LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The latest round of Stars of Lake County winners was announced at the awards ceremony on Saturday evening at the Soper Reese Theater.
The sold out event celebrated 66 nominees from around Lake County.
U.S. Congressman Mike Thompson who has been a participant in Stars since its inception presented his personal certificate to every recipient.
The selection committee met for four hours on Feb. 1 after being given less than a week to read all 66 nominations. Their secret ballots were cast as they completed a discussion on each of the 21 categories.
Selection committee members this year were Robert Boccabella, Linda Diehl-Darms, Brock Falkenberg, Susan Feiler, Greg Folsom, Trena Pauly, Beth Rudiger, Yvette Sloan, John Tomkins, Sandy Tucker and Hedy Montoya.
The Carnegie Library in Lakeport, Calif. Photo by Elizabeth Larson/Lake County News.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport City Council this week will consider awarding a contract for accessibility upgrades for the city’s historic Carnegie Library.
The council will meet in closed session at 5:30 p.m Tuesday, Feb. 20, to discuss negotiations with Lake County Tribal Health for property at 902 Bevins Court before the public portion of the meeting begins at 6 p.m. in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.
Community Development Director Kevin Ingram will present to the council the proposed award of a construction contract for the Carnegie Library Accessibility Upgrade Project to R & C Construction.
Ingram’s report to the council explains that the project is to provide Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant access to the building, which turns 100 this year.
“There will be an elevator installed providing access to the second floor. Both bathrooms will be remodeled, making one ADA compliant. New water and sewer lines will be installed for service to the building,” Ingram wrote in his report.
Ingram said the two bids received were opened Feb. 12. R & C Construction put in the low bid at $385,381, while the second bidder, FRC Inc., came in at $479,000. The engineer’s estimate for the project was $425,000.
He said construction is estimated to start March 19.
The project will be funded by the 2016 Community Development Block Grant, said Ingram.
In other business, the council will hold a public hearing to consider updates to the city’s ordinance regarding the Park and Recreation Commission.
At its meeting Feb. 6 the council discussed and gave initial approval to proposed changes involving allowing one at-large, non-city member from the 95453 zip code and establishing monthly meetings.
Also on Tuesday, Bonnie Sharp, the new permit technician, will be introduced to the council.
Items on the consent agenda – items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate on one vote – are ordinances; minutes of the council’s regular meeting on Feb. 6; the Feb. 7 warrant register; approval of Application 2018-004, with staff recommendations, for the Child Festival in the Park event to be held in Library Park on April 21; approval of Application 2018-005, with staff recommendations, for the July 4th Arts and Crafts Fair to be held in Library Park; approval of Application 2018-006, with staff recommendations, for the Taste of Lake County event to be held on Main Street on Aug. 25; approval of Application 2018-007 and waive application fee, with staff recommendations, for the Trick or Treat Main Street event, to be held Oct. 31; approval of Application 2018-008, with staff recommendations, for the Dickens’ Faire to be held on Main Street on Nov. 24.
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. – The Clearlake City Council this week is set to hold a special meeting to get an update on its road sales tax measure as well as a regular meeting in which it will discuss filling a council vacancy.
The council will meet beginning at 5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 22, in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive, for a joint meeting with the Measure V Citizen Oversight Committee.
That special meeting will be for the purpose of receiving a report on Measure V’s progress and to evaluate expenditures.
That will be followed at 6 p.m. by the regular council meeting.
One of the key items of business at Thursday’s regular meeting will be the discussion of options for filling the unexpired term of Councilman Russell Perdock, who resigned on Feb. 1 in order to apply for the Clearlake Police Department’s chief position, as Lake County News has reported.
Perdock’s term expires in November, and city staff is recommending that the council adopt a resolution directing City Clerk Melissa Swanson to prepare an application for qualified applicants and schedule interviews with those who apply.
Swanson’s report to the council explained that, rather than seek applicants, it may adopt a resolution calling a special election to fill the vacancy. However, by law, that special election would have to occur on Nov. 6, which is the date when Perdock’s seat would have expired.
In that second scenario, Swanson said the seat would remain vacant until the regularly scheduled election on Nov. 6.
The council also will consider a second reading and adoption of an ordinance amending the city’s commercial cannabis rules allowing commercial cannabis cultivation west of Highway 53 and repealing an urgency ordinance that instituted a moratorium on grows on the west side of the highway.
On Thursday the council also will hear a presentation from Adventist Health Clear Lake regarding the 340B drug program, get the annual audit report for the fiscal year ending 2017 and the annual Clearlake Police Department report from interim Chief Tim Celli.
