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SACRAMENTO – The California Department of Transportation will observe the third week in September as “Watch Out for Wildlife (WOW) Awareness Week,” which strives to reduce the number of wildlife-related injuries and vehicle passenger fatalities on the state’s highways.

The campaign attempts to enhance the efforts of government agencies, universities, and nonprofit organizations that establish safe highway passage for wildlife in California.

The Defenders of Wildlife, a national, nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting native animals and plants, estimates that 1.5 million animals are hit on the nation’s roadways each year. In addition, more than 200 people are killed in collisions with deer, elk and other wildlife.

Wildlife-vehicle collisions cause $1 billion in property damage, the agency said.

“California’s unique natural and cultural heritage is worth protecting,” said Acting Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty. “This natural landscape not only provides habitat to spectacular wildlife, it is also a boon to the state’s economy. Caltrans encourages you to join with us in protecting wildlife, as well as motorists, during Watch Out for Wildlife Awareness Week.”

The campaign is sponsored by Caltrans, the California Department of Fish and Game, Defenders of Wildlife, and the Road Ecology Center at the University of California, Davis. Caltrans believes the awareness week will assist in planning for the conservation of natural resources while providing safe and effective transportation.

Other states – such as Kentucky, Illinois, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Wisconsin – have also adopted similar initiatives.

Caltrans and Defenders of Wildlife offer a few tips for motorists in wildlife country:

• Be particularly alert when driving in wildlife areas.

• If you see an animal cross the road, know that another may be following.

• Don’t litter. It could entice animals to venture onto the road.

For more information on Watch Out for Wildlife, along with additional tips on avoiding collisions with wild animals, go to www.watchoutforwildlife.org.

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CLEARLAKE, Calif. – In an effort to settle outstanding bills with the Internal Revenue Service, the board of the now defunct Lake County Community Action Agency will auction off equipment, furniture and other items the nonprofit had used to deliver support services to those in need.

The live auction will be held on Saturday, Oct. 1. Community members can sign up to bid from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., with the auction starting at 10 a.m. Board member Joyce Overton said the auction is expected to last all day.

The items can be previewed from noon to 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30, at the Clearlake Youth Center, 14750 Golf Ave., next to Redbud Park.

Overton said the items to be auctioned include commercial kitchen equipment, household refrigerators and freezers; office equipment, including computers, chairs, desks, office supplies and a telephone system; and other household items such as bunk beds, living room furniture and monitor heaters.

The items up for auction come from the nonprofit's TLC House in Lower Lake, its New Beginnings program and the main office that was located behind Foods Etc. on Lakeshore Drive in Clearlake, Overton said.

Overton said the auction is the board's last step in shuttering the nonprofit, which closed its doors in February after the 10-member board of directors concluded that its financial challenges – from unpaid federal payroll tax to back rent and unpaid vendors – made it impossible to continue, as Lake County News has reported.

Shortly thereafter the agency's employees were put on furlough before being laid off, Overton said.

All of the proceeds from the Oct. 1 auction will go to the IRS, said Overton. “We don't have any choice.”

Earlier this year the agency board had estimated that it had about $100,000 in unpaid payroll taxes. Neither Overton nor Board President Tom Jordan in a recent interview could offer a more specific figure. But on Monday Overton pointed out that penalties and fines makes that number grow each day.

Overton said she's worked with the IRS to try to settle the nonprofit's taxes. She said they've answered every question and offered a lot of support and help, but there is only so much that can be done.

She said the IRS told the board that they did the right thing by closing the nonprofit's services immediately in February once board members found out the agency's dire financial picture.

The IRS is in the process of taking possession of a building on Palmer Avenue that the agency owned and which offered temporary shelter for the homeless, Overton said.

All of Lake County Community Action Agency's services have been handed off to other entities, according to both Jordan and Overton.

Overton said Hilltop Recovery opened a recovery house in Lucerne, North Coast Opportunities took over the action agency duties, Redwood Empire Food Bank is assisting with providing food – as is the county Social Services Department – and Catholic Charities is working to expand its already considerable offerings to help cover the additional food and housing needs.

Closing the programs “just about killed me,” said Overton. “I was very angry and mad, and I felt so bad for all of those people we displaced.”

