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CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – Lake County Sheriff's deputies arrested a Clearlake Oaks man last Friday on charges of animal cruelty after discovering he allegedly beat his girlfriend’s dog to death with his bare hands.
Dennis Michael Hector, 52, was taken into custody in the case, according to Lt. Steve Brooks.
On Jan. 24 at 9:15 a.m. deputies were dispatched to a report of a female screaming from a residence, which was believed to be on Shoreview Drive in Clearlake Oaks, Brooks said.
When one of the deputies arrived in the area and was trying to locate the residence, he was able to hear a female screaming. The deputy heard the female say “Stop it. Don’t,” according to Brooks.
The deputy located the residence where the screaming was coming from, which was located in the 12000 block of Shoreview Drive. Brooks said that when the deputy knocked on the door, the screaming suddenly stopped.
The deputy continued to knock on the door and announced his presence several times, with no response from inside the residence, Brooks said.
Brooks said a second deputy arrived to assist and they forced entry into the residence. When the deputies entered the home, they located a female adult and Hector, both of whom were immediately detained.
Deputies noticed the female had what appeared to be blood on both pant legs and asked her if she was injured. She told deputies that she was not injured and the blood came from her dog, Brooks said.
The deputies asked where the dog was and the female said it was in the boat, which was behind the house in the channel. Brooks said Hector then admitted that he had killed the dog because it had killed his parakeet.
Deputies walked down to the dock and located the dog inside an aluminum boat. They reported that the dog was obviously deceased, Brooks said.
Hector told deputies the female lives with him at the residence and he recently allowed her to bring the dog to the house. He also said he had warned her that if the dog bothered his bird, he would take action against the dog, according ot Brooks.
Brooks said Hector admitted to killing the dog with his fists and said he did not mean to do it. Hector then said the female gave him permission to kill her dog if it went after his bird. He also thought it was acceptable to kill a dog if it killed another pet.
The deputy noticed Hector had blood on his right hand and asked where it came from. Hector replied it was caused from striking the dog, Brooks said.
The female told deputies that Hector had killed her dog. She screamed at him to leave the dog alone, but she was unable to stop him from beating her dog. She said Hector was furious that her dog had killed his parakeet. Brooks said the woman denied ever telling Hector that it was alright to hurt her dog.
The woman explained that Hector allowed his bird to fly around freely inside the residence. She also explained that Hector would not let her answer the door when the deputies were knocking and announcing their presence, Brooks said.
The deputy asked why her dog was wet. She replied that after Hector beat her dog to death, he threw the dog into the lake. Brooks said she told deputies that she retrieved her dog from the water and placed him inside the boat.
Hector was arrested for maliciously and intentionally torturing and or killing an animal, subjecting an animal to needless suffering or inflicting unnecessary cruelty, resisting arrest, possession of controlled substance paraphernalia, being under the influence of a controlled substance and destroying or concealing evidence, Brooks said.
Hector was transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility and booked. On Monday he remained in custody with bail set at $100,000.
The Lake County District Attorney's Office confirmed to Lake County News that it had received the filing from the sheriff's office for the criminal case against Hector, who is expected to be arraigned this week.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The community came out on Sunday to honor a local boy who fought a long and courageous battle with brain cancer.
Ronnie Dekeyser III, 11, known as “Officer Ronnie,” died on Jan. 20 from an inoperable brain tumor.
Last October he was made an honorary Lakeport Police officer, and on Sunday the men and women of local law enforcement and fire agencies came out with the community to honor him.
On Sunday afternoon a procession led from Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary on N. High Street to the Lakeport Speedway at the Lake County Fairgrounds on Martin Street, where Ronnie's memorial took place.
Among the mementos of his life on display at the memorial was Ronnie's Lakeport Police uniform.
Ninety percent of the Lakeport Police Department took part in the Sunday afternoon procession and service, according to Lt. Jason Ferguson.
Also taking part were the Lake County Sheriff's Office, California Highway Patrol, California State Parks, and the Lakeport and Kelseyville Fire districts.
At the ceremony's end, balloons were released into the afternoon sky.
LOWER LAKE, Calif. – The public is invited to join Lake County Academic Decathlon students as they test their knowledge of World War I during the annual competition on Saturday, Feb. 1.
