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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Rodeo Association is seeking entries for the 2014 Lake County Rodeo Queen and Princess competitions.
The association will host the 85th annual Lake County Rodeo on Friday, July 11, and Saturday, July 12.
The queen and princess competition will be held at the Cole Creek Equestrian Center in Kelseyville on Saturday, June 28.
Young women between the ages of 16 to 24 years old compete for the title of Miss Lake County Rodeo, while girls ages 9 to 15 years old may compete for the title of rodeo princess.
The contestants will compete in horsemanship, poise, personality and rodeo knowledge.
The Miss Lake County Rodeo Queen will receive a saddle, jeweled tiara and other awards. The rodeo princess will receive awards including a custom breast collar, jeweled tiara and more.
There also will be horsemanship awards and participation gifts to all the contestants.
The sponsor for the 2014 competition is Rob Brown.
Eligible contestants must reside in Lake, Colusa, Mendocino, Napa or Sonoma counties.
For queen or princess applications and information packages please contact Greg Scott at 707-263-5350 or e-mail
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Federal, state and local agencies are continuing their efforts to understand the root causes of a deadly crash last week involving a FedEx semi, a motorcoach filled with college students on their way to a college tour and a third vehicle.
The wreck, which occurred last Thursday evening on Interstate 5 near Orland, killed 10 people and injured 34 more.
Among the dead are the semi and bus drivers, several students and chaperones, and a Humboldt State University employee, officials reported.
A southbound FedEx-owned 2007 Volvo semi towing two trailers crossed the freeway median – which is lined with oleander bushes, not concrete barriers – and hit a 2013 Nissan Altima driven by Bonnie Duran, 53, of Lake Tapps, Wash., before hitting the 2014 Setra motorcoach head-on, according to the reports from the California Highway Patrol and the National Transportation Safety Board.
The motorcoach, owned and operated by Silverado Stages of San Luis Obispo and in service barely a month, was carrying 43 students from dozens of Los Angeles-area high schools and three chaperones to a campus tour event at Humboldt State University, officials reported.
NTSB member Mark Rosekind reported Saturday that, based on tire marks at the scene, investigators concluded that the FedEx truck did not brake as it was crossing the median into the path of the bus.
He said that Duran told investigators that she saw flames come from underneath the FedEx truck's cab as it was coming across the median.
Glenn County Sheriff Larry Jones reported that his agency was working with a medical examiner to identify the victims.
Jones said four autopsies were completed on Friday and efforts were being made to complete the remaining five autopsies over the weekend.
He said dental records are being provided to a forensic odontologist to commence the process of identification. Should there be no dental records available for a particular victim, they will use DNA identification, will he said will lengthen the time factor.
“A request has been made through the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services to expedite this process, should the need arise,” Jones said.
Jones said he does not anticipate having an update on the victims' identities until midweek.
So far, the only victim's name to be formally released is that of Arthur Arzola, a Humboldt State Admissions Office staffer. The university said Arzola was accompanying the students on their trip.
On Saturday evening, about 24 hours after the team of NTSB investigators arrived on scene from Washington, DC, Rosekind gave an update on new developments in the case to reporters at a briefing in Red Bluff and posted online.
He said that on Friday night the parties to the investigation were identified, including the CHP, the California Department of Transportation, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, FedEx and Silverado Stages Inc.
On Saturday, NTSB investigators were at the crash scene, where they studied tire marks and the freeway median, and examined the badly burned vehicles, Rosekind said.
Investigators measured the freeway median, which is 58 feet from edge to edge. Rosekind said that in cases where medians are over 50 feet wide, barriers are an option, not a requirement, for Caltrans.
The tire marks indicated that the FedEx semi left the road at a 10-degree angle from its southbound lane and went into the median, Rosekind explained.
He said the tire marks indicated the FedEx truck didn't brake while traveling through the median or into the northbound lanes.
The motorcoach's path showed 145 feet of tire marks that indicated evasive maneuvers, Rosekind said, including that the bus was steered to the right – away from the semi.
NTSB investigators are organizing information from FedEx, plan to visit the Los Angeles terminal from which the motorcoach departed and will meet with personnel from the Los Angeles Unified School District to discuss how travel arrangements, Rosekind said.
He said they also will interview survivors, which will be especially critical in understanding how they were able to escape from the burning bus.
CHP has arranged for the NTSB to get blood samples from both the bus and semi drivers, which Rosekind said will be sent to the Civil Aerospace Medical Institute in Oklahoma City.
