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NORTH COAST, Calif. — Were you in Humboldt County in January 1996?
If so, you may have information that could help solve a 27-year-old missing person’s case.
The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Cold Case Unit is seeking help to solve the disappearance of Scott Paul Hayes.
Hayes was last seen by a roommate on Jan. 8, 1996.
Hayes, who was 19 at the time, told his roommate he was leaving Humboldt County and traveling to Southern California to visit his girlfriend.
Authorities said Hayes reportedly loaded all of his personal property into his maroon Chevrolet Sonoma pickup truck and left.
The following day, Jan. 9, Hayes’ truck was found parked on the edge of the northbound lane of U.S. Highway 101 near Redcrest. His vehicle was locked, and his belongings were still inside.
Later investigations indicated that the truck was out of fuel. No signs of foul play were found at the scene.
During their investigation, detectives located a witness who reportedly saw a man matching the description of Hayes in Redcrest during the early morning hours of Jan. 9.
The man reportedly told the witness that he had run out of gas. The witness gave the man a ride, however, the man reportedly began acting strangely and the witness dropped him off under the Stafford overpass out of fear for their safety.
Authorities said the witness reportedly continued on and retrieved fuel for the man, however, upon returning approximately 10 minutes later to the Stafford location, the man was gone.
An additional witness claimed to have seen Hayes at a motel in Rio Dell. Again, the man was reported to be acting strangely and he was not given a room. The man was reportedly last seen walking northbound on Wildwood Avenue.
Hayes has not been seen or heard from since Jan. 9, 1996, and all leads received by the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office thus far have been exhausted.
Scott Hayes was described as a white male adult, approximately 6 feet 1 inch tall, 150 pounds, with blonde hair and hazel eyes.
The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office needs your help to bring closure to Hayes’ family.
Anyone with information regarding Hayes’ whereabouts or who may have seen Hayes that day in 1996 are urged to contact HCSO Investigator Mike Fridley at 707-441-3024 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip Line at 707-268-2539.
On Wednesday, the California State Assembly voted to declare every August moving forward, Transgender History Month.
The move comes as over 500 anti-LGBTQ bills have been introduced in state legislatures across the country with the majority targeting the human and civil rights of transgender people.
A common message spread by anti-trans legislators is that trans people are somehow new, and that being transgender is a modern invention.
Scholars and historians have confirmed that gender-nonconforming and trans people exist in historic written records dating back to antiquity.
California in particular has a rich and documented transgender history going back to the Spanish colonial era.
“Trans people have always existed,” said Assemblymember Matt Haney (D-San Francisco), the author of the bill. "In every era and in every culture they have existed. As long as there’s been the written word there has been a record of trans people. Ancient Egypt, the Romans, China, Native Americans — the history of transgender people is there if you look for it.”
San Francisco’s Tenderloin District has been home to transgender people since the 1800s. Historians have letters written by trans women that describe their daily life living in the California city.
In 2017 San Francisco designated a small part of the Tenderloin as the Transgender Cultural District making it the first legally designated area in the world to be declared “of historic importance” to the transgender community.
“Many Californians remain unaware of the real lives and experiences of transgender people, even here in California. This lack of familiarity has been exploited by those on the right to attack the trans community,” said Transgender District founder, and current Chair of the San Francisco Democratic Party Honey Mahogany. “We can change that through awareness, education and outreach, and I believe that establishing a Transgender History Month in California is one way we can do just that.”
In 2021, San Francisco became the first city in the nation to declare August as Transgender History Month followed by Santa Clara County shortly thereafter.
The Compton's Cafeteria riots took place in San Francisco in August of 1966 and are largely recognized as the first LGBT Civil rights uprising in the United States.
August is celebrated by many transgender advocates as a turning point in transgender civil rights history.
Professor Susan Stryker is a nationally recognized leading scholar of transgender history, and is the former executive director of the LGBT Historic Society.
“I earned my Ph.D. in United States History at UC Berkeley in 1992, and have spent much of my working life documenting and disseminating the history of trans people in California, throughout the United States, and around the world,” said Stryker. “It’s very gratifying to see that labor, and the labor of so many others who have devoted time and energy to this multigenerational undertaking, culminate today in the recognition of transgender history month. We have a proud heritage, as well as a difficult one.”
In California, the first record of trans people dates back to 1775 when a Spanish soldier encountered native people near present-day San Diego, whom he described as “those Indian men who, both here and farther inland, observed in the dress, clothing, and character of women... They are called joyas, and they are held in great esteem.”
