Selected for the 2011-12 panel include returning jurors Kathleen Bisaccio of Lakeport, Fred Christensen of Lakeport, Judith Stelljes of Kelseyville, Diane Trudeau of Cobb, Gerald Morehouse of Lucerne and Beryl Reeder of Clearlake; and new members Cheryl Engels of Middletown, Brockman Kreiss of Clearlake Oaks, Margaret Maloney of Kelseyville, Karen Miller of Kelseyville, Ken Montoya of Kelseyville, James Neil of Kelseyville, Janice Pankratz of Lakeport, Natalie Parsons of Upper Lake, Conrad Petersen of Kelseyville, William Quigley of Clearlake Oaks, John Sakowich of Lakeport, Gary Smades of Lakeport and Luther Sweigert of Clearlake.
Fred Christensen was appointed foreperson and the grand jury immediately went into session for the purpose of organization.
The 2010-11 grand jury was discharged after filing its final report earlier.
Along with Bisaccio, Christensen, Stelljes, Trudeau, Morehouse and Reeder, the former panel included Kevin Byrnes, Michael Daugherty, Kenneth Fountain, Jay Gehrke, Dave Johnson, Judith Steele Lanfranco, Nanette Marschall, Mary Moore, Phillip Myers, Mary Nolan and Jack Scialabba.
The major function of the Lake County Grand Jury is to examine county and city government and special districts to ensure that their duties are being lawfully carried out.
The grand jury reviews and evaluates procedures, methods, and systems utilized by these entities to determine whether more efficient and economical programs may be employed.
Grand jurors are officers of the court but work as an independent body.
A grand jury works to ensure that the best interests of all citizens of the county are being served by their governmental bodies.
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