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ACCUWEATHER GLOBAL WEATHER CENTER – A potent storm system will make its way into California on Friday and Saturday.
This will be a rather cold storm, more akin to the winter months of January or February.
Bouts of rain and mountain snow will sweep though California.
According to Accuweather's Western Weather Expert Ken Clark, “The heaviest rain is likely across central and northern parts of the state on Friday, where 0.30 to 0.60 of an inch will accumulate.” This includes places such as San Francisco and Eureka.
Farther south, Clark thinks that much of the rain will fall Friday evening and into the overnight hours, with a shower or two lingering into Saturday morning across the mountains and San Diego County.
“It looks like rainfall amounts will average 0.10 to 0.30 of an inch in Southern California, and there could be a thunderstorm in a few spots as well. There may even be a little snow in the Southern California mountains – places like Mountain High and around Big Bear,” says Clark.
The heaviest snow is likely across the Sierra Nevada range. “The snow level in the Sierra will fall to between 4,000 and 4,500 feet Friday and Saturday, with 5 to 10 inches of snow likely above 5,500 feet,” Clark said.
Another issue to contend with as this storm system passes will be gusty winds. “Winds of 20 to 40 mph are possible in the deserts Friday night and Saturday, and will cause local blowing sand and dust. Gusty northwest winds are also likely for a time in the San Joaquin Valley and along the Central coast,” Clark said.
A huge change is in store for the region next week as a strong ridge of high pressure builds over the region.
By Tuesday and Wednesday, much of Southern California away from the water will be in the 90s and there may even be a few isolated 100-degree temperatures.
The Central Valley will also heat up, with temperatures likely soaring into the middle and upper 80s in the central and southern Sacramento Valley and into the lower 90s in the San Joaquin Valley.
Anthony Sagliani is a meteorologist for www.accuweather.com .
NORTH COAST, Calif. – The Sonoma County is seeking information in the effort to identify and arrest a man said to be responsible for robbing a Larkfield bank on Thursday.
At 12:20 p.m. Thursday Sonoma County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the Exchange Bank at 500 Larkfield Center in Larkfield for a report of a robbery that just occurred, according to a report from Sgt. Shannon McAlvain.
A description of the male subject was given and the surrounding area was immediately searched by several deputies with negative results, McAlvain said.
McAlvain said bank employees reported to deputies that the man entered the bank and demanded money. He then took the money, placed in a plastic grocery style bag, and fled on foot. The man was last seen running southeast through the Larkfield Center parking lot.
Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office Violent Crimes Investigations Detectives retrieved and reviewed the surveillance video from the Exchange Bank and secured digital photographs of the male subject inside the bank during the incident, McAlvain said.
The alleged robber is a white male, 5 feet 8 to 5 feet 10 inches tall, with a slender build. He looked to be in his mid 20s and had a brownish patch of hair under his bottom lip, according to McAlvain.
McAlvain said the man was wearing a tan or green long-sleeved button up shirt, black pants and light-colored shoes, a camouflage beanie cap and dark sun glasses.
The Exchange Bank is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect, McAlvain said.
Please contact Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office Violent Crimes Investigations Bureau at 707-565-2185 if you have information about this case.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – “The children talk to the fish,” said Dee Desmond. “You will probably see some today who’ll say ‘I love you.’”
The day was April 12 at a stream on Montesol Ranch in south Lake County. And what the children – 17 first-through-third graders from elementary schools in the area – were saying to the fish, tiny trout known as “fry,” amounted to a fond farewell.
They had become genuinely attached to the little fellas “during a period of closely watched incubation at their schools, supervised by teachers Lisa Guerrero and Kathleen Place over the last several weeks.
And now the children were releasing them into a suitable habitat, just as grade school students in the East Lake Resource Conservation District have been doing for more than 20 years.
That’s how long “Trout in the Classroom,” a program designed to provide a direct connection between children and their living environment, has functioned in south Lake County, which is part of the East Lake district.
Dee Desmond and her husband, Dan, took over management of the program in Lake County this year when Dwight Holford, who brought it here, retired and left the area.
The program’s national roots have been traced to 1986. It operates in concert with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
In addition to the Trout in the Classroom’s in the East Lake District, a program in the West Lake district has been created and is coordinated by Tony Blyleven. The West Lake program had a similar release this past Saturday.
In Lake County, Trout in the Classroom programs are currently operating in Middletown, Lakeport and Konocti Unified School districts. There is no program in the Upper Lake district, but Dan Desmond says he would help get one started if a teacher in the district could coordinate with him.
Teachers tailor programs to fit their curriculum. Each program includes interdisciplinary applications in science, social studies, math, language arts, fine arts and physical education.
Dan and Dee, both retired teachers, had much to do with organizing this year’s East Lake program, securing the fertile trout eggs – 32 for each classroom – from the Department of Fish & Wildlife’s fish wildlife hatchery in Yountville, purchasing classroom aquarium equipment and performing as liaison to the public.
