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Claudia Madrid, 62, of Kelseyville was arrested for DUI, according to California Highway Patrol Officer Adam Garcia.
Garcia said that Madrid was driving her 2002 Ford Escort southbound on Highway 29 south of Highland Springs Road on Friday at 7:48 a.m. when she went left across the double yellow lines and struck 33-year-old Shawna Witt's 2002 Mazda Tribute head on.
Witt was taken to Sutter Lakeside Hospital with minor injuries, said Garcia. She had a minor passenger who is not listed as being injured.
Madrid sustained minor injuries and also was taken to Sutter Lakeside Hospital where she was treated and released to the custody of the CHP, said Garcia.
Garcia said Madrid was then booked into the Lake County Jail for DUI.
Officer Greg Baxter is investigating the collision, Garcia reported.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
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NICE – County Animal Care and Control officials are investigating a case in which a puppy was dragged behind a vehicle.
The incident, involving an 11-week-old male German shepherd puppy, took place on Tuesday night at Robinson Rancheria Casino's parking lot, according to Sara Schramm of Lake County Animal Care and Control. It appeared to be accidental.
A man who was visiting the county with his family from out of state had the puppy tied to his bumper, said Schramm.
The man apparently was diverted between his children and talking on his cell phone, and didn't notice that the puppy wasn't in the car after the back hatch of his van was closed by another adult in the group, according to Schramm and eyewitness Marcia Porter.
Schramm said an off-duty Animal Care and Control officer happened to be in the area and saw the man take off with the puppy still tied to the vehicle.
The off-duty officer couldn't get to his vehicle in time to try to stop the man, said Schramm.
Meanwhile, Porter took off in pursuit of the man to stop him.
She said by the time she got out of the parking lot and onto the highway the man, who was very upset, had already pulled over and picked up the pup, who she estimated was drug less than a quarter-mile. Porter went with him to Wasson Veterinary Clinic in Lakeport, where she said she takes her own animals.
Animal Care and Control officials were searching for information on the incident Thursday, trying to identify the owner, when they found the dog was at Wasson Memorial.
Wasson Memorial confirmed Thursday that the puppy was being cared for there.
The puppy had abrasions that, in some areas, wore his skin down to the bone, but Wasson representatives said the pup otherwise was actually doing fine.
Schramm said the incident appeared accidental. However, she added, “We're investigating it internally.”
An investigation could take a few weeks to complete, Schramm said.
Porter said she and a friend are donating $200 to help the family with vet bills, which are reportedly several hundred dollars.
She asked community members to donate to Wasson to help the family, which she didn't feel could afford to pay the high bills.
The puppy's injury is a reminder, Animal Care and Control officials said, of the importance of paying special attention when traveling with pets.
With better weather on the way, more people will be taking pets for rides in cars. Officials caution pet owners to secure their pets properly in vehicles and make arrangements to ensure animals aren't left in hot cars or other potentially dangerous conditions, such as being secured to the outside of a vehicle.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
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That's the message from the California Highway Patrol, as part of its continuing efforts to curb drunk driving.
Officer Adam Garcia of the CHP's Clear Lake office reported that extra officers will be on the lookout for impaired drivers this weekend who are celebrating St. Patrick's Day, which occurs this year on Monday.
Additional patrols with officers working overtime are funded by grants from the state Office of Traffic Safety and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Garcia reported.
CHP says its message is very simple: party responsibly, which means planning to have a designated driver if you expect to be consuming alcohol as part of your celebrating.
“All we are asking is for people to do the responsible thing: plan ahead,” said CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow. “Have someone who won’t be drinking do the driving, take public transportation or make plans to spend the night where you are celebrating.”
Last year during St. Patrick’s Day weekend 16 people were killed and 304 injured in DUI involved collisions statewide, the CHP reported.
Garcia reported that, fortunately, there were no fatalities locally during that same time period.
Statewide, a total of 1,250 drivers were arrested for DUI by the CHP on St. Patrick's Day, which occurred on a Saturday in 2007. Locally, there were three DUI arrests on March 17, 2007.
“This is about saving lives, not about how many people we can arrest,” said Farrow. “Do your part. Don’t drink and drive.”
