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- Written by: Lake County News reports
The American Challenger grounded early on the morning of March 6. The 90-foot vessel was being towed by the Tug Hunter from Puget Sound, Washington, when the Tug Hunter lost propulsion due to a rope entangling the propeller.
Officials said Monday that oversight for the next response phase will shift to a coalition of agencies including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Office of Spill Prevention and Response and the Marin County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services.
The coalition will focus on addressing the longer-term pollution threat and additional environmental concerns from the American Challenger, as well as determining the ultimate fate of the vessel.
The initial emergency oil pollution response efforts are scheduled to conclude at the end of the week when all the boom has been removed from Tomales Bay.
Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary will continue to monitor the coast for evidence of impacts from the grounding and oil spill with regular and enhanced Beach Watch surveys.
The sanctuary will also continue to coordinate in other ways with agencies involved in this incident.
There have been no confirmed reports of oiled wildlife. If oiled wildlife is seen, the public is asked not to approach and contact the Oiled Wildlife Care Network at 1-877-823-6926.
More information on this response can be found at https://calspillwatch.wordpress.com/tag/american-challenger-incident.
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
This article has been updated with information about a hit-and-run crash that occurred Saturday evening involving the driver who was later arrested for the fatal crash.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A young Novato woman has been arrested for vehicular manslaughter and driving under the influence of alcohol for a Saturday night wreck near Middletown that killed two Clearlake residents.
Keilah Marie Coyle, 21, was taken into custody by California Highway Patrol officers, the CHP said in a Monday report.
The crash took the lives of two county residents.
Lt. Corey Paulich of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office identified the victims as Miguel Maciel Dominguez, 47, and Cassandra Elaine Rolicheck, 53, both of Clearlake.
The CHP’s Clear Lake Area office reported that at 11:05 p.m. Saturday, Coyle was driving a black 2003 Ford F-250 pickup southbound on Highway 29, approaching Bar X Road north of Middletown at an unknown speed.
Due to Coyle's level of intoxication, she allowed her vehicle to travel over the solid double yellow lines of Highway 29 and into the path of a 2000 GMC van that Rolicheck was driving northbound at an unknown speed, the CHP said.
The two vehicles collided head-on, with Coyle’s pickup overturning and becoming disabled in the northbound lane, according to the report.
The CHP said the GMC van became disabled facing northbound, partially in the northbound and southbound traffic lanes.
Cal Fire and South Lake County Fire personnel had to extricate both Dominguez and Rolicheck, according to radio reports on the night of the wreck.
Once extricated, the two were pronounced dead by firefighters, the CHP said.
Highway 29 was closed for approximately five hours due to the collision investigation and removal of the vehicles, the CHP said.
All of those involved in the crash were using their safety equipment, the CHP report said.
The CHP said Coyle suffered minor injuries in the wreck.
She was arrested early Sunday morning by Clear Lake Area CHP Officers who observed signs and symptoms of alcohol intoxication.
Coyle was booked into the Lake County Jail on Sunday night for vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated with gross negligence, felony driving under the influence and causing injury, and felony driving under the influence and causing injury with a blood alcohol content above 0.08 percent, the CHP said.
Jail records show that Coyle is being held on $2 million bail.
She is due to be arraigned in Lake County Superior Court on Tuesday.
The CHP also confirmed to Lake County News that Coyle had been involved in a hit-and-run crash in Sonoma County several hours before the fatal wreck in Middletown.
At 5:55 p.m. Saturday, Coyle was driving the Ford F-250 pickup on southbound Highway 101, south of Gravenstein Highway, when she hit May Nguyen, who was driving a 2017 Mercedes GLE350, the CHP said.
The CHP said Coyle fled the scene of that crash, in which no injuries were reported.
If anyone has any details that could assist the investigation into the fatal Middletown crash, they are requested to contact the Clear Lake CHP Area office at 707-279-0103.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The National Weather Service said a weather front moving across northwest California was responsible for the rain, snow in higher elevations and gusty winds on Sunday.
