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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A special fire tax put before voters in the Northshore Fire Protection District this week appears to be falling short of the required two-thirds supermajority, based on preliminary numbers.
Northshore Fire put Measure N before voters in a special election. Four precincts – in Clearlake Oaks, Lucerne, Nice and Upper Lake – were open on the Northshore but the majority of ballots were submitted via vote-by-mail, or absentee ballots.
On Tuesday evening, the Lake County Registrar of Voters Office published online an initial count of ballots received through Monday.
That initial preliminary count of absentees counted 1,373 ballots, with 845 yes votes, or 61.5 percent, to 528 no votes, or 38.4 percent.
An updated ballot count, including what ballots had been tallied from the precincts, was not published on the Registrar of Voters’ website until after 5 p.m. Wednesday.
The updated preliminary count, which included precinct ballots, showed an overall tally of 1,781 ballots cast, with 1,123, or 63 percent, in favor, and 658, or 36.9 percent, opposed.
To pass, measure N needs a 66.7 percent supermajority.
The information published online by the registrar Wednesday evening did not include an estimate of how many ballots that remain to be counted.
Registrar of Voter Catherine McMullen, who took over the Registrar of Voters Office in June, did not respond on Wednesday evening to a Lake County News inquiry about how many ballots have yet to be tallied.
Northshore Fire District Board Chair Jim Burton, the retired Clearlake Oaks fire chief, said he had received no information on the status of uncounted ballots from the Registrar of Voters Office.
“Everybody worked hard on this thing,” he said of the measure.
Burton noted the challenge of trying to retain firefighters and medics.
The updated ballot count issued by the Registrar of Voters Office Wednesday evening showed a 27.9 percent voter participation rate.
The final numbers are expected to change as mailed ballots continue to come in. Those postmarked by Tuesday must arrive by Friday to be counted.
The Registrar of Voters Office also has a 30-day official canvass in which to certify and finalize the election results.
In April 2018, Northshore Fire put its Measure E fire tax before voters. That effort fell well short of the needed supermajority, receiving a yes vote of 54.1 percent and a no vote of 45.9 percent.
“If it fails this time, it’s not because we didn’t do everything the right way and up front,” Burton said.
Email Elizabeth Larson atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
Northshore Fire put Measure N before voters in a special election. Four precincts – in Clearlake Oaks, Lucerne, Nice and Upper Lake – were open on the Northshore but the majority of ballots were submitted via vote-by-mail, or absentee ballots.
On Tuesday evening, the Lake County Registrar of Voters Office published online an initial count of ballots received through Monday.
That initial preliminary count of absentees counted 1,373 ballots, with 845 yes votes, or 61.5 percent, to 528 no votes, or 38.4 percent.
An updated ballot count, including what ballots had been tallied from the precincts, was not published on the Registrar of Voters’ website until after 5 p.m. Wednesday.
The updated preliminary count, which included precinct ballots, showed an overall tally of 1,781 ballots cast, with 1,123, or 63 percent, in favor, and 658, or 36.9 percent, opposed.
To pass, measure N needs a 66.7 percent supermajority.
The information published online by the registrar Wednesday evening did not include an estimate of how many ballots that remain to be counted.
Registrar of Voter Catherine McMullen, who took over the Registrar of Voters Office in June, did not respond on Wednesday evening to a Lake County News inquiry about how many ballots have yet to be tallied.
Northshore Fire District Board Chair Jim Burton, the retired Clearlake Oaks fire chief, said he had received no information on the status of uncounted ballots from the Registrar of Voters Office.
“Everybody worked hard on this thing,” he said of the measure.
Burton noted the challenge of trying to retain firefighters and medics.
The updated ballot count issued by the Registrar of Voters Office Wednesday evening showed a 27.9 percent voter participation rate.
The final numbers are expected to change as mailed ballots continue to come in. Those postmarked by Tuesday must arrive by Friday to be counted.
The Registrar of Voters Office also has a 30-day official canvass in which to certify and finalize the election results.
In April 2018, Northshore Fire put its Measure E fire tax before voters. That effort fell well short of the needed supermajority, receiving a yes vote of 54.1 percent and a no vote of 45.9 percent.
“If it fails this time, it’s not because we didn’t do everything the right way and up front,” Burton said.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Two drivers were hurt on Wednesday morning and one was arrested after being involved in a suspected drunk driving crash near Kelseyville.
The California Highway Patrol’s Clear Lake Area office said the wreck occurred at 6:25 a.m. Wednesday at the intersection of Highway 29 and Highway 281, also known as Kit’s Corner.
Jessica Leyva, 32, of Santa Rosa was driving her 2002 Ford pickup south and was stopped at the intersection, while 53-year-old David Mackey of Middletown was driving his 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier north on Highway 29, according to the CHP report.
The CHP said Leyva turned to her left, intending on turning onto Highway 281, and into the path of Mackey's vehicle. The two vehicles collided head-on.
After the collision, both parties remained at the collision scene waiting for emergency responders, the CHP said.
