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Jennifer Kelly, who teaches at Middletown Middle School, will represent Lake County in the upcoming California Teacher of the Year competition, according to Lake County Deputy Superintendent of Schools Chris Thomas.
Kelly holds a bachelor’s degree in zoology from University of the Pacific and UC Davis, and holds a teaching credential in life science, and a supplementary authorization in chemistry and multiple subjects.
This is her 11th year with Middletown Unified School District. During her years at Middletown Middle School she has taught science, public speaking, leadership, animal science and AVID.
Prior to coming to Lake County, Kelly was an instructor of chemistry at Carlmont High in Belmont and then a substitute teacher in Marin County. It was during her subsequent five-year stint as a seventh and eighth grade science teacher at White Hill Middle School where she realized the enthusiasm and energy of middle school aged students was her niche.
“Teaching is both a career and a passion,” Kelly said. “Students inspire me to inspire them.”
Dan Morgan, principal at Middletown Middle School, offered high praise for Kelly.
“In her 11 years at Middletown Middle School, Mrs. Kelly has impacted a generation of students,” Morgan said. “She relates to them as a caring instructor, and as a fixture in the community. She shares her passion for life and learning in ways that can’t be quantified and measured. Jennifer Kelly is an outstanding educator deserving of recognition for her contributions to the profession and her influence on the students she teaches.”
Each year the school districts in the county select one exemplary teacher as their district teacher of the year, Thomas reported. A blue ribbon committee of community leaders then interviews these candidates.
The criteria for selection of the county teacher of the year is based upon the state and national requirements, which include professional development activities, commitment to the improvement of the educational system, personal attributes, creativity and ability to communicate ideas effectively, and professional skills in delivering curriculum and instruction to students, according to Thomas.
This year’s committee members were Byron Bell, Arlene Carter, Madelene Lyon, and Barbara Molini. Thomas chaired the committee.
The outstanding district teachers of the year for 2010-11 are Brian Claiche, Konocti Unified School District; Lloyd Coatney, Upper Lake Union High School District; Shelly Lawson, Lakeport Unified School District; and Tavis Perkins, Kelseyville Unified School District; and Linda Sheffert, Upper Lake Union Elementary District.
Kelly, along with the district teachers of the year, will be honored for their exceptional achievement at a dinner this fall.
For more information on the upcoming award dinner, please contact Janice Bailey at the Lake County Office of Education, 707-262-4102.
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LAKEPORT – In an afternoon ceremony this past Sunday in Lakeport's Library Park, a community group made a sizable donation to benefit the county's domestic violence shelter.
Corvettes of Lake County President Larry Durnil presented a check for $3,000 to Gloria Flaherty, executive director of the Lake Family Resource Center, during the club's “2010 Run to the Lake.”
The funds will benefit the center's Freedom House shelter, which opened late last year.
“Lake Family Resource Center is deeply appreciative of the generous donation made by the Corvette club and facilitated by Gail Salituri,” said Flaherty. “The funds are very much needed and will allow specific projects at Freedom House domestic violence shelter to move forward.”
In January, the club's members unanimously chose the Barbara LaForge Memorial Fund – which benefits Freedom House – as its charity to support this year, as Lake County News has reported.
The fund was created by Corvette club member Gail Salituri, a local artist and owner of Inspirations Gallery and Frame Shop located at 165 N. Main St., Lakeport.
Salituri started the fund in memory of her friend and fellow businesswoman, Barbara LaForge, who was murdered in her downtown frame shop in October 2002. LaForge's murder remains unsolved.
Many local businesses have donated raffle prizes for the fundraiser, with Salituri also creating several new paintings to raffle for the cause.
During the Sunday presentation Durnil thanked each and every business for their support and contributions.
The 2010 Run to the Lake is a yearly event for the Corvette club. Parade, wine and poker run, with a dinner for members and guests on Saturday, along with the “Park and Show” on Sunday at Library Park.
Under the gazebo, just prior to the car awards ceremony, the club presented a poster-sized check to Lake Family Resource Center. Flaherty was surprised by the amount.
Prior to the Corvette club donation the LaForge Memorial donations had grown to $4,770, just slightly under its $5,000 goal, said Salituri. However, the large donation raised the total funds for Freedom House to $7,770.
“I have said this before, the members are not just about having fun with their cars, they are very aware of the community needs and never lose sight of those who are less fortunate I am so proud of all of our members,” Salituri said.
The Corvettes of Lake County has approximately 40 members and is a member of the Western States Corvette Council. For more information on the Corvettes of Lake County please check out their Web site, www.corvettesoflakecounty.org.
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Those arrested included one gang member who bootstrapped his way from foot soldier to local commander by committing or ordering murders, according to a report from Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr.'s office.
In January, agents from the DOJ's Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement and a task force of local law enforcement officials initiated Operation Crimson Tide by targeting gangs in and around Yuba and Sutter counties.
On Thursday alone, agents arrested 33 gang members and seized 24 firearms in five Northern California counties as part of “Operation Crimson Tide,” the DOJ reported.
The Thursday sweeps involved more than 300 law enforcement agents in Sacramento, Sutter, Yuba, Colusa and Stanislaus counties and involved more than 30 search warrants, according to the DOJ.
“Tragically, those arrested today chose to join dangerous gangs that deal in meth and murder,” Brown said Thursday. “By removing them from society, we are disrupting their criminal activities and making the people of Northern California safer.”
After extensive investigative work, DOJ said its agents and task force members uncovered a well-organized methamphetamine distribution network, involving large amounts of methamphetamine smuggled into the United States from Mexico.
Officials said the investigation also helped solve four homicides of Sureños gang members and resulted in the earlier arrests of 26 Norteños gang members and several associates.
