NORTH COAST, Calif. – A month after he went missing while boating with his father on Lake Mendocino, the body of a Laytonville man was found on Monday.
The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the body of 40-year-old Vincent Soto was located at about noon.
It was on that day that Vincent Soto’s father, 62-year-old Carlos Soto, also of Laytonville, was found floating in the southeast end of Lake Mendocino, about 50 yards from an unoccupied boat.
In the boat investigators found Carlos Soto’s identification, and also found a wallet and cell phone belonging to his son.
Family members told authorities that the two men had gone fishing together that day. Deputies later found Vincent Soto’s vehicle with a boat trailer at the North Boat Ramp of Lake Mendocino.
Since then, the Mendocino County Sheriff's Search and Rescue Team, with the help of numerous allied agencies, has been conducting searches by boat, with divers and side scan sonar system, along with searches of the shoreline.
The Lake County Sheriff's Office Marine Patrol team, Marin County Sheriff's Office Dive Team, Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office Dive Team, the California Rescue Dog Association, Lyon County Search and Rescue, Hopland Fire Protection District and Rescue Solutions, a private company affiliated with several in-county swift water dive teams, were involved with the effort. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Dive Team also had been scheduled for later this week.
However, it was a kayaker who discovered Soto’s body, authorities said.
The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office said it received a call at about noon on Monday from the kayaker, who reported finding a body floating on Lake Mendocino near the Coyote Valley Dam control tower, at the south end of the lake.
The sheriff’s office was assisted by the Ukiah Valley Fire Authority and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in recovering the body, which was identified as that of Soto.
Soto’s family was notified and was waiting for him at the dock, where they said a prayer over him, the sheriff’s office said.
Authorities have scheduled an autopsy of Soto for Tuesday.
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.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – The new state budget includes millions of dollars that will pay for the building of new facilities in the Yuba Community College District.
The Yuba Community College District announced that on June 27, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a State Budget Act which includes $535.3 million in capital outlay funding from Proposition 51, approved by voters in 2016.
The funding will support 20 continuing projects and 39 new projects including the district’s performing arts/culinary capital project at Woodland Community College.
Focused advocacy by the Yuba Community College District Governing Board was conducted during the 2019 Legislative Session, requesting the governor consider including the Woodland Community College performing arts/culinary capital project in the 2019-2020 State Budget to fulfill a long-awaited promise to the local voters of the Yuba Community College District.
The project will provide for a new facility to consolidate and expand space for Woodland Community College’s Performing, Fine Arts and Speech programs while creating space for the new Culinary Arts program.
The proposed new building will consist of 29,118 area square feet with a variety of classrooms, laboratories, office space, and a new performing arts theater. The facility is estimated to cost a total of $42 million with the state matching $18,872,000 of the total cost of the building.
“On behalf of the YCCD Governing Board, I want to express my appreciation to the governor and the California Legislature for approving the state matching funds so that we can construct this critical WCC facility,” said Chancellor Dr. Douglas B. Houston stated. “This construction project enables us to keep a commitment to voters and will serve the students of Yolo, Colusa and Lake counties for future generations."
The Woodland Community College performing arts/culinary capital project was included in the Measure J General Obligation Bond project list approved by voters in 2006 and has been included on the California Community College Board of Governors approved project list since it was submitted in 2009.
“These are exciting times for our college,” said WCC President Dr. Art Pimentel added. “The new facility will allow us to optimize our students’ academic experience. The new building will enable us to offer additional programs in culinary arts as well as increase the variety of courses we offer in the visual and performing arts. We are grateful to the voters for continuing to support the long term vision of a comprehensive community college that provides exciting and dynamic academic programs for our student body.”
The Yuba Community College District spans eight counties and nearly 4,192 square miles. Yuba College and Woodland Community College offer degrees, certificates and transfer curricula at college campuses in Marysville and Woodland, educational centers in Clearlake and Yuba City, and through outreach operations in Williams and on Beale Air Force Base.
The two colleges in Yolo County and Yuba County and the campuses in Clearlake, Colusa and Sutter counties, serve 13,000 students.
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – A small wildland fire in the Clear Lake Riviera threatened homes on Sunday but firefighters were able to stop it before it did any damage.
The fire in the 5000 block of Caddo Court at Fairway Drive was dispatched just before 5:45 p.m. Sunday, according to radio reports.
The first engine to arrive on scene, from Kelseyville Fire, found a 30-foot by 30-foot spot burning in brush, based on scanner traffic.
A few minutes later, another fire unit arriving on scene found the fire to be about 100 feet by 100 feet, burning amidst structures, reports from the scene stated.
