LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The annual California Coastal Cleanup isn't just for the ocean, and this year Lake County will once again participate in an effort to clean up Clear Lake and other local water bodies.

The California Coastal Commission's 29th annual California Coastal Cleanup Day – which it said is the state’s largest volunteer event – will take place from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 21.

This year's theme is “Let’s make trash extinct.”

The commission reported that the event is expected to draw more than 70,000 volunteers who will combat marine debris at more than 800 locations throughout the state by removing the trash that has accumulated on California’s beaches and inland shorelines over the past year.

In the event's 29 years, more than 1.2 million volunteers have taken part, removing more than 19 million pounds of debris from California’s shorelines, the commission reported.

Last year, after a break of several years, Lake County had its first local watershed cleanup in concert with the Coastal Cleanup, as Lake County News has reported.

Carolyn Ruttan, Invasive Species Program coordinator for the Lake County Department of Water Resources, is once again acting as point person for the Lake County cleanup.

The 2012 Lake County Cleanup saw 26 volunteers at three locations – Lakeport, Clearlake Oaks and Clearlake – collecting eight bags of recyclables, 32 bags of trash and 156 tires, the county reported.

Ruttan said this year they're once again looking for volunteers and also asking the community to report which areas need the most cleanup, whether it's shoreline or local creeks and watersheds.

Within the next few weeks, she said the determination will be made about where to focus the cleanup, based in part on that community input.

Dumpsters will be set up in certain areas and trash bags will be provided, Ruttan said.

The importance of cleaning up, Ruttan said, is simple. “Trash breeds more trash.”

Last year's event was “brilliant,” Ruttan said.

“I'm hoping that this year's event will be bigger,” she said.

In addition to searching for volunteers and input on areas to clean up, Rutan said the county also is looking for event sponsors, including those who would be willing to provide water and lunch for volunteers.

To volunteer or report cleanup areas for the Sept. 21 Lake County cleanup, call Ruttan at 707-263-2256 or email her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

For those who cannot take part on Sept. 21, the Coastal Commission maintains a calendar of events taking place during the three weeks following the cleanup, known as Coastweeks.

For more information on the cleanup and the Let’s Make Trash Extinct campaign, visit www.coastalcleanupday.org .

Follow the Coastal Commission on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CaliforniaCoast and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/cleanupday .

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.

More than 400 young men and women of the California Conservation Corps are working 16-hour shifts supporting firefighters throughout California, according to the CCC Foundation.

At the request of Cal Fire and the U.S. Fire Service (USFS), 35 crews currently are assigned to eight different fires between Humboldt and Tuolumne counties.

Crews typically comprise 10 to 15 corps members and work 14 consecutive days without a break.

Most of the CCC crews are battling the fire behind the front lines of attack. They work to make sure needed supplies arrive on time, maintain the fire camps and equipment and help to ensure that the logistics chain operates smoothly.

Two crews at the Corral Complex blaze in Humboldt County are firefighting units.

“We are extremely proud of these dedicated and hard-working men and women,” said Tom Riley, president of the CCC Foundation. “Many come to the corps to plant trees, restore fish habitats and build mountain trails. Others respond to natural emergencies. All are paid minimum wage, put in long hours and often live in pretty rugged conditions. But for 37 years they’ve been coming through for California when called upon.”

Crews of 18- to 25-year-old corps members typically are shipped to locations throughout California.

For example, crews from Fresno, Monterey Bay, and Ukiah are working the huge Rim Fire in Tuolumne County at the edge of Yosemite.

In July, corps members provided 40,000 hours of fire response work from one end of California to the other, including work on major fires in Riverside and San Diego counties.

At the request of Cal Fire and USFS, CCC crews currently are the Corral Complex Fire (Humboldt County), Butler Fire (Humboldt/Siskiyou counties), Forks Complex Fire (Humboldt/Siskiyou
counties), Butler Fire (Humboldt/Siskiyou counties), Hough Complex Fire (Plumas County), Deer Fire (Tehama County), American Fire (Placer County), Fish Fire (Tulare County) and Rim Fire (Tuolumne County).

Once fire season winds down, corps members will still be hard at work.

On Saturday, Oct. 19, hundreds of corps members will join community and corporate volunteers for Volunteer Day, an annual California environmental project sponsored by the CCC Foundation.

Sponsored by the California Endowment, AT&T, Molina Healthcare, Raley’s and the American Chemistry Council.

