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KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The service of a search warrant has resulted in two arrests and the seizure of 520 pounds of processed marijuana.
Narcotics detectives arrested 28-year-old Ryan Christopher Agler and Joseph Paxton Kestler, 30, on June 12, according to Lt. Steve Brooks.
On June 6 the detectives secured a search warrant for a residence located in the 7000 block of Smith Ranch Road in Kelseyville, serving the warrant at 7:35 a.m. June 12, Brooks said. At that time they detained Agler and Kestler without incident.
During the search detectives located and eradicated 105 marijuana plants, which were growing inside a large hoop-style greenhouse. Brooks said they also located and eradicated 55 marijuana plants, which were growing outside.
During a search of the residence and a guest house, detectives located and seized approximately 520 pounds of processed marijuana. The processed marijuana was stored inside several plastic bins and approximately 10 large plastic garbage bags, according to Brooks.
During a search of Agler’s bedroom, detectives located a small amount of Methadone and Hydromorphone pills, which were seized as evidence, Brooks said.
Agler told detectives that he works for a collective and was employed as their grower. He was unable to tell detectives how much money he was getting paid. Brooks said Agler also was unable to remember how much it was costing him to rent the property.
Detectives asked Agler about the large amount of processed marijuana they had located. Agler said he just bags it up and leaves it lying around. He was unable to tell the detectives what he was going to do with such a large amount of processed marijuana, Brooks said.
Brooks said Agler was arrested for possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana for sale and for cultivating marijuana, while Kestler was arrested for possession of marijuana for sale and for cultivating marijuana.
They were both transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility and booked. Bail for each was set at $15,000, with bail records indicating that both later posted the required percentage of bail and were subsequently released.
The Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force can be reached through its anonymous tip line at 707-263-3663.
LOWER LAKE, Calif. – Close to 70 firefighters spent part of Saturday sharpening their skills in preparation for what officials believe could be another busy fire season.
“Operation Get Ready” was held off of Riata Road near Lower Lake from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Cal Fire spearheaded the practice event, with Northshore Fire, Kelseyville Fire, South Lake County Fire and Lake County Fire Protection participating.
In addition to practicing ground firefighting techniques skills while burning several acres of vegetation, Cal Fire's Copter 104 and a Cal Fire dozer also were on hand.
Cal Fire Battalion Chief Greg Bertelli said that the practice required more than six months to set up.
That time, Bertelli said, was necessary in order to carry out a California Environmental Quality Act study of the burn area – which was conducted on private property – with an endangered species specialist and an archaeologist also surveying the area. Those extra steps were required because of Cal Fire's involvement.
The breakdown of firefighters who took part in the training exercise was about half volunteers, half paid, said Bertelli.
Volunteer firefighters have as high a requirement for training as those who are paid for the work. Bertelli said the volunteers were there on their own time to get the training they needed.
On Saturday, the weather cooled and a cloud cover came in, giving the firefighters better conditions for the exercise and raising humidity enough so that, at one point, some of the vegetation wouldn't burn.
But that isn't expected to be an issue this year, when grass and other fuels are so dry, Bertelli said.
“They're burning now like they do in late August,” he said.
Winds also were light on Saturday. The wind, Bertelli said, “is the wild card,” for firefighters.
Fuel, weather and topography are three factors that firefighters always have to monitor, and they make each fire incident unique, Bertelli said.
That, said Bertelli, makes firefighting as much a science as an art.
Lake County Animal Care and Control Director Bill Davidson also came out to the event to do a practice animal evacuation.
Davidson heads up the Lake Evacuation and Animal Protection group – of which Bertelli and his wife, Lynnette, are founding members – which responds to assist with removing animals from harm's way during critical incidents.
Bertelli said any firefighter can activate LEAP, which was the case when the group was called to action during the Wye and Walker fires in August 2012.
Following the fire exercise, Bertelli and other chiefs on the scene – including Jim Wright of Cal Fire and Willie Sapeta of Lake County Fire – held a debriefing with the firefighters, going over tips to improve skills and advice on taking care of themselves in order to prevent injury during incidents.
The firefighters then heard a brief talk from a crew member of Copter 104, the Vietnam-era UH-1H Bell Huey that is based at the Boggs Mountain Helitack.
Copter 104 is often seen on Lake County fire incidents, dropping water as part of an aggressive air attack or taking part in rescue operations.
Cal Fire said Copter 104 responds to an average of 250 calls per year ranging from fires to rescues. The Boggs Mountain Helitack base's coverage area includes Colusa, Yolo, Solano, Lake, Napa, Sonoma and parts of Marin and Mendocino counties.
Firefighters were given basic precautions about approaching the copter safely – including, not coming toward it from the back – and allowed to take a look inside.
The group then heard a talk from Mike “Wally” Walton, a longtime Cal Fire dozer operator who also has a background in logging.
