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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The final list of Stars of Lake County Award nominees has been announced.
The Lake County Chamber of Commerce released the list on Friday.
The final tally on nominations for 2012 is 74 in all, with almost every community in Lake County represented. Each nominee has received a letter notifying them of their nomination.
The entire list of nominees can be seen below.
All nominees will be honored on Sunday, May 6, at PSI Seminars in High Valley above Clearlake Oaks. The reception begins at 4 p.m. with the very popular David Neft providing music during the reception and dinner hours.
PSI Seminars is a state-of-the-art conference learning center and will accommodate seating for up to 400 guests for Stars this year. The chamber said it was only able to accommodate 300 guests the past two years and had to turn away people.
The chamber thanked everyone who made time to forward a nomination for the 2012 Stars Community Awards and to everyone who responded with the additional information requests.
The Stars Selection Committee will be meeting Thursday, April 26, after reviewing all 74 nominations. Their decisions on the recipients will be revealed at the Awards Program on May 6.
Tickets are on sale for Stars through the Lake County Chamber office, located at 875 Lakeport Blvd. at Vista Point in Lakeport.
Thanks to a generous sponsorship from St. Helena Hospital Clearlake for Angel Tickets, the chamber will be able to furnish some nominees with tickets who have limited incomes.
The Stars of Lake County Dinner Sponsor this year is Calpine Corp. Category Sponsors are: Cliff & Nancy Ruzicka, WestAmerica Bank, Marymount College, Mendo Mill Lumber & Home Center, Umpqua Bank, Calpine Corp., Savings Bank of Mendocino, Strong Financial Network, Lake County Land Trust, Konocti Vista Casino Resort & Marina, Foods Etc., Bruno’s Shop Smart, Kathy Fowler Auto Dealerships, U. S. Representative Mike Thompson, John Tomkins Tax Consultants, North Lake Medical Pharmacy and the Lake County Record-Bee.
There are still 3 categories available for sponsorships; anyone interested in those should contact the Lake County Chamber at 707-263-5092.
2012 STARS OF LAKE COUNTY NOMINEES LIST
Marla Ruzicka Humanitarian of the Year
Sponsored by Cliff and Nancy Ruzicka
1. Dr. Paula Dhanda, Kelseyville
2. Levi Palmer, DDS, Lakeport
3. Taira St. John, Lakeport
Senior of the Year
Sponsored by Westamerica Bank
1. Janet Taylor, Lakeport
2. Christine Hansom, Cobb
Volunteer of the Year
Sponsored by Marymount College
1. Edward McDonald, Lakeport
2. Bruce Maxwell, Lakeport
3. Don Stewart, Findley
4. Phyllis Kelsey, Middletown
5. Gregory Scott, Lakeport
6. Don and Peg McCown, Lakeport
7. Richard Birk, Hidden Valley Lake
Student of the Year-Female
1. Alice Crocket, Lakeport
2. Brittany Elkington, Lakeport
3. Cheyanne Horvath, Cobb
4. Krystina Riccio, Hidden Valley Lake
Student of the Year-Male
1. Eli Wade, Clearlake
Youth Advocate of the Year-Professional
1. Patty Chandler, Lakeport
2. Antoinette Goetz and Sheila LaVine of Antoinette School of Dance, Lakeport
3. Tami Cramer, Lakeport
4. Tanya Biasotti, Clearlake
5. Barbara Clark, Lakeport
6. Bill MacDougall, Kelseyville
7. Alan Mathews, Lakeport
Youth Advocate of the Year-Volunteer
1. A&B Collision, Clearlake
2. Kristi Weiss, Lakeport
Agriculture Award
Sponsored by Calpine Corp.
1. Farm to Table Program, Kelseyville
2. Lake County Quilt Trail, All Around Lake County
Organization of the Year-Nonprofit (has paid staff)
Sponsored by Savings Bank of Mendocino
1. Hospice Services of Lake County, Lakeport
2. KPFZ/Lake County Community Radio,Lakeport
3. Healthy Start, Lakeport
Organization of the Year-Volunteer (all volunteer staff)
Sponsored by Strong Financial
1. Any Positive Change, Lower Lake
2. Animal Coalition of Lake County, Clearlake
3. Lake County Rodeo Association, Lakeport
Environmental Award of the Year
Sponsored by Lake County Land Trust
1. Gae Henry and Henry Borenstein, Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association, Lower Lake
2. Victoria Brandon, Sierra Club Lake Group, Lower Lake
New Business of the Year
1. A Touch of Tranquility Day Spa, Lakeport
2. Jolly Kone, Middletown
3. One Stop Print Shop & More, Lucerne
4. 2 Women Traders, Middletown
Small Business of the Year
Sponsored by Foods Etc.
