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NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – The Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC) and the California State Association of Counties (CSAC) announced their joint support for the enactment of legislation to better manage California’s national forests.
“The growing bipartisan recognition that Congress must address proper management of our nation’s forests illustrates the need to enact healthy forest legislation in 2014,” said Kevin Cann, RCRC chair and Mariposa County supervisor. “The recent wildfires on U.S. Forest Service lands clearly demonstrate the results if Congress fails to act.”
Two weeks ago, RCRC and CSAC authored a joint letter to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources urging the creation of bipartisan legislation related to forest management reform.
Earlier this year, the U.S. House of Representatives approved H.R. 1526 to provide a mechanism for better management of federal forests; however, most congressional observers believe that legislation will not be considered in the U.S. Senate.
“The health of our forests, the safety of our rural communities, and California’s natural resources are threatened by the current condition of our national forests,” said David Finigan, CSAC president and Del Norte County supervisor. “It is crucial that all of California’s forested counties experience a reform in the management of the forests to minimize fire threats, ensure a proper balance of animal life and vegetation, protect recreational opportunities, and help rural communities return to economic vitality.”
RCRC and CSAC argue that while components of the House of Representatives-approved legislation may not be acceptable to the majority of the Senate, reforms can be adopted to address active management, streamline environmental laws, and revise the U.S. Forest Service’s day-to-day approach to managing our forests.
The RCRC/CSAC joint letter to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources can be accessed here.
The Rural County Representatives of California is a 33 member county strong service organization that champions policies on behalf of California’s rural counties. Visit www.rcrcnet.org and follow @RuralCounties on Twitter.
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – On Monday a Kelseyville man convicted last month of having had sex with a young teenage girl was sentenced to eight years in state prison.
Brian Barrett Stasko, 22, who was convicted of two counts of lewd and lascivious acts on a child and two counts of statutory rape, was sentenced to the prison term by Judge Andrew Blum.
“An appeal will be taken from the judgment and sentence,” Stasko’s defense attorney, Barry Melton, told Lake County News.
Stasko was convicted of having sex with a 13-year-old girl who had fallen asleep at his home after drinking alcohol last fall, as Lake County News has reported.
Last month, the jury – which deliberated for a day and a half – came back with the guilty verdicts on the four charges, and acquitted Stasko of three counts of aggravated sexual assault on a child, according to Senior Deputy District Attorney Ed Borg.
Borg said Stasko must serve his time in state prison because of the nature of the charges.
Stasko, who has remained in jail since his April arrest, has 234 days credit for time served. He has to serve 85 percent of the eight years because lewd and lascivious acts on a child is a violent felony, according to Borg.
Once Stasko is released from prison, he must register as a sex offender, Borg said.
Borg credited investigating officer Todd Dunia of the Lake County Sheriff's for doing a “great job on a difficult case.”
Email Elizabeth Larson at
CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – A Fresno County man driving a U-Haul van was arrested Sunday night after Lake County Sheriff's deputies found 256 pounds of processed marijuana in the vehicle.
Jorge Jerson Tellez, 21, of Reedley was arrested for the possession of marijuana for sales and the transportation of marijuana, according to Lt. Steve Brooks.
At 10:15 p.m. Sunday a sheriff's patrol deputy was traveling eastbound on Highway 20 in Clearlake Oaks when he observed a U-Haul box van – which also was traveling eastbound – cross over both of the double yellow lines. Brooks said the deputy conducted an enforcement stop in the area of Highway 20 and Keys Boulevard.
The deputy contacted the driver, identified as Tellez, and as they were speaking the deputy could smell the odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle, according to Brooks. The deputy asked why it smelled like marijuana in the vehicle and Tellez showed the deputy a partially smoked marijuana cigarette.
Brooks said the deputy asked what was in the back of the U-Haul and Tellez said boxes. When asked what was inside the boxes, Tellez told the deputy, “Bud.”
Deputies conducted a search of the cargo area and located nine large plastic containers and several large black garbage bags, all containing processed marijuana, Brooks said.
He said the deputies also located a duffel bag which contained 11 vacuum sealed bags of marijuana. Each vacuum sealed bag contained approximately 2 pounds of processed marijuana.
In addition, the deputies located a suitcase which contained nine plastic bags, each containing approximately 1 pound of processed marijuana, Brooks said.
The marijuana from the U-Haul was seized and later weighed. The packaged, processed marijuana had a total gross weight of 44.2 pounds. The loose processed marijuana in the plastic containers had a gross bulk weight of 212.5 pounds for a total combined weight of 256.7 pounds, according to Brooks.
Tellez was arrested and transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility, where he was booked. Brooks said Tellez remained in custody Monday evening, with his bail set at $20,000.
The Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force can be reached through its anonymous tip line at 707-263-3663.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County American Legion Post 194 recently sent a record number of outstanding local students to participate in the annual Boys and Girls State program.
