News

NORTH COAST, Calif. – The Redwood Community Chorus holds its spring concert Friday, May 13, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, May 14, at 2 p.m.

The performances will be held at the Mendocino Presbyterian Church, 44831 Main St. in Mendocino.

This year's spring concert features works of religious music, including “Benedictus” by Brian Lewis and Dietrich Buxtehude’s “Kantate.”

The gospel song “Down to the River to Pray,” from the film "Oh Brother Where Art Thou" is on the program, along with two romantic, but sad, love songs including the haunting “Come to Me in the Silence of the Night,” a song setting by Greg Gilpin of Christina Rossetti’s poem expressing grief and longing for a loved who has died.

Six other short pieces round out the program.

Admission is free, but contributions are welcome.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Local officials have offered updates on the plans for the Saturday memorial service for a Lake County Sheriff's deputy.

The memorial service for Deputy Jake Steely will be held at Clear Lake High School’s Don Owens Stadium, 350 Lange St. in Lakeport, according to Lt. Steve Brooks of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

Brooks said the service is scheduled to begin promptly at noon on Saturday.

Parking for vehicles will be provided at the Lake County Fairgrounds, 401 Martin St. The public will be shuttled from the fairgrounds to the Clear Lake High School and then back to the fairgrounds after the memorial service, Brooks said.

He said no privately owned vehicle will be permitted to park on the school grounds due to the lack of available spaces. 

Personnel will be available at the fairgrounds to assist the public as where to park, as well as where to catch the shuttle, according to Brooks.

Brooks said shuttle services will begin at 10 a.m. to transport the public to the high school. The last shuttle from the fairgrounds to the high school will be at 11:15 a.m.

The Lakeport Police Department on Friday also issued an advisory to the community regarding the event.

“It is anticipated that a large amount of law enforcement and fire personnel will be arriving throughout the morning resulting in heavy traffic flow around the school campuses,” the department reported.

Police advised all motorists to avoid the area and use alternate routes of travel, noting that all access to Lakeport school campuses will be closed to motorists in privately owned vehicles.

Steely, 39, and his 11-year-old son were rescued from the ocean at Mendocino Headlands State Park on April 18. Steely died April 21 from the injuries he suffered in the incident.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The works of nearly 200 volunteers resulted in tons of garbage being picked up during the annual Clearlake Cleanup Day.

The city of Clearlake sponsored the event, held on Saturday, April 23.

In coordination with Clearlake Waste Solutions, Citizens Caring For Clearlake, the Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association and a multitude of eager volunteers, city staff led a strong effort to help pick up litter and illegal dumping.

Efforts this year were focused on the areas around Pomo School, Old Highway 53, Cache Creek, and
between 18th Avenue and Konocti Education Center.

This year 180 volunteers collected 220 yards of waste weighing in at 31 tons, the city reported.

In addition, officials said 160 tires were picked up and five yards of e-waste were collected.

“Once again, the community came out to support this event and we were able to pick up a record amount of garbage and debris,” said Public Works Director Doug Herren.

“This was my first time participating in the event, and while the amount of illegal dumping is disturbing, the enthusiasm and eagerness to improve the city that the volunteers displayed is a testament to the heart of the people of Clearlake,” said City Manager Greg Folsom. “I want to thank all the volunteers, elected officials and staff who gave up their Saturday morning to come out and make Clearlake a cleaner place.”

After spending a morning cleaning up the city, volunteers were treated to a barbecue lunch thanks to a donation from IGA Foods Etc.

“This was a great event that just goes to show how much community efforts matter in making Clearlake such a great place to live,” said Mayor Russ Perdock.

SACRAMENTO – The Identity Theft Resolution Act, a bill authored by Assemblymember Bill Dodd (D-Napa), has unanimously passed the Assembly Floor with bipartisan support.

The Identity Theft Resolution Act will dramatically reduce the time it takes for victims of identity theft to clear their name, end harassing phone calls, and remove negative credit reporting.

The bill has received broad based support from California Attorney General Kamala Harris, consumer advocates, and even segments of the debt collection industry.
 
“Identity theft does not discriminate based on your political party and many of my colleagues in the legislature, myself included, have been victims of identity theft. This bill is a prime example of how members of the legislature can work together to pass common sense legislation that will positively impact millions of people in California,” said Assemblymember Bill Dodd. “Victims don’t just receive annoying collection calls; they can also face higher interest rates or even lose out on critical home or auto loans due to the fraudulent charges on their credit reports.”
 
Identity theft occurs every 2.5 seconds in the U.S. and impacts 1.5 million Californians every year, according the California Attorney General. Identity theft occurs when perpetrators illegally use a person’s confidential information to make fraudulent purchases or apply for consumer loans in the victim’s name.

The Federal Trade Commission estimates it can take an average of 6 months and 200 hours of work to recover from identity theft. Under Dodd’s legislation, the timeframe for resolution can be reduced to a matter of weeks.
 
“Identity theft can have damaging effects long after the crime has taken place. Many people only find out the crime has occurred once it appears on their credit report,” said Sonoma County District Attorney Jill Ravitch. “Consumers can spend months trying to navigate through a confusing and overwhelming system to remove the negative reporting. Any legislation that provides a more expedient resolution for cases of identity theft is a positive step for consumer protection.”
 
“Identity theft is a very serious problem that affects millions of Californian’s each year. In Contra Costa County, our Consumer Protection Unit receives over five hundred complaints a year from residents who have become victims of consumer fraud and hundreds more from victims of identity theft,” said Contra Costa District Attorney Mark Peterson. “These victims deserve a faster resolution process. This legislation is a step towards helping ordinary citizens deal with the nightmare that results from being the victim of the crime of identity theft.”
 
