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This story has been updated with additional details about the phone carrier and counties affected.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – On Monday residents of Lake County were startled by an ongoing series of phone test alerts that were reported to have been the result of a system malfunction.
The multiple alerts came on Monday morning through the Integrated Public Alert Warning System, or IPAWS.
Lake County News received reports from local residents who said their phones had gone off about every 10 minutes for more than two hours.
The malfunction impacted US Cellular and not other cell phone carriers such as Verizon or AT&T, according to local officials.
There also were reports in other parts of the United States about receiving the alerts over an extended period.
Sheriff Brian Martin said the issues appeared to be a computer malfunction at the Federal Emergency Management Agency which subsequently was resolved Monday afternoon.
Martin said Central Dispatch received a notification from the state Office of Emergency Services regarding the malfunction issue.
Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino and other areas north to Oregon also were impacted, according to information Martin provided to Lake County News.
Earlier this year the sheriff's office joined the IPAWS system, which is used by federal, state, territorial, tribal and local authorities to issue emergency alerts and warning, as Lake County News has reported.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – On Thursday, Nov. 10, The Lake County Campus of Woodland Community College will be honoring and celebrating Veterans Day.
The event will begin at noon at the campus, 15880 Dam Road Extension in Clearlake.
The public is invited to attend the event, which will include the posting of the colors of the guard and student Anthony Neves singing the national anthem.
A guest speaker who will talk about their experience and detail what it means to be a vet, and discuss the important programs and benefits available to veterans in our local area.
There are more veterans in Lake County, per capita, than any other county in California. Woodland Community College feels it is important to honor and support our veterans and does so through events such as this and others such as the veterans’ educational benefit workshop it just offered on Nov. 3.
Aromas Café, the student-run campus restaurant, will be providing food for the event. They will be serving pork adobo with lumpia for $8, tempura sushi for $5, wonton soup for $5, pork belly appetizer for $6 and a teriyaki beef bowl with wonton for $8. All veterans will get an automatic 50 percent off anything they purchase from the restaurant.
For more information please contact the college at 707-995-7900 or visit http://lcc.yccd.edu .
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Authorities in Shasta County are investigating the case of a Redding woman who went missing while on a jog and whose family believes she may have been abducted.
The Shasta County Sheriff's Office said Sherri Papini disappeared under suspicious circumstances near her home on Nov. 2 and is considered to be at risk.
Officials said Papini, 34, was reported missing shortly before 6 p.m. after she was not found at home and her cell phone was discovered on the ground near the intersection of Sunrise Drive and Old Oregon Trail in Redding.
Her family members have told the media that they believe Papini was abducted and that she's likely been moved out of the area.
On Thursday, the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office and its Search and Rescue Team conducted organized searches in the area where Papini's phone was found.
CHP air operations assisted with an aerial search, and ground searchers conducted followup canvasses and contacted area residences while searching for any evidence or clues associated with Papini, officials said.
Good information was obtained during those efforts and passed onto detectives, which assisted them in putting together a timeline of Papini’s activities on the date of her disappearance, the sheriff's office said.
At the same time, detectives had reportedly conducted numerous interviews with Papini’s family, friends and the public.
The work so far has included patrol deputies making contacts with pedestrians and motorists in an attempt to learn information about what has occurred, with deputies and detectives also contacting sex offender registrants in the area, expanding the coverage area.
The Shasta County Sheriff’s Office said it has received multiple eyewitness reports from neighbors who know Papini and saw her in the area of Sunrise Drive on Nov. 2 in the mid to late morning or early afternoon, wearing a pink jogging top while she was on a jog/walk.
Detectives with the Major Crimes Unit continue to sort through approximately 150 tips that have been generated from the public, and are reviewing surveillance videos from neighboring residences and business in the area where Papini went missing.
The Sheriff’s Office said it is utilizing resources from the Redding Police Department, as well as from the Department of Justice, and continues to keep close contact with Papini family.
Officials are offering a $50,000 reward in the case.
Anyone with information on Papini’s whereabouts or tips can call dispatch 24 hours a day at 530-245-6540 or at the Major Crimes Unit 530-245-6135.
Tips can also be submitted at
A Facebook page also has been set up to provide updates and generate information on Papini's case.
MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. – Fire managers are preparing to conduct a 45-acre prescribed fire about five miles north of Upper Lake on the Upper Lake Ranger District on Wednesday, Nov. 9.
