LAKEPORT, Calif. – Lake County’s state senator joined local officials on Wednesday night to give an update on the assistance available to dozens of community members who remain out of their homes due to the flooding.

Sen. Mike McGuire, Sheriff Brian Martin, District 4 Supervisor Tina Scott, District 5 Supervisor Rob Brown, Lakeport Mayor Stacey Mattina, Lakeport City Manager Margaret Silveira, Lakeport Police Chief Brad Rasmussen, Lake County Superintendent of Schools Brock Falkenberg, Lakeport Community Development Director Kevin Ingram and Lakeport Finance Director Nick Walker were on hand for the meeting with residents at the evacuation center at the Lakeport Seventh-day Adventist Church.

More than 80 Lakeport residents displaced by the floods last month – many of them from the Will-O-Point Resort – are residing at the evacuation shelter, now run jointly by the Red Cross and the church. The shelter is scheduled to close at the end of this month.

McGuire told Lake County News that $90,000 has been committed – from the California Community Services Department, the city of Lakeport and other sources – to help the displaced residents with temporary housing, with as much as another $30,000 still to come.

Those funds, said McGuire, are believed to be enough to help the displaced residents for about four months.

He said California Human Development will administer the funds to evacuees, and will be in charge of signing them up for temporary housing and assistance.

The point of the meeting was to give evacuees information about assistance that is being made available to them, in particular, help with finding a temporary place to live.

In the case of Will-O-Point, the California Department of Housing and Community Development – which has jurisdiction over mobile home parks – has red-tagged all 41 trailers in the resort, where the sewer, water and electrical infrastructure has been damaged, according to city officials.

That means that, even while the mandatory evacuation orders for other neighborhoods that were originally issued on Feb. 20 are being lifted, Will-O-Point residents could be looking at weeks or months before they can return home.

McGuire – with the assistance of a Spanish interpreter – told the group that he couldn’t imagine having to be away from his home in such circumstances. He said the goal was to help transition them into a more permanent living situation.

He told evacuees that there is still too much water in Will-O-Point for the park to be repopulated, along with the damage to homes and infrastructure. State officials must inspect the homes and the water and sewer lines before residents can return home.

Due to the damage, McGuire said some of the homes may be permanently red-tagged.

Silveira said the city has put together a plan for temporary housing at Konocti Harbor Resort and Spa, which also has provided temporary housing for fire survivors.

She said 22 units – that sleep up to 6 people each – are available, with rent at $1,000 a month per unit.

McGuire told Lake County News that residents at Will-O-Point currently are spending an average of about $500 per month on rent.

The temporary housing funds will be used to pay the difference along with utilities, Silveira said. They also will pay for deposits to help families and individuals get into permanent housing situations.

Additionally, Brown said he’s working with the city as well as local vineyard and orchard owners to find long-term housing solutions.

Rasmussen said he’s arranged for Will-O-Point residents to be escorted into the resort on Thursday in order to remove important personal items that they weren’t able to take previously.

He said what they can take this trip will be limited to what they can store under their beds at the shelter, adding that he will arrange for more trips into the resort on different days for those who couldn’t make it Thursday. Rasmussen said there also will be opportunities to retrieve more items as conditions improve.

Police on Thursday will have gloves, hand sanitizer and other items to help individuals going into their homes to get items, he said.

Falkenberg said the local schools want to make sure children continue to come to class, and so he said they are developing a busing plan to get the children from Konocti Harbor to Lakeport Unified.

Sheriff Martin spoke to the group directly in Spanish, addressing concerns from some of them about their status in the country. He said he has no desire to separate families.

“I have other jobs to do. That is not my job,” Martin said of acting on immigration-related issues, adding that he was more concerned about getting people into their homes.

Officials also fielded a number of questions from Will-O-Point residents concerned about whether their homes are being protected. Rasmussen said his staff is patrolling the resort to secure the residences.

McGuire lauded the local officials for their efforts to respond to the needs of the displaced residents. He said the California Department of Housing and Community Development also has been working in Lake County and is busy in the current situation.

McGuire has been a staunch advocate of Lake County and worked to get its residents assistance in previous disasters and emergencies, in particular, the Rocky, Jerusalem, Valley and Clayton fires.

