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LAKEPORT, Calif. – Lakeport's Soper Reese Theatre will play host to a Blues Hall of Fame inductee and four-time Blues Music Award winner in a special appearance this weekend.
Bluesman Joe Louis Walker will perform at 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 13, at the theater, located at 275 S. Main St., Lakeport.
Walker has played his electric guitar with the likes of B.B. King, Jimmy Hendrix, John Lee Hooker and Muddy Waters.
Considered one of the greatest bluesmen of his generation, Walker is a four-time Blues Music Award winner and Blues Foundation Contemporary Male Artist of the Year.
He's nominated for Best Rock Blues Album of the Year for his latest release, “Everybody Wants A Piece.” Walker will be playing songs from that new work as well as previous albums at the Saturday concert.
In an interview with Lake County News, Walker – who now lives on the East Coast – described growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area in a family that loved music.
Walker credits his parents with inspiring him to become a musician.
His parents came from the South, and they shared with their children the music that they had grown up with and loved.
When he was small, his father would come home from work, put his little record player up on the table and play his 45 RPM records.
His mother and older siblings also loved to share their music, and Walker later would join a band formed by his cousins.
He said music kept them out of trouble and directed their energy in a positive way.
While he's played with many greats over the years, Walker said he has worked hard to create his own distinct voice and sound, which greats like Willie Dixon and BB King encouraged him to do.
“Do you,” he recalled Dixon telling him. “You doing a bad version of you is better than you doing a good version of me.”
He said he's drawn on a lot of influences in developing his distinctive style, noting that “Music is university.”
Describing his music, he again hearkens to something Dixon once told him, “'Your music is sort of all over the place,' and I sort of like it like that.”
Walker doesn't consider himself a pure blues or a pure rock guy, adding that he doubts anyone is “pure” anything in any genre these days.
“I just try to keep my ears and my eyes and my heart open, and I think if you do that, it keeps you current and it keeps you sort of relevant,” he said.
Tickets are on sale for $20, $18 and $15. All seats are reserved. The theater’s dance floor will be open. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Tickets are available online at www.SoperReeseTheatre.com or at The Travel Center, 1265 S. Main, Lakeport, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For more information call 707-263-0577.
If you can't make the Saturday concert, Walker said to keep an eye out for him on other dates around California, where he'll be visiting throughout August, with a return trip planned in September.
Keep up with Walker by checking out his Web site at www.joelouiswalker.com or following him on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/joelouiswalker .
John Jensen contributed to this article.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LOWER LAKE, Calif. – The Lake County Democratic Club has rescheduled its August meeting due to the Lower Lake fires on Tuesday.
Instead, the club will meet at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 18, in the Lower Lake Community United Methodist Church social hall, 16255 Second St., Lower Lake.
Guest speakers will be Mitch Markowitz, Konocti Unified School District Board member, and his guest Tom Hoskins, human resources/local control and accountability plan director; and Middletown Unified School Board candidate Sean Millerick.
The usual business meeting will be dispensed with in order to accommodate these speakers.
The Lake County Democratic Club is an officially chartered club of the Democratic Party of Lake County.
All meetings are open to the public. Membership is open to registered Democrats.
Visit www.lakecountydemocraticclub.org or email at
NORTH COAST, Calif. – Caltrans reports that the following road projects will be taking place around Lake County and the North Coast during the coming week.
Included are Mendocino County projects that may impact Lake County commuters.
LAKE COUNTY
Highway 20
– Pavement repairs from Manzanita Road to the junction of Route 53 will continue. One-way traffic control will also be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.
– The Mine Restoration Project has been issued a long-term Caltrans Encroachment Permit to allow trucks to access their worksite near the Colusa County Line. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.
Highway 29
– Fog sealing operations from Ackley Road to the Lakeport Boulevard Overcrossing will begin Sunday, August 14. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.
