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NORTH COAST, Calif. – California Office of Emergency Services staff participated in a training exercise with the California National Guard involving the helicopter support of the impact areas of a catastrophic earthquake near the north coast.
Using a Boeing CH-47 Chinook helicopter, the emergency managers and disaster response personnel fly to landing zones in Redding, Arcata and Eureka.
“This exercise is all part of our continuing effort to keep all corners of California resilient during a large-scale disaster and leveraging our inter-agency agreements to help the local cities and counties,” said Ron Williams, branch manager of Logistics for Cal OES.
The overall mission and purpose of the training flight is to validate a portion of POD and staging area operations in accordance with the Cascadia Subduction Zone (CSZ) Response Plan; to familiarize logistics response staff and supporting agencies with local, county, state and federal staging area operations POD planning, operations, burn rates, sustainment and close out; the effects of a rotary wing aircraft in ad-hoc landing zones, and foster a unified disaster logistics force concept.
The CSZ Response Plan is led by Cal OES in conjunction with the needs of the local operational areas of the north coast, including Humboldt, Del Norte and Mendocino counties, as well as Oregon and Washington state.
“This is an essential exercise of our capabilities of our military and state assets to get into, positively affect and out of a catastrophically impacted area,” said Maj. Daniel Anderson.
Additionally, exercise participants were evaluated on tasks such as; conducting actual movement in the air corridor by flying a team of SMEs to local sites to achieve the mission, and conduct face to face interactive discussions with response personnel regarding; POD team, equipment management, establishing and sustaining an emergency supply chain, local resource capabilities and when and how to cease operation.
Participating agencies California National Guard, Cal Fire, Federal Emergency Management Agency, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Lake County Sheriff's deputies have arrested a Lakeport man on suspicion of committing an armed robbery at a pharmacy Wednesday morning.
Craig Anthony Lent, 25, was arrested for the robbery, according to Lt. Steve Brooks.
At 9:15 a.m. Wednesday sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a reported armed robbery at the North Lake Medical Pharmacy, which is located at 5136 Hill Road East in Lakeport, Brooks said.
Brooks said it was reported that a male subject entered the pharmacy brandishing a large knife.
The subject walked behind the pharmacy counter, grabbed the pharmacist, placed the knife to the pharmacist’s throat and demanded Dialaudid, a narcotic prescribed for pain relief, according to Brooks.
After obtaining the medication, the male subject was reported to have fled on foot, running eastbound towards Sutter Lakeside Hospital, Brooks said.
Brooks said witnesses described the man as possibly being a white male adult who was wearing a bandana over his face. He also was reported to be wearing a red flannel shirt, jeans and tennis shoes.
Deputies arrived on scene within minutes of the 911 call and were able to form a perimeter of the immediate area, Brooks said.
A short time later they located Lent, who matched the description of the subject who had held up the pharmacy. Brooks said Lent was located on Terrace Avenue with prescription pill bottles taken from the pharmacy.
Clothing matching the description given to Central Dispatch was found near the area where Lent was located, Brooks said.
Detectives with the Lake County Sheriff’s Major Crimes Unit interviewed Lent, who admitted to robbing the pharmacy, Brooks reported. Lent said he robbed the pharmacy due to being addicted to pain medication.
Lent was arrested for armed robbery, burglary, possession of stolen property and brandishing a dangerous weapon. He was transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility and booked, Brooks said.
Jail records indicated Lent – whose occupation is listed as thrift store supervisor – is being held on $150,000 bail.
UPPER LAKE, Calif. – A Miranda man was arrested early Monday at a local casino, with a deputy seizing four grams of cocaine during the arrest.
Lawrence Hirschell Murray, 32, was arrested after initially attempting to evade a deputy, according to Lt. Steve Brooks of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.
At approximately 2 a.m. Monday sheriff's patrol deputies conducted a security check at Robinson Rancheria Bingo and Casino, Brooks said.
After entering the gaming casino gaming area, a deputy observed a male subject later identified as Murray seated at a slot machine, Brooks said.
Brooks said the deputy initiated a consensual contact with Murray and started a conversation with him. Murray admitted to being on probation in Humboldt County for domestic violence. He also admitted to having a search clause attached to the conditions of his probation.
The deputy asked Murray to stand up so he could conduct a probation search. Murray immediately ran towards the southwest corner of the casino in an attempt to escape and avoid being searched. He was apprehended moments later, Brooks said.
The deputy searched Murray and located a plastic baggie containing a white crystalline substance in his front right pants pocket, Brooks said. Murray told the deputy that the substance was cocaine.
Murray exhibited signs and symptoms of being under the influence of a controlled substance. He also admitted to using cocaine earlier in the day. Brooks said the deputy administered a series of tests to determine whether or not Murray was under the influence of a controlled substance, which he failed.
Brooks said Murray was arrested for possession of a controlled substance, being under the influence of a controlled substance and resisting arrest. He was transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility and booked.
The suspected cocaine was later weighed and had a gross weight of 3.8 grams. A small amount of the substance was tested using a Narcotic Identification Kit, which provided a presumptive positive result for cocaine, Brooks said.
The Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force can be reached through its anonymous tip line at 707-263-3663.
Cal Fire's weekly Fire Situation Report notes that fire activity is rapidly increasing around the state as weather conditions heat up.