Walton advised the group of the importance of being constantly aware when working around dozers, and offered as an illustration a grim story about a man killed in a logging accident by a dozer driven by his father-in-law.
Walton told Lake County News that it's important for veteran firefighters to share their experiences with the next generation coming up, as most of that information isn't written down and could be lost.
Bertelli said the plans are to continue to hold Operation Get Ready annually.
“We want to make this thing better every year,” said Bertelli.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKEPORT, Calif. – A community vision workshop to discuss potential use of the historic Carnegie Library in downtown Lakeport is scheduled for Wednesday, June 18.
The meeting will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.
The public is invited to participate in the session that will be facilitated by the consulting firm contracted through a grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation and matching funds from the city.
Garavaglia Architecture, based in San Francisco, has worked for more than 28 years on rehabilitation projects throughout California and is well-versed in the complexities of developing historic structures.
Representatives of the firm will present information from their assessment of the library building and the site opportunities offered by its location in Library Park.
Workshop participants will discuss findings of the feasibility study and help identify priorities for use and building improvements, along with potential partners for development and plan implementation.
Completed in 1918, the library in Lakeport has been described as “perhaps the most scenically located Carnegie in California.”
After several attempts by the Ladies Town Improvement Club – now the Lakeport Women’s Civic Club – and others, the city received an $8,000 Carnegie Foundation grant in 1914 to erect a Carnegie Free Public Library.
Dredging of Clear Lake to create fill for a new park and the library building took longer than anticipated and during this time public spirited citizens kept up and maintained a private library for the community, according to the nomination application to the National Register of Historic Places.
Lakeport’s Carnegie Library was placed on the National Register in 2008 through the combined efforts of the Friends of the Lake County Museum and the Lakeport Women’s Civic Club.
More information about the visioning workshop is available from Wilda Shock, economic development consultant for Lakeport, 707-263-7575.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Animal Care and Control has four cats this week needing forever homes.
The cats – three females and one male – range in age from 1 to 2 years, and have differing coat lengths and colors.
In addition to spaying or neutering, cats that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are microchipped before being released to their new owner. License fees do not apply to residents of the cities of Lakeport or Clearlake.
If you're looking for a new companion, visit the shelter. There are many great pets there, hoping you'll choose them.
In addition to the animals featured here, all adoptable animals in Lake County can be seen here: http://bit.ly/Z6xHMb .
The following cats at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption (other cats pictured on the animal control Web site that are not listed here are still “on hold”).
Domestic short hair mix
This domestic short hair mix is 2 years old.
He has a black and white coat, and gold eyes. Shelter staff did not report if he has been neutered.
Find him in cat room kennel No. 7, ID No. 39894.
Domestic long hair mix
This domestic long hair mix is 2 years old.
She has dilute tortie markings, weighs nearly 11 pounds and has been spayed.
She's in cat room kennel No. 56, ID No. 39764.
Domestic medium hair mix
This female domestic medium hair mix cat is 5 years old.
She has a gray coat and has been spayed.
She's in cat room kennel No. 62, ID No. 39667.
Gray and white tabby
This female gray and white tabby is 1 year old.
She as a short coat and green eyes, and is not spayed.
She's in cat room kennel No. 105, ID No. 39900.
Adoptable cats also can be seen at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Cats_and_Kittens.htm or at www.petfinder.com .
Please note: Cats listed at the shelter's Web page that are said to be “on hold” are not yet cleared for adoption.
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, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 1 p.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
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Ayvree Smith sits tall in the saddle aboard Julie, a 9-year-old quarter horse.
And that’s just as you’d expect from a horse and rider team that has captured a state championship and one of nine California district titles in barrel racing.
So far.
Ayvree, an eighth grade student at Lower Lake Elementary School, and Julie may be destined for even greater accomplishment at the 10th annual National Junior High Finals Rodeo in Des Moines, Iowa, starting next Sunday, June 22.
The rodeo runs for the entire week, culminating Saturday, June 28, with nationally televised competition between the top 20 in each event.
Qualifiers will compete for $100,000 in scholarships.
Ayvree won the trip to Des Moines by finishing first in a field of 45 junior high barrel racers.
The junior high riders she will be racing against are the best from a field of 42 states, five Canadian provinces and Australia.
By earning a spot on the California National Junior High Riding Team, she is qualified to compete in two other events: Pole bending, which is a serpentine race against time through a series of poles, and breakaway, an event in which the riders break from a chute to rope a calf.
Given its comparatively small population of 60,000, state championships in any activity are a rarity in Lake County. Ayvree won hers on a borrowed horse and in only her second year of barrel racing
Bryan Smith, Ayvree's father, said the horse belongs to Lower Lake rancher Craig Evans, who also taught Ayvree how to ride the brown mare.
“He (Evans) is a friend of mine,” said Bryan Smith. “I’ve known him for a long time, about 20 years. My son, Tate, has rodeoed with his son.”
