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NORTH COAST, Calif. – One of the candidates seeking to succeed Sen. Noreen Evans said he is suspending his campaign.
Chris Lehman of Arcata made the announcement Monday.
Lehman also said that he will endorse another candidate, Sonoma County Supervisor Mike McGuire.
Last August, Sen. Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa) announced her plans to retire from public office, as Lake County News has reported.
The Second Senate District Evans represents includes all or portions of Lake, Humboldt, Mendocino, Marin, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties.
Evans' decision not to seek reelection opened up the race to succeed her, with Lehman, McGuire and Novato Mayor Eric Lucan joining the field.
Lehman, who has worked as a staffer in the State Senate for 15 years, said he believes McGuire has the attributes – experience, commitment, energy and a proven track record – to ensure the North Coast is well represented in the Senate.
“Supervisor McGuire and I have similar backgrounds and beliefs. Our biggest difference is geography – he's from one community and I'm from another,” said Lehman, adding that their main difference is not a sufficient reason to wage a costly campaign against each other.
He said McGuire is committed to working with him and other community leaders to create a seven-county North Coast Agenda to ensure fair representation of each county's interests in Sacramento.
McGuire posted to his Twitter account on Monday to thank Lehman for his support.
“Huge thanks to @chris_lehman for his support of our campaign today. So honored to be working with you!” McGuire tweeted.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The Lake County/City Area Planning Council (APC) and Caltrans on Wednesday, Jan. 29, are hosting a community meeting to solicit feedback on potential transportation improvements in Middletown.
The meeting will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Middletown High School multi-use facility, 20932 Big Canyon Road.
The Jan. 29 meeting will be focused on presentation and discussion of potential road, bike, pedestrian and equestrian improvements in Middletown that are identified in the Middletown Community Action Plan.
A separate interrelated study is focused on potential improvements to Highway 29 from the Napa County line to Highway 53.
The combined studies are identifying improvements that will make area travel safer and more convenient, reduce congestion and address other local community needs.
The studies are scheduled to be completed early this year.
More information is available at www.lakecountysr29.com .
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Congressman John Garamendi (D-Fairfield, CA) will host a series of 10 town halls across his Third Congressional District.
The town halls will be in an open question and answer format, Garamendi's office reported.
“Throughout 2014, I am holding town halls in communities across our region,” Garamendi said. “Because I’ve always believed the best ideas, suggestions, and solutions come directly from local residents, I hope you will attend and make your voice heard.”
The town halls take place in Clearlake, Davis, Dixon, Fairfield/Suisun, Marysville, Orland, Rio Vista, Vacaville, Williams and Woodland.
The Clearlake event will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 8, at the American Legion Hall, 14770 Austin Road.
The other nine town halls are as follows:
- Saturday, Feb. 8: 10 a.m. to noon, Fairfield/Suisun, Solano County Supervisors' chambers, 675 Texas St., Fairfield; 1 to 3 p.m., Woodland Community College, 2300 E. Gibson Road, Room No. 800; 5 to 7 p.m., Davis City Hall chambers, 23 Russell Blvd.
- Saturday, Feb. 15: 10 a.m. to noon, Dixon, American Legion Hall, 1305 N. First St.; 1 to 3 p.m., Rio Vista, Veterans Memorial Building, 610 St Francis Way; 6 to 8 p.m., Vacaville, Veterans Memorial Building, 549 Merchant St.
- Saturday, March 8, 9 to 11 a.m.: Orland, Carnegie Center, 912 Third St.
- Tuesday, March 18: 1 to 3 p.m., Williams, Granzella’s Restaurant banquet room, 457 Seventh St.; 5 to 7 p.m., Marysville, Lee Burrows Center for the Arts, 630 E St.
Editor's note: The date and time of the Orland town hall has been changed, Garamendi's office reported Tuesday. It previously was scheduled to take place at the end of January.
In 2013, wildlife officers at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife ensured public safety, protected California’s natural resources and saved lives. Many of the situations that officers faced put them in harm’s way, but it did not stop them from successfully doing their job.
“Our wildlife officers represent the best of the best of California law enforcement and I could not be more proud of my staff,” said CDFW Law Enforcement Chief Mike Carion. “Each day our officers come to work with courage, passion and dedication to protecting California’s valuable resources regardless of the dangers they may face.”
CDFW had several high profile criminal investigations and convictions this year for resource violations.
Fourteen people were arrested in Sacramento and the Bay Area for illegally harvesting and selling abalone on the black market. Many of the suspects had previous poaching convictions and are now facing additional charges.
In El Dorado County, two men shot, but didn’t kill a deer that they then put in their small SUV.
The deer woke up and panicked inside the vehicle. The poachers then hacked the deer to death with a machete.
They were both convicted and received jail time for poaching and animal cruelty.
In Southern California, wildlife officers filed several cases of lobster poaching, illegally selling fish directly to restaurants and one case in which a diver attempted to catch fish by squirting rubbing alcohol into the rocks forcing fish into open water where he then netted them.
Most of these cases are currently pending.
While responding to a spotlighting suspect at night in rural in Santa Barbara County, one wildlife officer rolled his patrol truck off of a small mountain road. His truck rolled 20 times. He is still recovering from his injuries.
In Nevada County, a wildlife officer was able to apprehend two bear poachers through an in-depth investigation that revealed an abundance of criminal activity including drug trafficking, stolen vehicles and violence.
The primary suspect, Jason Wilkison, baited and killed a bear out of season with a military style rifle with no tags and no license.
Wilkison, a convicted felon, was sentenced to two years in state prison for his part in the crime.
Wildlife officers also demonstrated their courage to assist the public on several occasions, and their direct action saved lives of California citizens.
