News

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Despite a confirmed case of novel coronavirus being reported in neighboring Napa County this week, the risk of the virus making it to Lake County remains low, according to Lake County’s Public Health officer.

On Tuesday, the county of Napa said that a single case of novel coronavirus, officially known as COVID-19, was confirmed in a patient under isolation at Queen of the Valley Medical Center, with a second patient with symptoms under investigation at the hospital, as Lake County News has reported.

Officials said those two patients, who are not Napa County residents, were transferred on Monday to Queen of the Valley from Travis Air Force Base in Solano County.

They had been flown to Travis AFB from Japan, where they were under quarantine on the Diamond Princess cruise ship. Because there are limited isolation beds in Solano County, they were transferred to Napa County, officials said.

Napa County Public Health Officer Karen Relucio, MD, said there is little risk to Napa County residents.

This week, Lake County Public Health Officer Dr. Gary Pace echoed those sentiments when it comes to possible impacts for Lake County.

He said he expected health officials in Napa County are following strict infection control precautions.

“There would be almost no contact with these patients by anyone in Napa County, so risk would be low for the residents of Napa, and continue to be low for residents of Lake,” Pace said.

Last week, Pace had updated the Board of Supervisors about the situation, also telling them that he believed the risk remained low.

He had reported that there is a group of Americans who have traveled to China but who are not symptomatic and therefore considered medium risk, so they have been under self-quarantine. He said there are a large number of such individuals in the Bay Area.

Pace told Lake County News this week that the Lake County Health Department is in regular communication with state health officials, with peers in other jurisdictions and within the county.

“Hopefully, the spread will continue to be very slow, but we will see,” he said.

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.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Clearlake Animal Control has seven adoptable canines this week, including a new adult dog and a puppy.

The kennels also have many dogs that need to be reunited with their owners. To find the lost/found pet section, click here.

The following dogs are ready for adoption.

‘Barkley’

“Barkley” is a male American Pit Bull Terrier mix with a short red coat.

He is dog No. 3528.

‘Blue’

“Blue” is a male pit bull terrier mix with a short white and brindle coat.

He has been neutered.

He is dog No. 3539.

‘Lola’

“Lola” is a female pit bull terrier mix with a short red and white coat.

She has been spayed.

She is dog No. 3337.

‘Nutmeg’

“Nutmeg” is a female German Shepherd mix puppy.

She has a short brown and black coat.

She is dog No. 3628.

‘Precious’

“Precious” is a female Staffordshire Bull Terrier mix with a black coat.

She is dog No. 3268.

‘Savannah’

“Savannah” is a female Rhodesian Ridgeback mix with a short brindle coat.

She has been spayed.

Savannah is dog No. 3625.

‘Woodrow’

“Woodrow” is a male Staffordshire Bull Terrier with a black and white coat.

He is dog No. 3281.

Clearlake Animal Control’s shelter is located at 6820 Old Highway 53, off Airport Road.

Hours of operation are noon to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. The shelter is closed Sundays, Mondays and major holidays; the shelter offers appointments on the days it’s closed to accommodate people.

Call the Clearlake Animal Control shelter at 707-273-9440, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to inquire about adoptions.

Visit Clearlake Animal Control on Facebook or at the city’s Web site.

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.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – A new block, “Changing Seasons,” has been added to the Lake County Quilt Trail.

The 4-foot by 4-foot block has been installed on the People Services building at 4195 Lakeshore Blvd. in Lakeport.

This block was donated to People Services Inc. by Peggy Campbell, Certified Public Accountant, 401 N Main St., Lakeport.

People Services, Inc. has been successfully providing services in Lake County since 1981.

People Services is a private, non-for-profit CA 501(c) 3 corporation organized to meet the individual needs of people with disabilities residing in Lake County.

For more information about People Services visit its website.

The LCQT is an agricultural and tourism project designed to promote community pride.

The quilt block was drawn and painted by Gerri Groody and Annette Higday of the Lake County Quilt Trail team.