Highway 53
– AT&T has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to perform utility work near mile marker 10 beginning Tuesday, Aug. 16. One-way traffic control will be in effect between 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
– AT&T has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to perform utility work between Dry Creek and Cry Creek Road beginning Tuesday, Aug. 16. One-way traffic control will be in effect between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
Highway 175
– Valley Fire recovery work between Middletown and Loch Lomond will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.
MENDOCINO COUNTY
Highway 1
– Mowing operations between Albion and the north limits of Elk will begin Tuesday, August 16. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.
– Mowing operations between Ward Avenue and Beach Access Road will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.
– Highway repairs a quarter-mile north of Ocean Meadows Circle will continue. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
– Sign work between the El Roble Overcrossing and the junction with Route 253 will begin Wednesday, Aug. 17. A northbound lane closure will be in effect between 7:30 a.m. and 5 p.m., weekdays. Motorists may encounter minor traffic slowdowns.
Highway 101
– Rumble strip installation between Uva Drive and one half-mile south of the Haehl Overhead Bridge will begin Monday, Aug. 15. Traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m., weekdays. Motorists may encounter minor traffic slowdows.
– Sign work near Reeves Canon Road will begin Wednesday, August 17. A southbound lane closure will be in effect between 7:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Motorists may encounter minor traffic slowdowns.
– The city of Willits has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to perform utility work related to their water main project between Sherwood Road and Casteel Lane beginning Friday, Aug. 12. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. Motorists may encounter minor traffic slowdowns.
– Rumble strip installation at various locations between Willits and Confusion Hill will begin Monday, Aug. 15. One-way traffic control will be in effect between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.
– Paving operations between Sherwood Road and Rattlesnake Creek will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.
– Emergency slide repairs just south of Standish-Hickey State Park will continue. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
Highway 128
– Drainage work from 2.5 to 7 miles east of the junction with Route 1 will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.
Highway 162
– PG&E has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to perform tree work between the Long Valley Creek Bridge and Short Creek Road. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
– Paving operations between East Lane Road and Short Creek will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.
Highway 253
– Paving operations between the Anderson Creek Bridge and Slide Creek will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 20-minute delays.
– Highway repairs from Cattle Pass to Butler Ranch will continue. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.
The Caltrans Traffic Operations Office has reviewed each project and determined that individual project delays are expected to be less than the statewide policy maximum of 30 minutes, unless noted otherwise above.
For information pertaining to emergency roadwork or for updates to scheduled roadwork, please contact the California Highway Information Network (CHIN) at 1-800-GAS-ROAD (1-800-427-7623).
SACRAMENTO – July state revenues came in below projections in the 2016-17 Budget Act approved the previous month by $591.3 million, or 9.8 percent, with all three of the state’s main revenue sources falling short of expectations for the first month of the fiscal year, State Controller Betty T. Yee reported today.
Retail sales and use taxes missed the mark by the widest margin. Estimated at $907.9 million, they came in at just $694.5 million – 23.5 percent, or $213.5 million, lower.
Personal income tax receipts of $4.39 billion were $323.3 million lower than anticipated in the Budget Act, missing estimates by 6.9 percent.
Corporation tax receipts of $227.3 million were $49.5 million below estimates, or 17.9 percent.
“The declines in all three revenue categories may be attributable to the slower rate of job growth when compared to 2015,” said Controller Yee, the state’s chief fiscal officer. “However, we should exercise caution by further examining and understanding the possible causes of the revenue shortfalls, as a one-month snapshot is not indicative of an economic trend.”
Total disbursements of $10.42 billion were $33.2 million lower than projected.
he state ended the month of July with unused borrowable resources of $30.37 billion, which was $1.38 billion more than expected in the 2016-17 Budget Act.
Outstanding loans of $5.63 billion were $545.5 million higher than projected. This loan balance consists of borrowing from the state’s internal special funds.
For more details, read the monthly cash report.
EMERYVILLE, Calif. – More than 200,000 crashes involved debris on U.S. roadways during the past four years, according to a new study released by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.
