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CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – A Clearlake Oaks vacation home was damaged in a Sunday evening fire.
A fire was first reported in the downstairs bedroom of the home, located at 11702 E. Highway 20, just before 5:30 p.m., according to radio reports.
Reports from the scene indicated Cal Fire and Northshore Fire responded to the incident.
Initial reports indicated that there were concerns that the fire was spreading into nearby wildland, but firefighters were able to quickly knock it down and contain it. Mop up continued for a few hours.
Northshore Fire Chief Jay Beristianos said the fire in the two-story summer home was accidental in nature. No one was injured.
The family who was staying there had arrived on Sunday for a three-week vacation, he said.
Beristianos said there was fire damage to two rooms and a storage area, as well as heavy smoke damage throughout the structure.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County's many communities will be celebrating Independence Day with carnivals, boat races, fireworks and fun.
The following is a roundup of the events countywide.
Event calendars are available at www.lakeconews.com and www.lakecounty.com , with updates also available at www.facebook.com/visitlakecountyca .
Thursday, July 3
Schoeppner Shows Carnival
CLEARLAKE – The Schoeppner Shows Carnival, sponsored by Lakeshore Lions, will offer rides, games and food all day at Austin Park.
For more information contact Lakeshore Lions Parade Chairman Ray Bridges at 707-994-3070.
Maxine Sherman Memorial Annual Fireworks display
CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – The Clearlake Oaks-Glenhaven Business Association will present the Maxine Sherman Memorial Annual Fireworks at dusk on Thursday, July 3.
The fireworks are launched from Clearlake Oaks Beach Park over Widgeon Bay.
The association said the best – and most fun – viewing area is from a boat, anchored east of Rattlesnake Island. Another great viewing area is Clarks Island.
Friday, July 4
Schoeppner Shows Carnival
CLEARLAKE – The Schoeppner Shows Carnival, sponsored by Lakeshore Lions, will offer rides, games and food all day at Austin Park.
Lakeport July 4 celebration
LAKEPORT – The city of Lakeport will host its annual Independence Day celebration from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, July 4.
The all-day event will include street vendors and a fair on Park Street and the Duct Tape Regatta.
Fireworks will be set off from a barge on Clear Lake at dusk.
Duct Tape Regatta
LAKEPORT – The Lakeport Yacht Club will once again sponsor the annual Cardboard and Duct Tape Regatta at Library Park near the Third Street launch ramp in the swimming beach across from TNT on the Lake restaurant.
Sign up for the free event begin at 9:30 a.m., with the races beginning at 11 a.m.
Rules require that the boats – which may be of any design, size or shape – be made using only cardboard and duct tape. Paddles may be of any material.
For the boats to qualify at the end of the races, the participants must be in them.
Life jackets are required for all participants. Unruly pirates will walk the plank.
There are three age groups: ages 6 to 11 (parents may assist but not propel the boat); 12 to 19; and 20 and above.
Trophies will be awarded to first, second and third place in each age group. This year the Yacht Club also will award a trophy for the crowd favorite boat.
For more information, contact Larry Wiggins at 707-263-4601 or Brandy Cubbage at 432-614-7707.
Saturday, July 5
Schoeppner Shows Carnival
CLEARLAKE – The Schoeppner Shows Carnival, sponsored by Lakeshore Lions, will offer rides, games and food all day at Austin Park.
57th annual Redbud Parade and Festival
CLEARLAKE – The Lakeshore Lions Club will host the 57th annual Redbud Parade and Festival on Saturday, July 5.
In addition to the all-day carnival at Austin Park, at 10 a.m. the “Show 'n' Shine” car show will begin in the park.
At 11 a.m. the annual Redbud Parade begins, to be followed by the famed International Worm Races.
Fireworks will be featured at dusk.
Hidden Valley Lake Independence Day Celebration
HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE – The fun starts at 10 a.m. at either of the community's beaches.
There will be live music all day.
Games for children – including a casting contest and sand castle building – will be offered at the Little Beach from noon to 2 p.m.
At 3 p.m. they will hold the “Blessing of the Fleet” for all watercraft at the center of the lake.
Pre-fireworks celebrations will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. at the pool water slide, where a jumpy house for children will be offered.
The fireworks display will begin at dusk, weather-permitting.
Changes mandated by Cal Fire due to the necessity for emergency vehicle access will result in Lakeridge Circle being closed to through traffic from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., but dropoffs will be allowed at the Community Center. Cars will then have to exit and follow the signs to free parking at the Fiddlers Field.
Shuttle buses will take beach and pool patrons to the Community Center. No parking will be allowed at the Big Beach, and parking areas along Lakeridge and the horse shoe area will be closed.
For more information, contact the Hidden Valley Lake Association at 707-987-3138.
Lakeport Speedway hosts firework display
LAKEPORT – The Lakeport Speedway will put on a fireworks display Saturday night following the Deake Lyndall Memorial Race.
