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- Written by: Lake County News reports
CLEARLAKE, Calif. — Authorities took a Clearlake man into custody Monday after he was found with nearly a pound of methamphetamine.
Michael Tremell Mitchell, 36, Clearlake was arrested at around noon on Mondary, according to a report from Clearlake Police Sgt. Ryan Peterson.
Shortly before noon on Monday, Officer Chris Kelleher was conducting routine patrol in the area of Austin Road near Buckeye Street when he saw Mitchell exit a silver 2007 BMW parked along the shoulder of the road, Peterson said.
Peterson said Officer Kelleher knew Mitchell to be on parole for drug trafficking out of Idaho.
Officer Kelleher saw Mitchell look toward his direction and toss a backpack he had in his possession in an apparent attempt to conceal it, Peterson said.
Kelleher contacted Mitchell, detained him, and conducted a parole search of the backpack. Peterson said the search revealed the backpack contained two large plastic bags filled with suspected methamphetamine, a digital scale and a large sum of cash.
The combined weight of the two bags of suspect methamphetamine was almost 1 pound, Peterson said.
Peterson said Officer Kelleher arrested Mitchell on probable cause for possession of a controlled substance for sale and transportation of a controlled substance for sale.
However, Peterson said the charges from Monday did not meet the requirements for booking under the Lake County Superior Court emergency bail schedule.
As a result, Peterson said Officer Kelleher contacted the Lake County Superior Court and requested bail enhancement and an order for examination of any source of bail Mitchell would present.
The Lake County Superior court authorized both requests and set the bail for Mitchell at $250,000. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation was also contacted and placed a parole hold on Mitchell, Peterson said.
Peterson said Mitchell was booked into the Lake County Jail to await further court proceedings.
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The commission will meet at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 4, in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.
The council chambers will be open to the public for the meeting. In accordance with updated guidelines from the state of California and revised Cal OSHA Emergency Temporary Standards, persons who are not fully vaccinated for COVID-19 are required to wear a face covering at this meeting.
The agenda is available here.
To speak on an agenda item, access the meeting remotely here; the meeting ID is 986 6166 5155. To join by phone, dial 1-669-900-9128.
Comments can be submitted by email to
Please indicate in the email subject line "for public comment" and list the item number of the agenda item that is the topic of the comment. Comments that are read to the council will be subject to the three minute time limitation (approximately 350 words). Written comments that are only to be provided to the council and not read at the meeting will be distributed to the council before the meeting.
On the agenda is a study session on the city’s objective design standards.
The commission also will consider a use permit and categorical exemption submitted by Barbara Morris, who is proposing to do a short-term rental within an existing single-family dwelling at 55 Fourth St.
Also on Wednesday, the commission will review an application from Jessica Asbury for a minor use permit to allow for a residential use in conjunction with a commercial business as well as an architectural and design review and categorical exemption for a new fence at 75 Fourth St.
The project is located next door to Morris’ proposed rental.
The commission’s next meeting following this week’s is set for Sept. 8.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
- Details
- Written by: Lake County News reports
County officials said that as of Monday morning, Sutter Lakeside Hospital reported its emergency department was treating 18 COVID-19 patients. The hospital’s customary capacity is 14 beds.
Based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s 6 a.m. Monday update, essentially half (49.4%) of all Lake County residents, and 41.1% of those currently eligible have yet to receive even one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
With so many residents unprotected, Lake County’s District 5 Supervisor, Jessica Pyska, is sponsoring the urgency ordinance as an extra Item for Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting.
The urgency ordinance is intended to limit the risk of employees and the public contracting COVID-19 in county-operated facilities.
If passed by the required four-fifths vote, face coverings will immediately be required for all people, regardless of vaccination status, in county facilities (e.g.: the Lake County Courthouse building and surrounding offices; the Department of Social Services’ Lower Lake facility).
“Our board has the opportunity to set an example for all Lake County businesses by taking precautions that reflect the serious threat we are currently experiencing,” said Pyska. “If California was still using the Blueprint System, Lake County would be in the Purple Tier. All people were required to mask indoors when we were in the Purple Tier, and those precautions made a difference.”
If the board Adopts the Urgency Ordinance, another extra Item implementing changes to the County of Lake’s COVID-19 Worksite Protocol will also be considered.
“We are already asking a lot of our local hospitals and regional health care partners, and we must turn things around,” said Pyska. “Requiring universal masking in county facilities is highly sensible. We have learned over the past 17 months face coverings can significantly reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission when people from different households come together in indoor settings. Let’s do what we can to protect one another.”
Pyska introduced a resolution as an extra item at the board’s July 20 meeting to encourage people to wear masks in indoor public settings. The board unanimously approved that resolution.
Information on how to participate in Tuesday’s meeting, which begins at 9 a.m., can be found here.
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The council will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 3, in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.
The agenda can be found here.
The council chambers will be open to the public for the meeting. In accordance with updated guidelines from the state of California and revised Cal OSHA Emergency Temporary Standards, persons who are not fully vaccinated for COVID-19 are required to wear a face covering at this meeting.
If you cannot attend in person, and would like to speak on an agenda item, you can access the Zoom meeting remotely at this link or join by phone by calling toll-free 669-900-9128 or 346-248-7799.
The webinar ID is 973 6820 1787, access code is 477973; the audio pin will be shown after joining the webinar. Those phoning in without using the web link will be in “listen mode” only and will not be able to participate or comment.
Comments can be submitted by email to
Indicate in the email subject line "for public comment" and list the item number of the agenda item that is the topic of the comment. Comments that read to the council will be subject to the three minute time limitation (approximately 350 words). Written comments that are only to be provided to the council and not read at the meeting will be distributed to the council before the meeting.
During public presentations, the council is expected to meet new Lakeport Police K-9 Olin. Olin, a German shepherd, and his handler, Officer Kaylene Strugnell, began working together in June.
The city also will receive a donation check for the annual Fourth of July fireworks show from Bruno’s Shop Smart and the Lake County Chamber of Commerce, and get updates on the All Children Thrive Youth Governance Council and on cyanobacteria from Lake County Health Services.
On Tuesday, the council is scheduled to hold a public hearing and adopt the resolution to confirm and approve the utility billing delinquency list and the associated resolution and direct staff to submit the list to the Lake County auditor-controller for inclusion on the property tax roll.
Under council business, Finance Director and Assistant City Manager Nick Walker will present an update on the recreation center feasibility study, and ask for the council’s approval to execute an agreement with Studio W for the completion of the study. At the same time, Walker will ask for approval of the recommended budget adjustment in the amount of $31,000.
Also on Tuesday, Police Chief Brad Rasmussen will discuss with the council current procedures for release of a vicious animal after an abatement order and seizure by the Animal Care and Control director.
He said questions arose earlier this year during a vicious animal abatement case about how long a vicious animal order remains in effect and the procedures for eventually releasing it.
Proposed options are receiving the report as presented, requesting additional information be brought back and providing other direction to staff.
On the consent agenda — items usually accepted as a slate on one vote — are ordinances; minutes of the regular council meeting on July 20; confirm the continuing existence of a local emergency for the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency; review and file the draft minutes of the July 21, 2021 Measure Z Advisory Committee meeting; and authorize the out of state travel as requested by the city manager for Council member Mireya Turner to attend the National League of Cities’ City Summit to be held in Salt Lake City, Utah, Nov. 18 to 20.
Email Elizabeth Larson at