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CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A Clearlake man who led a police sergeant on an early morning vehicle pursuit and foot chase was apprehended and found to be in possession of a homemade gun.
James Thomas West, 41, was taken into custody following the chase, which occurred early Monday, according to Sgt. Tim Hobbs of the Clearlake Police Department.
At 2:20 a.m. Monday, Clearlake Police Sgt. Travis Lenz was on patrol when he observed a 1998 Volkswagen Jetta driving on Lakeshore Drive without its headlights on. Hobbs said the driver of the vehicle later was determined to be West.
Hobbs said Lenz attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle by activating his patrol vehicle's emergency lights.
West turned his vehicle from Lakeshore Drive onto Kabal Street and accelerated to approximately 50 miles per hour in the posted 25 mile per hour zone. Hobbs said West continued to flee and drove towards the east end of Kabal Street.
Near the end of Kabal Street, West lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a parked car. Hobbs said the parked car then moved forward and crashed into a second parked car and the second parked car moved forward and struck a tree.
Hobbs said West exited the vehicle and fled on foot to a foot path that leads from the east end of Kabal Street to Memory Lane.
About 200 yards down the footpath, Sgt. Lenz caught up with West and was able to place him under arrest, Hobbs said.
During a search incident to West's arrest, Lenz located ammunition in one of West’s pants pockets, according to Hobbs.
Hobbs said that during an inventory search of the vehicle, Lenz located a loaded homemade zip gun in between the driver’s seat and the center console of the vehicle West had been driving.
The ammunition in West’s pocket also was the same caliber as the ammunition in the zip gun found in the vehicle, Hobbs said.
West was booked into the Lake County Jail for being a felon in possession of a firearm, felon in possession of a zip gun, felon in possession of ammunition, possession of a loaded firearm in a vehicle, resisting arrest, hit and run, felony evading and driving with a suspended driver’s license, Hobbs said.
Jail records showed that West's bail was set at $65,000. He remained in custody early Tuesday.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Economic Development Advisory Committee will get project updates and discuss goals when it meets this week.
The meeting will take place from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 10, at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.
On the agenda is a status report from city Associate Planner Dan Chance on the Lakeport Downtown Improvement Project's phase two, which is now under way, and the Lakefront Revitalization Plan.
City Community Development Director Kevin Ingram will lead the discussion of goals and priorities in developing the Lakeport Economic Development Strategic Plan.
LEDAC advocates for a strong and positive Lakeport business community and acts as a conduit between the city and the community for communicating the goals, activities and progress of Lakeport’s economic and business programs.
It is chaired by Wilda Shock, with the membership including Vice Chair Christine Hutt, Secretary Rebecca Southwick, and members Bill Eaton, Melissa Fulton, Pam Harpster, George Linn, Taira St. John and Panette Talia.
Lakeport City Community Development Director Kevin Ingram and City Manager Margaret Silveira serve as ex-officio committee members.
Shock reported that there are currently two vacancies on LEDAC. Members do not have to be Lakeport residents.
Meetings for the remainder of the year are scheduled on Oct. 12 and Dec. 14.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
California’s birth rate among adolescents has continued to decline to record-low levels, with Lake County's rates also showing another reduction, according to a new report from the California Department of Public Health.
The state’s 2014 numbers indicate a record low of 20.8 births per 1,000 females between the ages of 15 and 19. Those numbers reflect a 10 percent decline from 2013 and a 55 percent decline from the 2000 rate of 46.7, the agency reported.
"California’s continued success in reducing births among adolescents is an excellent example of public health at work,” said CDPH Director and State Health Officer Dr. Karen Smith. “We can have a positive influence on the lives of young people when we empower them with knowledge, tools and resources to make healthy choices.”
In Lake County, the most recent study showed the teen birth rate was at 34.3 per 1,000, with a repeat birth rate of 16.7 per 1,000, according to state data.
While significantly higher than the state average, Lake County's rates have shown marked improvement over the past several years, based on CDPH studies, and the new rate reported this week appears to be the lowest in more than a decade.
Past years' studies showed that in 2013, the birth rate was 35.5 per 1,000, compared to 38.8 in 2012, 42.1 in 2011 and 43.4 in 2010. Additional data going back to 2005 showed the lowest rate was 37.5.
Across California, the birth rate among adolescents decreased among all racial and ethnic groups between 2000 and 2014. During this time, the birth rate dropped from 77.3 to 31.3 (births per 1,000 females aged 15 to 19) among Hispanics, 59.1 to 24.6 among African Americans, 22.3 to 8.4 among Whites and 15.0 to 3.7 among Asians, according to the report.
Despite these declining birth rates, racial disparities persist in adolescent childbearing in California, the numbers showed.
African American and Hispanic adolescents are three to four times as likely to give birth as white females. In addition, officials reported that the birth rate among adolescents varies considerably across counties, from a low of 7.0 in Marin County to a high of 45.1 in Kern County.
