25,000. “Working with clients in Lake County, we have witnessed the human toll of this fire firsthand,” said Charles Day, area manager for Rabobank’s Food & Agribusiness Division on the North Coast. “The incredible scale of the damage and hardship it has caused prompted Rabobank to do what we could to aid the relief effort.”
– Homestake Mining Co.: $5,000. “Homestake has been a part of this community for over 30 years, and we are saddened by the extensive losses suffered by so many of our neighbors in Lake County. Our hope is that this contribution will provide some needed relief to those in need and encourage other businesses and individuals to help where they can,” said Peggie King, McLaughlin Mine Closure manager, Homestake Mining Co. (Barrick Gold Corp.).
– Cache Creek Vineyards and others: $7,250. “At Cache Creek Vineyards, we wanted to do something to help those affected by the fires so we began making plans for a benefit concert. With the generous support of many individuals and businesses who donated to our silent auction and provided goods and services to sponsor our concert, we were able to raise $14,500,” said Don Van Pelt, owner, Cache Creek Vineyards. The proceeds were split between two funds, including the Lake County Rising Fire Relief Fund.
The Lake County Wine Alliance, a 501(c)(3) organization, is managing the collection and distribution of funds for #LakeCountyRising.
According to Bill Groody, marketing director of the Wine Alliance, more than 30 wineries, vineyard owners and other businesses have donated to #LakeCountyRising, and more than 200 individuals have supported the fundraising effort.
“It’s extremely gratifying to see that what started out as a wine industry response to the Valley fire has blossomed into a broad-based response, with donations coming in from places as far away as Alaska, Florida, New York and Washington, D.C.,” he said.
Steering committee created, will guide future fundraising and distribution
As donations to the Lake County Rising Fire Relief Fund began to arrive, organizers recognized the need to establish a steering committee that could guide the distribution of funds to assist individuals, businesses and organizations where the need is acutely felt, as well as generate awareness and solicit funds beyond Lake County borders.
Several prominent leaders in the local community as well as leaders from neighboring counties stepped up to serve in this capacity to help support a broad fundraising effort, particularly in Napa, Sonoma and the San Francisco Bay Area.
Members of the steering committee include Kaj Ahlmann, president, Lake County Wine Alliance, and owner, Six Sigma Ranch; Andy Beckstoffer, chair and owner, Beckstoffer Vineyards; District 5 Supervisor Rob Brown, county of Lake; Elizabeth Gore, entrepreneur-in-residence, Dell; Peter Molnar, partner and general manager, Obsidian Ridge Vineyard; Brad Onorato, district representative for U.S. Congressman Mike Thompson; Tiffany Ortega, assistant administrator, Sutter Lakeside Hospital.
From the start, U.S. Congressman Mike Thompson and Lake County Supervisor Rob Brown have been integral in providing insight, support and on-the-ground experience for the #LakeCountyRising organizers and steering committee.
From a practical perspective, the steering committee provides leadership and guidance while the primary organizers – the Lake County Winegrape Commission, Lake County Winery Association and Lake County Wine Alliance – provide “on the ground” support.
This support includes collaboration with community leaders and attendance at community meetings, communicating with local agencies and maintaining the fundraising infrastructure to enable ongoing donations and distributions.
Future giving will be based on an in-depth community needs assessment currently under way and identification of needs not covered by other funding sources. Areas of focus will include community-building activities to support long-term recovery efforts for the communities of Middletown and Cobb.
MENDOCINO COUNTY, Calif. – A 5-year-old boy and his dog who went missing on Tuesday evening have been found safe and sound.
Brett Paul Bowman and “Tank” – his family's Labrador Retriever – were found safe on Wednesday morning, according to Capt. Greg Van Patten of the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office.
Mendocino County Sheriff's deputies was dispatched to a reported missing child from a residence located in the 27000 block of Fox Road – in a remote rural portion of the Brooktrails subdivision – in Willits just after 7 p.m. Tuesday, Van Patten reported.
When deputies arrived, Van Patten said they learned that Brett left the family's residence at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, indicating he was “going on a field trip.”