The Lake County Quilt Trail has the distinction of being the first quilt trail in California. It was started by Marilyn Holdenried in 2010.

The LCQT is no longer taking applications for new quilt blocks.

For more information about the Lake County Quilt Trail visit its website or Facebook page.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Congressman Mike Thompson honored two of Lake County’s first responders during a weekend ceremony.

Thompson (CA-05) announced the recipients of the Fifth Congressional District’s Public Safety Hero of the Year Award on Saturday.

Each year, Thompson honors at least one local law enforcement officer and one local first responder from each county in his district with the Public Safety Hero Award.

For Lake County, Lake County Sheriff’s Deputy Marc De La Torre and Lake County Fire Protection District Chief Willie Sapeta have been selected.

“It is my honor to recognize Deputy De La Torre and Chief Sapeta as our Public Safety Heroes for Lake County,” said Thompson. “They have dedicated their lives to keeping our community safe and have gone above and beyond in their public service throughout their careers. We are proud to have such heroes in our community and thank them for their service.”

The awards are meant to honor law enforcement officers and first responders who have gone above and beyond the call of duty, Thompson’s office reported.

“Our local public safety officers are some of our most vital community members, putting their lives on the line to keep us safe and often working overtime during emergencies, such as our recent fires,” said Thompson. “I am humbled to once again present my annual Public Safety Hero Award to the local law enforcement officers and first responders who demonstrate exceptional courage and dedication day in and day out. It is an incredible honor to represent so many dedicated and heroic public servants.”

Deputy De La Torre, who joined the Lake County Sheriff’s Office in December 2015, is being recognized for his heroism and quick thinking on the job last fall when he came across a mother with an unresponsive child in her arms.

De La Torre’s professional and swift response helped ensure the child lived and got medical care, changing a family’s life for the better, Thompson said.

Thompson lauded Chief Sapeta for being “the go-to guy” when it comes to emergency response in Lake County, coordinating trainings, drills and safety exercises and ensuring the county has the most up to date protocols to keep our community safe.

Sapeta and his firefighters have faced down devastating wildland fires in Lake County, particularly over the last several years.

He’s known for his constant presence both at work and for his family.

Sapeta told Lake County News that the award was a “totally unexpected” honor, and one that left him humbled and, uncharacteristically, at a loss for words.

“It was an honor. It truly was. It touched me very deeply,” he said.

He acknowledged the other recipients, who he said have done so much, crediting them for doing “far more than I do.”

Sapeta has been chief of the Lake County Fire Protection District for nine years, and this July will mark his 40th year in the fire service.

He said he began as a volunteer in his junior year at Middletown High School, the same year that he took his first emergency medical technician training course.

In 1982, when he graduated from high school, he began his paramedic training, he said.

For several years he said he worked as a “roving employee,” working part-time shifts at fire districts all around the lake.

In 1985 and 1986, he worked for the fire department in Lucerne before going to work for his current district in 1987, he said. He’s been with the district for 33 years.

In addition to the 11 honorees from each of the counties Thompson represents, Thompson also honored celebrity chefs Jose Andres and Tyler Florence with a special Public Safety Hero Award in honor of their work to provide meals and support during the recent fires.

The full list of the Public Safety Heroes of the Year for the Fifth Congressional District is below:

– Chief Dean Colombo, Crockett-Carquinez Fire Department;
– Officer Jennifer Witschi and her K9 partner, Milo, Pinole Police Department;
– Chief Neil Gang, Pinole Police Department;
– Deputy Marc De La Torre, Lake County Sheriff’s Office;
– Chief Willie Sapeta, Lake County Fire Protection District;
– Detective Garrett Smith, Napa Police Department;
– Scott Rose, Napa Emergency Services;
– Officer John Ehman, Vallejo Police Department;
– Captain Patrick Wong, Vallejo Police Department;
– Lieutenant Shawn Murphy, Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office;
– Chief Mark Heine, Sonoma County Fire District;
– Jose Andres, celebrity chef and local second responder;
– Tyler Florence, celebrity chef and local second responder.

Thompson represents California’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties.