The Gold Rush in California created an environment where transgender people could thrive. The life story of stagecoach driver Charley Parkhurst, a transgender man who ran routes from Stockton to San Jose is well documented. And his life story was celebrated in the popular television show Death Valley Days, hosted by former California Governor and President Ronald Reagan.
California was also at the forefront of transgender legal rights. Lucy Hicks Anderson of Oxnard — whose parents allowed her to grow up as the girl she knew herself to be in spite of her male anatomy — argued in court in the 1940s that as a woman she was entitled to her husband’s military pension.
Celebrations and events will be planned over the next year and will occur during the inaugural Transgender History Month in August 2024.
“I believe that as Californians our strongest defense against the anti-trans agenda is just to tell the truth,” said Haney. “Let's tell the truth about transgender people’s lives, and let's lift up the history of the transgender Californians who left their mark on our great state. I couldn’t be more proud to have introduced legislation that will designate August as the first statewide Transgender History month in the nation and I look forward to celebrating every August with this community.”
The move comes as over 500 anti-LGBTQ bills have been introduced in state legislatures across the country with the majority targeting the human and civil rights of transgender people.
A common message spread by anti-trans legislators is that trans people are somehow new, and that being transgender is a modern invention.
Scholars and historians have confirmed that gender-nonconforming and trans people exist in historic written records dating back to antiquity.
California in particular has a rich and documented transgender history going back to the Spanish colonial era.
“Trans people have always existed,” said Assemblymember Matt Haney (D-San Francisco), the author of the bill. "In every era and in every culture they have existed. As long as there’s been the written word there has been a record of trans people. Ancient Egypt, the Romans, China, Native Americans — the history of transgender people is there if you look for it.”
San Francisco’s Tenderloin District has been home to transgender people since the 1800s. Historians have letters written by trans women that describe their daily life living in the California city.
In 2017 San Francisco designated a small part of the Tenderloin as the Transgender Cultural District making it the first legally designated area in the world to be declared “of historic importance” to the transgender community.
“Many Californians remain unaware of the real lives and experiences of transgender people, even here in California. This lack of familiarity has been exploited by those on the right to attack the trans community,” said Transgender District founder, and current Chair of the San Francisco Democratic Party Honey Mahogany. “We can change that through awareness, education and outreach, and I believe that establishing a Transgender History Month in California is one way we can do just that.”
In 2021, San Francisco became the first city in the nation to declare August as Transgender History Month followed by Santa Clara County shortly thereafter.
The Compton's Cafeteria riots took place in San Francisco in August of 1966 and are largely recognized as the first LGBT Civil rights uprising in the United States.
August is celebrated by many transgender advocates as a turning point in transgender civil rights history.
Professor Susan Stryker is a nationally recognized leading scholar of transgender history, and is the former executive director of the LGBT Historic Society.
“I earned my Ph.D. in United States History at UC Berkeley in 1992, and have spent much of my working life documenting and disseminating the history of trans people in California, throughout the United States, and around the world,” said Stryker. “It’s very gratifying to see that labor, and the labor of so many others who have devoted time and energy to this multigenerational undertaking, culminate today in the recognition of transgender history month. We have a proud heritage, as well as a difficult one.”
In California, the first record of trans people dates back to 1775 when a Spanish soldier encountered native people near present-day San Diego, whom he described as “those Indian men who, both here and farther inland, observed in the dress, clothing, and character of women... They are called joyas, and they are held in great esteem.”
The Gold Rush in California created an environment where transgender people could thrive. The life story of stagecoach driver Charley Parkhurst, a transgender man who ran routes from Stockton to San Jose is well documented. And his life story was celebrated in the popular television show Death Valley Days, hosted by former California Governor and President Ronald Reagan.
California was also at the forefront of transgender legal rights. Lucy Hicks Anderson of Oxnard — whose parents allowed her to grow up as the girl she knew herself to be in spite of her male anatomy — argued in court in the 1940s that as a woman she was entitled to her husband’s military pension.
Celebrations and events will be planned over the next year and will occur during the inaugural Transgender History Month in August 2024.
“I believe that as Californians our strongest defense against the anti-trans agenda is just to tell the truth,” said Haney. “Let's tell the truth about transgender people’s lives, and let's lift up the history of the transgender Californians who left their mark on our great state. I couldn’t be more proud to have introduced legislation that will designate August as the first statewide Transgender History month in the nation and I look forward to celebrating every August with this community.”
COBB, Calif. — The Cal Fire Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit Boggs Mountain Helitack flight crew will be conducting a night flying training mission beginning on the evening of Wednesday, Sept. 6, at 8 p.m. and concluding around 2 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 7.
