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LAKEPORT, Calif. – A Lake County supervisor helped take a jail escapee into custody on Friday.
Supervisor Rob Brown confirmed to Lake County News that he helped catch the inmate who escaped from the facility late Friday night.
He identified the inmate as Anthony Ray Castro, 45, of Kelseyville, a jail trustee whose booking sheet said he was being held on misdemeanor drug and felony vandalism charges.
Brown, who also works as a bail bondsman, was at the jail to do a bail transaction, he said.
“And then I saw correctional officers running out” of the jail, he said.
Brown said he asked one of the correctional officers what was going on, and the officer told him there was an escape.
The officers began searching the outside of the jail, said Brown.
Based on information from the officers about where they had last seen Castro, Brown said he decided to drive down Hill Road.
As Brown drove down Hill Road and south of the jail, out of sight of the searching correctional officers, he saw Castro crouching down by the side of the road, wearing the recognizable blue trustee attire.
Brown said he got out of his truck in order to detain Castro.
“There was a little bit of a scuffle,” he said.
They went to the ground in the struggle but Brown was able to detain Castro, he said. Brown estimated that about 30 seconds later some correctional officers ran up and handcuffed Castro.
Castro was then taken to nearby Sutter Lakeside Hospital to be checked out, said Brown.
Brown, who frequently has to detain people in his line of work, was not injured in the struggle despite the fact that he not exactly dressed for the occasion – he was in a t-shirt, shorts and flip flops.
Brown said he didn't want to take anything away from the work of the correctional officers. “This is what the correctional staff do every day,” he said.
Sheriff's command staff did not return messages seeking comment left by Lake County News.
Late last year Brown also helped catch a drunk driver who he spotted while traveling to a wrestling match with Kelseyville High School wrestlers.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
MENDOCINO COUNTY, Calif. – Mendocino County officials are attempting to locate a Redondo Beach man whose abandoned vehicle was found over the weekend in a remote area near Willits.
Erik Swan Lamberg, 51, was reported missing to Mendocino County Sheriff's officials on the night of Wednesday, May 29, according to Lt. Shannon Barney.
Barney said a family member reported that Lamberg was experiencing difficulties with his vehicle when she last spoke to him on Sunday, May 26, around 11:30 p.m.
At that time Lamberg had his vehicle, a silver 2004 Honda Odyssey, towed to Laytonville after it broke down in Leggett, said Barney.
Barney said Lamberg had the vehicle repaired and stayed two nights at a local hotel in Laytonville, at which time he phoned his family and said he was “fine.” His family has not seen or heard from Lamberg since.
A missing persons case was taken and a “be on the lookout” issued to all Northern California law enforcement agencies. Backspace, Barney said.
Mendocino County deputies later confirmed Lamberg's vehicle was repaired by a local mechanic and he had stayed in the motel for two nights, but had checked out on Tuesday, May 28, according to Barney.
On Saturday, June 1, the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office received a report of an abandoned vehicle approximately 20 miles west of Willits on Sherwood Road. Barney said deputies responded and located Lamberg's vehicle.
Barney said it appeared the vehicle had gotten stuck in a ditch in the road and was abandoned. Search efforts around the vehicle were conducted but Lamberg was not located. The vehicle was towed to clear the road.
Lamberg is described as a white male with sandy blond hair and blue eyes. He is 6 feet, 5 inches tall and weighs approximately 200 pounds. Barney said it is unknown what clothing Lamberg had on when he went missing.
His family told authorities that Lamberg may be experiencing mental health issues but has shown no violent tendencies in the past, according to Barney.
The Mendocino County Sheriff's Office is requesting anyone who has information or who might have seen Lamberg to contact the Sheriff's Dispatch Center at 707-463-4086.
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A community group is doing its part to help bring increased medical services to Lake County.
Representatives of St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake administration and members of the Rotary Club of Clearlake met last Thursday, May 30, for a presentation of the second $5,000 installment of the $25,000 pledge, made by the Rotary Club of Clearlake to the new emergency department.