On the consent agenda – which includes items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate on one vote – are warrant registers and the minutes of the meetings on Nov. 9, 16 and 30, and Dec. 14 and 21.
The council also will hold a closed session to discuss two cases of existing litigation, Rosa Aleman v. City of Clearlake and Matamoros v. City of Clearlake.
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.
From right, Janice Sue Harper, 48, and Emmanuel Yagnye Yennyemb, 58, of Lakeport, Calif., were arrested on Wednesday, February 7, 2018, on charges of child abuse involving two boys. Lake County Jail photos.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Two Lakeport residents have been arrested for child abuse after police said an investigation revealed they had abused two boys.
Emmanuel Yagnye Yennyemb, 58, and Janice Sue Harper, 48, were arrested on Feb. 7, according to Lakeport Police Chief Brad Rasmussen.
Rasmussen said that on Oct. 26 his department’s school resource officer received a call from Lakeport Unified staff regarding two boys, ages 10 and 14, who were possible child abuse victims.
The officer went to the school office and met with officials and the 14-year-old, who had visible injuries, Rasmussen said.
The teen told the officer that Harper and Yennyemb had inflicted the injuries on him. During the interview Rasmussen said the officer found out that the 10-year-old was at home.
Rasmussen said the officer contacted Child Protective Services which, at the officer’s request, met the officer at the school and then responded to the home.
He said the 10-year-old also was found to have suffered from a traumatic injury, and CPS took custody of both juveniles.
The Lakeport Police Department detective subsequently took over the case and conducted an extensive investigation with the help of the District Attorney’s Office’s criminal investigations division, Rasmussen said.
The investigation included multiple interviews, two search warrants that were served on two Lakeport residences and a third search warrant for the forensic examination of an electronic device, according to Rasmussen.
Rasmussen said the investigation was completed on Jan. 5 and sent to the District Attorney’s Office, which filed charges against Harper and Yennyemb on Jan. 24.
A Lake County Superior Court judge signed warrants for their arrests and they were taken into custody for child abuse by a Lakeport Police officer on Feb. 7, Rasmussen said.
Both were booked with bail set at $150,000. Rasmussen said they later posted bail and were released.
Yennyemb is the clinic operations manager for Lake County Tribal Health, while Harper, a registered nurse, is outreach manager, according to the organization’s Web site. A request for comment sent to Tribal Health’s executive director about the arrests was not responded to by the time of publication.
Chief Deputy District Attorney Richard Hinchcliff said Harper and Yennyemb were each charged with two counts of willful infliction of cruel or inhuman corporal punishment or an injury resulting in a traumatic condition.
If convicted, they face up to six years in prison and a fine of up to $6,000 fine, or both, he said.
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 big and little dogs waiting for new homes this week.
The available dogs are Raider, Robbie, Oliver, Magnolia, Jessie, Hutch and Buttercup.
To meet the animals, call Clearlake Animal Control at 707-994-8201 and speak to Marcia at Extension 103 or call Extension 118, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday, or leave a message at any other time.
Below are this week's available pets.
“Raider.” Courtesy photo. ‘Raider’
“Raider” is a male fun-sized terrier mix who loves to cuddle.
He is about a year old, weighs 12 pounds, has been neutered and has a short brindle coat.
Shelter staff said he’s good with other dogs, is timid at first but warms up quickly.
He was picked up from a red-tagged home and is ready for a new life with a family of his own.
“Robbie.” Courtesy photo. ‘Robbie’
“Robbie” is a young and happy-go-lucky mix – possibly Labrador Retriever and Rottweiler.
Shelter staff said is he around a year and a half old and weighs 50 pounds.
He walks well on a leash, makes friends with other dogs, and is playful but not super active.
Robbie is vaccinated and will be neutered prior to adoption.
“Oliver.” Courtesy photo. ‘Oliver’
Oliver is a very handsome 9-month-old male mixed breed who weighs about 90 pounds and has a short black and white coat.
Shelter staff said he is good with children, treat motivated and eager to please. He’s also a quick learner.
“Magnolia.” Courtesy photo. ‘Magnolia’
“Magnolia” has a short brown and white coat.
Shelter staff said she loves walks and commands you rub her belly. She wiggles over then flops over for the rubs.
She came in as a stray and is already spayed. Staff estimated she is around 2 years old and weighs about 60 pounds.
Magnolia is very social and friendly. She is fine with other dogs, and walks well on leash.
