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Bonnie Trumble
1921-2017
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – We invite you to “get together” to share memories of our beloved Bonnie Trumble.
We are having a social meeting in the conference room at Robinson Rancheria Casino on April 15, 2017, from 1 to 4 p.m. A photo gallery of her life and snacks will be served.
For information please contact Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary at 707-263-0357 or 707-994-5611, or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com .
William Boyd Devine
Dec. 20, 1929 – Dec. 9, 2016
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – William Boyd Devine, “Bill,” passed away peacefully on Dec. 9, 2016.
A celebration of life ceremony is scheduled at the Upper Lake Seventh-day Adventist Church on Saturday, April 8, at 3 p.m., with a light dinner to follow.
For information please contact Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary at 707-263-0357 or 707-994-5611, or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com .
When and where is nonlead ammunition required?
Question: I have a question about airguns. With the new lead ban going into effect, can I still hunt turkeys with lead airgun pellets? Are pellet rifles included in the nonlead ammunition ban? (Bill K., Placerville)
Answer: Since pellet rifles are not firearms, the use of lead projectiles in pellet rifles is not prohibited.
Was there a federal reversal of the ban on lead ammunition?
Question: I heard there was a federal reversal of the ban on use of lead ammunition for hunting on federal lands. How does this affect those of us who hunt on federal lands in California? (Michael H., Yuba City)
Answer: The new administration reversed a January 2017 federal order from the former director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that would have phased in federal requirements to use nontoxic ammunition (and fishing tackle) on federal lands nationwide.
The federal order was separate and independent from California’s effort to phase out the use of lead ammunition.
For California hunters, there is no change whether hunting on federal, state or private land. Neither federal action affects the phase-in of California’s prohibition on the use of lead projectiles while taking wildlife in California.
California is currently phasing out the use of lead ammunition for hunting across the state, including while hunting on federal lands.
Beginning July 1, 2019, nonlead ammunition will be required when taking any wildlife with a firearm anywhere in California.
Until then, non-lead ammunition is required when hunting big game or coyotes in the California condor range with a rifle or pistol. Nonlead ammunition is required when hunting any species on California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s wildlife areas and ecological reserves.
When hunting bighorn sheep, or when using a shotgun to hunt waterfowl or upland game birds (except for dove, quail, snipe and any upland game birds taken on licensed game bird clubs) you must use nonlead ammunition. In addition, nonlead shot is required when using a shotgun to take resident small game mammals, furbearing mammals, nongame mammals, nongame birds and any wildlife for depredation purposes.
For more information and details, please check our nonlead ammunition Web site.
What are the nonlead ammunition requirements on private land?
Question: We enjoy hunting on a friend’s private ranch and would like to know if the nonlead ammunition laws apply to private lands and landowners. This property is not open to public access and is only hunted by family and friends of the landowner. (Samuel P., Paso Robles)
Answer: These laws apply both to public and private lands. Please refer to the previous answer regarding California’s phase-out of lead ammunition and where restrictions apply, as well as CDFW’s nonlead ammunition website.
Will nonlead ammunition be required for target shooting?
Question: When we go out target shooting, are we required to shoot only nonlead ammo? (Anonymous)
Answer: No. You are not required to use nonlead ammunition when target shooting. Use of lead projectiles for target shooting is legal unless CDFW or another government entity has determined otherwise for lands they administer.
California’s prohibition on the use of lead projectiles only applies while taking wildlife. For more information and details, please check our nonlead ammunition Web site.
Nonlead requirements for concealed carry firearms?
Question: I know that nonlead is required for use when hunting, but if I have my concealed carry weapon (CCW) permit and I’m carrying my pistol concealed for my personal protection along with my shotgun, does the pistol have to also contain only nonlead bullets? (Ben W., Merced)
Answer: No. CCR, Title 14 section 250.1(c) provides, “Nothing in this section is intended to prohibit the possession of concealable firearms containing lead ammunition, provided that the firearm is possessed for personal protection and is not used to take or assist in the take of wildlife.”
