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MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Those interested in seeing improvements on and near Highway 29 in Lake County are being encouraged to provide comments and suggestions by week’s end.
Comments can be submitted through this Friday, March 22, through the planning project’s Web site at http://www.lakecountysr29.com/public-comment/ .
The overall planning project includes a Highway 29 South Corridor Engineered Feasibility Study (EFS) and Middletown Community Action Plan (CAP), which will identify transportation improvements to make intraregional and interregional travel safer and more convenient, reduce congestion and address local community needs.
The Highway 29 South Corridor EFS will identify and analyze potential short-term and long-term transportation improvements from the Napa County line to State Route 53 in Lower Lake.
The CAP will focus on potential roadway improvements in Middletown, including bike, pedestrian, transit and equestrian alternatives.
The project is managed by Caltrans and the Lake County/City Area Planning Council, and is scheduled for completion in the fall 2013.
In addition to providing online comments, interested community members also can provide feedback at three community meetings planned for later in the year.
The California Highway Patrol announced that the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) has recognized CHP Officer Tyler Carlton as the nation’s top trooper.
Carlton received the honor for exhibiting tremendous heroism after his partner, Officer Kenyon Youngstrom, was shot on Sept. 4, 2012, along Interstate 680 in Alamo.
Carlton responded immediately, stopping the threat and preventing further shootings by the armed assailant. Youngstrom would later succumb to his injuries, but Carlton’s lifesaving efforts enabled his fallen partner’s organs to be donated in accordance with his wishes.
“Officer Carlton displayed extreme courage in the face of overwhelming adversity in an attempt to save Officer Youngstrom. His selfless actions that day eventually helped save the lives of others,” said CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow. “The California Highway Patrol is extremely proud of Officer Carlton and we are all truly grateful for his devotion to duty, and his love for his family and community.”
As a result of his courageous and heroic actions that day, Officer Carlton was presented with the “IACP Trooper of the Year Award” at the IACP’s mid-year meeting Friday in New Orleans.
Carlton, 26, lives in the Bay Area and was first assigned to the Westminster Area office after graduating from the CHP Academy in August 2009. Two years later, Carlton transferred to the Contra Costa Area office where he continues to serve as a patrol officer.
He said he was honored and humbled to receive the award he described as “bittersweet.”
“I’m honored to share the story of how my dear friend, Officer Kenyon Youngstrom, selflessly paid the ultimate sacrifice while protecting the community that he loved. He is a true hero, and I wish I could give this award to him,” Carlton said.
“I’m proud to be a Highway Patrolman, and I’m proud of the work we do,” Carlton continued. “I am accepting this award on behalf of Kenyon, and all of my other brother and sister CHP officers, as well as the other three troopers who were nominated and every other trooper in this country. I’m proud to call them all my brother and sister.”
The IACP is a professional organization for law enforcement leaders worldwide. The IACP addresses cutting edge issues confronting law enforcement though advocacy, programs and research, as well as training and other professional services.
CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – Authorities are investigating the death of a Clearlake Oaks man whose body was found in Clear Lake Friday evening.
Lt. Steve Brooks of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office said the victim in the case was Max Earl Lay, 77.
Northshore Fire units were dispatched to the area of Blue Heron Court and Shoreview Drive shortly before 6 p.m. Friday on the report of a possible drowning, according to radio traffic.
Firefighters arriving at the scene confirmed a death had occurred and requested additional resources to help recover Lay’s body.
Sheriff’s Marine Patrol and deputies also were dispatched, radio reports indicated.
Brooks said Monday that he could not provide any details concerning Lay’s death.
An autopsy to determine Lay’s cause of death is scheduled for this week, Brooks said.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Over several intellectually grueling and pressure-filled days, the Kelseyville High School Academic Decathlon team put in a solid performance at the state competition, with three team members emerging with medals for their efforts.
The California Academic Decathlon wrapped up on Sunday in Sacramento, with 566 students representing 65 high school teams from across the state, competition officials reported.
Kelseyville High School’s team – Eduardo Alatorre, Blair Brookes, Jennifer Johnson, Daniel Lucas, Caitlin Meisle, Onnivin Pelzel, Maeve Rixen, David Robinson, Helen Ryan, Amanda Spitzer, Tatiana Taranenko and Maxwell Whitaker – finished 18th in Division 3 and 48th overall, according to the competition summary.
The team’s overall score was 35,925 points, down slightly from the 36,390.40 points that won it the county competition in February.
Each team includes three honor students (grade point average of 3.75 and above), three scholastic students (3.00‐3.74 GPA) and three varsity students (2.99 GPA and below), according to competition rules.
Robinson, a senior competing in the scholastic division – he took home 10 medals from the county competition, more than any other student – received three medals in Sacramento, including gold in social science, silver in music and bronze in economics, according to the state results summary. He also won a medal for being team high scorer.
In the varsity division, Eduardo Alatorre received a silver medal in science and Onnivin Pelzel – who received a rare perfect score in the county’s Academic Decathlon for his speech on the qualities of dogs – won a silver medal in speech, according to the state summary results.
“We all had a really great time at the state competition, despite not winning as many medals as we won at the regional competition,” said team member Helen Ryan. “It was a fun experience for all of us, I think.
“The kids had a very good experience,” said Lynn Brookes, whose attended the competition in support of daughter, Blair, and the team.
