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- Written by: Lake County News reports
On May 22, the agencies took part in a statewide underage drinking enforcement operation, referred to as a “shoulder tap.”
A shoulder tap is a covert operation in which an undercover minor decoy volunteer solicits adults to purchase alcohol for them.
The minor decoy makes it clear to the adult that they are a minor and they have money to purchase the alcohol but cannot because of their age.
If an adult purchases the minor alcohol they are placed under arrest and either booked at the county jail or released on a citation at the scene.
During the operation, the team visited six separate businesses that sell alcohol. The minor decoy asked 28 adults to purchase alcohol for them.
At approximately 1:10 p.m. May 22, the minor decoy asked and was provided alcohol by Donald Johnson of Sunnyvale.
The team contacted Johnson and subsequently placed him under arrest for providing alcohol to a minor. Jonson was released with a citation at the scene.
The penalty for furnishing alcohol to a minor is a minimum $1,000 fine and 24 hours of community service. The program is intended to reduce the availability of alcohol to minors.
The Lakeport Police Department said it is committed to enforcing alcohol-related laws and keeping alcohol out of the possession of minors.
This project is part of the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control’s Alcohol Policing Partnership and was funded through grant funds the Lakeport Police Department was awarded through that program.
- Details
- Written by: Tama Prokopowich
Spring is traditionally a time of more activity in the market and we are seeing that again this year.
Compared to March, active listings are up slightly in April — March had 128 listings compared to April’s 136.
Sales quickly follow — March had 73, April had 96 — as many homes are selling as soon as they hit the market.
Here is a snapshot of the Lake County real estate market for April 2021 compared to April 2020.
Active listings throughout Lake County were 136, which is down 51.1% from April 2020.
That breaks down as follows:
— Lakeport: 21, down 19.2%.
— Kelseyville: 25, down 63.8%.
— Hidden Valley Lake: 17, down 63%. That’s notably up from March, when active listings in Hidden Valley Lake only totaled nine.
— Clearlake: 26, down 42.2%.
Existing home sales throughout Lake County totaled 96 in April 2021, up 57.4% from April 2020.
By community, those sales are divided this way:
— Lakeport: 11.
— Kelseyville: 19, up 18.8%
— Hidden Valley Lake: 24, 200% over last year. This could be due to lack of sales in that area due to COVID-19 restrictions.
— Clearlake: 17, up 54.5%.
The existing home median price throughout Lake County for April 2021 was $325,000, up 19.5% from April 2020.
Prices by community are:
— Lakeport: $385,000, up 2.7%.
— Kelseyville: $330,000, up 21.8%.
— Hidden Valley Lake: $361,000, up 8.9%.
— Clearlake: $220,000, up 5.3%.
Throughout Lake County, for April 2021, median days on the market were 17.
In Lakeport, days on market were 12; Kelseyville, 31; Hidden Valley Lake, 16; and Clearlake, 13.
Throughout Lake County, for April 2021, sales to list price was 100%, showing homes are
priced correctly are selling.
In Clearlake, Hidden Valley Lake and Lakeport, sales to list price also was 100%, while in Kelseyville it was 98.2%.
Throughout Lake County for April, 20.6% of active listings had price reductions, showing that even in a market with low inventory and homes selling quickly pricing correctly is crucial
for selling.
In Lakeport, 33.3% of active listings had price reductions, while in Kelseyville it was 24%, Hidden Valley Lake, 5.9%, and Clearlake, 3.8%.
It is always interesting to see how the market continues to change. Will we continue to see such low inventory and quick sales?
Tune in next month to see how May's statistics compare.
Tama Prokopowich is president-elect of the Lake County Association of Realtors.
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
Shortly before 9:45 p.m. Sunday deputies and firefighters were dispatched to a home in the 3300 block of Ogden Road on the report of a gunshot victim.
Firefighters requested an air ambulance to respond to Sutter Lakeside Hospital, according to radio traffic.
