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LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Democratic Party of Lake County has opened a campaign office in Lakeport at 390 Main St. and welcomes all voters to join the effort to elect Democratic candidates to local, state and national office.
The office will be open from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 3, to allow visitors to explore the available volunteer opportunities from now through Nov. 8 and to purchase campaign materials. Speakers will be on hand to address what’s at stake in this election.
A special welcome is extended to those who supported Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton in the Democratic Primary and are now committed to working closely together to ensure Democratic wins in November, up and down the ticket.
In endorsing Secretary Clinton, Sen. Sanders said, “Trump would be a disaster as president of the United States. I cannot believe, and I say this with all sincerity, that Republicans would have a candidate for president in the year of 2016 who makes bigotry and discrimination a cornerstone of his campaign.”
In her nomination acceptance speech, Secretary Clinton thanked Sen. Sanders and welcomed his supporters to her campaign. “I’ve heard you. Your cause is our cause. Our country needs your ideas, energy and passion.”
“This election our bedrock values and rights as Americans are on the line,” Rebecca Curry, chair of the Lake County Democratic Party, said. “At stake is the balance of power of the Supreme Court, how we effectively address climate change, systemic racism, criminal justice reform and rampant gun violence, equal rights for women, income equality, attacks on social security, the threat of global terrorism and so many other major issues facing this country. This is the time to unite, not splinter, to hold on to the progress we've made and to push our country forward. We have a nominee who is strong, compassionate and experienced. Together, let's get her elected.”
To join the effort, learn about upcoming events, regular office hours and stay up-to-date on campaign activities, please visit http://lakecountydemocrats.org/ or Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/LakeCountyDemocrats/ .
You also can visit the group at the Lake County Fair from Sept. 1 to 4.
For more information email
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Department of Public Works is advising the public that traffic control will be in place on a portion of 11th Street on Wednesday, Aug. 3.
Between 8:30 a.m. and noon, traffic control will be in effect in the area of 963 11th St. while AT&T trims trees.
Public Works said there will be possible delays of up to 10 minutes.
The agency thanks the public for its patience.
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake’s Live Well Program invites the community to the Wellness Rx Healthy Lifestyle Series, a free six-week series of classes focused on healthy lifestyle changes.
The classes are held on Wednesday afternoons from 3:15 to 4:30 p.m. beginning Aug. 17 and running through Sept. 21.
“All of us can benefit from drinking more water, eating right and moving more, but sometimes we need some extra support or education,” said Jean McNally, care coordinator at the Live Well Program. “These classes inspire real changes and provide the information you need to feel healthier and build a life you love.”
The Wellness Rx Healthy Lifestyle series is open to all and includes healthy snacks and giveaways.
Each session features an engaging education session focusing on a different topic, including exercise, nutrition, stress management, weight management and achieving wellness goals.
Eula Ford of Clearlake attended the first two sets of Wellness Rx classes and is looking forward to coming back for a third time.
“They teach you how to choose healthy foods,” she said. “I’ve already seen a difference in my blood sugar.”
New students can join the classes at any point in the program. Sessions are hosted at the Live Well Program at 15230 Lakeshore Drive in Clearlake.
For more information or to RSVP to the WellnessRx Healthy Lifestyle Series, contact the Live Well Program at 707-995-4545.
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Lake County Campus of Woodland Community College in Clearlake is pleased to announce a new instructor and a new class being offered at the campus.
Dr. Christopher Hodges will be teaching astronomy during the fall semester.
Astronomy 1L will feature a survey of the solar system, stars, galaxies, history, and tools of astronomy, cosmology and exploration of space.
There also is a lab that goes along with the class. The lab will cover the study and interpretation of astronomical observations through the use of prepared astronomy exercises, the use of telescopes or computer simulations of telescopes, naked eye observation of celestial bodies, and laboratory activities using various quantitative measuring devices.
Dr. Hodges has taught for eight years at San Francisco State University and University of California, Riverside.
His interest in astronomy started when he took his first community college class when he was still in high school. He’s hopeful to bring a similar experience this fall to the Lake County Campus.
“This is a very exciting time in astronomy,” said Hodges. “That our observations and understanding of the universe has exploded over the last two decades.”
From Hubble telescope images, detection of more than 3,000 exoplanets, flybys of Pluto, to the plethora of information obtained by the Mars rovers, there are so many new discoveries in astronomy.
A discussion of the numerous modern results and what we should expect in the next decade will be part of Astronomy 1L offered on the campus.
Dr. Hodges believes that Lake County is a perfect place to discuss astronomy. The lack of big city lights allows the county to have beautiful night skies filled with celestial bodies. This should allow for spectacular visuals during the lab exercises.
