News

NORTH COAST, Calif. – The American Red Cross of the California Northwest honored 17 volunteers from Sonoma, Napa, Lake and Mendocino counties at annual Volunteer Recognition Dinners in May and June.

Volunteers honored include:

– Administration and support volunteers: Rebecca Taylor-Ford (Sonoma) and Miriam Tcheng (Sonoma).

– New volunteers: Julie Ito (Sonoma), Betsy Witthohn (Sonoma), David Fromer (Lake) and Erica Luke (Mendocino).

– Disaster cycle services exceptional response volunteers: George Dresnek (Sonoma) and Nathan Gilfenbaum (Sonoma).

– Disaster cycle services outstanding support volunteers: Kay Warning (Sonoma) and Kathy Hall (Sonoma).

– Sally Parks volunteer services: Leticia Sotelo (Sonoma) and Robin Dieter (Sonoma).

– Gene Beck Memorial Volunteers of the Year: Sierra Marcelius (Sonoma), Annie Schaefer (Napa) and Mary Desautels (Mendocino).

– Youth and young adult volunteers: Patrick Foley (Sonoma) and Jackson Phillips (Sonoma).

In addition, a number of people were honored at the event for the number of hours they volunteered for the Red Cross in 2017.

While the annual event spotlights many of key volunteers, Red Cross California Northwest executive director Jeff Baumgartner said the events are designed to acknowledge all of the Red Cross's local volunteers.

"Our volunteers take on a variety of important roles while serving our communities," said Baumgartner. "All of our volunteers give selflessly of their time, and the Red Cross would not be able to provide the help and support we do without them."

You can make a difference in the California Northwest by becoming a volunteer with the American Red Cross.

Volunteers constitute about 94 percent of the total Red Cross workforce to carry out our humanitarian work.

Red Cross volunteers are trained to meet the needs of those affected by disasters, providing food, shelter and comfort for families affected by major disasters such as fires, floods and earthquakes as well as helping local residents prepare for and recover from emergencies of all kinds. They will find the position that appeals to you and allows you to use your skills and talents.

For more information, please visit www.redcross.org.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors is seeking applicants to fill a vacancy on the Lakeport Fire Protection District Board of Directors.

Interested applicants must reside within the Lakeport Fire Protection District’s boundary and be registered to vote in Lake County.

Membership on the district board is voluntary.

Applications are available at the Lake County Courthouse, Clerk of the Board Office, Room 109, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport, or online at www.lakecountyca.gov on the Board of Supervisors page.

NORTH COAST, Calif. – Detectives from the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office have arrested three men for the murder of a missing Cloverdale man.

Socorro Sierra, 34 of Healdsburg, and Santa Rosans Felix Fernando Carreon, 43, and Climmie Smith-Hill, 30, were taken into custody in the case, according to Sgt. Spencer Crum.

Crum said the case began on July 2 when a woman reported to the Cloverdale Police Department that her father, Jose Martinez, had been missing since June 29. She thought he may have gone on a fishing trip but got concerned when he hadn’t returned and his truck, a white Toyota Tacoma was also missing.

Officers from the Cloverdale Police Department issued a “be on the lookout” for Martinez and his truck to other law enforcement agencies. They also interviewed a number of family members and friends that indicated Martinez may have been involved in significant marijuana dealings, had been receiving threats lately and that this was likely more than just a routine missing person case, Crum said.

Crum said detectives from the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office were consulted and worked closely with Cloverdale PD in an attempt to locate Martinez.

At about 6 a.m. Tuesday a Sonoma County Sheriff’s deputy found a truck matching the description of Martinez’s on Masterson Court and Holiday Street in Santa Rosa. Crum said the truck had the license plates removed and they had been swapped out with paper dealer license plates.

When the deputy ran the vehicle’s identification number, he found that this was the truck registered to Martinez. Crum said detectives from the sheriff’s office were called and started their investigation into the truck and how it ended up there.