Of this latest emergency, he said, “We’ll be here throughout this one 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.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – New research shows that in Lake County the availability of e-cigarettes has grown 14 percent since 2013.

This finding is part of research released Wednesday on the availability and marketing of tobacco products, alcohol, condoms and healthy and unhealthy food options in California stores that sell tobacco.

Throughout California, health advocates held 13 press events to release results of the scientific survey, which is the largest its kind.

It builds upon an initial research released three years ago in March 2014 and provides insights into changes in the availability and marketing of the studied products during this time. 

Information was collected in the summer of 2016 from more than 7,100 stores in all 58 California counties including pharmacies, supermarkets, delis, convenience and liquor stores as well as tobacco-only stores.

The survey found the following for Lake County:

– Tobacco chew is sold at 87.2 percent of stores in Lake County;
– 86.4 percent of stores sell a popular sweet ‘little cigar’ in a single pack for under $1;
– 74.5 percent of stores sold non- or low-fat milk, but nearly 97.9 percent sell alcohol;
– 85.1 percent of surveyed stores sell condoms, but only 40.4 percent sell them on unlocked shelves.

“The expanded availability of e-cigarettes are of particular concern and reflect the spike in use by teens and young adults in the last three years,” said Lake County Health Officer Dr. Karen Tait.

The University of California, San Diego 2016 California Student Tobacco Survey shows that 22.7 percent of youth in Lake County use tobacco products.

Another goal was to examine the accessibility and marketing of healthy and unhealthy products to youth.

“This survey found that our community’s youth are inundated with unhealthy messages and choices.  We need to change what information and options our kids are exposed to and work to surround them with healthy choices and messaging instead,” said Tait.

The survey found the following for Lake County:

– Only 19.1 percent of stores advertised healthy products on their storefronts, but 72.3 percent of storefronts advertised unhealthy products, and 66.7 percent of stores near schools have storefront advertising for unhealthy products;

– More than 29 percent of stores place tobacco products or ads in kid-friendly locations, such as tobacco ads at “kid-level” (three feet or below) or tobacco products near candy or toys;

– More than 23.9 percent of stores placed alcohol ads at “kid-level” or near kid-friendly items such as candy or toys;

– 95.7 percent of stores sell flavored non-cigarette tobacco products, which often have kid-appealing flavors, such as grape, watermelon, chocolate, gummy candies and even breakfast cereals. Similarly, 100 percent of stores near schools also sell flavored tobacco products;

– Alcopops are sold at 89.1 percent of stores in Lake County.

“Lake County Public Health is committed to continuing to work with local health advocates and partners to provide accurate information and help make the healthy choice the easy choice for Californians,” said Tait.

Healthy Stores for a Healthy Community is a statewide campaign formed by tobacco prevention, nutrition, alcohol abuse prevention and STD prevention partners collaborating to improve the health of Californians by informing them about the impact of unhealthy product availability and marketing in the retail environment.

For state and county-specific data and more information on Healthy Stores for a Healthy Community, visit www.healthystoreshealthycommunity.com .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – On Wednesday the Lake County Sheriff’s Office took three men into custody in connection to a theft case and arrested a fourth for resisting arrest during a search warrant service.

Fabian Rosales-Reyes, Raymond Casillas and Carlos Casillas were arrested in connection with the theft, while a fourth man, Damian Rosales-Reyes, was arrested for obstruction, according to Lt. Steve Brooks.

On Feb. 15 Lake County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to Robinson Rancheria Casino in Upper Lake for the report of a theft that was captured on video surveillance, Brooks said.

Upon viewing the footage, Brooks said deputies were able to identify the suspects as Fabian Rosales-Reyes, Raymond Casillas and Carlos Casillas.

The footage showed one suspect sitting next to the victim at a card table. The video showed the suspect, using his foot to push the victim’s purse away from the table, behind him where the second suspect was standing. The third suspect was seen acting as a lookout on the casino floor, Brooks said.

Brooks said the purse eventually was pushed far enough away from the table so the suspect standing behind the victim could reach into it and remove $1,500 in cash. The three suspects then left the casino within minutes of stealing the money.

