News

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Animal Care and Control has five dogs ready to go to new homes as the new year starts.

The dogs offered adoption this week include mixes of Labrador Retriever, pit bull and shepherd.

Dogs that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are either neutered or spayed, microchipped and, if old enough, given a rabies shot and county license before being released to their new owner. License fees do not apply to residents of the cities of Lakeport or Clearlake.

If you're looking for a new companion, visit the shelter. There are many great pets hoping you'll choose them.

The following dogs at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption (additional dogs on the animal control Web site not listed are still “on hold”).

‘Romeo’

“Romeo” is a male pit bull terrier.

He has a short gray and white coat.

He’s in kennel No. 19, ID No. 9075.

Shepherd-Labrador Retriever mix

This male Shepherd-Labrador Retriever mix has a short tan coat.

He’s in kennel No. 26, ID No. 9148.

Male pit bull terrier

This male pit bull terrier has a short brown and white coat.

He already has been neutered.

He’s in kennel No. 29, ID No. 9003.

Male pit bull terrier mix

This male pit bull terrier mix has a short brown and white coat.

He’s in kennel No. 31, ID No. 9160.

Female pit bull terrier mix

This female pit bull terrier mix has a short black and white coat.

She already has been spayed.

She’s in kennel No. 33, ID No. 9140.

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.

The astronauts and cosmonauts on the International Space Station take pictures of Earth out their windows nearly every day, and over a year that adds up to thousands of photos.

The people at the Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston had the enviable job of going through this year’s crop to pick their top 17 photos of Earth for 2017.

The video above features the pictures they chose.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The California Highway Patrol arrested a Pope Valley man on Friday for driving under the influence after he crashed a semi carrying a load of gravel.

Dagoberto Arias Covarrubias, 36, was arrested following the crash, which occurred just after 1 p.m. Friday on Butts Canyon Road east of Langtry Estates near Middletown, according to the CHP’s report.

The CHP said Arias Covarrubias was driving a 1999 Peterbilt tractor trailer eastbound on Butts Canyon Road pulling a transfer trailer fully loaded with lava gravel.

While traveling through a straight section of the roadway, Arias Covarrubias, due to his alcohol intoxication, allowed the vehicle’s right rear trailer tires to drop off of a narrow portion of the south road edge, the CHP said.

As a result, the CHP said the truck tractor combination rolled over, spilling most of its load in the roadway.

The CHP said South Lake County Fire Protection District personnel were quick to open up a lane of traffic and performed one-way traffic control until Pope Valley Tow could remove the damaged vehicle from the roadway.

CHP Officer Rob Hearn evaluated Arias Covarrubias’ level of sobriety at the scene and determined he had been driving under the influence of alcohol, the CHP reported.

Hearn arrested Arias Covarrubias on suspicion of driving under the influence, according to the CHP report.

THe CHP said Arias Covarrubias was transported to Sutter Lakeside Hospital where he was medically cleared for booking at the Lake County Jail.

He was reported to be uninjured as a result of the wreck and was wearing his seat belt, the CHP said.

Arias Covarrubias was booked into the Lake County Jail, with bail set at $5,000, according to his booking sheet.

Jail records indicated Arias Covarrubias later posted the required portion of bail and was released, with a tentative court date in February.

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.

NICE, Calif. – The Lake County Sheriff’s Office has identified the woman who died last week in a trailer fire in Nice.

Lt. Corey Paulich said the fire victim is Carol Lee Evelyn Capo, 76.

Capo and her two dogs were found dead in her home, a singlewide trailer home at 3387 E. Highway 20, on the night of Tuesday, Dec. 19, as Lake County News has reported.

Paulich said Capo’s official cause of death is still pending.

Northshore Fire Protection District Chief Jay Beristianos said the fire was accidental. It was apparently caused by combustible materials that had been kept too close to an electric heater in the trailer’s kitchen.

Beristianos said Capo’s death could have been prevented had the home had a working smoke detector.

The Northshore Fire Protection District offers free smoke detectors and installation to any district residents. Call 707-274-3100 for more information.

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.

New laws approved by the California Legislature in 2017 address many aspects of highway safety, including cannabis consumption, seat belts on buses and other issues.

To support its mission of providing the highest level of safety, service and security, the California Highway Patrol is highlighting several of these new laws.

Alcohol and marijuana in vehicles (SB 65, Hill): Smoking or ingesting cannabis while driving or riding in a vehicle is prohibited. This is consistent with current law prohibiting the consumption of alcohol in a motor vehicle.

Administration of cannabis laws in California (SB 94, Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review): This bill establishes a single system of administration for cannabis laws in California. Among its many provisions is an appropriation of $3 million for the CHP to train state and local law enforcement officers in drug recognition and impairment. SB 94 also prohibits the possession of an open container of cannabis or cannabis product when operating a motor vehicle. An Impaired Driving Task Force, led by the CHP Commissioner, was created to develop recommendations regarding the best practices, protocols, legislation, and policies to address driving under the influence (DUI) of cannabis and controlled substances. Law enforcement anticipates an increase in DUI resulting from the legalization of recreational cannabis. SB 94 went into effect on June 27, 2017.

Pedestrian crossing signals (AB 390, Santiago): This bill permits a pedestrian to begin crossing an intersection while facing a traffic signal displaying a flashing “DON’T WALK” or “Upraised Hand” symbol if the traffic signal includes a countdown timer and the pedestrian can complete the crossing before the traffic signal phases to a steady “DON’T WALK” or “Upraised Hand.” The intent of this law is to provide clear standards for pedestrian behavior at intersections controlled by traffic control signals and countdown timers.

Seat belts on buses (SB 20, Hill): Effective July 1, 2018, the driver and passengers of a tour bus are required to be properly restrained by seat belts if the bus is so equipped. Passengers will be allowed to move about the cabin of the bus to use onboard facilities. The operator of the tour bus will be required to ensure that the seat belts are in good working order and inform passengers of the legal requirement to wear a seat belt. School buses and transit buses are excluded from this bill.

On Monday, Jan. 1, millions of viewers around the world will watch as the California Highway Patrol’s Mounted Patrol Unit marches proudly along the 2018 Pasadena Tournament of Roses parade route.

The CHP Equestrian Unit was once again chosen to participate in this year’s celebration from among the hundreds of applicants.

“The CHP is honored to have been selected for the second year in a row to be part of the 129th Rose Parade,” said CHP Acting Commissioner Warren Stanley. “From the beginning, horses have played a role in the Rose Parade and the CHP’s Mounted Patrol Unit is proud to be part of such a historic event.”

On Wednesday, Dec. 27, six Belgian, Shire, Percheron and Clydesdale draft horses, their CHP riders, and three CHP escorts made the journey from Sacramento to Pasadena to be a part of the more than 100-year-old tradition, which includes flower-covered floats, marching bands, and other equestrian units from across the nation.

The CHP’s Mounted Patrol Unit is one of 18 equestrian entries in this year’s parade.

Other notable appearances for the CHP’s Mounted Patrol Unit in recent years include the San Francisco St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Hollywood Christmas Parade, Los Angeles Kingdom Day Parade, Lake Tahoe 4th of July celebration, University of California Equestrian Days, and both the Coarsegold and Red Bluff Round-Up Rodeos.

The CHP’s equestrian team is assigned to the Capitol Protection Section and is responsible for the State Capitol and Capitol Park, as well as hundreds of state properties in downtown Sacramento. The Mounted Patrol Unit is used for general patrol and other situations.

This year marks the 88th anniversary of the CHP and the 31st anniversary of the Department’s Mounted Patrol Unit.