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LAKEPORT, Calif. – As board of education trustees and office of education staff looked on, Wally Holbrook was sworn in as the new Lake County superintendent of schools on Wednesday afternoon.
Holbrook won the office in the June primary.
Outgoing Superintendent of Schools David Geck retired early, and will be assisting Holbrook's transition in an unpaid, volunteer capacity, as Lake County News has reported.
Holbrook has said he plans to begin a review of the Lake County Office of Education's programs and services, and will share the results with the community in the months ahead.
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Thomas Lee Carter, 59, was arrested by agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration, according to Sheriff Rod Mitchell.
Mitchell, whose deputies also were on scene during the operation, said Carter was arrested on a federal warrant, but was not able to provide additional details.
Lake County News left several phone and e-mail messages for the DEA's San Francisco division spokesperson on Wednesday, but none of the messages were returned.
Sonoma County Jail officials confirmed late Wednesday that Carter was being held in their main detention center on a detainer until he is picked up for transport to a facility in San Francisco.
He was booked into the Sonoma County Jail at 2:49 p.m. on a no-bail hold, according to jail records.
Carter and several other people – including one of his own employees – were arrested by the DEA in August 2009 and have since been charged with a battery of felonies related to the alleged production and sale of illicit marijuana, as Lake County News has reported.
In addition to Carter, arrested last year were Scott Feil, 44, and his wife, Diana, 29, of Upper Lake and Redwood Valley; Steven Swanson, 60, of Sebastopol; and Brett Bassignani, 44, of Nice, who works for Carter.
Court documents show that the government is alleging that the defendants in the case were conspiring to sell marijuana in an operation that began with growing and some sales in Lake County, and stretched to medical marijuana dispensaries in Los Angeles and San Diego. More than 100,000 pages of discovery have been submitted in the case.
The case filed by the US Attorney's Office alleges that Bassignani agreed to sell 500 marijuana clones to undercover DEA agents and an informant in May of 2006, and that he told investigators that part of his income with Carter's business came from marijuana sales.
Carter is facing a single count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana, which carries a minimum 10-year sentence and $4 million fine, and two counts of distributing or possessing with intent to distribute marijuana, which carry a five-year minimum and a $2 million fine for each conviction, according to court documents.
Bassignani is charged with two counts of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana and one count of distributing or possessing with intent to distribute marijuana.
The charges against the men appear not to have changed as the result of a superseding indictment a federal grand jury handed down in the case on July 22.
Scott and Diana Feil and Steven Swanson, Diana Feil's stepfather, also are charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana, distributing or possessing with intent to distribute marijuana, conspiracy to launder money, engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specific unlawful activity.
The superseding indictment additionally accused Scott Feil of two counts of filing false tax returns, and Swanson of two counts of tax evasion.
The new indictment also added another defendant, Mark Leonard Garcia, in connection to a San Diego dispensary. Garcia is charged with two counts of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana.
The government is seeking forfeiture of millions of dollars in land, vehicles and other assets used or derived from proceeds of the alleged counts. That includes several hotels the Feils own around the North Coast and property belonging to Carter in Upper Lake.
Carter was released after posting $200,000 bail in August 2009, using his property at 1622 Hunter Point Road in Upper Lake to secure the bail, according to the conditions of his release.
The same document showed that he was subject to numerous conditions in order to remain out of jail, including not committing any federal, state or local crimes; not harassing, threatening or intimidating witnesses, victims or officers of the court; submitting to warrantless searches; and making all court appearances.
A criminal minute order from an Aug. 26 status conference in the case showed that motions are due in December, with the case continued to Jan. 27, 2011.
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LAKEPORT, Calif. – There was a time when names such as Empire Builder, Coast Daylight and City of New Orleans prompted images of luxurious hotels on wheels. Those were the days when the railroads ruled and massive steam locomotives were king.