A Madera County wildlife officer jumped into the cold, swift current of a slough, twice, to save the lives of two small children clinging to a branch. With no equipment, life jacket or help, he brought each girl safely to shore.
In Monterey, a wildlife officer took off his boots to help save a drowning woman in the ocean then gave her the boots so she could walk across rocks to the waiting ambulance. In five separate incidents wildlife officers along with local agencies prevented people from committing suicide.
In a case that brought national attention, wildlife officers and San Bernardino County Sheriff's deputies spotted, pursued and exchanged gunfire with former Los Angeles Police officer and murderer Christopher Dorner.
In Big Bear, a patrol truck was hit with several shots but the two wildlife officers and one K-9 inside escaped major injury.
While Dorner evaded capture at that particular moment, law enforcement teams continued to pursue him.
He was found dead later that day at a nearby cabin, but not before taking the life of one San Bernardino Sheriff’s deputy and severely injuring another.
Other gunfire incidents occurred in three marijuana growing operations in northern California. In a Shasta County incident, shots were fired during a marijuana raid. Two men were then arrested, both after being apprehended by a CDFW K-9.
In other rural counties wildlife officers were shot at and returned fire as suspects fled from illegal marijuana grow sites as officers entered for eradication purposes.
More than 350 wildlife officers are responsible for patrolling 1.8 million acres of land in California. The overwhelming majority of contacts are with law abiding citizens.
Wildlife officers are there to respond to the small percentage of people who break laws in place to protect California’s natural resources and keep the public safe.
NICE, Calif. – A Sunday morning vehicle stop has resulted in one arrest and the seizure of LSD, processed marijuana, concentrated cannabis and psilocybin mushrooms.
Kevin Lord Dirksen, 30, of Santa Maria was arrested following the stop, according to Lt. Steve Brooks of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.
At 10:30 a.m. Sunday a patrol deputy was traveling westbound on Highway 20 in Nice when he noticed a vehicle traveling in front of him which had a broken tail light, Brooks said.
The deputy also noticed the vehicle was dragging a dog leash, which was attached to the passenger door. Brooks said the deputy then conducted an enforcement stop on the vehicle on Highway 20 near Pyle Road outside of Nice.
The deputy contacted the driver, who was identified as Dirksen, who told the deputy that he did not have a driver’s license because it was expired and previously suspended, Brooks said.
Brooks reported that the deputy asked Dirksen if he had anything illegal in the vehicle and Dirksen said he had approximately 8 ounces of marijuana in a backpack.
Central Dispatch conducted a records check of Dirksen and advised he was on searchable probation out of San Luis Obispo County for sales of a controlled substance, said Brooks. The deputy also was advised that Dirksen’s driver’s license was suspended for a failure to appear in court.
Brooks said the deputy conducted a search of the vehicle and located 10.3 ounces of marijuana, 12.3 ounces of hashish, 6.1 ounces of psilocybin mushrooms and 800 dosage units of LSD.
Dirksen told the deputy that he is a sound technician and grows medicinal marijuana for patients. He denied selling the marijuana and explained that he barters with it. Brooks said Dirksen went on to say that he would trade one of the “pucks” of hash for an ounce of processed marijuana.
He denied making the hash and said he obtained it from a friend. Brooks said Dirksen also denied having any knowledge of the LSD or the psilocybin mushrooms and said he had borrowed the vehicle from a friend.
Brooks said Dirksen was arrested for possession of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance for sale, transportation of a controlled substance, possession of concentrated cannabis, possession of more than one ounce of marijuana and for driving while his license is suspended.
He was transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility and booked. On Monday he remained in custody, with bail set at $35,000.
The Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force can be reached through its anonymous tip line at 707-263-3663.
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Lake Family Resource Center will present its annual “Wine and Chocolate … And More” fundraising event on Saturday, Feb. 8.
The fundraiser will take place from noon to 4 p.m. at the Mt. Konocti Winery & Event Center, 2550 Big Valley Road in Kelseyville.
The annual benefit supports Lake Family Resource Center's efforts to strengthen local families.
Lake Family Resource Center provides vital services to children and families throughout Lake County, including child abuse prevention and treatment, domestic violence services, rape crisis center, comprehensive child development and family support, nutritional education and counseling.
Wine and Chocolate spotlights Lake County’s award-winning, ultra-premium wines. Recent San Francisco Chronicle award winning wineries also are participating, and wine will be available for purchase at the onsite wine store.
There will be pairings of local wines with chocolates as well as savory bites from local restaurants and caterers. Local Sommelier Stephanie Green provides the pairing expertise.
The event also includes an auction, original artwork by Kelseyville artist Gail Salituri, workshops on wine and food pairing, and olive oil sensory.
Chacewater Olive Mill’s own Emilio De La Cruz will share his secrets in producing the finest extra virgin olive oil, and Green will share the secrets of wonderful wine and how to pair that complex libation with savory food.
This year’s event also will include a fire pit and a car show, weather permitting.
Tickets are $35 each in advance, $40 each the day of the event and at the door.
This year attendees also may purchase a special VIP package: $500 includes tickets for eight, a special reserved table in the VIP Cellar and appetizers.
Sponsorship opportunities also exist. If your company would like to participate, call Lake Family Resource Center Executive Director Gloria Flaherty at 707-279-0563. Caterers who wish to participate also should contact Flaherty.
Tickets are available at Lake Family Resource Center's Kelseyville office, 5350 Main St., via telephone at 707-279-0563 or online at www.lakefrc.org ; the Lake County Chamber of Commerce, 875 Lakeport Blvd., Lakeport; Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce, 14808 Olympic Drive, Clearlake; Saw Shop Gallery & Bistro, 3825 Main St., Kelseyville; and most Lake County wineries’ tasting rooms.