LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – In concert with this Saturday's statewide Coastal Cleanup, Lake County Water Resources is hosting a cleanup of Clear Lake and local watersheds.

The Coastal Commission reported that tens of thousands of volunteers are expected to take part in the 29th annual Coastal Cleanup this Saturday, Sept. 21.

At the same time, Lake County Water Resources is inviting Lake County residents to pitch in to clean up local creeks and lakes on the same day from 9 a.m. to noon, according to county invasive species program coordinator Carolyn Ruttan.

For the county cleanup, Ruttan said there will be two staging points: the Lake County Fire Protection District fire station, 14815 Olympic Drive in Clearlake, and the Bachelor Valley Grange, 9355 Government St. in Upper Lake.

Ruttan said volunteers should visit one of the two staging points where they must sign a waiver to participate. Also at the staging points, volunteers can get trash and recycling bags, and water and snacks, all of which have been donated for the event.

Statewide, cleanups will take place at more than 850 sites on California beaches, bays, rivers, creeks, parks, roadsides and highways, the Coastal Commission reported.

The commission said that in 2012, 65,544 Coastal Cleanup volunteers collected more than 769,000 pounds of trash and recyclables from 54 of California’s 58 counties. Almost 20 percent of that debris was recycled.

The Coastal Commission said the annual event isn't just about cleaning beaches but also focuses attention on the serious problem of trash entering the state's waterways.

Ruttan emphasized the importance of cleaning up trash in local waterways, which improves watershed health and also discourages other dumping.

On a statewide level, officials with the State Water Resources Control Board said this week that they also will be participating in the event to bring more attention to the importance of keeping waterways clean.

“Beach cleanups have had an enormous impact on the quality of California’s coasts not only for the trash they remove, but for the statement they have made to politicians and policymakers about how much the public cares about their coast,” said Felicia Marcus, chair of the State Water Resources Control Board.

“The cleanups played a catalytic role in the 80s when they transformed the local dialogue on environmental issues, and that they continue is a testament to how precious a resource the coasts are and how determined the public is to keep this issue front and center,” Marcus added.

Officials said the State Water Board also is developing a statewide trash policy to prevent debris from entering the water in the first place.

“Coastal cleanups and river cleanups are important, and they get people thinking about the problem. It’s visible, it’s something we all see and the public can understand,” said water board member Steven Moore.

But officials said that new trash policy is necessary because cleanups and litter laws haven't solved the problem.

This Coastal Cleanup Day comes at the end of California Coastal Protection Week, a designation passed by the legislature in 2012 in honor of the 40th Anniversary of the Coastal Act.

Coastal Cleanup Day also marks the beginning of COASTWEEKS, a three-week celebration of our coastal resources that takes place across the United States.

The Coastal Commission maintains a calendar of COASTWEEKS events, as well as more information about the cleanup at its Web site, www.coastalcleanupday.org .

Lake County Water Resources can be contacted at 707-263-2344.

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.

The California State Transportation Agency on Tuesday joined the California Department of Transportation in announcing that the federal government has rewarded California with a near-record $155 million in transportation funding after the state met all its 2013 transportation project federal deadlines.

“The federal government has rewarded Caltrans – yet again – for using all of its federal funding to launch new construction projects before federal deadlines,” said California Transportation Agency Secretary Brian Kelly. “This year’s funding increase enables Caltrans to build even more projects that create jobs and improve the state’s transportation system.”

Each year, some states fail to spend all of their federal transportation funding before federal deadlines, causing those funds to revert to a federal pool to be redistributed to states like California that have completed all requirements and can use the additional money.

This year, that federal pool totaled $1.6 billion of which California received $155 million, the most in the nation. New York was a distant second with $81 million.

“We will put these transportation dollars to work supporting jobs and making improvements that will benefit Californians for decades to come,” said Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty.

Caltrans will get roughly $97 million of this extra funding and local transportation agencies will receive approximately $58 million. The funding must be prioritized for projects that meet the federal deadline of Sept. 30, 2013.

California has maximized its federal funding and used the funds to launch key infrastructure projects.