Through investigative efforts and witness interviews detectives identified the suspects in the case as Sierra, Carreon and Smith-Hill, Crum said.

Detectives learned that Martinez and Socorro had significant marijuana dealings and the Sierra had recently threatened Martinez over a disputed business transaction, according to Crum.

Through a number of interviews sheriff’s detectives learned that Martinez went to Ray’s Food Place on Cloverdale Blvd in Cloverdale at about 8 a.m. Friday, June 29. Crum said detectives believe Martinez was kidnapped from the front of the store by the three men in a dark sedan.

Martinez was driven to the top of Geysers Road near the Calpine geothermal plant. Sierra walked Martinez to a remote location by a creek where he shot him to death with a handgun. Crum said Sierra walked back to the car where he met with Carreon and Smith-Hill. He drove them back to Santa Rosa and dropped them off.

Crum said that on Saturday, June 30, Sierra returned to the creek where he had left Martinez’s body. Sierra wrapped the body in a tarp and brought it back to his car. He then transported Martinez’s body to Healdsburg at a marijuana garden in the 2100 block of West Dry Creek Road.

Sierra, with the help of Carreon, rented a backhoe and brought it to the property where they dug a hole approximately 5 to 6 feet deep. Crum said they placed Martinez’s body in the hole and covered him with dirt.

Detectives learned about the location of the buried body in the marijuana garden. On Wednesday, Crum said detectives went to the property and, using a backhoe and shovels, unearthed Martinez’s body that was located under about five feet of dirt. Martinez’s body was transported to the Sonoma County Coroner’s Office pending an autopsy.

Crum said Carreon was arrested on July 10 at about 12:15 a.m. in the area of Marlow and Jennings Avenue in Santa Rosa on unrelated drug charges.

Sierra was arrested in the parking lot of the Guerneville Road Safeway Shopping Center on Tuesday at 3:45 p.m. Crum said a handgun, believed to be used in the homicide, was located inside Sierra’s vehicle at that time.

Smith-Hill was arrested at the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday at 1 a.m. after an interview, Crum said.

Crum said all three men were booked on charges of murder, kidnapping and conspiracy and are being held without bail.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Sheriff’s Office reported Thursday evening that its dispatch center is without telephone capabilities due to a damaged telecommunication line.

At approximately 2:40 p.m. Thursday a vehicle damaged a telecommunication line in the north Lakeport Area, the agency reported.

On Thursday evening, the sheriff’s office said AT&T is working to repair the damaged line, however, there is no estimated time to have the repairs completed.

All 9-1-1 lines have been routed to other 9-1-1 centers to be dispersed to the proper public safety agencies, the sheriff’s office said.

During this time, the normal Lake County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch telephone lines are not operational and are not able to be transferred.

If you required emergency response please dial 9-1-1. However, if you do not require emergency response please do not utilize 9-1-1.

Once the telephone lines are operational the sheriff’s office said it will send out another advisory message notifying the public that the phone system is back in service.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Public Health is urging boaters and recreational users to avoid direct contact with or use of waters containing blue-green algae, or cyanobacteria, in the Richmond Park and Clearlake Oaks areas.

The recommendation is based on the potential health risks from the algae, which is currently blooming in all three of the lake’s arms – Upper arm, Oaks Arm and Lower Arm.

Bloom conditions can change rapidly and wind and waves may move or concentrate the bloom into different regions of the Clear Lake, officials reported.

Water monitoring is done by Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians and Elem Indian Colony.

The county said that on Tuesday lakewide sampling indicated that blooms were present in several locations on Clear Lake. Water samples have been submitted to the lab for cyanotoxin analysis, but a preliminary analysis on five sites using the ABRAXIS field strips was performed.

One site, Richmond Park, indicated at least 10 µg/L, considered a warning level, while another site by the county park in Clearlake Oaks, indicated at least 20 µg/L, which is a danger level, according to the county report.