“Jessie.” Courtesy photo. ‘Jessie’
“Jessie” is a small female shepherd mix, weighing about 20 pounds and estimated to be 4 months old.
She has a short tan coat with black and white markings.
Shelter staff said she is good with other dogs and with children.
Jessie is very spunky and on the go, and loves to play chase and zoom around. Staff said she is quickly learning to walk nicely on leash.
“Hutch.” Courtesy photo. ‘Hutch’
Hutch is a calm shepherd mix estimated to be between 1 and 2 years old, with a short brown coat and weighing 55 pounds.
Shelter staff said he appears to be good with other dogs, and is attentive.
He walks great on leash but also likes to just chill on his bed.
“Buttercup.” Courtesy photo. ‘Buttercup’
“Buttercup” is a female Chihuahua-terrier mix who is estimated to be between 6 and 8 months old.
Shelter staff said she weighs about 20 pounds, is good with other dogs and with children.
She is shy but warms up quickly, and has young pup manners.
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.
The Anderson Marsh ranch house in Lower Lake, Calif., has reopened to the public. Photo by Lucy Llewellyn Byard. LOWER LAKE, Calif. – After a hiatus, a local landmark, the Anderson Marsh ranch house, is once again open to visits from the public.
A group of 11 people met three Anderson Marsh tour docents in the parking lot of Anderson Marsh State Historic Park at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 10, for a walking tour of the marsh that culminated in a tour of the ranch house, opened for the first time since the contents of the house were evacuated to protect them from the 2016 Clayton Fire.
Docents Roberta Lyons, Dr. Harry Lyons and Henry Bornstein, members of the Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association, led the group along the Cache Creek Nature Trail.
Along the way they stopped to point out bluebird houses and one of seven types of oak trees, the valley oak, along with natural grasses on the 540 acres, acreage set aside from the 1,065 total acreage of the State Historic Park as the nature preserve.
Two white-tailed kites scoured the marshlands for prey. A blue kingfisher dove for food in the creek.
Walking along the wooden boardwalk built by the volunteer group Telephone Pioneers of America, gave the crowd an intimate view of the creek.
Each season brings different flora and fauna. Bornstein said that it’s possible, if hikers come early morning, that a herd of deer, sometimes numbering 400, can be seen drinking from the creek.
Springtime brings neon pink California native roses in a stand along Marsh Trail. The honeycombed-shaped common teasel, which is currently brown and dry, flowers in the spring, creating a field of purple.
Roberta Lyons halted the tour several times to point out trails leading back to the ranch house, for those who wanted to take a shorter tour.
Approaching the Ridge Trail, through the Blue Oak woodland, naked and looking like arthritic fingers reaching upward, the crowd had thinned to four, plus the guides.The tour also stopped at the stunning acorn woodpecker granary tree, the woodpeckers’ storage site.
The distance for this monthly tour was two-miles and took roughly two and a half hours. Once back in the parking lot, the group gathered again for the tour of the ranch house.
A view from the boardwalk built by volunteers of Telephone Pioneers of America at Anderson Marsh State Historic Park in Lower Lake, Calif. Photo by Lucy Llewellyn Byard. The house was built in three sections, with the original, middle section, dating back to the 1860s. Most of the furnishing was used by the Anderson family.
Access to the sleeping room – which slept the Anderson’s six children – upstairs is prohibited as the ceiling is in a weakened state.
The spacious parlor was added on in the 1880s, made completely out of redwood for the floors, walls and ceiling.
Cooking was done over wood outside until a stove was brought into the Craftsman-style kitchen wing, built in the 1920s, and eventually replaced by the current stove.
The area was originally inhabited by Native Indians – Koi, Miwok and Pomo – as far back as 14,000 years ago.
In 1885 the John Anderson family bought the ranch and occupied it until the 1960s. The house and land were then sold to rancher Raymond Lyons and eventually bought by the California State Parks in 1982.
It is now a protected part of the archeological and nature site, maintained by the 100 volunteers of the Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association, with some help from the Californian State Park system.
Free guided nature tours and tours of the ranch house are conducted on the second Saturday of the month, except January, September and December, starting a 8:30 a.m. Binoculars and sturdy shoes are recommended.
Dogs and horses are not allowed; their scents will scare native wildlife from the area.
Lucy Llewellyn Byard is a Lake County News correspondent. She lives in Lucerne.
The Craftsman-style kitchen wing of the historic Anderson Marsh ranch house, built in the 1920s, in Lower Lake, Calif. Photo by Lucy Llewellyn Byard.
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