Recent projects the state pointed to include the $391 million Caldecott Tunnel Project, which is building a new tunnel that will eliminate the need to reverse the traffic direction in the existing center bore twice a day; the $439 million Devil’s Slide Project, which features the state’s first new highway tunnels in nearly 50 years; the $122 million Interstate 5 North Stockton Improvement Project, which is adding 16 miles of new carpool lanes and rebuilding four miles of the highway; and Caltrans' investment of $3 billion to reduce congestion and improve safety on Interstate 5 in Los Angeles County.

Last month, Caltrans was nominated as a finalist to compete for the America’s Transportation Award for its work in completing the seismic retrofit of the Dumbarton Bridge.

In the Central Valley, Caltrans broke ground on a much-needed expansion of the Kings Canyon Expressway to build a faster and safer route for commuters, farmers hauling produce, and travelers visiting King Canyon and Sequoia National Parks.

Caltrans also completed work on one of the largest truck inspection facilities in the state, the $100 million Cordelia Truck Scales along Interstate 80 in Solano County, which will help the California Highway Patrol inspect tens of thousands of trucks to make California’s roads safer for everyone. State officials reported that, together, these projects are saving commuters precious time lost by traffic congestion while creating or supporting thousands of jobs.

For more information on how Caltrans' state transportation infrastructure projects visit www.dot.ca.gov .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Volunteers have been busy this summer improving trails at Highland Springs.

This month the Lake County Horse Council completed summer repairs of approximately 600 feet of the Lake Trail at Highland Springs Recreation Area in Lakeport.

One of the most popular hiking and riding trails in the county, the four-mile Lake Trail, circles the Highland Springs reservoir, and connects to many other trails in the park.

The trail sustained severe damage and erosion secondary to wet weather use and was in danger of being closed permanently due to safety.

The Horse Council applied for and was awarded a national trail grant from the American Quarter Horse Association and Tractor Supply Company in August 2012.

At that time, a team was formed from members of the Horse Council and the Highland Springs Trails Volunteers, to design and organize the trail repair with plans to begin the work after the wet season in the spring of 2013.

The team included LCHC board members Bill Biggs, Scott Bennett, Mike Riley and LCHC President Virginia Vovchuk, in addition to several volunteers who helped with the work.

Available resources were studied as input to the project, including Equestrian Trail Guidelines developed by the University of Missouri-Columbia.

In April, members of The Horse Council, Sierra Club and Highland Springs Trails Volunteers met to get the project started, holding a work day and “Earth Day” potluck.

Guests included conservation organizers of the nearby Berryessa Snow Mountain area, who shared maps and the story of their efforts and results.

The actual trail repair work began in May, on a 350-foot section at the southeast side of the reservoir, under the supervision of the Lake County Water Resources department, which manages the 3,200-acre watershed.

Initially, a SWECO Trail Cat was utilized to re-grade the trail, carefully preserving the original trail footprint and surrounding vegetation. This was followed by placement of geotextile fabric and over 50 tons of road base to the repaired trail area.

Road base was moved from the trail head to the work site with motorized skid steers, then raked into place over the fabric, at a depth of approximately 4 inches.

Budget has been set aside to construct a set of gates that can be closed and locked at both ends of the affected southeast trail section in severe weather. This work will be done after the first rains when the ground is workable for post construction.

With the trail repair completed, the Lake Trail is now open to equestrian and other uses. The team, including Lake County Water Resources personnel, will closely monitor the condition of the repaired section of trail during the coming winter months in order to determine the need for any further adjustments.

“We were happy to contribute to the safety of one of our favorite places to ride and hike. Thanks to the volunteers and suppliers who helped make it happen,” said Virginia Vovchuk, Lake County Horse Council.

A commemorative Trail Ride with members of Clearlake Junior Horseman is planned for fall to acquaint them with the trail and the repair work made possible by the grant.

The Lake County Horse Council thanked the following volunteers and businesses who contributed to this effort: Kirk and Quincy Andrus; Aaron Bell; Bill and Carol Biggs; Scott Bennett; Marty Brookman and Roy Fernandez; Carleene Cady and Wendell Wells; Barbara and John Claiche; Jim Fetzer of Ceago Vineyards; Steve Devoto; Bob and Joel Fischer' Ken Ling; Dave Lowrie; Anna Rose Ravenwoode; Kim and Mike Riley; Karen Sullivan; Braulio Torres and Charlie Torres; Juliana and Alexandra Vidich; Virginia Vovchuk; Peter Windrem; Gary Hansen and Scott De Leon of Lake County Water Resources Department (supervision); Ag Unlimited (fence supplies); RB Peters (road base materials and delivery); and Defatte Equipment Inc. (skid steer rental and delivery).