The post honored five Kelseyville High school students, one student from Clear Lake High School in Lakeport and one student from Upper Lake High School, all of whom completed a weeklong trip to the State Capitol in June to represent the post at the 2013 American Legion Boys and Girls State program.
A dinner was held in their honor and each was presented an award for their participation.
The students selected are Kristina Bour, Justin Johnson, Max Lehman, Kyle Schmidt and Aaron Fultz from Kelseyville High School, Ian Seevers from Upper Lake High School and Brian Gatton from Clear Lake High School.
The schools recommend their most qualified students to the local American Legion, which in turn conducts interviews and selects its representatives for the program.
Only those who illustrate leadership, character, scholarship, loyalty and service in their schools and community are considered.
Lake County American Legion officials said the organization was excited to send a record number of students this year from Lake County because the American Legion Boys State is among the most respected and selective educational programs of government instruction for U.S. high school students.
A participatory program in which students become part of the operation of local, county and state government, Boys State was founded in 1935 to counter the socialism-inspired Young Pioneer Camps.
The program was the idea of two Illinois Legionnaires, Hayes Kennedy and Harold Card, who organized the first Boys State at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield.
American Legion Auxiliary sponsors a separate but similar program for young women called Girls State.
At Boys State, participants learn the rights, privileges and responsibilities of franchised citizens. The training is objective and centers on the structure of city, county and state governments.
Operated by students elected to various offices, Boys State activities include legislative sessions, court proceedings, law-enforcement presentations, assemblies, bands, choruses and recreational programs.
Legion posts select high school juniors to attend the program. In most cases, individual expenses are paid by a sponsoring post, a local business or another community-based organization.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A new group of adult cats are waiting for new homes at Lake County Animal Care and Control.
The cats range in age from 6 months to 6 years, with tabbies, calicoes, a tuxedo and a white cat among those available.
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”).
Male domestic long hair mix
This male domestic long hair mix is 4 years old.
He weighs 9 pounds, has a black and white coat, and has been neutered.
Find him in cat room kennel No. 13, ID No. 38326.
Dilute calico
This dilute calico is 6 years old.
She has a short coat, weighs 13 pounds and has been spayed.
She's in cat room kennel No. 32, ID No. 38256.
Female brown tabby
This female brown tabby is 1 year old.
She has green eyes and a short coat, and has not yet been spayed.
Find her in cat room kennel No. 41, ID No. 38213.
'Mom'
“Mom” is a 2-year-old domestic long hair mix.
She has green eyes, is of medium size and has not yet been spayed.
She's in cat room kennel No. 44, ID No. 37995.
Domestic medium hair mix
This domestic medium hair mix cat is 6 months old.
She has has a black and white coat and gold eyes. Shelter staff did not report of she has been altered.
Find her in cat room kennel No. 67, ID No. 38040.
Female gray tabby
This female gray tabby is 6 months old.
She has a short coat; shelter staff did not report if she has been spayed.
She's in cat room kennel No. 98, ID No. 38287.
Dilute calico
This dilute calico is 6 months old.
She weighs 5 pounds, has a short coat and has not been spayed.
Find her in cat room kennel No. 126, ID No. 38320 .
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
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The National Auto Sport Association (NASA) is returning to Lake County to conduct a Teen Car Control Clinic aimed at helping teens become better drivers.
The clinic will take place beginning at 8 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 2, in the parking lot at Lakeside Family Fun & Event Center, 872 Lakeport Blvd. in Lakeport.
NASA, in conjunction with the Clear Lake Area California Highway Patrol (CHP), has conducted four clinics in Lake County, the last one being October 2012.
“It was a great event, you could see the kids getting better as the day went on and as they got more confident in their skills,” said CHP Officer Kory Reynolds said. “We are hoping this event will be even bigger and better.”
NASA has conducted these clinics all over the United States and the focus is to teach children how their cars will react in emergency situations.
Participants will perform such drills as ABS braking, split decision braking, reverse driving, skid pad, parallel parking and a two wheels off the roadway drill.
The drivers will perform each drill several times and rotate in groups to the next drill.
The NASA driving instructors volunteer their time and come from all over California to help at these events.
“The kids perform these drills using their own cars so they know how their car will react,” Reynolds said. “I put my own daughter through this clinic and as a parent I can tell you that you will be glad you did it. My daughter is a much better driver thanks to NASA and there great instructors, I can’t thank them enough for bringing this event to Lake County.”
NASA operates the Teen Car Control Clinic as a nonprofit organization. A fee of $99 is charged but is used to cover insurance fees. Scholarships are available to all participants.
“The $99 is tax-deductible after the insurance is paid anything left over is put into the scholarship fund,” Reynolds said. “At our last clinic, 10 scholarships were available.”
He added, “I get asked all the time about what is available for teen drivers and, in my opinion, this event is the single best thing you as a parent can do for your teen driver.”
To learn more about NASA and the Teen Car Control Clinic visit www.nasaproracing.com/event/1707 , contact event director Eric Wheaton at 707-279-4840 or Officer Kory Reynolds at 707-279-0103.