Those days are still alive, although on a much smaller scale, thanks to the members of the Lake County Model Railroad Club, who have recreated the early 1950s in their miniature empire located in the old Armory Building at the rear of the Lake County Fairgrounds in Lakeport.
“We’ve attempted to capture small glimpses of what California was like when the railroad was still the major mover of people and goods,” longtime club member Bill Cossey said. “We combine our hobby with a lesson in history to tell a story.”
While Cossey mentioned that all the major trackwork has been completed on their layout that just about completely fills the 40- by 60-foot building, the members are focusing their attention to the scenery and other details that bring the empire to life.
Visitors can imagine seeing a large freight or passenger train leaving Los Angeles working its way through the Sierra Nevada mountains before ending it’s journey in Sacramento.
“We’ve even captured the flavor of the old narrow gauge railroads that served the logging and mining areas of the state,” Cossey said. “You might even spot buildings you recognize.”
Cossey said the club’s plans include modeling a section of downtown Petaluma because of its railroad history and members Dennis Burke and Dave Fromer plan to model historic Lake County structures as well.
“You might find yourself staring at the Stonehouse from Hidden Valley or the Prather Brother’s lumber company in Lakeport,” Cossey said. “We model whatever catches our interest.”
Club members also belong to the larger National Model Railroad Association and its Redwood Empire Division that includes the coastal counties from Marin to the Oregon border.
“We host the annual fall meeting in November at our club,” Cossey said of the daylong event that features modeling classes and ends in a large operating session.
The club has been in existence for close to 20 years although in its infancy it lacked a permanent home and had to settle on a more portable operation that the members set up and took down every night.
“We needed a permanent home and fortunately nearly eight years ago the Lake County Fair made are dreams come true when we moved into the old armory building and began planning our new railroad,” Cossey said.
Noting that the club has made substantial progress during the eight years they’ve been at the fairgrounds, there is still the time consuming process of recreating the towns and countryside in miniature.
Those interested in viewing the club’s operation may do so during its annual open house held in conjunction with the Lake County Fair, which begins Thursday, Sept. 2, and runs through Sunday, Sept. 5.
The club also welcomes visitors and new members every Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Contact Dave Fromer at 707-987-3542 for further information about the group.
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The sample was collected on August 24 southeast of Kelseyville. A previous sample that tested positive was collected near Upper Lake, as Lake County News has reported.
With many outdoor activities planned during the upcoming Lake County Fair and Labor Day holiday, health officials are encouraging people to take precautions including using mosquito repellents, combined with protective clothing (long sleeves and pants), which are especially important in the evening and early morning hours, go a long way to prevent West Nile virus infection, according to Lake County Health Officer Dr. Karen Tait.
“The recent high temperatures allow mosquitoes to reproduce more quickly, and the virus to replicate more quickly, which means that there is more West Nile virus out there,” said Dr. Jamesina Scott, district manager and research director for the Lake County Vector Control District.
Scott said the district has increased its surveillance and control activities in response to the recent positive mosquito samples.
She asked that community members remember the “three Ds of protection” – drain any standing water that may produce mosquitoes, defend yourself and your home by using an effective insect repellent; dressing protectively when outside, and making sure screens on doors and windows are in good condition.
Scott said mosquitoes develop in standing water, and a common mosquito source now that school has started is wading pools and swimming pools that are left filled and unmaintained. Residents should drain or dump out the wading pools and store them indoors or upside-down so that they won’t collect water.
The most recent data posted by California Department of Public Health showed that 34 human cases of West Nile virus have been reported from a total of 10 counties in California.
No human cases have been reported in Lake County this year, according to officials.
West Nile virus is transmitted by mosquitoes to a variety of animals and to humans. Mosquito and Vector Control agencies usually detect the virus in mosquitoes, birds and sometimes tree squirrels before human cases appear.
Most people who become infected with West Nile virus do not show symptoms and will recover uneventfully, according to the health department. Up to 20 percent of people will develop fever, headache, and other nonspecific symptoms that may last several weeks.
