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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Tuesday, Nov. 5, is Election Day for all eligible voters living in the Northshore Fire Protection District.
This special election is to vote on the proposed Measure “N,” a special tax on parcels of real property to be used for the costs of funding local emergency medical and fire services, hiring firefighters, and replacing outdated fire equipment and apparatus.
Additional information about the upcoming election can be found online at www.lakecountyca.gov/rov.
The polls, including the Office of the Registrar of Voters, opened at 7 a.m. and will remain open until 8 p.m.
The polling place locations are as follows.
0000311 – UPPER LAKE
(Precincts 311A, 311B, 311C, 311E, 312A, 312B, 312C)
North Shore Christian Fellowship
9456 Main St.
0000341 – NICE
(Precincts 341 and 342)
Community Baptist Church
2877 E Highway 20
0000351 – LUCERNE
(Precincts 351A, 351B, 352A, 352B, 353A, 353B, 353C)
Lutheran Church Parish Hall
3863 Country Club Drive
0000381 – LONG VALLEY
(Precincts 381A, 381B, 381C, 381D, 382A, 382B, 383A, 383B, 384A, 384B)
Orchard Shores Clubhouse
500 Orchard Shores Drive
Clearlake oaks
Voters who vote at the polls can vote at their assigned polling place location until 8 p.m. Tuesday.
Contact the Office of the Registrar of Voters at 707-263-2372 if you have questions about your polling place.
Voters who have a vote-by-mail ballot can return it to any polling place location or the lake county office of the registrar of voters before 8 p.m. voters can also return their vote-by-mail ballot in the mail.
Ballots that are postmarked by Tuesday, Nov. 5, and are received by the Registrar of Voters in the mail within three days after Election Day can be counted.
If you have not received your vote-by-mail ballot or have any other questions contact the Registrar of Voters Office at 707-263-2372 or visit us at 255 N Forbes St., on the second floor of the Lake County Courthouse, in Lakeport. The office will be open until 8 p.m.
Unofficial election results will be posted on the county website just after 8 p.m. and then updated as necessary until the election is certified.
This special election is to vote on the proposed Measure “N,” a special tax on parcels of real property to be used for the costs of funding local emergency medical and fire services, hiring firefighters, and replacing outdated fire equipment and apparatus.
Additional information about the upcoming election can be found online at www.lakecountyca.gov/rov.
The polls, including the Office of the Registrar of Voters, opened at 7 a.m. and will remain open until 8 p.m.
The polling place locations are as follows.
0000311 – UPPER LAKE
(Precincts 311A, 311B, 311C, 311E, 312A, 312B, 312C)
North Shore Christian Fellowship
9456 Main St.
0000341 – NICE
(Precincts 341 and 342)
Community Baptist Church
2877 E Highway 20
0000351 – LUCERNE
(Precincts 351A, 351B, 352A, 352B, 353A, 353B, 353C)
Lutheran Church Parish Hall
3863 Country Club Drive
0000381 – LONG VALLEY
(Precincts 381A, 381B, 381C, 381D, 382A, 382B, 383A, 383B, 384A, 384B)
Orchard Shores Clubhouse
500 Orchard Shores Drive
Clearlake oaks
Voters who vote at the polls can vote at their assigned polling place location until 8 p.m. Tuesday.
Contact the Office of the Registrar of Voters at 707-263-2372 if you have questions about your polling place.
Voters who have a vote-by-mail ballot can return it to any polling place location or the lake county office of the registrar of voters before 8 p.m. voters can also return their vote-by-mail ballot in the mail.
Ballots that are postmarked by Tuesday, Nov. 5, and are received by the Registrar of Voters in the mail within three days after Election Day can be counted.
If you have not received your vote-by-mail ballot or have any other questions contact the Registrar of Voters Office at 707-263-2372 or visit us at 255 N Forbes St., on the second floor of the Lake County Courthouse, in Lakeport. The office will be open until 8 p.m.
Unofficial election results will be posted on the county website just after 8 p.m. and then updated as necessary until the election is certified.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Firefighters are at the scene of a wildland fire in a remote area off of Highway 20 east of Clearlake Oaks that began on Monday night.