Crews want residents in the Lake County communities surrounding Cobb to be informed of this important training and brief disruption it may cause.
Cal Fire indicated the training was set to continue, despite the work that had been going on since mid-afternoon on the Creek fire near Lower Lake.
At least three take-off and landings are planned to occur in this operational period with the trips being made over to Lake Sonoma for water tank filling and dropping evolutions.
The training is done for fire captains and pilots to maintain their night vision goggle and night flying proficiency.
Cal Fire said the new generation of S70i CAL FIRE Hawk helicopters have brought a myriad of improvements to firefighting operations.
With improved flight safety features, higher payload capacity, increased power margins and the ability to operate at night, Cal Fire said it can now tackle emergency situations more
efficiently and effectively.
The Cal Fire Hawk’s primary mission is responding to initial attack wildfires and rescue missions.
When responding to wildfires, the helicopter can deliver up to a nine-person helitack crew for ground firefighting operations and quickly transition into water dropping missions.
The fixed tank on the Cal Fire Hawk can carry a payload of up to 1,000 gallons of water with pilot-controlled drop volumes.
Crews want residents in the Lake County communities surrounding Cobb to be informed of this important training and brief disruption it may cause.
Cal Fire indicated the training was set to continue, despite the work that had been going on since mid-afternoon on the Creek fire near Lower Lake.
At least three take-off and landings are planned to occur in this operational period with the trips being made over to Lake Sonoma for water tank filling and dropping evolutions.
The training is done for fire captains and pilots to maintain their night vision goggle and night flying proficiency.
Cal Fire said the new generation of S70i CAL FIRE Hawk helicopters have brought a myriad of improvements to firefighting operations.
With improved flight safety features, higher payload capacity, increased power margins and the ability to operate at night, Cal Fire said it can now tackle emergency situations more
efficiently and effectively.
The Cal Fire Hawk’s primary mission is responding to initial attack wildfires and rescue missions.
When responding to wildfires, the helicopter can deliver up to a nine-person helitack crew for ground firefighting operations and quickly transition into water dropping missions.
The fixed tank on the Cal Fire Hawk can carry a payload of up to 1,000 gallons of water with pilot-controlled drop volumes.
This story is being updated with new information.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Lake County and state firefighters are working by air and by ground to stop a fast-moving wildland fire near Lower Lake.
The Creek incident was first dispatched shortly before 3:30 p.m. Wednesday in the 10700 block of Clayton Creek Road.
The fire was initially reported to be a quarter of an acre under power lines. Lines were not down, according to the first units arriving on scene.
Within minutes of dispatch, the fire was reported to be between three and five acres in size and moving rapidly, with at least one structure threatened.
The report was reported to be moving up and over a nearby hill and putting off spot fires, some of which were said to be landing along Highway 29.
Lake County Fire was joined by Cal Fire engines and air tankers and air attack, with other agencies from around the lake also responding.
A portion of Highway 29 was reported to be closed, with California Highway Patrol requested to come and assist with traffic control.
At about 3:50 p.m., Incident Commander Chief Willie Sapeta of Lake County Fire called for evacuations on the south side of Main Street in Lower Lake from Highway 53 to Bonham Road.
From the air, Cal Fire air attack reported good progress was being made, with retardant line advancing around the fire.
Cal Fire reported sending several more engines to the incident just before 4 p.m.
Additional resources are coming from out of the area, according to radio traffic.
The Colusa County Task Force reported shortly after 4 p.m. that it was sending four engines and a water tender.
An air tanker from Chico also is prepared to fly to bring more retardant.
Just before 4:15 p.m., radio traffic indicated evacuations were occurring at Rose Street and Teklas Way in Lower Lake.
At 4:20 p.m., the Lake County Sheriff’s Office released an evacuation map through https://protect.genasys.com/ that showed four zones activated. Zone LOW-169 is under mandatory evacuation, noted in red, while LOW-161, LOW-164 and LOW-167 are under evacuation warning, noted in yellow. The initial map also is shown above.
Minutes before 4:30 p.m., Cal Fire air attack said the fire was holding within the retardant lines at an estimated 5 to 7 acres.
Fifteen minutes later, two tankers were released from the fire.
As of just after 5 p.m., the fire was reported to be 28 acres and 30-percent contained.
At that point, the mandatory evacuation order for Zone LOW-169 remained in place, as did evacuation warnings for zones LOW-161, LOW-164 and LOW-167.
Incident command is working with Caltrans on traffic control through the fire area, which was expected to be in place by 5:30 p.m.
There were reports at about 5:30 p.m. of a new spot fire starting in Anderson Creek near Anderson Marsh. Initial response led firefighters to believe that it was drift smoke.
