How to resolve AdBlock issue? 
News
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A special enforcement operation that took place on Thursday in Clearlake led to 10 arrests.
The Clearlake Police Department and Lake County Probation conducted the special enforcement operations, which were focused on individuals on Post Release Community Supervision, according to a report from Clearlake Police St. Tim Hobbs.
During the operation officers went to nine locations that were preselected based on a list of individuals on Post Release Community Supervision probation, Hobbs said.
As a result of this operation Hobbs said the following five individuals on probation were arrested and booked into the Lake County Jail:
- Robert Jones, 43, was arrested for possession of a controlled substance and violation of probation;
- Dustin Kirk, 22, was arrested for being under the influence of a controlled substance and violation of probation;
- Charles Tesconi, 24, was arrested for being under the influence of a controlled substance and violation of probation;
- Tori Brannon, 41, was arrested for being under the influence of a controlled substance and violation of probation;
- Samantha Cova, 45, was arrested and booked into the Lake County Jail for possession of a controlled substance and violation of probation.
Hobbs said the following five individuals who are not on Post Release Community Supervision also were arrested:
- Ashley Jackson, 21, was arrested for being under the influence of a controlled substance;
- Brian Potter, 45, was arrested for being under the influence of a controlled substance;
- Jason Buck, 43, was arrested for an outstanding warrant;
- Genet Shatto, 46, was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia;
- Mariah Tucker, 21, was arrested for being under the influence of a controlled substance.
Anyone with information regarding individuals on Post Release Community Supervision who are violating the terms of their probation in Clearlake can contact the Clearlake Police Department at 707-994-8251.
LUCERNE, Calif. – A male juvenile has been arrested for the stabbing of a Lucerne man last week.
The 16-year-old male, whose name was not released due to his age, was taken into custody following his alleged assault on a 25-year-old David Paul Dancer, which occurred on Thursday, July 25, according to Lt. Steve Brooks of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.
At 4:30 p.m. last Thursday sheriff's deputies were dispatched to a stabbing that occurred in the 6200 block of Highway 20 in Lucerne, Brooks said.
The initial report stated a male subject had suffered a stab wound during a fight in which approximately 10 males were involved, according to Brooks.
Brooks said deputies arrived on scene and located Dancer, who was receiving medical attention for his injuries by personnel from the Northshore Fire Protection District.
Due to the seriousness of Dancer’s injuries, an air ambulance was requested to transport him to a trauma center out of the county, Brooks said.
Dancer was taken to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital for treatment, according to radio reports.
Deputies obtained information that the fight that led to the stabbing was the result of citizens in the neighborhood confronting a 16-year-old juvenile over recent marijuana thefts, according to Brooks.
Brooks said the argument escalated and witnesses stated the juvenile allegedly brandished a knife. When the altercation became physical the juvenile is alleged to have stabbed Dancer one time in the abdomen.
The teenage boy left the scene after the altercation, but returned at the request of his family and the investigating deputy, Brooks said. The suspect provided Lake County Sheriff’s Office personnel with the location of the knife, which was recovered.
The juvenile was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon and transported to Lake County Juvenile Hall and booked.
UPPER LAKE, Calif. – Authorities are investigating a case of arson that damaged a pickup belonging to an Iraq War vet who recently moved to the community with his family.
Rob and Sara Sanchez and their children stood on their front lawn of their Melody Lane home in Upper Lake Wednesday afternoon, watching as Lake County Sheriff's evidence technicians combed through the burned Ford pickup and the items inside, taking photographs and dusting for fingerprints.
The family is baffled by what could have led to the destruction of their pickup, which they found when preparing to take their daughter to school early Wednesday morning.
The Sanchezes estimates the arson took place sometime between 1:30 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. Wednesday.
A gas container that doesn't belong to the family was found inside the truck and the evidence techs said they were able to successfully lift prints that they hope will lead them to the suspects.
The pickup was one of several parked on the street overnight but the only one damaged, Sara Sanchez said.
