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- Written by: Lake County News Reports
Lake County Fair is one of Lake County's favorite summertime events, and is enjoyed by more than 37,000 people each year. The fair features a variety of entertainment, food, exhibits, a carnival and livestock shows.
This year's theme is "Fun in the Sun!"
Special features for the 2009 Fair include a hands-on children's discovery science center, free health screenings, the annual Junior Livestock Auction, and more than 4,000 exhibits entered in various competitions.
Fairgoers can also expect appearances by a variety of local musical acts and attractions on three stages, as well as clowns, magicians, and other strolling performers. Hispanic Day activities will take place in the Theatre Main Stage area on Sunday, Sept. 6.
Grandstand shows include the Lake County Invitational Sheep Dog Trials on Thursday evening, the traditional demolition derbie on Friday evening, Mud Bog Races on Saturday evening, and the return of the California State Finals of the WGAS Motorsports Tuff Truck and ATV Races on Sunday evening. All grandstand shows start at 7:30 p.m., and are sponsored by Robinson Rancheria Bingo and Casino.
Live local entertainment occurs continuously on two stages. The Theatre Main Stage will host the likes of the LC Diamonds, Bill Noteman and the Rockets, the Mark Weston Band, and the Hip Replacements, among others. The Enhance H2O Stage will host a variety of acts including Mike Wilhelm, David Neft, the Carter and Chambers Duo, and the Kustom Cuts.
A fair parade, the kick-off event for the annual Lake County Fair, starts at Natural High in Lakeport, travels south on Main Street, and ends at the main gate to the fairgrounds with the ribbon cutting ceremony. The parade occurs at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 3.
Fair buildings and grounds swell to bursting with the thousands of displays made, grown, or raised for entry by talented residents both young and young at heart. Entries for judging in the fair include most types of fine arts, home arts and crafts, photography, amateur wine and beer, many types of agriculture and floriculture, livestock, small animals and horses.
Walk on contests this year include the fastest penny rolling contest, a cookie stacking contest, a marshmallow tossing contest, and, and a decorating with candy contest.
The annual Junior Livestock Auction takes place on Saturday, Sept. 5, at 1 p.m. in the Baldwin Pavilion. Businesses and individuals are invited to bid on the prize-winning livestock raised and exhibited by local youth.
Various livestock species are displayed throughout the fair, including swine, beef, sheep, goat and horse exhibits from local 4-H and FFA exhibitors. Small animals are represented as well, with chickens, turkeys, rabbits and cavies all residing in the barn areas.
Regular admission prices for the 2009 Lake County Fair are $8 for adults and $5 for children ages 6 through 11. Admission prices are unchanged since 2007. Children under 6 years old are admitted free everyday. Children through age 11 are admitted for $2 on Thursday, Sept. 3 only, for "Kid's Day."
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- Written by: Lake County News Reports
The parade through Lakeport kicks off at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 3, at Natural High School on N. Main St. in Lakeport, and travels south down Main Street, then west on Martin to the main gate of the fairgrounds, where the Starks will cut the ribbon to open the fair.
The fair this year runs Thursday, Sept. 3, through Sunday, Sept. 6. This year's fair theme is “Fun in the Sun!”
The Starks have been residents of Lake County for decades, and grew up in the Ukiah area. They have been involved in producing the Lake County Fair since the early 1980s. They have five children, all of whom have worked at the fair, and several grandchildren.
“Ray and Jeanie and their children have been tremendous supporters of the Lake County community and of the Lake County Fair for decades, and the fair board is honored that they have accepted the duties of grand marshals,” said Fair Board President Janeane Bogner.
Jeannie Starks retired after the 2008 Lake County Fair. She served as the floriculture building superintendent for more than a decade.
Prior to moving to the floriculture building, she worked at one time as the superintendent in the home arts building, and at another time as the superintendent of the fine arts building, spending years in each building before moving on to the next.
Ray Starks started his career at the Lake County Fair driving the tractor used to collect used bedding throughout the barn areas, a job he did for many years before working his way up to his current position managing all of the space rentals on the fairgrounds.
As the fair’s rental coordinator, he deals with all of the tenants of the fairgrounds, both during the Lake County Fair and throughout the rest of the year.
