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The average global temperature in July was 1.71 degrees F above the 20th-century average of 60.4 degrees, making it the hottest July in the 140-year record, according to scientists at National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Centers for Environmental Information. 

The previous hottest month on record was July 2016.

Nine of the 10 hottest Julys have occurred since 2005 – with the last five years ranking as the five hottest.

Last month was also the 43rd consecutive July and 415th consecutive month with above-average global temperatures.

The period from January through July produced a global temperature that was 1.71 degrees F above the 20th-century average of 56.9 degrees, tying with 2017 as the second-hottest year to date on record.

It was the hottest year to date for parts of North and South America, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, the southern half of Africa, portions of the western Pacific Ocean, western Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean.

Record-low sea ice: Average Arctic sea ice set a record low for July, running 19.8 percent below average – surpassing the previous historic low of July 2012.

Average Antarctic sea-ice coverage was 4.3 percent below the 1981-2010 average, making it the smallest for July in the 41-year record.

Some cool spots: Parts of Scandinavia and western and eastern Russia had temperatures at least 2.7 degrees F below average.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Police officers on Wednesday arrested a parolee and gang member found to be in possession of a firearm.

Christian Alejandro Estrella, 25, was arrested on Wednesday night, according to the Lakeport Police Department.

At 8 p.m. Wednesday Field Training Officer Tyler Trouette and Officer Ryan Cooley were on routine patrol when they observed Estrella, who lives both in Lakeport and Sonoma County, standing next to his vehicle parked in front of his residence, police said.

Police said Estrella is known to Trouette to be on active state parole and is an active gang member.

The officers contacted Estrella and through the course of their search located an unregistered and loaded 9 millimeter pistol in the center console of the vehicle, which was easily within reaching distance of Estrella, police said.

Police said Officer Cooley placed Estrella under arrest and he was booked into the Lake County Jail on felony charges of a prohibited person in possession of a firearm, a prohibited person in possession of ammunition, concealed firearm not registered owner, concealed firearm in a vehicle, possession of a firearm by persons with prior weapons charge and a parole hold.

Estrella has an extensive history of gang enhancements, weapons charges, assault and robbery, police said.

Lake County Jail records show that Estrella remains in custody on a no-bail hold.

He’s due to be arraigned in Lake County Superior Court on Friday, according to his booking sheet.

A celebration 90 years in the making is under way at the California Highway Patrol.

Through legislation, on Aug. 14, 1929, California witnessed the evolution of traffic enforcement with the creation of a statewide law enforcement agency known today as the CHP.

The purpose of creating the CHP was to provide uniform traffic law enforcement throughout the state.

To this day, assuring the safe and efficient transportation of people and goods on California’s highway system remains the CHP’s primary purpose.

“The history of the CHP is storied tapestry,” said CHP Commissioner Warren Stanley. “Today, we, as an organization, celebrate 90 years of serving the people of this great state, which is possible because of the dedicated women and men who make up the CHP and the support of the public and our traffic safety partners.”

As California continues to grow and change, so does the span of enforcement responsibility of the CHP.

When the organization began in 1929 with its 285 personnel, California had a population of roughly 5.6 million people and 2.1 million registered vehicles.

Today, the CHP is comprised of nearly 11,000 dedicated professionals, uniformed and nonuniformed; California’s population has dramatically increased to nearly 40 million people, with more than 35 million registered vehicles.

The size and responsibilities of the patrol have not been the only changes through the decades.

Women joined the ranks for the first time in 1974, and various types of patrol vehicles have been implemented – including aircraft, horses, and bicycles.

Tragically, in the CHP’s 90 years, 231 officers have laid down their lives in service to the public.

For more on the history of the department, take a virtual tour of the CHP Museum located at http://chpmuseum.org/.

“While the CHP continues to evolve as a law enforcement agency, the priority of the Department and its personnel remains constant - fulfilling our mission while maintaining public trust,” added Commissioner Stanley.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Police Department said it has arrested a man who was caught while committing a burglary.

Damon Robert Monthei, 22, of Lakeport, was arrested on Tuesday evening, police reported.

At 7 p.m. Tuesday, Lakeport Police Sgt. Mike Sobieraj was dispatched to a burglary in progress at the old Natural High School building, owned by the Lakeport Unified School District, in the 800 block of North Main Street, according to the police report.

Police said a witness had called dispatch and advised that she saw a male subject break into the building and then leave the area in a white Ford F-150 pickup truck.

Sobieraj responded to the building and began checking it when he heard banging noises coming from the inside. The report said Sobieraj then located an open door and began making entry where he found a male subject inside and saw him set something down which was later identified as a crowbar. The subject also had another crowbar in his right pants pocket.

