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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A 3-magnitude earthquake centered near The Geysers geothermal steamfield occurred early Friday morning.
The US Geological Survey said in a preliminary report that the quake was recorded at 12:40 a.m.
It was centered three miles southeast of The Geysers, 11 miles northeast of Healdsburg and 15 miles south southwest of Clearlake, at a depth of about six-tenths of a mile, the US Geological Survey reported.
As of shortly after 1 a.m., four shake reports from the Kelseyville area had been submitted to the survey.
A 3.8-magnitude quake occurred two miles northwest of The Geysers on the evening of July 9, as Lake County News has reported.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The real estate picture in Lake County is continuing to improve, according to the latest report on home sales and inventory from the Lake County Association of Realtors.
LCAOR's monthly report showed that the median sales price of single family residences for Lake County moved up from $207,000 in May 2015 to $209,000 in June 2015.
LCAOR said the most surprising number was the number of sales in June, which rose to 109 units and marked the first time since May of 2012 that the number of sold units topped 100.
The month-to-month percentage increase was more than 50 percent when compared to the 72 unit sales in May 2015, based on the report.
Inventory levels dropped to four months of inventory for the first time since December of 2013, LCAOR reported.
A normal level of inventory in the real estate market is considered to be six months. LCAOR said that a four-month inventory indicates that if no new listings came on the market it would take that amount of time, four months, to sell all existing inventory.
“The association looked at sales over the last 18 months since January 2014 and the trends are on a steady rise,” said LCAOR President Yvette Sloan. “The median sales price for the first half of 2014 was $165,000 compared to $170,000 in the second half of the same year and $195,000 in the first half of 2015.”
Besides prices on the rise over the last 18 months the market also showed some gain in number of units sold. The first half of 2014 had 353 sales, the second half 379 and the first half of 2015 had 394.
Distressed sales, homes sold after foreclosure or for less than what was owed, continued to decline.
In the first half of 2014, 30.3 percent of the sales were distressed, in the second half of the year the percent dropped to 23 percent and in the first half of 2015 only 17.26 percent of the sales involved distressed properties, LCAOR reported.
Types of financing remained relatively the same for all three periods with cash only financing and conventional financing each ranging in the low to mid 30 percent of the deals.
FHA loan financing was the next highest percentage at approximately 13 percent of the transactions.
NUMBERS AT A GLANCE
Lake County – June 2015
• Median price: $209,000
• Median days to sell: 61
• Units Sold: 109
Lake County – May 2015
• Median price: $207,000
• Median days to sell: 67
• Units Sold: 72
Lake County – June 2014
• Median price: $185,500
• Median days to sell: 60
• Units Sold: 86
Lake County – January 2015 to June 2015
• Median Price : $195,000
• Median Days to Sell: 80
• Units Sold: 394
Lake County – July 2014 to December 2014
• Median Price : $170,000
• Median Days to Sell: 80
• Units Sold: 379
Lake County – Jan. 2014 to June 2014
• Median Price : $165,000
• Median Days to Sell: 72
• Units Sold: 353
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Citizens Caring for Clearlake is undertaking a massive cleanup effort this week.
The group, also known as CC4C, is focusing efforts this entire week on cleaning up dump sites near Pomo School.
CC4C began its effort on Monday and will continue to cleanup the area until next Monday, July 20.
Barbara Christwitz, founder of the group, said she contacted the property owner, who lives in the Sacramento area, to inform him about the extensive blight of the area and discuss cleaning it up.
Through discussions of costs, Christwitz said she estimated it would cost about $700 in dump fees to remove all the trash.
“He gave us his permission to conduct the cleanup and donated $1,000 to our group,” she said. “We rented a 30-cubic-foot dumpster, but we could use four more just like it.”
Christwitz said the area is about 10 and a half acres, located east of Pomo School.
“It's a homeless encampment back here,” she said. “Once we start helping these people we won't have such a severe problem in our city.”
While she doesn't blame the homeless and recognizes their struggles to survive, she said, “It's a homeless problem, therefore, it's a garbage problem. We could duplicate this behind Ray's Food Place and Safeway.”
As volunteers clean the area they are separating trash from recyclable items, going as far as tearing down mattresses and other furniture to recycle the metal components inside and decrease costs for disposal.
Electronic waste, tires, wood and other items also are being separated for proper disposal.
“I always try to make light of the blight,” group member Neickol Cook said.
Cook said picking up trash is her “hobby” and that she is constantly picking up garbage everywhere she goes.