He was last seen by a sibling walking uphill in a southwestern direction into a heavily wooded area adjacent to the family's residence. Van Patten said the boy was with Tank, a black 5-year-old Labrador Retriever.
Deputies began an immediate search of the area with the assistance of personnel from the Brooktrails Fire Department and Mendocino County Search and Rescue. Van Patten said a reverse 911 notification call was sent out to the surrounding areas near where Brett was last seen.
Due to the circumstances of Brett’s disappearance, Van Patten said a mutual aid request was made for further assistance which included personnel from Cal Fire, Marin County Search and Rescue, San Mateo Search and Rescue, California Highway Patrol, Willits Police Department, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Federal Bureau of Investigations, REACH air ambulance, Lake County Sheriff's Office, California Rescue Dog Association, Bay Area Mountain Rescue, Sonoma County Search and Rescue, California Office of Emergency Services and Falck ambulance service.
At approximately 7:55 a.m. Wednesday search teams found Brett in a heavily wooded area approximately 2 miles from his family's residence. Brett was alive and appeared to be in good health, with Tank at his side, officials reported.
The Mendocino County Sheriff's Office thanked all the personnel and public safety agencies that assisted in the search operation.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Thanks to a grant, the Historic Courthouse Museum in Lakeport is hosting special events this week in honor of October being California Archaeology Month.
Tony Pierucci, curator of the county's museums, said the Historic Courthouse Museum received the grant from the Society for California Archaeology to help support the museum’s archaeology outreach programs this month.
“We were really happy to get it,” Pierucci said of the grant.
Pierucci said California Archaeology Month is dedicated to the preservation of California’s cultural heritage.
Archaeology is of special importance to Pierucci; he has master's degrees in both archaeology and art history, and has worked on digs at Roman ruins in Jordan and Turkey.
Across the state, different museums, historical societies and libraries are putting on programs for the public to raise awareness of the value of archaeology, he said.
“Only a select number of these programs were awarded grants, and the Historic Courthouse Museum was lucky to be one of them,” Pierucci added.
During the summer, the Society for California Archaeology contacted Pierucci to see if he was interested in having the museum become a local point of contact for events. “We agreed to be one,” he said, adding they have yet to get an assignment, such as speaking to groups.
The society sponsors California Archaeology Month, and gives out between $5,000 and $10,000 in grants in each, Pierucci said.
“Since I started as curator in June I knew I wanted to do something in celebration of California Archaeology Month,” said Pierucci, who pursued – and received – a grant of a few hundred dollars.
While this first grant isn't a lot of money, Pierucci said it was enough to support the museum putting on a few free upcoming events.
The first of the events, a workshop for students, will take place on Thursday and Friday, and is not open to the general public, he said.
Working with sixth grade teachers from Terrace Middle School, Pierucci said the museum will host a mock archaeological excavation in the museum itself.
Over the course of the two-day workshop, 117 students in four sixth grade classes will learn the basics of archaeological excavation, recording and analysis, he said.
He said students will learn about the importance of archaeological context and what it takes to recreate past events.
Pierucci said such a program has never been offered at the museum before.
Archaeology in Lake County recently became a news story due to arrests of individuals who were discovered with looted artifacts.
While Pierucci said the close timing of the museum activities and the looting arrests is a coincidence, he thinks it's an opportunity to approach the topic of archaeology with children, adding that indifference is just as bad as actually going out and looting sites.
Students also will be taught about the importance of leaving artifacts in their context and not picking them up, Pierucci said.
“An arrowhead to us might not be a big deal, but to the living culture of the Pomo here, it's a big deal,” he explained.
The second event, which the community is invited to attend, is the free “Day of Archaeology,” which will include an afternoon of presentations by local archaeologists, Pierucci said.
It will take place from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday in the courtroom upstairs at the Historic Courthouse Museum, on Main Street in downtown Lakeport. Refreshments will be served.
Pierucci said the featured speakers will be Dr. John Parker, who will discuss Lake County's archaeology; Professor Douglas Prather of Mendocino College, who will speak about his recent excavations at a medieval castle in Ireland; and museum Assistant Curator Whitney Petrey will give a presentation on underwater archaeology.