“There were multiple residences that were immediately threatened,” Cal Fire Battalion Chief Mike Wink told Lake County News.
Wink said a combination of several factors – including quick action by residents, 911 activation, and the close proximity of firefighters at the nearby Kelseyville Fire and Cal Fire Kelsey Cobb stations “definitely averted a very critical condition.”
Conditions were hot, dry and windy, as is normal for that time of day in the Riviera. Wink said there was a west wind on the fire, but it was on the backside of a little hill.
“A lot of things were in our favor which averted it from becoming much more devastating,” Wink said.
He said there was a countywide response, but Cal Fire and Kelseyville Fire ended up being the only to agencies on scene, as others were canceled before arrival. Copter 104 from the Boggs Mountain Helitack also participated in the firefighting effort.
Altogether, Wink said the fire burned less than half an acre.
He said it was being passed around in the community that the blaze was fireworks-related, but it wasn’t.
Wink said the cause so far is still under investigation, but it’s listed as accidental and the responsible party was on scene, fully cooperating with authorities.
The fire, “did start in a lot that had not had its weeds cut,” Wink noted.
“A lot of people are doing a lot of good things in the Riv,” he said of weed abatement efforts, adding, “This just happened to hit one of the ones that hadn’t gotten done yet.”
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. – The Lakeport City Council this week is set to consider approval of an application to the state for funding for a new lakeside park, will honor the city’s outgoing police lieutenant and get an update on art projects.
On Tuesday, the council will present a proclamation honoring Lakeport Police Lt. Jason Ferguson for his years of service to the community. His last day with the agency was Friday; he’s departing to take over as chief for the Cloverdale Police Department, as Lake County News has reported.
City Manager Margaret Silveira will ask for the council’s approval to submit an application for Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Program Grant Funds, through Proposition 68, for the development of new parklands on property located at 800 and 810 N. Main St., the former Natural High property.
The city began holding public workshops and surveys in the spring in preparation for submitting the plan to the state.
Silveira’s report said the final proposal includes an amphitheater, multiuse lawn, picnic tables and barbecue grills, bathrooms, concession area, basketball court, ninja gym, splash pad, a large shelter area, an area for a potential future boathouse, a boat ramp and parking.
The property is owned by the Lakeport Unified School District, which the city has been negotiating with about the land for several months.
Silveira said the district will be supplying a letter to the city this month outlining its intent to support Lakeport’s grant application for the development of the new park on their property at Natural High subject to the completion of required Education Code regulations and procedures.
“This letter will indicate their intent to sell the property or provide other suitable agreement with the City to allow the development of the proposed park lands at this site. Acquisition of the land is eligible for reimbursement through this grant program,” Silveira’s report said.
In other business, Silveira is asking the council to approve a proposal from The Retail Coach for a retail recruitment and development plan. She said the firm will “conduct an assessment of the downtown and provide targeted data sets and educational opportunities focused on sustaining and enhancing existing businesses as well as recruiting new ones.”
The council also will discuss artistic matters on Tuesday.
They’ll get an update from Lisa Kaplan of the Middletown Art Center about the RESTORE project and their contributions to art in public spaces.
Staff also will ask for approval of three murals proposed by the Lakeport Main Street Association and the Lake County Rural Arts Initiative.
Peggy Campbell has selected a local bird scene for her building, which will be painted between the panels on the south side of her building at Main and Fourth streets; staff is recommending a waterskiing mural for the north side of City Hall and a Native American mural for the south side of the Lakeport Community Center.
Also on Tuesday, Finance Director Nick Walker will ask the council to authorize a written report to be prepared and filed with the city clerk containing a description of property parcels within the city and the City of Lakeport Municipal Sewer District which have delinquent water and sewer user charges, fees for the period of July 1, 2017 through May 31, 2019.
In other business, the council will nominate voting delegates for the League of California Cities Annual Conference to be held Oct. 16 to 18 in Long Beach; meet new employees; hear a report from the Lakeport Economic Development Advisory Committee on its Business Walks outreach program; and present a proclamation committing to join the Energy Upgrade California initiative’s efforts to take action to save energy, and to conserve and preserve natural resources.
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 June 18; 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; adopt a resolution of the City Council of the city of Lakeport appointing Gerardo Gonzalez to the position of interim police lieutenant; approve the participation of the city of Lakeport in the National Night Out event, with street closures and the gazebo reserved for the event; event application 2019-020, with staff recommendations, for the 2019 Lake County Fair Parade event; approve event application 2019-021, with staff recommendations, for the 2019 Sponsoring Survivorship Fun Walk/Run event.
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. – The Board of Supervisors are set to mark Invasive Weed Awareness Week and to consider awarding a bid for an asphalt repair project for the Lampson Field runway.