For more photos and video of the project or more information about the Lake County Horse Council, go to www.lakecountyhorsecouncil.com .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The 23rd annual Konocti Challenge cycling event is rapidly approaching, and organizers are urging cycling enthusiasts to get their entries submitted quickly.

The Konocti Challenge is a fun-filled cycling event for all ages that takes place this year on Saturday, Oct. 5.

It's sponsored by the Rotary Club of Lakeport, with all proceeds benefiting the club's local and international projects.

The challenging 65- and 100-mile routes encircle beautiful Clear Lake while the more subdued 40 mile route travels up Lakeshore Boulevard through Scotts Valley and then around gorgeous Big Valley. They also have a family friendly 20 mile ride that children enjoy.

There are seven well placed and fully stocked rest stops located around Lake County. All stops are manned by local nonprofit groups that are competing for your votes and their share of a $5,000 prize pool. This equates to themes, decorations and all sorts of crazy antics to get your vote.

The organizations participating this year are People Services, Lake County Theater Co., Middletown Rotary and Boy Scouts, Clear Lake High School and Kelseyville High mountain biking clubs, Scotts Valley Womens Civic Club, Lake Family Resource Center and Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 951.

In addition, riders will have available to them support and gear help on all routes, with an end-of-ride barbecue on the shores of beautiful Clear Lake at the Lakeport Yacht Club and a Sunday guided wine adventure, all of which is included in the registration price.

Be sure to check out www.konoctichallenge.com for more information on these organizations as well as photos from last year’s ride.

For more information or to register, go to www.konoctichallenge.com , or contact Jennifer Strong at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 707-349-0815.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – A Clearlake Oaks man who was involved in a standoff with law enforcement this past May entered pleas on Tuesday as part of an agreement with the District Attorney's Office.

Robert Scott Hisel, 52, entered a no contest plea to assault on a peace officer with a deadly weapon other than a firearm, according to Chief Deputy District Attorney Richard Hinchcliff.

Hisel's attorney, Tom Quinn, chose not to offer comment on the case.

On May 15 Hisel had shot a woman with a pellet gun at his Clearlake Oaks home. When veteran sheriff's Deputy Lyle Thomas arrived on scene, Hisel also shot at him with the weapon, which looked like a real gun, before retreating inside of his home, according to the official reports on the incident.

Initially, Thomas did not return fire. However, Hisel reemerged from his home and pulled out of his fanny pack another pellet gun that looked like a Glock pistol, aiming it at Thomas. At that point Thomas fired several rounds, officials said.

Hisel, who had a small leg wound, was taken into custody following a six-hour standoff, as Lake County News has reported.

Last week, District Attorney Don Anderson issued his final report on the officer-involved shooting, concluding that Thomas was justified in shooting at Hisel.

Hinchcliff said Hisel also entered a no contest plea in a second case involving his possession of a firearm on April 21.

Hisel, a convicted felon – in the 1980s he did state prison time for burglary and possession of stolen property – was found to be in possession of a .25-caliber semiautomatic handgun, Hinchcliff said.

Hisel is due to be sentenced on Nov. 25, Hinchcliff said.

At sentencing, Hisel faces a potential of five years and eight months in state prison, Hinchcliff 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.

Every year, more than two million people in the United States get infections that are resistant to antibiotics and at least 23,000 people die as a result, according to a new report issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The report, “Antibiotic Resistance Threats in the United States, 2013,” presents the first snapshot of the burden and threats posed by antibiotic-resistant germs having the most impact on human health.

The threats are ranked in categories: urgent, serious and concerning.

Threats were assessed according to seven factors associated with resistant infections: health impact, economic impact, how common the infection is, a 10-year projection of how common it could become, how easily it spreads, availability of effective antibiotics, and barriers to prevention.

Infections classified as urgent threats include carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), drug-resistant gonorrhea, and Clostridium difficile, a serious diarrheal infection usually associated with antibiotic use.

C. difficile causes about 250,000 hospitalizations and at least 14,000 deaths every year in the United States.

“Antibiotic resistance is rising for many different pathogens that are threats to health,” said CDC Director Tom Frieden, M.D., M.P.H. “If we don’t act now, our medicine cabinet will be empty and we won’t have the antibiotics we need to save lives.”