Hot weather and wind has increased fire danger, the agency reported.
Since January, the agency has responded to more than 1,350 wildland fires, nearly twice the number that's common by this time of year.
See the full report above.
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Young Lake County residents who are soon to head off to college to pursue the dream of higher education were honored at a special event last week.
The ninth annual Lake County University Admittance Reception was held on Monday, May 5, at Kelseyville High School.
Each year administrators, board members, counselors and college representatives all gather to honor the graduating seniors and their families who have been accepted to a four-year college.
This year, the schools invited 95 students, down slightly from 106 last year, according to the Lake County Office of Education.
Colleges the students will be attending include California State University campuses in Chico, East Bay, Humboldt, Los Angeles, Monterey Bay, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco and Sonoma; and
University of California campuses in Berkeley, Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, Merced, San Diego, Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz.
A number of the students also will attend out-of-state and private colleges, including Art Institute of Portland, Brigham Young University, Colorado State University, Dominican University, Emerson University, Liberty College, Lyon College, Marymount California University, Menlo College, Monmouth College, Montana State University, Northern Arizona State University, Oregon State University, St. Mary’s College, Thomas Aquinas University, University of Hawaii, University of Arizona, University of Maine, University of Nevada, University of Oregon, University of San Diego, University of the Pacific, University of Utah and Utah State University.
Guests were welcomed by Lake County Superintendent of Schools Wally Holbrook, who introduced Senior Director Brock Falkenberg.
Middletown High alumni and current CSU Monterey Bay student Reid Carpenter shared his insights as a first-year college student with the group.
The audience of parents, students and educational staff also were treated to a video by Lower Lake High School alumnus Cesar Ruiz and Middletown High alumnus Jacob Gill featuring the wonders of UC Berkeley.
Lower Lake High Upward Bound Director Shannon Smith of Sonoma State University delivered the welcome bags to all of the students attending a CSU college next year, while Jacqueline Ross of UC Davis welcomed the UC students and Sharon Maher of Marymount California University greeted all out-of-state and private college students.
A wonderful buffet dinner prepared by Michelle Malm and her staff at Kelseyville High School as well as lively music performed by the Kelseyville High School Jazz Band were offered free of charge to the attending students and guests.
Seating for the large group was made possible thanks to the loan of tables from Rick Malm and the help of the high school custodial staff.
Centerpieces containing seedlings were created by the students of Karen Jones’ CTE Floral Design class of Middletown High School.
During dinner service, guests were able to view a slide show presentation featuring students’ career goals and special thanks to those that assisted them in achieving their college admission.
Students also were treated to a free raffle of prizes that included dorm survival bags filled with items such as first aid kits, sewing kits, towels, frisbees, notebooks, rulers, paperclips and other items that might come in handy as they venture off to college.
Thanks to the generous donations and loan of plants by Kelseyville Lumber, students were called onto the beautifully decorated stage by to receive both recognition and small gifts.
All colleges were contacted and asked to send an item from their school as a welcome to the students. Many students received something from their college such as bags, pennants, water bottles and/or shirts.
Every student received sticky notes from the Mendo Lake Credit Union and a deck of cards from Running Creek Casino.
The University Admit Reception was created nine years ago to honor the hard work and dedication of Lake County local students and families who achieved a challenging academic goal.
Another objective of the event is to introduce students to other students throughout the county who may be attending the same or nearby colleges in the hopes that they can form a support system for each other.
The Career and College Readiness Department is proud of all of Lake County's graduating seniors and wish special congratulations to this group of college bound students as they embark on their higher education endeavors.
If you would like more information about the University Admit Reception or would like to make a donation to support next year’s event, please contact Lake County Office of Education Program Specialist Tammy Serpa at
AccuWeather.com reports the hottest weather of the year so far will push the wildfire threat to critical levels this week in much of California.
Record high temperatures will be challenged and broken in California in many major cities including San Francisco, Sacramento, Redding, Fresno, Riverside, Long Beach, San Jose, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and San Diego.
According to Western Weather Expert Ken Clark, “Stiff north to northeast winds in many areas will average 15 to 30 miles per hour, with locally higher gusts in canyons aligned to the northeast and north.”
The combination of dry brush, low humidity, winds, sunshine and heat will push the wildfire danger to critical levels this week.
The heat is forecast to ease this coming weekend into the following week, but more episodes of extreme heat with building drought are projected to continue well through the summer.
According to AccuWeather Long Range Expert Paul Pastelok, “The persistence of the pattern will lead to major problems for water resources for consumers and agriculture during the middle and latter part of the summer.”
Pastelok expects drought and episodes of heat to build into the Northwest.
One such spell of heat will occur during the middle of this week with highs forecast to be well into the 80s around Portland, Oregon. Temperatures will reach the 80-degree mark around Seattle.
Remember to drink plenty of non-alcoholic fluids during the hot weather. If you must work during the hottest part of the day, during the midday and afternoon hours, be sure to take frequent breaks to rehydrate.
People are urged to be extremely careful with any sort of outdoor flames and power equipment. Never park your vehicle on high brush. The hot exhaust system can ignite that brush in minutes. Do not throw burning cigarettes outside of your vehicle.
Alex Sosnowski is expert senior meteorologist for www.AccuWeather.com .