However, after getting another report of a new fire in that area just after 5:40 p.m., a small vegetation was in fact found in Anderson Creek.
By 6:30 p.m., the evacuation order for the zone LOW-E169 in Lower Lake has been reduced to an evacuation warning. Evacuation warnings for LOW-E161, LOW-E163 and LOW-E167 were lifted.
Just before 8 p.m., the California Highway Patrol reported that the portion of Highway 29 in the fire area had been reopened, with work to continue overnight for dealing with hot spots and conducting mop up.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
CLEARLAKE, Calif. — The Clearlake City Council this week will consider awarding a chip seal contract and discuss the police chief’s response to the grand jury report.
The council will meet at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 7, in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.
The meeting will be broadcast live on the city's YouTube channel or the Lake County PEGTV YouTube Channel. Community members also can participate via Zoom or can attend in person.
The webinar ID is 826 2197 1410.
One tap mobile is available at +16694449171,,82621971410# or join by phone at 669 444 9171 or 720 707 2699.
The agenda can be found here.
Comments and questions can be submitted in writing for City Council consideration by sending them to City Clerk Melissa Swanson atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
To give the council adequate time to review your questions and comments, please submit your written comments before 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 7.
On the agenda are two presentations, one declaring Sept. 22 as Native American Day and another declaring September 2023 as Senior Center Month.
On the agenda is a public hearing to adopt Resolution 2023-39 renewing Ordinance 261-2022 and the approval of the Clearlake Police Department Military Equipment Report.
Under council business, council members will consider awarding a $626,425 contract to Pavement Coatings for the 2023 Double Chip Seal Project and authorizing the city manager to sign the contract.
The council also will discuss and consider Police Chief Tim Hobbs’ response to the 2022-23 Grand Jury Report on human trafficking and school shootings.
On the meeting's consent agenda — items that are considered routine in nature and usually adopted on a single vote — are warrants and City Council minutes, and approval of the subrecipient agreement with Citizens Caring 4 Clearlake for the Clean California Grant.
The council will hold a closed session after the meeting to discuss an existing case of litigation, Mosqueda, Miguel v. City of Clearlake, p.s.i., administered by LWP Claims Solutions Inc., and a case of anticipated litigation.
Email Elizabeth Larson atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
The council will meet at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 7, in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.
The meeting will be broadcast live on the city's YouTube channel or the Lake County PEGTV YouTube Channel. Community members also can participate via Zoom or can attend in person.
The webinar ID is 826 2197 1410.
One tap mobile is available at +16694449171,,82621971410# or join by phone at 669 444 9171 or 720 707 2699.
The agenda can be found here.
Comments and questions can be submitted in writing for City Council consideration by sending them to City Clerk Melissa Swanson at
To give the council adequate time to review your questions and comments, please submit your written comments before 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 7.
On the agenda are two presentations, one declaring Sept. 22 as Native American Day and another declaring September 2023 as Senior Center Month.
On the agenda is a public hearing to adopt Resolution 2023-39 renewing Ordinance 261-2022 and the approval of the Clearlake Police Department Military Equipment Report.
Under council business, council members will consider awarding a $626,425 contract to Pavement Coatings for the 2023 Double Chip Seal Project and authorizing the city manager to sign the contract.
The council also will discuss and consider Police Chief Tim Hobbs’ response to the 2022-23 Grand Jury Report on human trafficking and school shootings.
On the meeting's consent agenda — items that are considered routine in nature and usually adopted on a single vote — are warrants and City Council minutes, and approval of the subrecipient agreement with Citizens Caring 4 Clearlake for the Clean California Grant.
The council will hold a closed session after the meeting to discuss an existing case of litigation, Mosqueda, Miguel v. City of Clearlake, p.s.i., administered by LWP Claims Solutions Inc., and a case of anticipated litigation.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Two California Highway Patrol officers with Lake County connections have been promoted to sergeant.
The CHP’s Clear Lake Area office said Officer Joel Skeen was promoted to the rank of sergeant on Friday.
Officer Adam Garcia, a Lake County native who previously worked in the Clear Lake Area office and now works in the Ukiah Area office, was promoted to sergeant on the same day, the CHP reported.
“We are proud and excited for the both of them in achieving the distinguished rank of CHP Sergeant,” the Clear Lake Area office reported on its Facebook page.
The Clear Lake Area office also recently welcomed a new academy graduate, Officer Cameron Ramsey, who arrived in July.
Like Skeen and Garcia, Ramsey comes from the North Coast — he’s from Redwood Valley and the son of a CHP officer who works in the Ukiah Area office.