Northshore Fire Chief Jay Beristianos suggested that, with the vehicle unlocked, it could have been a crime motivated by opportunity.
The blaze was confined to the pickup's extended cab, which has tinted windows, believed to be one of the reasons why the fire wasn't noticed at the time it occurred.
A storage bin that had been in the pickup was found tossed into a nearby yard, Sara Sanchez said.
Gasoline was dumped on the seats. There appeared to be two combustion points, one on the center front seat and one on the backseat, Beristianos said.
The white 2008 Ford F-250 Super Duty is expected to be totaled out due to the damage, Rob Sanchez said. The interior was ruined and, while some of the exterior appeared OK, the fire had burned through the top of the cab.
An Iraq War vet, Sanchez and his family previously were in Colorado when they decided to move to Upper Lake, where Sara Sanchez had been raised.
The family moved to Lake County last December following Rob Sanchez's discharge from the Army.
The only questionable issue they've had with anyone was last Friday when they were sitting with friends in their front yard and found laser pointers trained on them.
For a veteran like Rob Sanchez, a green laser pointer looks like what is used on weaponry, and he and two friends went to confront two white male teens walking through the neighborhood who admitted to using the pointers.
The destruction of their vehicle comes at a difficult time for the family.
Rob Sanchez is about to begin school to study for a career in law enforcement and is waiting for funds from the Veterans Administration.
A sheriff's deputy has taken a report and is investigating the case, according to Lt. Steve Brooks.
Brooks asked that anyone with information about the crime call the Lake County Sheriff's Office's nonemergency dispatch number at 707-263-2690.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – As a strike by Lake Transit Authority workers enters its fourth day, there is no indication that workers and management are to return to the table anytime soon in an effort to bring the walkout to an end.
Members of Teamsters Local 665, which represents more than 30 Lake Transit employees, voted on Sunday to go out on an indefinite strike until a new three-year contract was settled, with the walkout beginning on Monday, as Lake County News has reported.
The Lake Transit strike was the second in less than a month conducted by Teamsters Local 665.
The union and Paratransit Services, the Washington-based nonprofit that has operated Lake Transit since 2007, appear to be at loggerheads over the contract, specifically wages, with union members voting to turn down a 2.2-percent wage increase offer at the Sunday meeting.
Since the strike began, services have been curtailed and picketing has been under way, with allegations arising on Wednesday that the union is resorting to intimidation in an effort to get the contract they want.
In a Wednesday email, Mark Wall, Lake Transit's general manager, alleged that the Teamsters were “becoming more desperate in their tactics,” attempting to interfere with interviews of new employees and dial-a-ride services, screaming threats at drivers while passengers are boarding buses, blocking bus stops, following buses and intimidating passengers.
Wall said that there were concerns that Teamsters representatives and striking employees were violating transit-specific provisions of the Homeland Security Act, prompting Paratransit Services to call 911 “whenever threatening, intimidating, or intentionally disruptive acts occur.”
Ralph Miranda, executive secretary of Teamsters Local 665, responded, “I think their allegations are grossly exaggerated.”
He dismissed claims that Teamsters had gone to the Best Western El Grande Inn in Clearlake – where interviews of new employees has been taking place – to intimidate anyone.
The union has been concerned that Paratransit Services might replace all of the striking employees permanently, according to Miranda.
Miranda said it's important to understand there is a difference between firing and replacing workers in such labor actions. While union workers can't be fired for picketing, they can be replaced.
Randy Grove, Paratransit Services' director of operations and human resources, sent Miranda a memo on Tuesday which stated, “Paratransit Services intends to continue its operations and will be hiring permanent replacements for striking workers.”
Miranda said two employees went to the El Grande's restaurant to eat. After they were spotted by Paratransit Services management, police were called, the Teamsters spoke with a police officer who showed up and that was the extent of it, he said.
Wall also took issue with Teamsters – including Miranda – going to Meadowood Nursing Center in Clearlake to discourage the facility from allowing a frail elderly resident to use dial-a-ride services to go to a medical appointment.
