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LUCERNE, Calif. – The Northshore woman who died in a single-vehicle wreck in Lucerne last week has been identified.
Lisa Kay Hamblock, 51, of Lucerne, was the victim in the wreck, according to California Highway Patrol Officer Kory Reynolds.
The crash occurred on the afternoon of June 18 on Highway 20 at Grove Street, when Hamblock – traveling westbound in her 2007 Buick – went off the roadway at the Sandy Beach Trailer Lodge trailer park.
After going off the highway, Hamblock's vehicle hit trees, was propelled up and over a 6-foot-high wooden outbuilding, and then hit a singlewide mobile home and a travel trailer before coming to a stop.
Hamblock died at the scene. The residents of the trailers were home but uninjured, the CHP said.
Reynolds said the crash remains under investigation.
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UPPER LAKE, Calif. – Principal/Superintendent Valerie Gardner made implementing a full-day kindergarten one of her first priorities when she started her tenure at Upper Lake Union Elementary two years ago.
Most counties within the state of California were already administering all-day kindergartens when Gardner arrived. It was her 24th year working in education.
“I was really surprised when I first came down here that it wasn’t all-day because all-day kindergarten has been around the state for years,” said Gardner.
At Upper Lake Union Elementary, kindergartners used to attend class from about 8 until 11:30 a.m., just before lunch. Now they leave around 2 p.m. with the rest of the students.
While some worry that younger students can’t handle as long of a school day as their older peers, a report provided by the National Education Association says the opposite is true and that these students “do better in a setting that allows them to learn and do activities in depth.”
Gardner agrees. “When we implemented it we saw tremendous growth. I mean kids … had the time to just explore and still be kindergarten students,” she said.
Before that, Upper Lake educators worried that they were introducing too much without allowing them enough time to access the material developmentally.
And, Gardner said, it has nothing to do with improving enrollment and keeping kids in school.
Kindergarten is not required before entry into the first grade. Some argue that the longer school day encourages parents to keep their kids enrolled because picking them up from school in the middle of the day can be challenging.
According to Gardner this isn’t the case at all at Upper Lake.
“I’ve heard that but I haven’t seen it,” she smiled. “I love kindergarten parents because that’s their first year where they’re looking at, ‘What’s the rest of my child’s schooling going to be like?’ They can have really strong opinions.”
However, Gardner added that enrollment has grown since the start of the new day-long program.
At Upper Lake Union Elementary the students have been assessed through observation during what teachers call “Target Time,” where students are grouped together according to reading ability to work together.
Through this assessment Gardner said that she has seen more and more students enter the first grade reading at the level they should be reading.
“They meet their grade level standards,” she said. “It’s absolutely a success.”
Every July, Upper Lake educators evaluate the kindergartners to discover their needs and build a program based on those needs instead of forcing students to conform to a prescribed curriculum.
According to the National Education Association, all-day kindergarten gives teachers more time to identify student needs, gives students a well-structured bridge to first grade, and offers students benefits that are not only intellectual but social and emotional as well.
The National Education Association stated that, “Children in full day kindergarten classes show greater reading and mathematics gains than those in half-day classes.”
Now that more schools with all day kindergartens are showing a marked improvement in the development of their youngest students, Lakeport will soon be following suit.
“We’ve been contemplating it for a few years,” said Lakeport Elementary Principal Anita Swanson. “After seeing how successful they [other schools] were we thought it was time to implement our own.”
Swanson said that there will be some adjustments after using a system that the kindergärtners teachers have grown accustomed to.
Teachers used to assist each other in the mornings and afternoons with their students. Now that all will be teaching from morning until the end of the school day, they will be working with paraeducators instead, she said.
“There was a desire from the parents” for the full-day kindergarten, she said, adding that the additional time students and teachers will have together will be mutually beneficial in the long run.
Come fall all the Lake County schools offering kindergartens will be able to count Lakeport Elementary School among them.
