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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — A Clearlake man has been ordered to stand trial for separate arson cases that happened about two weeks apart.
Patrick Blaine Squier, 66, was in Judge J. David Markham’s courtroom on Monday afternoon for his preliminary hearing in the two cases.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Nicholas Rotow said Squier has been ordered to stand trial in the cases. He’s set to return to court later this month.
Squier is facing arson charges for fires authorities said he set on Aug. 23 and Sept. 6, both in Clearlake.
The fire on Aug. 23 was reported at about 11 p.m. behind Foods Etc., located at 15290 Lakeshore Drive in Clearlake.
A trash can was set on fire behind the store, against a building and near numerous propane tanks, between the store and the Adventist Health clinic, as Lake County News has reported.
Squier was arrested a short time after that fire and, after his arraignment on Aug. 26, was released on his own recognizance.
Then, at around 4 a.m. Sept. 6, a debris fire was reported behind the Grocery Outlet, located at 14806 Olympic Drive. Police again arrested Squier shortly after that fire.
He was arraigned on Sept. 9 for that second incident.
As for why Squier set the fires, “I have no information on motive,” Rotow told Lake County News on Monday afternoon, following the preliminary hearing.
Squier remains in custody in the Lake County Jail. At the Sept. 9 arraignment, the District Attorney’s Office argued for Squier to remain in custody without bail and the judge agreed.
Rotow said Squier could file a motion for reconsideration of bail but so far he has not done so.
“I think that would be an uphill battle, but legally he could make the request. We’ll strongly oppose it,” Rotow said.
Squier is scheduled to return to court for arraignment on Sept. 30. Rotow expects the case to be set for trial after that.
“We intend to put the cases together so they’re tried as one case,” he said.
Rotow added that he expects the case to go to trial because the District Attorney’s Office does not plan to offer a plea agreement.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Lake County Sheriff’s Office has identified the man who died in the custody of deputies at a Kelseyville park last week.
The agency said the man who died was Ryan Vandever, 50, of Colorado.
On Tuesday, Sept. 9, sheriff’s deputies responded to Kelseyville Community Park on the report of an individual acting erratically and harassing people in the park, as Lake County News has reported.
That individual, identified as Vandever, was lethargic and having difficulty answering questions, the sheriff’s office said.
Deputies requested medics respond, but when they arrived and attempted to treat him, Vandever became combative. As a result, the deputies placed Vandever in handcuffs.
Vandever became nonresponsive, medics attempted CPR and he died at the hospital a short time later.
Because it considers Vandever’s death as having taken place in custody, the sheriff’s office activated the critical incident protocol. Under that protocol, the Lake County District Attorney’s Office is the lead investigating agency.
The sheriff’s office also is continuing to conduct an internal investigation to ensure all policies and procedures were followed.
The last in-custody death the county reported occurred in June of last year and involved a Lake County Jail inmate.
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- Written by: LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
Editor’s note: This story has been updated regarding the decision to drop the Kelseyville and Middletown sites. There is also new information on how to sign up for the local event.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Community members are invited to join the effort to keep the county’s waterways clean.
Lake County will once again participate in the California Coastal Clean-Up Day, which takes place from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Sept. 20.
More than 50 California state parks and the Division of Boating and Waterways will participate in the event in coordination with the California Coastal Commission.
This year marks the 41st annual cleanup event, which is California’s largest annual volunteer event.
Organized by the California Coastal Commission, more than 45,000 volunteers are expected to gather at 700 locations throughout the state, including beaches and shorelines.
But the event is not limited to coastal regions; there are cleanups along inland waterways as well, including in Lake County.
New this year, California Coastal Cleanup Day will become the world's largest scavenger hunt. Special "trashure" items will be hidden at cleanup sites across the state. Volunteers finding one of these items can redeem them for valuable prizes.
In Lake County, cleanup sites are:
• Highland Springs Recreational Area, Lakeport;
• Library Park, Lakeport;
• Rodman Slough at the Nice/Lucerne Cutoff;
• Habematolel EPA Department, Upper Lake;
• Lucerne Harbor;
• Austin Park, Clearlake.
Linda Rosas-Bill of Lake County Water Resources said anyone wanting to volunteer can head to the site of their choice, sign a liability waiver and start helping.
Following the cleanup, there will be an appreciation barbecue for the Coastal Clean-Up volunteers at Highland Springs Recreational Area from noon to 2 p.m. Captains will have a ticket for volunteers at their sites.
All volunteers’ names will be added to a drawing for a chance to win a prize. The winner will be announced Friday, Sept. 26.
For more information on the Lake County cleanup, reach out to Linda Rosas-Bill at
California’s event is also part of the International Coastal Cleanup organized by the Ocean Conservancy.
Last year, more than 47,000 volunteers removed over 400,000 pounds, or 200 tons, of trash and recyclables from our waterways, beaches and lakes.
In addition to individual volunteers, 40 boating facilities and groups participated with 1,391 volunteers collecting 9,745 pounds of trash and recyclables on land and from 95 kayaks, canoes and dinghies.
The event also provides hands-on educational experiences about the damage that trash, especially single-use disposable plastics, can cause to California’s wildlife, economy and human health.
According to past cleanup data, 75 percent of the debris volunteers remove is composed of plastic, a material that never completely biodegrades and has numerous harmful consequences in the environment. Plastic debris can kill wildlife, leach toxins into the environment and introduce them into the food chain.
