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LAKEPORT, Calif. – On Friday, Nov. 5, the county of Lake officially launched the “Lake County Energy Watch” program giving businesses, nonprofits, special districts, municipal facilities and residents new opportunities to achieve significant energy savings while saving money.
In addition to public education of energy efficiency measures available to all, Lake County Energy Watch is partnering with Richard Heath and Associates (RHA) to provide no- and low-cost lighting retrofits for government facilities – including city, state and federal facilities located in Lake County – as well as to nonprofit organizations and small businesses.
RHA oversees the Energy Fitness Program, an energy efficiency program available to all non-residential Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) customers in Lake County who use less than 200 kW of electricity per month.
The Energy Fitness Program offers lighting retrofits (remove and replace existing lighting for high energy efficient lighting) at no- or low-cost.
The retrofits include 4- and 8-foot linear fixtures, high bay fixtures, Energy Star compact fluorescent lamps, LED exit signs or retro kits, occupancy sensors, vending machine controllers, faucet aerators, as well as additional LED and other cost effective savings measures.
Most of these measures are at absolutely no cost – including removal and installation – with just a few of the options requiring a nominal surcharge.
Lake County Energy Watch was awarded $10,000 by PG&E to assist nonprofit organizations in Lake County with paying any applicable surcharge for lighting retrofits.
When nonprofits receive services from RHA through the Lake County Energy Watch program, RHA will invoice Lake County Energy Watch on behalf of the eligible organization.
Lake County Energy Watch is administered by PG&E using funding from California utility ratepayers under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission.
Energy Watch partnerships are designed to help local governments and their communities lower their energy bills and enjoy a cleaner environment.
Since July of 2008, District 3 Supervisor Denise Rushing has worked with community volunteers on the Lake County Energy Policy Council and county staff to launch Lake County Energy Watch.
LCEW will help save the county thousands of dollars in energy costs, provide funding for staff time, make educational materials available to the community and provide outreach throughout the duration of this project, which will end Dec. 31, 2012.
Energy efficiency measures implemented during the contract period will continue to garner savings into the future for the county and the community.
Lake County Energy Watch will utilize the momentum and talent of the Energy Policy Council’s 52 members to continue developing the outreach plan for increasing participation in energy efficiency programs, receive specialized energy efficiency offerings, and will be responsible for informing the community about the wide variety of energy efficiency and demand response offerings available from PG&E.
Lake County Energy Watch will offer a range of energy efficiency options for commercial, small business and residential customers, as well as county-owned and municipal facilities.
Energy efficiency seminars also will be offered in Lake County, as well as making county staff available to speak to community and civic organizations about energy efficiency programs.
For more information about the Lake County Energy Watch program, contact Michalyn DelValle at 707-263-2221 or visit
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The ceremony will begin at 8:45 a.m. at Veterans Circle.
This is the fourth year that wreaths have been laid on the graves of local veterans as part of the commemoration.
In 2006, in response to thousands of e-mails and letters, Wreaths Across America was born out of a desire to honor and respect American servicemen and women for their significant contributions in preserving our Nation’s freedom.
Originally started by Morrill Worcester and Worcester Wreath Company of Harrington Maine back in Arlington Cemetery, it has become an annual tradition to lay holiday wreaths at the grave-markers of our fallen veterans during the holidays, as a way to express appreciation and to pay tribute for the past, present, and future sacrifice made for our Country.
The effort's motto is “Remember – the fallen; Honor – those that service; Teach – our children the value of freedom.”
Lakeport resident Slick Hultquist made sure from the beginning to register Hartley Cemetery as a site for laying the Ceremonial Wreaths so that we could honor our local Veterans.
At 8:45 a.m. the Patriot Guard Motorcycle Team along with the Vietnam Legacy Vets Motorcycle Club and guests will escort the wreaths from the front gate to the transfer point and the ceremony will begin above Veterans Circle.
Scouts from around the county will be laying the wreaths.
Boy Scout Troop 42 would like to thank those in the community that have sponsored wreaths which the Boy Scouts will place on veterans' grave sites.
Attendees are urged to dress warm.
Hartley Cemetery is located at 2552 Hill Road East, Lakeport.
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Capt. James Bauman said a male subject told authorities on Oct. 12 that he was asked to remodel a home in Kelseyville some time previously.
When the man went to remodel the home, he found bullet holes in the walls and a bloodstained carpet, which led him to believe a murder had taken place, Bauman said.