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The pool is located on the grounds of Clear Lake High School.
Lt. Brad Rasmussen of Lakeport Police reported that sometime between Feb. 29 and March 3 suspects broke into the pool yard, pulled off the pool cover, placed a broken bottle in the bottom of the pool and broke a string of flags that covers the pool.
Rasmussen said city Parks and Recreation Supervisor Rich Lubecki discovered the minor damage to the pool
Fortunately, the cost to the city for clean up and repair of any damage was minimal, Rasmussen said.
He had no further information on the situation, including possible suspects.
The pool reopened last July. The city paid close to $400,000 for the full renovation, as Lake County News has reported.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
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LAKE COUNTY – A local doctor has diagnosed Lake County radio personality Eric Patrick with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, according to Laura Patrick, Eric’s wife.
Eric Patrick has been missing from the airwaves for three months.
His voice, as well as his sharp sense of humor and excellent acting skills have been entertaining a wide cross section of Lake County’s population for nearly 10 years.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that effects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.
Patrick suffers from a very rare form known as Bulbar ALS, which initially effects the upper area of the spinal cord causing interference with the motor neurons in the neck and throat area.
The multi-talented Patrick has performed as a master of ceremonies for concerts raffles auctions and live standup comedy programs as well as sing and play guitar in the band CAM.
He took on multiple rolls in the 2007 production of the two-man stage production of “Greater Tuna.”
The Rob Roy Golf Club in Cobb will host a dinner beginning at 4 p.m. Sunday, March 16, to raise funds to aid the Patrick family.
His bandmates and members of the Prather Brothers are slated to perform. Patrick himself plans on sitting in for a few tunes, said Laura Patrick during an interview with Lake County News.
Bruce Ebinger, bar manager at Rob Roy, told Lake County News that by 6.pm Tuesday more than $6,000 in cash has been donated and 192 persons had made reservations to attend.
A silent auction will be held with items ranging from magnums of fine wine to weekend trips through the wine country according to Ebinger.
Two entrees are available, the traditional St Patrick’s corned beef plate or a meatloaf dinner. The cost is $25 per person.
Those wishing to attend the dinner are strongly urged to make reservations by calling 707-928-0121 before noon on Thursday, March 13.
Anyone wishing to make a donation may send any amount to RAKE at P.O. Box 290 Cobb, CA. 95426 and indicate Eric Patrick.
E-mail Harold LaBonte at
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The transition from winter to the spring burning period occurs rapidly as weather conditions in Northern California can change the fuel moisture levels throughout the forest in a relatively short time frame, forest officials reported.
The ignition of all of the forest burns is dependent on personnel, weather and fuel conditions, which must meet stringent prescriptions and control factors.
Burns are conducted only with adequate fuel moisture levels, appropriate air temperatures, wind conditions and relative humidity levels. All burns will be monitored and patrolled frequently to ensure they meet the goals and objectives outlined by managers.
Over the next few months, the public may see smoke in various parts of the national forest. Generally, the spring burning program extends from March through May.
The following is a list of prescribed burning projects that may occur this spring as weather conditions provide opportunities.
Upper Lake and Covelo Districts
Lake Pillsbury – 50 acres (pile burning)
Along Elk Mountain Road – 100 acres (pile burning and under burn)
Howard Mill – 300 acres (under burn)
Howard Lake – 174 acres (under burn)
High Valley – 185 acres (pile burning)
Horse Mountain – 545 acres (pile burning)
Pine Mountain – 26 acres (under burn)
In the vicinity of the 2005 Hunter Fire – 200 acres (pile burning)
Newhouse – 200 acres (under burn)
Tar Flat – 2256 acres (under burn)
Grindstone Ranger District
Long Point – 215 acres (helitorch)
Doe Peak – 200 acres (helitorch)
Alder Springs – 400 acres (under burn)
Oak Ridge – 200 acres (under burn)
Trough Springs – 50 acres (under burn)
For additional information, please contact Matt Ellis, Grindstone fuels technician, 530-934-1135, or Terry Nickerson, Upper Lake/Covelo fuels technician, 707-275-1440.
More information on prescribed burning is available online at http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/mendocino.
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