The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, July 16, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.
The meeting can be watched live on Channel 8 and online. Accompanying board documents, the agenda and archived board meeting videos also are available at that link.
In an item timed for 9:08 a.m., the board will present a proclamation designating the week of July 15 to 21 as Invasive Weed Awareness Week.
In an untimed item, Public Works Director Scott De Leon will ask the board to consider awarding a contract totaling $1,005,710 to Maxwell Asphalt Inc. of Salt Lake City for the asphalt slurry seal rehabilitation project on the Lampson Field airport runway.
De Leon’s report said the county only received one bid for the project, which is fully funded from the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Improvement Program funds.
“The scope of the project is to make minor repairs to the existing asphalt, including crack repairs, place a slurry seal for pavement preservation over the runway and taxiway, and apply new pavement stripes and markings,” De Leon said in his report.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
5.1: Approve the minutes of the Board of Supervisors meetings held Nov. 20, 2018, Feb. 12, 2019 and March 5, 2019.
5.2: Adopt proclamation designating the week of July 15-21, 2019, as Invasive Weed Awareness Week in Lake County.
5.3: Approve agreement between the city of Clearlake, city of Lakeport and the county of Lake relative to operation of a local public, educational, governmental (PEG) cable television channel, and authorize the chair to sign.
5.4: (a) Waive the formal bidding process, pursuant to Lake County Code Section 38.2, as it is not in the public interest due to the unique nature of goods or services; and (b) approve the agreement between the county of Lake and Resource Development Associates for the Community Planning Program process for fiscal year 2019-20 for a contract maximum of $100,000 and authorize the board chair to sign the agreement.
5.5: (a) Waive the formal bidding process, pursuant to Lake County Code Section 38.2, as it is not in the public interest due to the unique nature of goods or services; (b) approve the agreement between the county of Lake and The SmithWaters Group for patient rights advocacy for fy 2019-20 for a contract maximum of $45,000, and authorize the board chair to sign the agreement.
5.6: (a) Waive the formal bidding process, pursuant to Lake County Code Section 38.2, as it is not in the public interest due to the unique nature of goods or services; and (b) approve the agreement between the county of Lake and Crisis Support Services of Alameda County for crisis support services for fiscal year 2019-20 for a contract maximum of $31,296 and authorize the board chair to sign the agreement.
5.7: Approve request for advance step increase of Mental Health Specialist II, Step 5 for Dr. Ebony Coleman.
5.8: Approve the continuation of a local health emergency and order prohibiting the endangerment of the community through the unsafe removal, transportation, and disposal of fire debris for the Mendocino Complex fire.
5.9: Approve the continuation of a local emergency due to an atmospheric river event of 2019.
5.10: Approve the continuation of a local emergency due to the Mendocino Complex fire incident (River and Ranch fires).
5.11: Approve the continuation of a local emergency due to the Pawnee fire incident.
5.12: Approve the continuation of a local emergency due to the Sulphur fire incident.
5.13: Approve the continuation of a local emergency due to Clayton fire.
5.14: Approve the continuation of a local emergency due to the atmospheric river storm of 2017.
UNTIMED ITEMS
6.2, 9:08 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation designating the week of July 15 to 21, 2019, as Invasive Weed Awareness Week in Lake County.
6.3, 9:30 a.m.: Public hearing, sitting concurrently as Clearlake Keys CSA#1, #2,#6,#7,#13, #16, #18, #20, #21, #22 Board of Supervisors, Kelseyville County Waterworks District #3 and Lake County Sanitation District Board of Directors), consideration of (a) resolution confirming collections of annual lighting fees; (b) resolution confirming collections of delinquent water fees; (c) resolution confirming collections of delinquent water and sewer fees; and (d) resolution of delinquent sewer fees for Lake County Sanitation District.
UNTIMED ITEMS
7.2: Consideration of (a) waiving the formal bidding process, pursuant to Lake County Code Section 38.2, as it is not in the public interest due to the unique nature of goods or services; and (b) approving the agreement between the county of Lake and Native American Mental Health Services dba North American Mental Health Services for Telepsychiatry Services for fiscal year 2019-20 for a contract maximum of $1,000,000 and authorize the board chair to sign the agreement.
7.3: Consideration of Change Order No. One for Upper Lake Pedestrian Improvements for Upper Lake High, Middle and Elementary Schools Project, State Project No. ATPL-5914(103); Bid No. 18-11, for a decrease of $6,000 and a revised contract amount of $405,328.09, and authorize the chair to sign.
