 On June 15th, at approximately 8:55pm, Clearlake Police Officers were dispatched to a report of a “pipe bomb” being found at a residence located in the 15700 block of 45th Avenue.
The reporting party told officers the “pipe bomb” was found by kids playing in the back yard of the residence. When the reporting party discovered what the children actually found, he immediately took the item out of the residence out front to the street and called police. Clearlake Police Officers arrived, determined the item was in fact an explosive device, and immediately evacuated nearby residences. Additional resources from the fire department and Napa County Bomb Squad were requested to the scene. Napa County Bomb Squad arrived on scene, assessed the device and determined it could be destroyed in place safely. The device was detonated with no damage to persons or property.
Residents were evacuated from their homes for approximately three hours. Once the scene was determined to be safe, residents were allowed back to their homes. At this time, it is unknown how the device actually ended up in the back yard of the residence.
Through investigation, officers discovered the home was purchased approximately a year and a half ago through foreclosure. At the time of purchase the residents claim to have cleaned property out of the back yard, but have never seen the device before. This case remains under investigation, and anyone with information regarding this case is asked to contact Mike Carpenter at the Clearlake Police Department.
The Clearlake Police Department would like to remind citizens that if they find a suspicious device to leave the item in place and notify authorities immediately. The Clearlake Police Department would like to thank all involved in bringing this incident to a safe conclusion, including Napa Bomb Squad, Operations of Emergency Services and Lake County Fire Protection District.  On June 15th, at approximately midnight, Clearlake Police Officer Alan Collier was conducting extra traffic patrol, watching the intersection and stop sign at Acacia Street and Arrowhead Road. Officer Collier saw a black Acura Integra traveling west on Arrowhead Drive. The vehicle traveled through the stop sign without stopping. Officer Collier attempted to make a traffic stop on the vehicle for the violation of running the stop sign.
When Officer Collier attempted to stop the vehicle, the Acura immediately sped up in an obvious attempt to evade the officer. The suspect, later identified as 24 year old Clearlake resident, Jesse James Vezeau, drove with disregard for public safety, while leading the officer on a 2.4 mile pursuit through residential areas. Vezeau was traveling in excess of 65 miles per hour in opposite lanes of traffic, fishtailing around turns and failing to stop for stop signs while traveling at excessive rates of speed.
Vezeau’s vehicle apparently suffered damage due to his reckless driving, finally becoming disabled in the 13200 block of Lakeshore Drive. Vezeau ran from the vehicle and Officer Collier pursued him on foot. Vezeau attempted to jump an approximate five foot tall rock wall where Officer Collier caught up with Vezeau and grabbed onto his feet. At that point, Vezeau began to kick at the officer trying to get free. Officer Collier was able to pull Vezeau off the fence to the ground, where he continued to resist the uniformed officer. Vezeau failed to comply with numerous commands to stop fighting with the officer and continued to violently struggle with Officer Collier.
Officer Carpenter and his K9 partner “Dex” arrived on scene to assist Officer Collier. Due to Vezeau’s violent resistance toward officers, the fact he led officers on a felonious high speed pursuit with disregard for public safety, and that it was unknown if the suspect had any weapons on him, combined with his failure to obey commands to stop resisting, Officer Carpenter’s Police service dog, “Dex”, was deployed to assist with the apprehension of the suspect.
“Dex” bit Vezeau in the upper Torso at which time Vezeau stopped resisting with the officers and complied with their orders. Vezeau was arrested without further incident. Vezeau was transported St. Helena Clearlake Hospital where he received treatment for his injuries related to the K9 bite. Vezeau was medically cleared for incarceration and booked into the Lake County Jail for felony evasion, resisting a police officer, and driving on a suspended driver license. During an interview Vezeau told officers he led them on a pursuit because he thought he had a warrant for his arrest and thought that he could get away. Sometimes Clear Lake brings its bounty a little too close to shore, such as this rich crop of algae (Austin Beach, June 15, 2013) that may or may not include a bonus - noxious odors and invisible toxins in minute amounts, just enough to cause digestive illness and other ailments in pets and children, and long-term effects any intelligent user would ordinarily avoid (like not drinking any untreated potable water).
Clear Lake has always been blessed with abundant nutrients, it’s why the lake was rated No. 3 in the nation as a “bass fishing destination” (Bassmaster Magazine, May 2013). It’s why our fisheries are given great protection by the Department of Fish & Wildlife, and it’s why resorts that cater to out-of-town fishermen are still in business.
Those of us whose use of Clear Lake is more intimate, more frequent, and more affectionate see the overwhelming load of “blue-green” algae blooms that the lake brings to our beaches, harbors, and bays as a bane to anyone’s enjoyment, and everyone’s water treatment plant headache.
When you see abundant algae blooms like those in the June 15 photo of Austin Beach, use your brains: keep children and animals out of the water. If you so desire to immerse yourself, take normal precautions like showering immediately afterward. An array of information on the safe and wise use of Clear Lake is available from the Lake County Environmental Health Department [( www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Environmental_Health/Blue-Green_Algae.htm)]
Common sense may tell you when to enjoy the lake from a distance or up close - but everyone needs good information to make everyday decisions. Stay informed, enjoy the lake safely, and have a great day!
[A public service announcement from The Essential Public Information Center, Upper Lake, CA., photo courtesy Maurice Taylor, June 18, 2013.] The Safe to Swim Workgroup will be holding their first meeting online today, June 19th. Lake County and Clear Lake are not included in their assessment, but it is hoped that they will join them soon.
The purpose of the Safe to Swim Workgroup is to coordinate the monitoring and assessment of issues affecting swimming safety and also to report that information to decision makers and the public through the Safe to Swim Portal.
