How to resolve AdBlock issue? 
News
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The state’s latest report on unemployment showed a jump in Lake County’s jobless rate in June.
The California Employment Development Department’s report said the unemployment rate in Lake County was 5.7 percent in June, up from a revised 4.9 percent in May 2017 but below the year-ago estimate of 6.3 percent.
The report said California’s unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.7 percent in June, matching the record low that occurred in November-December 2000. In June 2016, the state’s unemployment rate was 5.5 percent.
California’s nonfarm payroll employment fell by 1,400 jobs in June. The Employment Development Department said the state has now gained a total of 2,516,700 jobs since the economic expansion began in February 2010.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics said the nation’s unemployment rate increased 0.1 percentage point in June to 4.4 percent, with employers nationwide adding 222,000 nonfarm payroll jobs. The national unemployment rate in June 2016 was 4.9 percent.
Lake County’s labor force included 29,600 people in June, down from 29,910 in May but up from 29,450 in June 2016, according to the report.
In Lake County, the “total farm” category in June showed a 9.3-percent drop from May, but an 11.4-percent increase over the past year.
Continuing to show large growth in the county is the “durable goods” subcategory of “total nonfarm,” with a 6.3-percent increase from May to June and a year-over 88.9 percent rise, the Employment Development Department said.
The “information” category showed a 9.1-percent month-over increase, but a 7.7-percent year-over decrease, the report showed.
Within Lake County, the Employment Development Department said jobless rates for the various communities are as follows, from lowest to highest: Cobb, 1.2 percent; Nice, 2.9 percent; north Lakeport, 3 percent; Hidden Valley Lake and Middletown, tied, 3.1 percent; Lakeport, 3.8 percent; Kelseyville, 3.9 percent; Upper Lake, 5.5 percent; Lucerne, 7.1 percent; city of Clearlake, 8.5 percent; Clearlake Oaks, 8.7 percent; and Lower Lake, 11.9 percent.
Lake County’s June jobless rate earned it a ranking of No. 33 out of the state’s 58 counties. The lowest unemployment statewide, 2.9 percent, was in San Mateo County, while Imperial had the highest, 20.8 percent.
Email Elizabeth Larson atThis 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 California Employment Development Department’s report said the unemployment rate in Lake County was 5.7 percent in June, up from a revised 4.9 percent in May 2017 but below the year-ago estimate of 6.3 percent.
The report said California’s unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.7 percent in June, matching the record low that occurred in November-December 2000. In June 2016, the state’s unemployment rate was 5.5 percent.
California’s nonfarm payroll employment fell by 1,400 jobs in June. The Employment Development Department said the state has now gained a total of 2,516,700 jobs since the economic expansion began in February 2010.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics said the nation’s unemployment rate increased 0.1 percentage point in June to 4.4 percent, with employers nationwide adding 222,000 nonfarm payroll jobs. The national unemployment rate in June 2016 was 4.9 percent.
Lake County’s labor force included 29,600 people in June, down from 29,910 in May but up from 29,450 in June 2016, according to the report.
In Lake County, the “total farm” category in June showed a 9.3-percent drop from May, but an 11.4-percent increase over the past year.
Continuing to show large growth in the county is the “durable goods” subcategory of “total nonfarm,” with a 6.3-percent increase from May to June and a year-over 88.9 percent rise, the Employment Development Department said.
The “information” category showed a 9.1-percent month-over increase, but a 7.7-percent year-over decrease, the report showed.
Within Lake County, the Employment Development Department said jobless rates for the various communities are as follows, from lowest to highest: Cobb, 1.2 percent; Nice, 2.9 percent; north Lakeport, 3 percent; Hidden Valley Lake and Middletown, tied, 3.1 percent; Lakeport, 3.8 percent; Kelseyville, 3.9 percent; Upper Lake, 5.5 percent; Lucerne, 7.1 percent; city of Clearlake, 8.5 percent; Clearlake Oaks, 8.7 percent; and Lower Lake, 11.9 percent.
Lake County’s June jobless rate earned it a ranking of No. 33 out of the state’s 58 counties. The lowest unemployment statewide, 2.9 percent, was in San Mateo County, while Imperial had the highest, 20.8 percent.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Clear Lake State Park invites the community to come out and view the Perseid meteor shower during a special event.
For one night only – Saturday, Aug. 12 – join interpretive park aide Mollie Shumaker and guests Bill Haddon and Tom Schlief from the Taylor Observatory at the park for “A Night Under The Stars."
Aug. 12 is the peak night for this year’s Perseid meteor shower, typically one of the most popular meteor showers of the year, with a rate of around 80 meteors an hour.
