News

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – A fire that began burning in Shasta County on Thursday has triggered the evacuation of several thousand residents.

Cal Fire said the Mountain fire is burning in the area of Bear Mountain Road and Dry Creek Road, north of Bella Vista and northeast of Redding.

Late Thursday, the fire was reported to have burned 600 acres, with 20 percent containment, according to Cal Fire.

The Shasta County Sheriff’s Office said 1,110 homes and structures are threatened and approximately 3,885 residents have been evacuated. No injuries have so far been reported.

Cal Fire said the fire’s cause remains under investigation.

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.

NORTH COAST, Calif. – Two young Hopland men who authorities say are gang members have been arrested in connection to a shooting incident in Boonville earlier this month.

Alfredo Asher Knight, 18, and Marshall Leland Stillday, 19, were arrested on Saturday, according to a report from Sgt. Luis Espinoza of the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office.

Espinoza said that on Aug. 7 Mendocino County Sheriff's deputies were asked to respond to a reported shooting which had occurred at about 10:30 p.m. in Boonville.

The call was initially reported to the California Highway Patrol’s Ukiah Dispatch and upon arrival CHP officers were able to determine the jurisdiction as being the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office, Espinoza said.

Deputies met with CHP officers who advised they had located evidence directly related to the reported shooting in the parking lot of the location, according to the report.

Espinoza said the deputies spoke to the victim, who reported a silver Ford Mustang had followed him to a store in Boonville where he observed the subjects responsible for the shooting inside the store. The victim was in fear for his safety based on the vehicle following him and he waited for the suspects to leave before continuing on his travels.

Upon entering the roadway, the victim reported the same suspect vehicle began to follow him for a second time. Espinoza said the victim parked in a well-lit area in the 14400 block of Highway 128 in hopes the vehicle would continue. It did not and instead parked next to the victim a short distance away.

After waiting a short period of time, while the victim was seated in his vehicle, the suspect vehicle sped up and began to pass the victim's parked vehicle. As the suspect vehicle passed, the victim reported a single gunshot was heard and the rear window of his vehicle had evidence of a bullet passing through which was later determined to have narrowly missed striking the victim's head. The victim contacted 911 and reported the incident, Espinoza said.

At the time of the initial investigation, the only information provided was that the suspect vehicle was a generic 2013 to 2014 silver Ford Mustang. Espinoza said a check of surveillance footage was done and two suspects were tentatively identified as Marshall Stillday and Alfredo Asher Knight.

Espinoza said both suspects were known to law enforcement as being associated with a criminal street gang. The investigation continued with Mendocino County Sheriff’s deputies actively looking for the vehicle and the suspects.

On Saturday, a Mendocino County Sheriff’s deputy on routine patrol conducted a traffic enforcement stop on a vehicle which contained five subjects, who were identified as Knight and Stillday. During a search of the vehicle, a loaded pistol was recovered, Espinoza said.

Espinoza said four suspects were initially arrested and following a review by the Mendocino County District Attorney’s Office the other two subjects were released without formal charges.

Knight and Stillday were arrested for being a criminal street gang member carrying a loaded firearm, carrying a loaded handgun not registered to possessor, conspiracy and participating in a criminal street gang. Espinoza said Stillday was also arrested for a violation of his summary probation.

Based on the arrest of Stillday and Knight, a search warrant was authored for a residence in Hopland connected to the suspects, Espinoza said.

During the execution of the search warrant a firearm was recovered which matched the caliber of firearm believed to be the weapon used in the Aug. 7 shooting in Boonville, according to Espinoza.

Additionally, Espinoza said a silver 2013 Ford Mustang was located at the residence matching the suspect vehicle reported by the victim and witnesses.

Following additional investigations on Aug. 20, Knight and Stillday – who remained in Mendocino County Jail custody – were arrested for attempted murder, conspiracy, participating in a criminal street gang, armed in the commission of a felony and a criminal street gang member carrying a loaded firearm.

Knight remains in the Mendocino County Jail in lieu of two separate bails – $25,000 and $300,000 – while Stillday remains in custody in lieu of two separate bails, $30,000 and $300,000, Espinoza said.

Anyone with information concerning either investigation is asked to contact the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office Tip-Line at 707-234-2100 or the WeTip Anonymous Crime Reporting Hotline at 800-782-7463.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport City Council on Tuesday honored the city of Lakeport’s parks foreman who has earned a state certification for emergency management.

At the Tuesday evening meeting, the Emergency Management Specialist Training Certificate was officially presented to Ron Ladd.

