How to resolve AdBlock issue? 
News
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A Clearlake woman was arrested last week following the discovery of drugs and paraphernalia at her home.
On Friday, Aug. 19, Lake County Narcotic Task Force detectives served a search warrant at the residence of Joyce Sue Adams, 67, according to Michelle Gonzalez, the sheriff's public information office.
When they arrived at Adams' home narcotic detectives contacted and detained Adams without incident, Gonzalez said.
After securing the residence, narcotic detectives located a digital gram scale, packaging material and a quantity of methamphetamine in a dresser drawer in the living room, according to Gonzalez.
During the search of the master bedroom a safe was located. Gonzalez said the safe was later opened and detectives found items associated with the sale of controlled substances, including additional packing materials, and calibration scale weights.
Also located in the bedroom was a second digital gram scale, and a prescription medication bottle without a label. Gonzalez said the bottle contained Diazepam tablets for which Adams did not have a prescription.
Approximately one-quarter ounce of methamphetamine was located on the ground next to where Adams had been detained, Gonzalez said. Detectives seized $421 from Adams pending asset forfeiture proceedings.
Adams was arrested and transported to the Hill Road Correctional Facility where she was booked for possession of a controlled substance for sale, and possession of a controlled substance, Diazepam, according to Gonzalez.
At the jail, narcotics detectives requested and received a bail enhancement, and Adams’ bail was set at $100,000, Gonzalez said.
The bail enhancement request was based on the previous Narcotics Task Force arrest of Adams on July 15 for possession of a controlled substance for sale, and possession of marijuana for sale, according to Gonzalez.
She remained in custody early Thursday, according to jail records.
The Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force can be contacted through its anonymous tip line at 707-263-3663.
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.
The dedication will take place beginning at 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 26, at the American Legion Hall, 14770 Austin Road, Clearlake.
Carl Webb, a member of the Clearlake Rotary Club – which spearheaded the effort to get the highway designation – said there will be speakers, a Boy Scouts color guard, and representatives from local government and veterans' organizations.
He said Assemblyman Wes Chesbro, who carried the state legislation to get the designation approved, also is invited, as is Congressman Mike Thompson.
Webb said he will do a brief presentation at the Friday event about how the idea to designate the highway in honor of local veterans came about.
He said he was on a fishing trip a few years ago, traveling through the redwoods, when he saw a sign for a Humboldt County Veterans Highway.
“I said, 'How come we don't have one?' And that's what started the whole thing,” he said.
It was, he added, “a long, slow process.”
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there are 26,000 school bus related collisions per year and more than 9,500 children that are injured nationally.
Additionally, 23,000 children are injured and 250 killed every year walking or cycling to school.
As the school year begins, there is an increase in traffic in around schools which can cause a tragic event. This is something the CHP is trying to prevent.
“We still receive several complaints a week which involve drivers not stopping for school buses. This is not acceptable. We need to ensure the safety of our children and that responsibility falls on everyone. If a school bus has its red lights activated, both directions of traffic must stop,” Clear Lake CHP Area Commander Lt. Greg Baarts said.
The CHP also reminds drivers to be aware of the school zone speed limits.
“When the school year starts, motorists need to remember to reduce their speed in school zones. The school zone speed limit is 25 miles per hour. Awareness of students utilizing crosswalks is also extremely important. All of us have a responsibility to pay attention to our surroundings and not allow ourselves to be distracted while we drive,” Baarts said.
Here a few traffic safety rules for drivers and tips you can share with children to keep them safe when you can’t be with them.
For drivers:
Pedestrians always have the right of way.
In the absence of traffic signals, drivers must always slow down or stop for pedestrians in marked and unmarked crosswalks.
At stop signs and when a school crossing guard is displaying an official stop sign or flag, drivers must come to a complete stop.
To share with your children:
First and foremost, set a good example by always following the traffic safety rules yourself. Children learn by example.
Cross in the crosswalks at the corner, not in the middle of the block. Never cross from between parked cars. Never cross an intersection diagonally.
Children should look to see that drivers are aware of them. Making eye contact with a driver is a good way to know whether a driver is aware that someone is about to cross the road.
Cross quickly – do not linger or play in the street.
Always wear a helmet when riding a bicycle, skateboard, or scooter.
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.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – A local man was sentenced to three years in state prison on Monday for stealing hundreds of dollars from his brother-in-law and replacing the money with counterfeit bills.
Robert Lawrence Deppe, 57, of Upper Lake was sentenced in the case by Judge Andrew Blum on Monday morning.
Deppe's attorney, J. David Markham, did not return a call seeking comment.
“We gave him a pretty big break,” Deputy District Attorney John Langan said of Deppe.
Langan said Deppe could have faced life in prison because he was a three strikes candidate, with two previous felony first-degree burglary convictions that occurred about 20 years ago.
The report on the case explained that Deppe turned himself in at the Lake County Jail on Feb. 9 after an investigation began into allegations that he took money from his brother-in-law – who lived with Deppe and his wife, Lisa – as well as taking money from Lisa Deppe herself.
Robert Deppe was alleged to have taken from his brother-in-law eight $100 bills and five $20 bills and replaced them with fake bills. He also allegedly took two $100 bills from his wife's purse, also putting fake bills in their place, according to the initial sheriff's report.
The District Attorney's Office later charged Deppe with forgery and felony petty theft, as Lake County News has reported.
It was about that same time that Deppe, the former post commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2015, was accused of having falsified a Vietnam service record, leading to him leaving the post.
Langan said the fact that Deppe used counterfeit bills to cover the thefts showed premeditation.
Rather than facing a potential life sentence, Deppe received the three-year prison sentence, said Langan.
“We gave him a tremendous break,” Langan said.
He noted, “This was kind of an unusual offer on my part.”
Langan said Deppe made a complete confession to the thefts.
Lisa Deppe – who paid her brother back the stolen money – asked for leniency, and it was Langan's understanding that she also was speaking for her brother-in-law, but found out later that the brother-in-law wasn't asking for Robert Deppe to be given a break.
“It was my mistake,” said Langan.
He said he invited Deppe's brother-in-law to come and make a statement to the court and lodge a complaint about the process if he had one. However, when the man addressed the court Monday, he said he was fine with the outcome. He also stated that he loved his sister but was tired of dealing with Deppe.
“I guess it's an ongoing problem,” said Langan.
Because of the previous convictions Judge Blum turned down probation, said Langan.
Deppe was immediately taken into custody and transported to the Lake County Jail, said Langan. From there he will be transported to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
Cal Fire Mendocino Unit Chief Christopher P. Rowney said that Steven Gene Hensley, 36, was arrested shortly after noon on Monday, Aug. 22, without incident, for the suspected arsons.
Cal Fire will not release details of the investigation to protect the integrity of the upcoming criminal action.
However, Rowney said, “Fire investigators, Fire Captain Specialists Shawn Zimmermaker and Craig Dudley, have been working tirelessly to put an end to the property destruction and life threat of these intentionally set fires.”
Although this particular threat has been removed, Chief Rowney encourages all residents to continue to prepare their property for unwanted fires by creating 100 feet of defensible space around homes.
He reminds residents preparing for a wildfire starts with three simple steps: “Ready, Set, Go.”
Detailed information on “Ready, Set, Go” is available at www.fire.ca.gov or contact CAL FIRE Mendocino Unit Headquarters at 707-459-7414.
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.