Middletown Unified is currently the only school district not offering an all day program to its students, according to the Lake County Office of Education. However trends suggest that Middletown won't be far behind the others.
“I was really happy to hear that Lakeport’s going to go all day next year too,” said Gardner.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Two of the biggest fires of Lake County's early fire season were contained on Tuesday, as firefighters elsewhere around the state continued to work on big incidents.
On Tuesday afternoon, the Thomas fire broke out in a field across Highway 29 from Rainbow Ag, as Lake county News has reported.
Lakeport Fire Chief Doug Hutchison said firefighters from around Lake County, as well as ground and air resources from Cal Fire, worked on the blaze, which had a small spot that jumped Highway 29.
The last acreage estimate available on the fire was between 30 to 35 acres, but Hutchison said Tuesday evening that, at that point, it hadn't been definitively mapped.
Hutchison said the fire was contained, with fire hose placed around it. Crews were expected to be on scene on Wednesday morning.
He said firefighters had initial reports of a downed power line that may have caused the incident, but no such line was found.
As such, the fire's cause remains under investigation, said Hutchison.
Also on Tuesday, the Mendocino National Forest reported that a fire that began on Friday on private land on the Upper Lake Ranger District had been contained.
The Sanhedrin fire burned a total of 25 acres south of Little Signal Peak and east of the Sanhedrin Wilderness, according to forest spokeswoman Tamara Schmidt.
Schmidt said mop-up work on the incident was continuing on Tuesday.
Elsewhere around California, Cal Fire spokesman Daniel Berlant said Tuesday that more than 4,000 firefighters continued to make good progress battling eight major wildfires.
Berlant said the forecast calls for seasonably warm and dry weather this week, although for some areas it will seem cooler from the recent warm spell.
However, high pressure builds in Wednesday through Friday and is expected to bring very hot and dry conditions, he said.
“With the hot, dry conditions wildfire activity continues to increase, which leads to an important reminder for residents to take steps to prevent sparking a wildfire,” Berlant said.
A rundown of major incidents around the state follows, with size estimates through late Tuesday.
Cal Fire incidents
– Corrine fire: Began June 18 in Madera County; 920 acres, 90-percent contained. Three structures destroyed, evacuations lifted. Cause is under investigation.
– Park Hill fire: Began June 20, San Luis Obispo County; 1,800 acres, 90-percent contained. Sixteen structures and nine vehicles (including two RVs used as residences) destroyed, evacuations lifted. Cause was carbon buildup from an unknown vehicle exhaust system.
– Red fire: Began June 21 in Madera County; 135 acres, 100-percent contained.
Unified command fires
– Lake fire: Began June 17 in San Bernardino County; 17,525 acres, 33-percent contained. Evacuations remain in effect; 500 structures threatened. Cause is under investigation.
Federal incidents
– Saddle fire: Began June 10 in Trinity County; 1,542 acres, 95-percent contained. Caused by lightning.
– Sky Fire: Began June 18 in Madera County; 500 acres, 95-percent contained. Caused by a vehicle.
– Washington Fire: Began June 19 in Alpine County; 16,544 acres. Caused by lightning.
Other incidents
– River fire: Began June 22 in Ventura County; 164 acres, 50-percent contained. All evacuations and closures lifted.
To learn about wildland fire preparedness, visit www.ReadyForWildfire.org .
Email Elizabeth Larson at
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Saturday, June 27, affords the next opportunity for the public to enjoy Lake County history as the Ely Stage Stop & Country Museum continues the series of Living History events from noon to 2 p.m.
This particular event will welcome historian Bob Prather, whose specialties include Adams Springs and the Loch Lomond area.
Prather will be available to the public in the Ely main house starting at noon to visit with guests and answer questions.
Conversations with Prather may highlight aspects of the book, “It’s Lonely at the Top,” written by David J. Morgan.