The samples will be tested for drugs and alcohol, with tests of hemoglobin also to be done to try to discern if the drivers had inhaled smoke at the time of the crash, Rosekind said, an important consideration now that it has been reported that the FedEx truck may have been on fire.
Rosekind said that there were two motorcoach drivers. The original driver drove the bus from Los Angeles to Sacramento, where due to hours of service the vehicle's driving was taken over by the second driver, who was killed in the wreck.
He said investigators are examining how people got out of the bus, and obtaining dispatch logs from first responders as well as autopsy results.
He said some individuals who were killed had been ejected from the bus. Seat belts are among the factors investigators are examining, with Rosekind noting that the bus was equipped with lap and shoulder belts.
He said NTSB is looking at whether or not seat belts would have prevented those individuals from being ejected.
Investigators already have conducted an initial inspection of the vehicles' mechanical conditions. “It's extremely difficult due to the fire damage,” Rosekind said.
However, Rosekind said that the motorcoach's electronic control module survived the crash and appears to be available for download, with the NTSB to send that information to one of its labs for analysis.
It's not yet clear what information was actually recorded, said Rosekind, who noted that at the time of purchase, the motorcoach's operator was able to choose how much information the device will record.
He said the electronic control module for the FedEx truck was destroyed. However, NTSB investigators plan to remove the truck's transmission, and should be able to tell the gear the semi was in at the time of the crash in order to get a speed range.
They also will remove the steering box, which will help determine how far the steering wheel had been moved and in what direction, Rosekind said.
Rosekind said Duran's Altima had come from behind the motorcoach, passed on its left side and was in front of it when the FedEx truck came across the median and hit the Altima behind the driver before hitting the bus.
The NTSB continues to seek additional witnesses to the wreck, Rosekind said.
He asked anyone who saw the crash to contact law enforcement agencies or the NTSB directly at
“We will not determine a probable cause while we're on scene,” said Rosekind. “We're not going to speculate. We're not going to analyze.”
He acknowledged that, “The big question is why,” but said the investigation is still in too early of a stage to make that conclusion.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Animal Care and Control's shelter is filled with dogs this week needing homes.
The dogs ready for adoption include mixes of shepherd, corgi, retriever, pit bull, Chihuahua, chow chow and heeler, and range in age from 14 weeks to 8 years.
Dogs that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are either neutered or spayed, microchipped and, if old enough, given a rabies shot and county license 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 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 dogs at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption (additional dogs on the animal control Web site not listed are still “on hold”).
Female German Shepherd mix pup
This female German Shepherd mix is 14 weeks old.
She has a long black and brown coat and has been altered.
She's in kennel No. 2a, ID No. 39017.
Male German Shepherd mix pup
This male German Shepherd mix is 14 weeks old.
He has a long black and brown coat and has been altered.
Find him in kennel No. 2c, ID No. 39019.
'Monches'
“Monches” is a 2-year-old male Chihuahua mix.
He has a short white and tan spotted coat, and has not yet been neutered.
He's in kennel No. 5, ID No. 39309.
Male Chihuahua mix
This male Chihuahua mix is 3 years old.
He has a short black coat and weighs 10 pounds. Shelter staff did not report if he had been neutered.
He's in kennel No. 7a, ID No. ID: 39318.
Female Chihuahua mix
This female Chihuahua mix is 8 years old.
She has a short tan coat and weighs 12 pounds. It was not reported if she has been spayed.
Find her in kennel No. 7b, ID No. 39319.
Male Labrador Retriever mix
This male Labrador Retriever mix is 2 years old.
He weighs 57 pounds, has a short black and white coat, and has not yet been neutered.
He's in kennel No. 10, ID No. 39388.
Australian Shepherd mix
This female Australian Shepherd mix is 4 years old.
She weighs 64 pounds, and has a long black and tan coat. Shelter staff did not report if she has been spayed.
Find her in kennel No. 13, ID No. 39403.
American Bulldog-pit bull terrier mix
This male American Bulldog-pit bull terrier mix is 1 year old.
He weighs 72 pounds, has a short brown brindle and white coat, and a kinked tail, and has not been neutered.
He's in kennel No. 14b, ID No. 39391.
'Magnum'
“Magnum” is a 6-year-old pit bull terrier mix.
He has a short brown brindle and white coat, weighs 59 pounds and has not been neutered.
He's in kennel No. 16, ID No. 39326.
Male chow chow mix
This male chow chow mix is 6 years old.
He has a medium-length black coat and weighs 68 pounds. It was not reported if he has been altered.
Shelter staff said he is very mellow, and has been on his own, traveling the streets for some time. He may have been abandoned.
He is good with other dogs, and is very sweet, not shy or skittish.
