How to resolve AdBlock issue? 
News
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County's agricultural production and value continues to grow, according to the latest county crop report.
The report, covering 2013, showed that the gross value of Lake County agricultural production for 2013 was $96,173,111, an increase of 13 percent over 2012.
Agricultural Commissioner Steve Hajik said in the report that the increase in Lake County's agricultural value can be attributed to the winegrape industry.
Gross winegrape value for 2013 reached $61.3 million, an increase of 28 percent over 2012, Hajik reported.
Total harvested tonnage in 2013 was up by 25 percent, with a total of 8,718 winegrape acres, an increase of 326 acres, according to the report.
Hajik's report showed that white varietals totaled 2,990 acres, while red varietals dominated with 5,728 acres.
In 2013, the tons per acre increased by 25 percent and the average price per ton increased slightly, Hajik said.
The top-produced varietal in 2013 was Cabernet Sauvignon, with 14,120 tons. It also was the varietal that earned the most – $1,725 per ton – for a total return of $24.3 million. Sauvignon Blanc came in at No. 2 for most tons, 13,065, priced at $1,057 per ton, for a total return of $13.8 million.
Other top winegrape varietals listed in the 2013 report were Zinfandel, 3,040 tons at $1,487 per ton; Petite Syrah, 2,345 tons, $1,606 per ton; Chardonnay, 2,337 tons, $1,195 per ton; Merlot, 2,083 tons, $1,260 per ton; and Syrah, 1,186 tons, $1,403 per ton.
Lake County's famed pears remained a top crop in 2013, according to the report.
Gross value of pears after packing and processing was $21,788,051, a decrease of 10 percent from 2012. Total production increased by 3,189 tons, but the price per ton decreased by 8 percent, the report showed.
Total pear acreage for 2013 appeared to remain fairly steady, based on the data. There were 2,020 planted pear acres, down by 37 acres from the previous year.
Walnuts, a crop that has grown in popularity with consumers, decreased by 3 percent in gross value in 2013, totaling $6,327,090.
The report showed that 2013's walnut production decreased by 15 percent, with acreage down to 3,533 acres from the 3,671 acres reported in 2012. However, the price per ton last year increased 13 percent.
Organic farming products totaled $6.1 million last year, with walnuts being the largest organic crop, followed by winegrapes and pears, according to agricultural statistics.
Crops showing increases included livestock production 14 percent; field crops, 18 percent; miscellaneous fruit, 20 percent; vegetables, 19 percent; and timber, 2,300 percent, according to Hajik.
Segments of agricultural production that decreased in 2013 included nursery production, 35 percent; and livestock and poultry products, 9 percent, Hajik said.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – A local man is on the mend after a Sunday morning crash in which his pickup went off the road near Kit's Corner.
David Ryan, 47, said he suffered a punctured lung, three fractured ribs, two broken vertebrae and a fractured collarbone in the crash.
California Highway Patrol Officer Kory Reynolds said Ryan was driving his 1994 Toyota pickup southbound on Highway 29 north of Highway 281 just before 9 a.m. when the crash occurred in a righthand curve.
Ryan explained that he was running errands on his way to work that morning in the pickup, which he recently had gotten in a trade. He said he had no distractions – he didn't even have the radio playing – and both hands were on the wheel.
He said he found the pickup suddenly pointing off the road. He threw himself down on the seat, “Which is probably what saved me.”
Ryan's pickup went off the roadway and down a dirt embankment, striking a tree and then a large rock, Reynolds said.
After the wreck, Ryan said he sat up and initially couldn't breathe due to the punctured lung.
A REACH air ambulance landed at nearby Kit's Corner, picking Ryan up and transporting him to Kaiser Hospital in Vacaville, Reynolds said.
Reynolds said Ryan was wearing his seat belt, and alcohol and drugs were not a factor in the crash.
Ryan said he's still not sure what caused his pickup to go off the road, although he suspects that the right back tire may have gone out.
All four tires were blown out as a result of the crash, and a mechanic who looked at the totaled pickup noted the truck possibly had rearend failures, Ryan said.
He said he's appreciated the outpouring of support from friends and community members in the wake of the crash.
Ryan, who came home from the hospital early in the week, works as a tree trimmer, Tai Chi teacher and musician. He said a friend will be doing guitar duty in his stead at an Aug. 15 gig at Ty's Blues Cafe in Soda Bay, while he continues to recover.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Flotilla 88 of Lake County, will hold its annual life jacket giveaway for children on Saturday, Aug. 2.
The giveaway will begin at 9:30 a.m. at the gazebo at Redbud Park, 14655 Lakeshore Drive in Clearlake.
This free life jacket giveaway project is made possible by a $1,500 grant from Walmart.
The event will include the weighing, fitting and distribution of life jackets for youngsters 12 years of age and under.
A parent or guardian must accompany the child and must complete an information slip to be eligible to receive the life jacket.
The event will end at 1 p.m. or whenever all of the life jackets are gone.
An information table will be at the gazebo to provide the public with boating safety information.
On Aug. 2 Flotilla 88 also will hold a free vessel safety check by qualified vessel examiners for boat owners, which will be held at the marina at Redbud Park.
Examiners will be available starting at 9:30 a.m. Boats can be on a trailer or in the water at the docks.
For additional information, call the Flotilla’s message phone at 707-278-8288.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – “Lake County Live!” – the monthly program featuring local talent and comedy – will come to a close with the last show on Sunday, July 27, at the Soper-Reese Theatre.
Debuting back in January 2012, the show has featured local comedy, poets and more than three dozen local musical performers, all doing their best before a live theater audience and entertaining those on the air on KPFZ 88.1 FM in real time, as a live performance.
