How to resolve AdBlock issue? 
News
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The California Highway Patrol’s Ukiah Area office did not release the name of the 49-year-old woman — who was riding as a passenger in a Mini Cooper that was involved in the collision — pending notification of next of kin.
The crash occurred at 5:28 p.m. Monday on Highway 20 east of Potter Valley Road during rainy conditions, the CHP said.
Based on witness statements, statements from the parties involved and the dash cam footage, the CHP said that Rafael Esquivel, 60, of Ukiah was driving a blue 2004 Mini Cooper eastbound as Michael Schmuckley, 66, of Portland, Oregon, was driving a blue 2018 Toyota Tacoma westbound.
Kurt Jensen, 49, of Clearlake was driving a black 2019 Ford Explorer westbound just behind Schmuckley, the CHP said.
At the time of the crash, the roadway was wet. The CHP said Esquivel drove through standing water causing his Mini Cooper to lose traction with the roadway. The Mini Cooper began to spin and went into the westbound lane.
The CHP said the front of the Mini Cooper collided with the driver’s side of Schmuckley’s Toyota Tacoma, which caused the Toyota to lose control and spin.
The Mini Cooper continued to spin out of control into the westbound lane and the car’s right rear collided with the front of Jensen’s Ford Explorer.
Passing motorists stopped to assist and helped extricate the Mini Cooper’s occupants. The CHP said the female passenger was unresponsive and died of her injuries at the scene.
Neither alcohol nor drugs are believed to be contributing factors in this collision, the CHP said.
Esquivel suffered major injuries, Jensen had moderate injuries and Schmuckley had none, officials said.
The CHP said the crash remains under investigation.
Anyone with information about the wreck is asked to contact the CHP’s Ukiah Area office at 707-467-4420.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The board, which met at the Lake County Campus in Clearlake as well as online, approved the provisional appointment of Douglas Harris to fill the unexpired term of William Roderick, who resigned in early February.
Roderick, elected in 2020, represented Trustee Area 7, which includes a portion of Lake County running from Clearlake Oaks in the north to Middletown in the south, as well as parts of Colusa and Glenn counties.
While Roderick’s term ends in 2024, Harris’ provisional appointment will be in effect until the next regularly scheduled board of trustees election on Nov. 8, unless a petition is filed to challenge it, according to board documents.
After Roderick’s resignation, Board President Dennise Burbank appointed a Board Ad Hoc Committee that included herself and fellow trustees Susan Alves and David Wheeler to oversee the appointment process, board documents show.
Harris, the only applicant, has a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Wisconsin, River Falls and a master’s degree in social work from San Francisco State University.
He’s worked as a part-time instructor in human services and sociology at Yuba Community College’s Lake County Campus, and has been a clients’ rights advocate and social worker, a paralegal and housing counselor.
Harris also has extensive volunteer involvement on the Lake County Campus site council, Habitat for Humanity, planning councils and care committees, and in community groups including the Redbud Audubon Society, the Middletown Arts Center, the Lake County Land Trust and the Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association.
He received support from District 2 Supervisor Bruno Sabatier, who was one of Harris’ students at the Lake County Campus; Dr. Annette Lee, who worked with Harris at the campus for 16 years; academic counselor Ingrid Larsen; and Dr. Laurie Daly, professor of Early Childhood Education, also at the Lake County Campus.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
- Details
- Written by: Governor’s Office
On Monday, Gov. Gavin Newsom swore in Justice Patricia Guerrero to the California Supreme Court – the first Latina justice to serve on the bench of our state’s highest court.
A highly regarded jurist, Justice Guerrero’s nomination to the court was unanimously confirmed by the Commission on Judicial Appointments last week.
Raised in the Imperial Valley by immigrant parents from Mexico, Justice Guerrero has served as an associate justice at the Fourth District Court of Appeal, Division One since 2017 and has wide-ranging experience as a trial court judge, partner at a major law firm and assistant U.S. attorney.
The governor swore in Justice Guerrero in Sacramento at a ceremony joined by First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, Chief Justice Tani Gorre Cantil-Sakauye, California Supreme Court Associate Justice Martin Jenkins, California Supreme Court Associate Justice Carol Corrigan, Fourth District Court of Appeal Justice Judith McConnell and other members of the judiciary, legislators, and Justice Guerrero's father Jorge, sister Claudia, husband Joe, and sons Anthony and Christopher.
“This is a proud day for all Californians,” said Gov. Newsom. “A first-generation Californian and daughter of the Imperial Valley, Justice Guerrero’s extraordinary ascent to serve as the first Latina justice on our state’s highest court is not only an incredible personal achievement, it is an inspiring example of California’s enduring promise that any dream is possible, no matter who you are or where you come from. Justice Guerrero’s brilliance, integrity, work ethic and rich insights will make an invaluable contribution to the court. I’m confident that Justice Guerrero will continue her life’s work to uphold our fundamental rights and freedoms and advance equal justice and opportunity for all Californians.”