“Fish and Wildlife feels (Trout in the Classroom) is the only way to truly see the trout in a really meaningful way,” says Dan. “These kids develop a relationship with the fish and learn to understand their biological development as they grow into adults.
“The students become stewards of wild and aquatic life,” he added.
That's thanks largely to teachers like Guerrero, who’s leaving the program after seven years to serve in other areas of the ecosystem.
In terms of trout, there is perhaps no more critical time than the present for teaching children stewardship.
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has listed the steelhead in parts of Northern California among the species threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act.
So Trout in the Classroom fits within a basic equation: Increase the future trout population by increasing the number of children who can ensure that growth when they grow up.
Email John Lindblom at
COBB, Calif. – In response to a reported increase in crime, Cobb residents are forming a ne Neighborhood Watch group.
The first meeting will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 27, at the Monterrey Mexican Grill at Cobb Mountain Golf, 16451 Golf Road.
Cobb residents forming the Neighborhood Watch cite increased crime and slow response times from the sheriff's department.
According to organizers, crime in recent years has gotten more frequent and dangerous.
“We made fliers and passed them around,” said organizer Inez Wenkus said, “Monterey Grill volunteered their place. They're happy to accommodate us”
Annemarie Hosch, who perceives increased criminal activity in her neighborhood, believes a Neighborhood Watch program is needed.
“It is important to me that we do something,” she said. “I am tired of being afraid.”
According to Hosch, law enforcement response times are measured in hours, if response arrives.
Wenkus confirmed that observation and explained that part of the process is to contact local law enforcement. “Technically your supposed to have the sheriff involved when you do a Neighborhood Watch,” she said.
But after contacting the sheriff's office about the Neighborhood Watch plan, they have not received a response, according to Hosch.
According to the Web site www.USAonwatch.org – which is the face of the Neighborhood Watch program in conjunction with the National Sheriff's Association – there are five steps to setting up a Neighborhood Watch.
- Recruit and organize as many neighbors as possible;
- Contact your local law enforcement agency and schedule a meeting;
- Discuss community concerns and develop an action plan;
- Create a communication plan;
- Take action: Hold meetings and events.
With or without the sheriff, “We're going to have a meeting,” said Wenkus.
To inquire about this inaugural meeting of the Cobb Neighborhood Watch group call 707-355-1110 or 707-295-7446 for more information.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – On Wednesday the Glenn County Sheriff's Office released the name of the final victim it had been endeavoring to identify from a deadly April 10 wreck on Interstate 5.
The fiery crash – which occurred near Orland – involved a FedEx semi, a motorcoach carrying Southern California high school students to an event at Humboldt State and a Nissan Altima. It left 10 people and 34 more injured, according to the numerous agencies involved in the investigation.
Glenn County Sheriff-Coroner Larry Jones identified the last crash victim as 19-year-old Adrian Castro, a senior at El Monte High School. Jones said the identification process had to be completed using DNA.
Last week, Jones had released the names of eight other crash fatalities, including FedEx semi driver Timothy Paul Evans, 32, of Elk Grove; Talalelei Feleni Lealao-Taiao, 53, of Sacramento, driver of the 2014 Setra motorcoach; chaperones Mattison Leatrice Haywood, 25, of Chino and Michael Lee Myvett Jr., 29, of Los Angeles; and students Ismael Jimenez, 18, of Inglewood; Jennifer Caroline Bonilla, 17, of Los Angeles, a student at Dorsey High School; Denise Eraina Gomez, 18, of Inglewood, a student at Animo Charter High School; and Marisa Elaine Serrato, 17, of Riverside, a student at Norte Vista High School.
Humboldt State identified the 10th victim as Arthur Arzola, one of its admissions staffers who was traveling with the students.
Agencies including the California Highway Patrol and National Transportation Safety Board are continuing in-depth investigations into the causes of the crash. In the case of the NTSB, a report is not expected for several months.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKEPORT, Calif. – After a brief hiatus in March, “Lake County Live!” returns to the Soper-Reese Theatre and KPFZ 88.1 FM on Sunday, April 27.
The show, which starts at 6 p.m., features special musical guests DeezGuise, featuring Bill Bordisso, Doug Harris, Tom Nixon, Rick McCann, Scott Sommers and special musical guest Sissa Harris.
The show is broadcast from the theater with a live audience and the usual cast featuring the Ladies of the Lake (Kris Andre, Pamela Bradley and Vicky Parish Smith) along with Richard Smith, show creator and host Doug Rhoades, and some special announcements from the Lake County Daily Herald Sentinel, Mama Maybelle's Bountiful Brownies and the Dogs of Clearlake.
This show, the 28th in the series, also features a special recognition from several continuing episodes.
"We took a break from March, as we had to sit back a spell and decide how the show would proceed," said Rhoades. "Now we're back with wonderful music, great humor, and a special treat for those in our audience and on the air."
Tickets for this month's show are available from the Soper-Reese box office, 275 S. Main St., on Fridays from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., at the Travel Center at 1265 S. Main St. in Lakeport, and online at www.soperreesetheatre.com .