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LAKEPORT, Calif. – Four mosquito samples collected this week in Lake County have tested positive for West Nile Virus.
Two of the positive mosquito samples were collected near Upper Lake on Monday and Tuesday, one sample was collected south of Kelseyville on Tuesday and one sample was collected in Clearlake Oaks last Friday, Aug. 10, Lake County Vector Control said Thursday. The previous West Nile Virus-positive mosquito sample was collected last week near Upper Lake.
A total of five mosquito samples from Lake County have tested positive for West Nile Virus this year. No other West Nile Virus activity has been reported in Lake County in 2012, the district reported.
“We are finding West Nile Virus in Culex mosquitoes,” said Jamesina J. Scott, Ph.D., the district manager and research director of the Lake County Vector Control District. “They develop in wading pools, neglected swimming pools and spas, ponds, fountains, and other water sources. You can protect your family – and your neighbors – by dumping out small water sources like wading pools, or calling the District for help with larger sources like pools and ponds.”
One neglected (“green”) pool can produce hundreds of thousands mosquitoes per week, and those mosquitoes can fly up to five miles away.
The district recommends that residents:
- Avoid being outside when mosquitoes are active, especially near dusk and dawn.
- Wear long sleeves and pants and use a mosquito repellent (always read and follow label directions) if they are outside when mosquitoes are active.
- Dump out buckets, wading pools, and other sources of water where mosquitoes develop.
- Call the district at 707-263-4770 or visit the district Web site www.lcvcd.org to request service if they are having problems with mosquitoes.
West Nile Virus has been detected in Lake County every year since its arrival in 2004, but only three residents have become ill from West Nile Virus infection in that time.
Dr. Scott attributes the low incidence of West Nile Virus disease in Lake County residents to the district’s vigorous efforts to control mosquitoes.
The Vector Control District regularly traps and tests mosquitoes throughout the county to identify the areas that are at highest risk, and target those areas for source reduction and treatment.
The district reported that mosquito activity – particularly for the Culex mosquitoes that transmit West Nile Virus – has been very high in some localized areas of the county.
While mosquitoes are an important part of the environment and cannot be eliminated completely, the district works to reduce mosquito populations near places where people live and recreate to prevent disease.
Lake County Vector Control provides free mosquito-eating fish to Lake County residents for use in animal water troughs, ornamental ponds and out-of-service (“green”) swimming pools.
For those services or for help with a mosquito problem contact the Lake County Vector Control District at 707-263-4770 or visit the district Web site at www.lcvcd.org .
For more information about West Nile Virus, visit www.westnile.ca.gov/ .
CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – A Clearlake Oaks man was arrested Wednesday night after he allegedly used brick to assault another man during a late night fight.
Howard Darnell Reed, 20, was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon, according to Sgt. Steve Brooks of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
Brooks said patrol deputies responded to the 100 block of Hoover Street in Clearlake Oaks at 11 p.m. Wednesday on the report of a physical fight involving multiple subjects.
When the deputies arrived they noticed several people in the middle of Hoover Street engaging in a physical fight, Brooks said.
The deputies contacted the alleged victim, who said he was inside his residence and could hear what sounded like several people yelling, Brooks said. The victim said he looked outside and saw three male subjects start to attack one of his neighbors.
Brooks said the man told deputies he went outside and told everyone involved not to fight in front of his residence and attempted to pull the subjects off of his neighbor.
The man said the number of people involved in the fight started to grow and they became hostile towards him and threatened to kill him, Brooks reported.
The victim said he looked up and saw Reed pick up a cinder block-style brick and hit him with it. Brooks said the brick struck the victim on the left arm and shoulder.
Reed was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon and transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility and booked.
Reed’s bail was set at $25,000. Jail records indicated he later posted the required percentage of bail and was released.
THIS STORY HAS BEEN UPDATED.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – On Thursday morning, following a day of deliberations, a jury returned a guilty verdict in the trial of a Lakeport man who was accused of stabbing his neighbor to death because he wrongly believed the man was a child molester.
Ivan Garcia Oliver, 34, was found guilty of first-degree murder, burglary and several special allegations for the stabbing death of Michael Dodele.
The jury found him not guilty of a charge of elder abuse.
“They came to the exact same decision that I would have sitting on the jury, knowing what I know,” said Chief Deputy District Attorney Richard Hinchcliff, who prosecuted the case.
Oliver’s sentencing is scheduled for 8:15 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 29, in Lake County Superior Court Department 2.
Hinchcliff said Oliver faces 32 years to life in prison when he’s sentenced.
“Mr. Oliver has asked to file a notice of appeal and I will do that at sentencing,” said defense attorney Stephen Carter, who declined further comment on trial’s outcome.
On Nov. 20, 2007, Oliver had allegedly stabbed the 67-year-old Dodele to death in his trailer at Western Hills Mobile Home Park on Lakeshore Boulevard in Lakeport.
Days earlier, the park manager had told Oliver that Dodele was a child molester after they used the Megan’s Law sex offender registration Web site to look for sex offenders in the area.
Dodele was registered as a sex offender for a 1980s conviction for raping an adult female. He also had several previous convictions for rape and attempted rape. He had lived in the trailer park just a short time after being released from state prison.
Hinchcliff had argued that Oliver stabbed Dodele more than 65 times in a rage. He played a jail interview during the trial in which Oliver told sheriff’s detectives that he had gone to Dodele’s trailer with “murder on my mind.”
Pathologist Dr. Thomas Gill, who testified at trial, had detailed each of the wounds inflicted on Dodele. They had covered Dodele’s face, chest, arms and abdomen.
Carter had argued that Oliver was a concerned father who had gotten into a deadly fight with Dodele after asking him if he had touched Oliver’s young son.