The public portion of the event will be held at Lower Lake High's new gym on Lake Street beginning at 2 p.m.
Students from Lower Lake, Upper Lake and Clear Lake High will challenge 2013 champion Kelseyville High for the opportunity to represent the county in Sacramento in March.
The decathlon is a unique competition that is composed of high school students with required grade point average categories of 4.0, 3.0 and 2.0 or below.
Students study all year to compete in 10 individual categories including math, language/literature, science, history, art, music, economics, written essay, speech and interview.
They will conclude their competition on Feb. 1 in a public forum as they compete in a team Super Quiz.
Decathletes started their first round of testing earlier in January where they were given 50 minutes to write an essay on a given prompt based on their World War I studies.
Essays were scored by staff from Marymount California University, and Mendocino and Yuba colleges, and included Antoine-Marie Baurier, Kim Boles-Cravea, Pamela Bordisso, Joan Cashion, Bill Cornelison, Laura Dorfman, Allen Franz, Susan Garman, Sue Goff, Mike Grimshaw, Jean Lyu, Tom Mead, Sara Melville, Kathleen Talbot, Reuben Veliz and Deborah White.
On Saturday, Jan. 25, 47 local community members came to Lower Lake High to judge more than 50 students as they competed in the second stage of the academic decathlon, which included speeches and interviews.
Students gave prepared speeches on topics of their choice, short impromptu speeches and were interviewed by a group of three judges. Students were judged on their presentation skills, professional appearance and preparedness.
Volunteers from around the county came together to serve as judges and ended their day with a group luncheon of decathletes, judges and coaches.
More than two-thirds of the judges were returning decathlon judges. Judges included Rita Abby, Chris Becnel, Jo Bennett, Teresa Bettencourt, Kim Boles-Cravea, Becky Carter, Barbara Christwitz, Deana Clausen, Judy Conard, Bill Cornelison, Jesse Damian, Emilio de la Cruz, Buz Derenink, Terry Dereniuk, Gina Dickson, Brock Falkenberg, Larry Fanning, Doreen Gilmore, Cheryl Graves, Lorrie Gray, Jim Hiss, Rebecca Hiss, Wally Holbrook, Nancy Hudson, Quincy Jackson, Dana Kearney, Mareta King, Madelene Lyon, Harry Lyons, Shelly Mascari, Barbara McIntyre, Deborah Morine, Nyla Norris, Michael Papin, Trena Pauly, Darlene Serpa, Wilda Shock, Richard C. Smith, Vicky Smith, Rebecca Southwick, Kandee Stolesen, Melissa Swanson and Marsha Willard.
Decathletes will complete their exams on Feb. 1 as they spend the morning testing in music, art, mathematics, language and literature, science, economics and social science.
They will then participate in a Super Quiz Bowl that is open to the public at Lower Lake High School starting at 2 p.m., followed by the awards ceremony.
More than 150 medals sponsored by Sutter Lakeside Hospital will be awarded, along with scholarships from The Lodge at Blue Lakes, Lake County Friends of Mendocino College, Lakeport Lions Club, Lakeshore Lioness and Rotary Club of Lakeport.
The Lake County Arts Council will award a cash prize for first through third places in the poster and poetry contest.
All members of the community are welcome to attend the evening events free of charge.
For questions regarding the Academic Decathlon please contact Tammy Serpa at the Lake County Office of Education,
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The deadline for filing grant applications with the Lake County Wine Auction is fast approaching.
All applications must be in the organizations hands no later than Saturday, March 1.
The board of directors of the Lake County Wine Alliance invites nonprofit organizations, agencies and programs from all over Lake County to apply for a share of the proceeds from the 2014 Lake County Wine Auction, which will be held Saturday, Sept. 20, at the Cole Creek Equestrian Center in Kelseyville.
Applications must be postmarked or submitted via email. Applications for funding may be obtained from the Wine Alliance Web site, www.winealliance.org , where a downloadable application can be found under the “beneficiaries” tab.
Applicants also may contact Judy Luchsinger, chair of the beneficiaries committee, at 707-263-3280, or
The Lake County Wine Alliance may be contacted by phone at 866-279-9463, or mail, P.O. Box 530, Kelseyville, CA 95451.
The charter of the Wine Alliance directs its efforts to foster the arts, benefit health services and support the community, so applicants should be prepared to show how their programs fit into one or more of these categories.