Ten projects this year will span the length of California – from native planting and trail maintenance in Humboldt County to working on a community garden at Cuyumaca College in San Diego County.

The CCC Foundation is a nonprofit public benefit organization that supplements funding of CCC programs. Priorities include workforce development, education, leadership training, conservation, veterans, and emergency response. More information can be found on our website: www.cccfoundation.net .

Since the CCC was created in 1976, 110,000 corps members have provide more than 67 million hours of natural resource work – planting more than 21 million trees, improving stream and fish habitats, building or maintaining nearly 10,000 miles of trails and improving park and recreation areas. They also have spent nearly ten million hours of dedicated work in just about every large natural emergency.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Duane and Dorothy Furman are humble people who have gone about their business of raising prize-winning Angus cattle in Scotts Valley for more than 50 years.

They would never brag about their accomplishments, of which there are many. But on Thursday evening the Furmans will be honored as the grand marshals of the Lake County Fair Parade, leading the parade down Main Street and up Martin Street to cut the main gate ribbon, opening the event.

Each year the Lake County Fair Board of Directors selects an individual who has had a large and significant impact on Lake County to be the parade grand marshal.

The grand marshals lead the parade up Main Street in Lakeport on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. and, after arriving at the main gate on Martin Street, they cut the ribbon and declare the Lake County Fair open for another year.

This year the Furmans will ride in a 1955 Chevrolet convertible owned and driven by Bob Cramer of Kelseyville.

The parade starts at Natural High School in Lakeport, travels south on Main Street, and ends at the main gate to the fairgrounds with the ribbon cutting ceremony.

The parade occurs at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 29.

Upon arrival at the main gate, everyone who enters the parade with a float will receive free entry to the Fair.

The Furmans, both originally from the Martinez area, moved to Scotts Valley more than 50 years ago and began ranching on the former Stanley Ranch.

A traditional ranch family, Duane took care of a herd of Angus cattle and bailed hay, while Dorothy raised six children.

Today they have 11 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, many of them Lake County residents.

In addition to ranching, Duane has been the 4-H beef project leader for the Scotts Valley 4-H Club for more than 40 years, assisting more than 100 children through beef projects. And for 30 years, Duane was the livestock superintendent for the Lake County Fair while Dorothy acted at livestock secretary.

Together, in their quiet manner, they herded hundreds of 4-H and FFA exhibitors through the livestock shows and sales, planning the event, supervising the shows, and directing the Junior Livestock Auction that has raised millions of dollars for children to use on education, business projects and other activities.

“I've known the Furmans since I was a little kid, and it would be hard to find nicer people,” said neighbor Grant Lindeblad.

His daughter, Jenny Bingham, is currently the Fair's livestock superintendent. Of the Furmans she said, “Pretty much everything I know about working at the fair I learned from them. Dorothy hired me as a show clerk right out of high school, and the two of them taught me all about what they did for the Lake County Fair.”

The Lake County Fair's dates this year are Thursday, Aug. 29, through Sunday, Sept. 1. Lake County Fair is one“Find Great Treasures!”

Regular admission prices for the Lake County Fair are $10 for a regular ticket, $6 for a senior over age 60, and $6 for children ages 6 through 11.

Children under 6 years old are admitted free every day. Children through age 11 are admitted for $3 on Thursday, Aug. 29, only, for “Kid's Day.”

For more information visit www.lakecountyfair.com .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Fire Protection District has welcomed its newest firefighter.

Andrew Bergem, 27, was sworn in at a ceremony at the main station in downtown Lakeport on Aug. 13.

In a particularly meaningful touch in the ceremony, Bergem had his badge pinned on him by his father, Lakeport Fire Capt. Rick Bergem.

Lakeport Fire Chief Ken Wells said Andrew Bergem began his firefighting career in 2008 as an emergency medical technician for a private ambulance company in San Francisco.

That same year, Bergem joined Lakeport Fire as a volunteer, Wells said.

Wells said Bergem has attended the California Regional Fire Academy.

Bergem's position will be a firefighter/EMT. Wells said Bergem also is a hazmat specialist.

In addition to his work with Lakeport Fire, Bergem also works part-time for Ukiah Ambulance, Wells said.

When he's not busy fighting fires or rendering medical assistance to community members in need, Bergem enjoys wakeboarding, boating, music, rock climbing and fishing.

Wells said Lakeport Fire has 12 paid personnel, including himself, and 23 volunteers.

He said the department is always accepting applications from potential new volunteers.

To learn more, call Lakeport Fire Protection District at 707-263-4396.