The Eagle fire was first dispatched as a smoke check shortly after 10:30 p.m. Monday.
The reporting party said they could see a fire while looking east toward Walker Ridge Road.
Firefighters responding to the scene reported over the air that they also could see flames on top of a hill in what appeared to be the Walker Ridge area.
Units from Cal Fire, Northshore Fire and Lake County Fire were dispatched to the fire, which took time to locate and access.
At one point, firefighters had wanted to have the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office helicopter Henry-1 respond to help locate it, but they then decided to hold off and a short time later, not long after 12 a.m. Tuesday, units reported that they arrived at scene.
The fire is located off of Walker Ridge Road toward Bartlett Springs, based on scanner reports.
Incident command asked for 10 additional engines, four dozers, six crews, four water tenders and two overhead personnel.
Just before 12:45 a.m., the fire was reported to be about 45 acres, running east to west, with light winds on it.
Radio traffic indicated units are staging on Walker Ridge Road near a repeater site, about 10 miles in off of the highway.
Shortly after 1:40 a.m. Tuesday, the fire was reported to be between 50 and 60 acres, with a potential for 200 to 300, radio reports indicated.
More information will be posted as it becomes available.
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 was first dispatched as a smoke check shortly after 10:30 p.m. Monday.
The reporting party said they could see a fire while looking east toward Walker Ridge Road.
Firefighters responding to the scene reported over the air that they also could see flames on top of a hill in what appeared to be the Walker Ridge area.
Units from Cal Fire, Northshore Fire and Lake County Fire were dispatched to the fire, which took time to locate and access.
At one point, firefighters had wanted to have the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office helicopter Henry-1 respond to help locate it, but they then decided to hold off and a short time later, not long after 12 a.m. Tuesday, units reported that they arrived at scene.
The fire is located off of Walker Ridge Road toward Bartlett Springs, based on scanner reports.
Incident command asked for 10 additional engines, four dozers, six crews, four water tenders and two overhead personnel.
Just before 12:45 a.m., the fire was reported to be about 45 acres, running east to west, with light winds on it.
Radio traffic indicated units are staging on Walker Ridge Road near a repeater site, about 10 miles in off of the highway.
Shortly after 1:40 a.m. Tuesday, the fire was reported to be between 50 and 60 acres, with a potential for 200 to 300, radio reports indicated.
More information will be posted as it becomes available.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LUCERNE, Calif. – Lake County Sheriff’s deputies are investigating a honey oil lab explosion on Saturday night that resulted in a fire and an injury.
Firefighters were first dispatched to a residence in the 6000 block of First Avenue in Lucerne on the report of an explosion and fire shortly before 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
There were multiple reports from the scene of an explosion or multiple explosions immediately prior to the fire, with witnesses reporting that they believed someone was working in a shed.
From blocks away flames lit the night sky and shortly afterward embers could be seen falling from a tall tree that burned and was glowing.
The California Highway Patrol reported from the scene that First Avenue was shut down while the firefighting effort continued, but Highway 20 remained open.
At about 8 p.m., Northshore Fire’s incident command requested deputies respond to the scene due to finding a butane honey oil lab, based on radio reports.
Lt. Corey Paulich of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office said when deputies arrived they were advised that the explosion and fire had been caused by a butane honey oil lab located in a shed.
He said fire units contacted Nicholas Jay Hofer, 36, of Lucerne in the driveway of the residence when they arrived.
Hofer had sustained severe injuries to his face and upper chest. Paulich said Hofer was transported to Sutter Lakeside Hospital and later airlifted to an out-of-county hospital for treatment.
Deputies conducted an investigation related to Hofer manufacturing a controlled substance inside the shed, Paulich said.
Paulich said the investigation will be forwarded to the District Attorney’s Office for possible charges against Hofer for manufacturing a controlled substance.
Hofer has previous arrests, including in February 2004 for possession of controlled substance paraphernalia, destroying evidence and probation violations, and in October 2015 for taking a vehicle without the owner’s consent, resisting arrest and receiving stolen property, according to local arrest records.
John Jensen contributed to this report.
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.
