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LUCERNE, Calif. – The Lucerne Alpine Senior Center was one of several locations around Lucerne targeted by vandals this past weekend.
What appeared to be a large gang-related graffiti tag that referred to the “11th St. Villains” was painted on the side of the center.
Center Executive Director Rae Eby-Carl discovered the graffiti earlier this week, concluding it had occurred during the weekend.
She subsequently reported the vandalism to the Lake County Sheriff's Office.
Eby-Carl said the center's tagging incident is believed to have been done by the same vandals who hit elsewhere in town, painting on signs on Highway 20 and tagging the back of the Lake County Visitor Center, as well as several empty storefronts along the highway corridor.
Eby-Carl said center staff was disappointed that the center – which is both a community resource and a historical site – was disfigured.
“The programs here are on a limited budget so it is sad to have to use labor and resources to repair this damage,” she said.
Nevertheless, volunteers got right to work removing the graffiti, which stretched about 8 feet along the side of the center facing 10th Avenue.
On Tuesday morning, center volunteer Oliver Wells put on the first cover coat, with longtime volunteer and new center board member Dave Templeton adding another coat in the afternoon.
The center has previously been the target of vandalism, with the most recent case a few years ago also involving what appeared to be gang graffiti.
If anyone has any information on the recent vandalism case, they are asked to call the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, 707-262-4200.
Lucerne Alpine Senior Center is requesting community volunteers to assist with programs and upkeep of the building. Call 707-274-8779 if you would like to assist.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. – The employees of the Mendocino National Forest want to remind visitors to have a safe July 4 holiday, especially while recreating in the forest.
With hot temperatures and increasingly dry fuel conditions, visitors are asked to be careful with fire in the National Forest, including campfires, gas stoves and lanterns.
Fireworks, including sparklers, are prohibited on the Mendocino National Forest, officials said.
The forest is currently under fire restrictions. Under the restrictions, fires, campfires, charcoal fires or stoves are prohibited on the National Forest except in a few designated campgrounds.
A list of campgrounds and a copy of the restrictions is available on the forest Web site, www.fs.usda.gov/mendocino .
In all other areas of the forest, lanterns or portable stoves using gas, jellied petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel will be allowed as long as the person has a current California Campfire Permit with them.
California Campfire Permits may be obtained at any Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management or CAL FIRE office in California, as well as from most Forest Service field employees. They may also be obtained online at www.fs.usda.gov/main/mendocino/passes-permits/recreation .
Nighttime temperatures are generally cooler in the mountains, and even during summer there is the possibility of storms in the mountains.
Visitors should be prepared for changing conditions. Bring layered clothing and plenty of food and water on your outdoor adventure. Tell someone where you are planning on going, which routes you plan on taking and when you plan on being back.
“We want everyone to have a safe and memorable Fourth of July weekend, especially those enjoying the Forest,” said Forest Supervisor Sherry Tune. “We appreciate everyone’s cooperation in helping us reduce the risk of wildfire by being careful during their visit.”
All Mendocino National Forest offices will be closed Thursday, July 4, in observance of the holiday.
For more information, please contact the Mendocino National Forest at 530-934-3316 or visit www.fs.usda.gov/mendocino .
The California Department of Boating and Waterways reminds boaters to use caution on the water this July 4.
DBW’s boating accident data shows that more boating accidents occur during this holiday than any other.
Waterways are crowded and people boat in groups or with many people aboard their vessels. Distractions are numerous.
“Operator inattention is the number one cause of boating accidents,” said DBW’s Acting Director Sylvia Ortega Hunter. “Designating another person on board to act as an additional lookout for other boats, obstacles, or people in the water, can give the operator more reaction time to avoid an accident.”
The following are other tips that can greatly decrease the chances of a boater being involved in a boating accident:
- Avoid alcohol. Everyone who drinks alcohol on board--not just the operator--is at risk. Intoxicated passengers can easily fall overboard, swim near the propeller, or cause the vessel to capsize.
- Wear a life jacket. There must be a properly-fitted life jacket on the vessel for each person. Children under the age of 13, all personal watercraft riders, paddle-boarders, and anyone being towed behind a boat are required by law to wear a lifejacket.
- Know some basic rules of the road. Steer to the right when approaching another vessel head on, and remember that in a crossing situation involving two power-driven boats, the boater on the right has the right-of-way.
- Operate your boat at a reasonable speed. Boats do not have brakes. Operators need to allow for adequate stopping distances to avoid accidents.
- Properly use water ski flags when skiers, wakeboarders or tubers are down. Improper use of flags can be dangerous not only to the person in the water, but to passing boats as well. A ski line entangled in the propeller of a passing boat can result in a deadly accident.
State law requires boaters involved in accidents to file a written report with DBW when a person dies, disappears or requires medical attention beyond first aid.
A report also is required when an accident results in damage to a vessel or other property exceeding $500 or there is a complete loss of a vessel.
For more safety tips or to view California’s boating laws, please visit www.BoatResponsibly.com .