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. – Two Northshore residents have died of the injuries they sustained in a Saturday afternoon solo-vehicle wreck near Clearlake Oaks.

Lt. Corey Paulich of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office identified one of the victims as Richard Joseph Adams, 69, of Nice.

A 59-year-old woman from Clearlake Oaks who was riding in the car with Adams was flown to Solano County, where she died of her injuries. The release of her name was not immediately available.

Justin Hendrix, 33, of Woodland, also was in the car at the time of the wreck. He sustained major injuries and was flown to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital for treatment, according to the California Highway Patrol’s Clear Lake Area office.

Adams was driving a blue 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer westbound on Highway 20, east of the intersection of Morine Ranch Road in Clearlake Oaks, at an unknown rate of speed at approximately 4:51 p.m. Saturday, the CHP reported.

The CHP said the crash occurred when Adams drove off the roadway, onto the right shoulder of Highway, where the front of his vehicle hit three separate trees.

After the wreck, the Chevrolet came to a rest on the north shoulder of Highway 20, east of the intersection of Morine Ranch Road, on three wheels – with the left rear wheel elevated, according to the report.

Adams was pronounced deceased in the driver seat, the CHP said, while Hendrix and the woman were extricated and transported by REACH helicopters out of the county.

The CHP said Adams was wearing his seatbelt, while the female passenger, who was riding in the right front seat, and Hendrix, seated in the rear of the vehicle, were unrestrained.

Neither drugs nor alcohol are suspected as factors in this wreck, the CHP said.

This article has been updated to show that the second crash victim was in fact flown to Solano County, not Sonoma County, has had been reported to Lake County News.

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. – A Northshore woman was arrested Saturday after leading authorities on a high-speed pursuit in a stolen car.

Miranda Leeann Ellingwood Estrella, 37, of Nice was arrested following the Saturday afternoon incident, according to Lt. Corey Paulich of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.

Paulich said that at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, a Lake County Sheriff’s deputy was patrolling in the Kelseyville area when he heard a radio broadcast related to a silver Ford Fusion that had just been stolen from the Upper Lake area by a blonde female, who later was identified as Ellingwood Estrella.

As the deputy was approaching Highland Springs Road, he observed the stolen vehicle traveling south on Highway 29 at a speed in excess of 80 miles per hour and passing vehicles on the right shoulder, Paulich said.

A Lakeport Police officer also was in the area and attempted to stop the female driver of the stolen vehicle along with the deputy, Paulich said.

Paulich said Ellingwood Estrella failed to stop and accelerated to approximately 112 miles per hour.

She continued south on Highway 29, passing vehicles over double-yellow lines. Paulich said she turned onto Red Hills Road, continuing towards Highway 175 and crossing over double yellow lines.

He said Ellingwood Estrella turned onto Highway 175 and eventually stopped in a driveway in the 9400 block of Highway 175.

Paulich said the deputy gave commands to Ellingwood Estrella, but she did not comply. She appeared to be confused and disoriented.

She exited the vehicle, but would not raise her hands. Paulich said she had a bag in her hands that was obstructing the deputy from being able to see her hands.

Paulich said the deputy ordered Ellingwood Estrella to drop the bag several times, but she did not comply.

Fearing she could have a weapon and her continued failure to comply with the deputy’s commands, the deputy fired one less-lethal bean bag round that struck Ellingwood Estrella in the leg, Paulich said.

She then got back into the stolen vehicle and started to dig through the center console of the vehicle, according to Paulich.

Paulich said Ellingwood Estrella eventually followed commands exiting the vehicle and was taken into custody.

Authorities transported Ellingwood Estrella to Sutter Lakeside Hospital where she received medical attention, Paulich said.

She was later booked at the Lake County Jail on charges of vehicle theft, evading, and possession of a stolen vehicle, according to Paulich.

Paulich said Ellingwood Estrella is also on felony probation out of Mendocino County for burglary.

Ellingwood Estrella, who was scheduled to be in court for arraignment on Tuesday, remains in custody with bail set at $35,000, according to jail records.