Brooks said a records search showed the three suspects were validated gang members with an extensive history of violence.

On Wednesday, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Gang Task Force, with the assistance of Lake County Sheriff’s Major Crimes Unit and Lake County Sheriff’s Special Weapons and Tactics, or SWAT, Team, executed a search warrant and arrest warrants for the three suspects in the 800 block of Central Park Avenue in Lakeport, according to Brooks.

A search of the residence was conducted and items related to the theft were located. Gang paraphernalia was seized along with methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia, Brooks said.

Brooks said Rosales-Reyes was booked into the Lake County Jail for grand theft, conspiracy to commit a crime and  participation in a criminal street gang. Rosales-Reyes was on felony probation out of Lake County. Rosales-Reyes was put on a no bail hold.

Carlos Casillas and Raymond Casillas both were booked on charges of grand theft, conspiracy to commit a crime and participating in a criminal street gang, and held on $40,000 and $50,000 bail, respectively, according to Brooks.

Raymond Casillas was booked into the Lake County Jail for grand theft, conspiracy to commit a crime and participating in a criminal street gang, with bail set at $50,000.

Damian Rosales-Reyes also was placed under arrest for obstruction of justice/resisting arrest during the execution of the search warrant.

Anyone who has had dealings with Carlos Casillas, Raymond Casillas or Fabian Rosales-Reyes related to this case is encouraged to contact Det. Shamus Stafford of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit at 707-262-4231.

Gov. Jerry Brown on Tuesday requested a presidential major disaster declaration to bolster state and local recovery efforts following late January storms that caused major flooding, mudslides, power outages and damage to critical infrastructure across California.

On Tuesday Gov. Brown also issued two emergency proclamations due to storms in late January and February for the counties of Alameda, Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, Del Norte, El Dorado, Fresno, Glenn, Humboldt, Kern, Kings, Lake, Lassen, Los Angeles, Marin, Mariposa, Mendocino, Merced, Modoc, Monterey, Napa, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, San Benito, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Tuolumne, Ventura, Yolo, Yuba, Contra Costa, Orange, Riverside, San Francisco and Solano.

The proclamations direct Caltrans to formally request immediate assistance through the Federal Highway Administration's Emergency Relief Program, and direct the Office of Emergency Services to provide assistance to specified counties as a result of the late January storms.

Damage assessments for the February storms and for the damaged spillway at Oroville Dam are ongoing, the Governor’s Office reported.

Brown’s Tuesday request follows two other separate presidential major disaster declaration requests – granted last month – to support the response and recovery efforts for the situation at Oroville Dam and the impacts of the early January storm system.

In addition to Tuesday’s action, Gov. Brown has issued emergency declarations connected to storms in December and early January and Oroville Dam.

Last month, Gov. Brown announced a four-point plan to bolster dam safety and flood protection statewide.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – An annual fundraiser dinner planned for Saturday will help a local church continue its mission of assisting those who need a hand up.

Kelseyville Presbyterian Church’s Housing Task Force dinner will take place beginning at 5:30 p.m. Saturday at the church, 5340 Third St.

The cost for tickets is $15 for adults and $10 for children.

The event will feature a brisket dinner followed by a dessert auction, plus a silent auction.

The Housing Task Force helps community members who are in need of emergency assistance to pay rent and bills.

One of its most important functions in the last few years is offering assistance to individuals impacted by the wildland fires.

In addition to the Housing Task Force, the church’s programs include a twice-monthly food pantry.

On Tuesday, the church food pantry had a record-breaking day, giving away 114 bags of food and serving 370 people, many of them community members displaced by the flooding last month.

For more information about the dinner and the church, or to purchase advance tickets to the event, please call the church at 707-279-1104. Tickets also will be available at the door.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – A Cobb man died and his wife was seriously injured in a head-on crash Tuesday near Lakeport.

Lt. Steve Brooks of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office identified Darryl Patrick Prather, 64, as the man who died in the wreck.

His wife, Lela L. Prather, 63, suffered major injuries in the wreck, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The crash occurred just after 1 p.m. Tuesday on Highway 29 north of 11th Street.