Leyva was transported to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital by air ambulance for treatment of major injuries, while the CHP said Mackey was taken to Sutter Lakeside Hospital in Lakeport with moderate injuries.
The CHP said Leyva was arrested on suspicion of felony driving under the influence.
Both drivers were wearing their seat belts, the CHP said.
Email Elizabeth Larson atThis 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 Highway Patrol’s Clear Lake Area office said the wreck occurred at 6:25 a.m. Wednesday at the intersection of Highway 29 and Highway 281, also known as Kit’s Corner.
Jessica Leyva, 32, of Santa Rosa was driving her 2002 Ford pickup south and was stopped at the intersection, while 53-year-old David Mackey of Middletown was driving his 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier north on Highway 29, according to the CHP report.
The CHP said Leyva turned to her left, intending on turning onto Highway 281, and into the path of Mackey's vehicle. The two vehicles collided head-on.
After the collision, both parties remained at the collision scene waiting for emergency responders, the CHP said.
Leyva was transported to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital by air ambulance for treatment of major injuries, while the CHP said Mackey was taken to Sutter Lakeside Hospital in Lakeport with moderate injuries.
The CHP said Leyva was arrested on suspicion of felony driving under the influence.
Both drivers were wearing their seat belts, the CHP said.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKEPORT, Calif. – A trial date early next year has been set for a man arrested this summer for the murder of his traveling companion, whose body he dumped in Lake County.
Mavrick William Fisher, 21, was in court on Tuesday morning for a brief arraignment hearing.
Last month, following his preliminary hearing, Fisher was ordered to stand trial for the murder of 25-year-old Grant David Whitaker of Mackinaw, Illinois, as Lake County News has reported.
The two men, both deaf, had been traveling around California to look for property for a deaf farming community when authorities say they had a disagreement, and Whitaker told Fisher that he intended to part ways.
Investigators have concluded that Fisher killed Whitaker with a blow to the head with a rock at Richardson Grove State Park in Humboldt County on Aug. 20.
Fisher is then believed to have wrapped Whitaker’s body in a sleeping bag and driven the body – in the 2011 Chevrolet Impala that Whitaker had borrowed from his grandmother for the trip – to Lake County, dumping the body at a property on Scotts Valley Road near Lakeport.
Four days later, Whitaker’s grandmother reported him missing in Tazewell County, Illinois, which triggered a search that led to Lake County Sheriff’s deputies finding the Chevy Impala abandoned at the Clearlake Oaks Dollar General.
On Aug. 26 sheriff’s deputies would find Whitaker’s body while serving a search warrant at the Scotts Valley Road location.
Fisher was arrested in Mexico on the same day that Whitaker’s body was recovered and returned to Lake County, where he has remained in custody without bail.
Lake County District Attorney Susan Krones, in working with the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office, decided to prosecute the case based on California Penal Code section 790, which grants Lake County jurisdiction because Whitaker’s body was found here.
Krones told Lake County News that Fisher’s trial date has been set for Jan. 2.
However, before then he is scheduled to return to court on Dec. 3 for discussion of a possible settlement in the case, which Krones said is standard procedure. Then, on Dec. 20 he will be in court for a trial assignment appearance.
Krones said the scheduled trial date could change depending on what happens at the Dec. 3 settlement conference.
Email Elizabeth Larson atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
Mavrick William Fisher, 21, was in court on Tuesday morning for a brief arraignment hearing.
Last month, following his preliminary hearing, Fisher was ordered to stand trial for the murder of 25-year-old Grant David Whitaker of Mackinaw, Illinois, as Lake County News has reported.
The two men, both deaf, had been traveling around California to look for property for a deaf farming community when authorities say they had a disagreement, and Whitaker told Fisher that he intended to part ways.
Investigators have concluded that Fisher killed Whitaker with a blow to the head with a rock at Richardson Grove State Park in Humboldt County on Aug. 20.
Fisher is then believed to have wrapped Whitaker’s body in a sleeping bag and driven the body – in the 2011 Chevrolet Impala that Whitaker had borrowed from his grandmother for the trip – to Lake County, dumping the body at a property on Scotts Valley Road near Lakeport.
Four days later, Whitaker’s grandmother reported him missing in Tazewell County, Illinois, which triggered a search that led to Lake County Sheriff’s deputies finding the Chevy Impala abandoned at the Clearlake Oaks Dollar General.
On Aug. 26 sheriff’s deputies would find Whitaker’s body while serving a search warrant at the Scotts Valley Road location.
Fisher was arrested in Mexico on the same day that Whitaker’s body was recovered and returned to Lake County, where he has remained in custody without bail.
Lake County District Attorney Susan Krones, in working with the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office, decided to prosecute the case based on California Penal Code section 790, which grants Lake County jurisdiction because Whitaker’s body was found here.
Krones told Lake County News that Fisher’s trial date has been set for Jan. 2.
However, before then he is scheduled to return to court on Dec. 3 for discussion of a possible settlement in the case, which Krones said is standard procedure. Then, on Dec. 20 he will be in court for a trial assignment appearance.
