News

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Due to an overwhelming response from concerned citizens regarding invasive mussel infestations in California’s bodies of water, boat owners will now see an additional fee on their California Department of Motor Vehicles vessel registration.

This fee is a result of AB2443 that was signed into law by Gov. Brown in 2012.

“The money collected by the DMV will go to the state of California Department of Boating and Waterways to make grants available to local agencies to fund quagga and zebra mussel prevention plans,” said Lake County Public Works Director Scott De Leon.

Since 2008, the county of Lake has taken a positive, proactive and aggressive approach to the threat of an invasive mussel infestation because of the huge impact it could have on the ecosystem of Clear Lake and the local economy, officials said. This approach has been funded largely by the fees received from the county’s sticker program.

In order to keep Clear Lake free of invasive mussels and keep its ecosystem intact, boat owners are still required to participate in Lake County’s mussel prevention plan.

This will include the annual requirement of purchasing a Lake County Quagga Mussel Sticker, as there is no guarantee that monies collected through the DMV will be awarded for use in Lake County.

Please continue to support the Lake County program by showing your current mussel sticker and remember to check in with a participating screener when you return from an out-of-county trip with your boat.

Rescreening and any necessary decontamination are free.

County officials credit the Lake County mussel prevention program with being the reason Clear Lake is still free of quagga and zebra mussels.

For the latest list of screeners see www.nomussels.com or call 707-263-2344.

The 2014 mussel stickers will be available in late December of this year.

Attorney General Kamala Harris has launched a new initiative designed to curb recidivism in California through partnerships between the California Department of Justice’s new Division of Recidivism Reduction and Re-Entry and the state’s counties and district attorneys.

The division will support counties and district attorneys by partnering on best practices and policy initiatives, such as the development of a statewide definition of recidivism, identifying grants to fund the creation and expansion of innovative anti-recidivism programs and using technology to facilitate more effective data analysis and recidivism metrics.

“California’s district attorneys bring vital experience to the challenge of reducing recidivism, and it is important their perspective is incorporated,” said Attorney General Harris. “This new division will support innovative, evidence-based approaches to recidivism solutions in California.”

“San Diego County has been a statewide leader in working to reduce recidivism through innovative prisoner re-entry programs,” said San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis. “We welcome the attorney general’s leadership and commitment of resources in this area as our county continues to protect public safety while dealing with the ongoing challenges brought on by prisoner realignment.”

“The attorney general's initiative will provide local prosecutors with the accurate data we need to determine realignment's real impact on public safety,” Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey said. “I look forward to working with other prosecutors in developing effective diversion programs for nonviolent offenders and seeking funds to expand alternative sentencing courts.”

“Any successful crime reduction effort must include a strategic and well planned approach to combating recidivism,” said Alameda County District Attorney Nancy E. O’Malley. “Both low level criminals as well violent offenders will eventually return to our communities when released from jail or prison, and I welcome the opportunity to work closely with Attorney General Harris’ office on putting into place the best possible strategies to reduce crime and recidivism rates.”

“The decision to implement a new strategic plan that would ultimately help reduce crime and recidivism in our state is a powerful step forward, and I commend Attorney General Harris for her leadership in this area,” San Bernardino County District Attorney Michael Ramos said. “It is a data-driven methodology that will not only better equip local DAs with resources and technical assistance, but one that will make our streets safer. As we continue to address the ever changing needs brought about by prison reform, this initiative is a much-needed, collaborative approach to tackling crime more effectively at the state and local levels.”

“I appreciate the leadership of Attorney General Harris in focusing our collective attention to best practices to reduce recidivism and crime in our communities,” Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca said. “The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has been a national leader in rehabilitating jail inmates while incarcerated, and those efforts will only be enhanced with proven re-entry strategies focusing on helping offenders be successful upon release from jails and prisons.”

“As the California Criminal Justice System continues to recalibrate itself with the implementation of Realignment, the California Police Chiefs Association is encouraged by the Attorney General’s announcement that the Department of Justice will partner with counties to identify and implement successful reentry programs,” California Police Chiefs Association President Kim Raney said. “Ensuring public safety in our communities is the primary mission for Police Chiefs, and we welcome the Attorney General’s commitment to work with counties to ensure the safety of cities statewide.”

The Division of Recidivism Reduction and Re-Entry will consist of three subdivisions focused on program development, evaluation and grants. It will be funded through existing California Department of Justice resources.

The division will use innovative technology, such as the department’s recently created California SmartJustice system, to analyze offender populations and recidivism risk factors.

