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KELSEYVILLE, Calif. — Classic cars, custom boats and fun are planned for this weekend at the Buckingham Golf Club and Community Center in Kelseyville as the Buckingham Test and Tune returns.

With a hiatus due to low water and COVID concerns, the spectacle is roaring back.

The show is filled to capacity, ensuring spectators and participants a fun-filled weekend.

On Saturday, custom cars, street rods and muscle cars will be on display beginning at 9 am.

Vintage and historic speedboats will run on the water from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, weather and water conditions permitting.

Some of the boats registered to participate include Madam Blue, Tiger, Hot to Trot, The Specialist, Shady Lady, Thrill Me, Chuck Wagon, Hombre and Thunder Chicken.

The event is hosted by the California Speedboat Association, with the help of many volunteers.

“I am so proud of Lake County for their support of this event,” said volunteer Rich Scogin. “I am so thankful to the business community for their support.”

He added, “Our local volunteers have worked tirelessly for months. Rick and Peggy Bonds’ ‘never give up’ attitudes are an inspiration.”

Event organizer Joe Bullock is credited with ensuring the event is a treat for participants and spectators.

He has also secured custom awards, including several handcrafted trophies.

Vendors will include Konocti Bicycles, Lady Luck Garage, Hillside Honda, Red Beard Wraps and Operation Tango Mike. Food will be available for purchase.

There is no fee for spectator admission.

Buckingham Golf Club and Community Center is located at 2855 Westlake Drive.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Bureau of Land Management Ukiah Field Office is taking measures to protect habitat for the imperiled Clear Lake hitch by temporarily limiting vehicle access to the South Cow Mountain Off Highway Vehicle Management Area in Lake County.

The temporary closure of the Scott’s Creek gate entrance near Lakeport became effective starting on Friday, May 12, and continues until Thursday, June 1.

A copy of the closure order is available here.

The South Cow Mountain OHV Management Area will remain open to vehicle access on the west side via the Westside Staging Area near Ukiah in Mendocino County.

In addition, the Indian Valley/Walker Ridge and Knoxville Management areas in Lake County will remain open to vehicle access as an alternate location for OHV recreation while the Scott’s Creek gate remains closed.

Recreationists can continue to access the Scott’s Creek entrance by hiking.

“This temporary gate closure at the Scott’s Creek entrance is required to protect water quality and juvenile fish as they migrate back to Clear Lake from Scott’s Creek and prevent destruction of riparian habitat necessary for juvenile Clear Lake hitch survival,” said Ukiah Field Manager Nicholas Lavrov. “This temporary gate closure is an added measure to ensure survival of the Clear Lake hitch as this species has shown rapid decline over the last several years.”

The state-threatened Clear Lake hitch, found only in the Clear Lake Basin, has been in rapid decline since 2017.

Presently, the Clear Lake hitch is under review for listing under the Endangered Species Act.

In February, the Lake County Board of Supervisors approved a resolution declaring an emergency relating to the hitch in order to save the culturally significant species, which is known as chi to the local tribes.

In recent years, due to drought, the fish have not been able to reach the spawning grounds on BLM lands.

With the recent wet winter and spring, Scott’s Creek has become a productive breeding ground and rearing habitat for the fish.

Scientists determined that 2017 was the last successful reproductive year and hitch live an average of six years; 2023 is potentially the last year for that age class of fish to successfully reproduce.

The BLM intends to partner with local tribes, governments, and agencies to promote the protection of the species and prevent the imminent danger of extinction. This endeavor to close the Scott’s Creek entrance, while juvenile hitch remain in the creek is a key step to ensuring the prolonged survival of the species.

Scott’s Creek is the largest tributary to Clear Lake. Much of the land within the South Cow Mountain OHV Management Area is within the Scott’s Creek watershed.

Soils in the region are naturally high in nutrients like phosphorous and the BLM is mandated by the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board to reduce nutrient inputs into Scott’s Creek to protect the Clear Lake watershed.

Temporary closure of the Scott’s Creek entrance will help to prevent unauthorized vehicle access into the creek to prevent degradation of water quality and the sensitive riparian area while water remains in the creek.

Although the BLM operates on a multiple-use mission that includes grazing, recreational access, and minerals extraction, protecting identified significant resources within streams and riparian areas is a priority use of those lands.

