News

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-5) and state Sen. Lois Wolk (D-Davis) will hold simultaneous grand openings at their shared district office in Napa for constituents of the Fifth Congressional District and Third Senate District.

The events, which are free and open to the public, will be Friday, March 22, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the office, located at 1040 Main St., Suite 101, Napa, CA 94559.

To RSVP for Thompson’s grand opening please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

“My No. 1 priority as your representative in Congress is providing quality, accessible service to the people of our district,” said Thompson. “At our grand opening, folks can come by, meet our staff, and learn more about the services my office provides.”

Thompson has worked out of the Napa District Office for nearly 20 years, but due to redistricting this is the first year that the office is serving the Fifth District.

Thompson’s district office can help constituents resolve problems with their Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and veterans benefits; help constituents address immigration issues; help constituents get in touch with federal agencies; assist constituents with grant applications.

Wolk’s staff can provide constituents assistance with state departments, legislative affairs, and other state issues.

“My staff and I are looking forward to working alongside Rep. Thompson to provide a one-stop shop where our constituents can find assistance with state and federal issues,” Wolk said.

Constituents will learn about these services and get to meet and speak with Thompson, Wolk and their district staff at the grand openings.

The Napa District office has three full time Thompson staffers.

Brad Onorato serves as the District Representative.

Onorato has served for 23 years as a district representative for U.S. Congressman Mike Thompson. He has a strong commitment to help the Congressman’s constituents with federal government issues in Napa and Lake Counties.

Onorato is a board member and past president of Children’s Health Initiative in Napa County. He is a member of Pacific Union College’s Social Services Advisory Committee. Onorato received a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of California, Berkeley.

Melissa Rodezno serves as a field representative. She has been with Congressman Mike Thompson since 2007. She specializes in immigration casework.

Rodezno also serves on the Board of Directors of the Napa Valley Community Foundation, where she is chair of the Community Programs and Grants Committee. She is a Member of Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (H.O.P.E.).

Rodezno obtained her undergraduate degree from Brandeis University in Waltham, Mass., and double majored in politics and anthropology. She grew up in Napa, but is originally from El Salvador.

Maira Ayala serves as a constituent service representative. She is the newest addition to the Napa District office where she helps constituents with veteran’s affairs, social security, immigration services and community outreach.

Ayala was born and raised in Napa Valley where she participated in numerous student programs such as Adelante, Talent Search, Summer Search and Upward Bound.  

Shortly after graduating from Napa High in 2002 she attended U.C. Berkeley as a Bill Gates Millennium Scholar where she received a B.A. in history and years after a master in public administration from Columbia University.  

In the past Ayala has worked with U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer, NYC Department of Homeless Services and Napa Valley College; she looks forward to serving the community she proudly grew up in.

The office also has one full time Wolk staffer, Tracy Krumpen. Krumpen, Wolk’s senior field representative, has been with Senator Wolk since 2011. She provides constituent assistance and acts as Wolk’s liaison in the community.

Krumpen’s community involvement includes being a Leadership Napa Valley Class 21 graduate and a member of the Queen of Valley Medical Center Community Benefit Committee. She also served on the Board of Directors for Leadership Napa Valley, and on the City of Napa Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Committee.

Krumpen has considerable experience in the wine industry, as a former insurance representative for wineries and vineyards throughout Napa County. Krumpen worked previously as Senator Noreen Evans' district representative in Vallejo and Napa. Born and raised in Vallejo, Krumpen has lived in Napa since 1996.

NORTH COAST, Calif. – A multiyear operation has resulted in six arrests and the seizure of nearly 3,000 marijuana plants and 44 weapons, including five assault weapons, according to the California Attorney General’s Office.

The investigation by the North State Marijuana Investigation Team (NSMIT), a California DOJ-led task force, targeted a ring that cultivated and trafficked large amounts of marijuana to be sold illegally on streets across the United States, according to Attorney General Kamala Harris.