Racing starts at 5 p.m., with the fireworks to be shot off from the infield afterward.
The speedway is located at the Lake County Fairgrounds, 401 Martin St.
Visit www.lakeportspeedway.com for more information.
Sunday, July 6
Schoeppner Shows Carnival
CLEARLAKE – The Schoeppner Shows Carnival, sponsored by Lakeshore Lions, will offer rides, games and food all day at Austin Park.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – As the Independence Day holiday approaches, the Lakeport Police Department is offering important information to citizens who wish to attend the event.
The city's celebration will take place this Friday, July 4, in and around Library Park.
As in previous years, the city of Lakeport is allowing the sale and use of “safe and sane” fireworks within the incorporated area of Lakeport.
Any person who wishes to purchase and use safe and sane fireworks is strongly encouraged to adhere to the following dates, times and locations for discharging the fireworks.
Dates and hours of discharge:
- Tuesday, July 1: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Wednesday, July 2: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Thursday, July 3: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Friday, July 4: 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Designated places for discharge:
All safe and safe fireworks are permitted on any street within the incorporated area of Lakeport from July 1 through July 4 as long as it does not violate section 5.30.180B, which states: “It is unlawful for any person to ignite, discharge, project or otherwise fire or use any safe and sane firework, or permit the ignition, discharge or projection upon or over or onto another’s property without his/her permission or within 10 feet of any residence, dwelling or other structure used as a place of habitation by human beings.”
Discharge of safe and sane fireworks will be permitted next to Library Park during the July 4 event. The location will be cordoned off by barrier tape and will be in the 50 block of Fourth Street.
Alcohol will be permitted by persons in the parklands during the July 4 celebration event. The event has been issued a “special permit” for alcohol consumption with certain restrictions which are listed
below.
These restrictions are in place as a precautionary measure to protect public safety, damage to city property or private property and to protect any and all persons in attendance.
Failure to abide by these conditions may result criminal actions, the immediate suspension of the alcohol permit and possible forfeiture of future special events in the city of Lakeport.
Alcohol restrictions to be in force include the following:
- No kegs or other large alcohol storage/dispensing containers.
- No glass containers.
- No sales of alcohol will be allowed.
- Public Intoxication is prohibited.
Noise restrictions:
No amplified music outside of facility or event location.
Park rules:
Park lands will be closed between midnight and 6 a.m. Obey all posted rules and regulations.
Annually, the July 4 event draws a large crowd of people to the parklands thus, causing safety concerns.
The Lakeport Police Department has set up a public information cellular telephone text alert function through NIXLE to provide public safety alerts, other important information, such as lost children, safety concerns, street closures or location information for the safe and sane discharge area to members of the public who are attending the activities during the event.
In order to receive these important public information text messages, members of the public can opt-in by texting the word fireworks to 888777.
The Lakeport Police Department also will have a command post set up in the council chambers at City Hall, 225 Park St., during the event for those who wish to stop by or have questions.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – A vehicle stop conducted by the Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force last week resulted in one arrest and the seizure of 14.7 grams of methamphetamine.
Frederick Edward Schoefer, 53, of Kelseyville was arrested following the stop, which occurred on Thursday, June 26, according to Lt. Steve Brooks.
At 8:20 p.m. June 26 a narcotics detective observed a black Jaguar coupe traveling westbound on Lakeport Boulevard that was exhibiting an erratic driving pattern, Brooks said.
Brooks said Central Dispatch conducted a records check of the vehicle’s license plate and advised the vehicle's registration was both expired and suspended.
The narcotics detective conducted an enforcement stop of the vehicle in the 800 block of Lakeport Boulevard in Lakeport, identifying Schoefer as the driver, Brooks said.
The detective explained the reason for the stop and then deployed his drug-certified K9 to conduct a sniff of the exterior of the vehicle. Brooks said the dog alerted to the odor of a controlled substance numerous times as she walked around the outside of the vehicle.
Brooks said the narcotics detective explained to Schoefer that the dog had provided multiple positive alerts to the vehicle.
When asked, Schoefer adamantly and repeatedly declined a consensual search of his person or the vehicle. He immediately became confrontational and insisted the K9 did not alert, Brooks said.
The detective told Schoefer the he was exhibiting the signs and symptoms of being under the influence of a controlled substance. Brooks said the detective asked Schoefer to participate in a series of tests to determine whether or not he was under the influence, which he refused.
Detectives conducted a search of the vehicle and located a small amount of marijuana in the ashtray. They also located a tool bag in the trunk, which contained numerous hand tools. The bag also had a concealed compartment which contained 17 packages of a white crystalline substance believed to be methamphetamine, Brooks said.
Brooks said the detective asked Schoefer if the tool bag was his and Schoefer replied, “I have the right to remain silent.”
