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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The wreck occurred at 6:50 a.m. on Highway 20 near Marina Drive east of Ukiah, according to the California Highway Patrol’s Friday morning report.
The CHP said a 56-year-old Potter Valley man died in the wreck, with a 23-year-old Clearlake Oaks man injured.
The names of the two drivers were not released in the Friday report.
The CHP said that the Potter Valley man was driving a 2006 Toyota westbound on Highway 20 just west of Marina Drive at an unknown speed while the Clearlake Oaks man was driving a 2014 Peterbilt towing a 2018 Landoll trailer eastbound at a stated speed of 55 miles per hour.
For an unknown reason, the CHP said the Toyota traveled in a southwesterly direction over the solid double yellow lines and collided with the left side of the Peterbilt.
After hitting the Peterbilt, the CHP report said the Toyota continued in a westerly direction. The front of the Toyota then hit the left side of the Landoll trailer and continued on, side-swiping the trailer’s left side.
Following the crash with the semi and trailer, the Toyota traveled, out of control, in a southerly direction over the south solid white line of Highway 20 and down the hillside, south of the highway, the report said.
The CHP said the Toyota came to rest on the south descending hillside of Highway 20.
The Toyota’s driver sustained fatal injuries as a result of the crash, the CHP said. The Peterbilt’s driver sustained moderate injuries.
Traffic control was in effect for about two hours at the crash scene, according to CHP reports.
The CHP said both men were wearing their seat belts.
The cause of the collision is still under investigation, with the CHP reporting that neither drugs nor alcohol are believed to be factors.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
City Manager Alan Flora took to the council the proposal to lease the 30.8 acres owned by RM Clearlake LLC at 15900, 15910, 15920 and 15970 Dam Road for a $1 a year in a lease with an initial term of two years.
The properties are next to the shopping center on Dam Road where Walmart, Tractor Supply and Big 5 are located.
Flora said RM Clearlake LLC originally had purchased the land to develop it as the second phase of the Walmart development, but changes in the economy ended those plans.
He said the land hasn’t had a lot of maintenance and over time there have been homeless camps, illegal dumping and fires – about a dozen of them.
There have been a number of efforts over the years to try to do something about the situation, and Flora said the property owners have expressed interest in donating the property to the city.
However, as the city has researched the property, Flora said they’ve come across title issues.
For that reason, Flora said he couldn’t recommend the city moving forward with a donation at this time.
However, due to the danger and blight that have been associated with the property, Flora said the city needed to step in and take a more active involvement.
He said the proposed lease would allow for Cal Fire to be a partner in cleaning up the land.
“Their regulations make it extremely difficult to do fire mitigation work on private property,” Flora said of Cal Fire.
However, there are ways around that. “Things are streamlined significantly if it’s considered to be public ownership and this lease would accomplish that goal,” Flora said.
He said the city has negotiated the agreement for some time and what he was presenting offered a way to protect the city's interest while moving forward.
In addition to the lease, which already was signed by RM Clearlake’s owners, Flora said there were documents necessary to execute for Cal Fire to start fire mitigation efforts.
Councilman Russ Cremer moved to approve the lease agreement, which the council approved 5-0.
Mayor Dirk Slooten said it’s important to do some fire prevention work in that area.
Flora told Lake County News after the meeting that he’s not sure of the timing for when Cal Fire will begin the fire mitigation work on the property, but it’s expected to start in the spring.
“Now that the lease is final we can move forward. Cal Fire really wants to see this cleaned up so they appear to be motivated to move forward as quickly as the paperwork can be processed and weather permits,” he said.
Flora added that the property is very rocky and hilly so he’s not completely sure they can remove all of the brush that covers the property, “but the intent is to remove as much as possible.”
Also on Thursday, the council observed a moment of silence for Marcia Felty Taylor, a former animal control staffer who died following a long battle with cancer on Jan. 29. Taylor was a tireless animal advocate and worked hard on behalf of animals in the city and the county.
Slooten read a proclamation declaring February as Black History Month in the city and the council received the annual Clearlake Police Department from Chief Andrew White.
The council also held a public hearing as part of the process of planning its application for funds through the Community Development Block Grant Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security, or CDBG-CV2 and CV3, program.
The city is eligible to apply for and potentially receive nearly $445,000, which staff proposed using to make upgrades to the kitchen at the Clearlake senior center. The council voted unanimously to pursue the funds and use them, as staff suggested, for senior center kitchen improvements.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05) was again named to lead the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures, the group tasked with tax policy measures in the House.
This appointment was confirmed by a vote of the full committee on Thursday.
“It’s my honor to be again named by my colleagues to lead the Select Revenue Measures Subcommittee on the Ways and Means Committee in the 117th Congress. This subcommittee has the power to help ensure everyone has a shot at success and fair and equitable taxation will be a high priority for us once again. This appointment allowed me to help steer many of the critical Coronavirus relief programs last year. I will be working with this Congress to ensure we deliver strong and sweeping aid to the American people to help combat this crisis,” Thompson said.
“I will also be working on measures to provide relief for communities like mine that were devastated by disaster in recent years,” he said. “And I will continue working to use the tax code to promote clean energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Climate change is an existential threat and we need to use every tool we can to combat it. Thank you to Chairman Neal and my colleagues for this vote of confidence. Please know I will do everything to ensure our district and our nation can get ahead.”
Thompson represents California’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties.
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The following dogs are ready for adoption or foster.
‘Mommas’
“Mommas” is a female American Pit Bull terrier mix with a white coat.
She has been spayed.
She is dog No. 4499.
‘Yule’
“Yule” is a male husky with a black and white coat.
Yule is dog No. 4432.
‘Toby’
“Toby” is a friendly senior male boxer mix.
He has a short tan and white coat.
He is dog No. 4389.
‘Rudolph’
“Rudolph” is a male shepherd mix.
He has a short tan and black coat.
He is dog No. 4436.
‘Jerry’
“Jerry” is a male American Pit Bull terrier with a short brindle coat.
He is dog No. 4455.
‘Inky’
“Inky” is a male German Shepherd mix with a long black coat.
He has been neutered.
He is dog No. 4324.
‘Breeze’
“Breeze” is a female American Pit Bull Terrier mix.
She has been spayed.
She is dog No. 4445.
‘Ben’
“Ben” is a male American Pit Bull terrier mix.
He has a short brindle coat.
He is dog No. 4454.
Call the Clearlake Animal Control shelter at 707-273-9440, or email
Visit Clearlake Animal Control on Facebook or on the city’s website.
Email Elizabeth Larson at