Crews are planning to ignite units that are part of the Howard Mill project, Mendocino National Forest officials reported.
Smoke may be visible from Highway 20, Upper Lake and surrounding areas. Officials said the unit is predominantly timber with pine litter understory and smoke should disperse quickly after ignitions are completed.
Burns are conducted within a “prescription” that is determined by appropriate fuel moisture, temperature, humidity, wind and ventilation.
Fire crews implement, monitor, and patrol each project to ensure it meets the goals and objectives outlined in the prescribed burn plans.
Some of these objectives include reducing hazardous fuels, protecting communities from extreme fires, and recycling nutrients back to the soil.
A project map is available on the forest Web site, http://tinyurl.com/z59o2mb .
LAKEPORT, Calif. – On Oct. 21 the Soper Reese Theatre held its second annual Jillian Billester Memorial Scholarship fundraising event where it awarded two $1,000 scholarships to Gabriela Jauragui and William McAuley.
Presenting the scholarships was last year’s recipient Clara Carstensen along with Barbara Clark of the Lake County Theatre Co., Susan Condit of the Lake County Symphony Association and Michael Adams of the Soper Reese Theatre.
Representatives of these arts organizations as well as Robert Carpenter of the Lake County Arts Council and community representative Wilda Shock make up the scholarship committee that nominates and selects the recipients. Recipients are chosen based on their active involvement in the community and the arts.
Gabriela Jauragui is a former student of Lower Lake High School, currently attending UC Berkeley.
She has been involved in many community organizations including the Lake County Youth Orchestra and numerous school organizations. She was instrumental in helping form the Lower Lake High School Drumline.
William McAuley is currently attending Mendocino College and has been performing in plays with the Lake County Theatre Co. since he was very young. He is the current president of Lake County Theatre Co.
The event helped raise funds for next year’s scholarships.
Two bands, The Fargo Brothers and the Psychedellos, donated their time and talents to entertain the crowd.
Anyone wishing to contribute to the Jillian Billester Memorial Scholarship can send donations to Soper Reese Theatre, Attn: Scholarship, P.O. Box 756, Lakeport, CA 95453.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Donnette passed away on Oct. 16, 2016 in Lakeport after a lengthy illness, surrounded by family. She was 65 years old.
Donnette Motley was born in Oakland, Calif., on Feb. 18, 1951. She was the third child and first daughter of Louie Lawrence Motley and Neelgia Motley.
Donnette was raised in Oakland, with seven brothers and sisters. In her early childhood, she attended St. Mary's Catholic School.
Her sister Deardra lovingly remembers that growing up, Donnette loved to sew and had a passion for dancing. Donnette graduated from Castlemont High School in Oakland in 1970, and later spent some time at Merritt College.
In 1989, Donnette and her family moved to Hidden Valley, Calif. There, she developed her career at Guenoc Winery as a line supervisor and raised her family.
Donnette cherished her garden, which she decorated with heart-shaped rocks she found, and she always had fresh cut flowers in the house. She was an amazing cook and baked the best pineapple cream pies. She loved animals, especially her cats Chewie and Lucy.
Donnette was preceded in death by her, father Louie Lawrence Motley; grandfather, Dr. Arthur Motley; great-grandmother, Pearl Hall-Wilson; aunt, Lizzymae Wison-Thompson; grandmother, Maleitha Wilson-Scarver; grandmother, Freddie Royster-Hale; cousin, Jackie Royster; and uncle, Fred Royster.
She is survived by her husband, Walter Howard; son, Kevin Motley; daughter, Maleitha Beck; mother, Neelgia Motley; brothers, Marlon, Harold, Roderick, Ronald, Keith and Jon; and sister, Deardra. She is also survived by many beloved nieces, nephews and cousins.
Friends and family are warmly invited to attend a celebration of life which will be held Saturday, Nov. 12, beginning at 6 p.m. at South Berkley Senior Center, 2939 Ellis St., Berkeley.
The family wishes to thank Evergreen Lakeport Healthcare and nurse Dina for their attentive care during Donnette's illness.
Those who wish to send thoughts or condolences are invited to sign the guestbook at www.jonesandlewis.com .
Arrangements under the direction of Jones & Lewis Clear Lake Memorial Chapel FD 800, Lower Lake.