In addition to the toll on human life, antibiotic-resistant infections add considerable and avoidable costs to the already overburdened U.S. health care system.

Studies have estimated that, in the United States, antibiotic resistance adds $20 billion in excess direct health care costs, with additional costs to society for lost productivity as high as $35 billion a year.

The use of antibiotics is the single most important factor leading to antibiotic resistance. Up to 50 percent of all the antibiotics prescribed for people are not needed or are not prescribed appropriately.

Antibiotics also are commonly used in food-producing animals to prevent, control and treat disease, and to promote growth. As in humans, it is important to use antibiotics in animals responsibly.

To help ensure that medically important antibiotics are used judiciously in food-producing animals, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently proposed guidance describing a pathway for using these drugs only when medically necessary and targeting their use to only address diseases and health problems.

“Every time antibiotics are used in any setting, bacteria evolve by developing resistance. This process can happen with alarming speed,” said Steve Solomon, M.D., director of CDC’s Office of Antimicrobial Resistance. “These drugs are a precious, limited resource – the more we use antibiotics today, the less likely we are to have effective antibiotics tomorrow.”

The loss of effective antibiotic treatments will also undermine treatment of infectious complications in patients with other diseases.

Many medical advances – joint replacements, organ transplants, cancer therapy, rheumatoid arthritis therapy – are dependent on the ability to fight infections with antibiotics. If the ability to effectively treat those infections is lost, the ability to safely offer people many of the life-saving and life-improving modern medical advances will be lost with it.

To combat this serious health threat, CDC has identified four core actions critical to halting resistance:

• Preventing infections, Preventing the Spread of Resistance: Avoiding infections reduces the amount of antibiotics that have to be used and reduces the likelihood that resistance will develop. Drug-resistant infections can be prevented by immunization, infection prevention actions in healthcare settings, safe food preparation and handling, and general hand washing.
• Tracking: CDC gathers data on antibiotic-resistant infections, causes of infections, and whether there are particular reasons (risk factors) that cause some people to get a resistant infection. With that information, experts can develop strategies to prevent those infections and prevent the resistant bacteria from spreading.
• Improving antibiotic use/stewardship: Perhaps the most important action needed to greatly slow the development and spread of antibiotic-resistant infections is to change the way antibiotics are used. Up to half of antibiotic use in humans and much of antibiotic use in animals is unnecessary. The commitment to always use antibiotics appropriately and safely –only when they are needed to treat disease – and to choose the right antibiotics and to administer them in the right way in every case is known as antibiotic stewardship.
• Developing drugs and diagnostic tests: Because antibiotic resistance occurs as part of a natural process in which bacteria evolve, it can be slowed but not completely stopped. Therefore, new antibiotics always will be needed to keep up with resistant bacteria, as will new tests to track the development of resistance.

For more information about drug resistance and the serious impacts it has on human health, visit www.cdc.gov/drugresistance .

CDC Antibiotic Resistant Threats 2013 Report

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A San Francisco man wanted in connection to the June home invasion robbery of a Clearlake Oaks family has been arrested.

Dexter Lee Currington, 22, was arrested on two counts of attempted murder for his alleged part in the June 26 robbery at the home of Ronnie and Janeane Bogner.

Currington was booked into the Lake County Jail on Tuesday night. His bail is set at $1 million.

District Attorney Don Anderson said authorities had been trying to get Currington to turn himself in, but he wouldn't do it.

“San Francisco Police Department arrested him based on our warrant,” Anderson said.

Currington is the fifth – and final – suspect to be arrested in the case.

The same day as the robbery, four others were arrested – Sean Douglas Foss, 20, and Tyler Christopher Gallon, 18, both of Clearlake, and San Franciscans Dion Andre Davis II, 26, and Jenaya Drevelyn Jelinek, 22.

At their June arraignment the first four suspects arrested were charged with the attempted murder of the Bogners' adult son Jacob, robbery, burglary of an inhabited residence, assault with a firearm, assault with a semiautomatic firearm, grand theft of a firearm, and conspiracy to commit robbery and burglary.

Authorities have identified Davis as the alleged gunman and additionally charged him with personal use of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, mayhem, negligent discharge of a firearm and a felon in possession of a firearm.