SmartJustice, a new database and analytical tool created by the California Department of Justice, can track repeat offenders and offense trends to provide counties with more effective options in developing anti-recidivism initiatives.

In 2005, then San Francisco District Attorney Harris created a reentry initiative called Back on Track, which aimed to reduce recidivism among certain low-level, non-violent drug offenders.

Over a two-year period, the program reduced recidivism among its graduates to less than 10 percent. Back on Track was designated as a model for law enforcement by the US Department of Justice.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The parent company of two Lake County supermarkets said it has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

C&K Market Inc., based in Brookings, Ore., said it took the step of filing the voluntary Chapter 11 petition to address legacy costs, sell or close underperforming stores, and resolve debt issues.

The case was filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Oregon in Eugene.

C&K's operations are expected to continue as normal throughout the bankruptcy process, as it develops a reorganization plan.

The company owns Bruno's Shop Smart in Lakeport and Ray's Food Place in Clearlake.

Company spokesman Grant Lunde told Lake County News that both of Lake County's stores will remain open, with no changes to their operations.

Lunde said C&K has owned the Clearlake store since 1995 and the Lakeport store since 2006.

The family-owned company – which operates 60 grocery stores under the banners of Ray's Food Place, Shop Smart, C&K Market and LoBuck$ – said it plans to emerge from Chapter 11 in 2014, and has a commitment for debtor-in-possession financing.

“Entering Chapter 11 was a difficult decision for our family,” said Doug Nidiffer, chairman of the board. “We seriously considered our options, and believe this approach is in the best interest of many of the communities we've served over the years. We will retain about two-thirds of our 60 stores, tighten our corporate structure, and shed legacy costs.”

At the initial hearing in a few days, a number of first day motions will be filed, including one that will seek approval of a debtor in possession financing facility with U.S. Bank, the company said.

C&K reported that it will continue to operate in the ordinary course of business during the bankruptcy, as it reorganizes.

“The decision to sell or close about a third of our stores was extremely difficult,” said Gregory L. Sandeno, president of C&K Market. “We appreciate the dedication and hard work of all of our employees and are saddened that some cannot continue with us. We anticipate we will eliminate approximately 20 percent of our positions, as a result of selling or closing stores and restructuring on the corporate side.”

“The positive news is that we will put our energies into the remaining stores with our family-friendly service, and intend to emerge from bankruptcy as a stronger, leaner company,” Sandeno said.

U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA-05), chair of the bipartisan Invasive Species Caucus, hosted a caucus hearing in Washington, DC about the threat invasive species pose to local budgets, agriculture, infrastructure and the environment across California’s Fifth Congressional District and other communities across the country.

“Invasive species pose a costly challenge to our economy, infrastructure, agriculture and the environment,” said Thompson. “In the counties that make up our district, three lakes are rated at the highest risk for a quagga invasion.”

He added, “If such an invasion occurs, it could devastate our local budgets, wreck our water infrastructure and threaten native species. That’s why I brought together experts for a bipartisan hearing on the plans Congress and local leaders need to put in place to protect our communities from invasive species before they become a major problem.”

At the hearing, members of the caucus heard from experts about federal coordination of state-based efforts for invasive species control.

Thompson asked about quagga mussel control in the state of California and commented on the need for improved prevention activities such as watercraft inspection and decontamination.

Thompson also highlighted the need for rapid response to relatively new infestations, such as the tree-of-heaven in California’s Fifth Congressional District.

Co-Chairman Dan Benishek (R-MI-1) mentioned the need for an increased focus on state and local efforts for invasive species such as eurasian milfoil in the Great Lakes.

Rep. Grace Napolitano (D-CA-32), also in attendance, commented on the need for better federal agency coordination in the prevention of infrastructure-damaging invasive species at federal waterways.

All members present agreed to an ongoing commitment to work with federal agencies to continue to improve invasive species prevention and control across the country.

Experts joining Thompson at the hearing to testify were Susan Mangin, executive secretary, Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force; Lori Williams, director, National Invasive Species Council; and Bill Hyatt, invasive species committee chair for the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.

Invasive species threaten communities by devastating native habitats, damaging crops, clogging water pipes, infecting plants and animals with dangerous diseases, and outcompeting native species. This can lower crop yields, pose health hazards, damage natural environments, and take a severe toll on local, state and federal budgets.

Nationwide, damages associated with invasive species cost an estimated tens of billions of dollars per year.

