News

UPDATE: The bear has been safely captured and relocated.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Police Department and California Department of Fish and Wildlife officers are looking for a bear that was reported running around a Lakeport neighborhood late on Monday morning.

Police said the bear initially was in the area of N. Main Street and Rose Avenue before moving into brush near Clear Lake.

Residents of that area were instructed to stay indoors until further notice.

Later, on Monday afternoon, as authorities continued to try to locate the bear, the Lakeport Police Department sent out a new advisory on the incident that instructed everyone in the area of N. Main Street between Clearlake Avenue and 16th Street and Rose and Clearlake Avenues between N. Main Street and the lake to stay indoors until further notice.

Authorities said those streets were fully closed to traffic due to the incident involving the bear.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The 2019 auto racing season returned to Lakeport Speedway with a spectacular opening night that began with the Memorial Day Parade down Main Street and ended with the annual “Fiberglass 400 Boat Race.”

Feature winners in the Northern California Racing Association classes were Richard Knight of Lakeport in the Modifieds, Cody Winchel of Sebastpol in the Legends Cars, Lauren Snider of Kelseyville in the Clauson Bombers, and Trey Daniels of Fort Bragg in the Bandoleros.

The fan's choice and $200 winner of the 14 entry boat race was John Humphrey of Clearlake towing his “Shark” boat.

Darrin Sullivan of Kelseyville set the fast time of 12.900 in the modifieds and started deep in the field of the 30 lap feature. Richard Knight pulled ahead of brother Michael Knight at the drop of the green flag, and as Michael Knight faded, Chris Salmina and Sullivan gained positions. Eric Johnson passed Salmina on lap three.

Johnson's car broke loose and spun on lap seven to bring out the only yellow flag in the race. The double-file restart saw Sullivan out in front, but his lead was short-lived as Knight took back the number-one spot on lap nine. Mikey Snider drove under Salmina for third as Johnson was working his way back through traffic.

Richard Knight stayed out front all the way to the Sunoco checkered flag followed by Sullivan, Snider, Johnson, Salmina, Bryan Denton, Michael Knight, rookie driver Anthony Esberg and Guy Minyard. Knight donated his $500 winnings back to the Northern California Racing Association.

Heat race wins went to Richard Knight and Johnson. Johnson also won the trophy dash.

The Legends Car feature went wire-to-wire with Winchel leading all 30 laps. Aiden Daniels passed Dave Allen for second on lap five, and Kylie Daniels drove under Allen for third on lap 12. Wyatt Hobart swapped places with Allen on the 18th circuit.

Winchel pulled away from the field, and at the checkered flag he had a 10-car length lead over fast qualifier (13.949) Aiden Daniels, trophy dash winner Kylie Daniels, Hobart and Allen. Winchel also won the heat race .J.K. Kenny and Lane Anderson suffered engine problems and were unable to start.

Dustin Kuhl set fast time of 14.022 over the 15-car bomber field and started ninth in the feature. The legendary Ron Duke Sr. led the first five rounds with both Mike Sullivan and Snider passing pole setter Jeremy Nowlin for second and third.

Duke drifted high allowing Sullivan to steal the lead, but Snider was on a mission and took control of the race on lap eight. Kuhl joined the top-dogs, passing Duke on 10 but lost power and retired to the infield on 13. At the same time Simi Tour passed Duke.

Three rounds later John McCullough had a wild ride through the infield and dropped out. Corey James and Wade Coleman gained ground, and at the end of the non-stop 30 lapper it was Snider, Tour, Sullivan, James and Coleman. Rounding out the top ten were Duke, David Jones, Trevor Abella, Nowlin and Rick Jelton.

Bomber heat wins went to Sullivan and Tour. Snider won the trophy dash.

Landyn Snider set fast time in the Bandolero class, but it was Trey Daniels who won the trophy dash, heat race and 20 lap main event.

The next auto race at the Lakeport Speedway will be on Saturday, June 8, at 6 p.m.

NCRA races at Lakeport Speedway are presented by Hillside Honda, Anderson Logging, Napa Auto Parts, S & K Automotive, Carlton Tires, Don Anderson Law Firm, Clearlake Redi-Mix, DFM Wicked Sounds, KXBX 98.3 FM, Lake County Waste Solutions, Lake County Welding, Sheldon Signs, RB Peters, Taco Bell, Strauss Promotions and the NCRA Board of Directors.

For more information on the 2019 racing season, visit NCRA - Lakeport Speedway on Facebook.

UPPER LAKE, Calif. – A springtime tradition for the Lake County Land Trust is just around the corner.

The group’s annual Spring Celebration and Fundraiser will be held on Sunday, June 9, from 3 to 5 p.m. in the Blue Wing Saloon Restaurant courtyard in Upper Lake.

Attendees can expect to enjoy a variety of appetizers and local wines while David Neft, the Piano Man, regales with musical entertainment. Land Trust board and staff members will be present to describe the major projects underway.

“This is an opportunity for anyone who has heard of the Lake County Land Trust but isn’t sure what we really do, to come and get to know us. Supporting the Land Trust is a great way for Lake Countians to support our beautiful landscapes and unique habitats,” said Melissa Kinsel, the Land Trust's outreach leader.

The Lake County Land Trust is currently focusing on protecting land in the Big Valley Wetlands area, between Lakeport and Clear Lake State Park.

The organization recently completed their fundraising goal for the Wright Property, a 200-acre parcel located in this priority area.