Petrey started her job with the county in August, said Pierucci. She has extensive experience with underwater archaeology. Her professional work includes studying riparian areas in North Carolina and finding World War II plane wrecks in Hawaii.
“We're really excited,” Pierucci said of Saturday event, which he anticipates will be well attended.
“Archaeology in Lake County is really fascinating,” Pierucci said.
He said those who attend will leave with a better understanding of what archaeology is and how it's exercised across different disciplines.
“We're definitely planning on doing something like this annually,” Pierucci said.
He plans to seek a larger grant next year if these new programs are well received, and may also add events at another point in the year as well.
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.
LUCERNE, Calif. – The recent Lake Leadership Summit at Marymount California University was a sold-out success for the second year.
Presented by the Lake County Regional Economic Development Committee with support from businesses and organizations, the event attracted more than 100 business owners, entrepreneurs, innovators, education, health, nonprofit and local government leaders seeking the tools they need to flourish.
Summit participants were treated to a preview of workshops by experts that will be presented next week at Marymount’s Lakeside Campus in Lucerne.
Workshops are open to the public with online registration at www.embracethelake.com/workshops.html requested by Oct. 27.
Rob Freedman is a creative marketer and problem solver with a keen interest in helping organizations position themselves as leaders in their communities.
Currently the director of marketing and communications at Congregation Emanu-El in San Francisco, Freedman will conduct the Website Bootcamp on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Attendees will leave with a fully functioning Web site. The fee is $50 per person with the session limited to 25 people.
Lake County lenders ready to help small businesses, start-ups and entrepreneurs find access to funding will provide resources in their workshop, “Business Jeopardy: Show Me the Money!”
The interactive session is on Thursday, Oct. 29, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., with a fee of $20 per person and a limit of 25 people.
Paula Bryant, vice president/commercial relationship manager for Umpqua Bank, has more than 30 years in banking, specializing in agricultural lending, working capital lines of credit, commercial construction, nonprofit organizations, and investment and owner-occupied commercial real estate.
Pete Dodson, vice president/commercial loan officer for Savings Bank of Mendocino County, has extensive experience in a variety of commercial loans including operating lines of credit, real estate, and equipment loans.
Stephanie Ashworth, senior business banking specialist for Wells Fargo Bank, specializes in business credit, equipment lending, and the purchasing and refinancing of commercial real estate.
Jeff Lucas is the founder of Community Development Services, an economic development consulting firm that specializes in project development, business financing, business diagnostics, workforce preparation, grant acquisition, and project management.
These experienced lenders have access to money and they want to help local businesses and entrepreneurs find funding to build and/or expand their business.
An additional workshop will be presented on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., by Gregg Lindsley, master potter and teacher, addressing “The Art of Making Art.” This session is limited to 25 people with a fee of $20 per person.
Workshop questions may be addressed by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The city of Clearlake hosted a town hall last week to discuss flood prevention and preparedness as officials anticipate severe weather in the winter to come.
Crime prevention and the city's efforts in code enforcement also were addressed at the Oct. 15 evening meeting, attended by about 70 people in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall.
Getting ready for the winter season
Public Works Director Doug Herren said the department is preparing for El Niño conditions predicted by national meteorologists.
However, he said, the workload is great and staffing levels are low. He said the department's main concern is the 10-square miles of drainage within the city's system that must be cleared to prevent flooding.
Herren is requesting the assistance of residents who may have a drainage inlet on or near their properties, asking them to help by clearing the inlets of dirt and debris.
“We can't get to them all,” he said, commending volunteers and groups like “Citizens Caring for Clearlake,” whose ongoing efforts have resulted in the removal of four tons of trash from the community.
According to Herren, sandbags will again be available to residents at the Public Works yard on Airport Road. However, supplies will be limited to 20 bags per household.
Area businesses such as Mendo Mill and Lumber, Four Corners Builders' Supply and Kelseyville Lumber are expected to have ample supply of sandbags as well, Herren said.
Lake County Fire Protection District Chief Willie Sapeta discussed the potential for increased precipitation and hazards associated with flood conditions.