California has a number of programs aimed at preventing adolescent pregnancy and improving pregnancy outcomes among young women.
CDPH funds the Information and Education Program, the Personal Responsibility Education Program authorized through the Affordable Care Act of 2010, and the Adolescent Family Life Program for expectant and parenting adolescents.
In addition, the state provides no-cost family planning services to eligible men and women, including adolescents, through the Family PACT Program.
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Sponsors and volunteers are needed for Lake County Fire Recovery Blues Benefit No. 3: Valley Fire Tribute Concert.
The blues benefit will be held Saturday, Sept. 10, from 2 to 6 p.m. on the field of Ely Stage Stop & Country Museum, 9921 Soda Bay Road, off Highway 29 in Kelseyville.
This is the second benefit by Spotlight On Productions for Hope City to rebuild homes lost to the Valley fire.
Hope City is a project of Hope Crisis Response Network, a disaster relief, faith-based nonprofit that brings volunteers to build homes across the U.S. Hope City is a member of Team Lake County, with North Coast Opportunities operating as their local fiscal agent. Donations are used to purchase building materials locally.
The Valley fire tribute concert will open with Dave Broida & Blues Farm from Lake County. Mighty Mike Schermer from Austin, Texas, will be backed by friends from Sonoma County and Vocalist Miz Dee from the Bay Area.
Since this will be the anniversary weekend of the Valley fire, several special guests have been invited to speak.
There will be barbecue, tacos, snow cones, wine and beer, crafts and a silent auction.
Tickets are $15 cash at the gate, 12 and under are free. Gates open at 1:30 p.m.
Carpooling is recommended. There will be golf cart & ATV transport to the field from the parking areas. ADA accommodations will be available.
For more information email
Joann Marie Williams was born Nov. 6, 1929, to Otto and Olga Heck of Alameda, Calif. Joann was welcomed home by her older brother Bill.
She graduated from Lincoln Elementary School and Notre Dame High School in June 1947.
Her life after high school was an adventure. She studied a year at San Francisco State. She worked at Alameda Recreation Department in many of the local parks. It was then that her great adventure would begin.
First she had the wonderful opportunity of working aboard the President Wilson as a recreation director for the American Dependent Children going to and coming from American bases in the Philippines and Japan to the U.S.
The next great step was a three year gig with the U.S.O. in Europe, primarily in Germany working in their centers for U.S. servicemen stationed in Europe. In that time she was able to travel widely visiting France and Italy as well as much of Germany. She was able to reunite with Heck family relatives in Cologne.
After her return from Europe she finished her degree at San Jose State and then worked for a number of years with the San Jose Recreation Department.
Then Joann married Richard Williams and they settled in Castro Valley where they adopted Michael and Scott. Joann continued to work in San Jose, and Dick in San Francisco. Then they moved to Cobb, Calif.
Over the years on Cobb Mountain, Joann was very active in the community, developing long and deep connections. She taught at the Locnoma Valley High School and for Yuba College.
She was instrumental in forming the Cobb Mountain Lioness Club in 1986, and was the first president. She was also the district president of the 4C2 Lioness, a longtime member of the ladies Guild for Our Lady of the Lake in Loch Lomond, charter member of the American Legion at Starview, co-founder of the Cobb Meadow Larks 9-hole ladies golf group at Hoberg's Forest lake, member of the Red Hats of Cobb, and belonged to the book club and Cobb train group.
She dedicated her time to helping others even when in poor health herself. Joann was our Queen and very respected in our community. Touched many lives and will not be forgotten.
She is survived by her brother and his husband, William Heck and Clancy Woolf; son and his wife, Michael and Kathy Williams; son and partner, Scott Williams and Kathleen Wright; grandchildren, Robert and Ryan Gordillo, Jay Miller, Cody Sharp, Donice Luck and Sebastian Cooley; great-grandchildren, Desirae Luck, Johnny Abreu and Zachary and Julian Sharp; and great-great-grandson, Joseph Luck Abreu.
A memorial Mass will be held at Our Lady of the Lake, Loch Lomond, at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 14.
For further information please contact Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary at 707-263-0357 or 707-994-5611, or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com .
MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The Middletown Youth Football and Cheer program will hold a fundraising dinner and dance on Friday, Aug. 12.
The event will take place from 6 p.m. to midnight at the Twin Pine Casino Event Center, 22223 Highway 29 at Rancheria Road.
There will be a barbecue dinner with chicken, ribs and all the fixings, then dance to music with a live DJ.
Other event features will include a photo booth, games and a raffle including prizes like a motorcycle, gym membership and more.
The cost for the dinner is $25 per person.
Have a great night and support our community's children.
Tickets are available at Middletown Florist, through any of the board members, or by emailing