1. Tatonka Land Miniature Golf & Zippies, Clearlake
2. Here for the Holidays/Accents on the Lake, Kelseyville
3. Innovative Physical Therapy, Kelseyville
Large Business of the Year
Sponsored by Bruno’s Shop Smart
1. Mendo Mill Home Center & Lumber Co., Lakeport, Clearlake
2. Calpine Corp., Middletown
3. Hardester’s Markets, Middletown, Hidden Valley, Cobb
Best Idea of the Year
1. Window Treatments for Vacant Storefronts, All Around Lake County
2. Funtown at Lakeside Family Fun Center, Lakeport
3. “Lake County Live!”, Lakeport
4. District Attorney’s Office Charitable Contribution Program, Lakeport
5. “Penny’s For Education,” Lakeport
Local Hero of the Year
Sponsored by U. S. Representative Mike Thompson
1. Amy Zingone, Clearlake Oaks
2. Gabriel Lopez, Hidden Valley Lake
3. Lee Buckmaster and Rhonda Straub, Lower Lake
The Arts Award of the Year-Professional
1. Verna Wicks-De Martino, Lakeport
2. McKenzie Paine, Kelseyville
3. Lyle and Deanna Madeson, Kelseyville
Woman of the Year
Sponsored by North Lake Medical Pharmacy
1. Susan Cannon, DVM, Lakeport
2. Linda Burton, Clearlake
3. Pat Grabham, Clearlake Oaks
4. Joyce Overton, Clearlake
5. Antoinette Funderburg, Lakeport
6. Voris Brumfield, Middletown
7. Lannette Huffman, Lakeport
Man of the Year
Sponsored by Lake County Record-Bee
1. Charles Davis, Clearlake
2. Gary Dickson, Lakeport
3. Joey Luiz, Clearlake
4. Tom Lincoln, Lakeport
5. John Hodgkin, MD, Clearlake
6. Sheriff Frank Rivero, Lakeport
7. John Fulton, Lakeport
Lifetime Achievement
1. Griffie Ratterree, Clearlake
2. Lynn Brookes, Lucerne
3. Cliff Ruzicka, Lakeport
4. Don Johnson, DDS, Lakeport
4. Stephen R. Elias, Esq. (posthumously)
5. Gardiner (Buster) Jones, Lucerne
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Caltrans maintenance crews statewide dedicated Thursday, April 19, to litter removal for this year's annual Litter Day.
Last year's Litter Day efforts resulted in the removal of 2,533 cubic yards of litter statewide, enough to fill 158 garbage trucks, Caltrans reported.
Caltrans said a final tally for the litter picked up in Lake County wasn’t available on Friday.
However Caltrans spokesman Phil Frisbie said crews worked on Highway 29 and on Highway 53, picking up trash – most notably 10 discarded mattresses found along the highways – and painted over graffiti they found on several local bridges.
This cleanup effort is part of the Great American Cleanup campaign, sponsored each spring by the nonprofit organization Keep America Beautiful.
More than 2,800 Caltrans Adopt-A-Highway groups also are helping this campaign by picking up litter along their sections of highway sometime in April or May.
Caltrans said litter is an ongoing problem on state highways. Litter is not only ugly, but it also can lead to pollution in lakes, rivers and beaches.
Cigarette butts are the No. 1 item littered in California — they are discarded by the millions, often causing roadside fires, clogging storm drains, and threatening water quality and wildlife, Caltrans said.
In addition, motorists face the risk of accident, injury, and death as the result of trash and other debris fallen from vehicles hauling unsecured and untarped loads, the agency reported.
“During this time of limited public resources, Caltrans is spending millions of dollars every year cleaning up litter from California highways,” said Caltrans District 1 Director Charlie Fielder. “There are so many other uses for that money. We’re asking the public to help us reduce the litter problem — please Don’t Trash California.”
For more information on the Caltrans Adopt-A-Highway program, call Mike Cossolotto at 707-445-5761.
CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – The service of two search warrants by the Lake County Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force Wednesday morning has resulted in four arrests and the seizure of narcotics, firearms, body armor and drug paraphernalia.