Approximately one in 150 people will develop severe illness known as neuroinvasive disease. People over age 50 and diabetics appear to be at most risk for the more severe forms of disease. There is no vaccine for humans.
A vaccine is available for horses and is strongly recommended because West Nile virus can also cause serious infections in horses. This year in California, eleven horses have become ill from West Nile virus, and three have died as a result of the infection.
Contact vector control for help controlling mosquitoes around your home, or to report potential mosquito sources, such as neglected swimming pools. Residents can request service, get mosquitofish, or report neglected swimming pools by calling 707-263-4770 or sending an e-mail to
To report a dead bird or squirrel, call 1-877-WNV-BIRD (1-877-968-2473) or visit the Lake County Vector Control District’s website at www.lcvcd.org and click on the green “Report a Dead Bird” link.
For additional information on West Nile virus, visit www.westnile.ca.gov, www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/wnv_factsheet.htm or http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/RepellentUpdates.htm.
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Sheriff Larry Jones had ordered the inquest into the death of Ivan “Bud” Foglesong, who died as the result of burns suffered in the fire of a hunting cabin, located on the Holzapfel Ranch, owned by current Glenn County District Attorney Robert Holzapfel, a relative by marriage.
On Monday morning the coroner's inquest began in Glenn County Superior Court in Willows, according to Jones.
A jury was sworn in and listened to two days of sworn testimony. On Tuesday the jury ruled 9-6 that Foglesong’s death was “at the hands of another person, other than by accident,” according to Jones' report.
Jones said the manner of death will be changed to reflect the jury’s findings and an amended death certificate will be filed.
The case file will now be forwarded to the California Attorney General’s Office for review and further action, Jones said. The Attorney General's Office is reportedly handling the matter because of Holzapfel's connections to the case.
The story of the 59-year-old Foglesong has been featured by Sacramento Valley Mirror Publisher and Editor Tim Crews and by the Citizens Against Homicide newsletter.
The family of the retired Air Force lieutenant colonel has contended that he was murdered despite the initial ruling that it was a suicide and, later, that it was an accident, according to articles on Foglesong's death.
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Janet Lynn Barber, 45, was the victim of the fatal fire in her mobile home at Lakeside Resort in Clearlake, according to Capt. James Bauman of the Lake County Sheriff's Office, which conducted coroner duties on the case.
Clearlake Police Chief Allan McClain said police officers and Lake County Fire Protection District firefighters were dispatched to the fire just after 3 a.m. Wednesday.
Barber's home was located in space No. 14 at Lakeside Resort, located at 5775 Old Highway 53, he said.
McClain said by the time firefighters and police units arrived, the mobile home was fully engulfed.
Lake County Fire Battalion Chief Willie Sapeta said firefighters along with four engines, a rescue unit, two medic units and two battalion fought the blaze, which was contained at 3:40 a.m. The firefighters didn't return to quarters until 9:40 a.m.
It was after the fire was out that the fatality was confirmed, Sapeta said.
McClain said the Lake County Fire Arson team responded to investigate the fire, which was determined to be accidental in nature, possibly from Barber smoking in bed.
He said the fire was enhanced by Barber's oxygen machine, which was located near her bed.
A witness told investigators that Barber was attempting to put the fire out herself and was not able to get out of the residence, according to McClain.
Barber's death comes just days after another home fire claimed an elderly Clearlake Oaks man's life.
Early Sunday morning, 83-year-old Eugene Throop died in a fire at his home on Old Long Valley Road, as Lake County News has reported.
Throop, a retired Cal Fire dozer operator, and his wife had initially escaped but he is reported to have gone back to look for his dog, according to officials.
In addition to those tragedies, fire calls have been on the rise. Sapeta said firefighters have been inundated with calls in recent weeks, taking as many as 45 calls in a recent two-day period.
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