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Opinion
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- Written by: Mike Tabacchi
A common thread of history exists which unites our area communities. Join me in this brief visit back to the Wild West.
In 1888, entrepreneur William H. Spiers purchased a stage coach line and won a contract for mail delivery. His Calistoga-Clear Lake Stage Line brought visitors to the county’s popular resorts and spas.
It took three hours to travel the 17 miles from Calistoga to Middletown. The Clear Lake line included stops in Coyote Valley, Guenoc, Lower Lake, and Clear Lake. Another line branched off from Lower Lake and served Kelseyville and Lakeport.
Travelers were carried in the California “mud wagon,” which was built in Sacramento for $500. This unique carriage accommodated 20 passengers, their baggage, mail sacks, and a Wells Fargo strong box containing gold for the Great Western Mine payroll.
What account of the wild west would be complete without an outlaw?
The life of Lawrence Buchanan “Buck” English compares with that of Billy the Kid. Buck English “graduated” from San Quentin in 1882 and walked the streets with a six-shooter strapped to his side.
At age 18 he robbed a Lower Lake stage and took the booty from its strongbox. For 20 years, he and his brothers roamed our countryside rustling cattle, stealing horses and robbing solitary travelers.
Note: For many years, Martha Webster contributed these historic accounts of our community in the Middletown Days edition of the Times Star. She contributed to me in many ways as a mentor during her membership with the Middletown Area Town Hall.
Martha passed away last winter following a lengthy illness.
Mike Tabacchi lives in Middletown, Calif.
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- Written by: Bob Bridges
Have you noticed that the Lakeport city staff continues to pursue spending over $750,000 of your 100-percent increase to your water bill to purchase new water meters for all of us (whether we need one or not).
This is being done even though it was the consensus of the “rate hiking” city council that the 100-percent rate increase they proposed on us was to prevent critical equipment failure, service interruptions and fines from the state and not to buy things that the city staff merely wanted but were not necessary.
So while all of us take shorter showers, defer flushing toilets and let our lawns and gardens turn brown, city staff is draining over $750,000 out of the city economy to pay some, out of county business, for meters that are unnecessary and unneeded.
This is money that would otherwise be spent locally on food, medicine, fuel and other necessities that the city staff wants you to forgo, while our city withers just like our yards.
Ask your city council person if it is true that the new meters will read 10 to 15 percent higher than your present meter?
Have you also noticed that while the city urges you to conserve on water, they are busy approving water connections for development projects and deferring connection charges for out-of-town developers?
Tell your city council to insure that our precious water money is not wasted on unnecessary projects like water meters and only spend our money on critical and necessary items as they agreed when they increased our water rates by 100 percent.
The city staff obviously wants to ignore the voices of the 800 property owners who protested this burdensome increase.
They seem unconcerned, that their spending of borrowed money outside of the county, is what leads cities to bankruptcy.
The city council needs to take control of their bureaucracy that is ignoring council direction.
Is the city staff working for us are we working for them?
Bob Bridges lives in Lakeport, Calif.
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- Written by: Ellen Karnowski
On Saturday, July 20, a successful fundraising tournament was held at the Gard Street courts in Kelseyville. Thanks to all of the merchants who supported the effort to resurface the school courts in Kelseyville.
We had a lot of generous donations that made this tournament a success.
On behalf of the community and the Kelseyville school district, we would like to thank The Saw Shop Bistro in Kelseyville, Disney Water Sports in Lakeport, Carlton Tire in Lakeport, the Grinder Steep coffee shop in Middletown, as well as Jimmy’s Deli, and Lakeport Cinema 5, Steele wines, Nature’s Food Center Kelseyville Pizza, Wildhurst and Jay Buechler of Blue Flame Glass.
Everyone had a good time at this event, and your support allowed us to distribute these generous prizes. We hope to hold another event soon.
Thanks again to our community for your support.
Ellen Karnowski is director of the Konocti Junior Tennis League in Kelseyville, Calif.
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- Written by: Lonne Sloan
I would like to express our thanks to everyone who participated, donated, assisted in putting on our wonderful Lake County Rodeo Parade.
A special thank you to Brian Martin for all his support and help and to the Lake County Farm Bureau for their wonderful entry.
Thanks to all the nameless sideline volunteers who helped put the parade together as well.
Parade results:
Russ and Sandy Kennerly Memorial Award: Karly Petta, Lower Lake, Calif.
Senior Sweepstake: Lake County Farm Bureau
Best Overall: Connie Hawkins, Sonora, Calif.
Matched Pair: Mike and Kelley Patton, Dixon, Calif.
Senior Novelty: Lonne Sloan, Lower Lake, Calif.
Junior Plain Western: Karly Petta, Lower Lake, Calif.
First Place: Diablo Ladies Drill Team
Second Place: Lake County Horse Counsel
First Place: Kelseyville Brewing
Second Place: 1971 Cadillac Pat Sparing
First Place: Shawna with Pet Pig
Lonne Sloan is parade chairperson for the Lake County Rodeo Parade in Lakeport, Calif.