With the exception of ammunition for concealable firearms possessed for personal protection, hunters may not possess lead ammunition along with a firearm capable of firing that ammunition when nonlead ammunition is required.
How will wildlife officers check for compliance?
Question: How will wildlife officers check and confirm that hunters are using nonlead ammunition? (Anonymous)
Answer: All ammunition in a hunter’s possession may be inspected by wildlife officers. In some cases, if a wildlife officer suspects a hunter is in possession of lead ammunition and cannot prove otherwise in the field, he or she may seize a cartridge or bullet for further analysis. Hunters are encouraged to assist in confirming compliance by retaining ammunition boxes or other packaging.
Carrie Wilson is a marine environmental scientist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. While she cannot personally answer everyone’s questions, she will select a few to answer each week in this column. Please contact her at
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Dozens of local schoolchildren returning from a field trip on Friday afternoon escaped serious injury when the charter bus in which they were riding was clipped by a vehicle that had first been involved in another collision.
The incident, first reported just before 1:30 p.m., occurred at Olympic Drive and Highway 53 in Clearlake, according to Lake County Fire Chief Willie Sapeta.
The initial reports from the Clearlake Police Department said the crash involved three vehicles, with police closing the road in the area for a short period of time.
The Konocti Unified School District reported on its Facebook page that the charter bus – carrying sixth graders from Burns Valley School who were returning from science camp – was involved in “a minor accident.”
Sapeta said the primary collision involved a near head-on involving two other vehicles, one of which continued on and clipped the charter bus, which was carrying about 42 Burns Valley School students, staff and chaperones.
Numerous Lake County Fire units, along with Cal Fire and Northshore Fire, responded, Sapeta said.
When firefighters arrived, “The kids were screaming and upset due to the dynamics of the accident,” Sapeta said.
An air ambulance responded to the scene to transport an individual reported to be the driver of one of the first two vehicles. Three others from that primary crash were taken by ground ambulance to St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake, according to Sapeta.
Sapeta said four of the children on the bus had complaints of neck and back pain, as well as anxiety, and were taken to the hospital for evaluation.
A firefighter got on the bus with the staff and remaining children – which included several students chaperones from Lower Lake High School – to talk to them and calm them down, Sapeta said, explaining that they had to keep the children on the bus at that point.
The charter bus itself had little damage and could still be driven. Sapeta said the firefighter rode on the bus with the staff and children, followed by an engine, Sapeta himself and the California Highway Patrol.
Radio reports indicated Sapeta and the group moved to Burns Valley School between 2:30 and 2:45 p.m.
Ahead of the children arriving back at Burns Valley School, Sapeta said a fire district representative and staffers from Lake Elementary and Burns Valley Elementary were at the school to meet with parents and inform them of the crash.
Sapeta said firefighters met with each of the families who came to pick up their children, explaining the situation and then giving them a list of things to watch for over the next 24 hours regarding physical and psychological issues that the children may experience in response to the crash.
He said paramedics were available to evaluate children medically if parents had additional concerns. He said no other children ended up being transported from the school.
Shortly after 3 p.m., after officials followed the careful process of working with the families and having them sign for their children, all of the children had been turned over to their parents, Sapeta said.
Sapeta praised the work of the different agencies involved, and gave special recognition to the high school chaperones for how they handled the situation. “They did an amazing job.”
Information on the other vehicles and individuals involved in the crash wasn’t immediately available late Friday afternoon from authorities.
Contacted by Lake County News just after 4 p.m., the Clearlake Police Department said it had no additional information on the crash at that time.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County District Attorney’s Perjury Investigation Unit has made another arrest, this time of a woman who falsely claimed she had been the victim of an assault.
On Wednesday members of the unit arrested Danee Kristine Patterson, 23, for two felony counts of perjury, one felony count of filing a false affidavit to the court and one misdemeanor count of making a false police report, District Attorney Don Anderson reported.
Anderson said the case came to the Perjury Investigation Unit as a result of a false report being made to the Clearlake Police Department by Patterson.