Road debris has resulted in approximately 39,000 injuries and more than 500 deaths between 2011 and 2014. AAA is calling for drivers to properly secure their loads to prevent dangerous debris.
AAA researchers examined common characteristics of crashes involving road debris and found that nearly 37 percent of all deaths in road debris crashes resulted from the driver swerving to avoid hitting an object. Overcorrecting at the last minute to avoid debris can increase a driver’s risk of losing control of their vehicle and make a bad situation worse.
More than one in three crashes involving debris occur between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., a time when many people are on the road hauling or moving heavy items like furniture or construction equipment. Debris-related crashes are much more likely to occur on Interstate highways. Driving at high speeds increases the risk for vehicle parts to become detached or cargo to fall onto the roadway.
“These new reports show that road debris can be extremely dangerous, but also indicate that these crashes are preventable,” said Cynthia Harris, AAA Northern California spokesperson. “Drivers can easily save lives and prevent injuries by securing their loads and taking other simple precautions to prevent items from falling off the vehicle.”
About two-thirds of debris-related crashes are the result of items falling from a vehicle due to improper maintenance and unsecured loads.
Crashes involving vehicle related-debris increased 40 percent since 2001, when the Foundation first studied the issue.
The most common types of vehicle debris are:
– Parts becoming detached from a vehicle (tires, wheels, etc.) and falling onto the roadway.
– Unsecured cargo like furniture, appliances and other items falling onto the roadway.
– Tow trailers becoming separated and hitting another vehicle or landing on the roadway.
Drivers can decrease their chances of being involved in a road debris crash by:
Maintaining vehicles: Drivers should have their vehicles checked regularly by trained mechanics. Badly worn or underinflated tires often suffer blowouts that can leave pieces of tire on the roadway. Exhaust systems and the hardware that attach to the vehicle can also rust and corrode, causing mufflers and other parts to drag and eventually break loose. Potential tire and exhaust system problems can easily be spotted by trained mechanics as part of the routine maintenance performed during every oil change.
Securing vehicle loads: When moving or towing furniture, it is important to make sure all items
are secured. To properly secure a load, drivers should:
· Tie down load with rope, netting or straps
· Tie large objects directly to the vehicle or trailer
· Cover the entire load with a sturdy tarp or netting
· Don’t overload the vehicle
· Always double check load to make sure a load is secure
“Drivers have a much bigger responsibility when it comes to preventing debris on the roads than most realize,” added Harris. “It’s important for drivers to know that many states have hefty fines and penalties for drivers who drop items from their vehicle onto the roadway, and in some cases states impose jail time.”
Currently every state has laws that make it illegal for items to fall from a vehicle while on the road. Most states’ penalties result in fines ranging from $10-$5,000, with at least 16 states listing jail as a possible punishment for offenders.
AAA encourages drivers to educate themselves about specific road debris laws in their state. Drivers should also practice defensive driving techniques while on the road to prevent debris related crashes from occurring.
“Continually searching the road at least 12 to 15 seconds ahead can help drivers be prepared in the case of debris,” continued Harris. “Always try to maintain open space on at least one side of your vehicle in case you need to steer around an object. If you see you are unable to avoid debris on the roadway, safely reduce your speed as much as possible before making contact.”
AAA also recommends that drivers avoid tailgating and remain alert while on the road. Additional tips on defensive driving and how to report road debris to the proper authorities are available online at www.AAA.com/PreventRoadDebris .
Established by AAA in 1947, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, publicly-supported charitable educational and research organization. Dedicated to saving lives and reducing injuries on our roads, the Foundation’s mission is to prevent crashes and save lives through research and education about traffic safety.
Visit www.AAAFoundation.org for more information on this and other research.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – After less than four hours of deliberation, a jury on Tuesday found a Clearlake man guilty of a July 2015 drive-by shooting that claimed a man's life.
Billy Raymond Mount, 36, was convicted of second-degree murder for the shooting death of 40-year-old Steven Galvin on July 2, 2015.