Find him in kennel No. 17, ID No. 39308.
Male pit bull terrier mix
This male pit bull terrier mix is 8 months old.
He has green eyes, a short brown brindle and white coat, weighs 38 pounds and has not been neutered.
Shelter staff said he is good with other dogs, is well-mannered for a pup and eager to learn.
He's in kennel No. 25, ID No. 39269.
'Piro'
“Piro” is a 7-month-old male pit bull terrier mix.
He has a short red coat and weighs 30 pounds. Shelter staff did not report if he has been neutered.
He's in kennel No. 29, ID No. 39291.
Pit bull terrier-blue heeler mix
This female pit bull terrier-blue heeler mix is 1 year old.
She has a short black and white coat, and weighs 61 pounds. Shelter staff did not report if she has been spayed.
She's in kennel No. 30a, ID No. 39343.
Pit bull terrier-blue heeler mix
This female pit bull terrier-blue heeler mix is 1 year old.
She has a short black and white coat, and weighs 57 pounds. Shelter staff did not report if she has been spayed.
Find her in kennel No. 30b, ID No. 39344.
'Buster'
“Buster” is a male corgi-retriever mix of undetermined age.
He has a short brown coat and floppy ears, and has not been neutered.
He's in kennel No. 31, ID No. 39304.
Female pit bull terrier mix
This female pit bull terrier mix is 10 months old.
She's got a short brown and white coat, and weighs 54 pounds. Shelter staff did not report if she has been spayed.
Find her in kennel No. 33, ID No. 39406.
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
When people in North America look up at the sky late late on the night of April 14 on the West Coast – and in the early morning hours of April 15 on the East Coast – they can expect the moon to look a little different.
A total lunar eclipse is expected at this time, a phenomenon that occurs when the Earth, moon and sun are in perfect alignment, blanketing the moon in the Earth's shadow.
Although lunar eclipses happen multiple times in a year during a full moon, this eclipse will be a particularly unusual viewing opportunity for North America.
Since the Earth's Western Hemisphere will be facing the moon during the eclipse, the continent will be in prime position to view it from start to finish. In addition, the eclipse will coincide with nighttime in North America.
The entire continent won't be able to witness a full lunar eclipse in its entirety again until 2019.
“Sometimes they'll happen and you'll have to be somewhere else on Earth to see them,” said Noah Petro, Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter deputy project scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. “Most [residents] of the continental United States will be able to see the whole thing.”
For those who are awake to watch the eclipse – which is scheduled to begin just before 10:30 p.m. Pacific Time on April 14, and last until shortly after 3 a.m. April 15 – Petro said there would be several changes people can witness.
When the moon first enters the Earth's partial shadow, know as the penumbra, a dark shadow will begin creeping across the moon. That will occur on the West Coast at about 10:20 p.m. This will give the illusion that the moon is changing phases in a matter of minutes instead of weeks.
“Eventually there will be a chunk of darkness eating the moon,” Petro said.
It's not often that we get a chance to see our planet's shadow, but a lunar eclipse gives us a fleeting glimpse. During these rare events, the full Moon rapidly darkens and then glows red. Though a lunar eclipse can be seen only at night, it's worth staying up to catch the show.
At the eclipse's peak, around 12:46 a.m. April 15, the moon will enter the Earth's full shadow, the umbra.
At this stage, the Earth's atmosphere will scatter the sun's red visible light, the same process that turns the sky red at sunset. As a result, the red light will reflect off the moon's surface, casting a reddish rust hue over it.
“It's a projection of all the Earth's sunsets and sunrises onto the moon,” Petro said. “It's a very subtle effect, and if any part of the moon is illuminated in the sun, you can't really see it.”
Accuweather.com reported that cloudy and rainy conditions in some parts of the United States may make viewing the eclipse difficult.
Northern California is expected to have fair viewing conditions, Accuweather reported.
Although lunar eclipses are fairly common, Petro said they don't happen every month.
Because the moon's orbit is tilted, it doesn't pass through the Earth's shadow each time it orbits the planet.
This is the same reason why solar eclipses – which occur when the Earth passes through the moon's shadow – don't occur monthly.
Petro said lunar eclipses are a special treat people should take the opportunity to watch, even if it is at a late hour.
“They don't happen all the time, and the sky has to be clear,” Petro said. “It really gives you a chance to look at the moon changing.”
In addition to being a spectacle for North America residents, Petro said NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) team would be paying particular attention to this eclipse.
The LRO mission, which is currently orbiting the moon, will be plunged into darkness for an extended period during the eclipse.