Ladd’s boss, Public Works Director Doug Grider, said Ladd was hired in December of 2014 as a park lead worker, a position he held until this past November, when he was promoted to his current job as parks foreman.

Grider said the city got a wake up call about disasters not long after Ladd was hired, when the Valley fire burned through the south county in September of 2015.

He said the county called the city of Lakeport in to assist in the emergency operations center. Both Grider and Ladd worked in logistics.

Ladd also would assist during the Clayton fire, dealt with the 2017 flood that impacted the city, worked in logistics on last year’s Mendocino Complex and earlier this year had still more flooding to respond to in the city, Grider said.

“In pretty short order, we had trial by fire here, literally,” Grider said.

During each disaster, Grider said Ladd stepped up and served with great skill.

Grider said Ladd’s interest in emergency management was peaked with the Valley fire, and he started training.

Since then, Grider said Ladd has been diligent in attending trainings to work in an emergency operations center.

Achieving the Emergency Management Specialist Training Certificate is a “very arduous task,” said Grider, noting the coursework he had to take, with the credentials then going to the state for review.

Ladd’s certificate, a copy of which was included in the agenda packet, was signed on March 22 by Mark Ghilarducci, director of the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, and Alex Cabassa, assistant Cal OES director and superintendent of the California Specialized Training Institute.

Grider pointed out that there aren’t many certifications granted. Ladd’s certificate number is 587.

The congratulatory letter from Ghilarducci to Ladd that accompanied the certificate explained that by completing the program, Ladd has “demonstrated a high level of accomplishment within the emergency management and homeland security profession.”

The letter added, “We depend on public safety and emergency management professionals such as you to ensure that the people of California are prepared for and can respond effectively to major emergencies and disasters. Your successful completion of this rigorous and comprehensive training program exemplifies your dedication to our state’s public safety mission.”

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 limited number of fire extinguishers are still available for community members thanks to the efforts of a local nonprofit and a company donation.

When a fire starts, immediate action can limit the damage or even avert disaster. That was demonstrated by the fast work of first responders in the early hours of the Golf fire. With 12,000 homes in the area, getting on top of the fire right away was essential.

Frequently, 911 dispatchers receive phone calls very quickly after a fire starts. This is, in part, because so many fires start along roadsides. What if the people making those calls had a fire extinguisher, and were able to help get the initial flames out, before the fire could spread?

The Lake County Wine Alliance appreciated the value of this proactive line of thinking, and made 500 fire extinguishers available to Lake County residents.

As previously reported by LakeCoNews, Ukiah Oxygen generously provided 350 ABC chemical and 150 2.5 gallon stainless steel water-filled extinguishers at a significant discount, and the Wine Alliance funded the cost, 100 percent.

Supervisor Rob Brown said many of these fire extinguishers were given to concerned residents who want to be prepared to act to protect their communities, should they notice a developing fire, at an event on Sunday, Aug. 18, at Riviera Elementary.

He said that 100 fire extinguishers, a mix of water-filled and ABC type, will be available from Kelseyville Fire Protection District, 4020 Main St., starting Thursday, August 22.

Hours are 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m., while supplies last.

Kelseyville Fire will also provide instruction on how to use the extinguishers.

“I sincerely hope many of you will prepare to protect your families and Lake County communities, by taking advantage of this great opportunity,” Brown said.

Brown thanked Chief Joey P. Huggins and his team for their tremendous support.

For more information, call Kelseyville Fire Protection District at 707-279-4268.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – California’s unemployment rate tied a record low in July, Lake County’s jobless rate rose slightly and the nationwide job picture remained steady.

The latest report from the California Employment Development Department said that California’s unemployment rate tied a record low 4.1 percent in July while the state’s employers added 19,600 nonfarm payroll jobs, based on information from two surveys.

The state’s July 4.1 percent unemployment rate tied the record low unemployment rate first set in July through December 2018.

The report showed that Lake County’s jobless rate in July rose to 5.1 percent, up from 4.9 percent in June but just below the 5.2-percent adjusted rate in July 2018.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that nationwide unemployment in July remained at 3.7 percent for the second month in a row, compared to 3.9 percent in July 2019.

Based on a monthly federal survey of 5,100 California households which focuses on workers in the economy, the number of Californians holding jobs in June was 18,583,000, a decrease of 25,000 from June and down 1,000 from the employment total in July of last year.

At the same time, the report showed the number of unemployed Californians was 804,000 in July, a decrease of 11,000 over the month and up by 1,000 compared with July of last year.

The report said wage and salary jobs increased by 311,800 jobs – a 1.8 percent increase – from July 2018 to July 2019 compared to the U.S. annual gain of 2,246,000 jobs, a 1.5 percent increase.