The man said he went forward with the remodel, but kept the padding underneath the carpet, telling detectives he felt it was the right thing to do, according to Bauman.
Sheriff's detectives recovered the carpet pad from the man's Lower Lake home. Bauman said it did appear to contain a blood stain, and it was sent to the Department of Justice lab for testing.
Based on testing, “They're feeling it is in fact blood stain,” said Bauman, however, the tests have not been totally conclusive, in part due to the use of a cleaner on the carpet pad.
With the test results raising concerns, on Dec. 1 detectives served dual search warrants at the Kelseyville residence where the remodel took place, he said.
As the man had described, they found bullet holes in the walls of the hallway, with the holes patched up, Bauman said.
They followed up by executing another search warrant on a Clark Drive property in Kelseyville over the weekend, Bauman said.
Cadaver dogs were used to search the property, and Bauman said the dogs alerted on a certain area.
Because it was late, the search had to be suspended and sheriff's personnel ended up having to spend the night on scene to keep it secure, according to Bauman.
The next day, another set of cadaver dogs were brought in, but they didn't hit on the same area as the previous set of dogs did, he said.
Bauman said an excavation was carried out of the area where the first dogs had hit, but no body was found.
At this point, Bauman said they have a suspicious circumstances case that has been suspended due to leads.
As to the possible identity of the victim, Bauman said they have no clues thus far, and they're still assessing the witness' reliability.
Anyone with information on the case can call the sheriff's office at 707-262-4200. Bauman said callers don't have to identify themselves when passing along information on crimes.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
With the October state budget expected to keep some park closures in effect and hit other parks with deep cuts, coupled with the failure last month of Proposition 21 – which would have added $18 to the state vehicle license fee in order to support state parks – the California State Parks Foundation had warned of closures and service reductions.
The nonprofit foundation, which lobbies for state parks, also warned that, with no new funding sources in sight, the damage that has been done to state parks system through decades of budget neglect will continue and take years to fix.
On the government side, California State Parks Department Sector Superintendent Bill Salata – who oversees Anderson Marsh State Historic Park in Lower Lake and Clear Lake State Park in Kelseyville – said he was told to save $38,000 in operating costs for Clear Lake State Park and $14,260 at Anderson March.
Accordingly, at Anderson Marsh, “We've closed the gates Monday through Friday,” with the park only open on weekends.
In addition, he said three of the park's four chemical toilets were removed and trash service was ended, so visitors must pack their garbage in and out.
Volunteers will continue to do occasional tours, but schools and civic organizations that held midweek events won't be able to do so, which will be one of the largest impacts, Salata said.
At Clear Lake State Park, Salata said several dumpsters have been pulled as they've taken cuts in garbage collections. They've also closed down the combination toilet/shower facility, and left just one campground loop open in Kelsey Creek at this time of year.
The upper and lower Bayview campgrounds will only be open from Memorial Day through Labor Day, he said. “ All those facilities up there are shut down for the off season.”
Also closed at this time are the swim beach and day use area, and the nearby restroom facility, he said, noting, “I need to evaluate when that will be reopened.”
Salata, who transferred to the area in June, said he's “definitely evaluating” future cuts, including closing Clear Lake State Park a few days a week, “which is something I don't want to do but I'm going to look at it.”
Interpretive associations assist in keeping parks vital
Providing important support and funding for park activities are the county's two interpretive associations, and representatives of those groups say they intend to continue their work in the face of the challenges.
Madelene Lyon, president of the Clear Lake State Park Interpretive Association (CLSPIA), said the group has, for many years, paid the cost of having an interpretive specialist. That job currently is held by Val Nixon, a retired Clear Lake State Park ranger.
“It's just working out beautifully,” said Lyon, noting that without the CLSPIA's support there would be no interpretive programs.
“In that respect, we are doing just really quite a bit to help this whole situation,” said Lyon, who explained how hard CLSPIA works to raise the funds.
One of the group's projects, the park's new education pavilion – located near the park visitor center – has just been completed. Lyon is planning to do a walk through on Tuesday, with the state fire marshal needing to sign off to fully complete the project.
The group will then put the furnishings in place; Lyon said they're now in the process of buying tables and chairs. CLSPIA plans to continue raising funds for microscopes and other equipment for education groups.
She said CLSPIA is planning an early spring grand opening for the pavilion. “We are so proud of our building,” she said. “It just looks like that spot was waiting for that building.”
Roberta Lyons, president of the Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association (AMIA), said the group plans to continue with its activities, which include offering monthly walks and tours of the property and the historic ranch house.