She said she noticed an interest from children and often provides a trash-picker and bucket in places where she finds them.
“They make a game out of it, dancing around and having fun as they pick up trash and put it in the bucket,” Cook said. “They say I make cleaning fun.”
CC4C conducted a cleanup effort in the field area between the Redbud Library and Safeway earlier this year, where Christwitz said another large homeless encampment exists. She said the group spent about $600 on that effort.
According to Christwitz, an anonymous donor kickstarted the group's cleanup mission with a $10,000 contribution. Funds have assisted in two cleanup efforts on Sulphur Bank Drive since December.
“The help we received from the Missionaries from the Mormon Church on these cleanups was phenomenal,” she said.
Fundraising efforts help the group continue its efforts, she said.
“It's heartwarming all the people who have stepped up to support our group. It demonstrates how much it's needed and how much people really do care,” she said.
Christwitz added, “It's not about trash. It's about building community and bringing people together in a like cause. Being a poor community doesn't mean we have to live in squalor.”
Every 22nd day of the month, the CC4C conducts its Adopt-a-Highway cleanup, beginning as early as 6 a.m.
The group's adopted area is on the west side of Highway 53 between 18th Avenue and Lower Lake.
“We start as early as possible to avoid the heat,” Christwitz said.
The group also assists the Clearlake Park area's Neighborhood Watch program, keeping on the lookout for illegal dumpers.
For more information concerning CC4C, contact Christwitz at 707-995-0940 or visit the group's Facebook page.
Editor's note: The story originally stated the cleanup will end on Friday, July 17, 2015. Organizers said it will extend to Monday, July 20.
Email Denise Rockenstein at
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Two local men facing trial for a June 2013 home invasion entered pleas on Monday as part of an agreement reached with the District Attorney's Office.
Sean Douglas Foss, 22, and Tyler Christopher Gallon, 20, both of Clearlake, entered the pleas in the June 26, 2013, home invasion at the home of Ronnie and Janeane Bogner in Clearlake Oaks and the attempted shooting of Clearlake Police Lt. Tim Celli, according to District Attorney Don Anderson.
Foss and Gallon were among several subjects – including Dion Andre Davis, 28, and his girlfriend, Jenaya Jelinek – who drove to the Bogners' home that morning intending to steal guns and money, according to the investigation. Foss had formerly worked for the Bogners' company, Weed Tech.
Authorities said the defendants forced their way into the residence when Janeane Bogner, her grandchildren and her son, Jacob were home.
Jacob Bogner was shot in the leg and pistol-whipped before the group left with $121 in cash, two old handguns and a pellet gun, and Janeane Bogner's 2002 Cadillac Escalade, which later was pushed down an embankment.
The group fled into the city of Clearlake. Celli saw the group in a car driven by Jelinek, and pursued them to the area of 16th Avenue, where they fled the car. Jelinek was apprehended at the car, and Davis shot in Celli's direction several times with the .40 caliber Glock pistol he used to shoot Jacob Bogner.
Davis, Foss and Gallon were taken into custody later that day following a standoff with a SWAT team at a nearby home.
When they originally were charged in the summer of 2013, counts against Foss and Gallon had included the attempted murder of Jacob Bogner, robbery, burglary of an inhabited residence, assault with a firearm, assault with a semiautomatic firearm, grand theft of a firearm, and conspiracy to commit robbery and burglary, officials said.
However, under the deal reached with the District Attorney's Office, they each pleaded to fewer charges and, as a result, face considerably less time in prison.
Anderson said Foss pleaded to armed robbery, assault with a deadly weapon on Jacob Bogner and on Celli, for a total of nine years in prison.
Gallon pleaded out to armed robbery, assault with a deadly weapon on Celli, auto theft, resisting an executive officer and vandalism, for a total time of four and a half years in prison, Anderson said.
In the case of both men, the time they are facing was negotiated, said Anderson, who wanted both of them to have included in their pleas agreements crimes against victims and police officers.
The time the men will receive was heavily impacted by the fact that neither had an adult criminal record before the June 2013 robbery, Anderson said.
Also taken into account was the level of cooperation both offered, said Anderson.
He said Gallon cooperated in the case's early stages and ended up testifying at Davis' trial.
“He got a lot of consideration and time off for his cooperation,” said Anderson.
In Foss' case, he tried to cooperate, but “he didn’t tell me the truth on everything,” said Anderson, who wasn't going to allow Foss to testify at the trial as a result.