The Wine Alliance is an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization made up of Lake County wineries, wine grape growers, business and community supporters who annually present the wine auction as a fundraising charity benefit.
Event proceeds include ticket sales, donations from sponsorships, live and silent auction income, purchases of reserve wines at the event, and sales of special edition, fine art posters by Lake County artist John R. Clarke. Since 2000, the Lake County Wine Auction donations have totaled $1,081,302.
The auction’s success over the years would not have been possible without the help of its valued sponsors.
For their support in 2013, the Wine Alliance thanked Mendo Lake Credit Union, Calpine, Six Sigma Ranch, Beckstoffer Vineyards, Kathy Fowler Chevrolet, Bella Vista Farming, John C. Clarke, Shannon Ridge Winery, The Savings Bank of Mendocino, Umpqua Bank, Ceago Vineyard and Winery, Kelseyville Pharmacy, Brassfield Estate Vineyard & Winery, The Lake County Winegrape Commission.
Members of the Wine Alliance board are Kaj Ahlmann, Lower Lake, president; Judy Luchsinger, Lakeport, vice president; Sharron Zoller, Kelseyville, secretary; Rob Roumiguiere, Kelseyville, treasurer; and Marie Beery, Kelseyville, and Bill Groody, Kelseyville, directors.
MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The Lake County International Charter School invites the community to join it in afternoon of energizing fun, fitness and community at its second annual “Dance-a-Thon” fundraiser on Saturday, Feb. 8.
The event will take place from 1 to 6 p.m. at the Middletown Lions Club, 15399 Central Park Road.
Proceeds from the event will go directly to benefit the health, fitness and nutrition programs at Lake County International Charter School such as its organic garden, compostable lunch plates, playground components and physical education equipment.
The dance-fitness marathon will include five hours of alternating Jazzercise and Zumba, as well as a sampling of other fun exercise options like Bellywood Bootcamp and HulaHips, so you can enjoy your favorites and try something new.
A line up of beloved, talented instructors from throughout Lake County are volunteering their time at this fundraiser aimed at promoting awareness of the fun of dance fitness and the importance of exercise and healthy eating.
Complimentary nutritious snacks and beverages will be served, and are included in the price of each $15 ticket.
The event also will feature silent auctions, raffles and opportunities to win a grand prize for participation.
The Dance-a-Thon is an adult-focused event, but to encourage fitness and nutrition awareness amongst youth 16 and up and young adults are also welcome.
Tickets for this fun fitness event can be purchased at the Lake County Jazzercise studio in Middletown, through several Zumba teachers throughout the county, at the Lake County International Charter School office or at the school's Web site, www.lcics.org via PayPal by clicking on the “Dance-a-Thon” link. Tickets also will be available for purchase at the door.
For more information please call the Lake County International Charter School office at 707-987-3063, email
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Animal Care and Control has several cats that are ready and waiting for new homes.
They have a mix of coat types and colors, and range in age from 6 months to 2 years.
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.
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 female domestic short hair mix is 6 months old.
She has a short coat with tortie point markings, a kinked tail and weighs 2.8 pounds. Shelter staff did not report if she has been spayed.
Find her in cat room kennel No. 6a, ID No. 38899.
Domestic short hair mix
This female domestic short hair mix is 2 years old.
She has a short coat with tortie point markings and a kinked tail. Shelter staff did not report if she has been spayed.
She's in cat room kennel No. 6b, ID No. 38900.
Domestic short hair mix
This female domestic short hair mix is 2 years old.
She has a short calico coat and weighs 6.6 pounds. Shelter staff did not report if she has been spayed.
Find her in cat room kennel No. 18, ID No. 38898.
Orange tabby
This orange tabby is 9 months old.
The cat, of undetermined gender, has a short coat and is large in size.
The tabby is in cat room kennel No. 26a, ID No. 38917.
Tuxedo cat
This tuxedo cat of undetermined gender is 9 months old.
It has a curly coat and unique black and white markings.
You can find the cat in cat room kennel No. 26b, ID No. 38918.
Domestic short hair mix
This male domestic short hair mix is 6 months old.
He has an all-black coat and a docked tail. Shelter staff did not report if he has been altered.
He's in cat room kennel No. 49, ID No. 38909.
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