Miranda said Teamsters are taking part in “ambulatory picketing,” meaning they follow the buses on their routes and when the buses are stopped, they picket around the vehicles.
He acknowledged being at the nursing facility and telling them that the driver didn't have a General Public Paratransit Vehicle certification that he said is necessary to offer the driving services.
Wall said Paratransit Services had a written opinion from a California Highway Patrol Motor Carrier officer that the General Public Paratransit Vehicle certification is not required for public transit agencies providing service to elderly and disabled passengers.
The driver in question had been hired “well before the strike” but decided to go to work, said Wall, adding the driver met all of the legal qualifications as well as those in the Paratransit Services contract with Lake Transit.
Miranda said he had filed a complaint about the driver not having a proper certification on Monday and intends to follow up with the CHP about the opinion given to Paratransit Services.
During ambulatory picketing, Miranda said he and other union members followed one bus to the Clearlake Police Department, where the driver parked and went in to file a complaint.
Police later told the Teamsters that the driver had filed a complaint accusing them of blocking him.
Paratransit Services also alleged that Teamsters on the picket lines were blocking buses as they were coming and going from the Lower Lake bus yard, which Miranda also denied.
Christie Scheffer, executive vice president and chief operating officer for Paratransit Services, said CHP was called to respond after picketers were blocking the entry to the bus yard.
She said picketers were stepping in front of buses as they were attempting to pull out.
Miranda said the union is picketing in front of the facility, where buses generally leave once a day, but denied they were getting in front of the vehicles.
Wall said travel between the county's communities for errands, medical appointments and other needs is the “most difficult issue right now,” and he's received a large volume of calls from people needing to travel between Lakeport and Ukiah.
He said priorities are to serve the most vulnerable populations with dial-a-ride services and serve the most people with bus routes based on resources available. Wall anticipated a plan was forthcoming from Paratransit Services on how to restore some of the temporarily curtailed services.
Said Scheffer, “Our commitment is to get this service restored as quickly as possible and take care of our riders.”
“Our commitment is to Lake County,” she added.
What's unclear is when the two sides might sit down again to attempt to work out the issues that are impacting Lake Transit riders around the county.
Paratransit Services and the Teamsters can't seem to agree on whether there is a pending offer to sit down and resume talks.
Scheffer said Miranda hasn't formally asked Paratransit Services to return to the negotiations table or informed them that there will be a conclusion to the strike.
She said Paratransit Services was open to resuming talks.
Miranda said the union invited Paratransit Services back to the table on July 17.
In an email Miranda sent Grove last Sunday notifying him about the strike, Miranda also noted that the union was prepared to continue negotiations to avoid transit interruptions.
“We stand ready to continue negotiations,” he Wednesday evening.
However, until someone is willing to call for negotiations and move on their position, “I don't see anything happening,” Miranda said.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Competition between local organizations, individuals and professionals will be heating up Saturday as grillers square off during the fourth annual “Grillin’ on the Green” fundraiser at Westside Community Park.
Tickets are still available for the 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. event at the park, located at 1401 Westside Park Road.
“Come out and join us for a fun evening in the park. Dance. Eat. Play – all while helping us raise funds to continue developing the park,” said Dennis Rollins, chair of the Westside Community Park Committee.
Children’s activities including a bounce house and water slide are planned, and the whole family will enjoy musical entertainment by the LC Diamonds, said Rollins.
Classic cars will be on display by the No Name Car Club and the National Antique Auto Club.
Participating cook-off teams vying for bragging rights this year include the Lakeport Kiwanis Club, Delta Iota Tau Sorority, the Lakeport Lions, the Early Lake Lions, the Clear Lake High School Sports Foundation (Casey Dye), Grillin’ for Fun (Scott DeWeese), Drunken Pirates (Kelly and Rob Rumfelt), Still Smokin and Q-n (Adrian Hoaglen) and the city of Lakeport.
Salads, beans, desserts and beverages will be provided by Ruzicka Associates, Main Street Bicycles, Lakeview Market and the Lakeport English Inn. Snow cones will be available from Marta and Domingo Avillea.