Foss and Gallon both are scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 26, Anderson said.
Anderson said both men must serve their time in state prison, not the county jail.
In the meantime, the judge granted Gallon a weeklong release to spend time with his mother – who has some serious medical issues – on a promise to reappear, according to Anderson.
Anderson said Gallon was released on Monday morning. During the release, he must wear an ankle monitor.
Gallon must report back to the jail early next week, with Anderson explaining that Gallon has a “tremendous motivation” to return to the jail.
“If he does not reappear, he could be looking at roughly another eight years in prison,” Anderson said.
As for the other defendants in the case, Jelinek pleaded out to second degree burglary in 2014 and later was released.
She also testified at Davis' trial, which ended with his conviction in March for armed robbery, burglary, assault with a firearm on Jacob Bogner, assault with a semiautomatic firearm on Bogner, mayhem on Bogner, grand theft of a firearm, vehicle theft, vandalism, making threats of violence to Clearlake Police Lt. Tim Celli, assault with a semiautomatic firearm on Celli, assault with a deadly weapon on Celli, negligent discharge of a firearm, accessory to a robbery or burglary, and conspiracy to commit a robbery or residential burglary, plus 21 special allegations.
The jury deadlocked on two attempted murder counts for the shootings of Bogner and Celli.
Davis' brother, Gregory Pierre Elarms, was tried with him, but the jury deadlocked on all 10 counts against Elarms. The District Attorney's Office later dismissed the case against Elarms.
A sentencing date hasn't yet been set for Davis, whose attorney Bill Conwell told Lake County News after the jury verdict that he intended to seek a new trial.
Anderson said the sentencing recommendation for Davis is 25 years to life, plus 58 years.
Davis also is due to appear in court on Aug. 26 for motion hearings, which Anderson said include a Pitchess motion for the records for sheriff's Det. Doug Dahmen – who had investigated the case and whose work had come under fire in the trial – as well as for investigative documents associated with a case report that hadn't been completed by the time of the trial.
Anderson anticipates that the case now is close to being finalized, outside of Davis' new trial motion, for which he said he didn't see a basis.
“At least, that's my opinion,” he said.
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The Office of Traffic Safety and the California Highway Patrol on Tuesday released a new study showing a 39 percent increase in the percentage of California drivers seen using a cell phone while driving.
“It’s shocking that nearly 10 percent of motorists were observed using their cell phones while driving a motor vehicle, a potentially-lethal combination,” said Office of Traffic Safety Director Ronda Craft. “We will continue our aggressive public outreach campaign and our partnership with law enforcement to educate the public about the dangers of those who drive distracted and put the lives of others at risk.”
During the study, which was conducted by the Office of Traffic Safety and the University of California, Berkeley Safe Transportation Research and Education Center, researchers observed motorist behavior.
This year, 9.2 percent of motorists were spotted using a cell phone while driving, up from 6.6 percent of drivers in 2014.
The highest level recorded since research began was 10.8 percent of motorists using a cell phone in 2012.
During April’s Distracted Driving Awareness Month, approximately 250 law enforcement agencies across California ticketed more than 46,000 drivers using a cell phone while driving – roughly double the number of tickets issued during the average month.
Although there were fewer citations for hand-held talking on cell phones, law enforcement wrote 35 percent more tickets for texting-while-driving compared to 2014.
“Discouraging drivers from operating a vehicle while distracted is a challenge that law enforcement is faced with year-round,” said CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow. “By raising awareness through education and enforcement, we are working toward changing the dangerous behavior of using a cell phone while driving – and the purpose is to save lives.”
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 80 percent of vehicle crashes involve some sort of driver inattention and approximately 3,000 people were killed nationwide last year in collisions involving a distracted driver.
Texting takes a driver’s eyes off the road for an average of five seconds – enough time to travel the length of a football field, essentially driving blindfolded for 120 yards.
A public awareness campaign, “Silence the Distraction,” that emphasized how distracting talking or texting can be while driving, accompanied April’s law enforcement effort.
A tour of 11 community college campuses brought the message of traffic safety with interactive games, information booths, and student engagement.
The Office of Traffic Safety sponsors television advertisements illustrating how distracting text messages can make it seem like the car is full of demanding people screaming for a driver’s attention.
Caltrans also is supporting the public outreach efforts with changeable message signs warning about the dangers of texting or talking while driving.
For more information about the dangers of distracted driving, and the ongoing campaign to combat it in California, visit: http://www.ots.ca.gov/Media_and_Research/Campaigns/Distracted_Driving.asp .