The Starks children – Drew, Emily, Monica, Jeff and Leighton – all began working at the Lake County Fair at young ages. All five worked in the fine arts, home arts, and floriculture buildings over the years.
The oldest four each eventually were promoted to a building superintendent’s position, with Emily Starks spending more than a decade as the superintendent of the fine arts building. The youngest, Leighton Starks, will be a high school senior this fall.
Regular admission prices for the 2009 Lake County Fair are $8 for adults and $5 for children ages 6 through 11. Admission prices are unchanged since 2007.
Children under 6 years old are admitted free everyday. Children through age 11 are admitted for $2 on Thursday, Sept. 3 only, for "Kid's Day."
The Lake County Fair is one of Lake County's favorite summertime events, and is enjoyed by more than 37,000 people each year. The fair features a variety of entertainment, food, exhibits, a carnival, and livestock shows.
Visit the fair online at www.lakecountyfair.com .
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
An Office of Emergency Services engine housed at South Lake County Fire's Middletown station was sent to the Station Fire in Los Angeles on Monday, according to Northshore Fire Chief Jim Robbins.
Robbins received the call from the state OES for the engine at 1 a.m. Monday, and within a short time the engine and several firefighters were under way.
The Station Fire is located in Los Angeles County in the Angeles National Forest's jurisdiction. It began Aug. 26 and has so far burned more than 105,000 acres and was only 5 percent contained late Monday.
Over the weekend the fire claimed the life of two firefighters, according to the Governor's Office.
Over the weekend, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared states of emergency in Los Angeles, Monterey and Placer counties because of the wildfires burning in those areas.
Late Sunday night Robbins also was called on to assemble a five-engine strike team to send to the 49 fire, which has destroyed 60 structures and burned 340 acres at Highway 49 and Rock Creek near Auburn, according to Cal Fire.
Evacuations are in effect for several areas as a result of that fire, which was 70-percent contained late Monday, Cal Fire reported.
However, after Robbins got the strike team – 15 firefighters and a battalion chief – ready to get on the road, the state called to cancel.
About a week ago a strike team of local firefighters – both paid and volunteer, from the county's several fire districts – and engines returned from a 16-day deployment in Shasta County, according to Northshore Battalion Chief Pat Brown.
Locally, firefighters have continued working on some small summer fires, including an early morning grass fire that burned a fence behind Sentry Market in Nice on Friday and a Saturday afternoon fire that burned on acre on Collier and Hammond, Robbins said.
The fire at Collier and Hammond was sparked by a young man on a riding lawn mower, which hit a rock while mowing during the heat of the day, Robbins said.
Robbins said they were unable to find a cause for the fire behind Sentry Market.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
Robert Lavern Davison, 41, pleaded guilty to one count of coercion and enticement for illegal sexual activity in the US District Court of Utah's Central Division on Aug. 24, according to court records.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, assisted by the Lake County Sheriff's Office, arrested Davison and served search warrants on his Cobb home on Feb. 12, as Lake County News has reported.
Davison had allegedly met a 13-year-old Utah girl online in 2008 while playing an Internet game, “World of Warcraft.” That is alleged to have led to instant messaging in which Davison urged the girl to meet him in California.
The case came to the attention of the Centerville, Utah, police last November when the girl was reported missing. She later was found at a Salt Lake City bus station, where she was scheduled to get on a bus using a ticket Davison had purchased for her through a third party, according to case records.
Initially, Davison pleaded not guilty to the charge, and a jury trial was set for Sept. 28.
However, on Aug. 24 a change of plea hearing was held in which Davison entered the new guilty plea.
The charge carries a minimum 10-year sentence and a maximum life sentence, plus a $250,000 fine, according to federal documents.
Davison's plea document states that between June 1, 2008, and Nov. 13, 2008, he used the Internet and, in particular, instant messaging, “to coerce a minor to travel to California to engage in sexual activity with me.” He further admits that the girl was 13 years old at the time.
In exchange for the plea, the federal government agree to reduce his offense level under sentencing guidelines and suggest that he be sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Davison's sentencing is set for Dec. 17 before Judge Dale A. Kimball.
Also on Aug. 24, Kimball granted the federal government's request that a psychosexual evaluation be prepared on Davison.
If that evaluation report is completed in less than 120 days, Davison's sentencing will be moved up at the request of his attorney.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at