The National Weather Service’s observation stations reported the following 24-hour rainfall totals in inches through 1 a.m. Monday in Lake County:
– Bartlett Springs: 0.72.
– Cache Creek near Lower Lake: 0.23.
– County line (at Colusa side): 0.08.
– Hidden Valley Lake: 0.50.
– Kelseyville: 0.40.
– Knoxville Creek: 0.26.
– Lyons Valley (northwest of Lakeport): 0.30.
– Soda Creek: 0.53.
– Upper Lake: 0.44.
– Whispering Pines: 0.52.
A winter weather advisory is in effect for areas including northern Lake County through 11 a.m. Monday due to the forecast for snow down to the 1,500-foot elevation level.
On Monday, rain is expected early, with the potential for light and isolated showers later in the day before conditions clear as a weather trough moves out of the North Coast and high pressure starts to build in, the National Weather Service said.
Winds of close to 20 miles per hour are forecast for Monday, with gusts of 23 miles per hour, forecasters said.
The forecast calls for chilly temperatures in Lake County and across the region on Monday night and into Tuesday, with the potential for a hard freeze. Tuesday night into Wednesday also will be cold.
The National Weather Service reported that, starting on Thursday, an upper level trough is expected to bring more rain and mountain snow to the area. Snowfall is expected to remain above 3,500 to 4,500 feet, with rainfall amounts looking to be modest.
A “generally wet pattern” is expected to continue through the weekend, the forecast said.
The specific Lake County forecast said chances of rain are in the forecast from Wednesday night through Sunday.
Daytime temperatures this week will range from the mid 40s to mid 50s, with nighttime temperatures down into the 30s.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. Tuesday, March 16, and will be available to the public virtually only.
The meeting can be watched live on Channel 8, online at https://countyoflake.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx and on the county’s Facebook page. Accompanying board documents, the agenda and archived board meeting videos also are available at that link.
To participate in real-time, join the Zoom meeting by clicking this link at 9 a.m.
The meeting ID is 934 3430 2193, password 103183. The meeting also can be accessed via on tap mobile at +16699006833,,93434302193#,,,,*103183#.
All interested members of the public that do not have internet access or a Mediacom cable subscription are encouraged to call 669-900-6833, and enter the Zoom meeting ID and passcode information above.
Chromebook devices are also available at the Lakeport and Clearlake Library branches, which will open early on Tuesday. Chromebooks can be checked out for three hours for use on the library premises and contactless pickup is available. The Lakeport Library Branch can be reached at 707-263-8817, and Clearlake at 707-994-5115.
WiFi is accessible in the parking lot of each County Library Branch, so residents can park at these locations to use WiFi on borrowed or personal devices, by connecting to the “Lake County Library” network (no password) anytime from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
While the board chambers remain closed, outdoor viewing and participation are also available during each meeting on the Third Street side of the courthouse building.
To submit a written comment on any agenda item please visit https://countyoflake.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx and click on the eComment feature linked to the meeting date. If a comment is submitted after the meeting begins, it may not be read during the meeting but will become a part of the record.
At 9:06 a.m., the board will get an update on COVID-19 from Public Health Officer Dr. Gary Pace.
At 9:15 a.m., the board will hold a public hearing to consider resolutions declaring county-owned real property at 15837 18th Ave. in Clearlake as surplus and authorizing the development and execution of a property exchange agreement with the state of California as part of the proposed real property exchange to acquire the Lakeport Armory property at 1431 Hoyt Ave.
In January, the board gave county staff the go-ahead to finalize the plan in collaboration with the state, as Lake County News has reported.
That was followed by the Clearlake Planning Commission and the Lake County Planning Commission separately adopting general plan conformity reports later in January.
In addition to giving the Lake County Sheriff’s Office a larger and more modern headquarters than it now has, the state would use the 15.5-acre property in Clearlake for an affordable housing development.
