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CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – A Caltrans worker was seriously injured at the agency’s maintenance yard in Clearlake Oaks on Wednesday.
Firefighters were dispatched to the maintenance yard, located at 13070 Highway 20, just before 8:45 a.m. Wednesday on the report of a male employee who had become caught in a garage door, according to radio reports.
Northshore Fire and Cal Fire responded, with firefighters reporting from the scene that they had extricated the man within minutes of their arrival on scene.
Reports from the scene indicated that the man was transported by Northshore Fire ambulance to Sutter Lakeside Hospital, where they rendezvoused with a REACH air ambulance that responded from Willits.
Shortly before 10 a.m. REACH reported that it lifted off with the patient en route to Enloe Hospital in Chico.
Phil Frisbie Jr., Caltrans’ chief of public information, confirmed to Lake County News that an employee was seriously injured in the incident. The man’s name was not released.
Frisbie said the injured employee’s condition had “greatly improved” since the accident Wednesday.
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COBB, Calif. – A south county man died this week when his backhoe overturned while he was clearing property on Cobb.
Mark Victor Basili, 62, was killed in the accident, which occurred on Tuesday in the area of Bleuss Way, according to Lt. Steve Brooks of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
Brooks said that Basili was clearing the area to start building a new house when, based on the conclusion of the subsequent investigation, the backhoe went off the road and overturned, killing him.
Later that day, Basili’s wife became concerned when he didn’t return home or respond to calls to his cell phone, Brooks said.
She drove to the site, where she discovered the overturned backhoe and her husband’s body, according to Brooks.
Brooks said a coroner’s investigation was conducted as is standard in such cases. “There’s nothing suspicious,” he said.
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MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. – Starting May 30, days and hours of operation will change temporarily at the Stonyford Work Center on the Grindstone Ranger District.
Beginning May 30, the work center will be closed Tuesdays and open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4:30 p.m.
In addition, the office will be closed Monday, May 29, in observance of the Memorial Day holiday.
This temporary change will last through June and is being implemented due to limited staffing.
Visitors are advised that products are available online before traveling to the forest. Forest maps may be found at the National Forest Map Store, http://www.nationalforestmapstore.com/ and campfire permits may be obtained at http://www.preventwildfireca.org .
Firewood permits and recreation passes can be purchased at the Mendocino National Forest Supervisor’s office 825 N. Humboldt Ave., Willows, Monday through Friday.
Please check for information about conditions on the forest Web site at http://www.fs.usda.gov/mendocino/ or call 530-934-3316.
Information is also posted outside the work center.
LOWER LAKE, Calif. – The Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association, or AMIA, will hold its annual membership meeting and open house on Wednesday, June 14.
The event will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Anderson Marsh State Historic Park Ranch House, located on Highway 53 between Lower Lake and Clearlake.
Join fellow association members in the historic ranch house for an evening of information, refreshments and entertainment.
This event is open to the public, so bring your friends to join in the fun. Refreshments will be provided.
A lot of things are happening right now at the Park and the group has big plans for the next year.
When the Clayton fire was approaching the park last year, the contents of the ranch house were removed to protect them.
Fortunately, the fire was stopped before it reached any of the park buildings.
Since that time, tours of the historic ranch house have been temporarily suspended.
AMIA has reached an agreement with State Parks to partner together to do a long-needed cleaning of the ranch house, return the Anderson furniture that it formerly contained, refurnish it with additional items from the period and resume scheduled tours.
This and other AMIA plans will be discussed at the annual meeting, which will include music and refreshments, a slide show depicting the highlights of AMIA’s past year and plans for the future, introduction of AMIA’s 2017 officers and presentation of AMIA’s 2017 Volunteer of the Year Award.
AMIA Board members will be available to answer questions about the ranch house and what is happening in the park.
For information about the event, contact AMIA at 707-995-2658 or email
As the summer months approach and with increased sightings of white sharks off Southern California beaches, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife is issuing a reminder that white sharks are a protected species under both state and federal fisheries laws and regulations.
“White sharks are regularly found in Southern California in summer months, usually heading to Mexico in the winter,” said John Ugoretz, CDFW’s Pelagic Fisheries and Ecosystem Program manager. “With relatively warm water last year, the sharks may have stayed closer and in greater numbers. Many anglers are wondering if they can catch a white shark but, as a top level predator critical to the marine ecosystem, white sharks are protected.”
In 1994, white sharks received special protected status in California law, which prohibits take of white sharks, except by special permit and some commercial incidental take allowances. Additionally, state regulations protect white sharks from recreational fishing.
Federal regulations implemented in 2004 prohibit white shark retention in California, requiring their immediate release if caught. Under these protections, it is illegal to fish for or purposely attract white sharks and they must be released immediately if incidentally caught while fishing for other species.
These laws and regulations are in place because of White Shark biology. As a top-level predator with naturally low reproduction, white sharks are susceptible to overfishing.
Additionally, nearshore areas in northern Baja and Southern California are known as a “nursery ground” for juvenile white sharks.
Most of the sharks observed off Southern California beaches are sub-adults that typically feed on fish. Sharks in this high human population area can be particularly vulnerable to capture and incidental take.
According to CDFW Law Enforcement Division Captain Rebecca Hartman, “It is illegal not only to catch and keep a white shark, but to pursue one as well.” This means intentionally pursuing or otherwise attracting white sharks is prohibited.
With white sharks near Southern California beaches, CDFW wildlife officers will be looking for people trying to catch them.
“We want to protect the sharks and the public,” said Captain Hartman. “Our biggest concern is that someone will accidentally hurt themselves or someone else while illegally trying to catch a white shark.”
To learn more about white sharks in California, please visit www.wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Marine/White-Shark .
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Sutter Lakeside Hospital Auxiliary is now accepting new members.
Sutter Lakeside Hospital’s Auxiliary, a vibrant group of dedicated volunteers who give their time and energy to support the hospital, has existed for more than 50 years.
The auxiliary formed in 1967 and has since donated hundreds of thousands of dollars back to the hospital, as well as more than 6,000 hours of service a year.
The time-honored group assists hospital operations through greeting patients, helping patients who arrive for surgery, and rounding with the Healing Cart, which provides patients with alternative pain management options such as aromatherapy, relaxation music and art therapy.
The auxiliary also plays a vital role in fundraising for the hospital through management of the gift shop.
Proceeds from merchandise sold in the gift shop are donated back to the hospital to purchase essential equipment and support patient services.
The rewarding work positively impacts the community in a number of ways, and offers opportunities for a wide array of talents and interests.
Auxiliary membership is open to anyone over the age of 18, and volunteers are asked to commit to at least four hours of service per week.
Opportunities include working in the emergency room, surgery center, front desk and Family Birth Center.
For more information on how to join the auxiliary, please contact Morgen Wells by phone at 707-262-5121, or by email at
Interested applicants can also stop by the hospital gift shop, located at 5176 Hill Road East in Lakeport, to fill out an application.
Morgen Wells is community relations and fund development coordinator at Sutter Lakeside Hospital.