To join this statewide effort, the California Coastal Commission has an interactive map of cleanup locations throughout the state, available here. Volunteers can check the website for updates and share their cleanup experiences on social media using the hashtag #coastalcleanupday.
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- Written by: LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday issued a proclamation declaring Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, 2025, as "Latino Heritage Month," and released a video with First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom commemorating the observance.
The text of the proclamation and a copy can be found below, in both English and Spanish:
PROCLAMATION
California is proudly home to more than 15 million Latinos who are foundational to our state’s identity, success, and future. During Latino Heritage Month, we celebrate the central role of Latinos throughout every chapter of our history, and in our rich culture and prosperity as a state and nation.
Since the very beginning of statehood, Latino heritage and community have been irrevocably intertwined with our democracy – and with our state as a whole. In 1849, California approved its first constitution, written in both English and Spanish, and included a provision requiring that all laws and official state documents must be published in both languages.
That provision was nullified in 1879, with an amendment that allowed official writings and proceedings to be conducted and written only in English – part of a rising tide of anti-Latino and xenophobic sentiment. Today, we face a similar sentiment, an anti-Latino, anti-immigrant movement that has been fueled by misinformation and hate, and supported by laws, policies, and rulings that ignore the humanity, the civil rights, and many contributions of the Latino community.
But that sentiment is not in the majority. Here in California, we understand that our diversity is a source of strength. The contributions of generations of Latinos are fundamental to the success and scale of California’s society, economy, culture, and values. The leadership, service, sacrifices, and vision of Latinos continue to enrich all facets of American life.
The Latino community is strong and resilient, and their legacy and foundational role in the prosperity of this nation and California will not be extinguished by hate – as a state, we will not allow it. California stands firm in our support. We are a majority minority state – 40% of Californians are Latino, and we are simply not the same state without them.
In California, we know and believe that our state is better off when all our communities can thrive. This Latino Heritage Month, we reaffirm our commitment to making the California Dream a reality for everyone, defending our families and communities, pushing back against hate and injustice, and protecting our collective progress.
This month and every month, let us recognize and celebrate the countless contributions of Latino communities to our California story throughout the centuries and for generations to come.
NOW THEREFORE I, GAVIN NEWSOM, Governor of the State of California, do hereby proclaim September 15 to October 15, 2025 as “Latino Heritage Month.”
IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 11th day of September 2025.
GAVIN NEWSOM
Governor of California
ATTEST:
SHIRLEY N. WEBER, Ph.D.
Secretary of State
PROCLAMACIÓN
California se enorgullece de albergar a más de 15 millones de latinos, quienes son fundamentales para la identidad, el éxito y el futuro de nuestro estado. Durante el Mes de la Herencia Latina, celebramos el papel central de los latinos a lo largo de cada capítulo de nuestra historia, así como en nuestra rica cultura y prosperidad como estado y nación.
Desde el inicio de este estado, la herencia y la comunidad latina han estado irrevocablemente entrelazadas con nuestra democracia y con nuestro estado. En 1849, California aprobó su primera constitución, escrita en inglés y español, e incluyó una disposición que exigía que todas las leyes y documentos oficiales del estado se publicaran en ambos idiomas.
Esa disposición fue anulada en 1879 con una enmienda que solo permitía que los escritos y procedimientos oficiales se realizaran y redactaran en inglés, como parte de una creciente ola de sentimiento antilatino y xenófobo. Hoy, nos enfrentamos a un sentimiento similar, un movimiento antilatino y antiinmigrante alimentado por la desinformación y el odio, y respaldado por leyes políticas y fallos que ignoran la humanidad, los derechos civiles y las numerosas contribuciones de la comunidad latina.
Pero ese sentimiento no es mayoritario. Aquí en California, entendemos que nuestra diversidad es una fuente de fortaleza. Las contribuciones de generaciones de latinos son fundamentales para el éxito y la expansión de la sociedad, la economía, la cultura y los valores de California. El liderazgo, el servicio, los sacrificios y la visión de los latinos continúan enriqueciendo todas las facetas de la vida estadounidense.
La comunidad latina es fuerte y resiliente, y su legado y papel fundamental en la prosperidad de esta nación y de California no se extinguirá por el odio – como estado, no lo permitiremos. California se mantiene firme en nuestro apoyo. Somos un estado mayoritariamente minoritario: el 40% de los californianos son latinos, y simplemente no seríamos el mismo estado sin ellos.
En California, sabemos y creemos que nuestro estado prospera cuando todas nuestras comunidades pueden sobresalir. Este Mes de la Herencia Latina, reafirmamos nuestro compromiso de hacer realidad el Sueño Californiano para todos, defendiendo a nuestras familias y comunidades, combatiendo el odio y la injusticia, y protegiendo nuestro progreso colectivo.
Este mes y cada mes, reconozcamos y celebremos las innumerables contribuciones de las comunidades latinas a la historia de California a lo largo de los siglos y para las generaciones venideras.
POR TANTO YO, GAVIN NEWSOM, Gobernador del Estado de California, por la presente proclamo del 15 de septiembre al 15 de octubre de 2025 como el “Mes de la Herencia Latina.”
EN TESTIMONIO DE LO CUAL, firmo la presente y ordeno que se estampe el Gran Sello del Estado de California este 11 de septiembre de 2025.
GAVIN NEWSOM
Governor of California
ATTEST:
SHIRLEY N. WEBER, Ph.D.
Secretary of State