Davis, Gallon and Foss also were charged with assault with a semiautomatic weapon and the attempted murder of a peace officer, specifically, Lt. Tim Celli of the Clearlake Police Department, as well as using threats of violence to deter an officer from doing their duties, vehicle theft and vandalism. Jelinek is charged with being an accessory after the fact.

In July, the four entered not guilty pleas to the charges as originally filed, as Lake County News has reported.

The suspects are alleged to have forced their way into the Bogners' home, shot Jacob Bogner in the leg and pistol-whipped him, and took handguns and a Cadillac Escalade, later ditching the totaled vehicle in the Clearlake Oaks area.

Davis, Foss, Gallon and Jelinek fled the scene and encountered Clearlake Police Chief Craig Clausen and Celli, who had been out looking for the suspect vehicle in the city limits, with all but Jelinek fleeing into a nearby home after allegedly shooting at Celli.

Jelinek was taken into custody first, with the other three taken into custody later in the day with the help of the county's SWAT team.

Janeane Bogner had reported that the first suspect who had tried to break down her door was a man with dreadlocks, whose hoodie she had pulled back.

The first suspects taken into custody didn't match that description. However, Ronnie Bogner said his wife recognized Currington as that suspect wearing the hoodie, although he no longer has dreadlocks, based on his Tuesday booking photo.

Anderson said Currington is due to be arraigned Thursday by a visiting judge.

He said all of the local superior court judges have recused themselves from the case because of their acquaintance with the Bogners, who own a business and are involved in a number of local organizations, with Janeane Bogner being president of the Lake County Fair Board.

During the last week of August, at Anderson's request, a criminal grand jury was impaneled to consider the charges against the suspects.

On Sept. 3, with retired Mendocino County Judge Galen Hathaway presiding, the grand jury returned an indictment on all of the suspects, including Currington, Anderson said.

The charges in the grand jury indictment were the same as those originally filed against all of the suspects, with some minor language changes, according to Anderson.

Anderson, who is personally handling the prosecution, said he pursued the grand jury route – one that reportedly hasn't been used in Lake County for a criminal case in well over a decade – because it streamlined and simplified a process that involves multiple defendants and attorneys.

“It eliminates a lot of delays,” he said.

It also offers some secrecy and protection of case information early on; normally most information submitted for a case immediately becomes public when filed as part of the court record. Anderson expects all of the case documents to be made public within the next two weeks.

In addition, the grand jury indictment eliminates the preliminary hearing process, said Anderson.

The case is set for Oct. 11 for further arraignment, he said.

Anderson said that at that point, it's expected the defendants will enter their pleas in response to the indictment and the court will set a trial date.

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. – The suspect in a Sept. 8 Clearlake homicide and his three alleged accomplices entered not guilty pleas in court on Tuesday.

Joshua Robert Beavers, 24, charged with the shooting death of 29-year-old Clearlake resident David Ferrell, pleaded not guilty to the 11 counts and numerous special allegations against him during a Tuesday morning court appearance, according to Chief Deputy District Attorney Richard Hinchcliff.

Beavers is charged with murder, attempted murder, assault with a firearm, discharging a firearm in a grossly negligent manner, assault with a semiautomatic firearm and carrying a loaded handgun in a vehicle or public place, according to the court filings.

Charged with one count each of conspiracy for having allegedly helped harbor Beavers and hide evidence are Orlando Esquivel Sr., 48, and his wife, 50-year-old Angel Aileen Esquivel, and Brenden Alicea, 26. Hinchcliff said all three also pleaded not guilty on Tuesday.

Hinchcliff said all four suspects are scheduled to return to court on Oct. 16, at which time their preliminary hearings will be scheduled.

Police said the Sept. 8 shooting was precipitated by a fight that Beavers had been involved in earlier that same day.

Clearlake Police Sgt. Nick Bennett told Lake County News this week that Beavers had been in a fight with Orlando Esquivel's stepson at Ray's Food Place.

Later that day, Beavers, the Esquivels and Alicea are alleged to have driven to the area of 19th and Gardner avenues to look for Esquivel's stepson, according to Bennett.

Bennett said Beavers didn't find the man he was looking for, and at some point he pulled out a .22-caliber semiautomatic handgun and started shooting.