Bring your friends, family and a comfortable chair to enjoy this campfire program, beginning at 7:30 p.m. near the pavilion in the park.
Hear all about stargazing in Lake County from Dr. Bill Haddon, who is president and chief executive officer of the Friends of the Taylor Observatory.
He has collaborated with Clear Lake State Park for this event to raise awareness of astrotourism here and to help folks learn more about the observatory.
He is joined by Tom Schlief, an anthropologist with a career ranging from professional exhibit designer at the Field Museum in Chicago to his interest in astrophotography, which has produced high-quality photos of nebulas and galaxies, and for which he is becoming nationally renowned.
For your added enjoyment, telescopes will be available to view the meteor shower over Clear Lake.
Entrance to the park is free that evening for those attending this event.
For more information, contact the park office at 707-279-2267.
For one night only – Saturday, Aug. 12 – join interpretive park aide Mollie Shumaker and guests Bill Haddon and Tom Schlief from the Taylor Observatory at the park for “A Night Under The Stars."
Aug. 12 is the peak night for this year’s Perseid meteor shower, typically one of the most popular meteor showers of the year, with a rate of around 80 meteors an hour.
Bring your friends, family and a comfortable chair to enjoy this campfire program, beginning at 7:30 p.m. near the pavilion in the park.
Hear all about stargazing in Lake County from Dr. Bill Haddon, who is president and chief executive officer of the Friends of the Taylor Observatory.
He has collaborated with Clear Lake State Park for this event to raise awareness of astrotourism here and to help folks learn more about the observatory.
He is joined by Tom Schlief, an anthropologist with a career ranging from professional exhibit designer at the Field Museum in Chicago to his interest in astrophotography, which has produced high-quality photos of nebulas and galaxies, and for which he is becoming nationally renowned.
For your added enjoyment, telescopes will be available to view the meteor shower over Clear Lake.
Entrance to the park is free that evening for those attending this event.
For more information, contact the park office at 707-279-2267.
NORTH COAST, Calif. – The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office said its deputies have arrested a Willits man for vehicle theft after he was found driving a car stolen out of Lucerne.
Brandon Lawson, 21, was arrested for motor vehicle theft, possession of a shaved vehicle key, possession of a controlled substance and a probation violation following a vehicle stop on July 21, according to a report from Sgt. Quincy Cromer.
Also arrested at the time on charges unrelated to the vehicle theft were Lawson’s passengers, 19-year-old Kylee Wood of Willits and Heather Schmidt, 29, of Ukiah, Cromer said.
Cromer said that at 7:45 p.m. July 21 a deputy on patrol in Willits observed a sedan traveling in the area of Sherwood Hill Drive and noticed multiple vehicle infractions being committed.
The deputy pulled the vehicle over in the area of Sherwood Hill Drive and Pomo Court and contacted the driver, who Cromer said was identified based on prior contacts as Lawson.
Cromer said the deputy asked Lawson to exit the vehicle because the license plates on the sedan did not match the vehicle.
Additional deputies from the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office, along with officers from the Willits Police Department and California Highway Patrol, arrived to assist with the investigation, Cromer said.
Upon providing the vehicle identification number to dispatch, Cromer said the deputies learned the vehicle had been reported as stolen from a 60-year-old Lucerne man.
Lawson and the other occupants in the vehicle were detained at that time, Cromer said.
During a subsequent search of the vehicle, deputies located numerous "shaved" and blank ignition keys inside the passenger compartment. Cromer said the deputies knew these items to be common tools used to commit vehicle thefts so the keys were secured as evidence.
As the investigation continued, Lawson was found to be on summary probation and was also in possession of methamphetamine, and subsequently was arrested, Cromer said.
Cromer said the vehicle’s passengers also were questioned regarding this investigation.
Schmidt later was placed under arrest for a felony and misdemeanor warrant issued in Mendocino County. Wood was arrested for possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia, Cromer said.
He said Lawson and Schmidt subsequently were booked into the Mendocino County Jail, where they were both to be held in lieu of $15,000 bail. Wood was cited and released for her charges at the scene.
Brandon Lawson, 21, was arrested for motor vehicle theft, possession of a shaved vehicle key, possession of a controlled substance and a probation violation following a vehicle stop on July 21, according to a report from Sgt. Quincy Cromer.
Also arrested at the time on charges unrelated to the vehicle theft were Lawson’s passengers, 19-year-old Kylee Wood of Willits and Heather Schmidt, 29, of Ukiah, Cromer said.
Cromer said that at 7:45 p.m. July 21 a deputy on patrol in Willits observed a sedan traveling in the area of Sherwood Hill Drive and noticed multiple vehicle infractions being committed.