County officials expect the pending lab results will confirm those levels; they said they will report on the results of that testing.

In the case of the Clearlake site, the county said it is close to a drinking water supply. Drinking water at the site was tested last on July 10 and was below the Environmental Protection Agency’s recommended guideline of 0.3 µg/L and was safe to drink. Sampling of drinking water at the site will next occur on Monday, July 23.

A danger sign was posted at the Clearlake Oaks site on Wednesday, officials said.

The Public Health Department gave warning signs to the bar and grill at Richmond Park on Wednesday and it is strongly recommended that the warning signs are posted immediately and remain posted until further notice.

Blue-green algae can pose health risks, particularly to children and pets. The county urges people to choose safe activities when visiting the Oaks arm and parts of the lower arm of Clear Lake and wherever blooms are visible. It is strongly recommend that people and their pets avoid contact with water, and avoid swallowing lake water in an algae bloom area.

Cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, are common and natural to our waters and found throughout California. Cyanobacteria thrive in nutrient-rich water and can multiply rapidly to form blooms and scums, particularly during the warm days of summer and early fall.

The algae bloom resembles thick pea soup or spilled paint on the water’s surface. It can appear as cut grass in the water or blue-green, white or brown foam, scum or mats that can float on the water’s surface and accumulate along the shoreline and boat ramp area.

Signs of a toxic bloom may include: a large number of dead fish, waterfowl or other animals, or sudden, unexplained sickness or death of a cat or dog that has been exposed. It is not possible to tell if cyanobacteria are toxic by looking at them.

Recreational exposure to toxic blue-green algae can cause eye irritation, allergic skin rash, mouth ulcers, vomiting, diarrhea, and cold and flu-like symptoms.

Pets can be especially susceptible because they tend to drink while in the water and lick their fur after. Possible health effects of animal exposure to a toxic bloom include weakness and staggering, difficulty breathing, convulsions, vomiting or diarrhea.

A blue-green algae bloom is not stringy, made up of long bright grass-green strands that feel either slimy or cottony. This is harmless green algae. It’s also not mustard yellow in color; this probably is pollen.

Get medical treatment immediately if you think that you, your pet, or livestock might have been poisoned by blue-green algae toxins. Be sure to alert the medical professional to the possible contact with blue-green algae.

Also, make sure to contact the local county public health department at 707-263-1090.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – More than a dozen competitors are ready to serve up tastes of their best barbecue in one of the hottest contests this summer, and the public is invited to help choose the winners.

Barbecue amateurs and experts will pit their skills against one another Saturday, Aug. 4, at the ninth annual “Grillin’ on the Green” at Westside Community Park, 1401 Westside Park Road.

The 5 to 7:30 p.m. event will feature the popular barbecue competition with plenty of food, drink, and entertainment for all ages.

Presented by the Westside Community Park Committee, the event is an annual fundraiser for development of the park, home to soccer fields, a dog park, baseball and softball diamonds, horseshoe pits, and a bicycle pump track. Future plans include establishing an equestrian center.

Local organizations, individuals and professionals go head-to-head in the Grillin’ on the Green cook-off, preparing their best barbecue recipes for attendees who then cast People’s Choice votes for their favorites.

A group of celebrity judges will select their favorite as well. Joining Lake County Sheriff Brian Martin on the panel of celebrity judges this year will be Dana Stubblefield, retired defensive tackle for the 49ers and the Raiders, and Luis Castelero, a Kelseyville farm owner who has more than 60 years in the restaurant business.

Event attendees will enjoy a variety of barbecued dishes, accompanied by side dishes and beverages, and entertainment including live music by the LC Diamonds, children’s water activities, a car show featuring vintage vehicles from local car clubs, and a Beach Handball demonstration.

Snow cones, canned soda and bottled water will be available from Marta and Domingo Avillea.

