How to resolve AdBlock issue? 
News
Rebecca Manka, 45, died as the result of the rollover crash, which occurred on Lakeview Drive in Clearlake Oaks at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, CHP Officer Steve Tanguay said.
Tanguay said Manka was driving a 1995 Saturn northbound on Lakeview Drive approaching Widgeon Way.
As she was traveling uphill the roadway curved to the left. For unknown reasons, Manka allowed her vehicle to drift off of the roadway to the right, Tanguay said.
He said Manka's vehicle broke through a wire-mesh fence and dropped down a steep embankment more than 10 feet high, with the vehicle overturning and landing on its roof.
Neither alcohol nor drugs appear to be a factor in the collision, said Tanguay.
Tanguay said CHP Officer Nick Powell is investigating the crash.
Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews , on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf and on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/LakeCoNews .
Since late Sunday evening and the early hours of Monday morning, deputies have either responded to, or discovered during their patrols, as many as 20 incidents of theft or attempted theft from vehicles in the residential subdivision, according to Capt. James Bauman.
Virtually all of the incidents of intrusion, theft, or tampering occurred to vehicles that had been left unlocked, Bauman said.
Bauman said investigations into the rash of intrusions began early Monday morning just after midnight, when a resident on Donkey Hill Road reported hearing noises outside of his home and then discovered the driver’s side doors of both his vehicles had been left open by apparent thieves. An iPod was the only loss at that home.
Soon after clearing the Donkey Hill Road incident, deputies were dispatched to a home on Maple Leaf Court for a similar incident in which the victim discovered his driver’s door standing open, however nothing had been stolen, Bauman said.
Throughout the morning, deputies patrolled the area and while no leads or suspects were located, Bauman said deputies did locate several more vehicles with opened doors in the areas of Powder Horn Road and Mountain Meadow North, which had obviously been gone through by the suspects.
The following night, deputies responded to several more reports of theft or attempted theft from unlocked vehicles in the Hidden Valley Lake areas of Fishhook Court, Spur Court and Spyglass Road, he said.
This particular rash of thefts and vehicle intrusions appears to be focused on the Hidden Valley Lake area, Bauman said.
However, he added that the Lake County Sheriff’s Office strongly encourages citizens residing anywhere to always keep their vehicles and homes locked when unattended no matter the hour of the day.
He said Hidden Valley Lake residents should be particularly diligent with security measures, given the recent rash of vehicle intrusions there.
Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews , 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 company said its average systemwide bundled electric rate will decrease 0.8 percent on Jan. 1.
That rate change will be followed by a slight forecasted increase in March 2011 that is approximately 2.3 percent less than what the rate was in March 2010, the company reported.
Actual bill impacts in March will vary depending on usage, PG&E said.
“We know our customers care more than ever about their electricity bills during these tough economic times so we are focused on keeping rates down,” said Tom Bottorff, senior vice president of Regulatory Relations for PG&E. “Smart energy purchasing strategies coupled with lower gas prices have allowed us to pass on savings to the millions of Californians who rely on us for their energy needs.”
The January rate change reflects higher operating costs offset by lower energy purchasing costs, according to the PG&E report.
The company said the March rate change will take into account additional transmission-related costs and is expected to include the utility’s 2011-13 General Rate Case revenue requirements.
PG&E in September filed a settlement with consumer groups on its General Rate Case revenue request and expects a California Public Utilities Commission decision in early 2011.
The company said rates for its natural gas customers around the state would stay about the same in January 2011 as in January 2010, as increased costs for maintenance, operation and mandated social programs will be offset by a decrease in natural gas prices.
The average residential gas bill, however, may be slightly higher than last January because of increased usage driven by colder temperatures, PG&E reported.
Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews , on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf and on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/LakeCoNews .
Chief Ken Pimlott, acting Cal Fire director, announced the appointments, which take effect on Monday, Jan. 3, 2011.
The following chiefs will fill critical vacant positions managing Cal Fire's two regions and 21 operational units: Southern Region Chief Dale Hutchinson, Northern Region Chief Bill Holmes, Assistant Southern Region Chief Stan Craig, Assistant Northern Region Chief Doug Wenham and Assistant Deputy Director, Cooperative Fire, Training and Safety Program Clare Frank.
“I cannot recall a time when Cal Fire has experienced such a significant turnover in key leadership positions at one time,” said Cal Fire Director Ken Pimlott. “Each of these individuals brings new depth and experience to an already strong leadership team that will guide the Department through the many challenges ahead.”
Southern Region Chief Dale Hutchinson
Chief Hutchinson, of Banning, has 30 years of experience in the fire service, and most recently served as the assistant region chief for the Southern Region where he managed operations, administration and resource management for the nine Southern Operational Units and five contract counties within the Southern Region.
Hutchinson also served as the California Emergency Management Agency (Cal EMA) Fire and Rescue Branch Region Coordinator for Cal EMA Region 6 (Mono, Inyo, San Bernardino, Riverside, San Diego and Imperial counties).
Prior to his assignment as the assistant region chief, he served as the unit chief of the Madera-Mariposa-Merced Unit where he managed all risk operations in the three counties.
Chief Hutchinson has extensive experience in cooperative fire protection agreements and contract county administration from his 25 years working through the ranks from volunteer firefighter to deputy chief in the Riverside Unit.
He has a diversified background in fire protection operations, administration, budgets, labor relations, volunteer firefighter programs, fire prevention, law enforcement and pre-fire engineering.
