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THE GEYSERS, Calif. – A moderately sized earthquake was reported late Tuesday afternoon near The Geysers geothermal steamfield.
The 3.0-magnitude quake was reported at 4:59 p.m. three miles northwest of The Geysers and 13 miles southwest of Clearlake, according to a preliminary report from the US Geological Survey.
The survey said the quake was reported at a depth of 1.9 miles.
One shake report on the quake from Santa Rosa was filed with the US Geological Survey.
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Legislation authored by U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-5) to improve the security at American embassies passed the U.S. House of Representatives as part of H.R. 4681, the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 2014 and 2015.
Studies since the Benghazi attack in 2012 have identified the need for security personnel at U.S. diplomatic posts to receive threat information from the Intelligence Community in a timely manner so that they can request and receive security enhancements as needed.
Thompson’s legislation will address this need by helping enhance information sharing.
“We have a responsibility to protect all Americans serving our country overseas,” said Thompson. “Since the Benghazi attack in 2012, we’ve spent far too much time playing politics and creating scandals, and far too little time discussing what needs to be done to help make our embassies safer. Studies have shown we need to improve communication between our Intelligence Community and our diplomatic outposts, and this amendment will help us do just that.”
Making sure security personnel at U.S. diplomatic posts receive threat information from the Intelligence Community in a timely manner requires excellent information sharing and communication between the Intelligence and Diplomatic Security communities.
Thompson’s legislation directs the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) to provide an assessment of the status of threat information sharing between the Intelligence Community and diplomatic security personnel, and to propose remedial action to help make sure security personnel at U.S. embassies can request and receive security enhancements in a timely manner.
The classified report from the DNI will be submitted to the House and Senate Intelligence Committees.
H.R. 4681 passed the House by a bipartisan vote of 345-59. It now goes to the Senate for their consideration.
Thompson represents California’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties.
MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. – The Mendocino National Forest Upper Lake Ranger District is continuing to gather feedback on the Pine Mountain Late-Successional Reserve Habitat Protection and Enhancement Project, with comments closing next week.
The project emphasizes fuel reduction activities and habitat management for the protection and enhancement of late-successional species, forest officials reported.
Approximately 7,830 acres are proposed for treatment, with around 5,690 acres in the Pine Mountain Late-Successional Reserve, according to a forest report.
The Mendocino National Forest reported that the project area was chosen for treatment based on past fire history and the existing conditions that pose a threat to late-successional habitat.
Forest spokeswoman Tamara Schmidt said an open house on the project held in Upper Lake on May 30 had very low turnout, with only three people attending.
She said comments are being accepted until June 19.
A draft environmental impact statement is expected for the project this August, with a final document expected in December.
Those wanting to submit comments on the scope of the project can contact Frank Aebly at 707-275-2361, or by email at
LAKEPORT, Calif. – A Southern California man who moved to Lakeport and opened a sushi restaurant is facing the possibility of prison time for failing to register as a sex offender due to a 2000 child molestation conviction.
Christopher David Beavers, 33, is in custody in the Lake County Jail. He's being held on $130,000 bail in the local case against him, as well as $250,000 for an out-of-county felony warrant, according to jail records.
In October 2000 Beavers was convicted in Riverside of lewd and lascivious acts with a child under age 14, which required that he register as a sex offender, according to Deputy District Attorney Ed Borg.
Borg said Beavers is charged with two felonies, including failing to register with the Lakeport Police Department within five days of moving to the city.
That first felony charge covers the period from Nov. 1, 2013, through this past April 24, when Beavers was first arrested in the local registration case, Borg said.
Since moving to Lakeport, Beavers also failed to fulfill the annual requirements that include re-registering with authorities within five days of his birthday, which is in January. That registration failure resulted in the second felony count against Beavers, Borg said.
The third charge against Beavers, a misdemeanor, is for giving a false name to a peace officer when contacted by sheriff's detective in April. While Beavers failed to register in Lakeport, the case is being investigated by the sheriff's office, according to Borg.
Borg said a previous strike conviction for the 2000 lewd and lascivious case also is alleged in the case.
Investigators believe that Beavers has not registered since 2009. That year, he was featured in an article about the launch of a San Bernardino County “Offender Watch” Web site to track sex offenders. The article gave Beavers as an example of an unregistered and convicted sex offender.
Law enforcement also believes that Beavers – after he stopped registering – lived in other parts of the state before settling in Lakeport, Borg said.
Borg called Beavers' case “fairly egregious” for factors including the length of time he's failed to register and – while breaking those registration requirements – for putting himself into a very public position by opening a new local business.
After arriving in Lake County, Beavers opened “The Sushi Guy” restaurant on S. Main Street in Lakeport. The eatery received good feedback on its Facebook page.
