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CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake Police Department has issued a report on the crash that killed a woman on Monday night.

Authorities identified the crash victim as Bernadette Marie Patrick, 31, of Clearlake, as Lake County News has reported.

At 7:50 p.m. Monday, 28-year-old Clearlake resident Michael Jefferson was driving his 1995 Nissan Maxima south on Highway 53 between Lakeshore Drive and 18th Avenue, police said.

Patrick and another person were running west across Highway 53. Police said Jefferson observed the person in front of Patrick run into his lane and swerved to the left to avoid hitting that person.

Police said Jefferson did not see Patrick until she was very close to his vehicle and he was unable to avoid hitting her.

Patrick suffered major injuries as a result of the collision and was pronounced deceased at the scene, according to police.

The cause of the collision is still under investigation. However, neither drugs nor alcohol appear to be factors in the collision, police said.

Anyone that has information regarding the collision is asked to contact Sgt. Tim Hobbs at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by calling 707-994-8251.
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Jodi Mary Rodriguez, 36, of Lakeport, Calif., was arrested on Tuesday, December 11, 2018, for stealing an elderly woman’s purse at a city car wash on Tuesday, December 4, 2018. Photo courtesy of the Lakeport Police Department.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Help from the community has led the Lakeport Police Department to make an arrest in a purse theft case.

Police said Tuesday that officers arrested Jodi Mary Rodriguez, 36, of Lakeport.

The agency had released surveillance video and put out a call to the community on Monday for assistance in identifying a woman who had stolen an elderly woman’s purse at a car wash at South Forbes and Martin Street on Dec. 4, as Lake County News has reported.

As a result, police said numerous citizens came forward to identify the woman responsible for the theft as Rodriguez.

Officers conducted a follow up investigation and at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday they arrested and booked Rodriguez for felony theft from an elder.

“We appreciate the community’s support in quickly coming forward to help us identify the suspect as well as the diligent work of our officers in solving these cases,” the department said in its report.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Animal Care and Control has three cats waiting for new homes this week.

The following cats at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption.

This female domestic short hair is in cat room kennel No. 47, ID No. 11452. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.

Female domestic short hair

This female domestic short hair has a brown tabby coat.

She’s in cat room kennel No. 47, ID No. 11452.

“Simon” is a male domestic short hair cat in kennel No. 74, ID No. 11458. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.

‘Simon’

“Simon” is a male domestic short hair cat with a blue point coat.

He’s already been neutered.

He’s in kennel No. 74, ID No. 11458.

This female domestic medium hair is in cat room kennel No. 103, ID No. 11468. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.

Female domestic medium hair

This female domestic medium hair has a brown tabby coat.

She’s in cat room kennel No. 103, ID No. 11468.

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, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Visit the shelter online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control.htm.

For more information call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
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NORTH COAST, Calif. – The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office said it has identified human remains found last week in the Eel River as belonging to a missing Santa Rosa man.

The body of Bruce Allen Thompson, 52, was found in the south fork of the Eel River near Piercy on Dec. 5, according to Lt. Shannon Barney.

Barney said the body was found by a wildlife photographer who, along with a friend, contacted the Southern Humboldt Technical Rescue Team, which in turn notified the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office before responding to the scene and recovering the body.

The following day, Thompson’s sister contacted the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office to report that he had visited her in Eureka in mid-November and hadn’t been seen since he left to return to Santa Rosa on Nov. 13, according to Barney’s report.

His sister didn’t hear from him by Nov. 15 and learned that he’d missed a medical appointment. A missing person’s case was then filed with the Santa Rosa Police Department, Barney said.

Thompson’s family said he had been suffering from depression due to a serious decline in his health recently, according to Barney’s report.

On Tuesday an autopsy was performed and Barney said authorities identified the decedent as Thompson.

Barney said the cause and manner of Thompson’s death are not yet available due to additional medical tests being conducted.
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A massive wildland fire cleanup is now getting under way in several areas across California.

The California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, in partnership with the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services; Butte, Los Angeles and Ventura counties; the California Department of Toxic Substances Control; the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; the Federal Emergency Management Agency; and other federal, state and local partners, has begun the process of clearing debris following the most destructive series of wildfires in California history.

