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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Cub Scouts, Boys Scouts, Sea Scouts and Venture Crew Scouts are out and about in Lake County, preparing for their annual Scout Carnival.
The carnival will take place from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 9, at the Lake County Fairgrounds, 401 Martin St. in Lakeport. Door prize drawings start at 4 p.m.
Every year for many, many years Lake County Boy Scouts of America have been putting on a “hometown” style carnival for kids and families in our area.
The scouts and their families work hard to create and gather fun and sometimes crazy games like free willy, chicken fling, football or beanbag tosses, and car bashing.
Through the carnival Scouts raise money for activities such as their Pinewood Derby cars, Scout Camp, Cub Day Camp, backpacking trips and achievement awards, to name a few.
Scouts also learn about food service by making the traditional tri-tip sandwiches, chili, nachos, popcorn, and of course snow cones and cotton candy.
The Lake County Scouts invite families to come and enjoy the annual event. But even if you cannot make it, the “carnival ticket” is a great deal.
Each carnival ticket is only $1 and it has a pizza coupon for a $2 discount on a large pizza at almost all of the pizza restaurants in Lake County. The same dollar includes a coupon for five activity tickets at the carnival and a chance to win a door prize. So even if you don’t go to the carnival you can still help support your local scouts and get a $2 coupon for $1.
This year’s door prizes will be a used car from Guy Strohmeier’s Auto Center , a new recliner from Allen’s Furniture, a framed photo by Deanna and Lyle Madeson, a steel roller coaster sculpture created by Matt Gaulden and more than 20 additional prizes. You do not need to be at the carnival to win the door prizes.
Scouts in your part of the lake have tickets they would love to sell you; if you need help finding them, or would like more information about scouting in Lake County, contact Jane Ruggles at
NICE, Calif. – A Tuesday evening home fire destroyed a residence, injured the home's two human occupants and killed two dogs.
Northshore Fire Chief Jay Beristianos said the fire, which occurred in a stickbuilt home on Lakeview and Tehama in Nice, was dispatched just after 6 p.m.
It took firefighters about 15 to 20 minutes to control the fire and two hours to fully contain it, he reported.
The man and woman who lived in the home were able to get out, but both were injured, said Beristianos.
The woman had to go out a window, and was found to have smoke inhalation. The man also had smoke inhalation and additionally suffered burns as he was getting out, according to Beristianos.
He said three dogs were still inside the home when firefighters arrived, with Northshore personnel going inside to rescue them.
Two of the dogs died, and after firefighters worked on the third to revive it, the dog was transported by Lake County Animal Care and Control to a local veterinarian, Beristianos said.
Beristianos said some outbuildings were threatened but none damaged.
The home had heavy smoke damage, and Beristianos said the structure was a total loss.
The fire's cause remains under investigation. “It appears to be accidental, it does not appear to be suspicious in nature,” Beristianos said.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – On Tuesday local officials released the name of the woman who died the previous evening in a single-vehicle wreck near Middletown.
Diane Leah Levy, 51, of Clearlake died in the crash, according to Lt. Steve Brooks of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.
The California Highway Patrol said the crash occurred just before 5:30 p.m. Monday just north of Spruce Grove Road South.
Levy, who was driving southbound at a high rate of speed in a 2003 Acura, passed another southbound vehicle and, as she was returning to her lane, she went onto the shoulder, lost control and went through a guardrail, according to the CHP.
Her vehicle ended up at the bottom of a 100-foot-deep ravine. CHP said Levy was pronounced dead at the scene.
It wasn't immediately known if drugs or alcohol were factors.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – For those interested in giving back to local veterans, the Disabled American Veterans has a special duty.
The group is looking for volunteer drivers to transport veterans to the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center at Fort Miley.
Disabled American Veterans Transportation Coordinator Marilyn Nosaka said the DAV donated a van that is used to transport vets to Fort Miley for medical appointments.
She said the trips take place once a day, Monday through Friday.
There are four pickup spots, she said.
At 5 a.m. the van leaves the Clearlake Police Department at 14050 Olympic Drive. At 5:15 a.m. it makes a stop at DJ's Pizza in Lower Lake, is at the Middletown Post Office by 5:30 a.m. and also picks up vets at the Napa McDonald's at 6:30 a.m., she said.
Depending on traffic, the van normally arrives at Fort Miley by 8:15 a.m., Nosaka said.
Vets are asked to get morning appointments so the van can leave by 2 p.m. If they're done earlier, they leave earlier, but she added, “Nobody is ever left behind.”