Recent wildfires in the area compound the dangers with a tremendous potential, he said, for fallen trees and branches along with mass debris that is likely to riddle flood waters.
“We are going to see all the debris from the fires wash down into the area,” Sapeta said. “We are preparing for the worst this season, just like we prepared for the fire season.”
Sapeta said the district is responsible for 165 square miles, which is divided into specified areas for heightened services during emergency situations.
He said residents should pay close attention to weather conditions and if they anticipate a need for assistance to evacuate, they should call an emergency response agency to provide their location as soon as possible.
Sapeta encouraged residents who may have neighbors who are elderly or have special needs, to keep an eye on them and use a buddy system to ensure everyone's safety.
Residents should be prepared for possible power outages and/or evacuations by having enough medications and supplies, on hand, to last for at least seven days, Sapeta said.
In case of a power outage, he advises against use of a camp stove, which he said not only creates a fire hazard but also a concern for carbon monoxide poisoning.
“There is a lot of fire safety that goes along with power outages,” Sapeta added. “Generators need to be hooked up right and have no connection with any portion of the structure. It's really easy for a person to be electrocuted.”
In addition to medications and ample supplies of food and water, people should have pet care supplies on hand as well as backup batteries for radios and telephones to ensure access to information that may be vital during an emergency, he said.
Sapeta said residents need to be aware of the concerns that come along with sheltering in place.
“There will be a lot of moisture in the house. Within a matter of days the mold sets up,” he said, advising use of a spray mixture of a gallon of water and a cup of bleach to prevent the mold spores from going airborne.
Additional emergency preparedness guidelines are accessible on the city's Web site at www.clearlake.ca.us.
Crime prevention efforts discussed
Clearlake Police Chief Craig Clausen highlighted statistics of his department including staffing levels, caseloads and goals.
He also spoke to special enforcements and the revamping of the department's Community Oriented Policing program.
Lt. Tim Celli joined the discussion with information about the Volunteers in Policing, or VIPs, and neighborhood watch programs.
The department is currently staffed with 22.5 sworn officers. In addition to Clausen, that consists of one lieutenant, five sergeants, two full-time detectives and one part-time, and 13 patrol officers including eight on patrol, two in the field training program, one school resource officer, one out on work-related injury and one vacancy, which Clausen said is very close to being filled.
Clausen said the dispatch department has been working, operational 24 hours a day, seven days a week, understaffed since November 2012.
He said while the department is budgeted for five dispatchers, it currently functions with two, plus the budgeted supervisor. Additionally, he said, there is one dispatcher in training.
Clausen said that while the number of cases has slightly decreased, the number of cases fielded per officer has risen. He said statistics show an increase in reported burglaries.
Additionally, Clausen said, there are a number of problems associated with the cultivation of medical marijuana and enforcement of the city's ordinance limiting cultivation to six plants.
“The oversized grows are everywhere,” he said, identifying multiple sites on a Google Map image.
He said calls for service increased between May and October 2014 with 148 of those calls related to compliance.
Clausen said gaining compliance with the ordinance is the department's enforcement goal. He said enforcement efforts have resulted in the eradication of 4,000 illegal plants with voluntary compliance.
Other associated problems Clausen identified included increases in illegally possessed firearms, in other illegal narcotics commonly traded for processed marijuana, in non-resident criminals, in home invasion robberies and homicides, and an increase in fire danger.
Clausen said the department is revamping its Community Oriented Policing program with staffing levels rising.
The program entails dividing the city into four sections to which each is assigned a patrol sergeant. Clausen said the sergeant will assign officers to the areas who will meet with members of the community to hear their concerns and provide solutions to address them.
Clausen said after all current field training programs are complete the department intends to conduct special enforcement activities including proactive sweeps and special traffic enforcement operations.
Celli highlighted the VIP program, commending volunteers for the 27,079 hours they've contributed to the city since 2007.
“There are a lot of tasks in the police department. Volunteers augment our forces,” he said.
Some tasks include assisting with traffic control, scene security and special events, serving subpoenas, clerical and evidence support, crime offender registrations and parking citations.
Celli also lauded the You Are Not Alone, or YANA program, to help area seniors feel less isolated and alone.
