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LAKEPORT, Calif. – It's hard not to like a handsome fellow with beautiful brown eyes and black hair.
That's the case with this male shepherd mix waiting for a new home at Lake County Animal Care and Control.
Shelter staff believes he is a mix of Australian Shepherd and some other shepherd – possibly German – and maybe some other cattle dog-type breeds mixed in.
He's a very nice dog, silly and smiley, and highly intelligent.
The shelter's evaluator estimates he is 2 years old, walks well on a leash and knows some basic commands.
While he would do best in a home without cats, he was successfully introduced to other dogs and also showed no food aggression or guarding when tested.
The evaluator concluded he would do well with children age 7 and older, and called him a “great and affectionate” dog.
He's in kennel No. 31, ID No. 4197.
There are many other dogs needing homes at the shelter, which is full as the year draws to a close.
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
State Attorney General Kamala D. Harris on Thursday issued an information bulletin to California law enforcement agencies outlining new responsibilities under state law to track and report citizen complaints against peace officers, including complaints alleging racial or identity profiling.
Under the new law, AB 953 (Weber), California law enforcement agencies must begin collecting additional citizen complaint data starting on Jan. 1, 2016.
An annual report of data must be submitted to the California Department of Justice beginning Jan. 1, 2017, and will be made available to the public and disaggregated for each individual law enforcement agency.
“Racial and identity profiling undermine public trust and have debilitating effects on communities. Tracking and reporting citizen complaints will create accountability for law enforcement agencies engaged in these ineffective practices and help move us toward more fair and impartial policing in California,” said Attorney General Harris.
"This will go a long way toward providing a data-driven understanding of the problem. Then we can see the patterns of racial profiling. Where is it concentrated? What neighborhoods? Who is targeted? What communities have low numbers of these incidents? Can we find best policing practices for improving race relations in other communities? That's how effective policy is made," said Assemblywoman Dr. Shirley Weber (D-San Diego).
Law enforcement agencies must collect and annually report to the California Department of Justice complaints against peace and custodial officers, including those alleging criminal conduct of a felony or misdemeanor, non-criminal complaints, and complaints alleging racial or identity profiling.
Police and sheriff’s departments will be required to parse out from the total number of complaints, the number of complaints made from inmates admitted to a local detention facility.
For complaints involving racial or identity profiling, law enforcement agencies will further have to collect and report the specific type(s) of profiling alleged: based on race and ethnicity, nationality, age, religion, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, mental disability, or physical disability.
In addition to providing the total number of complaints reported, law enforcement agencies must also report the status and/or resolution of the complaint: sustained, exonerated, not sustained, unfound ed, or pending.
The DOJ will receive the first updated reports from law enforcement agencies beginning in 2017.
The California Department of Justice is making a new form available to law enforcement agencies for capturing and reporting this expanded set of complaints submitted by civilians.
The information bulletin and the new reporting form are available on the California Department of Justice Web site, www.oag.ca.gov/law .
In the bulletin, Attorney General Harris also reminded law enforcement agencies of their responsibilities to establish a procedure to investigate complaints by members of the public against sworn officers, and make those procedures available to the public.
Since January 2015, Attorney General Harris has taken several steps to strengthen the trust between law enforcement and California communities. These actions include:
– Directing the Department of Justice’s Division of Law Enforcement to conduct a 90-Day Review of its special agent trainings on implicit bias and use of force.
– Initiating a body camera pilot program for DOJ special agents.
– Convening law enforcement, youth, and community organizations to facilitate discourse about the best ways to cultivate trust and positive relationships.
– Creating the 21st Century Policing Working Group to foster discussion regarding implicit bias and building community trust, and to share best practices.
– Launching OpenJustice, a first-of-its-kind criminal justice open data initiative that is releasing unprecedented information with a focus on being interactive and highlighting data stories.
– Training police executives from 29 different law enforcement agencies in a Principled Policing Course, a POST Certified Training on Implicit Bias and Procedural Justice.
Did you get a telescope or pair of binoculars under the Christmas tree? If so, you can put them to the test by searching the Eastern sky for a view of a fuzzy comet on or shortly after New Year’s Day.
Comet Catalina, formally known as C/2013 US10, is currently perched in the pre-dawn skies as it returns to the depths of space following a recent visit to the inner part of our solar system. Named for the NASA-funded Catalina Sky Survey at the University of Arizona in Tucson, the comet was discovered on Oct. 31, 2013.