7.4: Consideration of award of contract for the Lampson Field Airport Runway 10-28 Asphalt Slurry Seal Rehabilitation Project to Maxwell Asphalt Inc. in the amount of $1,005,710 and authorize the chair to execute the agreement and the notice of award.
CLOSED SESSION
8.1: Public employee evaluations: Public Health director.
8.2: Public employee appointment pursuant to Gov. Code Section 54957(b)(1): (a) Appointment of interim Water Resources director.
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.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Animal Care and Control’s cat room is filled with kittens ready to meet their new families.
The following cats at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption.
This female domestic short hair cat is in cat room kennel No. 3, ID No. 12415. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Domestic short hair
This female domestic short hair cat has a tortoiseshell coat and green eyes.
She is in cat room kennel No. 3, ID No. 12415.
This female gray tabby kitten is in cat room kennel No. 10a, ID No. 12517. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Gray tabby kitten
This female gray tabby kitten has a short coat and gold eyes.
She’s in cat room kennel No. 10a, ID No. 12517.
This female brown tabby kitten is in cat room kennel No. 10b, ID No. 12518. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Brown tabby kitten
This female brown tabby kitten has a short coat and gold eyes.
She is in cat room kennel No. 10b, ID No. 12518.
This male brown tabby kitten is in cat room kennel No. 10c, ID No. 12519. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Brown tabby kitten
This male brown tabby kitten has a short coat and gold eyes.
He is in cat room kennel No. 10c, ID No. 12519.
This female brown tabby kitten is in cat room kennel No. 10d, ID No. 12521. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Brown tabby kitten
This female brown tabby kitten has a short coat and gold eyes.
She is in cat room kennel No. 10d, ID No. 12521.
This male brown tabby kitten is in cat room kennel No. 28a, ID No. 12431. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Brown tabby kitten
This male brown tabby kitten has a medium-length coat and gold eyes.
He is in cat room kennel No. 28a, ID No. 12431.
This female domestic medium hair kitten is in cat room kennel No. 28c, ID No. 12433. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Domestic medium hair kitten
This female domestic medium hair kitten has a black and white coat and gold eyes.
He is in cat room kennel No. 28c, ID No. 12433.
This female domestic medium hair kitten is in cat room kennel No. 28d, ID No. 12434. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Domestic medium hair kitten
This female domestic medium hair kitten has a white and lynx point coat and blue eyes.
She is in cat room kennel No. 28d, ID No. 12434.
This female domestic longhair kitten is in cat room kennel No. 28e, ID No. 12435. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Domestic longhair kitten
This female domestic longhair kitten has a torbie coat and gold eyes.
She is in cat room kennel No. 28e, ID No. 12435.
This brown tabby kitten is in cat room kennel No. 43a, ID No. 12332. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Brown tabby kitten
This brown tabby kitten has a short coat and green eyes.
He’s in cat room kennel No. 43a, ID No. 12332.
This male gray tabby kitten is in kennel No. 43c, ID No. 12338. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Gray tabby kitten
This male gray tabby kitten has a short coat and gold eyes.
He’s in kennel No. 43c, ID No. 12338.
This female domestic short hair kitten is in cat room kennel No. 58, ID No. 12467. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Domestic short hair kitten
This female domestic short hair kitten has a white and tabby coat and green eyes.
She is in cat room kennel No. 58, ID No. 12467.
This male domestic short hair kitten is in cat room kennel No. 90, ID No. 12510. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Domestic short hair kitten
This male domestic short hair kitten has a lynx point and white coat and blue eyes.
He is in cat room kennel No. 90, ID No. 12510.
This male domestic short hair kitten is in cat room kennel No. 133, ID No. 12492. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Domestic short hair kitten
This male domestic short hair kitten has a buff and white coat and gold eyes.
He is in cat room kennel No. 133, ID No. 12492.
This female domestic short hair kitten is in cat room kennel No. 136a, ID No. 12490. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Domestic short hair kitten
This female domestic short hair kitten has a gray tabby and white coat and blue eyes.
She is in cat room kennel No. 136a, ID No. 12490.
This female domestic short hair kitten is in cat room kennel No. 136b, ID No. 12491. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Domestic short hair kitten
This female domestic short hair kitten has a brown tabby coat and gold eyes.
She is in cat room kennel No. 136b, ID No. 12491.
This female domestic short hair kitten is in cat room kennel No. 139, ID No. 12481. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Domestic short hair kitten
This female domestic short hair kitten has a gray and white coat and gold eyes.
She is in cat room kennel No. 139, ID No. 12481.
Lake County Animal Care and Control is located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport, next to the Hill Road Correctional Facility.
Office hours are Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
For more information call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.
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.
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