“The Rotary Club of Clearlake is proud to do our part to bring a state-of-the-art emergency medical facility to our community” said Rotary Club of Clearlake President Bill MacDougall. "This is a much needed improvement that will benefit our entire community.”
The new emergency department is being built from the ground up, according to hospital officials.
When completed, the project will more than double the size of the current emergency department and have a total of 12 private patient rooms, including two rooms designated for trauma.
State-of-the-art equipment, a new board certified medical staff, private ambulance bay and walk in entrances are a few of the enhanced services the new emergency department offers.
“The support of our community members and organizations, such as Rotary, is greatly valued,” said David Santos, vice president of operations at St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake. “Our new emergency department is designed to meet the needs of our community members.”
Naming opportunities are available. If you are interested in learning more or making a donation, contact our St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake Development Office at 707-995-5678.
For more information about the hospital visit www.sthelenahospitals.org .
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – In the high valleys, benches and ridgelines of the Mayacamas and Vaca Mountains, the terroir of Lake County reveals wine of great quality, intensity and typicity.
Once again, the opportunity to professionally evaluate the wine from this distinct region has arrived and every winery producing wine from a least 75 percent Lake County grapes is encouraged to enter the 2013 Lake County Wine Awards Competition.
Entry forms and guidelines may be found at www.lakecowineawards.org . Entries will be accepted until Friday, June 14.
An esteemed panel of judges, led by Ray Johnson, director of the Lake County Wine Awards Competition, director of Sonoma State University’s Wine Business Institute and Assistant director of the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, will convene at Brassfield Estate Winery July 10-12 to perform the professional blind judging.
The panel includes:
- Deborah Parker Wong, tasting panel editor;
- Mike Dunne, Sacramento Bee wine writer;
- Martha Dunne, Winegigs.com creator and writer;
- John Buechenstein, Culinary Institute of America and UC Davis Extention wine educator;
- Don Neel, Practical Winery & Vineyard editor;
- Catherine Fallis, San Francisco’s premiere female master sommelier;
- Lee Reinsimar, Dean and Deluca Wine and Spirits buyer;
- Bob Ecker, Chicago Tribune, Dallas Morning News, Decanter, and others, freelance writer;
- Christopher Sawyer, Carneros Bistro & Wine Bar sommelier;
- Joel Riddel, Dining Around with Joel Riddell, host and executive producer.
Each gold medal recipient will have the opportunity to feature their wines at the Lake County Wine Awards Dinner at Twin Pines Casino on Wednesday, July 17, where the Best in Show Awards will be announced.
In addition, the top three medal winners in each category will advance to the People’s Choice Competition held at the Lake County Fair on Saturday, Aug. 31.
Limited sponsorship opportunities are available for the 2013 People’s Choice Competition. Contact Jacquelyn Farrington,
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Several new kittens have joined the array of felines now available for adoption at Lake County Animal Care and Control.
This week there are three new orange tabby kittens, along with several charming black and white and gray kittens, as well as several very nice adult cats.
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”).
Domestic short hair mix kitten
This female domestic short hair mix kitten is 10 weeks old.
She has a black and white coat, has blue eyes, weighs 2 pounds and has been spayed.
She's in cat room kennel No. 4a, ID number 36088.
Domestic short hair mix kitten
This female domestic short hair mix kitten is 10 weeks old.
She has a short black and white coat, has blue eyes, weighs nearly 2 pounds and has been spayed.
Find her in cat room kennel No. 4b, ID No. 36089.
Domestic short hair mix kitten
This male domestic short hair mix kitten is 10 weeks old.
He has a short black and white coat, has blue eyes, weighs almost 2 pounds and has been neutered.
He's in cat room kennel No. 4c, ID No. 36090.
Domestic short hair mix kitten
This female domestic short hair mix kitten is 10 weeks old.
She has a short white and gray tabby coat, has blue eyes, weighs almost 2 pounds and has been spayed.
Find her in cat room kennel No. 4d, ID No. 36091.
Orange tabby kitten
This male orange tabby kitten is 17 weeks old.