Ferrell, who was standing outside of his home when the shooting started, was struck in the head and killed, according to Bennett.

Regarding the confrontation earlier in the day that led to the shooting, Ferrell “had nothing to do with it,” Bennett said.

The Ferrell family had been celebrating the birthday of their 14-year-old daughter the previous day and still had friends over on the day of the shooting. Gunfire also struck 25-year-old Rachel Patterson, 25, and Paul Cressy, 52, according to police.

Both Patterson and Cressy suffered what police said were not life-threatening injuries. Patterson was treated and released at St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake with a grazing wound to her side, while Cressy was flown to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital for treatment of a wound to his elbow.

Beavers, the Esquivels and Alicea were detained at a residence on 21st Avenue in Clearlake within hours of the shooting. Police arrested Beavers and Orlando Esquivel not long after taking them into custody.

A police search later that night recovered the handgun Beavers is alleged to have used – as well as a .410 shotgun police said was present at the incident but not used – in some bushes in the area of 16th and Boyles avenues.

Police reported that they arrested Alicea and Angel Esquivel the morning following the shooting.

Bennett said Beavers is from out of the area; it's believed he moved to Clearlake recently, with police having had their first contacts with him in April. Bennett said the three accomplices also are known to police.

All four suspects in the case remain in the Lake County Jail. Beavers' bail remains at $2.9 million, while bail for the Esquivels and Alicea at $250,000 each, according to jail records.

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.

U.S. Reps. Mike Thompson, Frank LoBiondo, Luis Gutierrez, and J. Randy Forbes have introduced bipartisan legislation today that would strengthen Congressional oversight and improve accountability of the Intelligence Community (IC).

The Intelligence Oversight and Accountability Act of 2013, H.R. 3103, requires that any Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC) decision, order or opinion that includes a denial of an IC request, a modification of an IC request, or results in a change to any legal interpretation of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) be shared with Congress.

“Our government has a responsibility to both protect American lives and our citizens’ civil liberties,” said Thompson (D-CA-05), who represents a portion of Lake County. “This bill helps us meet that responsibility by strengthening Congress’ aggressive oversight of our Intelligence Community. Through the oversight and accountability provided by this bill, we can help make sure our Intelligence Community operates within legal and constitutional boundaries while they continue their brave work to keep Americans safe.”

“The system of checks and balances as envisioned under the Constitution is essential to the protection of our citizens’ interests and role of our government. This bipartisan legislation will further enhance Congressional oversight over the intelligence operations of the executive branch, ensuring legal guidelines are adhered to,” said LoBiondo (R-NJ-02). “We have great respect for the men and women serving in the Intelligence Community and will continue to work to ensure they receive the support they deserve.”

“Our intelligence agencies do critical work to protect our society and way of life and they must have the public trust that comes with vigorous oversight and accountability,” said Gutierrez (D-IL-04). “This bipartisan legislation will facilitate robust oversight and build public trust. Americans expect the government to protect national security and civil liberties with equal vigor. This bill helps us make sure the brave men and women in the Intelligence Community who work to keep America safe can continue that important mission while ensuring compliance with the legal guidelines that we have established.”

“This bipartisan legislation comes at a crucial time when many Americans no longer see their government as a force for good, but rather an invasive institution which has abused the powers its citizens bestowed on it. The security and safety of our nation must not come at the cost of our freedoms or individual liberties as American citizens. This bill will provide much needed oversight and accountability of a system which has run aground of its constitutional authority,” said Forbes (R-VA-04).

Currently, when the FISC or the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court of Review issues a decision, order, or opinion, the Attorney General (AG) must determine if the issue considered by the FISC includes a “significant construction or interpretation of the law.”

If the AG determines that the decision is significant, that information must be shared with Congress. However, if the AG determines that the decision is not “significant,” the AG is not required to share the information with Congress.

H.R. 3103 requires the AG to share all FISC decisions, orders or opinions that include a denial of an IC request, a modification of an IC request, or results in a change to any legal interpretation of FISA with Congress.

Removing discretionary elements regarding what Congress should and should not receive from the FISC, will increase the Congressional oversight of Intelligence Community tools and programs to ensure their proper use.

The bill also will allow Congress to properly assess whether information collected pursuant to, or programs authorized by, the PATRIOT Act or the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), are being implemented in a manner consistent with Congressional intent and are compliant with Congressional notice requirements.