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.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – A Tuesday morning high speed pursuit through a residential area has resulted in the arrest of a Kelseyville man.

Mark Ewing Shields, 24, was arrested following the chase, according to Lt. Steve Brooks of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

On Tuesday at 11:45 a.m. deputies responded to the area of Chippewa Trail in Kelseyville for a complaint of people riding dirt bikes on the street in a residential area, Brooks said. Central Dispatch advised that one of the motorcycles was reported to be black and the other red in color.

When one of the responding deputies reached the intersection of Point Lakeview Drive and Soda Bay Road, he observed a red dirt bike traveling southbound on Soda Bay Road towards him, according to Brooks.

The driver, later identified as Shields, turned onto Point Lakeview Drive. Brooks said the deputy immediately activated his emergency lights and siren, as he turned to get behind the motorcycle.

Shields turned around to look at the deputy and then rapidly accelerated, trying to get away, Brooks said.

Shields continued to flee at speeds over 70 miles per hour in a 40 mile per hour zone. Brooks said the deputy pursued Shields until he drove around a fence in the 8000 block of Soda Bay Road, where the deputy was unable to follow in his patrol car.

Brooks said Shields was located a few minutes later at a residence, which was approximately 150 yards from where he went around the fence.

Shields told the deputy he fled because he thought he had an arrest warrant. He explained that he was arrested earlier in the month for driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, Brooks reported.

The deputy arrested Shields for evading a peace officer with willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property, Brooks said.

Shields was transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility and booked. He remained in custody on Wednesday evening, with bail set at $35,000.

COBB, Calif. – A 3.8-magnitude earthquake recorded near The Geysers geothermal steamfield on Tuesday night gave quite a shake to a number of Lake County residents.

The US Geological Survey said the quake occurred at 9:43 p.m.

It was centered two miles east southeast of The Geysers, 13 miles south southwest of Clearlake and 13 miles northeast of Healdsburg, at a depth of just over one mile, the US Geological Survey reported.

Originally the quake was reported as a 3.6-magnitude, before it was upgraded to 4.1 and then rolled back to 3.8, based on US Geological Survey records.

The main quake was immediately followed by a number of aftershocks, including a 2.1-magnitude quake just minutes later, according to survey data.

Len Neft, who lives on Rose Anderson Road in Anderson Springs, said the quake was “very, very violent,” and one of the strongest he's felt in the more than 20 years he's lived there.

“This one knocked stuff over in every room of the house,” he said, noting some items were broken after falling from shelves and the walls.

Neft said he felt two of the aftershocks after the “monster” temblor hit.

Readers from Clearlake, Lower Lake, Hidden Valley, Middletown and Cobb reported on Lake County News' Facebook page that they also felt the quake.

Erica Torrey in Lower Lake said it moved a chair and Middletown resident Bill Davis said it was “the loudest earthquake I've ever heard.”

Lynne Norton said it “was the biggest and strongest shake” she'd ever felt in her Middletown home and Anderson Springs resident Sheila Roseneau said it knocked her CDs off the bookcase and rattled the dishes and glasses.

Rose Knudsen of Anderson Springs said the quake was the most violent she's felt in her nine years in that community, which is frequently shaken by quakes attributed to the nearby geothermal plants.

By 10:30 p.m., the US Geological Survey had received 34 shake reports from five zip codes, including Calistoga, Healdsburg, Hidden Valley Lake, Lower Lake and Middletown.

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. – Tickets are now on sale for a musical event planned for Saturday, Sept. 14, to benefit the Anderson Marsh State Historic Park.

The concert, featuring bluegrass favorites, will be held beginning at 7 p.m. at the Soper-Reese Community Theatre in Lakeport.

The Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association is presenting the concert.

Opening the show will be Evan and Jillian Johnsen, third place winners in the Cloverdale fiddle contest, accompanied by their grandfather Randy Johnsen on guitar.

Up next will be Rafael Contreras, first place fiddle contest winner accompanied by local musician, Don Coffin.

The Anderson Family will perform before intermission, then the popular Pat Ickes and Bound to Ride will finish out the evening.

Thorn Hill Winery will be pouring wine and snacks will be available for purchase.

Tickets for this event are $25 each and are available at the Soper-Reese box office (open on Fridays, 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.), The Travel Center in the Shoreline Shopping Center in Lakeport (open Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and at the Tallman Hotel in Upper Lake (seven days a week.)

Tickets also can be purchased online at www.soperreesetheatre.com .