He has gold eyes, a short coat, weighs 2.4 pounds and has been neutered.
You can find him in cat room kennel No. 8a, ID No. 36280.
Orange tabby kitten
This female orange tabby kitten is 17 weeks old.
She has gold eyes, a short coat, weighs 2 pounds and has been spayed.
She is in cat room kennel No. 8b, ID No. 36281.
Orange tabby kitten
This female Orange tabby kitten is 17 weeks old.
She has gold eyes, along coat, weighs 2.2 pounds and has been spayed.
She is in cat room kennel No. 8c, ID No. 36282.
White domestic medium hair
This female white domestic medium hair ca will t is 9 years old.
She weighs 24 pounds, has blue eyes and has been spayed.
Find her in cat room kennel No. 22, ID No. 36285.
Female brown tabby
This female brown tabby is 3 years old.
She has a long, luxurious coat with white markings and gold eyes, and she has been spayed.
She’s in cat room kennel No. 29, ID No. 36214.
Male domestic long hair kitten
This male domestic long hair kitten is 9 weeks old.
He has a gray and white coat, weighs nearly 2 pounds and has been neutered.
Find him in cat room kennel No. 45b, ID No. 36383.
Domestic short hair mix
This female domestic short hair mix is 8 years old.
She has a gray and white coat, green eyes, weighs nearly 8 pounds and has been spayed.
She’s in cat room kennel No. 105, ID No. 36162.
‘Susie Q’
“Susie Q” is an 8 year old domestic medium hair mix.
She has green eyes, a gray and white coat, weighs 14 pounds and has been spayed.
Find her in cat room kennel No. 106, ID No. 36161.
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. – Denny Salisbury's best friend is his bicycle, the one the former Marine corporal will ride to encircle Clear Lake – a distance of about 100 miles – on Sunday, June 9, in honor of his compatriots in arms who were fatalities of the war on terror in Iraq.
The distance is no big deal for Salisbury, who will be joined by other members of Ride 2 Recovery Patriot Guard Riders on his ride. He is a regional rider for his Northern California project team.
Bicycling for an infinite number of miles has been the one true aid in Salisbury's five-year quest to rehabilitate himself from the wounds and agony he suffered in Iraq and since then.
Along with other program members in October of last year, he completed a “challenge” ride of 477 miles from San Francisco to Santa Monica and a 100-mile challenge ride in one day in the Las Vegas area.
“I remember when I first started riding 10 miles it beat the crap out of me,” he confided. “I would be physically just drained. My clothes would be soaking wet. Now if I do 10 miles I'm not even warmed up.
“What we do is help veterans recover,” Salisbury said regarding Ride 2 Recovery's mission. “Getting on a bike not only improves your health, it helps your mind. You're focusing on a whole 'nother thing. So you're not depressed or feeling anxiety or any of that. When you're on a bike you can communicate with your body and your friends.”
So the bike is a most integral part of this just-turned-26 native of Kelseyville's recovery process?
“Absolutely. Bicycling has changed my life around. I would be lost still without riding. With the fitness you get from it your mind is a lot healthier,” said Salisbury, who was awarded the Purple Heart and medically discharged from active duty in 2008 just three years after being awarded his high school diploma.
He was not yet 21 years old at the time he was designated 100-percent disabled. For a long time he experienced migraines and memory loss.
Indeed Salisbury was disabled, first from an incident involving an improvised explosive device – or IED – then post-traumatic stress disorder and later from addiction to prescribed drugs, which cost him a marriage (he has a daughter, Versailee), temporary discontinuance of his pursuit of a college degree and the mental process needed to hold a job.
Consequently, Salisbury is reluctant to seek the aid of doctors.
“My drug addiction caused me to get emotionally detached from my family and friends,” he said. “I wasn't told how to come back to the U.S. From Iraq. It wasn't like 'Oh, you're going to have all these problems and nightmares. You're going to be wishing you still had your gun.' Sometimes I feel like I'm still back there. But after a (PTSD) program I graduated from last year I'm at peace with it all. I think about it, but it doesn't bother me as much as it used to.”