Ticket prices for the event are $25 per adult, $10 per child 12 years old or younger, and no charge for children 2 years old or younger. Tickets will also be sold at the function.
Tickets may be purchased in advance at the Lake County Chamber of Commerce, Main Street Bicycles and Lake Event Design, all in Lakeport.
Additionally, people may call Cindy Ustrud, 707-263-7091, or Dennis Rollins, 707-349-0969, for tickets or information.
This year’s major sponsors are the Keeling-Barnes Family Foundation, which is pledging matching funds up to $5,000, and Sutter Lakeside Hospital ($3,000).
Additional sponsors include the Ustrud-Rollins Family; Kathy Fowler Chevrolet; Jean Mead & Associates; KNTI Radio; Lake County News; Dr. Alexander McGeoch, DDS; Strohmeier’s Auto Center; Lakeport Camper & Truck; Margaret Silveira; Lake County Publishing; Susie LaPointe; Scully Packing Co.; Mendo Lake Credit Union; Savings Bank of Mendocino County; Disney Trophies and Awards; S2 Tutoring & PR; and Volvo Rents.
Levels of sponsor recognition are $100, $300, $500, $1,000, $3,000 and $5,000. Sponsors will be recognized at the Grillin’ on the Green event.
Westside Community Park is a city of Lakeport recreational facility that has been in development for 14 years.
The nonprofit park committee is developing the park in conjunction with the city of Lakeport, volunteers, and numerous contributions by individuals and businesses dedicated to constructing a recreational facility for the youth and adults of Lake County.
The committee recently dedicated phase two of the park development in memory of Jane Barnes.
Information about the event can be found on the park’s Web site, www.westsidecommunitypark.org , or on Westside Community Park’s Facebook page.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Two regional groups say action needs to be taken to address problems with broadband mapping that's being used to develop plans for increasing broadband deployment in rural areas.
On Wednesday, July 17, 2013, the California Emerging Technologies Fund released a report titled, “Overview of Problems with CPUC Report on California Advanced Services Fund.”
The reportconfirms what rural Californians have known for years – that broadband service actually provided on the ground is not the same as the service advertised by providers, and as claimed in the national and California broadband maps.
“The CPUC maps on broadband deployment and availability are inaccurate,” the CETF report states. “There are inherent problems with the CPUC broadband access availability mapping because of aberrations embedded in the industry data and the mapping methodology. Ground truthing by Regional Consortia and rural community leaders revealed that those maps were about 50 percent in error.”
The report also notes that there is no rural county or city in California that agrees with either the CPUC report on the California Advanced Services Fund or the California Cable and Telecommunications Association interpretation of the situation.
The Broadband Alliance of Mendocino County and Access Sonoma Broadband called the report a “watershed finding” that substantiates work done over the past two years by the two county organizations.
Working collaboratively, Mendocino and Sonoma counties have developed credible information showing that the broadband maps don’t depict actual conditions in many areas of both counties.
Schools, libraries, public safety, health care all must cope with substandard broadband throughout much of Northern California, and rural areas throughout the state, the groups said.
Jim Moorehead, chair of the Alliance Executive Committee, and Mike Nicholls, co-chair of Access Sonoma Broadband, agree that “substandard broadband is damaging the economic viability of Northern California, and the inaccurate broadband maps are a serious problem. Having a state agency formally recognize it as a problem is a huge step in the right direction.”
The Broadband Alliance of Mendocino County and Access Sonoma Broadband sent a letter to the California Public Utilities Commission asking the commission to address the problems the report identifies; support legislation – such as this year’s fully funded version of SB 7403 – which would provide essential ongoing funding for the CASF broadband infrastructure grant program for rural broadband deployment projects; and support projects to build robust affordable accessible regional broadband networks throughout Northern California, such as the Northern California Regional Middle-Mile Infrastructure, proposed by Golden Bear Broadband LLC.
For more information, visit www.MendocinoBroadband.org .