Guests can expect to hear more about the status of the property purchase and the accompanying protection plan, other opportunities in the Big Valley area, learn about conservation easements, and find out about upcoming Land Trust activities.

The Land Trust currently owns and protects four properties: Rabbit Hill, Boggs Lake (as a management agreement for The Nature Conservancy), the Rodman Preserve and the Melo Property in the Big Valley Wetlands. Rabbit Hill, Rodman, and Boggs Lake offer public access for hiking and recreation.

The group also has three conservation easements around the county and has been instrumental in getting other properties, namely the Black Forest, Silver Spur Ranch and Indian Springs preserved in perpetuity. Anyone desiring more information is encouraged to attend the event on June 9.

The Lake County Land Trust Spring Celebration Fundraiser is hosted by Lynne and Bernie Butcher, so all proceeds go directly to support the Land Trust. Tickets for the Land Trust Spring Celebration are $50 each and can be purchased online at www.lakecountylandtrust.org or by sending a check for the total amount to LCLT, P.O. Box 1017, Lakeport, CA 95453. Reserve your spot by purchasing tickets in advance.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Animal Care and Control has several tabbies and a tortie waiting for new families.

The following cats at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption.

Female domestic short hair

This female domestic short hair has a tortoiseshell coat and blue eyes.

She is in cat room kennel No. 7, ID No. 12281.

Female domestic short hair

This female domestic short hair cat has a gray tabby coat and green eyes.

She’s in cat room kennel No. 78, ID No. 12225.

Male orange tabby

This male orange tabby has a short coat and gold eyes.

He already has been neutered.

He’s in cat room kennel No. 116, ID No. 12244.

Male domestic short hair

This male domestic short hair has a gray coat and gold eyes.

He’s in cat room kennel No. 134, ID No. 12218.

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.

Visit the shelter online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control.htm .

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.

Congressman Mike Thompson (CA-05) lauded the Senate passage of the Disaster Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2019, which includes key priorities to assist with disaster recovery for California’s Fifth Congressional District for which Thompson advocated.

“The Senate version of the Supplemental Appropriations Act includes provisions I worked on that are critical to our district’s recovery from recent fires. The bill includes $100 million for Community Development Block Grant funding that will help our community with unmet needs from the October 2017 fires such as housing, debris removal and infrastructure repair,” Thompson said.

“This bill also protects our local, small family agricultural producers whose crops may have been damaged by wildfires or wildfire smoke. I worked to ensure funding for the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program was included in this bill to help our local communities. Both these provisions are essential to our community’s recovery efforts and I will continue to fight to bring back every dollar and resource to help rebuild. I look forward to swift consideration by the House so our communities can access this funding as soon as possible.”

You can click here to learn more about this bill and you can click here to read about Thompson’s advocacy for these provisions that are critical for the Fifth Congressional District.

Thompson represents California’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A Ukiah man who in January took a vehicle belonging to bail bond agents and earlier this month stole two vehicles and thousands of dollars’ worth of tools and equipment has been arrested in New Mexico.

Gregory Chad Crumpler, 41, was taken into custody this past week after he was found with a stolen Jeep at a motel in Moriarty, New Mexico, according to the California Highway Patrol’s Clear Lake Area office.

Over the past few weeks, Crumpler is alleged to have been involved in several thefts and even a vehicle pursuit with authorities.

The CHP said Crumpler – driving a 2001 Chevy Silverado pickup – led a Lake County CHP unit on a short vehicle chase at 2:20 a.m. May 16 on Highland Springs Road near Highway 29.

Due to weather and the action of the driver – later determined to be Crumpler – authorities said the pursuing CHP unit canceled the pursuit for safety reasons.

The following day, the abandoned pickup was located near the Highland Springs Reservoir, the CHP said.

The pickup was found to have been stolen out of Mendocino County. In the bed of the truck was several thousand dollars’ worth of stolen property, much of it from a Performance Mechanical Heating and Cooling van that had been parked at Guy Strohmeier’s Auto Center on South Main Street in Lakeport for service, according to the CHP.

Crumpler is wanted in Mendocino County for charges related to drug sales and criminal threats, and he also had stolen a vehicle from Sacramento area bail bond agents in Lower Lake in January, resulting in the bail bond agents shooting at him as he fled the scene in their vehicle, as Lake County News has reported.

On May 21, the Clear Lake Area CHP responded to a report of a commercial burglary and vehicle theft from Strohmeier’s Auto Center in Lakeport. The CHP said officers learned that at some time during the prior night, a 2015 Jeep Cherokee was stolen.

The officers suspected that Crumpler had returned to Strohmeier’s and stolen the Jeep, the CHP said.

The CHP officers were able to get a GPS location on the vehicle, which they learned was at a Super 8 Motel in Moriarty, New Mexico.

The Clear Lake Area CHP contacted the Moriarty Police Department and passed the information about the vehicle’s location to them.

Within minutes, Moriarty Police officers had located the Jeep and had Crumpler in custody, the CHP said.

“Clear Lake CHP would like to thank Moriarty Police Department for their quick response in apprehending this suspect,” the agency said in its report. “The California Highway Patrol is committed to providing the highest level of safety, service and security to the communities we serve and is proud of the hard work our officers put into action to ensure this subject is brought to justice.”

It’s not yet been reported when Crumpler may be returned to California to face charges in Lake and Mendocino counties.

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.