Firefighters were first dispatched to a residence in the 6000 block of First Avenue in Lucerne on the report of an explosion and fire shortly before 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
There were multiple reports from the scene of an explosion or multiple explosions immediately prior to the fire, with witnesses reporting that they believed someone was working in a shed.
From blocks away flames lit the night sky and shortly afterward embers could be seen falling from a tall tree that burned and was glowing.
The California Highway Patrol reported from the scene that First Avenue was shut down while the firefighting effort continued, but Highway 20 remained open.
At about 8 p.m., Northshore Fire’s incident command requested deputies respond to the scene due to finding a butane honey oil lab, based on radio reports.
Lt. Corey Paulich of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office said when deputies arrived they were advised that the explosion and fire had been caused by a butane honey oil lab located in a shed.
He said fire units contacted Nicholas Jay Hofer, 36, of Lucerne in the driveway of the residence when they arrived.
Hofer had sustained severe injuries to his face and upper chest. Paulich said Hofer was transported to Sutter Lakeside Hospital and later airlifted to an out-of-county hospital for treatment.
Deputies conducted an investigation related to Hofer manufacturing a controlled substance inside the shed, Paulich said.
Paulich said the investigation will be forwarded to the District Attorney’s Office for possible charges against Hofer for manufacturing a controlled substance.
Hofer has previous arrests, including in February 2004 for possession of controlled substance paraphernalia, destroying evidence and probation violations, and in October 2015 for taking a vehicle without the owner’s consent, resisting arrest and receiving stolen property, according to local arrest records.
John Jensen contributed to this report.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Sheriff’s Office has identified the two men who died in separate crashes on Highway 20 last week.
The wrecks occurred late on Sunday, Oct. 27, on Highway 20 east of Clearlake Oaks and on the afternoon of Tuesday, Oct. 29, on Highway 20 east of Manzanita Drive in Nice, as Lake County News has reported.
The Oct. 27 solo-vehicle wreck claimed the life of AJ Hee, 25, of Selma.
Hee was riding as a passenger in a 2006 Toyota Scion driven by 20-year-old Brandon Sadler of Bakersfield when Sadler lost control in a turn. The Toyota hit an embankment before rolling multiple times, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The CHP said Hee was not wearing his seat belt and was pronounced dead at the scene. Sadler was transported to Adventist Health in Clearlake to treatment of minor injuries.
On Oct. 29, a head-on wreck between a van and a semi claimed the life of Bruno Antonio Montero, 66, whose address was given as Oakley by the CHP but as Lucerne by the sheriff’s office.
The CHP said Montero was driving a white 2002 Ford E250 van eastbound when it veered left over a double left-turn lane and into the westbound lane, directly into the path of the Peterbilt semi-truck driven by 48-year-old David Jones, 48, of Ukiah.
Montero died at the scene and Jones was transported to Sutter Lakeside Hospital for treatment of minor injuries, the CHP said.
Both Jones and Montero were wearing their seat belts, according to the CHP.
The CHP said that neither drugs nor alcohol were suspected of being contributing factors in the either of the crashes.
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 wrecks occurred late on Sunday, Oct. 27, on Highway 20 east of Clearlake Oaks and on the afternoon of Tuesday, Oct. 29, on Highway 20 east of Manzanita Drive in Nice, as Lake County News has reported.
The Oct. 27 solo-vehicle wreck claimed the life of AJ Hee, 25, of Selma.
Hee was riding as a passenger in a 2006 Toyota Scion driven by 20-year-old Brandon Sadler of Bakersfield when Sadler lost control in a turn. The Toyota hit an embankment before rolling multiple times, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The CHP said Hee was not wearing his seat belt and was pronounced dead at the scene. Sadler was transported to Adventist Health in Clearlake to treatment of minor injuries.
On Oct. 29, a head-on wreck between a van and a semi claimed the life of Bruno Antonio Montero, 66, whose address was given as Oakley by the CHP but as Lucerne by the sheriff’s office.
The CHP said Montero was driving a white 2002 Ford E250 van eastbound when it veered left over a double left-turn lane and into the westbound lane, directly into the path of the Peterbilt semi-truck driven by 48-year-old David Jones, 48, of Ukiah.