Support of the park is one of the AMIA's main functions, and Lyons said they're focusing on what they have – including the park's natural and cultural resources, and interpretive opportunities.
They're also trying to expand their volunteer base so they can do more things at the park, she said.
Lyons said the AMIA and its members are not totally discouraged. “We think we're going to be able to keep the park going, even if it's on the weekends.”
They recently invested $7,000 to have a professional do a bat exclusion and remediation project, which Lyons was careful to note didn't include killing the bats.
This past September, AMIA and the Children's Museum of Art and Science held their annual Old Time Bluegrass Festival, which brought in between $6,000 and $7,000 and is their largest fundraiser of the year, said Lyons.
That and other events allows the AMIA to invest several thousand dollars a year into the park, she said.
“As an organization, we feel we can make some good things happen there still,” she said. “We plan on doing what we can to keep it going.”
California State Parks Northern Buttes District Superintendent Marilyn Linkem told Lake County News that the agency is trying to stretch thin resources to serve the parks.
“What we're trying to do is keep as much open as we can with the limited staff that we have,” she said.
However, she pointed out of the parks, “We just won't be able to service them as well,” with visitors likely to see fewer rangers on patrol and fewer maintenance staff.
Linkem said the local parks wouldn't have their interpretive programs – such as tours or Junior Rangers – if it weren't for the work of the CLSPIA and AMIA. She said the parks can use more volunteers to help support the parks.
California's residents pay for the parks, said Linkem, adding that the goal is to keep the parklands open and accessible.
“The parks are for the people,” she said.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
The quake occurred at 5:57 a.m., according to the US Geological Survey.
The quake, which was recorded half a mile underground, was centered just northeast of The Geysers, five miles west southwest of Cobb and six miles west northwest of Anderson Springs.
The US Geological Survey received 16 shake reports from nine zip codes – including Clearlake, Lakeport, Middletown, Santa Rosa, Healdsburg, Cloverdale, San Rafael, Novato and Sacramento.
In the hour following the initial quake, four temblors measuring between 1.1 and 2.4 in magnitude occurred, based on seismic data.
The last time a moderate-sized earthquake was reported in the county was Nov. 15. It measured 3.0 in magnitude and occurred two miles north of The Geysers, as Lake County News has reported.
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Arthur Gonzales, 36, a transient from Covelo, was arrested in the case, according to Capt. Kurt Smallcomb of the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office.
At 11:30 a.m. Dec. 3, Round Valley Tribal Police were investigating a possible intoxicated driver on Tabor Lane in Covelo when Gonzales allegedly attacked a tribal police officer, Smallcomb said.
During the attack, Gonzales punched and kicked the tribal police officer several times, causing injury. Smallcomb said the officer was able to use his portable radio to summon emergency assistance from the sheriff's office and California Highway Patrol. The closest available deputies and CHP officers responded from the Willits area.
Smallcomb said the tribal police officer attempted to subdue Gonzales by spraying him in the face with pepper spray but it had no effect. The officer then withdrew to a safer location and awaited the arrival of the responding deputies and officers.
Gonzales then allegedly directed his anger toward the tribal police vehicle that had been left at the scene. Smallcomb said Gonzales picked up an old car tire and began to throw it at the windows of the tribal police vehicle, which resulted in more than $400 worth of damage.
Gonzales had fled the immediate area prior to the arrival of sheriff deputies and CHP officers, Smallcomb siad. A search was conducted and Gonzales was located near Lot No. 4 on Concow Boulevard.
A sheriff's deputy drew his sidearm and ordered Gonzales down to the ground. Smallcomb said Gonzales refused to comply with the orders and instead ran at a full sprint towards the deputy.
Smallcomb said the deputy quickly holstered his sidearm and drew his Taser. Gonzales closed within feet of the deputy before the Taser was deployed. The deployment of the Taser brought Gonzales' attack to an immediate end.
Located in the area where Gonzales was apprehended were a large knife and an ax handle. Smallcomb said both the knife and ax handle had blood present on them.
It was later discovered that Gonzales had entered or attempted to enter several residences on the Reservation while evading from law enforcement, Smallcomb said.
In one of the residences five pit bull puppies had been bludgeoned to death. Smallcomb said Gonzales is a suspect in the death of the five puppies and the investigation is ongoing.
Smallcomb said Gonzales was transported to Howard Hospital for medical clearance and then to the Mendocino County Jail.
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