News

NICE, Calif. – The California Highway Patrol is investigating a late Friday night hit-and-run crash in which several vehicles and a home were hit.

Reports from the scene indicated the crash occurred just after 11 p.m. on Lakeview Drive at Sayre Avenue.

Officer Kory Reynolds of the CHP's Clear Lake Area office said Joseph Pimentel, 25, of Lucerne was driving a 2012 Ford Focus south on Lakeview Drive at approximately 11:05 p.m. at an unknown speed when the crash occurred.

Reynolds said that, for unknown reasons, Pimentel left the roadway and struck four parked vehicles before crashing into a residence at 3650 Lakeview Drive.

Pimentel was identified by witnesses and fled on foot prior to the CHP's arrival, Reynolds said.

Reynolds said on Monday that he didn't have any additional information on the crash and investigation.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

NORTH COAST, Calif. – On Monday, a bipartisan coalition of state legislators requested that Gov. Jerry Brown declare a fishery disaster due to the devastating impacts of the delayed California crab season.

“The delayed crab season is unprecedented in duration and magnitude and California crabbers need our help now more than ever. For the past three months, we have all been hopeful that we could kick off the harvest, but as the holidays came and went and acid levels remained too high, the statewide impact has been catastrophic,” said Senator Mike McGuire, chairman of the Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture. “Crabbers are experiencing devastating losses that can’t be recouped due to the collapse of the fall salmon season and the unprecedented delay in the crab harvest.”

When levels of domoic acid in California crab were deemed unsafe for public consumption in early November, working collaboratively with the multimillion dollar California crab industry, the Department of Fish and Wildlife and Department of Public Health took emergency action to delay the crab season opener.

Many were hopeful the domoic acid levels would subside, but they have persisted and we have now missed the peak of the season: Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years and Chinese New Year.

These holiday celebrations have historically represented the time when the most California crab is consumed and the thousands of crab feeds that take place across the Golden State throughout the winter are now sourcing their supply from the Northwest, repurposing their events or canceling all together.

The situation has impacted Lake County events. In particular, the Middletown Rotary changed its annual January fundraiser from a crab feed to a prime rib dinner, and the Lakeport Lions Club postponed its 50th annual crab feed until next year, as Lake County News has reported.

Assemblyman Jim Wood, vice chair of the Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture said, “The ongoing postponement of crab season is another huge blow in what has been an incredibly difficult year for the fishing industry from start to finish. Formally declaring a disaster allows us to go after federal resources that would help our fishermen keep their families financially afloat.”

In their letter to Gov. Brown requesting the disaster declaration, the coastal legislators outlined the many severe impacts the closure has had on the industry, as well as on local fishing families.

“The continued delays have created unprecedented damage to the crab market, and irreparable harm to the thousands who depend on a healthy harvest for their living. We believe it’s time to declare a fishery disaster,” the letter stated.

To add insult to injury, California is coming off of a disastrous salmon season as well. Crabbers turn to salmon for their livelihood in the summer and fall months and having both the fall salmon season collapse due to the state’s historic drought and now this unprecedented crab season delay taking hold, families are in crisis.

The California Dungeness and Rock crab fishery is in the top tier of California’s commercial fisheries. Values have exceeded $95 million per year and long-term averages of nearly $60 million.

“California’s crab fishers are in dire straits,” said Sen. Jerry Hill (D-San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties). “It’s imperative that all levels of government come together to aid our coastal communities and local economies that depend on this industry. A disaster declaration by the governor would be a strong step toward getting our crab fishers aid.”

The unforeseen disaster has forced crab fishermen to sell equipment and assets, further mortgage their future and seek low wage employment to put food on the table.

The delay has been devastating to crabbers, fishery-dependent businesses and the coastal economy.

“Families tied to our fishing industry are struggling and need help,” said Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco). “They have weathered many tough seasons and are now stretched to the breaking point. Without them, there will be no crab to eat once ocean conditions improve.”

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Clearlake Police arrested a Clearlake Oaks man over the weekend after finding him prowling in an area where gas thefts had been reported and discovering he was in possession of stolen property.

Timothy Allen Lee Mitcham, 31, of Clearlake Oaks, was taken into custody early Saturday morning, according to Sgt. Rodd Joseph.

At about 4:43 a.m. Saturday, Clearlake Police officers responded to Brookdale Assisted Living at 14789 Burns Valley Road on a report of a person attempting to steal gasoline from the business’ transport van, Joseph said.