The CHP said Daniel O’Neil Long, 30, of Ukiah, was driving a 2013 Ford pickup southbound on Highway 29 with 3-year-old Madison Long, also of Ukiah, in the pickup with him.

The report noted that roadway conditions at the time were wet, but on Wednesday the CHP did not yet have speed estimates for the vehicles.

For reasons that the CHP said remain under investigation, Long lost control of his pickup. He allowed the pickup to cross over the center median into the opposing lanes of traffic, where Darryl Prather was driving a 2011 Subaru northbound with his wife as his passenger.

When Long came into the northbound lane, Prather attempted to avoid colliding with the pickup by swerving to the right but was unable to avoid a head-on crash, the CHP said.

The fire department’s radio reports from the scene said the two vehicles were found down an embankment after the wreck.

Prather died of his injuries at the scene, while his wife had major injuries to her chest and head and was transported to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital for treatment, the CHP said.

Neither Long nor the young girl in the pickup with him sustained injuries in the wreck, according to the report.

The CHP said no alcohol or drugs are suspected as factors in the crash.

Editor’s note: The family has provided a different spelling of Darryl Prather’s first name than that which originally was provided by the sheriff’s office. The article has been updated to reflect the spelling reported by the family.

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.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Preliminary results from a special Tuesday election showed that a parcel tax the Lake County Fire Protection District placed on the ballot in an effort to increase revenues and maintain services failed to pass by 10 votes.

Measure D, the reason for the special Tuesday election, needed to pass by a supermajority of 66.7 percent.

The measure received 66.3 percent in favor, or 1,113 yes votes, versus a 33.7 percent no vote, amounting to 565 votes in opposition.

Lake County Fire is the most populous of the county’s five fire districts. Its boundaries encompass 165 square miles in and around Clearlake and Lower Lake, and between 20,000 and 21,000 residents, according to district officials.

The measure was intended to bring in between $300,000 and $400,000 in additional annual revenues for the Lake County Fire Protection District, as Lake County News has reported.

Measure D proposed to increase the district’s existing special tax on properties from $60 a year to $120 a year for per single family dwelling.
                                                
The preliminary results, released by the Lake County Registrar of Voters Office late Tuesday, showed that there was a 19.6 percent turnout, with approximately 1,684 ballots cast.

Of the overall ballot count, there were 1,391 absentee ballots, or 16.2 percent, and 293 precinct ballots, or 3.4 percent, according to county elections office.

As a special tax, Measure D needed to pass with a 66.7 percent yes vote. That means that of the 1,684 total ballots tallied in the preliminary count, the measure needed to have 1,123 cast in its favor.

The elections office’s initial results said the measure received 1,113 yes votes, just 10 short of what was required.

The Registrar of Voters Office must still finalize and certify the results, which includes counting any absentees that weren’t received on or before Tuesday. Some absentee ballots could yet come in via mail.

Lake County Fire Protection District Board member Russ Perdock called the outcome “very disappointing,” noting a lot was riding on Measure D’s passage.

He said it will mean a very lean 2017-18 fiscal year, adding that the board will be tasked with service reductions to Clearlake and Lower Lake, “which after the past two fire seasons is harder to fathom.”

After months of effort and a lot of work to communicate the need for the measure – including recent town halls, community meetings, going door to door and even holding a barbecue as part of outreach – Lake County Fire Chief Willie Sapeta said late Tuesday he was really surprised and taken aback by the preliminary results.

Sapeta said the district will have to look at realignment and service cuts, but won’t take any action until the Registrar of Voters Office certifies the election.

“I’m praying there’s a miscount somewhere and that it passes,” he said.

If it doesn’t, Sapeta said the district will have to start planning for hard decisions.

By April or May, he will have a general idea about the coming fiscal year’s revenues, which he anticipates will be down due to the Clayton fire, which destroyed about 200 homes and an additional 100 structures in August.

“There will be reorganization and realignment until we’re able to secure additional revenues,” he said, explaining that the district has looked at every other option to generate more income. “There’s not another option.”

Sapeta said the district likely will have to take a similar measure back to voters.

“We’re far from giving up. That’s not an option,” he said.

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