“I’m incredibly honored to take the bench on our state’s Supreme Court, and I thank everyone who has made this day possible,” said Justice Guerrero. “I am here because of the courage, sacrifices and dedication of my parents and my grandparents who, like so many others, came to this country with the hope of a brighter future for their children. I hope that my journey encourages the next generation of leaders to pursue their dreams, and I look forward to taking on this opportunity to uphold the rule of law and work to ensure equal justice under the law for every Californian.”
Justice Guerrero replaces Associate Justice Mariano-Florentino Cuéllar, who left the bench effective Oct. 31, 2021.
“Your appointment is a testimony to not only your extraordinary judicial career, but also to your devotion and commitment to the citizens of California and their access to justice,” wrote Sonia Sotomayor, associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, in a letter to Justice Guerrero. “Your appointment is an important reminder of how far we have come and of how far we have yet to go. I know you will make our country proud. You already have.”
As an appellate justice at the Fourth District Court of Appeal, Justice Guerrero authored numerous opinions to protect the rights of consumers and individuals, while also ensuring that defendants’ constitutional rights are protected and that all parties, including the government, are treated fairly and consistent with the rule of law.
She served as a Judge at the San Diego County Superior Court from 2013 to 2017 and was Supervising Judge for the Family Law Division at the Court in 2017. Justice Guerrero was hired as an Associate at Latham & Watkins and became a Partner in 2006. She served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of California from 2002 to 2003.
“To be the first Latina on the California Supreme Court and make history, it is clear that one must have an exceptional life story. Justice Patricia Guerrero is already inspiring young Latinas to set their sights higher and believe they can be anything they want to be,” said Orange County Superior Court Judge Elizabeth G. Macias. “Justice Guerrero will be a justice who will uphold the Constitution and protect the rights of all Californians, including the voiceless and the vulnerable. Thank you, Governor Newsom and Judicial Appointments Secretary Luis Céspedes, for recognizing the importance of having a California Supreme Court that reflects the people of this great state. The California Latino Judges Association joins Governor Newsom and Justice Guerrero in celebrating this historic moment.”
“The appointment of Justice Patricia Guerrero as the first Latina to serve on the California Supreme Court is truly a historic milestone for the judiciary and citizens of the State of California,” said retired California Supreme Court Justice Carlos R. Moreno. “I have every confidence that she will serve with distinction. Her academic credentials, her litigation experience in the trial courts as a lawyer and as a judge – civil and criminal – as well as having served as an appellate justice on the Fourth District Court of Appeal, amply confirm that she is exceptionally well-qualified to serve on our State’s highest court. I applaud Governor Newsom for this exceptional and well-deserved appointment.”
“Congratulations to Justice Guerrero on this historic and well-earned achievement,” said Vilma Martinez, former President and General Counsel of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, or MALDEF. “I applaud this latest example of Gov. Newsom’s commitment to ensure that our judiciary reflects the marvelous diversity of our state.”
Justice Guerrero has contributed many hours of pro bono work, including as a member of the Advisory Board of the Immigration Justice Project, to promote due process and access to justice at all levels of the immigration and appellate court system.
She has assisted clients on a pro bono basis in immigration matters, including asylum applications and protecting vulnerable families by litigating compliance with fair housing laws.
The chief justice of the California Supreme Court named her to the Blue Ribbon Commission on the Future of the California Bar Exam and Justice Guerrero has been active in the Chief’s “Judges in the Classroom” civics program.
- Details
- Written by: LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
The fourth Annual Lake County Ag & Natural Resources Day will be held at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Lakeport from 9 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, May 4.
A committee of the Lake County Fair Foundation is hard at work to bring the event’s agricultural and natural resource learning experiences back to Lake County students, in-person.
The event was canceled in both 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
New this year is a second opportunity, Ag & Natural Resources Career Day, which will take place the following week, on Wednesday, May 11, from 9 a.m. to noon.
At the career day event, high school students can learn from local farmers, businesses and educational trade schools about possible career paths. The goal is to showcase the many opportunities in the agriculture and natural resource industries that are located in Lake County.
If you or someone you know would like to support these important events, sponsorship packages are available through the Lake County Fair Foundation, a 501c3 nonprofit organization.
Funds will be used to cover event costs and fund transportation for schools which could otherwise not attend.
Community members, businesses, and service clubs can support the event through sponsorships, exhibits, demonstrations and volunteering efforts.
Preregistration is required and must be submitted by April 8.
Educators should communicate with school administrators to coordinate attendance to either event.
You can learn more about the event at www.lakecountyfairfoundation.com or contact
For more information, contact Blair Smith at 209-269-6766 or Sheli Wright at 707-263-6181.