In addition, the bill requires the Department of Justice (DOJ) to include enhanced summaries of the FISC’s decisions, orders, and opinions to make the facts, issues, and legal reasoning involved in these matters more accessible to Congress.

H.R. 3103 has been referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary, on which both Gutierrez and Forbes are senior members, and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI), on which Thompson, LoBiondo and Gutierrez are senior members.

NORTH COAST, Calif. – Authorities took a Clearlake man into custody on Wednesday for allegedly setting wildland fires in Mendocino County last summer.

Kevin Louis Benback-Calhoun, 23, was arrested for allegedly starting two wildfires in the Cow Mountain area of Mendocino County between June and July 2012, according to Cal Fire.

Officials said Benback-Calhoun will be charged with at least two felony counts of arson to forest lands.

Benback-Calhoun was booked into the Lake County Jail shortly after noon on Wednesday, according to jail records. He was arrested by Shawn Zimmermaker, a Cal Fire investigator.

His booking sheet shows he's being held on $50,000 bail.

Cal Fire spokesperson Julie Cooley said the investigation is ongoing and further details about it were not available on Wednesday afternoon.

The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office, Clearlake Police Department and the California Highway Patrol's Ukiah office assisted Cal Fire with the fire investigation.

Cal Fire urged area residents to be vigilant in their preparedness and aware of suspicious persons when a fire does start.

If you witness someone suspicious make note of the time, his or her physical description, as well as any vehicle description, including the license plate number. Always contact law enforcement and never approach a suspicious person.

Cal Fire said its enforcement officers work diligently in arson cases to aggressively investigate and prosecute those suspected of intentionally starting fires.

Anyone with information about arson is urged to contact the Cal Fire Arson Hotline at 1-800-468-4408. Callers can remain anonymous.

Note: Jail booking logs indicated Benback-Calhoun was arrested by a US Forest Service law enforcement official when, in fact, he was arrested by a Cal Fire investigator, Cal Fire reported.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Animal Care and Control has a new group of dogs ready to go home with new families.

Dachshund mixes, terriers, a Vizsla-hound mix, a Maltese and a pug are among the breeds available.

Dogs that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are either neutered or spayed, microchipped and, if old enough, given a rabies shot and county license before being released to their new owner. License fees do not apply to residents of the cities of Lakeport or Clearlake.

If you're looking for a new companion, visit the shelter. There are many great pets hoping you'll choose them.

In addition to the animals featured here, all adoptable animals in Lake County can be seen here: http://bit.ly/Z6xHMb .

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

'Bear'

“Bear” is a 1-year-old Labrador Retriever mix.

He has a short black coat, weighs 66 pounds and has been altered.

Shelter staff said Bear is very friendly, gentle and mellow, and would make a great family pet, as he's good with kids. He's also scared of cats.

He's currently in foster care, ID No. 37345.

Female wire-haired terrier mix

This female wire-haired terrier mix is 7 months old.

She has a curly black coat, weighs 11 pounds and has been spayed.

She's in kennel No. 15a, ID No. 37850.

Female wire-haired terrier mix

This female wire-haired terrier mix is 2 years old.

She has a curly black coat, weighs 13 pounds and has been spayed.

She's in kennel No. 15a, ID No. 37851.

Male pug

This male pug is 3 years old.

He has a short tan coat and a curly tail, and has been neutered.

He is in kennel No. 18, ID No. 37920.

Pit bull terrier mix

This female pit bull terrier mix is of undetermined age.

She has a short gray coat, weighs nearly 44 pounds and has not yet been spayed.

She's in kennel No. 20, ID No. 37919.

Vizsla-hound mix

This female Vizsla-hound mix is of undetermined age.

She has a short red coat and floppy ears, and has not yet been spayed.

She's in kennel No. 21, ID No. 37929.

Male Maltese mix

This male Maltese mix is 3 years old.

He has a short white coat and floppy ears, weighs 14 pounds and has been neutered.

He's in kennel No. 29, ID No. 37655.

Male dachshund mix

This male dachshund mix is one year old.

He has a short tan coat, weighs nearly 14 pounds and has been neutered.

He's in kennel No. 30a, ID No. 37728.