“California Department of Justice-led task forces target criminal enterprises running drugs, guns and human beings up and down California,” said Harris. “In this case, we have shut down an illegal, multi-state operation and seized drugs, guns and assault weapons.”

On Tuesday, NSMIT agents served 12 search warrants at several locations, in Humboldt County, San Francisco and Sonoma. Agents also served two additional followup warrants later in the day at Coldwell Banker office and a storage unit in Fortuna.

As a result of the search warrants, the Attorney General’s Office said NSMIT agents seized the following: 2,896 marijuana plants, 44 weapons (9 handguns, 9 shotguns, 5 assault rifles, 21 rifles), 15 high-capacity magazines, approximately 400 pounds of processed marijuana, 2 ounces of cocaine, 2 ounces of mushrooms and $74,000 in cash.

Six individuals were arrested during Tuesday’s operation: Erik Sordal, 31, charged with child endangerment, cultivation of marijuana, possession of marijuana for sale and possession of assault weapons; Jamie Gilbert, 35, charged with possession of marijuana for sale; Scott Moore, 31, charged with possession of marijuana for sale; Emory “Kip” Ayers, 64, charged with possession of cocaine; Shawn Mitten, 35, charged with possession of marijuana for sale; and Alvin Cody Machado, 27, charged with a probation violation, possession of cocaine, Harris’ office reported.

Jamie Gilbert was booked into the San Francisco County Jail; Emory Ayers and Alvin Machado were booked into the Sonoma County Jail; and the others were booked into the Humboldt County Jail, the Attorney General’s Office said.

In 2010, NSMIT agents received a tip and launched an investigation. Harris reported that the DOJ task force was assisted by the Alcohol Beverage Control, California Highway Patrol, Central Valley Marijuana Investigation Team, DEA, Eureka Police Department, Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office, Humboldt County Drug Task Force, Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, Mountain and Valley Marijuana Investigation Team, Siskiyou County-wide Interagency Narcotic Task Force, and Trinity County Sheriff’s Office.

COBB, Calif. – Maybe it’s the healthy air up where Cobb Mountain Elementary School is located that has made the school a consistent award-winner in various programs.

Banners in the school auditorium with years 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 connote Cobb Mountain Elementary’s “best of” in a variety of activities.

Most recently – Tuesday, to be specific – it was its serving of nutritious food that resulted in a Bronze Award in the HealthierUS School Challenge.

The award, presented by USDA Food and Nutrition Division Director Donna Rach at a school assembly, recognized Cobb Mountain Elementary’s excellence in the National School Lunch Program.

Coming during National Nutrition Month, the recognition was for “creating healthier school environments through promotion of nutrition and physical activity.”

“It is a program in which schools can apply for different levels – Bronze, Silver and Gold,” Cindy Leonard, the school’s garden chair. “It actually took three applications before we met the criteria of nutrition and physical activity.”

Cobb Mountain Elementary principal Shelley Tan said that her school won the award because, “It went above and beyond the state Department of Education guidelines and recommendations for nutrition.”

Leonard credited the support the school receives from the Cobb Mountain community for its consistent excellence.

“We’ve had tremendous support from the community and parents and teachers,” she said. “We’re lucky. There’s really not much up here in Cobb. If you look at the town you wouldn’t think there is so much going on.”

Email John Lindblom at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Clearlake Police Department’s K9 assisted with apprehending a suspect following vehicle and foot chases late last week.

The work of “Dex” led officers to Douglas Carroll Levine, 32, of Clearlake, on Friday, March 15, said Sgt. Nick Bennett.

At 11:18 p.m. March 15 Officer Alan Collier was on patrol in the area of Toyon Street and Arrowhead Road in Clearlake when he observed a vehicle parked on the side of the roadway with its headlights on, Bennett said.

Bennett said that when Collier drove up to the vehicle he recognized the person in the vehicle as Levine, a person who Collier knew had outstanding arrest warrants.

As Collier approached the vehicle and told Levine to turn the vehicle off, Levine suddenly accelerated and sped off at a high rate of speed. Bennett said Officer Collier began pursuing the vehicle through several streets around the area.