Arrested were Clearlake Oaks residents Kenneth Kurt Neumiller, 29; Ashley Lauren Jackson, 20; Timothy Todd Ryden, 45; and Karen Lyn Williamson, 45, according to Sgt. Steve Brooks of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.
Brooks said narcotics detectives secured a search warrant for Neumiller's person, home and vehicle, as well as for Ryden's home, vehicle and person on Friday, April 13. Both search warrants were based on
a single narcotics investigation.
On Wednesday, April 18, at approximately 7 a.m., both search warrants were served simultaneously, Brooks said.
When narcotics detectives entered Neumiller’s residence, which is located on Iris Way in Clearlake Oaks, both Neumiller and Jackson were detained without incident, according to Brooks.
During a search of Neumiller’s residence narcotics detectives located and seized a loaded 12 gauge shotgun and an AR-15 rifle in the master bedroom. Brooks said they also located three glass pipes, commonly used to smoke methamphetamine.
Neumiller was arrested for being in possession of a loaded firearm while under the influence of a controlled substance, under the influence of a controlled substance and possession of narcotics paraphernalia, Brooks said.
He said Jackson was arrested for being under the influence of a controlled substance and possession of narcotics paraphernalia.
Both were transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility and booked, Brooks said.
Neumiller's bail was set at $15,000, while Jackson's was set at $5,000. Jail records showed both later posted bail and were released.
Brooks said when narcotics detectives entered Ryden’s residence, which is located on Nectarine Way in Clearlake Oaks, both Ryden and Williamson were detained without incident.
During a search of Ryden’s residence narcotics detectives located and seized a handgun in a nightstand in the master bedroom. Brooks said they also located a hypodermic needle and a glass methamphetamine pipe in a dresser located in the master bedroom along with numerous narcotics and body armor.
Ryden was arrested for being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, possession of a hypodermic needle, possession of narcotics paraphernalia and being under the influence of a controlled substance. He was booked into the jail with bail set at $200,000, and remained in custody early Saturday.
Williamson was arrested for possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, possession of a hypodermic needle, possession of narcotics paraphernalia and being under the influence of a controlled substance. Her bail was set at $15,000 and jail records indicated she later posted bail and was released.
The Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force can be contacted through its anonymous tip line at 707-263-3663.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Proactive enforcement efforts by Lake County Sheriff’s patrol deputies have resulted in two arrests, the seizure of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.
On Tuesday, April 17, deputies arrested Ashley Nicole Saxon and Casey Rodgers, both 26 and Kelseyville residents, according to Sgt. Steve Brooks of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
On Tuesday at approximately 11:28 a.m. deputies conducted a search of Saxon and her Cypress Avenue residence, Brooks said.
Saxon allegedly had been released from custody with a search clause for a prior narcotics sales case, Brooks said. When deputies entered the residence they also contacted Rodgers.
While conducting a search of the residence deputies located a substantial amount of methamphetamine. Brooks said they also located digital scales, a glass pipe commonly used to smoke methamphetamine and packaging materials.
He said Saxon admitted that the aforementioned items belonged to her.
Saxon was arrested for possession of a controlled substance for sales, committing a felony while released on her own recognizance, possession of paraphernalia used for smoking a controlled substance and for being under the influence of a controlled substance, Brooks said.
Saxon was transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility and booked. She remains in custody on a no-bail hold, according to jail records.
Rodgers was arrested for having an outstanding warrant. He later was released from custody on his signed notice to appear in court.
The Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force is encouraged to call the anonymous tip line at 707-263-3663.
This weekend, NASA scientists, amateur astronomers and an astronaut on board the International Space Station will attempt the first-ever 3D photography of meteors from Earth and space.
“The annual Lyrid meteor shower peaks on April 21-22,” said Bill Cooke, the head of NASA's Meteoroid Environment Office. “We’re going to try to photograph some of these 'shooting stars' simultaneously from ground stations, from a research balloon in the stratosphere, and from the space station.”
Lyrid meteors come from Comet Thatcher. Every year in late April Earth passes through a stream of debris from the old comet, which has been bringing Lyrid meteors to our planet for at least 2,600 years.
Specks of Thatcher’s dust hit the top of atmosphere at 110,000 miles per hour and disintegrate in a flurry of meteors. Most years, the shower produces about 15 to 20 Lyrids per hour.