Los Angeles Unified School District's Granada Hills Charter High School once again won the state competition, scoring 56,165.50 points out of 65,400 possible, with El Camino Real Charter High School placing with 55,669.50 points. Both teams will advance to the 32nd annual United States Academic Decathlon Championship, scheduled for April 25-27, in Minneapolis.
Also eligible to advance to the national meet are Los Angeles Unified’s Franklin High Campolindo High from Contra Costa County and University High of Fresno, which won the large, medium and small school titles, respectively, officials reported.
Brookes said the awards competition took place all day Friday and Saturday, with the awards ceremony taking place from about 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday.
Back in the Academic Decathlon for only its second year, Kelseyville High’s team worked hard to prepare for the state competition, said Erick Larsen, who co-coaches the team with his sister, Heather Koschik.
Larsen attributed part of the team’s success to other teachers’ efforts to work with students to be well versed on topics of the competition, which this year focused on Russia.
Preparing the team, Larsen said, “was definitely a school effort,” and one that built camaraderie at the school.
When the team left for Sacramento at lunch last Thursday, they got quite a sendoff, said Larsen.
As the team prepared to leave, they got a special escort by Deputy Cynthia Radoumis, the district’s school resource officer, who led them in her patrol car, Larsen said.
Other students lined the school driveway holding signs, with the high school band playing at the bottom of the hill. “It made those kids feel like rock stars,” Larsen said.
The state competition had some changes this year, with Division 3 – where Kelseyville was seated – now up to 31 teams, the state reported.
“The competition really went up,” but the team felt good about its efforts, with Larsen impressed by the students’ behavior and poise.
While in Sacramento, the team practiced its speeches on the steps of the State Capitol, an impressive place for the local students and especially for Russian exchange student Tatiana Taranenko, Larsen said.
“It was just a really, really neat experience,” Larsen said.
On Sunday, the California Academic Decathlon announced that next year’s competition topic will be World War I, a subject Larsen called “intriguing.”
That means it’s already time to start preparing next year’s team. “Recruiting is nonstop,” said Larsen.
Students at all high school class levels are welcome. Larsen said it’s important for students to be well read and have good study habits. Interested students can contact him at the school.
Larsen said next year’s team will have a good foundation group, with many top students returning.
“I’m looking forward to next year,” said Larsen. “I think it will be a lot of fun.”
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The county’s animal shelter has several adult cats available for adoption this week.
The cats range in age from 1 year to 5 years of age, and have had their shots, with most altered and ready to leave for new homes.
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”).
‘Monkey’
“Monkey” is a 2 year old female domestic short hair mix.
She has a black and white coat, weighs 7 pounds and has been spayed.
She’s in cat room kennel No. 7, ID No. 35538.
Domestic long hair mix
This male domestic long hair mix is 3 years old.
He has a white and gray coat, green eyes and weighs 7 pounds. He has not yet been neutered.
Find him in cat room kennel No. 21, ID No. 35630.
Orange and white tabby
This male orange and white tabby is 5 years old.
He weighs 8 pounds, has a medium-length coat and gold eyes, and has been altered.
He’s in cat room kennel No. 40, ID No. 35781.
Female dilute tortie
This female calico is 1 year old.
She has a short dilute tortie coat, weighs 8 pounds and has been altered.
Find her in cat room kennel No. 45, ID No. 35737.
Domestic short hair mix
This male domestic short hair mix is 1 year old.
He has green eyes and a gray coat, and has been neutered.
He’s in cat room kennel No. 67, ID No. 35753.
Male gray tabby
This male gray tabby is 2 years old.
He has a short coat and green eyes, weighs 8.8 pounds and has been altered.
Find him in cat room kennel No. 101, ID No. 35767.
Female brown tabby
This female brown tabby is 3 years old.
She weighs 8 pounds, has a long brown striped coat and green eyes, and has been spayed.
She's in cat room kennel No. 106, ID No. 35417.
Female gray tabby
This female gray tabby is 1 year old.
She has a medium-length coat, has one green and one gold eye, and has been altered.
Find her in cat room kennel No. 126, ID No. 35754.
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
This story has been updated.
COBB, Calif. – A motorcycle crash on Cobb Mountain late Saturday night left one man dead and sent a second to a regional trauma center.
The California Highway Patrol said 28-year-old Nathan Fletcher of Cobb died in the crash, which occurred at about 10:50 p.m. Saturday on Bottle Rock Road east of High Valley Road.
Paul Silva, 28, of Hidden Valley Lake, received moderate injuries in the crash, the CHP said Sunday.
Fletcher was driving a 2003 Victory motorcycle westbound on Bottle Rock Road with Silva riding as his passenger when, for reasons still under investigation, Fletcher lost control of the motorcycle, which overturned on the road, ejecting both men, the CHP said.
The CHP said the two men and the motorcycle continued off the north shoulder of Bottle Rock Road where the motorcycle hit a tree.
Fletcher was pronounced dead at the scene, the CHP said.
The nearby Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park campground was used as a landing zone for a REACH air ambulance, which came in to transport Silva to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, according to radio reports.
Neither of the men were wearing helmets, and the CHP said alcohol appears to have been a factor in the wreck.
The crash remains under investigation by CHP Officer Matt Norton.
Email Elizabeth Larson at