State-managed debris removal programs have been established in Butte, Los Angeles and Ventura counties to clear household hazardous waste and other fire debris from more than 14,000 properties destroyed by the Camp, Woolsey and Hill fires.

Consolidated Debris Removal Program

Implemented under the leadership of CalOES and local governments, the Consolidated Debris Removal Program mobilizes federal, state, and local resources to help restore burned properties under a two-phase cleanup process.

Phase 1 – Crews managed by DTSC and U.S. EPA remove household hazardous waste such as paints, cleaners, solvents, oils, batteries, pesticides, compressed cylinders and tanks, and easily identifiable asbestos.

· Started Dec. 3, 2018, by U.S. EPA and DTSC crews.

· Learn more about the HHW removal process.

Phase 2 – Following the removal of household hazardous waste, CalRecycle-managed contractors remove the remaining asbestos, assess and document properties, and remove contaminated soil, ash, metal, concrete, and other debris to restore properties to pre-fire conditions.

· Preliminary damage assessments started Nov. 28 by CalRecycle crews.

· Learn more about the debris removal process.

CalRecycle oversees and manages contractors and consultants to conduct debris removal (Phase 2) at no out-of-pocket cost to property owners. To participate in Phase 2 of the state-managed debris removal program, owners must grant cleanup crews access to their property by returning signed Right-of-Entry agreements to their local government.

Property owners who wish to conduct their own cleanup may do so, but they should be aware of local safety and environmental standards and requirements. Contact your local government for more information on private cleanups.

CalRecycle wildfire debris removal update

Crews managed by CalRecycle are wrapping up work on four previous debris removal operations following wildfires in Shasta, Lake and Siskiyou counties.

Pawnee fire, Lake County

Participating properties: 15
Debris removal complete: 15
Final inspections complete: 15
Tonnage removed: Estimated, 2,600

Mendocino Complex, Lake County

Participating properties: 154
Debris removal complete: 126
Final inspections complete: 25
Tonnage removed: Estimated, Estimated 33,582-plus

Carr fire, Shasta County

Participating properties: 1,044
Debris removal complete: 1,038
Final inspections complete: 657
Tonnage removed: Estimated, 514,558-plus

Klamathon fire, Siskiyou County

Participating properties: 49
Debris removal complete: 49
Final inspections complete: 46 (Three lots returned to the county and referred to DTSC for additional mitigation measures)
Tonnage removed: Estimated, 14,829

Final soil testing, the installation of erosion control measures, and final property inspections are on track to be complete in the coming weeks.

Upon final inspections, property owners receive certification from their county that verifies their lot is clean and eligible to receive a building permit.

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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Caltrans announced that the California Transportation Commission allocated more than $600 million in funding for hundreds of transportation projects, which includes $80 million from SB 1, the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017.

The projects include a $1,986,000 safety project on Highway 20 in Lake County.

That project, to be located near Upper Lake between Irvine Avenue and Mid Lake Road, proposes to improve curves and widen shoulders on Highway 20.

“Caltrans will focus on repairing and rehabilitating the state highway system by improving pavement, bridges, culverts, and intelligent transportation systems, which are included in the performance requirements of SB 1, to improve transportation for all of our residents and visitors, no matter their mode of transportation.” said Caltrans Director Laurie Berman.

More than 200 transportation projects will improve and maintain California’s current transportation system.

Most of the projects receiving funding allocations are part of the State Highway Operations and Protection Program, which is the state highway system’s “fix-it-first” program that funds safety improvements, emergency repairs, highway preservation and some operational highway improvements.

While funding for this program is a mixture of federal and state funds, a significant portion comes from SB 1.

Other area projects receiving funding include:

Maintenance project on Highway 1 in Mendocino County: $789,000 of support costs for the advancement of a project on Highway 1 in Mendocino County in Point Arena from the Sonoma County line to Mill Street. The proposed project plans to repave 15 miles of Highway 1.

Safety project on Highway 299 in Humboldt County: $885,000 of support costs for the advancement of a project on Highway 299 in Humboldt County near Willow Creek from 1.5 miles east of East Blair Road to 0.4 miles west of Cedar Creek Road. The proposed project would widen shoulders.