Overton said that the board is getting close to finally disbanding, once the auction is completed.

“I have no idea what it will bring,” she said of the auction.

All sales at the Oct. 1 auction are final. Sales up to $1,000 will be cash only; checks only will be accepted if they have been preapproved at the preview on Sept. 30.

For more information about the live auction, contact Gary at 707-478-3968.

E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews, on Tumblr at www.lakeconews.tumblr.com, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf and on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/LakeCoNews.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The District Attorney's Office has ruled that a Clearlake man acted in self-defense when he shot and mortally wounded a former employee who drove a pickup into his home in a late-night incident in July.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Richard Hinchcliff said Monday that the District Attorney's Office reviewed 67-year-old James Mitchell's shooting of Kevin Quinn, 51, on July 3 in Clearlake for potential charges and prosecution.

Hinchcliff said that following a thorough and extensive investigation by the Clearlake Police Department, the case was forwarded to him to determine whether or not charges were warranted in the case, which technically is a homicide.

He concluded, based on the investigation and evidence, that charges should not be filed against Mitchell.

“Mitchell was clearly in legitimate fear for his safety and clearly believed he would suffer death or serious bodily harm if he did not shoot victim,” Hinchcliff wrote in his case assessment. “Suspect was clearly acting in self defense and used reasonable force under the circumstances in defending himself.”

Early on the morning of July 3 Quinn drove his pickup into the front of Mitchell's residence at 14200 Olympic Drive in Clearlake, police reported.

When Quinn got out of the pickup to confront Mitchell, Mitchell – armed with a .22 caliber pistol – shot Quinn five times, once with bird shot and four times with regular .22 rounds, based on the investigative report.

Even after being shot, Quinn continued to chase Mitchell, tackling him and causing him to suffer facial injuries, the police report showed.

Quinn died a short time later, before he could be transported to the hospital, according to the original Clearlake Police report.

The investigation found that Quinn had mental health issues, a history of violent behavior and had threatened to harm Mitchell before the July 3 incident.

Hinchcliff's full explanation and narrative of the case is printed below.

OFFICE OF THE LAKE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY

REJECTION FORM

Explanation:

According to investigation reports, the shooting victim, Kevin Quinn, intentionally drove his vehicle into suspect James Mitchell's residence at approximately 1:50 a.m. on 7/3/11.

A witness observed Quinn beating on the side of Mitchell's residence, cursing and yelling. The witness then heard glass breaking. The witness then observed Quinn get into his truck, back the truck up, and proceed to accelerate and drive through the side of Mitchell's residence.

 

The truck ended up inside Mitchell's residence approximately 6 feet from where Mitchell was lying in bed asleep. Mitchell exited his bedroom and Quinn began making threats to kill Mitchell. Mitchell armed himself with a .22 caliber magnum pistol that he kept in his bedroom. Quinn got out of the vehicle and aggressively proceeded toward Mitchell inside Mitchell's residence, and was shot with one round of bird shot. Quinn subsequently continued to pursue Mitchell inside Mitchell's residence as Mitchell attempted to call the police and attempted to leave the residence. Victim prevented suspect from calling the police or escaping. Mitchell fired a total of 6 shots at Quinn and struck Quinn with one round of bird shot at extremely close range and 4 regular rounds of .22 magnum ammunition. Quinn continued to pursue Mitchell after being shot and at one point actually caught Mitchell and tackled him, causing Mitchell to sustain facial injuries.

 

There was a significant age and size difference between Mitchell and Quinn, Mitchell being 67 years old and weighing 195 pounds, and Quinn being 51 years old and weighing 235 pounds. Quinn had a prior history of violence and suspect was aware of victim's history of violence at the time of the shooting. Quinn also had mental health issues according to witnesses that Mitchell was aware of at the time of the shooting.

Investigation revealed Quinn had a history of mental health issues and had threatened to harm Mitchell prior to the shooting.

Mitchell was clearly in legitimate fear for his safety and clearly believed he would suffer death or serious bodily harm if he did not shoot victim. Suspect was clearly acting in self defense and used reasonable force under the circumstances in defending himself.

E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews, on Tumblr at www.lakeconews.tumblr.com, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf and on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/LakeCoNews.