Because the spacecraft's batteries need sunlight to charge, it will be forced to run without recharging longer than usual.
“The spacecraft will be going straight from the moon's shadow to the Earth's shadow while it orbits during the eclipse,” Petro said.
While this isn't the first time LRO has orbited the moon during an eclipse, its past orbits have allowed it to pass into Earth's shadow only for a short period.
This time, the spacecraft will have to pass through the complete shadow twice before the eclipse ends. However, Petro said the team expects the spacecraft to make it through the eclipse without a hitch.
“We're taking precautions to make sure everything is fine,” Petro said. “We're turning off the instruments and will monitor the spacecraft every few hours when it's visible from Earth.”
Although LRO would be forced to shut down its instruments for this eclipse, Petro said other lunar eclipses are a great opportunity for the mission to study how the lunar surface cools during these events, giving insight into the materials making up the surface.
While people watch the moon change in the sky April 14 and 15, the LRO team will be ready.
“For quite a while, people in LRO have been analyzing what's going to happen during this eclipse,” Petro said. “We'll make sure the world knows LRO survived with no problems.”
NASA astronomer Mitzi Adams and astrophysicist Alphonse Sterling will answer questions in a live Web chat, beginning on April 14 at 10 p.m. and continuing through the end of the eclipse, at http://www.nasa.gov/topics/solarsystem/features/watchtheskies/lunar-eclipse-2014.html .
A live Ustream view of the lunar eclipse will be streamed at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/nasa-msfc on the night of the event, courtesy of Marshall Space Flight Center.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – A Humboldt County woman who was reported missing after she did not return home from a Thursday appointment has been located.
Shannon Paige Sundberg, 33, was found safe by a Humboldt County Sheriff's deputy on Saturday afternoon, the agency reported.
Sundberg's husband had reported her missing to law enforcement early Friday morning after she didn't return home the previous evening, as Lake County News has reported.
At approximately 2 p.m. Saturday, she was located after a citizen phoned the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office to report that they were traveling behind the vehicle that was associated with Sundberg, according to the sheriff's report.
Officials said the caller stated the vehicle was last seen traveling southbound on Highway 101 in Eureka taking the Humboldt Hill exit.
A sheriff’s deputy was in the immediate area at the time of the call and located Sundberg parked in her vehicle at the Humboldt Hill Vista Point, according to the report.
Sundberg was contacted and did not require any further assistance from the sheriff’s office, officials said.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Officials at the Lake County Fairgrounds have officially announced the return of the Lake County Spring Fair in June.
“The event had a great start in 2013, better than we expected, and we hope to see it grow for 2014,” said Fair Chief Executive Officer Richard Persons.
The Lake County Spring Fair will take place Friday, June 20, through Sunday, June 22, at the Lake County Fairgrounds, 401 Martin St. in Lakeport.
The theme for the event is “Spring Into Summer!,” playing on the fact that June 21st is the summer solstice.
Major attractions include three nights of grandstand activities and a carnival produced by Butler Amusements, which also provided the carnival for the Lake County Fair on Labor Day weekend for several decades, until a recent date conflict caused the fair to change companies.
Additional activities will include two stages of entertainment and several buildings of various exhibits, including vocational education project displays from schools throughout the county.
Persons said the dates for the event are still being driven by the availability of a carnival.
The Midway of Fun carnival company provided the rides for the 2013 event, but was unable to be in Lake County in May or early June this year, while Butler Amusements was happy to return, but only had the weekend of June 20 through 22 available.
“We’ve enjoyed working with both companies over the years, so having Butler provide the show for the Spring Fair and Midway of Fun provide the show for the traditional Labor Day Fair will give some variety to our customers, and also provide us with companies that we know will do a good job at both events,” Persons said.
Grandstand events are expected to include round two of the Mendo/Lake Mud Bog Nationals on Friday night.
On Saturday, June 21, the Spring Fair will host WGAS Motorsports tuff truck races, part of the state wide points series that concludes with with the State Finals at the Lake County Fair in August.
On Sunday, June 22, the Spring Fair will host the second race in the four race Ukiah/Lakeport Bomber and Bandolero Challenge.
Persons said the fair is working with four antique, classic, and custom car clubs from Lake County, and that he expects the car show activities to expand to both Saturday and Sunday of the event.
The car show is a show and shine event, with free admission for the car, owner and one passenger. Membership in a car club is not mandatory, as long as the car meets the antique, classic or custom requirement.
A variety of fair food and exhibits are expected.
Businesses interested in food or exhibit space should contact the Lake County Spring Fair at 707-263-6181 or