Safety project on Highway 199 in Del Norte County: $600,000 of support costs for the advancement of a project on U.S. Route 199 in Del Norte County from 0.7 to 0.3 miles south of the Hardscrabble Creek Bridge. The proposed project includes the installation of a high friction surface treatment, signs, guardrail and a centerline rumble strip.

Other projects are designed to reduce congestion, improve freight transportation, and provide funds for local government improvement projects. These vital programs tackle congestion, support valuable trade corridors and bolster local agency efforts to invest in transportation.

Seventeen active transportation projects to encourage walking and biking, such as new bike lanes and walking trails, were also approved for $12 million.

The Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program funds projects to modernize transit systems, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve safety were allocated nearly $32 million in SB 1 funds for four rail and transit projects.

The Road Repair and Accountability Act (SB 1), the landmark transportation infrastructure bill signed by Gov. Brown in April 2017, invests $54 billion over the next decade to fix roads, freeways and bridges in communities across California and puts more dollars toward transit and safety. These funds will be split equally between state and local investments.

Caltrans is committed to conducting its business in a fully transparent manner and detailing its progress to the public. For complete details on SB 1, visit http://www.rebuildingca.ca.gov.
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CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A pedestrian was killed in a Clearlake crash on Monday night.

The woman who died was identified as Bernadette Marie Patrick, 31, of Clearlake, according to Lt. Corey Paulich of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.

The crash that took Patrick’s life was first reported at 7:55 p.m. Monday on Highway 53 between 18th and 40th avenues, according to fire radio reports.

The dispatch also included a report that Patrick had possibly been hit by two vehicles.

The first fire units to respond requested an air ambulance respond to Adventist Health Clear Lake Hospital, but upon arriving medics confirmed that Patrick had died, according to scanner traffic.

The Clearlake Police Department issued Nixle alerts on a temporary closure of Highway 53, which was blocked by emergency vehicles, according to reports from the scene.

The highway would remain closed until shortly before 11:30 p.m. Monday, according to police.

The Clearlake Police Department did not respond on Tuesday to Lake County News requests for additional information about what led to the fatal crash.

Paulich said Patrick’s autopsy is scheduled for Thursday.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
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CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake Police Department is investigating the circumstances that led to a Clearlake man being severely injured last week.

Nicholas Vining, 29, known as “Caveman,” was found near his mother’s home on the afternoon of Monday, Dec. 3, with severe injuries, including head trauma, according to social media posts and entries on a GoFundMe page reportedly written by family members and friends.

Sgt. Tim Hobbs of the Clearlake Police Department confirmed to Lake County News that the agency is investigating the case, but that so far they have little information.

The social media posts claim that Vining – who is reported to have a cognitive disability – was attacked on Old Highway 53 at the time school was getting out for the day, and that the assailants were three to four teenage boys who jumped him.

“They pushed him off of his bike, beat him, cut off his hair and beard with a knife and stole his backpack, phone, foodstamp card and the shoes off of his feet. They left him with his wallet and his beat up bike,” a Facebook post stated.

Other posts on Facebook and GoFundMe said his 49ers hoodie and baseball cap also were taken, and that the boys threatened to kill Vining if he told who they were. Those posts also said there were no known witnesses.

Vining was reported to have gotten to his mother’s home, where she found him hanging over the fence. He told family members that he had been attacked across from the “court school,” and that “court school kids” were responsible for hurting him. He then lost consciousness, according to the posts.

The social media narrative said his mother called 911 and he was lifeflighted to the UCSF Medical Center where he is in the Neurointensive Care Unit with a brain bleed. Holes have been drilled in his head to relieve the pressure, and he has not regained consciousness since he was injured.

Hobbs said that the incident was reported to the Clearlake Police Department on Dec. 4, the day after it is said to have occurred.

“We interviewed hospital staff and Nicholas’ mother,” Hobbs said. “Nicholas was not able to be interviewed at that time.”

Hobbs said Vining’s mother wasn’t able to give much information, and that police don’t yet know what was the cause of Vining’s injury or if it was, in fact, the result of a fight.