Oliver also took the stand during the trial and told the jury that he was the victim, claiming Dodele had attacked him with a knife.
The jury had begun deliberations on Wednesday morning.
The trial began late last month before retired Lake County Superior Court Judge Arthur Mann.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The 16th annual food and wine event, A Taste of Lakeport, will once again pair premium Lake County wines with gourmet food from local purveyors this Friday, Aug. 17.
The event will take place along three blocks of Main Street in downtown Lakeport from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., with a street dance following until 10 p.m.
An expected 20 wineries will offer tastes from fine wines either produced in Lake County or made from grapes grown in the county. Twenty local restaurateurs and caterers will provide tasty bites matched to the wine being poured.
To keep the fun going, live music will play throughout the tasting by Polecat Rodeo and The Hip Replacements.
A great antique car collection will be on view as well. After 8 pm, the party turns into a lively street dance under the stars with music by the Jimmy Z band.
Event tickets are $30 in advance, $35 at the door, and include all activities and a souvenir wine glass. A $15 ticket is available for food tasting only.
Tickets are on sale now at these outlets:
- Soper Reese Community Theatre online at www.soperreesetheatre.com , or at the box office on Fridays from 10:30-5:30, 375 S. Main, Lakeport, 707-263-0577;
- The Travel Center, 1265 S. Main, Lakeport, 707-263-3095;
- Lake County Chamber of Commerce, 875 Lakeport Blvd., Lakeport, 707-263-5092;
- Hillside Honda, 460 S. Main, Lakeport, 707-263-9000;
- Clearlake Chamber of Commerce, 3425 Bowers Road, Clearlake (cash or check only);
- Doni’s Occasion Station, 6140 E. Hwy 20, Lucerne (cash or check only).
Proceeds from The Taste of Lakeport benefit the Lakeport Main Street Association and its work toward the continuing revitalization and renovation of downtown Lakeport.
For more information contact LMSA at 707-243-8843,
California’s increased fire activity, coupled with the current weather forecast for continued heightened fire danger, has prompted Cal Fire to suspend all burning permits and open fire within the State Responsibility Area of California.
The burn ban suspends all residential burn permits, forest management, hazard abatement, and other industrial-type permitted burning within the 31 million acres of State Responsibility Area.
“Over 8,000 Cal Fire, local and federal firefighters are on the front lines of nearly a dozen major wildfires that are burning across California,”said Chief Ken Pimlott, Cal Fire director. “With conditions being so dry, we need to take every step possible to prevent new wildfires from starting.”
Campfires within organized campgrounds or on private property are allowed if they are in a designated campfire site that prevents fire from spreading outside the site.
The burning suspension will remain in effect until there is a significant change in weather conditions or until the end of fire season.
The last two years have been relatively light for wildfires due in part to favorable weather patterns,but this year California has experienced an increase in fires statewide.
Historically, the fall months are when the largest and most damaging wildfires occur, so Cal Fire is urging residents to do their part to be fire safe during this critical time and to make sure they have prepared an emergency plan in case a fire threatens their home or family.
Here are some tips all citizens can use to prevent wildfires:
- Do: Defensible space clearing before 10 a.m. and never on a hot and windy day.
- Don’t: Toss cigarettes out your car window.
- Don’t: Pull off into dry grass or brush. Hot exhaust pipes and mufflers can start fires that can’t be seen easily by the driver.
- Check with local officials for additional fire restrictions. Check with local officials for additional fire restrictions
- In wildland areas, spark arresters are required on all portable gasoline powered equipment. This includes tractors, chainsaws, weedeaters, mowers, motorcycles and All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs)
- Report any suspicious activity. Call the Cal Fire Arson Hotline: 1-800-468-4408.
Nearly 95 percent of all wildland fires within Cal Fire’s jurisdiction are human-caused and Cal Fire is asking the public to do their part in preventing wildfires.
For more fire safety tips visit www.ReadyForWildfire.org or the Cal Fire Web site at www.fire.ca.gov .
CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – Containment edged up on the Wye Fire burning east of Clearlake Oaks on Wednesday, with Highway 20 fully reopened and air quality conditions improving.
In a Wednesday evening update, Cal Fire said the Wye Fire was staying steady at 7,934 acres, with 75 percent containment.
The Wye Fire consists of two fires being managed as one – the Wye Fire, near the intersection of Highway 20 and Highway 53, and the Walker Fire, near Walker Ridge Road, inside Lake and Mendocino counties.
Full containment is expected on Monday, according to Cal Fire spokesman Kevin Colburn, who was stationed at the incident command center at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Lakeport.
To date, there have been three injuries – all minor and to firefighters, according to Cal Fire officials.
There also have been three structures destroyed and two damaged, officials reported.
On Wednesday the remaining evacuations on the fire were lifted in the Wilbur Hot Springs area and Highway 20 was fully reopened to through traffic.
Motorists were warned that speed limits would be strictly enforced and additionally urged to be cautious because fire personnel and equipment remain at work in the area.
Fire personnel still assigned to the incident included 1,254 firefighters from Cal Fire and agencies around the state, 133 engines, 28 fire crews, four helicopters, 10 dozers and eight water tenders.
The Lake County Air Quality Management District on Wednesday issued a report anticipating air quality in the “good” category, but warning of the possibility for “moderate” to “unhealthy” conditions closer to the fire. The district urged caution as conditions can change rapidly.
Cal Fire said the fire’s cause remains under investigation.
The Wye Fire Call Center can be reached at 707-967-4207 or 707-967-4208; Lake County Air Quality Management can be reached at 707-263-7000.
Email Elizabeth Larson at