“It's for people who need to talk to someone. If (volunteers) can't get a hold of you, the YANA folks are going to send an officer over to check on you so you are not alone,” Celli said.
Celli added, “There are various tasks and we can always use fresh ideas.”
Ideally, he said, volunteers contribute 24 hours a month. They must submit an application and undergo a Life Scan fingerprint check and a brief background check.
Celli said there is little to no cost involved with starting a Neighborhood Watch program. He said officers are available to guide residents who would like to work together to prevent crime in their neighborhoods.
Officers will provide residents with crime prevention tips including those that will help them provide useful information when reporting a crime.
Information for starting a Neighborhood Watch program is available in the lobby at the police department, located inside Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.
Code enforcement goals, recent activity discussed
In the absence of lead Code Enforcement Officer Lee Lambert, Clausen offered the code enforcement update.
Clausen delivered a PowerPoint presentation prepared by Lambert beginning with a history of the department.
He said between 1996 and 2009, two full-time officers actively enforced codes. In November of 2009, a declining city budget resulted in the elimination of the code enforcement department.
In September of 2014, the council approved funding to staff one full-time code enforcement officer. In July 2015, grant funding was obtained to hire three additional code enforcement position including two officers and one technician.
Department objectives include obtaining voluntary compliance, eliminating blight and run down properties, reducing environmental hazards, eliminating unsafe/hazardous structures and increasing pride within the community, Clausen reported.
The department also aims to eliminate illegal dwellings, dump sites and inoperative vehicles, hold property owners accountable and increase public health, he said.
Voluntary compliance means a healthier city, he said, with citywide beautification, decreased crime, increased property values and less pollutants making their way into the lake and streams.
Clausen said voluntary compliance also will reduce “squatter” lodging, promote personal responsibility and accountability and increase public health.
Gaining voluntary compliance is the department's goal as it reduces the fiscal impact to the city, results in no fines or penalties, typically is a more timely abatement, promotes self-pride and gains respect of neighbors, and promotes positive relationships between the responsible party and the city, Clausen said.
Clausen said city-funded abatements, however, have a negative fiscal impact on the city and involve fines and increases staff time.
Officers are responsible for enforcing the Clearlake Municipal Code and California Building, Vehicle and Health and Safety codes. Clausen said they do not provide enforcement in civil matters such as landlord/tenant disputes, property line disputes, rental/lease agreements, overhanging trees from neighboring properties, common/shared fence repairs, evictions or personal property damages.
Additionally, he said the department does not provide enforcement in police matters such as drug manufacturing, trafficking and sales; vehicles blocking the roadway, loud music/noise, weapons, child welfare/neglect or trespassing.
The department does address public nuisance complaints. Conditions deeming a public nuisance include building or other structures which are abandoned or destroyed; any open windows and/or doors in a vacant structure; broken windows constituting a hazard and/or inviting trespassers; overgrown vegetation; accumulation or storage of junk, garbage or debris; pools, ponds or other excavations not properly fenced; anything that is injurious to the health, or is indecent to the senses, or an obstruction to the free use of property; and dead diseased or hazardous trees, weeds and other vegetation, Clausen said.
Additional conditions deeming a public nuisance include substantial amount of gases, oil or hazardous material flowing into the public right-of-way or accumulating on paved surfaces, soil, buildings, walls or fences; illegally constructed specialty structures; abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperative vehicles, etc.; barbed wire, razor wire or concertina wire used in a residential zone or planned development district; stacking or storing combustible materials, including firewood; any use of property that violates federal, state or local law, rule or regulation; causing, maintaining or permitting graffiti; and storage of hazardous materials, according to Clausen's report.
Clausen said future projects/goals of the department include a joint effort with Lake County Fire Protection District to establish a program to address overgrown vegetation and fire prevention; a vehicle abatement program; Adopt-A-Road program; enforcement of address identification on all residences and business; abatement of unsafe structures; and a rental inspection program.
The department also aims to further community education through literature, obtain grant funding for abatements and conduct mobile home park inspections, he said.