Shortly after its discovery, precise orbit determination showed that Comet Catalina likely originated from the Oort Cloud, a spherical cloud of many billions of icy objects chaotically and loosely bound to the solar system.
The passage of a relatively close star or fluctuations of gravitational tides from within our Milky Way galaxy can send these icy bodies on a journey inward.
Comet Catalina is a first-time visitor to the inner solar system, having reached perihelion (its closest point to the sun) at a distance of 76 million miles on Nov. 15.
As it slingshotted past the sun, the comet reached a velocity of 103,000 miles per hour – almost three times faster than NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft as it flew past Pluto.
Due to its high velocity, the comet is predicted to be on an escape trajectory from the solar system, never to return.
Weather permitting, the eastern pre-dawn sky provides an opportunity to see this faint interloper over the next few weeks.
Unfortunately, the waning gibbous moon will pose a challenge for skywatchers to locate Comet Catalina.
At minimum, binoculars are required to view the comet, which will appear as a fuzzy envelope of ice and dust, known as a coma.
Perhaps the simplest way to find Comet Catalina is to first locate the Big Dipper in the pre-dawn sky.
Note how the handle forms a sort of “arc.” That arc can be followed to the orange giant star known as Arcturus which, for those in the Northern Hemisphere, is the second brightest star in the sky and relatively easy to identify.
On New Year’s Day morning, Jan. 1, the comet will pass a mere 0.5 degrees – about the width of the moon – to the west of Arcturus.
So if you head outdoors 60 to 90 minutes before dawn, let Arcturus serve as your guidepost (one “moon-width” away) to find the faint, fuzzy patch of Comet Catalina.
Of course, for optimal viewing, it’s recommended that you observe away from streetlights and city skyglow.
If you miss Comet Catalina, don’t despair. You can still be treated to an alternate planetary extravaganza in the morning sky where Venus gleams in the southeast.
Just before dawn on New Year’s Day, Saturn will be about 8 degrees to the lower left of Venus; by Jan. 4 the pair will appear even closer together.
On Jan. 6 and 7, the waning crescent moon slips by the planetary pair. And on the morning of Jan. 8, Venus and Saturn are separated by a mere 0.4 degrees (less than one moon-width).
The celestial dance continues through January so that near month’s end, the five planets known as the ‘ancients’ span the sky from the southeast to the southwest in the morning twilight. In order (across the southern sky) these are Mercury, Venus, Saturn, Mars and Jupiter.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Soper Reese Theatre will expand its Classic Cinema Series in 2016, with films screening not only on the second Tuesday of the month, but also on the fourth Tuesday.
Each film shows at 1 and 6 p.m.
The concession stand will be open with freshly made popcorn and drinks.
Tickets are not sold for these shows, however, donations are gratefully accepted.
The theater staff and volunteers express gratitude to the community for its continued support of classic cinema and they hope everyone finds at least one personal favorite on the 2016 schedule.
The schedule follows.
– Jan. 12: “Gone With the Wind.” Sponsored by John H. Tomkins Tax Consultants.
– Jan. 26: “The African Queen.” Sponsored by Classic Film Fans.
– Feb. 9: “Annie Hall.” Sponsored by H&R Block and Hospice Services of Lake County.
– Feb. 23: “Cool Hand Luke.” Sponsored by Jim Aldrich.
– March 8: “After The Thin Man.” Sponsored by Michael Lorenzini.
– March 22: “Lawrence of Arabia.” Sponsored by Susan McCarty.
– April 12: “Notorious.” Sponsored by the Lake County Chamber of Commerce.
– April 26: “Soylent Green.” Sponsored by Stu, host of “Surface Noise,” KPFZ 88.1 FM.
– May 10: “The Music Man.” Sponsored by Anne Barquist and Hospice Services of Lake County.
– May 24: “Easy Rider.” Sponsored by Anonymous Motorcycle Fans.
– June 14: “The Great Escape.” Sponsored by the Law Office of Judy Conard, the Law Office of Mary Heare Amodio, and John H. Tomkins Tax Consultants.
– June 28: “The Owl & the Pussycat.” Sponsored by William Kranz.
– July 12: “Chinatown.” Sponsored by Westside Community Park Grillin’ on the Green.
– July 26: “Bridge Over the River Kwai.” Sponsored by Jim Dvorak, Jim’s Back Flow Service.