Dr. Hodges is not just an astronomy instructor, he’s also a physicist. He has created antimatter, has hit the speed of light limit, turned mercury into gold and measured the age of the planets.
He will be a fabulous addition to the wonderful staff at Lake County Campus and his class will be very interesting and exciting for all students.
For anyone interested in registering for this new and exciting class, please make an appointment with a counselor at 707-995-7900, stop by the admissions office located at 15880 Dam Road Extension in Clearlake, or visit http://lcc.yccd.edu .
LAKEPORT, Calif. – A Lakeport man arrested last fall for a hit-and-run crash that seriously injured two cyclists has been sentenced to state prison.
David Allen Lent, 29, was sentenced on Tuesday to three years in state prison after pleading guilty to felony hit and run resulting in permanent, serious injury, according to Senior Deputy District Attorney John DeChaine.
Lent's defense attorney, Barry Melton, said he had no comment on the case.
Lakeport Police arrested Lent for the Sept. 29 hit-and-run crash that left Corey Bauman of Lakeport and Nick Thompson of Upper Lake seriously injured, as Lake County News has reported.
Police said Lent hit the men as they were riding their bikes in the area of Martin and Bevins streets and then fled the scene.
Bauman and Thompson were flown to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, beginning a lengthy recovery period that is still ongoing for them, according to their friend and fellow cyclist, Dave Garzoli.
David Lent was arrested the following morning at the home of his mother, Lynda Lent, who at that time also was arrested for being an accessory to a crime.
However, DeChaine said Lynda Lent was not prosecuted. “There was insufficient evidence to demonstrate that she was criminally complicit in the crime.”
DeChaine said David Lent – who has remained in custody since his September arrest – did not stand trial. Instead, he pleaded guilty to the felony hit and run charge.
“We insisted that he plead guilty to that serious hit and run charge as opposed to entering a no contest plea,” said DeChaine.
He said guilty pleas can be required in such cases, adding that the reasoning behind it was an attempt to provide some solace to Bauman, Thompson and their families, and to demonstrate that Lent is taking responsibility for his actions.
Lent had no prior criminal record, DeChaine said, which prevented him from receiving a more severe sentence. “His lack of criminal record was a mitigating factor.”
At the July 26 sentencing, “There was a strong turnout from the friends and family of the victims in this case,” said DeChaine. “Numerous individuals addressed the court and expressed their feelings about the crime.”
Garzoli said he was present for the sentencing, but he didn't speak. Bauman's family gave statements, he said, adding that while Thompson was present, he chose not to address the court.
DeChaine credited the Lakeport Police Department for its professional handling of the investigation, singling out Det. Dale Stoebe in particular for his work on the case.
“It's frustrating for all involved that the legislation doesn't provide for more meaningful penalties in cases like this,” said DeChaine.
He added that fleeing the scene where people are left bleeding and possibly dying “is a true act of cowardice.”
Garzoli said his friends are recovering, but the physical and emotional scars are enduring.
“As a cyclist, I think about their accident every time I ride and wonder when it's going to be me that gets hit by a texting, drunk or careless driver,” Garzoli said.
Thompson has almost recovered completely, although he hasn't returned to cycling. Garzoli said Thompson – a factory-sponsored paid BMX racer as a youngster – is “one of the most talented two-wheel guys I have ever known, on a bike or motorcycle. ”
Bauman continues to undergo rehab, but Garzoli said he has made “incredible” progress, especially considering that in the days and weeks after he was injured, friends and loved ones believed he might not survive.
The upside, said Garzoli, is illustrated in the photo above of Bauman, taken just a few days after the sentencing, when he was able to climb onto his stationary bike on his own for the first time.
Garzoli said he had been asking Bauman if he thought he could ride his spin bike and he had said yes. “I had told him a couple weeks ago, that my son Andy I would come over and help him on to it so he could see what it felt like again and he got pretty excited, so much so, he decided he wasn't going to wait for our help! ”
Garzoli also posted the picture on his Facebook page, telling all of Bauman's friends and acquaintances, “Let him be an inspiration to all of you! ”
Email Elizabeth Larson at
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Two fires that broke out in Clearlake on Friday have been fully contained.
Cal Fire reported Sunday evening that firefighters had achieved 100-percent containment on both the Extension fire and the North Branch Extension fire.
The two fires broke out within an hour and a half of each other, and both resulted in temporary evacuations in their immediate areas, as Lake County News has reported.
The Extension fire, located off 18th Avenue behind Woodland Community College, burned a total of seven acres, Cal Fire said.
The North Branch Extension burned 25 acres in the area of Ogulin Canyon and Industrial Avenue. Cal Fire Division Chief Greg Bertelli said the fire destroyed three small metal buildings.
There has been no report so far as to the cause of the fires.
Email Elizabeth Larson at