Any amount of time volunteers want to dedicate to the trips is appreciated, said Nosaka. “It's whatever they can do for us.”
She said all volunteers must be approved by VA Voluntary Service Assistant Director James McDermott.
Volunteers should have a normal Class C license and provide a Department of Motor Vehicles printout that is clear for the last five years, Nosaka said. In addition, they will be shown a video.
They also must undergo a physical, either at the San Francisco VA Medical Center or the VA's Clearlake clinic, she said.
For more information or to volunteer, contact Nosaka at 800-733-0502, Extension 5612.
More information also is available at http://www.sanfrancisco.va.gov/patients/volunteertransport.asp .
Email Elizabeth Larson at
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The Kelseyville High School Academic Decathlon team will travel to Sacramento next month to represent Lake County in the state competition, but the team will need help covering the costs of the expensive trip.
On Feb. 2 the team – in its second year back in the county competition after a hiatus of several years – won the county Academic Decathlon, upsetting defending champion Upper Lake High, which has won the majority of local competitions over the past decade.
This year's competition topic is Russia, its culture and history.
Kelseyville High entered two teams in the competition and Team A – 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 – won with a score of 36,390.40, according to state Academic Decathlon competition records.
Led by coaches Erick Larsen and Heather Koschik, the team is preparing to make the trip to the California Academic Decathlon, which will be held in Sacramento Thursday, March 14, through Sunday, March 17.
There are three divisions, which the state competition reported are determined by regional scores. Kelseyville High will compete along with 30 other schools in Division 3.
In order to get to Sacramento, they will need an estimated $7,000 to cover all of the expenses for the team members, alternates and coaches – 15 in all – set to make the trip, according to Gary Olson, a Kelseyville Unified School District Board member who is helping with fundraising.
He said he met with the team last week and told them not to worry about raising the money, that their job was to continue studying and preparing for the state competition.
In addition to three nights' lodging at the Hyatt Regency in Sacramento, the team must cover meals, transportation and approximately $600 in competition entry fees, Olson said.
He said the Lake County Office of Education is contributing $2,000 toward the state competition expenses, and Kelseyville Unified and Kelseyville High School also will offer support, but the amount hasn't yet been determined.
Olson is asking for the community's support to help the team make the trip.
He said no amount is too small, and all support will send a message to the hardworking students that what they've achieved so far, and have yet to achieve, is appreciated and valued by their community.
Olson said checks can be made payable to Kelseyville High School; “AcaDeca team” can be placed in the check's memo line.
He asked that checks be mailed to him at 5716 Main St., Kelseyville, CA 95451.
Checks from individuals, businesses, and local organizations all are welcome, he said.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Special Olympics is inviting community members to come jump in the lake this weekend to support the group's programs.
The annual Lake County Special Olympics Polar Plunge will be held Saturday, Feb. 23, at Lakeside County Park, located at 1985 Park Drive in Kelseyville.
Donned in costumes but without the protection of wetsuits, Special Olympics athletes and their supporters will jump into Clear Lake's winter-chilled waters as part of one of seven such plunges taking place around the state that day.
The plungers must raise a minimum of $125 to take part, an amount that covers one season of training and competition for a single athlete.
Those taking the plunge at the $125 level earn a hooded sweatshirt and entry to the post-plunge party at the Kelseyville Lions Club. There are more incentive prizes at the $300, $600, $1,000 and $2,500 levels.
For those who want to avoid a dip in the icy lake, they can register as “chickens” and also help support the cause while having the added benefits of staying warm and dry.
Registration takes place beginning at 10 a.m., with costume judging at 11:30 a.m.
The plunge takes place at noon, with the post-plunge party at 1 p.m.
Anyone wanting to support Special Olympics athletes is welcome to participate. Participants have included 7-year-olds to 70-year-olds, police officers, firefighters, company teams, high school clubs, fraternities and everyone in between. Those under 18 must have a parent or guardian sign a waiver.
Registration and donations currently are being accepted online at www.polarplungelakecounty.com .
Special Olympics provides free year-round sports training and competition opportunities for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.
By participating in Special Olympics, athletes gain self-confidence and self-esteem that carries over into their every day lives, giving them the opportunity to succeed in life.
All money raised will support Lake County athletes.
This is the only source of funding for Lake County Special Olympics, which does not receive government dollars.
In 2012, Special Olympics Northern California and Nevada had more than 1,300 plungers who raised more than $430,000 for athletes.