All profits from the upcoming concert will go towards projects, expenses, and improvements at Anderson Marsh State Park near Lower Lake.

For more information about the park, go to www.andersonmarsh.org  .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Sixteen mosquito samples, one dead bird and another sentinel chicken tested positive for West Nile Virus in Lake County last week, Lake County Vector Control reported Wednesday.

“This year we have had more West Nile Virus detected from more locations in the county than in any previous year,” said Lake County Vector Control District Manager Dr. Jamesina Scott.

For 2013, a total of 46 mosquito samples, seven dead birds and two sentinel chickens have tested positive for the virus in Lake County, Scott reported.

Scott told Lake County News that the dead birds were from Hidden Valley Lake, Kelseyville, Lakeport, Lower Lake, Lucerne (two birds) and Witter Springs. Other than a tree swallow (from Lower Lake) the rest of the positive birds were American Crows and Western Scrub-Jays.

She said both of the positive chickens were from Upper Lake, and the West Nile Virus positive mosquitoes were from Anderson Marsh, Clearlake Oaks, Kelseyville, Lakeport, Middletown, Spring Valley and Upper Lake.

So far, 2013 has seen no West Nile Virus equine cases in Lake County, according to Scott.

She said this year has been the second highest year for West Nile Virus activity in Lake County since the virus was detected here in 2004.

Since 2006, four Lake County residents have been diagnosed with West Nile Virus, however no human cases locally have been reported this year, Scott said.

Fifty-nine human cases of West Nile Virus infection have been reported in California this year, with four deaths attributed to the virus, serving as a reminder that taking precautions is important to preventing this sometimes serious and even deadly infection.

West Nile Virus causes no symptoms in approximately 80 percent of people who are infected, according to Scott. Up to 20 percent of people experience a variety of symptoms that may include fatigue, fever, headache, body aches, rash, and even nausea and vomiting.

While the illness can last only a few days, even healthy people have reported being sick for several weeks, Scott said. Less than 1 percent of cases suffer severe illness, including neurologic effects that may be permanent, and in some instances are fatal.

There is no specific treatment for the virus, so the best approach is to avoid exposure to mosquito bites, which is how the virus is transmitted, Scott said.

“People should take precautions to avoid mosquito bites – especially over the Labor Day weekend when many of us will be outside into the evening when the mosquitoes that carry West Nile Virus are biting.”

Scott urged Lake County residents to help reduce their risk of contracting mosquito-borne diseases by following these guidelines:

• Dump or drain standing water. Mosquitoes can't begin their life without water.
• Defend yourself against mosquitoes using repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus.
• Avoid being outdoors when mosquitoes are present, typically dawn and dusk.
• Report neglected swimming pools by calling 707-263-4770 or visiting www.lcvcd.org . Anonymous calls accepted. Just one neglected pool can produce more than one million mosquitoes and affect people up to five miles away.

“When the kids go back to school, wading pools and other toys left in the yard hold water and produce mosquitoes. It’s easy to forget about these as we spend less time outside, but the mosquitoes will find them,” Scott said.

She asked everyone to “please take a walk around your yard today and dump out any water that doesn’t need to be there.”

Scott encouraged residents who plan to take their pools out of service over the winter, or who have an ornamental pond, an animal watering trough, or other water source that cannot be drained to call the district for mosquito fish.

The Lake County Vector Control District is a public health agency that protects Lake County residents and visitors from mosquitoes and other vectors and vector-borne diseases.

The district routinely tests samples of female mosquitoes, dead birds and sentinel chickens for the presence of West Nile Virus, and uses the surveillance data to guide its mosquito control activities.

Residents who would like help with a mosquito problem should contact the Lake County Vector Control District at 707-263-4770 or visit their Web site at www.lcvcd.org .

For more information about West Nile Virus, visit http://www.westnile.ca.gov/ .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – A felony arrest warrant has been issued for a Lakeport man who allegedly assaulted a friend's caregiver this past weekend.

Allen Lee Timms Jr., 28, is alleged to have assaulted a 42-year-old Kelseyville woman providing care to his friend last Saturday evening, according to Lakeport Police Chief Brad Rasmussen.

The victim said Timms – who believed she was not providing his friend with enough pain medication – pulled a knife on her, chased her through the house, knocked her down and threatened her, police reported.

Rasmussen said Timms fled the scene of the incident, which occurred in the 100 block of First Street, before police arrived, and they were unable to locate him. He remained at large on Tuesday evening.