In addition to the murder conviction, the jury found Mount guilty of assault with a firearm, discharge of a firearm from a vehicle, felon in possession of a firearm, as well as numerous special allegations, including shooting a firearm from a vehicle, discharge of a handgun, personal use of a firearm, inflicting great bodily injury and being a member of a criminal street gang, according to statements from Senior Deputy District Attorney Sharon Lerman and defense attorney Andrea Sullivan.
Lerman said the jury found that Mount – a known skinhead – had committed the crime for the benefit of, or with direction from, a criminal street gang.
Galvin had been walking through a neighborhood on 35th Avenue when witnesses said a small white pickup pulled up. Two shots were heard and Galvin collapsed in a nearby yard after being struck in the back by a .22-caliber bullet.
When the case's lead investigator, Det. Ryan Peterson of the Clearlake Police Department, arrived at the scene, paramedics were trying to examine Galvin, who was writhing on the ground and gasping, based on footage from Peterson's body camera shown in court both during opening and closing arguments.
Peterson asked Galvin, “Who did this to you?” Galvin clearly told him several times, “Cyclops,” the name for David Cox, another Clearlake resident and known skinhead who had several confrontations with Galvin over his belief that Galvin had stolen his tablet computer.
During about six weeks of trial Lerman had argued that it was Mount who committed the crime, with Cox and another man, Sean Whiteman, giving key testimony in the case.
Cox received a total of three immunity agreements during the different phases of the case – the initial investigation, the preliminary hearing and the trial – in exchange for truthful testimony, according to statements in court.
Some of his key testimony related to interactions with Mount, including a confrontation he said they had shortly before the shooting in which Cox called out Mount for a domestic violence issue. Cox also claimed that Mount confessed to him that he shot Galvin.
Mount had ridden in Whiteman's white Chevy S10 pickup to the shooting scene, according to Whiteman's testimony.
Whiteman also would lead police to a gun he said was used in the shooting. While there was DNA and fingerprint evidence on the weapon, experts were not able to lift the prints or DNA. They were, however, able to find a print and DNA from Mount on an AC/DC CD case in Whiteman's pickup, according to statements in court.
Sullivan, however, argued that Galvin's dying declaration held the truth – that it was Cox who had shot him. Galvin would die at the hospital less than an hour after the shooting.
Closing arguments had wrapped up on Friday, at which point the jurors began deliberating. Both Sullivan and Lerman estimated the jury was in session about an hour that day, before returning on Wednesday morning at 9 a.m. The verdict came in at about 11:30 a.m., and was read just before noon.
“I was very surprised,” Sullivan said of the verdict. “I thought that the evidence was pretty convincing that there was reasonable doubt in light of the witness credibility issues and the fact that there was a dying declaration and no physical evidence.”
Sullivan said she didn't believe the prosecution's theory made sense, and felt Whiteman had been caught in lies that discredited his testimony.
“It's hard to tell what they based their verdict on,” Sullivan said of the jury, explaining that while she sometimes polls jurors on their decisions, she did not feel it was appropriate to do so on Wednesday as one of the jurors was visibly crying.
For her part, Lerman said she believed justice was served by the jury's decision.
“It was a long trial and it wasn’t an easy one to sit as a juror,” she said, adding that she believed the jury showed a lot of patience and tenacity in reaching its verdict.
Lerman said she told Galvin's brother of the verdict, and he expressed relief that there was justice in the case.
As for Cox, Lerman said the immunity agreement is limited, which means that his testimony can't be used against him.
“It does not mean that he can never be charged,” she explained.
However, Lerman added, “As the evidence stands today, we don’t have evidence to charge him with,” and she didn't know if he actually directed Mount to shoot Galvin or if it was an unfortunate circumstance that Cox couldn't see coming.
Mount is scheduled to be sentenced at 1:30 p.m. Sept. 6 by Judge Andrew Blum, who has presided at his trial, Sullivan said.
Lerman said Mount is facing an indeterminate sentence of 25 years to life in state prison.
Email Elizabeth Larson at