The deputy pulled the vehicle over in the area of Sherwood Hill Drive and Pomo Court and contacted the driver, who Cromer said was identified based on prior contacts as Lawson.
Cromer said the deputy asked Lawson to exit the vehicle because the license plates on the sedan did not match the vehicle.
Additional deputies from the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office, along with officers from the Willits Police Department and California Highway Patrol, arrived to assist with the investigation, Cromer said.
Upon providing the vehicle identification number to dispatch, Cromer said the deputies learned the vehicle had been reported as stolen from a 60-year-old Lucerne man.
Lawson and the other occupants in the vehicle were detained at that time, Cromer said.
During a subsequent search of the vehicle, deputies located numerous "shaved" and blank ignition keys inside the passenger compartment. Cromer said the deputies knew these items to be common tools used to commit vehicle thefts so the keys were secured as evidence.
As the investigation continued, Lawson was found to be on summary probation and was also in possession of methamphetamine, and subsequently was arrested, Cromer said.
Cromer said the vehicle’s passengers also were questioned regarding this investigation.
Schmidt later was placed under arrest for a felony and misdemeanor warrant issued in Mendocino County. Wood was arrested for possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia, Cromer said.
He said Lawson and Schmidt subsequently were booked into the Mendocino County Jail, where they were both to be held in lieu of $15,000 bail. Wood was cited and released for her charges at the scene.
NORTH COAST, Calif. – Sonoma County Sheriff’s deputies arrested a 59-year-old Sebastopol woman on Tuesday for allegedly stealing more than $250,000 from her former employer.
Frances Farias was arrested on suspicion of taking the money from Windsor’s Oakmont Senior Living, according to Sgt. Spencer Crum.
Crum said the investigation began on Jan. 13, 2017, when Oakmont Senior Living’s management called the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office to report that Farias, their former payroll clerk, was accused of funneling payroll funds to fictitious and secondary employee accounts.
A lengthy forensic audit was then conducted of Oakmont’s accounts, Crum said.
Detectives determined that Farias was in charge of payroll for Oakmont and that she set up 10 fictitious employee accounts created for the company over the last three years. Crum said the payroll accounts were comprised of contractor employees who had done work for the company along with completely fictitious employees.
These employees’ accounts were all directed at four different online banking institutions. Crum said detectives determined that these online bank accounts were actually owned by Farias.
Oakmont had been paying these fictitious employees paychecks over the course of the last three years. Crum said the total loss accumulated over the three years is in excess of $256,000.
Farias had left Oakmont’s employment in May 2016. When a new payroll clerk was hired, she noticed accounting irregularities which triggered the initial investigation, Crum said.
Crum said that at the conclusion of the sheriff’s office investigation, Sheriff’s Property Crimes Unit detectives secured a $2 million warrant for Farias’ arrest.
Detectives arrested Farias on July 25 for the warrant and while serving a search warrant at her home they found evidence of her crimes, Crum said.
Crum said Farias also is being investigated for several other fraudulent schemes as well that may result in further criminal charges.
Farias is currently being held in the Sonoma County Jail on seven felony charges including grand theft and identity theft. After a court hearing on Tuesday, a judge reduced her bail to $100,000, Crum said.
Frances Farias was arrested on suspicion of taking the money from Windsor’s Oakmont Senior Living, according to Sgt. Spencer Crum.
Crum said the investigation began on Jan. 13, 2017, when Oakmont Senior Living’s management called the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office to report that Farias, their former payroll clerk, was accused of funneling payroll funds to fictitious and secondary employee accounts.
A lengthy forensic audit was then conducted of Oakmont’s accounts, Crum said.
Detectives determined that Farias was in charge of payroll for Oakmont and that she set up 10 fictitious employee accounts created for the company over the last three years. Crum said the payroll accounts were comprised of contractor employees who had done work for the company along with completely fictitious employees.
These employees’ accounts were all directed at four different online banking institutions. Crum said detectives determined that these online bank accounts were actually owned by Farias.
Oakmont had been paying these fictitious employees paychecks over the course of the last three years. Crum said the total loss accumulated over the three years is in excess of $256,000.
Farias had left Oakmont’s employment in May 2016. When a new payroll clerk was hired, she noticed accounting irregularities which triggered the initial investigation, Crum said.
Crum said that at the conclusion of the sheriff’s office investigation, Sheriff’s Property Crimes Unit detectives secured a $2 million warrant for Farias’ arrest.
Detectives arrested Farias on July 25 for the warrant and while serving a search warrant at her home they found evidence of her crimes, Crum said.
Crum said Farias also is being investigated for several other fraudulent schemes as well that may result in further criminal charges.