He said Patterson had reported that her employer, with whom she denied having any romantic relationship, had assaulted her.
An investigation by the Clearlake Police Department concluded she was in fact having a romantic relationship with her employer and that the assault never occurred. Anderson said Patterson admitted to the police that she had made up the story to gain advantage in a pending custody battle over their child.
In an application to obtain a restraining order and custody of their child, Patterson had filed with the court an affidavit alleging the assault by her employer, Anderson said.
Afterward, on May 12, 2016, despite admitting to the police the assault never happened, she testified in the family law trial that she never had a romantic relationship with her employer and that her employer had assaulted her, according to Anderson.
In a separate civil proceeding in on March 17, Anderson said Patterson again testified that she did not have a romantic relationship with her employer and that the employer had assaulted her.
During that court hearing an investigator with the District Attorney's Perjury Unit was in court monitoring the testimony, Anderson said.
Anderson said Patterson faces a maximum seven-year sentence for her perjured testimony if convicted.
Anderson established the Perjury Investigative Unit in June in an attempt to curb false testimony in criminal, civil and family law courts.
It’s believed to be the only district attorney’s office in the United States to establish a perjury unit with the specific intent to prosecute perjury cases.
The Lake County District Attorney’s Perjury Investigation Unit has been recognized for its work by agencies throughout the country including the American Bar Association and the California District Attorney's Association.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Donations to assist Lake County flood survivors are currently being collected through a collaborative effort between North Coast Opportunities and Mendo Lake Credit Union, representatives for the two entities announced.
The Lake County Flood Relief fund has been established to help Lake County residents severely impacted by recent rains and flooding, with many families displaced by extreme conditions.
Donations may be made on either NCO or MLCU’s Web sites, and fund applications for affected families and individuals are available online.
Additionally, anyone wishing to donate to the flood relief fund can go in person to any MLCU branch, or send a check to MLCU made out to NCO with “Lake County Flood” in the notes field.
“Both MLCU and NCO recognize the need to help our local residents who have been hard hit by this year’s wet weather. Much like we did following the devastation from fires in the south county nearly two years ago, we join NCO in wanting to help our community members,” said Jamey Gill, MLCU director of Marketing and Community Outreach. “MLCU is all about people helping people, and our mission is to support the economic wellbeing of the communities we serve.”
Among those affected by flooding in the Lakeport area were more than 200 residents, according to Kevin Ingram, City of Lakeport public information officer.
Of those 200, 175 are from the Will-O-Point Resort where 41 homes were “red-tagged.” Residents will not likely be able to return to their homes for at least two to three months, he said.
“The flooding aggravated the already constrained utilities at the mobile home park, most notably sewer,” Ingram explained. “Occupancy of the homes located within Will-O-Point will remain prohibited until repair work on the utilities is completed by the owner. This repair work is further aggravated by the continued elevated level of Clear Lake as the property owner is not even able to begin to analyze needed repairs until additional groundwater levels at the park recede further.”
Ingram characterized the majority of the families affected as low and very low income earners.
The biggest need for the families is rental assistance for temporary housing and deposit assistance for relocation, said Ingram. Families lost clothing and food due to the flooding situation, as well as having to leave their homes for an extended amount of time. Additionally, when families return to their Will-O-Point homes, they may find that some minor repairs will be necessary.
NCO and MLCU’s representatives pointed out that 100 percent of funds collected will go straight to those affected; no portion of the donations will go toward administrative overhead. Donations are tax deductible.
For more information on how to donate or how to apply for funds, visit either NCO or MLCU’s Web sites or contact NCO Executive Assistant Elizabeth Archer at
NCO is the Community Action Agency for Lake and Mendocino counties, and part of its mission is to serve those in need during emergency situations. The fund was officially set up by NCO as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Mendo Lake Credit Union is a member-owned financial cooperative and has been serving members’ financial needs since 1959. MLCU branches are located in Lakeport, Clearlake, Fort Bragg and Ukiah.