On Tuesday the Lakeport Police Department submitted a case against Timms to the Lake County District Attorney's Office, Rasmussen said.

The case includes felony charges of terrorist threats and assault with a deadly weapon, and a misdemeanor count of exhibiting a deadly weapon other than a firearm, according to Rasmussen.

“Based on the information presented, the district attorney filed those two felonies and the misdemeanor,” Rasmussen said.

Rasmussen said the arrest warrant includes a $50,000 bail provision once Timms is taken into custody.

Timms is believed to still be in the county, said Rasmussen, who added that he believes Timms is dangerous.

“It's unknown if he's still armed with the knife from the assault,” Rasmussen said.

Anyone with information about Timms' whereabouts can call 911 or the Lakeport Police Department at 707-263-5491.

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. – With several great sponsors, the stages at this year's Lake County Fair will host improved talent, while also maintaining the fair's unwritten policy of supporting local acts and attractions.

The fair runs Thursday, Aug. 29, through Sunday, Sept. 1.

Thanks to help from Mediacom, Lake County Tribal Health Consortium, Calpine and Robinson Rancheria Resort and Casino, fair organizers have searched out and booked some of the best acts available in Lake County.

Nationally touring blues act Twice As Good will join other well known local bands like the LC Diamonds, playing Thursday; the Mark Weston Band, playing Friday; The Snake Alley Band, playing Saturday afternoon; and the “E” Ticket Band, playing Sunday afternoon, all on the Theater Main Stage.

Twice as Good will perform Saturday at, immediately 8 p.m., following the Lake County Talent Competition.

A fast-paced, rocking blues act, Twice As Good, is led by local father and son Richard and Paul Steward. Twice As Good has toured all over the United States, including a gig at the 2009 Chicago Blues Festival.

In 2010, Twice As Good won the “Last Band Standing Competition,” and was named the “Best New Blues Band” by the West Coast Blues Society. Charlie Musselwhite called Twice As Good “the real deal.”

Besides being well known touring musicians, Richard and Paul Steward are members of the Elem Indian Colony in Clearlake Oaks.

Sunday's major stage event, the Fiesta Latina, is presented by Robinson Rancheria Resort and Casino on the Theater Main Stage. Irma Lopez will open the Fiesta at 3 p.m., followed by Nuevos Abentureros at 5:30 p.m. They will be followed by the return of Banda la Tequilera, which will close out the evening.

Other local musical acts will play the Mediacom Stage, including Travis Rinker, who has been called “the next Eric Clapton,” Michael Barrish and the Cherry Road Gang.

Regular admission prices for the 2013 Lake County Fair remain unchanged since 2011. Prices are $10 for a regular ticket, $6 for a senior over age 60 and $6 for children ages 6 through 11. Children under 6 years old are admitted free every day.

Children through age 11 are admitted for $3 on Thursday, Aug. 29, only, for “Kid's Day.”

Visit www.lakecountyfair.com .

In honor of the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington – which took place on Aug. 28, 1963 – the National Archives has released a full digital restoration of the documentary film, “The March.”

The National Archives reported that the 33-minute film was completed through an agreement between the US Government and Hearst Metrotone News.

The contract goal stated that the film was to “portray the dramatic events of the August 28th Demonstration… as a living force in American democracy, and to present in depth… a responsible, Nationwide effort on the part of major civil rights organizations…. in order to arouse the conscience of a nation to the need of Congressional legislation on the civil rights issue.”

Filmmaker James Blue was enlisted to complete the film. He led the gathering of footage, edited the film, wrote the script and narrated the dialog for a total cost of $40,000.

“The March” would go on to win awards in international film festivals.

Also presented by the National Archives is a short video on the March on Washington in pictures, featuring some of the people who were there. That video also can be seen below.

NORTH COAST, Calif. – Cal Fire reported Tuesday that it has arrested a Willits man on suspicion of setting a number of fires in North Coast forest lands.

Cal Fire law enforcement officers arrested Brice Lee McKinnon, 22, on Tuesday.

McKinnon is charged with numerous felony counts of arson to forest lands for allegedly starting wildland fires which occurred in the Willits area between July and August of this year, Cal Fire said.

Assisting Cal Fire in the investigation were the Little Lake Fire Department, Willits Police Department and Mendocino District Attorney’s Office.

Cal Fire said the case remains under investigation, and additional details about the case against McKinnon was not being released.

The agency urged the region's 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, never approach a suspicious person.

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

Callers can remain anonymous.