The case has been forwarded to the department’s investigation division to conduct further investigation including follow up with Vining when he is able to be interviewed, Hobbs said.

While the account of the incident states that it happened near the “court school,” there is no court school on Old Highway 53, although the Clearlake Community School is located at 6945 Old Highway 53.

The Clearlake Community School is operated by the Lake County Office of Education.

“I became aware of this over the weekend,” said Lake County Superintendent of Schools Brock Falkenberg, who read the social media posts about the incident.

“I directed staff at the school this morning to reach out ot the school resource officer in Clearlake because we do have a lot of cameras around that campus and to see if there is anything that we can do to help with the investigation,” Falkenberg told Lake County News on Monday night. “We want to do everything we can do to make sure that justice is served in this particular case.”

He said his staff talked to the school resource officer, who told them that the incident didn’t happen near the school but somewhere else, and that it wasn’t related to the school.

There also are reported to be witnesses, based on what police told Falkenberg’s staff.

While Falkenberg said a court school is different from a community school in that it’s located at the juvenile hall, community schools are still often referred to as court schools. Community schools traditionally serve expelled and adjudicated youth.

He said the children attending the school are in grades kindergarten through 12th, but primarily in the elementary and lower grades.

All of the students at Clearlake Community School get door-to-door transportation, so they don’t walk back and forth to school, Falkenberg said.

There are numerous cameras around the campus, and Falkenberg said the Lake County Office of Education has opened up its cameras for police for other events and is happy to do it again.

As of early Tuesday, no arrests had been made in the case, according to Sgt. Dominic Ramirez of the Clearlake Police Department.

Anyone who has information about the incident or who saw Vining that afternoon are asked to call the Clearlake Police Department at 707-994-8251 and speak with Investigations Department Supervisor Sgt. Martin Snyder, Extension 306.

The GoFundMe page for Vining had raised $745 of $10,000 goal by early Tuesday, with the funds raised meant to help his mother with travel and lodging costs, as well as medical expenses.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
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LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Police Department is seeking the community’s help in identifying a woman who stole another woman’s purse at a city car wash on Dec. 4.

Just after 10:30 a.m. Dec. 4, a 71-year-old woman was using the car wash facility at South Forbes Street and Martin Street, police said.

At the same time a younger adult female was using the same facility. Police said she was watching the victim’s actions and when she knew the victim was distracted, she entered her car and removed her purse and left the location.

In a surveillance video shown above, the victim’s vehicle is in the upper right of the screen and the woman who stole the purse is with her vehicle in the center of the screen.

Lakeport Police officers have been investigating the case and have not yet been able to identify the woman responsible for the theft. They are hoping that a member of the public may be able to identify the woman.

Anyone with information is asked to contact investigating Officer Casey Debolt at 707-263-5491, by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , by sending an anonymous message from your cell phone by texting the words TIP LAKEPORT followed by your message to 888777 or by sending us a private message on our Facebook page @LakeportPolice.

The Lakeport Police Department reported that it is continuing to see an increase in all types of theft this holiday season and it asks the public to maintain awareness of their surroundings, take necessary security measures and report all suspicious persons and activities.
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LAKEPORT, Calif. – The sentencing of a woman who, along with her husband, was part of a human trafficking case has been held over until early in the new year.

Krystina Marie Pickersgill, 28, was due to be sentenced on Monday for one count of human trafficking as part of a plea agreement she reached with District Attorney Don Anderson, as Lake County News has reported.

However, the sentencing was continued due to a declared conflict by the judge and the need for another judge to review the case, according to Chief Deputy District Attorney Richard Hinchcliff.

Anderson, who has been handling the case personally, was out of town on Monday, so Deputy District Attorney Daniel Flesch appeared on behalf of the District Attorney’s Office, Hinchcliff said.

Pickersgill and her husband, Sam Lindsey Massette, 37, both of Lakeport, were arrested in June for selling teenage girls into prostitution in the Bay Area, as Lake County News has reported.

In October Pickersgill reached a plea deal with Anderson in which she will receive three years of probation, credit for the four months previously served and strict mental health treatment. Anderson said he believes she was a victim as well as a co-defendant in the case.