– Aug. 9: “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” Sponsored by Hillside Power Sports and John H. Tomkins Tax Consultants.
– Aug. 23: “Johnny Got His Gun.” Sponsored by Jim Aldrich.
– Sept. 13: “The Big Sleep” with Humphrey Bogart. Sponsored by John H. Tomkins Tax Consultants.
– Sept. 27: “The Secret of Santa Vittoria.” Sponsored by the Lake County Winery Association.
– Oct. 11: “King Kong.” Sponsored by Michael Lorenzini and Mike Adams.
– Oct. 25: “Vertigo.” Sponsored by Peggy Campbell, CPA.
– Nov. 8: “Mutiny on the Bounty,” with Clark Gable. Sponsored by The UPS Store.
– Nov. 22: “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.” Sponsored by Sarah Jansen.
– Dec. 13: “Alice in Wonderland.” Sponsored by Michael Lorenzini and Mike Adams.
– Dec. 27: “Gigi.” Sponsored by Kathy Jansen.
The Soper Reese Theatre is located at 275 S. Main St., Lakeport, telephone 707-263-0577.
Visit the theater on the Internet at www.soperreesetheatre.com and follow it on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Soper-Reese-Theatre-117392951610902/?fref=ts .
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Sheriff's detectives are continuing the investigation into a fatal shooting in Middletown on Wednesday night, with the man authorities believe is responsible for the homicide booked into the jail early Thursday morning.
Javier Martinez Cachu, 20, of Clearlake Park is being held on $1 million bail at the Lake County Jail on charges of murder, attempted murder and assault with a firearm, according to booking records.
Lt. Steve Brooks of the Lake County Sheriff's Office identified the man who was fatally shot as Luis Pimentel-Arroyo, 25, Middletown.
Pimentel-Arroyo was the driver of a vehicle originally believed to have been involved in a crash on Butts Canyon Road near Middletown at around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday. Firefighters arriving at the scene found he had died of his injuries.
A female passenger in the vehicle suffered minor injuries and was treated at an area hospital. Brooks said her name is not yet being released.
Martinez Cachu turned himself in at the Clearlake Police Department shortly after 10:15 p.m. Wednesday after fleeing the scene of the shooting. At that point, sheriff's deputies had been looking for him in the Clearlake area, as Lake County News has reported.
Jail records showed he was arrested at 1:45 a.m. Thursday and booked just after 7 a.m.
Brooks said the investigation is ongoing, with detectives working on Thursday to interview people.
Because of the investigation's active nature, Brooks said certain information was not yet being released, including the specific kind of firearm Martinez Cachu is believed to have used in the shooting.
Authorities on Thursday also were not yet prepared to speak to the motive behind the shooting, Brooks said.
Butts Canyon Road, from Highway 29 to the Napa County line, had been closed shortly after the shooting while the scene was processed. The Department of Public Works reported that it reopened on Thursday morning, and Brooks confirmed that all evidence had been cleared from the scene and stored.
Chief Deputy District Attorney Richard Hinchcliff said that because Martinez Cachu was arrested early Thursday morning, his office has a time period of two court days in which to arraign Martinez Cachu, meaning that at the latest he would have to appear in court next Tuesday.
However, Hinchcliff said he will move the arraignment in the case up to Monday if reports from the sheriff's office are available at that time.
Hinchcliff said there are no records of previous criminal cases in Lake County involving Martinez Cachu.
Email Elizabeth Larson at [email protected] . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – A handsome male German Shepherd mix is waiting at Lake County Animal Care and Control for the chance at a new home for 2016.
The young dog, estimated to be about 3 years old, was found as a stray on Clover Valley Road in Upper Lake, according to shelter staff.
He has a silver and black coat with white markings on his face and chin that indicate he isn't a purebred shepherd but is mixed with another breed, possibly with husky or malamute.
Shelter staff said he weighs 84 pounds and is neutered.
The shelter's evaluator noted he does not have food aggression and is good with other dogs. However, he is not recommended for a home with cats.
He is very smart, friendly and energetic, has some basic obedience training, and with more training would be an excellent companion and has a lot of potential, the evaluator said.
He has been neutered and vaccinated.
The big shepherd is in kennel No. 22, ID No. 4116.
There are many other dogs needing homes at the shelter, which is full as the year draws to a close.
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