In the Fifth Congressional District, Clear Lake, Lake Sonoma and Lake Berryessa are all rated at the highest possible risk level for quagga invasion. Currently none of these lakes has been invaded by quagga mussels.

However, if quaggas invade one of these lakes, control and treatment would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars per year and negatively impact the water supply for residents in Sonoma, Lake and Solano counties.

Aquatic mussels such as quagga and zebra mussels have cost U.S. communities more than $5 billion since their introduction in the 1980s.

The Congressional Invasive Species Caucus, co-chaired by Reps. Mike Thompson and Dan Benichek is an informal, bipartisan group dedicated to raising awareness about invasive species issues, supporting local communities who are bearing the brunt of this problem, and promoting efforts to prevent and control the spread of invasive species.

The caucus provides opportunities for representatives to meet with the most important policy makers, organizations, and industry leaders that are impacted by invasive species.

Thompson represents California’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties.

California Attorney General Kamala D. Harris on Tuesday announced a settlement with J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. over its misrepresentations in residential mortgage-backed securities sold to California's public employee and teacher pension funds, CalPERS and CalSTRS, between 2004 and 2008.

According to the terms of the settlement, California will recover $298,973,000 in damages.

“JP Morgan Chase profited by giving California’s pension funds incomplete information about mortgage investments,” Attorney General Harris said. “This settlement returns the money to California’s pension funds that JP Morgan wrongfully took from them.”

An investigation conducted by Attorney General Harris showed that offering documents for the securities failed to accurately disclose the true characteristics of many of the underlying mortgages, and that due diligence to weed out poor quality loans had not been adequately performed.

The broader settlement reached today by the United States Department of Justice and other federal and state agencies totals $13 billion, and represents the largest settlement with a single entity in American history.

CalPERS and CalSTRS will be reimbursed through this settlement for losses on investments in mortgage-backed securities of J.P. Morgan Chase or its predecessors Washington Mutual Bank and Bear Stearns.

J.P. Morgan Chase will also provide $4 billion in relief to aid consumers across the country, including Californians, harmed by the unlawful conduct of J.P. Morgan Chase, Bear Stearns and Washington Mutual.

That relief will take various forms, including principal forgiveness, loan modification, targeted originations and efforts to reduce blight.

An independent monitor will be appointed to determine whether J.P. Morgan Chase is satisfying its obligations.

The settlement related to California’s pension funds arises from the investigation into mortgage-backed securities by Attorney General Harris's Mortgage Fraud Strike Force, which was formed in May 2011 to comprehensively investigate misconduct in the mortgage industry.

The Attorney General's additional efforts to investigate the mortgage crisis include securing an estimated $20 billion for California in the National Mortgage Settlement and sponsoring the California Homeowner Bill of Rights, a package of laws instituting permanent mortgage-related reforms.

For more information on the U.S. DOJ settlement visit: http://www.justice.gov/ .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A vehicle stop conducted Monday night by the Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force has resulted in one arrest and the seizure of approximately 24 pounds of processed marijuana.

Jasmine Leigh Schrade, 31, of Upper Lake was arrested following the stop, according to Lt. Steve Brooks of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

At 10 p.m. Monday narcotics detectives were traveling westbound on Highway 20 in Upper Lake when they noticed a Ford pickup also traveling westbound in front of them, Brooks said.

Detectives provided the license plate number to Central Dispatch and requested the status of the vehicles registration. Brooks said Central Dispatch advised the vehicles registration had been expired and suspended since July.

Detectives conducted an enforcement stop of the vehicle in the 100 block of East Highway 20 in Upper Lake and contacted the driver, who was identified as Schrade, Brooks said.

Schrade said she did not have a driver’s license because it had been suspended for driving under the influence. Brooks said Schrade also admitted to being on felony probation out of Lake County for possession of a controlled substance.

Detectives smelled the strong odor of marijuana emitting from the vehicle. They also noticed several large plastic containers, covered by a clear plastic tarp in the bed of the pickup, Brooks said.

Brooks said Schrade was asked if she had a medical recommendation to possess marijuana and she said her recommendation was expired.

When asked, she refused to tell detectives how much marijuana was in the vehicle. Brooks said detectives conducted a search of the vehicle and located six plastic containers which contained processed marijuana.

Schrade was arrested for the possession of marijuana for sale, selling or furnishing marijuana, violating the terms of her probation and for driving while her license was suspended. Brooks said she was transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility and booked.

The marijuana from the plastic containers had a combined weight of 23.9 pounds, Brooks said.

The Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force can be reached through its anonymous tip line at 707-263-3663.