However, since Beavers was last taken into custody on June 3, the restaurant has been closed, Borg said.
A preliminary hearing in Beavers' case was to have taken place on Monday morning, but he waived his right to the hearing, Borg said.
Borg said that means that the District Attorney's Office will prepare to file the case against Beavers for trial.
As for what's next, “We did make an offer,” Borg said.
The prosecution is offering Beavers the middle term of two years on one of the two felony charges, as well as the admission of the previous strike, which Borg said would double the prison time exposure to a total of four years, with a 20-percent time credit.
Borg said Beavers has until his scheduled June 24 arraignment in Lake County Superior Court to accept the agreement.
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LOWER LAKE, Calif. – On Saturday, May 31, Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association (AMIA) held a celebration of its 30th anniversary and the 150th anniversary of California State Parks at Anderson Marsh State Historic Park near Lower Lake.
The event included a nature walk, music, a chance to tour the historic Ranch House, historical re-enactments, exhibits and several speeches.
Jeff Tyrrell, representing State Sen. Noreen Evans, presented a framed resolution to AMIA in recognition of the work the association has done to assist the State Parks Department in keeping Anderson Marsh State Historic Park open to the public.
Miles Standish, a retired state park ranger was on hand to portray one of the first “guardians,” of California’s State Parks, Galen Clark, and to explain to those attending the significance of Yosemite National Park and the State Park System.
This year marks the 150th anniversary of the California State Park system, which actually started with the acquisition of Yosemite, which is now a National Park.
Presenting informative talks were AMIA President Roberta Lyons, who discussed the history of the association, and board member Gordon Haggitt, who also is a descendant of the original Anderson family who settled on the now State Park property in 1875. Haggitt is the great grand-son of John Still Anderson.
“Thanks to all who attended and everyone who has supported AMIA over the years. If you are not a member of AMIA, please consider joining our effort to keep Anderson Marsh State Historic Park open and thriving,” said Lyons.
For more information about the park, go to www.andersonmarsh.org or “like” AMIA on Facebook.
UPPER LAKE, Calif. – An Upper Lake man was arrested early Saturday after it was alleged that he shot at two juveniles who he believed were on his property.
Salvador Zenadia Estrada, 56, was arrested on a felony charge of willfully discharging a firearm in a negligent manner, according to Lt. Steve Brooks of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.
Brooks said deputies also seized two firearms – a 9 millimeter handgun and a 9 millimeter carbine – at the time of the arrest.
Just before 12:30 a.m. Saturday deputies were dispatched to a residence located in the 300 block of Maddocks Court in Upper Lake for a reported shooting. Brooks said Central Dispatch advised that Estrada had shot at three trespassers on his property.
Deputies contacted Estrada at his residence. Brooks said Estrada explained that he has a security system and while looking at his security monitor, he saw three people walking on his property.
Estrada said he grabbed his 9 millimeter handgun and walked to the front door of his residence, where he could hear people walking slowly in front of his home. Estrada believed they were walking toward his vehicle and were going to steal it, according to Brooks' report.
Brooks said Estrada told the deputies that he fired his handgun twice through his front window at the unknown people. He said he shot over the suspects in an attempt to scare them away.
Estrada explained that he was the victim of an attempted home invasion robbery approximately one year ago, where unknown suspects attempted to steal marijuana he was growing in his backyard, Brooks said.
The deputy located the window Estrada admitted shooting through and found what appeared to be two bullet holes in the glass, according to Brooks' report.
Brooks said the deputy noticed that one of the bullets had a clear downward angle. The bullet went through the window and down through the air conditioner which was mounted in the same window.
The deputy was able to locate both of the 9 millimeter casings, which Brooks said were seized as evidence.
Deputies canvassed the neighborhood in an attempt to contact witnesses and locate any additional evidence. Brooks said they contacted a neighbor who lives next door and shares a driveway with Estrada. The neighbor’s house is located approximately 25 yards from Estrada’s residence.
The neighbor said his 12-year-old grandson was walking in the area with his friend, who also is 12 years old, at the time of the shooting. He said his grandson and his grandson’s friend stepped out of the house to get some air, because it was extremely hot inside, Brooks reported.
Deputies contacted both of the juveniles, who said they stepped outside to get some air and walked down the driveway. Brooks said the boys denied walking on Estrada’s property and said they had turned around and were walking back when they heard two gunshots come from Estrada’s house.
One of the juveniles said he thought he felt one of the bullets go over his head. Both of the juveniles denied walking near Estrada’s vehicle, Brooks said.
The deputy seized Estrada's firearms and booked them into evidence. Brooks said Estrada was arrested and transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility, where he was booked.
Bail was set at $15,000. Jail records indicated that Estrada posted the required percentage of bail and was released.