Krones said the scheduled trial date could change depending on what happens at the Dec. 3 settlement conference.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A wildland fire that began in a remote area east of Clearlake Oaks this week has been fully contained.
The Eagle fire, burning since Monday night off Walker Ridge Road and Bartlett Springs Road, east of Clearlake Oaks and northeast of Clearlake, was 100-percent contained as of Wednesday evening, Cal Fire said.
Cal Fire said the fire burned a total of 75 acres.
So far, no cause has been given for what started the blaze.
Email Elizabeth Larson atThis 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 Eagle fire, burning since Monday night off Walker Ridge Road and Bartlett Springs Road, east of Clearlake Oaks and northeast of Clearlake, was 100-percent contained as of Wednesday evening, Cal Fire said.
Cal Fire said the fire burned a total of 75 acres.
So far, no cause has been given for what started the blaze.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
NORTH COAST, Calif. – After two weeks marked by destruction and massive evacuations, the Kincade fire was brought to full containment as of Wednesday evening.
The fire began on the night of Oct. 23 in The Geysers geothermal steamfield in northern Sonoma County, burning hundreds of homes, threatening more than 90,000 others and triggering massive evacuations.
The Kincade fire also burned into the southwest portion of Lake County near Middletown, which resulted in an evacuation warning – but not a mandatory order – for the Cobb and Middletown areas.
Cal Fire said the fire’s final size is 77,758 acres. The fire was brought to full containment a day ahead of schedule.
The Kincade fire’s cause remains under investigation, according to Cal Fire.
However, within days of the fire’s start, Pacific Gas and Electric acknowledged making a report to the California Public Utilities Commission about a failed transmission line in The Geysers in the fire’s area of origin, as Lake County News has reported.
There have been no fatalities reported as a result of the fire, but Cal Fire said there have been four injuries for first responders.
The damage assessments to date have tallied 374 structures destroyed; that includes 174 residences, 11 commercial structures and 189 other types of buildings.
Damaged structures total 60 – 35 residential, one commercial and 24 other kinds of structures, Cal Fire said.
At one point, more than 5,200 firefighters and a massive force of aircraft and ground equipment were assigned to the fire.
As of Wednesday night, Cal Fire said 55 personnel remained assigned to patrol the fire area, with five engines, two water tenders and two hand crews.
Cal Fire officials reported previously that it could take an extended amount of time to ensure that all hot spots, burning stumps and other fire-related hazards are mitigated in the fire area.
The county of Sonoma has a public health order in place regarding debris removal and is working to establish a process to safely remove the debris materials burned in the fire.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Authorities have identified the pedestrian who died after being struck by a vehicle on Tuesday night.
Lt. Corey Paulich of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office identified the man as Peter Erich Gruendig, 58, of Nice.
The California Highway Patrol’s Clear Lake Area office, which is conducting the investigation into the crash, said that at approximately 8:34 p.m. Tuesday, 85-year-old Robert Baireuther of Lucerne was driving his 1975 Chevrolet eastbound on Highway 20, just east of Hudson Avenue, at approximately 35 miles per hour.
The report said Gruendig was walking on the south shoulder of Highway 20 at the same location.
For reasons the CHP said are still under investigation, Gruendig began crossing the highway, walking northbound into the eastbound lane of traffic, directly in front of Baireuther's Chevrolet.
The CHP said Baireuther's Chevrolet hit Gruendig. After the collision, Baireuther immediately pulled to the right shoulder and had a passing motorist call 911.
Radio traffic on Tuesday night indicated that the 911 caller reported that Gruendig was not breathing at that point.
When Northshore Fire firefighters arrived, they pronounced Gruendig deceased, the CHP said.
The CHP said Baireuther, who was wearing a seat belt, was not injured in the crash.
Email Elizabeth Larson atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
Lt. Corey Paulich of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office identified the man as Peter Erich Gruendig, 58, of Nice.
The California Highway Patrol’s Clear Lake Area office, which is conducting the investigation into the crash, said that at approximately 8:34 p.m. Tuesday, 85-year-old Robert Baireuther of Lucerne was driving his 1975 Chevrolet eastbound on Highway 20, just east of Hudson Avenue, at approximately 35 miles per hour.
The report said Gruendig was walking on the south shoulder of Highway 20 at the same location.
For reasons the CHP said are still under investigation, Gruendig began crossing the highway, walking northbound into the eastbound lane of traffic, directly in front of Baireuther's Chevrolet.
The CHP said Baireuther's Chevrolet hit Gruendig. After the collision, Baireuther immediately pulled to the right shoulder and had a passing motorist call 911.
Radio traffic on Tuesday night indicated that the 911 caller reported that Gruendig was not breathing at that point.
When Northshore Fire firefighters arrived, they pronounced Gruendig deceased, the CHP said.
The CHP said Baireuther, who was wearing a seat belt, was not injured in the crash.
Email Elizabeth Larson at