Joseph said an employee of the business called police when they spotted a person underneath the vehicle with a gas can.

There had been several recent thefts from vehicles in and around this area over previous nights. No arrests had been made in any of the previous cases, Joseph said.

Officers arrived and began checking the area. Though the suspect was not immediately located, a suspicious vehicle – a white 1998 GMC SUV – was found parked in the library parking lot adjacent to Brookdale Assisted Living, Joseph said. This vehicle had several similar gas cans in the rear cargo area. Officers conducted visual surveillance on the suspicious vehicle from a distance.

A short while later the suspicious vehicle was seen driving away from the library parking lot. As officers tried to move in behind the vehicle to conduct a traffic stop, the vehicle made several maneuvers as if it was going to flee, Joseph said.

Joseph said the vehicle pulled into the parking lot of RadioShack on Olympic Drive. The driver quickly exited the vehicle as the officers approached.

The driver was identified as Mitcham. A passenger in the vehicle, found to be on Post Release Community Supervision out of another county, was identified and later released at the scene without charges, Joseph said.

Mitcham denied any involvement in the gas siphoning incident. Joseph said Mitcham was found to have a suspended driver’s license. A subsequent search of the vehicle led to the discovery of paperwork and documents which had been reported stolen to the Clearlake Police Department on Jan. 21 from a locked vehicle in the 3800 block of Huntington Avenue.

Upon the conclusion of the investigation, Mitcham was arrested and charged with three misdemeanor charges including possession of stolen property, driving on a suspended license and prowling, Joseph said.

Joseph said Mitcham later was booked into the Lake County Jail and his vehicle was impounded at the scene.

Mitcham's bail was set at $5,000 and he later posted the required portion of it and was released, according to jail records.

Mitcham has not been connected to the other reports thefts in the area, Joseph said.

The Clearlake Police Department reminded residents to keep their vehicles locked and any valuable property hidden from view.

“We also encourage our residents to report suspicious activity,” Joseph said.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact Officer Mike Ray at 707-994-8251, Extension 504.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Classes are now under way for the students who attend community college in Clearlake.

It's a new year and a new name for the Lake County Campus of Woodland Community College, formerly known as the Yuba College Clear Lake Campus, located at 15880 Dam Road Extension.

Students were back to school on Jan. 19. The last day of the semester is May 26. 

In this new semester, students were welcomed by the Associated Students who helped put together welcoming activities complete with raffle prizes and filled with information about services found on the campus. 

Walmart, Follet Bookstore and Aromas Café supported providing students with USB flash drives, $25 gift cards, educational supplies, and gift cards for Aromas Café, college officials reported.

Executive Dean Annette Lee told Lake County News that the campus now has about 19 full-time equivalent students fewer that at this time last year.

“Community college enrollments are down all over the state this semester due to the healthy California economy, but we also attribute our drop in enrollment this semester to the lingering effects of the Lake County wild fires from last summer,” Lee said.

The campus' change of name occurred officially last month.

At the Dec. 10 Yuba Community College District Board of Trustees meeting, the board approved changing the name of the Clearlake campus to the Lake County Campus of Woodland Community College to better reflect the realignment from the Yuba College Campus to Woodland Community College.

The district reported that the board had approved realigning the Clear Lake Campus with Woodland Community College in January 2014 to strategically meet the diverse needs of the community and region.

The previous name – Yuba College Clear Lake Campus – neither accurately reflected the service area or the realignment change, district officials reported.

In arriving at the new name, input was collected from various community entities including the Middletown Area Merchants Association, Clearlake business and community leaders and current Lake County students, the college reported.

The college is part of the 72-district and 113-college California Community Colleges system, which serves 2.1 million students per years and is the largest system of higher education in the nation.

While enrollment is down currently for the local campus and others across the state, the California Community Colleges “State of the System” report released last week for the 2014-15 academic year showed a different overall trend.

It reported that community colleges increased the number of certificates and degrees awarded for a second straight year, with last year's number up by nearly 10,000 for a total of 200,795; more course sections were being offered; there was an increase in enrollment of nearly 23,000 students; and 20,600 associate degrees were earned for transfer, almost a doubling of the previous year's total.

Spring semester registration is still open for classes at the Lake County Campus of Woodland Community College.

Students can visit the main office where staff is available to assist with the process of adding a class. After you attend your class that you wish to add, obtain an instructor signature on your add slip and return it to the office to complete the process.