Police said Sobieraj arrested the male subject and identified him as Monthei.

During an interview, Monthei admitted that he intended to take things when he got into the building, police said.

Sobieraj continued his investigation and located Monthei’s white Ford pickup a short distance away from the scene, police said.

The police department said it’s not yet known if Monthei is connected to other recent burglaries that have occurred in the city, but police are investigating all possibilities.

“We thank the alert citizen for calling this incident in and would like to remind the public to report all suspicious activities and persons,” the agency said.

Monthei, whose booking sheet lists him as being employed in construction, remained in custody early Thursday on a misdemeanor charge of vandalism and a felony charge of first degree burglary, with bail for the burglary charge set at $50,000.

Jail records show he is scheduled for arraignment in Lake County Superior Court on Thursday.

Monthei was arrested in December for domestic violence, based on jail records.

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra has announced the arrest and arraignment of Dr. Thomas Keller of Santa Rosa for the deaths of five patients.

The patients’ deaths allegedly resulted from Dr. Keller’s practice of overprescribing dangerously high levels of addictive opioids and narcotics to his patients.

Dr. Keller allegedly prescribed powerful narcotics and opioids used to alleviate pain – including Vicodin, oxycodone, OxyContin, Percocet and morphine – at levels well outside accepted medical practice.

Dr. Keller faces multiple criminal charges related to nine patients, including charges of second-degree murder and felony elder abuse in connection with the deaths of five patients.

He was arrested on Monday in Santa Rosa and remains in custody, with further arraignment proceedings and bail review set for Aug. 20 in Sonoma County Superior Court.

“Doctors take an oath to protect patients and not engage in behavior that can risk their health and safety,” said Attorney General Becerra. “When we see evidence of a crime and patient harm, we must act. The opioid epidemic is destroying our communities and taking our loved ones. The California Department of Justice will continue to prosecute fairly and diligently all those who are alleged to have abused our healthcare system and over-prescribe drugs at the expense of their patients.”

The complaint, filed in Sonoma County Superior Court, alleges that between October 2011 and July 2017, Keller prescribed a wide range of highly addictive opioids, and consistently and drastically increased his patients’ opioid prescriptions.

It further alleges that he increased patients’ opioid dosage while prescribing medications such as Soma, a muscle relaxant and benzodiazepines – both of which are known to cause a dangerous drug interaction when taken with opioids.

Authorities said Keller often prescribed at maximum dosages and in quantities upwards of 180-300 pills per prescription, resulting in total daily opiate prescription dosages that far exceeded the recommended 50 mg Morphine Equivalent Dosage standard set forth by the Centers for Disease Control.

Keller is alleged to have continued his dangerous treatment despite red flag warnings from pharmacies and insurance companies, his own observations of his patients, and knowledge of his patients’ deaths from drug overdose.

The case stems from an investigation conducted by the California Department of Justice’s Bureau of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse, or BMFEA.

Through BMFEA, the Attorney General’s Office works to protect Californians by investigating and prosecuting those responsible for abuse, neglect, and fraud committed against elderly and dependent adults in care facilities.

BMFEA also regularly works with whistleblowers and law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute fraud perpetrated on the Medi‑Cal program.

The Attorney General’s Office said it is important to note that a criminal complaint contains charges that are only allegations against a person. Every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

A copy of the complaint is available below.

080819 - Sonoma County Superior Court - Complaint against Dr. Thomas Keller by LakeCoNews on Scribd

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Firefighters continue to make progress on wildland fires around the region, including incidents in Mendocino and Colusa counties.

In Mendocino County, the Moose fire began Monday evening on Moose Road at McNab Ranch near Hopland. The cause remains under investigation.

Cal Fire said firefighters are holding the fire’s size at 225 acres, with containment up to 65 percent on Wednesday night, at which point no structures were endangered.

So far, three firefighters have suffered minor injuries while working on the incident, Cal Fire said.

Cal Fire said 446 personnel remain assigned to the incident, along with 22 engines, 22 crews, nine water tenders, two helicopters and one dozer.

Firefighters have made steady progress and will continue to work until the fire is completely extinguished, according to Cal Fire’s Wednesday night report.

Also on Wednesday, firefighters with Cal Fire, Williams Fire and Maxwell fire contained the Spring fire.

The fire began just before 1 p.m. on Spring Valley Road and Highway 20, northeast of Wilbur Springs, as Lake County News has reported.

The Spring fire burned a total of 20 acres before being fully contained early Wednesday evening, Cal Fire said. It did not damage any structures.

Officials have determined that the Spring fire was caused by a mower blade hitting a rock.

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.