The book deals with narrow gauge logging in Lake County. Prather’s uncle, W.W. Prather, and his lumber company are featured in the book.
Guests can find copies of the book for purchase at the stage stop main house along with other books on Lake County History.
Home to the Lake County Historical Society, the stage stop is located at 9921 State Highway 281 (Soda Bay Road) in Kelseyville, near Clear Lake Riviera, just north of Highway 29-Kit's Corner.
Current hours of operation are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday.
Living history events are held on the fourth Saturday of each month. Fiddlers’ Jams occur the first Sunday of every month, again, from noon until 2 p.m.
Visit www.elystagestop.com or www.lakecountyhistory.org , check out the stage stop on Facebook at www.facebook.com/elystagestop or call the museum at 707-533-9990.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Summer Solstice Day – the first day of summer – has come and gone, but a familiar aspect of the season did not appear.
The Lake County Home Wine and Beer Maker’s Festival, which has played a major role in Solstice celebrations ever since its inception more than a dozen years ago, will be a week late in arriving.
Due to a scheduling conflict the Winefest, as it’s called, will take place on Saturday, June 27, at Lakeport’s Library Park between one and five pm.
The discrepancy caused some confusion among people who’d set their calendars to the June 21 date.
Ed Bublitz, co-president of the Lake County Symphony Association, which sponsors the event as its major fundraiser, said he’s fielded a number of calls from both participants and attendees checking on the correct date.
“Even the banner hanging across Main Street in Lakeport added to the confusion. Apparently the ‘seven’ on the sign looked like a ‘one’ to a lot of folks,” he said.
Amateurs wanting to enter their wines, beers and ales for public tastings and/or professional judging can contact Bublitz at 707-277-8172 or
There are no fees but entrants are expected to provide a canopy and sufficient folding tables and chairs to furnish their location.
Wines entered for judging are levied a fee of $7 per 750 milliliter bottle. These should be delivered to the judge’s stand by 9 a.m. It is located in the Lake County Yacht Club, to the right of the boat ramp when entering Library Park.
Home brewers should contact Michael Shoemaker at
Since all proceeds go to support the Lake County Symphony and Youth Orchestras, and other music education programs, music will be a key part of the festival, with the duo of David Neft and Steve Dubois and acoustic guitarist Travis Rinker leading the way. There also will be appearances by local favorites the Konocti Fiddle Club.
In another first, Lakeport Mayor Martin Scheel has agreed to take on the job of master of ceremonies, introducing the events as they happen, including winners in the numerous homemade wine and beer categories as well as those of the raffles and auctions, which are a key part of the event.
Many of Lake County’s leading commercial wineries also will be on hand, pouring tastes for attendees.
Due in part to the large number of arts, crafts and other vendors, the Winefest has become a family affair, with kids and leashed pets welcome, though of course only adults 21 or older with appropriate wristbands are eligible for tasting the adult beverages.
The $20 entry fee includes a commemorative wine glass and ballots for the popular Peoples’ Choice awards voting.
Tickets are available at most Lake County winery tasting rooms, as well as the Lake County Chamber of Commerce in Lakeport and Watershed Books, 305 N. Main St., also in Lakeport.
Tickets at the gate are $25 per person.
UPPER LAKE, Calif. – A fire that began last Friday within the Mendocino National Forest has been fully contained, according to a Tuesday report.
The Sanhedrin fire burned a total of 25 acres, according to forest spokeswoman Tamara Schmidt.
Schmidt said the fire – reported Friday at around 7:30 p.m. – was located on private land within the Mendocino National Forest south of Little Signal Peak and east of the Sanhedrin Wilderness on the Upper Lake Ranger District.
On Tuesday afternoon firefighters continued mop-up activities, Schmidt said.
She said smoke from the fire may still be visible for the next few days along Highway 101 and to communities on the west side of the forest.
Schmidt said the fire's cause remains under investigation.