Wage and salary jobs in California’s 11 major industries totaled 17,488,600 in July – a net gain of 19,600 jobs from June. The California Employment Development Department said this followed a revised gain of 41,300 jobs in June.

The California Employment Development Department said the state’s July job gain contributes to an employment expansion in California that is now 113 months long, tying the expansion of the 1960s for the longest on record.

What’s different about California’s current job expansion from that one decades ago, the Employment Development Department said, is that the record expansion between August 1960 and December 1969 was primarily fueled by manufacturing, particularly in aerospace, and higher population growth.

In the 1960s, there was a 2.7-percent annual growth rate compared to 0.8 percent currently, based on the state data.

California has gained 3,299,000 jobs since the economic expansion began in February 2010, accounting for more than 15 percent of the nation’s job gains over the expansion, the report said.

The report said that while virtually all states have experienced sustained job growth since the end of the recession, California’s growth has been more broad-based in all but one of the state’s
11 major industries.

That growth has been led by gains in the high-tech jobs of professional and business services and information, along with increases in education and health services, which the state said supports an aging demographic.

The number of jobs in the agriculture industry decreased by 3,400 jobs from June to 425,900. The agricultural industry has added 3,900 farm jobs since July 2018.

Total farm jobs in Lake County actually grew by 11.3 percent in July, while total nonfarm jobs were down by 3.2 percent, according to state data.

Areas of growth in Lake County included the subcategories of wholesale trade, 25 percent; professional and business services, 3.3 percent; financial activities, 2.7 percent; mining, logging and construction, 2.2 percent; and other services, 1.8 percent.

Lake County’s job sector subcategories showing declines included government, -13.3 percent; service providing, -3.6 percent; manufacturing, -2.6 percent; retail trade, -0.4 percent.

In Lake County, the civilian labor force numbered 28,990 individuals in July, compared to 29,270 in June and 28,910 in July 2018, based on state data.

There were 1,480 unemployed Lake County residents last month, 1,430 in June and 1,490 in July 2018, the state said.

Lake County was ranked No. 35 statewide for its July unemployment rate. Neighboring county jobless rates and rankings are Colusa, 10.2 percent, No. 57; Glenn, 6.7 percent, No. 48; Mendocino, 4 percent, No. 21; Napa, 3 percent, No. 5; Sonoma, 3 percent, No. 5; and Yolo, 4.3 percent, No. 26, the report said.

The report also stated there were 308,212 people receiving Unemployment Insurance benefits during the survey week in July compared to 302,156 in June and 323,594 people in July 2018. Concurrently, 39,490 people filed new claims in July which was a month-over increase of 604.

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.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Clearlake Animal Control has new dogs among the group it’s offering to new homes this week.

The kennels also have many dogs that need to be reunited with their owners. To find the lost/found pet section, click here.

The following dogs are ready for adoption.

‘Bernard’

“Bernard” is a male Staffordshire Bull Terrier mix with a short brindle and white coat.

He already has been neutered.

He is No. 280.

‘Cadbury’

“Cadbury” is a female Staffordshire Bull Terrier mix with a smooth medium-length beige coat.

She is No. 1215.

‘Chase’

“Chase” is a male shepherd mix with a medium-length brindle coat.

He is dog No. 2618.

‘Frank’

“Frank” is a male American Staffordshire Terrier mix with a short black and white coat.

He is No. 2345.

‘Hamilton’

“Hamilton” is a male German Shepherd with a medium-length brown and black coat.

He is No. 2177.

‘Melonie’

“Melonie” is a female American Pit Bull Terrier mix with a short red and white coat.

She is No. 2428.

‘Sturgill’

“Sturgill” is a male Labrador Retriever mix with a medium-length yellow coat.

He is No. 2460.

‘Tyson’

“Tyson” is a male American Staffordshire terrier mix with a medium-length gray and white coat.

He is No. 1863.

‘Wiley’

“Wiley” is a male German Shepherd mix with a medium-length black and brindle coat.

He is dog No. 2451.

‘Zack’

“Zack” is a male pit bull terrier mix wit a short red coat.

He is No. 2592.

Clearlake Animal Control’s shelter is located at 6820 Old Highway 53, off Airport Road.

Hours of operation area noon to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. The shelter is closed Sundays, Mondays and major holidays; the shelter offers appointments on the days it’s closed to accommodate people.

Call the Clearlake Animal Control shelter at 707-273-9440, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to inquire about adoptions.

Visit Clearlake Animal Control on Facebook or at the city’s Web site.

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.