This is a good year to look for Lyrids because the Moon will be new when the shower peaks. Dark skies favor sightings both from Earth and from Earth orbit.
“Even though the Lyrids are not noted for spectacular rates, the combination of a New Moon and a very favorable viewing geometry from the International Space Station (ISS) presents a unique opportunity to simultaneously image shower meteors from above and below,” said Cooke.
ISS Flight Engineer Don Pettit will be operating the camera on the space station.
“Even though his equipment was designed for tasks other than meteor observing, Don is a skilled astrophotographer, and we have every confidence that he will maximize the chances of capturing a Lyrid from 400 km above Earth's surface,” Cooke said.
As the Space Station passes over North America multiple times on the night of April 21, a network of all-sky cameras – some operated by amateur astronomers and others by NASA – will be recording the shower.
In Bishop, Calif., a group of high school and middle school students will launch a helium balloon to the stratosphere. The payload floating some 40 kilometers above Earth’s surface will carry an experimental low-cost meteor camera and recorder developed by the Meteoroid Environment Office.
As astrophotographers know, catching a fleet meteor with a single camera takes some luck. Catching one meteor with multiple cameras, some of them on platforms moving as fast as 17,000 miles per hour, scattered from Earth to Earth orbit, sounds more like winning the lottery.
“Actually, we think the odds are fairly good,” said Cooke, who estimated a one in six chance of a simultaneous catch between the ISS and one of the wide-field ground cameras.
If the effort does produce 3D imagery of any Lyrids, Cooke plans to use the photos to test ideas and algorithms for processing date gathered by future space-based meteor observatories.
“We’re laying the groundwork for small satellites that might one day be used to monitor meteor showers from Earth orbit,” he explained.
Cooke encourages sky watchers everywhere be alert for meteors this Saturday night. Typical Lyrids are about as bright as the stars of the Big Dipper, so they’re good for beginners. And it's not unusual to see one or two fireballs when the shower peaks.
A good time to look is during the hours after midnight, when the shower’s radiant is rising toward its zenith.
Although the Lyrid meteor rate is usually capped at 20 per hour, better displays sometimes occur when Earth glides through an unusually dense clump of debris. In 1982, for instance, astronomers counted as many as 90 Lyrids per hour.
“Such an outburst would be great for our experiment,” said Cooke.
Amateur astronomers who wish to help monitor the 2012 Lyrids are encouraged to download the Meteor Counter for iPhones. The app records meteor counts and reports the data to NASA for possible analysis.
Also, Cooke and colleagues will be “staying up all night” on April 21 to chat with the general public about the shower. Tune in at http://www.nasa.gov/connect/chat/ .
Dr. Tony Phillips works for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A man who crashed his vehicle last weekend and who allegedly left the scene and his passenger – who died – has been rearrested in the case.
Danny Fields II, 27, of Clearlake was arrested for vehicular manslaughter, felony driving under the influence, felony hit and run resulting in death or injury and driving on a suspended license, according to Officer Kory Reynolds of the California Highway Patrol’s Clear Lake Area office.
The collision in which Fields was involved, which occurred early on the morning of Sunday, April 15, took the life of 31-year-old Jennifer Clark of Clearlake, as Lake County News has reported.
According to the investigation, Clark had been riding with Fields in his 1984 Chevrolet El Camino, headed southbound on Highway 29 just north of Lower Lake when the collision occurred, sometime between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m. Sunday.
Fields’ vehicle went off the road and down an embankment, hitting a walnut tree, according to investigators.
He then allegedly left the scene, got a ride to the Lower Lake Tower Mart, and from there was transported by his parents to St. Helena Hospital Clearlake, which notified the CHP just before 9 a.m. that day that a collision had occurred.
The vehicle was discovered by sheriff’s deputies less than 20 minutes after the crash was reported, according to officials. Clark, still inside the vehicle, was pronounced dead at the scene.
CHP officers originally had arrested Fields for felony driving under the influence and felony hit and run causing death or injury, and had a blood sample taken. However, they had released him due to his injuries, Sgt. Rick Okazaki told Lake County News earlier this week.
Okazaki had said releasing Fields did not preclude the CHP from pursuing charges against him.
Reynolds said Fields, who sustained major injuries in the crash, was arrested on Thursday following his release from Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, where he had been transferred for treatment.
Fields was booked into the Lake County Jail with bail set at $210,000, Reynolds said.
Fields did not appear in online jail records Friday afternoon.
Email Elizabeth Larson at