Those wanting more information about admittance and registration also are encouraged to visit http://lcc.yccd.edu , find Lake County Campus of Woodland Community College on Facebook.

Email Elizabeth Larson at [email protected] . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

UPPER LAKE, Calif. – The boards of the new Upper Lake Unified School District and the existing high school district will meet this week to consider approving an agreement to cover the high school district's principal/superintendent serving both districts for a six-month period.

The Upper Lake Union High School Board will hold a special meeting at the school, 675 Clover Valley Road, at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 26, to consider just one item – approving the draft memorandum of understanding relating to interim responsibility for the district superintendent.

Separately, the Upper Lake Unified School District Board will hold a regular meeting at 5 p.m. Tuesday, also at the high school, with that agreement its main agenda item.

At the new board's meeting earlier this month, it voted unanimously to begin negotiations with Upper Lake Union High School District Principal/Superintendent Patrick Iaccino to act as interim superintendent of the district, as Lake County News has reported.

The MOU to go before the boards Tuesday is between the Upper Lake High Union High School District and the Upper Lake Unified School District, and will last from its date of acceptance until June 30, at which point the new district will stand alone with the high school and elementary districts consolidated within it.

“The parties agree that, pending full unification, Superintendent Iaccino shall continue to serve as the superintendent of the High School District,” the document states. “During that time, Supt. Iaccino shall also devote some time and provide some services to the Unified District to assist in the transition to full unification. Because of the benefits to both Districts from this joint service, the High School District agrees that, notwithstanding that Supt. Iaccino will provide such services to the Unified District, the High School District shall pay all costs in salary and benefits of for Supt. Iaccino. The parties acknowledge that Supt. Iaccino shall be paid one salary, at his current rate of total compensation, for which he will provide services to both Districts, as set forth in this paragraph.”

Also on the Upper Lake Unified School District agenda is a resolution authorizing Iaccino to sign orders and other documents on behalf of the new governing board from the period of Jan. 1 to June 30.

Other items on the new board's Tuesday evening agenda include review of the agenda for the board workshop planned for Saturday, Jan. 30; the superintendent's report; and board members' reports.

That board also will hold a closed session to discuss administrative configuration and the hiring of a chief business official.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Animal Care and Control has a colorful selection of adult cats available to new homes this week.

The eight cats offered for adoption – four males, four females – have a variety of coat types in a range of colors.

In addition to spaying or neutering, cats that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are microchipped before being released to their new owner. License fees do not apply to residents of the cities of Lakeport or Clearlake.

If you're looking for a new companion, visit the shelter. There are many great pets there, hoping you'll choose them.

In addition to the animals featured here, all adoptable animals in Lake County can be seen here: http://bit.ly/Z6xHMb .

The following cats at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption (other cats pictured on the animal control Web site that are not listed here are still “on hold”).

'Little'

“Little” is domestic long hair cat with a black coat.

Shelter staff said he is a sweet boy who was surrendered by his previous owner who was moving.

He's in cat room kennel No. 9, ID No. 4294.

'Big'

“Big” is a domestic long hair mix with a black coat.

He's in cat room kennel No. 10, ID No. 4293.

'Sweetie Pie'

“Sweetie Pie” is a domestic long hair mix with an orange tabby coat.

He's in cat room kennel No. 13, ID No. 4292.

Domestic medium hair mix

This domestic medium hair cat has a calico coat with white markings.

She's in cat room kennel No. 14, ID No. 4280.

Domestic medium hair mix

This handsome domestic medium hair mix has a gray and white coat.

He's in cat room kennel No. 15, ID No. 4326.

Domestic medium hair mix

This beautiful female domestic medium hair mix has a colorful calico coat.

She's in cat room kennel No. 24, ID No. 4327.

'Purdy'

“Purdy” is a female domestic long hair mix with an orange tabby coat.

She is already spayed so her adoption fee will be lower.

She's in cat room kennel No. 98, ID No. 4318.

'Muffin'

“Muffin” is an adult domestic short hair mix with a gray and brown tabby coat.

She already was spayed when she arrived at the shelter, so her adoption fee will be lower.

She is in cat room kennel No. 144, ID No. 4153.

Adoptable cats also can be seen at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Cats_and_Kittens.htm or at www.petfinder.com .

To fill out an adoption application online visit http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Dog___Cat_Adoption_Application.htm .

Lake County Animal Care and Control is located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport, next to the Hill Road Correctional Facility.

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Visit the shelter online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control.htm .

For more information call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.