Hutchinson served on Cal Fire Incident Command teams for eight years, with his last position as incident commander.
As the Cal Fire Southern Region chief, Hutchinson will oversee nine units from the Central Valley to the Mexico border.
Northern Region Chief Bill Holmes
Chief Holmes, of Cameron Park, started his career with Cal Fire as a seasonal firefighter in 1969 while attending college. He worked his way up through the ranks to the position of unit chief for the Amador-El Dorado Unit.
He is a certified chief officer in Cal Fire and with the State Fire Marshal. Holmes is a qualified national incident commander, operations section chief and agency administrator having served on major incidents throughout California, Wyoming, Montana and Oregon.
In 2007, Chief Holmes co-chaired the branding committee that developed and recommended the new Cal Fire logo.
As the Cal Fire Northern Region chief, Holmes will oversee 12 units from the Oregon border to the Bay Area.
Assistant Southern Region Chief Stan Craig
Chief Craig, of Coarsegold, began his career with Cal Fire in Orange County in 1973. He worked in the Orange Unit and the Riverside Unit before moving to the Cal Fire Training Academy in Amador County.
After working at the training academy, Chief Craig moved to the Madera- Mariposa-Merced Unit (MMU), where he spent the remainder of his first 31 years with the Department.
In MMU, he worked his way up from battalion chief all the way to unit chief before he retired in May 2004.
In July of 2009, Chief Craig returned to state service and was appointed to the position of management services staff chief for the Southern Region.
Assistant Northern Region Chief Doug Wenham
Chief Wenham, of Redding, began his career with Cal Fire in 1982 as a seasonal firefighter in the Shasta-Trinity Unit (SHU).
In 1988, after a stint with the city of Redding Fire Department, he returned to Cal Fire and was appointed to a position as a fire apparatus engineer in the Nevada-Yuba-Placer Unit (NEU). He worked in NEU in various assignments including fire captain and battalion chief.
In 2000, he transferred back to SHU where he promoted to assistant chief in 2006, deputy chief in 2007 and to unit chief in January 2010.
As the SHU unit chief Wenham also served as the Shasta County Fire Warden and the Shasta County Cal EMA Operational Area Coordinator.
Chief Wenham is also a peace officer, has an AA degree in fire science and served seven years on Cal Fire Incident Command teams, including as the Incident Commander on Cal Fire Incident Command Team 1.
Cal Fire Assistant Deputy Director of Cooperative Fire, Training and Safety Program Clare Frank
Chief Frank, of San Jose, has more than 23 years of fire service experience.
Prior to this appointment, Frank was the deputy chief of the Civil Cost Recovery Program, which recouped nearly $26 million in the past 24 months from parties who negligently caused fires.
Chief Frank began her career as a seasonal firefighter in the San Mateo-Santa Cruz (CZU) Unit in 1982.
She has held a variety of field and management positions in the Department, working in training, fire prevention, administration and operations.
She also served as the fire chief for the city of Milpitas, a progressive, all-risk fire department in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Chief Frank is also an accomplished attorney who has practiced as a labor-employment lawyer, a California deputy attorney general and a federal staff attorney for the U.S. District Court.
She holds an associate of science degree in fire protection technology, a bachelor's of science degree in fire administration, a juris doctorate from Santa Clara University School of Law and is a member in good standing of the California Bar.
Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews , on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf and on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/LakeCoNews .
MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – A retired firefighter from San Leandro won big when he visited a local casino this week.
Dale Valentine was making one of his regular visits to Twin Pine Casino in Middletown on Tuesday when he hit a jackpot of approximately $8,430,301.44 on a statewide California Megabucks slot machine.
“Our tribe has been committed to providing great success in our community,” said Tribal Chairman Carl Rivera. “We are extremely excited with the new found fortune of Dale Valentine, one our loyal customers who frequents our gaming facility.”
Rivera said it's truly inspiring when a valued customer like Valentine wins a jackpot of this magnitude.
Valentine and his wife, who call Twin Pine their favorite casino, own a vacation home in Lake County and spend much of their time in the county.
“I’m glad I hit the jackpot, but I’m really glad it happened here,” Dale Valentine said.
Twin Pine officials reported that Valentine has been a loyal customer at the casino for 15 of the 16 years it has operated, and has hit a few smaller jackpots during that time.
The couple's plans for the money include putting some away in the bank, a large donation to hospice, learning how to ride a Harley Davidson motorcycle for him and for her a larger bathroom and closet.
Twin Pine Casino & Hotel is owned and operated by the Middletown Rancheria of Pomo Indians of California. The casino is located at 22223 Highway 29 at Rancheria Road, Middletown. Visit the casino online at www.TwinPine.com .
Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews , 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 quake occurred at 4:12 p.m., according to the US Geological Survey.
Its epicenter was three miles east of The Geysers, six miles southwest of Cobb and four miles west northwest of Anderson Springs at a depth of 1.4 miles, the agency reported.
The US Geological Survey received five shake reports from four zip codes – Middletown, Eureka, Vallejo and one from San Diego, 839 miles away.
A 2.9-magnitude earthquake was reported Tuesday at 6:26 p.m., also at a depth of 1.4 miles, two miles west of Anderson Springs, four miles east southeast of The Geysers, four miles south of Cobb, the survey reported.
Three shake reports were made to the US Geological Survey from two zip codes – Morgan Hill and Olivehurst.
A 3.4-magnitude earthquake occurred near Anderson Springs on Dec. 21, as Lake County News has reported.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at