Officials ask the public to please remain respectful and stay on designated routes to avoid crushing juvenile fish and to protect a valuable water resource critical to the Lake County community and Clear Lake hitch survival.

Pack It In — Pack It Out: The Bureau of Land Management encourages all recreationists to practice Leave No Trace ethics while recreating on public lands. Help the BLM be good stewards and preserve public lands for future generations.

For more information, please visit the South Cow Mountain webpage. For specific questions, contact the Ukiah Field Office at 707-468-4000 or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

On Wednesday, the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources favorably reported the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument Expansion Act (S. 683) with unanimous and bipartisan support.

The bill, introduced by Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) with Sen. Dianne Feinstein as co-sponsor (D-CA), is a companion to H.R. 1396, introduced by Representatives John Garamendi (D-CA) and Mike Thompson (D-CA).

The Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation and legislative co-sponsors have also called for President Joe Biden to expand the national monument using his authority under the Antiquities Act.

The Antiquities Act is a 1906 law that grants presidents the ability to designate federal public lands, waters, and cultural and historical sites as national monuments to permanently conserve them.

The legislation would expand Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument to include additional public lands on the monument’s eastern edge.

In addition, S.683 would establish tribal co-management of the monument and change the name of the expansion area from “Walker Ridge” to Molok Luyuk (the Patwin name for Condor Ridge).

This name was provided by the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, which has a long and significant connection to the area that stretches back thousands of years.

The tribe has actively supported this legislation and the calls for President Biden to protect Molok Luyuk with the Antiquities Act.

“Molok Luyuk is a rare treasure of rich cultural heritage and sacred history, diverse wildlife and rare plants, and stunning natural beauty and accessible recreational activities,” said Sandra Schubert, executive director of Tuleyome, a regional conservation organization. “We are deeply grateful to our Congressional champions Reps. Garamendi and Thompson and Sens. Padilla and Feinstein for shepherding this effort. We encourage President Biden to expand the existing monument and permanently protect Molok Luyuk.”

The expansion of Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument to include Molok Luyuk will protect the cultural, wildlife, climate and outdoor recreation values this region holds.

“Molok Luyuk is a special and sacred place for area tribes and for many local residents who enjoy recreation activities like hiking and mountain biking,” added Lake County Supervisor E.J. Crandell, a member of the Robinson Rancheria Tribe. “The natural beauty of our home also drives tourism, which is key to the economic vitality of the region. Protecting these beautiful lands would be a gift to future generations.”

Advocates and local tribes hope that incorporating the adjacent federally owned land into the existing national monument would improve land management, help expand public access, and protect sensitive wildlife, habitat areas, and cultural resources.

"I grew up in this area and lived here on these lands for the last 20 years. I think that Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument has been positive for the area and I support expanding the monument to include this beautiful ridge. My property is right next to the expansion area - just slightly east of the ridge,” added David Lucientes, a Colusa County landowner. “Having these public lands be part of the monument would be a good thing. It's all one landscape and should be managed together."

Molok Luyuk boasts rich biodiversity including over 30 species of rare plants, ancient blue oak woodlands, rugged rock outcrops, wildflower meadows, and extensive stands of McNab cypress. The area also provides wildlife connectivity for many species including deer, mountain lions, and black bear.

Popular recreation activities on these lands include hiking, mountain biking, photography, camping, horseback riding, and off highway vehicle, or OHV, use on designated routes.

“As an avid OHV recreationist, I strongly support expanding Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument to include Molok Luyuk,” said Don Amador, Government Affairs, American Motorcyclist Association District 36. “The permanent protection of Molok Luyuk will improve the management of these lands and increase public access to recreation opportunities. This is a win-win for our community and I add my voice in support of expanding the monument.”

The proposed national monument expansion would help the state of California under Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Biden Administration meet their shared goals to protect 30% of lands and waters by 2030 and improve outdoor access for historically marginalized communities.

“Nature can be such a valuable reprieve for so many, yet there continue to be deep inequities in access to the outdoors,” said Shanna Edberg, conservation program director for the Hispanic Access Foundation. “In fact, our research found that in California, Latinos and other people of color are two times more likely to be deprived of nearby nature than white people. Protecting Molok Luyuk will help to ensure equitable access to the outdoors in a county where 22% of residents identify as Hispanic or Latino.”