Male dachshund mix

This male dachshund mix is 14 weeks old.

He has a short Brown coat, weighs 9 pounds and has been neutered.

He's in kennel No. 30b, ID No. 37656.

Female Chihuahua mix

This female Chihuahua mix is two years old.

She has a short tan coat and weighs nearly 10 pounds. Shelter staff did not report if she has yet been altered.

She's in kennel No. 32, ID No. 37808.

Male pit bull terrier mix

This male pit bull terrier mix is 1 year old.

He has a short blue brindle and white coat, and weighs 60 pounds. Shelter staff did not report if he had been altered.

He's in kennel No. 33, ID No. 37809.

To fill out an adoption application online visit http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Dog___Cat_Adoption_Application.htm .

Lake County Animal Care and Control is located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport, next to the Hill Road Correctional Facility.

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

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

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

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

The US Geological Survey led a congressional briefing late last week featuring state and regional water stakeholders who spoke about vital uses of comprehensive water information that would be met by the National Water Census called for by the SECURE Water Act of 2009.

Growing populations, increased energy development, and the uncertain effects of a changing climate magnify the need for an improved understanding of water use and water availability. However, no comprehensive and current national assessment of water resources exists.

A report released in April, Progress Toward Establishing a National Assessment of Water Availability and Use, fulfilled a requirement under the 2009 law for the Secretary of the Interior to report to Congress on progress made in implementing the national water availability and use assessment program, also referred to as a National Water Census.

“It’s true in other fields and no less so for water: you can’t manage what you don’t measure,” said Anne Castle, Department of the Interior Assistant Secretary for Water and Science. “The Water Census will quantify water supply and demand consistently across the entire country, fill in gaps in existing data, and make that information available to anyone who needs it – and that represents a huge step forward on the path toward water sustainability.”

The National Academy of Sciences applauded the concept of a Water Census in 2009, suggesting that it would be “an ongoing, effective tool, on a par with the social and economic censuses, that supports national decision making.”

“As competition for water grows – for irrigation of crops, for the production of energy, for use by cities and communities, and for the environment – the need for information and tools to aid water-resource managers also grows,” said Tony Willardson, executive director, Western States Water Council.

“The more accurately we can assess the quantity and quality of our water resources, the better we can know whether our strategies for conserving and improving those resources are actually having the desired beneficial effect,” said Bob Tudor, deputy director, Delaware River Basin Commission. Willardson and Tudor were speakers at the briefing.

A water census is a complex undertaking, which points to why national water availability and use have not been comprehensively assessed in more than 35 years.

Since then, competition for water resources has increased greatly and, in addition to human use, considerably more importance is now attached to the availability of water for environmental and ecosystem needs.

The USGS envisions the water census to be a key ongoing activity that, like the population census mandated by the US Constitution, supports national decision-making in many different ways.

The resources currently available for this census are finite, however. USGS foresees that estimates of flow at ungaged locations and estimates of evapotranspiration will be among the earliest products of the National Water Census.

Providing complete water-use information and adequately assessing the nation’s groundwater resources with respect to water availability will require additional time.

Although the existing data are limited and much work remains to be done, funding over the past two years has allowed important progress. The USGS will continue to work with partner agencies and organizations to maximize the utility of the information for a broad range of uses.

The water census is part of an overarching Department of the Interior (DOI) initiative known as WaterSMART (Sustain and Manage America’s Resources for Tomorrow). Through WaterSMART, the department is working to achieve a sustainable water strategy to help meet the Nation’s water needs. The water census will help inform that strategy.

The USGS is developing plans for the water census in coordination with other federal and non-federal agencies, universities, and other organizations.

Collaboration across agency boundaries ensures that information produced by the USGS can be aggregated with data on other types of physical, social, economic, and environmental factors that affect water availability.

Both the USGS and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) have substantive responsibilities under the Department of the Interior WaterSMART initiative.

One of the geographic focus areas of the water census is the drainage basin of the Colorado River, which covers parts of seven states, delivers water to more than 30 million people, irrigates nearly 4 million acres of cropland in the U.S. and Mexico, and supplies hydropower plants that annually generate more than 10 billion kilowatt-hours.

Increasing population, decreasing streamflows, and the uncertain effects of a changing climate amplify the need for an improved understanding of water use and water availability in this crucial watershed, the USGS reported.