Julie, said Ayvree, does everything that is asked of her.
“She’s an angel,” said Ayvree.
“Ayvree kind of lets her go and she does her own thing,” said Bryan Smith.
Ayvree did her original training on a family-owned Appaloosa.
“She started when she was just a young girl in pigtails,” Bryan Smith said.
Email John Lindblom at
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Lakeport's first library opened in the Board of Trade rooms in the Levy Building opposite the old courthouse in 1907. Civic-minded citizens had formed a library committee in 1906 to find a location for a town library.
The library outgrew its original space and in 1913 Lakeport's library committee filled out and submitted Carnegie's “Schedule of Questions,” hoping to receive a library grant.
The Carnegie Corp. approved an $8,000 grant for Lakeport in November 1914.
Also in 1914 the Yolo Water and Power Co. (YWP) built the Clear Lake Dam in Cache Creek to increase YWP's storage capacity in Clear Lake.
White & Co., investment bankers in New York, financed YWP's dredging operations in Clear Lake including dredging and filling along Lakeport's waterfront.
During the same period the Clear Lake Railroad (CLRR) started a railroad line from Hopland to Lakeport and arranged with YWP for a depot and rail yard on the filled land.
Owners of the new land deeded their property to Lakeport for a city park and Lakeport abandoned Second Street from Park Street to the shoreline.
The deal stipulated that Lakeport would have the right to build a public library in the park.
Reality fell short of the plans. The CLRR graded a few miles of road bed in Mendocino County before the company collapsed. Only the Carnegie library was completed.
L.J. Shuman, president of Lakeport's library board, corresponded with Andrew Carnegie's personal secretary and grant manager James Bertram during the grant process. Shuman and Bertram discussed Lakeport's choice of site and problems with the fill for months.
Carnegie required towns to pledge taxes equal to 10 percent of their Carnegie grants to support their libraries Lakeport had had a library tax since 1910 and fulfilled Carnegie's requirement.
By summer 1916 all property titles were clear and Lakeport's grant was secure but the fill needed time to dry and settle before construction could begin. Bertram urged Shuman to consider another site, but Lakeport kept the park site.
Carnegie insisted that grant libraries have basements 4 feet below grade, which would have put Lakeport library's basement into the water table. Dredging created the small rise on which the library sits and solved that problem.
San Francisco architects Ward and Blohme designed a classic revival façade to enclose a Carnegie floor plan “A” for Lakeport.
When all of the bids exceeded the $8,000 grant, the architects scaled back their plans and donations made up the $500 difference.
Contractors Randolph and Hinds began construction in August 1917 and finished in February 1918. Volunteers helped librarian Kate White move the books and furnishings from the Levy Building to the new library which opened on Feb. 18.
Over the next 68 years with the city library upstairs, the lower floor sometimes had other purposes. Lakeport's town trustees met there from 1920 until 1947 when the city hall opened in the Craig Building at 435 N. Main St.
The downstairs has been a kindergarten classroom and a meeting place for Boy Scouts, and it became headquarters for the Lake County schools librarian in 1957.
Lakeport might have lost its library in 1953 had not librarian Gertrude Benson smelled the smoke from an electrical fire in the attic and called Fire Chief George Turnbull for help.
Volunteer firemen extinguished the fire before major damage occurred.
From 1971 to 1974 the lower floor served as headquarters for the Lake County Library Demonstration Project while Lakeport's city library operated upstairs.
The Carnegie Library became the main library for the newly-formed Lake County Library system with Steve Klein as county librarian in 1974.
Kathleen Jansen succeeded Klein and under her direction the Lake County Library expanded its collection and services.
In 1986 the county library moved from the cramped Carnegie to the new library at 1425 N. High St. in Lakeport.
The Carnegie Library has hosted other organizations since the county library moved out. Lakeport's Centennial celebration had its headquarters there in 1988 and for several years UC Davis operated a laboratory there to study Clear Lake.
In 2008 the Carnegie Library was entered into the National Parks Service's National Register of Historic Places.
Lakeport city departments and the Lakeport Main Street Association have used the Carnegie building recently, but the building is now vacant the city of Lakeport is exploring options for future uses.
Notes on sources:
- The correspondence between Bertram, Shuman and other Lakeport officials is preserved on microfilm in the Carnegie Corporation of New York Records Collection at Columbia University.
- Lake County newspapers on microfilm in the Lake County Library collection contain articles on the Carnegie Library, the Clear Lake Railroad and the Yolo Water and Power Company.
- The Mauldin Notes contain information about these topics.
- Carnegie Libraries: their history and impact on American public library development by George S. Bobinski, provides context to Lakeport's Carnegie story.
Jan Cook has lived in Lake County for about 40 years. She works for the Lake County Library, is the editor of the Lake County Historical Society's Pomo Bulletin and is a history correspondent for Lake County News. If you have questions or comments please contact Jan at