Tickets purchased in advance of the event are $25 per adult, $10 per child between the ages of 5 and 12, and no charge for children 4 years old or younger. Adult tickets purchased at the event will cost $30 per adult.

All proceeds benefit the Westside Community Park development. Call Cindy Ustrud, 707-263-7091, or Dennis Rollins, 707-349-0969, for more information.

Advance tickets for “Grillin’ on the Green” may be purchased at the Lake County Chamber of Commerce and The Travel Centers in Lakeport and at Polestar Computers in Kelseyville.

“Grillin’ on the Green gets better every year with incredible barbecue dishes created by our participating teams and lots of fun, family entertainment,” said Ustrud, the event chair. “Attendees call the fare the best barbecue around, and what a great way to raise funds for continuing improvements to our community park. We hope to see you there.”

This year’s grill competitors include teams from the Lakeport Kiwanis, the Early Lake Lions, and the Lakeport Lions. Also signed up to vie for bragging rights are The Smokin’ Aces (Adam Bruch), Beef Cakes (Jessie Richardson), PSI Slider “Bees” sponsored by the Delta Iota Tau Sorority, Team Sutter Lakeside (Dennis Rasner - Nurses Association for Sutter Health), Wayne Yahnke (Haunted Lake County), Fresh & Bangin' (John Arslanian), Andre Williams (Drinx), Aaron Vandewarker (Mendocino BBQ Catering), a team headed by Aaron Rollins, and another by Tyler Fandel.

Generous community backs ‘Grillin’’

Grillin’ on the Green is made possible by the participating grillers, sponsors, and the community, said Ustrud. “We are extremely grateful for the people who make the annual event a success each year,” she said. “There are a number of generous individuals, businesses and organizations who step up to help make the Grillin’ event happen.”

The Keeling-Barnes Family Foundation is for the eighth year offering a sponsorship match. The Foundation will match up to $3,000.

Other major contributors – “World Cup” sponsors – include Sutter Lakeside Hospital and the Ustrud-Rollins Family.

“Grand Slam” sponsors for 2018 include Alexander McGeoch, DDS, Brian L. Grey, DDS, Savings Bank of Mendocino County, Matt Mazzei Auto Dealership, Hillside Power Sports & Marine, Clear Lake Redi Mix, the Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake, and the Lakeport Main Street Association.

“Home Run” sponsors include Susie LaPointe, The Dock Factory & Supply Co., Lakeport Tire & Auto, Guy Strohmeier’s Auto Center, Adventist Health, William C. Kranz, Attorney at Law, Lake Parts/Napa Auto Parts, Wilda and Jim Shock, and Margaret Silveira.

Organizations and individuals sponsoring Grillin’ teams are Delta Iota Tau Sorority, Sutter Lakeside Hospital, City of Lakeport, Lakeport Rotary, and an anonymous citizen of Lakeport.

Providing in-kind sponsorship and support for the event, Ustrud noted, are Lake Event Design, Lake County News, Lakeport Cinema 5, KNTI, Disney Trophies and Awards, UCC Rental Center, Thorn Hill Vineyards, Shannon Ridge Winery, and O’Meara Bros. Brewing Co.

Sponsors of the fundraiser are recognized annually at the event. Donations of any amount, payable to Westside Community Park Committee, may be sent to 1350 Berry Street, Lakeport.

Additionally, Ustrud thanked the committee members for their contributions. Committee members are Beth Havrilla, Alice Holmes, Jessica Kelley, Dennis Rollins, Val Schweifler, Sue Stout and Wilda Shock.

Westside Community Park is a regional recreational facility that is operated by the city of Lakeport and the Westside Community Park Committee. It has been in development for 19 years.

The nonprofit park committee is developing the park in conjunction with the city of Lakeport, volunteers, and numerous contributions by individuals and businesses dedicated to constructing a recreational facility for the youth and adults of Lake County.

Information about the event can be found on the park’s Web site, www.westsidecommunitypark.org, or on Westside Community Park’s Facebook page.