Collier momentarily lost sight of the vehicle then observed it crashed against a tree with Levine nowhere in sight, according to Bennett.

Other officers responded to assist in locating Levine, including Officer Mike Carpenter and Dex, who is Carpenter’s K9 partner, Bennett said.

Carpenter and Dex began tracking Levine and located him approximately 150 yards away from where the vehicle had crashed. Bennett said Levine surrendered to Carpenter and Dex without incident and was taken into custody.

After obtaining medical clearance from injuries sustained in the vehicle crash, Levine was booked into Lake County Jail for evading police, possession of drug paraphernalia, resisting a peace officer and the outstanding warrant.

On Nov. 13, 2012, Clearlake Police arrested Levine for a similar offense, Bennett said. Charges have been filed by the District Attorney’s Office in that case.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The 2013 recreational boating season in Lake County is under way.

Local residents are reminded to get their 2013 mussel prevention registration sticker before using their vessel in any Lake County water body.

Also, remember to check in with a participating screener when you return from an out-of-county trip with your boat. These inspections and any necessary decontamination is free.

Please continue to support the program that has been successful in keeping Lake County mussel-free.

The highly invasive quagga and zebra mussels can be spread unknowingly from one body of water to another on boats and equipment with devastating effects to lakes, boats, docks, water intake equipment and beaches.

Continue to spread the word to anyone who may not know about the most serious biofouling pest ever to be introduced to North American freshwater systems.

A few important facts:

• Quagga mussels can colonize hard and soft surfaces, mud, plants, docks, boat engine cooling systems and water pipes.
• Mussels can potentially produce millions of offspring in a season.
• Densities of Zebra and Quagga mussels in Lake Mead since their first introduction in 2005 have grown exponentially and now account for 40% of all animal population in the lake.
• Beaches become littered with piles of glass-sharp shells.
• Mussels can seriously alter the chemistry and biology of the local water ecosystem.

Prevention results from education. Lake County boaters are encouraged to continue to lead by example.

Obtaining and displaying your 2013 mussel prevention registration sticker is vital to getting other recreational users of Clear Lake to participate in the County Mussel Prevention Program and keeping Lake County mussel-free.

The county thanks the 27 participating screeners for continuing their vital role in the prevention program.

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

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Terrace Middle School wrestlers brought home nine medals out of their 10 wrestlers who competed this past weekend at the Fort Bragg Middle School Tournament, with six first place medals, two seconds and one third.

Taking home first place medals were Jacob Pyorre (90 pounds), Cameron Turner (103 pounds), Jake Jackson (113 pounds), Sam Long (123 pounds), Isaac Lewis (145 pounds) and Aireon Banuet (210 pounds).  

Second place medalists were Caleb Blyleven (80 pounds) and Nathan Phillips (103 pounds). Josiah Ruiz (95 pounds) took home a third place medal. Anthony Stutsman (139 pounds) also wrestled for the Terrace Vikings.

“They all wrestled very well and I am proud of all the hard work they have put in,” said Head Coach Aden Pierson.

Jacob Pyorre – in one of the toughest weight classes of the day, as described by a Fort Bragg tournament official – battled his way through some tough competition with exceptional balance, including taking down a previously undefeated wrestler in an overtime match, to take first place.

Cameron Turner fought his way through the day to take home a first place medal with his quickness and agility.  

Jake Jackson powered through the tournament, pinning each of his opponents in the first round after hitting some fantastic double leg takedowns. He took first place.

Sam Long went to work and methodically took down each of his opponents with precision and skill to put them away and take home a gold medal.

Isaac Lewis put the pressure to his opponents controlling his way to a first place medal with some fantastic wrestling.

Aireon Banuet stepped up and took down a tough opponent with shear willpower in the final seconds of the last round to pin his opponent and earn his first place medal.

“These kids all have a lot of heart and determination, which will help them succeed in anything they do,” said Pyorre.