Schoefer was arrested for possession of a controlled substance for sale, transportation of a controlled substance, being under the influence of a controlled substance and for possession of less than one ounce marijuana. Brooks said Schoefer was transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility and booked.
The methamphetamine later was weighed and determined to have a gross weight of 14.7 grams. Brooks said a small amount of the substance was tested using a narcotics identification kit, which flashed blue indicating a presumptive positive for methamphetamine.
Schoefer remained in custody early Tuesday. Jail records show his bail is set at $125,000.
The Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force can be reached through its anonymous tip line at 707-263-3663.
MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Two Hidden Valley Lake residents were injured and flown to a regional trauma center late Saturday following a single-vehicle crash on Highway 29.
Driver Laura Kosar, 46, and passenger Matthew Kosar Jr., 22, were transported via separate air ambulances to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital following the wreck, which occurred at around 11 p.m. Saturday, according to the California Highway Patrol's Clear Lake Area office.
Officer Kory Reynolds said Laura Kosar was driving a 2004 Mazda MPV northbound on Highway 29 just north of St. Helena Lane outside of Middletown when she went off the road and struck an embankment.
As a result of the crash, both Laura Kosar and Matthew Kosar had complaints of neck and back pain, Reynolds said.
Reynolds said Matthew Kosar was flown to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital via REACH, while Laura Kosar was transported to the same hospital by CalStar.
Radio reports had indicated that the vehicle came to rest on its top, but Reynolds could not confirm if the vehicle had indeed flipped over based on the initial investigative report. He said the Mazda had major front end and left side damage.
The highway was closed down for a short time while emergency responders worked at the scene, according to radio reports.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The latest report on unemployment from the state showed a large drop in Lake County's jobless rate thanks to late spring farming.
The Employment Development Department's report on May unemployment figures shows that Lake County's May unemployment rate was 9 percent, down from 10.3 percent in April and 11.3 percent in May 2013.
The May rate is the lowest the county has seen since the 8 percent recorded in October 2007. For context, during the recession the Lake County unemployment rate topped out at 18.2 percent in January 2010 and January 2011, according to state records.
California's unemployment rate for May was 7.6 percent, down from 7.8 percent in April and 9 percent the previous May, the report showed.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that nationwide employment in May was 6.3 percent rate, the same as for April, but down from 7.5 percent from May 2013.
The California Employment Development Department's report said that statewide in May nonfarm payroll jobs increased by 18,300 for a total gain of 1,327,000 jobs since the recovery began in February 2010.
The state's nonfarm jobs totaled 15,448,000 in May, an increase of 18,300 jobs over the month, according to a survey of 58,000 California businesses that measures jobs in the economy. The year-over-year change, May 2013 to May 2014, shows an increase of 340,200 jobs, up 2.3 percent.
A federal survey of 5,500 California households – which is used to determine the unemployment rate – showed an increase in the number of employed people. It estimated the number of Californians holding jobs in May was 17,235,000, an increase of 40,000 from April 2014, and up 305,000 from the employment total in May of last year.
The number of people unemployed in California was 1,423,000 – down by 35,000 over the month, and down by 261,000 compared with May of last year, according to the report.
Once again, Marin had the lowest unemployment of any county in May, at 3.8 percent, with Imperial's 21.1 percent gaining it the No. 58 rank.
Lake County was No. 36 statewide for its 9-percent unemployment rate in May, the state said.
Regarding employment in specific areas within the county, Clearlake Oaks had the highest May unemployment, 14 percent; followed by Nice, 13.6 percent; the city of Clearlake, 13.4 percent; Lucerne, 9.5 percent; Kelseyville and Middletown, tied at 9.1 percent; city of Lakeport, 8.6 percent; Cobb, 7.9 percent; Lower Lake, 7.4 percent; Hidden Valley Lake, 7.3 percent; north Lakeport, 7 percent; and Upper Lake, 4.4 percent.
Lake's neighboring counties ranked as follows in May, according to the Employment Development Department: Colusa, No. 57, 15.6 percent; Glenn, No. 47, 10.3 percent; Mendocino, No. 13, 5.9 percent; Napa, No. 4, 4.5 percent; Sonoma, No. 6, 5 percent; and Yolo, No. 21, 6.8 percent.
In Lake County, top industries that showed job growth in May included total farm, 78.4 percent; state government, 17.6 percent; information and federal government, both with 7.1 percent; other services, 7 percent; mining, logging and construction, 5.6 percent; goods producing, 3.2 percent; and financial activities, 2.5 percent.
The Employment Development Department also reported there were 435,763 people receiving regular Unemployment Insurance benefits during the May survey week, compared with 481,018 last month and 479,718 last year.
At the same time, new claims for Unemployment Insurance were 53,388 in May 2014, compared with 62,715 in April and 54,526 in May of last year, the state reported.
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