Scanner traffic indicated that it took nearly an hour for an air ambulance to get to Sutter Lakeside’s helipad, with no other helicopters available.
Lt. Corey Paulich confirmed to Lake County News on Monday that the sheriff’s office is investigating the shooting.
Paulich said the shooting victim was flown to an out-of-area hospital and is in stable condition.
No arrest has been made as detectives continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting, Paulich said.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Lake County Sheriff’s detectives at 707-262-4238.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The council will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 1.
The agenda can be found here.
To speak on an agenda item, access the meeting remotely here 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 prior to the meeting.
On Tuesday, Utilities Superintendent Paul Harris will ask the council to authorize City Manager Kevin Ingram entering into a Shared Habitat Alliance for Recreational Enhancement, or SHARE, agreement with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to address wild pigs on the City of Lakeport Municipal Sewer District property.
The district, or CLMSD, has 700 acres at the city’s southwest corner, from Linda Lane South to Highway 175.
“The bulk of this land is used for the disposal of treated wastewater. Numerous sprinkler fields apply water to the grass lands in which the cattle then graze. A lease agreement is in place to provide feed and water for cattle grazing,” Harris said in his written report.
“Over the past several months there has been a noticeable increase in the population of wild pigs. Numerous pigs regularly roam the property where large areas of grass are being destroyed by rooting. This creates issues with disposal efficiency and significantly decreases the feed for the cattle. We have also received complaints from neighboring properties asking if we can mitigate this issue,” Harris’ report continued.
He said the city has contacted the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to discuss ways to deal with the pigs, and the agency recommended the city consider the SHARE program, which allows public access for property designated by the owner for controlled hunting purposes as regulated by CDFW.
Harris said CDFW will be on hand at Tuesday night’s meeting to discuss the program and answer questions.
In other business, with the city of Lakeport planning to resume its annual July 4 celebration this summer, on Tuesday the council will be asked to approve event Application 2021-016, with staff recommendations, for the July 4 fireworks display.
Ingram’s report on the discussion explains that the council, at its April 20 meeting, directed staff to move forward with the July 4 event, with COVID-19 mitigation measures, and to enter into a contract for a fireworks display.
At that time, Ingram said the council asked city staff to reassess a lighting discharge area for fireworks and bring it back for review.
Ingram said the plan includes a discharge area for safe and sane fireworks that is being expanded to include Fourth Street and a large portion of the parking lot between Fourth and Fifth streets.
“This will not only provide adequate space for social distancing but also encourage the discharge in a secure, fire-safe, legal area,” Ingram said.
In addition to that change, he said staff are recommending mitigation measures including moving the fireworks barges to a location visible from the Natural High and Dutch Harbor areas and Library Park; allowing the public to view displays from Natural High and Dutch Harbor in order to spread attendees over a larger area; prohibiting alcohol sales or use; collaborating with Lake County Public Health on a COVID mitigation plan which includes noticing participants via signage and other means of the most current requirements on masking and social distancing; and using radio, social media, website and other outlets to communicate “broadly and frequently” with the public on the COVID mitigation plans.
“Staff believes that with these measures in place, the event can take place safely and requests approval,” Ingram said in his report.
Also on Tuesday, the council will hold a workshop to review the recommended FY 2021-22 budget, consider adopting a resolution approving revisions to the City’s Classification System and get a report from Ed Robey on the Public, Educational and Governmental cable television channel.
On the consent agenda — items usually accepted as a slate on one vote — are ordinances, minutes of the regular council meeting on May 18 and the special meeting on May 25; approval of event application 2021-015, with staff recommendations, for the 2021 Sponsoring Survivorship Fun Walk/Run on Oct. 2; approval of event application 2021-017, with staff recommendations, for the Summer Concert Series to be held Fridays in Library Park from July 16 through Aug. 20; approval of event application 2021-018, with staff recommendations, for the 2021 Rhythm and Brews event on June 26; approval of side letter agreement for the City of Lakeport Police Officers Association amending insurance provisions of the memorandum of understanding.
Email Elizabeth Larson at