According to statistics Clausen provided, since September 2014, the code enforcement department has red-tagged 39 structures with 12 structures voluntarily abated or repaired; and addressed 313 overgrown vegetation cases, of which 115 resulted in voluntary abatement.
A total of 631 property cases were conducted, of which 292 are currently opened. A total of 339 property cases were closed with 306 of those cases ending with voluntary compliance, he said.
Clausen reported that 33 property assessments totaling $175,000 in penalties were authorized.
Since August 2015, statistics provided showed 119 marijuana cultivation cases ending in voluntary compliance with 4,015 marijuana plants abated. Additionally, three abatement warrants were executed, Clausen said.
Email reporter Denise Rockenstein at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Among several cases involving allegations of looting during the Valley fire, two have been resolved, one has been dismissed and another is set for preliminary hearing later this year.
District Attorney Don Anderson told Lake County News that among the cases his office reviewed one has been dismissed.
That's the case involving 36-year-old Whispering Pines resident Steven Fredrick Worley, arrested in Cobb on Sept. 14 after a short vehicle pursuit with a sheriff's deputy.
After Worley was stopped the deputy found a number of items in his vehicle, chief among them a safe, Anderson said.
Anderson said his office ultimately chose to dismiss the case, explaining that Worley had permission to possess the safe, which belonged to one of his friends.
Regarding the cases that have been settled, on Oct. 12, one of the felony cases Anderson has handled personally resulted in a plea agreement.
Jeremiah Patrick McGinnis, 25, of Cobb, pleaded to two charges of burglary, Anderson said.
On Sept. 17 McGinnis was arrested in Loch Lomond in a Jeep Grand Cherokee that he had stolen from Lower Lake and painted in an attempt to make it look like a law enforcement vehicle, officials said.
After stopping McGinnis, a sheriff's deputy found in the Jeep items believed to be stolen, including a box of live ammunition, a flat screen television, a DVD player, an air rifle, an air pistol and a drill. Also found in the vehicle was a box of spray paint, a crate filled with aerosol can solvents and a box of matches, authorities said.
Anderson said McGinnis had two victims. McGinnis pleaded guilty to first-degree burglary for burglarizing the home and shed of the first victim, and for the second victim, he pleaded to second-degree burglary for stealing the Jeep from a detached garage.
As a result of the plea agreement, additional – and lesser – charges of being a felon in possession of ammunition, felony vandalism, unauthorized entry into a disaster area and possession of burglary tools were dropped, Anderson said.
When McGinnis is sentenced on Nov. 16, he is expected to get five years in state prison, Anderson said.
Another case that's been resolved is the misdemeanor case involving 26-year-old Royce Sterling Moore of Lakeport, who deputies arrested Sept. 15 as he was trying to get into the Cobb area while in possession of gloves, a black bandanna, a BB gun and a backpack that contained pliers, channel locks and a cordless drill with a grinder wheel attachment, and a methamphetamine smoking pipe.
Anderson said Moore reached an agreement to plead guilty to being in a restricted area during a disaster.
Moore received 75 days in the Lake County Jail, three years' probation that includes a search and seizure clause, and 40 hours of work service, Anderson said.
The last of the cases involves three defendants who were arrested on Sept. 17: Dyami Gene Connell, 23, of Brisbane; Michael James Jimenez, 28, of Brisbane; and 23-year-old David Michael Cesari of San Francisco.
The three men were taken into custody near Hidden Valley Lake after authorities found a full face concealing mask, three pairs of gloves, tools, duct tape, zip ties, numerous key rings with keys, acetone, lighter, headlamps, flashlights, binoculars, empty plastic bags, empty garbage bags, backpack and large knives in their vehicle, the Lake County Sheriff's Office reported.
Cesari also was found with a loaded .40-caliber pistol and magazine hidden in his clothing, authorities said.
Anderson has charged all three with conspiracy. Cesari is charged with having a concealed firearm in his possession, having a concealed firearm in a vehicle, having a loaded firearm in a vehicle, possession of burglary tools and unauthorized entry in a disaster area, and Connell and Jimenez are charged with possession burglary tools and unauthorized entry in a disaster area.
Anderson said all three are set for preliminary hearing on Dec. 2.
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.