The full report can be found below.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Having completed its investigation into a truck-motorcoach collision that killed 10 people – including several high school students – in Orland last year, the National Transportation Safety Board met on Tuesday to consider the report and call for vehicle enhancements.
The NTSB recommended that motorcoach interiors be designed with improved flammability requirements as well as improved emergency exits, and that event data recorders be installed on commercial trucks and motorcoaches.
The crash occurred on Interstate 5 on April 10, 2014, and involved a motorcoach filled with Southern California students heading to Humboldt State for a tour.
In the crash, a 2007 Volvo truck-tractor, operated by FedEx Freight Inc., crossed a 58-foot-wide median, struck a 2013 Nissan Altima four-door passenger car, and then collided head-on with a 2014 Setra motorcoach.
The crash killed both FedEx semi driver Timothy Paul Evans, 32, of Elk Grove, and bus driver Talalelei Feleni Lealao-Taiao, 53, of Sacramento.
Eight motorcoach passengers also died in the collision: chaperones Mattison Leatrice Haywood, 25, of Chino and Michael Lee Myvett Jr., 29, of Los Angeles; Humboldt State admissions office staffer Arthur Arzola; and students Ismael Jimenez, 18, of Inglewood; Jennifer Caroline Bonilla, 17, of Los Angeles; Denise Eraina Gomez, 18, of Inglewood; and Marisa Elaine Serrato, 17, of Riverside.
Thirty-seven motorcoach passengers and two occupants of the passenger car were injured.
In May, the California Highway Patrol concluded its investigation, finding that Evans – for an unknown reason – made an unsafe turning movement.
The NTSB investigators were unable to determine why the FedEx truck crossed the median, but they ruled out truck and motorcoach driver experience, licensing and training, as well as alcohol and drug use, mechanical factors and weather as causes of the crash.
Likewise, the agency found no evidence that Evans was experiencing distraction or fatigue, or that he intentionally crossed into opposing traffic.
“The investigation brought to light the difficulty of getting out of a burning motorcoach,” said NTSB Chairman Christopher Hart. “It is unacceptable for anyone who survives a crash to perish in a post-crash fire because the exits were too hard to find or too difficult to use.”
The investigation revealed inadequacies in the fire performance standards for commercial passenger vehicle interiors, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 302.
The flammability testing under FMVSS 302 involves a small-scale fire source, such as those that might be caused by matches or cigarettes – which differ drastically from the actual common causes of bus fires.
The board also found that neither the motorcoach driver who initiated the trip nor the relief driver gave a safety briefing or played the prerecorded safety briefing that the company had provided, and many passengers struggled to locate and open the emergency exit windows.
At least two passengers died because they could not exit the motorcoach before succumbing to asphyxiation due to inhaling smoke from the fire, the investigation found.
A pretrip safety briefing or a video about evacuation could have expedited the evacuation process and possibly saved lives and mitigated injuries, the board suggested.
The board has also found that the windows on the motorcoach, from which escaping passengers had to jump, were more than 7 feet off the ground – higher than the wings of some airplanes – and did not have a mechanism to keep them open.
The board concluded that current standards lack adequate requirements for emergency lighting and signage and reiterated several longstanding previous recommendations for standards that that would require independently powered lighting fixtures, use of photoluminescent material to mark emergency exits and windows that remain open after being opened for emergency evacuations.
In addition, the board concluded that having a secondary door for use as an emergency exit would expedite evacuations and reduce the potential for injuries caused by jumping from window exits.
Hart said that neither the truck-tractor nor the motorcoach had event data recorders, which impeded the investigation of the crash's cause.
“With access to event data recorders, we might have been able to determine why the truck crossed the median, which could have enabled us to make recommendations to prevent it from happening again,” Hart said. “Much of the reason that aviation is so safe today is that we have required such recorders for decades so that we can learn the lessons of accidents. But they are still not required in commercial trucks or motorcoaches despite more than a decade of recommendations by the NTSB.”
As a result of the investigation, the NTSB issued safety recommendations regarding commercial passenger vehicles to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration that address the fire performance standards; pretrip safety briefings; improving vehicle design to facilitate evacuations; requiring the development of minimum performance standards for event data recorders in trucks and motorcoaches; and requiring them to be installed in these vehicles.
The findings, the probable cause and all recommendations can be seen below, along with the presentation given at Tuesday's meeting.
The full report will be available on the NTSB Web site, www.ntsb.gov , in several weeks.