Last month, agents arrested Robert Juan Salazar, 24, for the March 2004 murder of a Sureños gang leader as he sat in his car with his six-year-old nephew.
In the view of law enforcement, that began Salazar's climb up the organizational ladder of the local Norteños gang, which included ordering murders of rival gang members in April and December 2004 and July 2005. Salazar is being held without bail in Sutter County Jail on murder charges.
Over the course of the operation, the DOJ reported that its agents and task force members were able to prevent one murder, two stabbings and two shootings, as well as arrest two wanted fugitive gang members and two gang members on murder charges.
Prior to Thursday's enforcement action, Operation Crimson Tide led to the seizure of more than 17 pounds of methamphetamine, two handguns and two sawed-off shotguns. An additional 24 weapons and more than 11 pounds of illegal drugs were seized.
All 59 arrestees – including the 33 arrested Thursdasy – will be prosecuted by the Sacramento County District Attorney's Office in one comprehensive gang prosecution case, the DOJ reported.
All 30 search warrants were issued by the Sacramento County Superior Court, according to the DOJ. The cold-case homicide cases are being prosecuted by the Sutter County District Attorney's Office.
Charges include distribution and conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, firearms violations and murder.
The California Department of Justice Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement and the Yuba/Sutter Narcotic and Gang Enforcement Team led Thursday's operation.
Participating agencies included the Butte County Sheriff's Department, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, California Highway Patrol, Colusa County Sheriff's Department, Marysville Police Department, Modesto Police Department, Nevada County Sheriff's Department, Sacramento County Sheriff's Department, Sacramento Police Department, Sutter County Probation Department, Sutter County Sheriff's Department, Yuba City Police Department, Yuba County Probation Department and Yuba County Sheriff's Department.
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Stephen Phipps, 46, was placed under arrest at the scene of the crash, on Highway 53 near Anderson Ranch Parkway, according to the California Highway Patrol. Phipps was later transported by REACH to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital for internal injuries.
At 7:40 a.m. Phipps was driving a 2002 Ford Ranger pickup northbound on Highway 53 with passenger Jody Westphall, 53, of Clearlake, CHP Officer Steve Tanguay reported.
Tanguay said that as Phipps was approaching Anderson Ranch Parkway, witnesses reported he allowed his vehicle to veer to the left and cross over the left center turn lane, entering the southbound lane of traffic.
Luisa Enriquez, 43, of Clearlake, was driving a 2000 Oldsmobile van southbound on Highway 53 when the Ford Ranger crossed the center lane directly in front of her, Tanguay said.
Local resident Frank Bingel and his teenage daughter were traveling in their vehicle behind Enriquez – Bingel estimated they were about 10 car lengths back. “We were right behind the van but not that close, luckily,” he said.
Bingel and his daughter witnessed Phipps' pickup veer across the lanes and hit Enriquez's van. He said it happened so quickly that Enriquez didn't have a chance to respond.
He estimated Enriquez and Phipps were traveling at around 45 to 50 miles per hour when they hit head-on in the area near the Lake Transit building on Highway 53.
“It was pretty bad,” said Bingel, who noted that his daughter – who was driving their vehicle – was able to stop the car in time to avoid being involved in the crash.
Tanguay said the vehicles came to rest blocking one of the southbound lanes of traffic.
Enriquez was transported by REACH to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital for broken bones in her legs. Tanguay said that a 12-year-old boy riding as a passenger with her was transported by REACH to Children's Hospital & Research Center Oakland for broken bones in his leg, arm and face.
Westphall also was transported by REACH to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital for internal injuries, Tanguay said.
The roadway remained closed for a portion of the investigation, Tanguay said. All of the involved parties were wearing their seat belts and the air bags deployed in both vehicles.
CHP Officer Greg Buchholz is investigating the collision, Tanguay said.
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Thick, heavy clouds rolled across most of Lake County throughout the day on Wednesday. That, combined with temperatures in the mid- to upper-70s, made for a warm and muggy afternoon.
Although very little rain actually fell by 7 p.m. Wednesday, according to the Western Weather Group for Lake County rainfall increased throughout the evening last night in most areas of the county.
The chance for rain will continue to climb throughout the day Thursday, according to the National Weather Service in Sacramento, with a 20-percent chance of rain and daytime highs in the upper-60s to low-70s.
Both the National Weather Service and Western Weather Group are forecasting more rains overnight Thursday, and Western Weather Group reported that some areas in Lake County will receive up to one third of an inch of rain.
Isolated showers will start the day on Friday, according to both, with afternoon clearing anticipated to usher in the weekend, with daytime highs near 70.
According to the Western Weather Group, this wet Pacific system will move out of Northern California on Friday. Temperatures are expected to finally reach normal on Saturday with daytime highs well into the 80s, and some areas of the county nearing 90 on Sunday.
Throughout the remainder of the week and into the weekend, overnight lows will remain well above the frost point – finally – with mid-40s to -60s predicted.
Remember – although daytime high temperatures are steadily climbing, water temperatures in Clear Lake and surrounding water bodies remain cool due to the unseasonably cold spring weather.
For up-to-the minute weather information, please visit the home page.
E-mail Terre Logsdon at
The Lake County PEG Board is responsible for oversight of the Public, Educational, Governmental (PEG) cable channel, TV8.
The board currently has a vacancy, and individuals who wish to be considered for the appointment must submit an application and letter of interest.
Applications are available at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.
The applications and letters of interest must be submitted to City Clerk Melissa Swanson at city hall no later than 5 p.m. Monday, June 7.
The PEG Board will consider filling the vacancy at its next regular meeting, scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 9, in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall.
For more information contact Swanson at 707-994-8251, Extension 106.
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