In March, President Biden protected over 500,000 acres of public land by designating Avi Kwa Ame in Southern Nevada and Castner Range in Texas as national monuments through use of the Antiquities Act.

“Our national monuments are a part of our country’s outdoor heritage and must be passed down to future generations,” said Janessa Goldbeck, Chief Executive Officer of Vet Voice Foundation. “Veterans advocated for the designation of Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument and we’re proud to support the expansion of the monument to include Molok Luyuk."

To learn more about this effort and to sign a petition in support of the expansion of the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument, visit www.expandberryessa.org.

CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. — A longtime local business has managed to stay open after being damaged in an early Saturday morning vehicle crash.

The Red and White Store, located at 12580 Highway 20 in Clearlake Oaks, was the scene of the wreck, which occurred at approximately 1:23 a.m. Saturday, said California HIghway Patrol Officer Efrain Cortez.

However, the store has been able to remain open in the crash’s aftermath, said Manager Christopher Hallsted.

The CHP’s online incident reports said a vehicle — a full-size SUV — hit the building and a subject was reported to be out of the vehicle and lying on the ground.

The damage was to the portion of the store at the intersection of Acorn Street and Highway 20.

Cortez told Lake County News that the driver suffered minor injuries.

He said the CHP did not yet know what led to the crash, but that driving under the influence had been ruled out as a cause.

Northshore Fire Protection District firefighters responded to the scene and were part of investigating the damage to the structure’s integrity after the crash, according to radio reports.

The district’s firefighters also posted pictures of the crash scene on their group Facebook page.

“We’re open. Luckily it didn’t do enough structural damage to get it red-tagged,” Hallsted said, explaining that they were able to put in a temporary wall.

He added that it’s not going to be cheap to fix the damage. However, “All is well.”

The store has been a community fixture since Cory and Eddie Nylander opened it in 1933.

Among its more notable milestones came in 2012, when the store sold a winning $14 million lottery ticket.

Hallsted said the store is open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Avenue of Flags, which each year honors the memories of Lake County’s veterans on Memorial Day, is looking for volunteers for this year’s event.

William Asher, president of the Avenue of Flags, is preparing for the Memorial Day commemoration, which takes place on Monday, May 29.

Flags will be put up at the Lower Lake Cemetery as well as in Kelseyville and Lakeport, Asher said.

Asher said volunteers are needed to meet at 7 a.m. at the Lower Lake Cemetery on Memorial Day to put up flags as well as to transport them to Kelseyville and Lakeport and then back to Lower Lake.

The flags will be taken down at 3 p.m. that day.

For more information or to volunteer, call Asher at 707-900-1652 and leave a message.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

Senate Majority Leader Mike McGuire, Chair of the Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture, or JCFA, as well as Lake County’s representative in the state Senate, is gearing up for Wednesday’s hearing in the State Capitol focused on California’s burgeoning offshore wind industry.

This hearing will explore how to expedite the deployment of green energy while protecting the interests of California’s fishing fleet and ensuring coastal environmental safeguards remain in place.

For the first time, the hearing will bring all sides of the issue together for a groundbreaking discussion that will feature representatives from federal and state agencies, tribal leaders, offshore wind industry representatives, representatives from the fishing fleet, labor leaders and environmental organizations.

Presenters will focus on why offshore wind energy is essential to the State's green energy future and energy supply, the need to incorporate fish and wildlife in the development process, and how wind energy can be compatible with the protection of California’s fisheries.

“This first-of-its-kind hearing will bring all sides of the offshore wind discussion together, ensuring the State can expedite the deployment of this valuable energy resource while protecting the interests of California’s storied fishing fleet and guaranteeing coastal environmental safeguards,” said Sen. McGuire. “It’s critical to have these voices at the same table as we develop the road map for offshore energy, healthy oceans and a thriving fishing fleet to coexist here in the Golden State.”

The hearing begins at 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 17 in the State Capitol Swing Space, 1021 O Street, Room 2100. The public is welcome to attend the hearing.

The hearing will be livestreamed via the Senate website.

For more information about the hearing, visit the committee website.