Remember, “If it’s your boat, it’s your responsibility.”
LOWER LAKE, Calif. – The Lake County Sheriff's Office has reported that an attempted home invasion robbery Sunday resulted in gunshots being fired by a resident of the home.
No one was injured in the shooting, according to sheriff's Lt. Steve Brooks.
One suspect, 36-year-old Thomas Lee Sargent of Clearlake, also was taken into custody in connection to the incident, Brooks said.
According to sheriff's office, deputies responded to a residence on Arrowpoint Road in Lower Lake at around 6:45 a.m. Sunday for a home invasion robbery.
Occupants of the home reportedly told deputies that they had head what sounded like someone gaining entry into the house through the dog door, Brooks said.
A male resident then armed himself and went to investigate the noise finding a male subject crawling through the dog door into the residence, Brooks reported.
The resident of the home was holding what appeared to be a firearm, according to Brooks' report.
At that point the resident questioned the would-be robber, who began lifting the firearm towards the home invasion victim. Brooks said the resident then fired twice.
The alleged robber immediately retreated from the dog door and ran from the residence, Brooks said. The resident then noticed a second suspect in the middle of the yard.
According to the report the second suspect began raising what the resident thought to be a weapon and the resident responded by firing two more times causing the second suspect to flee on foot.
A set of keys found in the backyard fit an unfamiliar vehicle found parked at a nearby residence, and while searching that vehicle deputies discovered Sargent's wallet.
On Monday, the Sheriff's Major Crimes Unit located Sargent and arrested him for burglary and conspiracy to commit a felony based upon his statements and evidence found at the scene.
Sargent was booked into Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility, with bail set at $30,000. Jail records indicated he remained in custody early Wednesday.
This investigation is ongoing and anyone with information about this crime is encouraged to contact the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit at 707-263-2690.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – A Tuesday afternoon crash involving a pickup and a power pole has led to a temporary road closure on 11th Street due to the pole needing to be replaced.
Lt. Jason Ferguson of the Lakeport Police Department said officers and Lakeport Fire Protection District personnel were dispatched to the area of 11th and Pool streets at approximately 1:37 p.m. on the report of a single vehicle crash with a power pole.
He said when the officers arrived on scene they immediately closed 11th Street from North Street to the entrance of Round Table Pizza to divert traffic as Pacific Gas and Electric crews worked on the damaged pole.
Officers contacted James Knox, 76, of Lakeport and learned that he was driving his Toyota Tacoma truck eastbound on 11th Street when he fell asleep, causing the pickup to drift onto Pool Street and strike the power pole, Ferguson reported.
Ferguson said Knox was not injured in the crash.
The wreck caused severe damage to the power pole, which required additional PG&E personnel and equipment, Ferguson said.
Due to the extent of the damage, PG&E will be working through the night to repair the power pole, he said.
PG&E was reporting only three customers being affected initially by the crash.
Road closures on 11th Street between North Street and the entrance to Round Table Pizza are expected to be in effect until midnight, Ferguson said.
Motorists are encouraged to use alternative routes as workers will be on scene, according to police.
For further information contact the Lakeport Police Department, 707-264-5491.
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A traffic stop in Clearlake last week led to one man's arrest, and the seizure of thousands of dollars' worth of methamphetamine and marijuana.
Eric Lee Nevarez, 36, of Finley was arrested as a result of the stop, according to Lt. Steve Brooks of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.
Brooks said that at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 25, narcotics detectives conducted a vehicle stop in the area of Highway 53 and 18th Avenue in Clearlake.
During the stop, they contacted Nevarez, who was a passenger in the vehicle. Brooks said detectives knew from previous contacts that Nevarez was on felony probation with a search clause.
As detectives were contacting Nevarez, he said “Whatever you find in there isn’t mine,” according to Brooks' report.
Detectives searched Nevarez and located a glass pipe in his pants pocket. The pipe was of the type commonly used to smoke methamphetamine, Brooks said.
He said the detectives also conducted a search of the vehicle where Nevarez was sitting. They located a plastic bag containing approximately 5 ounces of methamphetamine partially hidden in the seat where Nevarez was sitting and a plastic bag containing approximately two pounds of marijuana.
Nevarez admitted that the methamphetamine and marijuana belonged to him. He also said the other occupants of the vehicle did not know he had the illegal items in his possession, Brooks reported.
Nevarez was arrested for possession of a controlled substance for sale, transportation of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana for sale, sales of marijuana and possession of controlled substance paraphernalia. He was transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility and booked. Jail records indicated he has since been released from custody.
Detectives weighed and tested the suspected methamphetamine using a NIK test. The test flashed blue indicating presumptive positive for methamphetamine and had an approximate weight of 149.4 grams, Brooks said.
He said detectives estimated the approximate street value of the methamphetamine to be $14,250. The bag of marijuana had an approximate weight of 1 pound, 12 ounces.
The Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force can be reached through its anonymous tip line at 707-263-3663.