Montero died at the scene and Jones was transported to Sutter Lakeside Hospital for treatment of minor injuries, the CHP said.
Both Jones and Montero were wearing their seat belts, according to the CHP.
The CHP said that neither drugs nor alcohol were suspected of being contributing factors in the either of the crashes.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Due to the end of daylight saving time on Sunday and with darkness falling an hour earlier, some drivers may find themselves struggling to stay alert.
The California Highway Patrol, Office of Traffic Safety and the California Department of Transportation are partnering to promote Drowsy Driving Prevention Week, Nov. 3 to 10, to remind people of the dangers of drowsy driving at any time of year.
“Drowsy drivers put themselves and others at risk through a slower reaction time and the inability to pay attention,” said CHP Commissioner Warren Stanley. “A sleepy driver can be just as impaired or dangerous as one under the influence of alcohol or drugs.”
Data from the CHP’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System showed an average of almost 7,000 collisions involving sleepy or fatigued drivers in each of the last three years.
Those collisions resulted in the deaths of 73 people in California in 2016, 47 people in 2017, and 47 in 2018.
“Driving when you are tired is risky and dangerous,” Office of Traffic Safety Director Barbara Rooney said. “The last thing you want to do is doze off behind the wheel. It is important that we all act responsibly and get enough rest before driving.”
Reports from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show that getting enough sleep on a daily basis is the only true way to protect against drowsy driving.
“In a state the size of California, long drives between cities are common. Without enough rest, all of us may feel drowsy behind the wheel,” said Caltrans Director Toks Omishakin. “We encourage drivers to stop at one of our 86 rest areas to stretch their legs or get a few minutes of shut-eye.”
Caltrans encourages motorists to take advantage of the more than 80 safety roadside rest areas it maintains throughout the state.
To find a rest area or to check for the latest travel information on state highways, visit http://quickmap.dot.ca.gov/.
The California Highway Patrol, Office of Traffic Safety and the California Department of Transportation are partnering to promote Drowsy Driving Prevention Week, Nov. 3 to 10, to remind people of the dangers of drowsy driving at any time of year.
“Drowsy drivers put themselves and others at risk through a slower reaction time and the inability to pay attention,” said CHP Commissioner Warren Stanley. “A sleepy driver can be just as impaired or dangerous as one under the influence of alcohol or drugs.”
Data from the CHP’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System showed an average of almost 7,000 collisions involving sleepy or fatigued drivers in each of the last three years.
Those collisions resulted in the deaths of 73 people in California in 2016, 47 people in 2017, and 47 in 2018.
“Driving when you are tired is risky and dangerous,” Office of Traffic Safety Director Barbara Rooney said. “The last thing you want to do is doze off behind the wheel. It is important that we all act responsibly and get enough rest before driving.”
Reports from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show that getting enough sleep on a daily basis is the only true way to protect against drowsy driving.
“In a state the size of California, long drives between cities are common. Without enough rest, all of us may feel drowsy behind the wheel,” said Caltrans Director Toks Omishakin. “We encourage drivers to stop at one of our 86 rest areas to stretch their legs or get a few minutes of shut-eye.”
Caltrans encourages motorists to take advantage of the more than 80 safety roadside rest areas it maintains throughout the state.
To find a rest area or to check for the latest travel information on state highways, visit http://quickmap.dot.ca.gov/.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport City Council this week will discuss a proposal to allow for control burnings in the city limits and consider appointing two of its members to an ad hoc committee of local governments that will address the public safety power shutoffs.
The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5, in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.
At Tuesday’s meeting, Community Development Director Kevin Ingram will ask the council to consider and discuss allowing the Lakeport Fire Protection District to sponsor and supervise controlled burning to mitigate fire hazards within the Lakeport city limits.
Ingram’s report explained that last year the council revised the Lakeport Municipal Code requiring hazardous weeds and dry vegetation that create a fire hazard to be abated by June 1 rather than the first week of July.
“As a part of that discussion staff was provided with direction to explore other possible ordinance revisions aimed at reducing wildfire hazard risks, most notably a possible revision to Section 8.11 of the Lakeport Municipal Code that prohibits ‘burning of all kinds’ within the City limits,” Ingram wrote.