While Dodd’s bill dramatically reduces the time frame for debt collection companies to review identity theft disputes, it also requires that consumers be notified of how their dispute was resolved.

Further, the bill requires faster updates to the credit reporting agencies to delete negative credit reporting and ensures the fraudulent accounts are not sold or transferred to another collector. The bill now moves on the Senate where it will be heard later this year.
 
Assemblymember Bill Dodd represents the 4th Assembly District, which includes all or portions of Napa, Yolo, Sonoma, Solano, Lake, and Colusa Counties. You can learn more about Assemblymember Dodd and the district at www.asm.ca.gov/dodd .

The general trout opener in many counties throughout California will commence on Saturday, April 30, one hour before sunrise.
 
Because of the popularity of this annual event with the angling public, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is making every effort to stock trout in all accessible waters approved for planting prior to the season opener.

Because of the increased rains this winter, CDFW expects most lakes to be open and available for fishing.
 
Most lakes, rivers and streams have a limit of five trout per day and 10 in possession. However, regulations differ on season opening and closing dates, bag limits, minimum and maximum size limits and gear restrictions.
 
Anglers are advised to check specific area regulations and opening dates in the 2016-17 California Freshwater Sport Fishing Regulation booklet ( www.wildlife.ca.gov/regulations ) for regulations specific to each body of water.
 
In 2012, CDFW regional staff created the Eastern Sierra Back Country Fishing Guide to provide anglers with a quick, informative and accurate account of the distribution of fisheries in back country high elevation lakes.

This guide does not address front country waters, defined as lakes and streams that are accessible by vehicle.

Most of the lakes lie within U.S. Forest Service lands managed as wilderness and usually require back country permits for overnight use.

Most back country fisheries are based on self-sustaining populations of trout and do not need regular trout stocking to maintain fish populations.

The guide can be found at www.wildlife.ca.gov/Regions/6 (under Hunting, Fishing, Education).
 
Crowley Lake in the Eastern Sierra is expected to be one of the most popular opening day destinations for anglers from around the state.

In past years, an estimated 10,000 anglers have turned out for the opener, and approximately 50,000 trout are caught during the first week of the season.

Typically Crowley is planted with hundreds of thousands of small and medium sized trout, and because of excellent food sources in the 5,280-acre reservoir, these trout grow to catchable sizes and weigh at least three-quarters of a pound by the opener.

About 10 percent of the trout caught at Crowley during opening weekend weigh over a pound and a half. These fish are from stocks planted in previous years or are wild fish produced in Crowley's tributary waters.
 
Anglers are asked to be particularly vigilant when cleaning fish and fishing gear at Crowley Lake and in the upper and lower Owens River Drainage.

The New Zealand Mudsnail was discovered several years ago in the Owens River Drainage, and CDFW would like to prevent mudsnails from spreading into other waters.

To avoid spreading New Zealand Mudsnails and other aquatic invasive species to other waters, anglers are advised to dispose of their fish guts in bear-proof trash cans, rather than throw them back into the water. Wading gear should be properly cleaned before using in new waters.
 
All persons age 16 and older must possess a valid California fishing license to fish within state lines. Freshwater fishing licenses can be purchased online at www.wildlife.ca.gov/licensing/online-sales or at regional CDFW offices or other license agents.

Anglers no longer have to display their license visibly above the waist but they must have it in their possession while fishing.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Friends and supporters of Worldwide Healing Hands (WHH) will gather Saturday morning to walk Mount Konocti’s Wright Summit Trail during the third annual “Hike 4 Healing.”

The yearly trek is a fundraiser to support the work of Worldwide Healing Hands in Lake County and in underserved areas of the world.

This year, “virtual” hikers – those who cannot make the scheduled hike — will join the April 30 event via Facebook.

There is still time to sign up for either the actual or virtual hike, reminds WHH’s medical director, Dr. Paula Dhanda.

Hike participants will traverse a little more than 6 miles round-trip, with an elevation gain of 1,600 feet, along the trail.

“Docents familiar with the trails make the hike very special with their interesting historical facts and stories,” said Dhanda.

Suggested donation for the hike is $25 per person. Participants may register at Dhanda’s office at 5685 Main St., Kelseyville, or online by visiting the EventBrite sign-up page ( https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2016-hike-4-healing-registration-23469961286 ).

Last-minute registrations at the trailhead will be accepted between 8 and 9 a.m. Saturday, with the hike starting at 9 a.m.

Participants are encouraged to ride free shuttles from Mountain Vista Middle School between 7:30 and 8:15 a.m. Parking at the trailhead is extremely limited.

Hikers and Facebook participants in the “Virtual Hike 4 Healing” will receive WHH visors. The Facebook “hikers” will be urged to post pictures of their treks while wearing the visors. Find out more on WHH’s Facebook page.

For information about the Hike 4 Healing, call 707-279-8733. Visit WHH’s Web site, www.worldwidehealinghands.or , to read more about the organization.

Several individuals and businesses are sponsoring the 2016 Hike 4 Healing. “We are grateful to the generous sponsors of this year’s event, as well as to all the individuals participating in the hike,” said Dhanda.

All donations will help support WHH’s goals and missions to provide quality health care to women and children, especially those who do not have access to such care.

WHH volunteer medical teams provide free health screenings to homeless in Lake County, CA, and WHH provides health care services to women and children in underserved areas of the world. WHH teams have traveled to Nepal, Chad, Haiti and Uganda to deliver health services.