Sunday will mark the 30th and final performance of the show.
Please join us as the Ladies of the Lake will again provide laughs and closure of their more than two and half years of comments on life in Lake County.
Also on the final performance the show will feature Clovice Lewis and Carol Cole-Lewis with great music, as well as the guitar artistry of Travis Rinker.
“We've had a great run with great run,” said show creator and producer Doug Rhoades. “But all good things run their course, and it's time to bid adieu of Ladies of the Lake, the Lake County Daily Herald Sentinel, Mama Maybelle's Bountiful Brownies and all that we have created.”
Thus, July 27 will mark the final performance of this showcase for local talent and comedy, Rhoades said.
“We've featured more than 60 local performers providing musical entertainment, and dozens more lending their talents to our skits and comedy” said Rhoades.
However, he concluded, “It's time to move on.”
Tickets for the final show are available online at www.soperreesetheatre.com , at the Travel Center in Lakeport and through Lake County Community Co-op.
“We've had a wonderful run, given we didn't anticipate the show would last more than a year initially,” Rhoades said. “I want to thank all who have come to the theater and applauded, laughed and enjoyed our shows. I also want to thank Richard Smith, Vicky Parish Smith, Kris Andre, Pamela Bradley, Nick Reid, Nancy Rhoades, Kris Veenstra, Mike and Andrea Adams, Mike Stempe and Jane Ruggles, as well as Jeremiah French for his expertise as our audio engineer and everyone who helped make Lake County Live! The show I had always envisioned.”
He added, “It is bittersweet, but all good things come to an end, and it's time to bid adieu to Lake County Live!”
Hidden Valley Lake Community Services District launches rate study; considers possible rate increase
HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE, Calif. – The Hidden Valley Lake Community Services District has begun a study of its sewer and water rates ahead of potential rate increases later this year.
At its June 17 meeting, the district's board approved hiring the consulting firm NBS to conduct the study, according to General Manager Roland Sanford.
Sanford said the third-party study will help the district approach rate increases needed to address new treatment requirements as well as plan for upgrading its aging collection system.
Regarding the new treatment requirements, Sanford said that on July 1 a new drinking water standard for hexavalent chromium went into effect.
“This is going to be a huge expense for us, unfortunately,” he said.
He said the new requirement reduces acceptable hexavalent chromium amounts in drinking water to 10 parts per billion.
Sanford explained that when hexavalent chromium is present – sometimes it appears in well water – it will be necessary either to blend the well water with another water supply or build new treatment facilities.
Such facilities, he said, would use expensive technology and could run as much as $3 million to $4 million to construct.
“It’s a very significant cost for us,” Sanford said.
Another expensive project for the district is securing its water rights. Sanford said the process, which involves the State Water Resources Control Board, has been lengthy, and is expected to cost at least another $300,000.
Then there is the matter of the district's aging sewer collecting system, with those facilities reaching the end of their useful life and needing to be replaced. Sanford said the district needs to start preparing for that replacement.
The NBS study will be looking at what the district needs to do ahead and what it will cost. Sanford said the analysis will be a thorough one, and should be done by late August.
“It’s basically a numbers crunching exercise,” he said.
Just what the rate increases may look like won't be known until the study is done, he said, adding that the district also must decide what financing plan will work for its needed upgrades.
He said it would be nice to pay as they go, “But that's not going to be very practical.”
Other aspects of the study include a looks at the district's sewer and water rate structures to determine if they are equitable. He said the district wants to make it more economical for customers to conserve on water.
Part of the analysis also will be to compare the Hidden Valley Lake Community Services District's rates to other districts around Lake County. Sanford said the district appears to compare favorably to local peer agencies.
Once the study is done, the district will have at least one public workshop before beginning the process required for rate hikes under Proposition 218.
Approved by California voters in 1996, Proposition 218 sets out requirements for how affected ratepayers are noticed of potential hikes, sets restrictions on fees and requires majority approval of new or increased general taxes.
Sanford expects the Proposition 218 hearing should be scheduled in October. He said 50 percent of the affected ratepayers would have to protest the hikes to stop them.
The district is trying to get the word out and let residents now what is going on and why, he said.
He said that district ratepayers should keep an eye on the newsletter that accompanies billing inserts and visit the district Web site at http://www.hiddenvalleylakecsd.com/ for updates.
Sanford said district meetings are open to the public. Residents are encouraged to attend and give input on their concerns.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A Clearlake Oaks man has been arrested for unlawful sexual activity with a teenage girl.
Gavin David Cummins, 25, was arrested July 13 by a California State Parks law enforcement officer, according to Senior Deputy District Attorney Ed Borg.
Borg said he's charged Cummins with felonies including oral copulation with a victim under age 16, sexual penetration with a foreign object, contacting a minor to commit a felony, arranging a meeting with a minor for lewd purposes and misdemeanor annoying or molesting a child.
Cummins met the alleged victim, who is 16, at the Clearlake Walmart and Borg said the two exchanged texts, later meeting at Anderson Marsh State Historic Park.
It's at the park that the sexual activity allegedly took place, which is why a State Parks officer made the arrest, Borg said.
Although the alleged victim is 16, she is still considered a minor and therefore she lacks the legal capacity to consent to sexual activity, Borg said.
Bail for Cummins originally was set at $50,000, and he posted the required percentage of bail and was released, Borg said.
Cummins is set to make his first court appearance for arraignment, appearance of counsel and entry of plea on Sept. 16, Borg said.
If convicted, Cummins could face the requirement to register as a sex offender for life, Borg said.
Email Elizabeth Larson at