He said that over the past few months, the city has been working with the Lakeport Fire Protection District, Lake County Air Quality Management District and interested citizens on possible amendments to the city code. They’ve identified potential revisions that would establish a permit procedure allowing for outdoor burning on properties larger than one acre in size, similar to what is permitted within the unincorporated areas of the county.
Permit requirements would include review and approval of individual properties by the Lakeport Fire Protection District and the review and approval of a smoke management plan by the Lake County Air Quality Management District, Ingram said.
Before bringing forward a formal ordinance revision, Ingram said the group is suggesting some supervised controlled burns to monitor the effectiveness of the revisions.
Ingram is seeking direction from the council on what actions to take next.
Also on Tuesday, City Manager Margaret Silveira will present to the council a proposal to select two council members to participate with the county of Lake and the city of Clearlake in an ad hoc committee that will draft communications and advocate for Lake County residents with regards to Pacific Gas and Electric’s public safety power shutdowns.
On the consent agenda – items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate on one vote – are ordinances; minutes of the regular council meeting on Oct. 22, the emergency meeting of Oct. 31 and the special joint meeting of Oct. 31; the Oct. 30 warrant register; confirmation of the continuing existence of a local emergency for the Mendocino Complex fire; confirmation of the continuing existence of a local emergency for the February 2019 storms; confirmation of the continuing existence of a local emergency for the October 2019 public safety power shutoff; receipt and filing of the draft minutes of the Oct. 9 MZAC meeting; authorize out-of-state travel for Officer Ryan Cooley to attend the Incident Response to Terrorist Bombings Training Course in Socorro, New Mexico.
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 meeting will begin at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5, in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.
At Tuesday’s meeting, Community Development Director Kevin Ingram will ask the council to consider and discuss allowing the Lakeport Fire Protection District to sponsor and supervise controlled burning to mitigate fire hazards within the Lakeport city limits.
Ingram’s report explained that last year the council revised the Lakeport Municipal Code requiring hazardous weeds and dry vegetation that create a fire hazard to be abated by June 1 rather than the first week of July.
“As a part of that discussion staff was provided with direction to explore other possible ordinance revisions aimed at reducing wildfire hazard risks, most notably a possible revision to Section 8.11 of the Lakeport Municipal Code that prohibits ‘burning of all kinds’ within the City limits,” Ingram wrote.
He said that over the past few months, the city has been working with the Lakeport Fire Protection District, Lake County Air Quality Management District and interested citizens on possible amendments to the city code. They’ve identified potential revisions that would establish a permit procedure allowing for outdoor burning on properties larger than one acre in size, similar to what is permitted within the unincorporated areas of the county.
Permit requirements would include review and approval of individual properties by the Lakeport Fire Protection District and the review and approval of a smoke management plan by the Lake County Air Quality Management District, Ingram said.
Before bringing forward a formal ordinance revision, Ingram said the group is suggesting some supervised controlled burns to monitor the effectiveness of the revisions.
Ingram is seeking direction from the council on what actions to take next.
Also on Tuesday, City Manager Margaret Silveira will present to the council a proposal to select two council members to participate with the county of Lake and the city of Clearlake in an ad hoc committee that will draft communications and advocate for Lake County residents with regards to Pacific Gas and Electric’s public safety power shutdowns.
On the consent agenda – items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate on one vote – are ordinances; minutes of the regular council meeting on Oct. 22, the emergency meeting of Oct. 31 and the special joint meeting of Oct. 31; the Oct. 30 warrant register; confirmation of the continuing existence of a local emergency for the Mendocino Complex fire; confirmation of the continuing existence of a local emergency for the February 2019 storms; confirmation of the continuing existence of a local emergency for the October 2019 public safety power shutoff; receipt and filing of the draft minutes of the Oct. 9 MZAC meeting; authorize out-of-state travel for Officer Ryan Cooley to attend the Incident Response to Terrorist Bombings Training Course in Socorro, New Mexico.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
110519 Lakeport City Council Agenda Packet by LakeCoNews on Scribd