In other business, at 10:15 a.m., the board will present a proclamation declaring March as March for Meals Month, to be followed at 10:16 a.m. by a proclamation designating March as American Red Cross Month.
In an untimed item, the board will consider a $26,000 funding allocation to the Lake County Community Risk Reduction Authority.
Supervisors Moke Simon and Jessica Pyska, who are the Risk Reduction Authority chair and vice chair, respectively, wrote a memo to the board that explained that the authority, originally created in 2018, “was formed to support the entire Lake County community through the effective use of the authority of local governments, implement programs offering low-or no-cost risk reduction resources to the public, the development of funding to implement and maintain such programs, and to provide informational and educational resources to the public so that they are better able to assess and manage these risks.”
They said that in order to achieve its mission and priorities, the authority is seeking support to procure applicable grants and engage in additional fundraising activity, with the requested $26,000 to help provide initial funding for these services.
Going forward, they said, it’s the authority’s intent “that future funding for these services will be supported by those grants acquired in the first year.”
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
5.1: Adopt proclamation for March of Meals 2021.
5.2: Adopt proclamation designating March 2021 as American Red Cross Month.
5.3: Approve letter supporting SB59.
5.4: Approve letter of support to Sen. McGuire for Senate Bill 685 - Employment of Minors in Agricultural Packing Plants.
5.5: Approve agricultural specialist extra-help position.
5.6: Approve minutes of the Board of Supervisors meetings on March 2 and March 9.
5.7: Approve late travel claim for poll worker Lorelei Franco in the amount of $28.47 and authorize the auditor-controller to process payment.
5.8: Adopt resolution amending Resolution No. 2021-17 establishing position allocations for fiscal year to conform to the mid-year recommended budget for Fiscal Year 2020-2021, revising salaries for Budget Unit 8695, Special Districts.
TIMED ITEMS
6.2, 9:06 a.m.: Consideration of update on COVID-19.
6.3, 9:15 a.m.: Public hearing, consideration of resolution declaring county-owned real property as surplus and proposed real property exchange.
6.4, 10:15 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation for March of Meals 2021.
6.5, 10:16 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation designating March 2021 as American Red Cross Month.
6.6, 10:30 a.m.: Consideration of update from treasurer-tax collector on tax sale, investment advisor request for proposals and investment policy.
6.7, 10:50 a.m.: Consideration of (a) resolution regarding early activations for cannabis cultivation (b) new ad hoc committee to review, revise, and revamp the cannabis cultivation ordinance of Chapter 21, Article 27.13 (at).
6.8, 11:30 a.m.: Consideration of continuation of public hearing regarding the intent to vacate a roadway known as Arabian Lane (CR#148D) in the Hidden Valley Lake Area to March 23 at 9:45 a.m.
UNTIMED ITEMS
7.2: Consideration of $26,000 funding allocation to the Lake County Community Risk Reduction Authority.
7.3: Consideration of the following advisory board appointments: Audit Committee and Western Region Town Hall.
7.4: Consideration of resolution authorizing the Public Works director to sign the notice of completion for the Lampson Field Airport Runway 10-28 Asphalt Slurry Seal Rehabilitation Project. AIP No. 3-06-0117-019-2018; Bid No. 19-11.
CLOSED SESSION
8.1: Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code sec. 54956.9(d)(1): Center for Biological Diversity v. County of Lake, et al.
8.2: Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code sec. 54956.9(d)(1): California Native Plant Society v. County of Lake, et al.
8.3: Employee disciplinary appeal (Gov Code sec 54957): Appeal No. 2021- 01.
8.4: Conference with legal counsel: Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to Gov. Code section 54956.9 (d)(2)(e)(3): Claim of Earthways Inc.
8.5: Conference with legal counsel: Significant exposure to litigation, existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code section54956.9 (d)(1): Sabalone v. County of Lake.
Email Elizabeth Larson at