Massette, who also reached a plea agreement with Anderson, was sentenced last week to 20 years in prison on two counts of human trafficking for the purposes of prostitution and two counts of pimping women. He is expected to serve only serve nine years due to credits. In statements to the court, victims in the case said the sentence was too lenient.

Hinchcliff said Pickersgill’s sentencing has been rescheduled to Jan. 22 before Judge Michael Lunas, who also sentenced her husband.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
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CLEARLAKE, Calif. – With the official canvass now complete and the November statewide general election certified, the newly elected members of the Clearlake City Council will take their oaths of office this week.

The Clearlake City Council will hold a closed session at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 13, to discuss cases of anticipated litigation and property negotiations for 14130 Tuli Lane before convening for the public portion of its regularly scheduled meeting at 6 p.m. in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.

The council will start off the meeting with a presentation to outgoing Mayor Bruno Sabatier, who is leaving the council to take over as the new District 2 representative on the Lake County Board of Supervisors.

There also will be a swearing-in of a new police lieutenant, police officer, code enforcement officer, kennel technician and dispatcher.

Under business, the council will accept the November 2018 election results and then administer the oaths of office to Russell Cremer and Dirk Slooten, who were elected to the council.

Cremer was appointed to fill a vacancy on the council earlier this year and successfully ran to keep the seat. Slooten, who like Cremer has served on the city planning commission for many years, was the top vote-getter in the November race. Both men are members of Rotary and have been active in raising funds for local fire recovery.

The Thursday meeting agenda also includes two public hearings on commercial cannabis operations proposed by Justin Jones and Steven Malone.

Other business includes consideration of the 2018 city photo contest entries, an automated license plate recognition program, a contract for a transportation improvement program study, the first reading of an ordinance to amend the Clearlake Municipal Code regarding sidewalk vendors and door-to-door sales and city code regulating itinerant businesses; an amendment of the contract with Foster Morrison to add the Lake County Fire Protection District to the Clearlake Local Hazard Mitigation Plan; and consideration of the fourth amendment to the employment services agreement for City Manager Greg Folsom.

The only item on the consent agenda for the redevelopment successor agency is the approval of a request for consent by the successor agency for the withdrawal of Casitas De Mendota LLC of its interest in the partnership of “O” Village Investors, related to the development of the Olympic Village Apartments, and approval of the request for the redevelopment successor agency to sign a subordination agreement in reference to the same project.

Consent agenda items for the council include warrant registers; continuation of a local emergency issued on Oct. 9, 2017, and ratified by council action on Oct. 12, 2017; approval of the appointment of Curt Giambruno to the Lake County Vector Control District Board for a four-year term; adoption of the 2018 Conflict of Interest Code, Resolution No. 2018-55; amendment of the contract with the Melton Design Group; flooring for police department and city hall; and cubicles for the police department.

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.

121318 Clearlake City Council agenda packet by LakeCoNews on Scribd

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A fire burned this home in Lucerne, Calif., early on the morning of Monday, Dec. 10, 2018. Photo by Elizabeth Larson/Lake County News.

LUCERNE, Calif. – A Lucerne home burned early Monday morning in a fire for which a cause has not yet been determined.

The home, located at the corner of Seventh Avenue and Country Club Drive, was reported to be on fire just after 2 a.m. Monday, according to radio reports.

Firefighters arrived within minutes to find the single story, stick built structure fully involved. The fire also initially threatened other nearby structures, and power lines were down.

Crews were on scene for some time bringing the fire under control, based on radio reports.

“We posted someone there until daybreak this morning to make sure everything was out,” Northshore Fire Chief Mike Ciancio told Lake County News later on Monday.

Ciancio said there were no injuries.

The home, built in 1926, is a total loss, said Ciancio.

He said the cause remains under investigation.

The fire is the second in three days to destroy a home in Lucerne.

Another fire on Saturday night destroyed a residence on Roland Drive, as Lake County News has reported.

Ciancio said the fire in the Roland Drive structure, which he said was a singlewide mobile home, also remains under investigation with no determination yet reached on the cause.

There also were no injuries in the Roland Drive fire, Ciancio 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.

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