What happened to Salisbury in Iraq he may never forget.
“We were just doing a regular patrol and we got ambushed by a car with a guy with a gun,” he said. “So we ran back to our truck, but then an IED got our truck. They (the terrorists) wanted to run us back to our vehicles so that they could set us up for the IED. We got in our truck and started pursuing and that's how I got it.
“Two of my friends – my lieutenant and my driver, a lance corporal – were killed. My gunner broke both his ankles, his leg and his back. The guy sitting next to me was busted up and bloody. I had a hole and in my leg and second degree burns on my face. Of the five people in the vehicle I was the only one to walk out of the situation.”
While he was recovering from his injuries, a third of his friends was shot by a sniper.
“I was back at the base listening to our radio and heard that he got shot,” Salisbury said.
An executive officer confirmed that his friend was a sniper's victim, he recalled.
Salisbury's initial gung ho motivation for enlisting in the Marine Corps and disillusionment after going off to war is doubtlessly not unique for a teenager, especially a rough and tumble one who was a tight end and a defensive end on the Kelseyville football team.
But such patriotic fervor is not restricted to the very young.
A decade ago, Pat Tillman of San Jose turned down a $3.6 million contract offer by the St. Louis Rams to enlist in the U.S. Army only to be killed by “friendly fire” in Iraq.
Salisbury's Marine Corps entrance test scores were high, which qualified him for virtually any specialty of his choosing.
“But I wanted to go into the infantry,” he said, “because I wanted to fight. I just felt like it needed to be done.
“When I went in I was going to fight for freedom, I was going to defend this country from the Iraqis, the Taliban and al-Qaida,” he said. “The thing with this war, not all the enemy was Iraqi. From what I saw it was 'If you want to fight Americans just drop down to Iraq and have a war,' which brought in all these mercenaries from other countries. Syrian snipers were big in our area.
Regarding the continued presence of U.S. Troops in the Mideast, Salisbury added,”We are fighting 1 percent of 1 percent of their population. After 10 years we are sending our best men and women over there to fight this war and what really did we do over there? I'm failing to see the benefit of this war. I don't want to get all vertical, but it frustrates the **** out of me that I've lost friends over there and I can't see a ******* cause. What did we gain from it? I don't think that we helped anyone.
“What really hurt me was going over there and kicking innocent families out of their houses and then coming back here and seeing the same ******** happening to our U.S. citizens. If America is struggling right now and trying to survive, what the **** are we doing in other countries?”
Salisbury still hopes to complete his college education. His initial effort ended after he continuously fell asleep in class and crashed three cars while in school, he says, because of his medication. Consequently, he lost the financial aid of the GI bill.
“I don't want to bash the VA or the government,” he added. “But to survive you had to go to college so you get paid, but if you're addicted to all this medication and falling asleep in class and crashing cars trying to get to school, what the hell's the point?
“Sometimes I feel that the doctors – I don't know how to phrase it – don't understand every situation. When you focus on different veterans, each one has different problems. You have to really get specific ... That's probably why I haven't gone to doctors and kind of detached myself from them. I know it's not the case, but I personally feel that they haven't helped me in the way I wanted to be helped. I kind of feel like they medicated me and pushed me aside.”
Salisbury believes he will eventually get a job. For the moment, though, he wants to help other veterans, possibly through motivational speaking.
Deb Ingalls, who teaches art and physical education at KHS as she did while Salisbury was in high school, sees him as getting progressively stronger.
“He is an awesome young man and he worked really hard all the time and was very positive. I saw him when he came back from Iraq and he was having a really hard time,” she said. “Now when I see him he looks fantastic. I'm proud of him.”
Through it all, Salisbury still loves the Marines and is a member of an honors team that fires 21-gun salutes at military funerals.
Said Salisbury: “I'm sure that there are people out there who have had it worse than me. The way I look at it, I'm not a victim; I'm a survivor. Bring on the next thing.”
Email John Lindblom at