Farias is currently being held in the Sonoma County Jail on seven felony charges including grand theft and identity theft. After a court hearing on Tuesday, a judge reduced her bail to $100,000, Crum said.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – A 12-year-old Kelseyville boy walking along Highway 29 died early Wednesday after being hit by a vehicle.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office identified the juvenile victim as Joseph Dominic Lacoy.
The California Highway Patrol said Lacoy was hit by a pickup in an area along Highway 29 just south of Highland Springs Road minutes before 3:30 a.m.
The CHP said that Eugene John Odell Jr., 38, of Kelseyville was driving his 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 pickup northbound on Highway 29 approaching Highland Springs Road when, for reasons still under investigation, he struck Lacoy.
The CHP said Lacoy was thrown from the roadway by the force of the collision.
Lake County Sheriff’s Office investigators passing through the area happened on the scene and attempted CPR on the boy, but he succumbed to his injuries, according to CHP Officer Korey Reynolds said.
Odell was not injured, the CHP said.
No drugs or alcohol are believed to be factors in the collision, according to the CHP.
Reynolds said the CHP is continuing its investigation into the crash, with officials also trying to determine why the boy was on the highway at that time of the night.
Email Elizabeth Larson atThis 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 Lake County Sheriff’s Office identified the juvenile victim as Joseph Dominic Lacoy.
The California Highway Patrol said Lacoy was hit by a pickup in an area along Highway 29 just south of Highland Springs Road minutes before 3:30 a.m.
The CHP said that Eugene John Odell Jr., 38, of Kelseyville was driving his 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 pickup northbound on Highway 29 approaching Highland Springs Road when, for reasons still under investigation, he struck Lacoy.
The CHP said Lacoy was thrown from the roadway by the force of the collision.
Lake County Sheriff’s Office investigators passing through the area happened on the scene and attempted CPR on the boy, but he succumbed to his injuries, according to CHP Officer Korey Reynolds said.
Odell was not injured, the CHP said.
No drugs or alcohol are believed to be factors in the collision, according to the CHP.
Reynolds said the CHP is continuing its investigation into the crash, with officials also trying to determine why the boy was on the highway at that time of the night.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Wildland fires from around Northern California are once again contributing to hazy summer skies in Lake County.
Over the past several days, a smoky haze has settled over parts of the county and hung over Clear Lake despite no local fire incidents.
Doug Gearhart, air pollution control officer with the Lake County Air Quality Management District, told Lake County News that the smoke is coming from the north.
He said the smoke is primarily from the Modoc fire, the Clear and Island fires in the Klamath National Forest, and the several other fires in the northern National Forests.
The 1,314-acre Island fire was sparked by lightning on June 25 deep in the Marble Mountain Wilderness on the Klamath National Forest, officials reported.
The US Forest Service said an alternative suppression approach is being used on the fire to clean up hazardous fuels from an area of wilderness where there is no recorded large fire history.
Officials said the fire is spreading at a rate of 20 to 50 acres a day, with smoke impacts being closely monitored.
Another group of lightning-caused fires, the Modoc July complex began on July 24 on the Modoc National Forest West of Highway 395, the Forest Service said.
As of Tuesday night, it had burned 61,730 acres and is expected to be contained on Aug. 16, officials said.
The Clear complex, also caused by lightning, began on July 25 on the Happy Camp Oak/ Knoll Ranger District of the Klamath National Forest, the US Forest Service reported. As of Tuesday night, it had burned 2,450 acres.
Email Elizabeth Larson atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
Over the past several days, a smoky haze has settled over parts of the county and hung over Clear Lake despite no local fire incidents.
Doug Gearhart, air pollution control officer with the Lake County Air Quality Management District, told Lake County News that the smoke is coming from the north.
He said the smoke is primarily from the Modoc fire, the Clear and Island fires in the Klamath National Forest, and the several other fires in the northern National Forests.
The 1,314-acre Island fire was sparked by lightning on June 25 deep in the Marble Mountain Wilderness on the Klamath National Forest, officials reported.
The US Forest Service said an alternative suppression approach is being used on the fire to clean up hazardous fuels from an area of wilderness where there is no recorded large fire history.
Officials said the fire is spreading at a rate of 20 to 50 acres a day, with smoke impacts being closely monitored.
Another group of lightning-caused fires, the Modoc July complex began on July 24 on the Modoc National Forest West of Highway 395, the Forest Service said.
As of Tuesday night, it had burned 61,730 acres and is expected to be contained on Aug. 16, officials said.
The Clear complex, also caused by lightning, began on July 25 on the Happy Camp Oak/ Knoll Ranger District of the Klamath National Forest, the US Forest Service reported. As of Tuesday night, it had burned 2,450 acres.
Email Elizabeth Larson at