In 2011, there were 15-20 members of the workgroup. Members come from the county health agencies, the State and Regional Water Boards, NGOs, data center experts and US EPA. The last meeting was November 28th 2011. The Safe to Swim Workgroup did not hold any meetings in 2012.
At a minimum, the goal is to reconvene the Safe to Swim Workgroup by engaging members statewide, holding three quarterly meetings in 2013, setting priorities and goals in initial meeting and creating subcommittees for carrying out tasks.
Proposed 2013 Workgroup Goals:
To Integrate Safe to Swim website with existing smartphone applications and websites (Beach Report Card and The Swim Guide) and reduce redundancies.
Conduct an informational survey of monitoring entities to determine “what agency decision makers want to know about swimming safety on a local, regional and statewide basis, and how to best inform decision making”.
The Workgroup meeting/subcommittee is needed to review and discuss the survey before sending it.
Develop a priority list for addressing problems in data management and restrictions; review Beach Watch/CEDEN database for gaps, barriers to use, etc.
Expand the coverage of Safe to Swim by adding inland waters to Safe to Swim Portal website.
Develop recommendations for long-term agency involvement and financial support of Safe to Swim portal and workgroup.
Background on BeachWatch Database:
The new BeachWatch Database has been online since late 2011 and is hosted directly at the Southern California Coastal Water Research Project. It has created a more user-friendly and efficient upload platform for coastal county health agencies that are required to perform beach bacterial indicator monitoring. It now encourages more frequent data entry and will directly upload beach data to US EPA on a more frequent basis than the annual requirement. Since early 2012 this new database has fed data directly into the California Environmental Data Exchange Network (CEDEN). This will allow CEDEN to become the new data source for the Safe to Swim Portal, allowing concurrent display of bacterial indicator monitoring data from both coastal and inland waters.
For more information contact
Lara Meeker lara@lawaterkeeper.org
Sara Aminzadeh sara@cacoastkeeper.org
The first time Supervisor Rob Brown got served by Joel Moore and his son, Brown commented to them, “My daughter-in-law said there were a couple of shitbags at the door, and you guys match the description". At that attempt there were errors in the filing, so the process of serving him had to start over. They only needed 20 valid signatures, which they had no problem getting.
The second attempt to serve Supervisor Rob Brown a notice of Intent to Recall was successfully accomplished on June 4th, without any rude comments. Mr. Brown presented his reply to the Intent to Recall notice last week, we have posted a copy of his reply in this article. The Petition of Intent to Recall has been published, and the Petition to Recall has been created.
Brown's response does not appear to have been written with any of his own words (with the possible exception of the first and last sentences), and it is presented in the third person. The bulk of it was made up of quotes from four citizens in his district. According to Supervisor of Elections, Dianne Fridley, this is acceptable, and the response has been officially filed.
The Recall Rob Brown Committee has issued the following response to Mr. Brown's reply:
“Regarding Mr. Brown's response to the Recall Petition:
Mr. Brown's first statement references the honesty of the information in the petition. This petition is not dishonest in any way. This is our response to his claims:
In his response, Mr. Brown presents, to the title of “Respectful and Responsive”, a quote printed in the Record Bee on May 29, 2012, with no citation other than that, stating he is “lawful and respectful of rules”. This statement was made almost a year before Mr Brown was caught on camera during a BOS meeting lying about how many times he had shown the picture of an alleged murder to citizens in his District, this alleged murderer has yet to be charged with the crime, yet he said he did it to “ease the fears of the citizens”. This is not the first time he has been caught lying.
In his response, he also fails to acknowledge the claims that he is abusive to his constituents. Our committee will provide video evidence of the rude and disrespectful behavior commonly exhibited by Mr. Brown. This will be available, for all to see, soon on the Recall Rob Brown website.
Next, his writer proceeds to tell us why local residents support him, followed by quotes from several community members, one a retired LCSO deputy, who claims that Rob received 68% of the vote in the last election, this is a statistical fallacy.
The actual numbers for the June 2012 Fifth District election are:
Total Registered Voters for District 5: 7058, Total number of ballots cast: 3,323. That is less than 50% of Registered voters who turned out and voted.
Brown received 2,145 of those votes, which amounts to approximately 31% of the total number of registered voters, and two thirds of the voters who voted voted for him.
That is hardly 48% of the vote, sir. It is closer to 30% of the total registered voters.
Another quote states that they have never had a Supervisor work so hard to “improve or roads and our local communities.” Many roads, including major arteries in the area, are in desperate shape. In addition, the Kelseyville area has the highest rate of violent crime than any other part of the County.* Overall, crime has dropped over the past year, yet Kelseyville's violent crime rate rises. That is hardly improving our community. His blatant disregard for the law has created a lawless atmosphere that is prevalent throughout his district.
*LCSO Crime Statistics 2012.
Another quote states that Rob has “done so much for the youth of the County”... His wrestling program has created bullies, some of whom have texted death threats to other students. That incident was covered up by Brown and District Attorney Anderson. It has also been reported that county funds were used for a building that now houses the wrestling clubs equipment, something that was not disclosed when the money was approved by the Board of Supervisors.
Another quote from a Kelseyville resident states that Brown “supports our small businesses, helps farmers, and preserves small town quality of life”. We suppose she has not seen the empty storefronts in the Riviera and Kelseyville, very few industries, if any, have come into his district in the 8 years he has been Supervisor, and maybe she did not hear about the man in his bathrobe who he sucker-punched and punched his dog in the head, who later died from the injury.
Not to mention his questionable ownership of properties, numerous foreclosures, a large IRS tax lien, and, what about looking the other way while nutrients from septic, wineries and farms flow into the lake in his district? There are also the neighbors who had their horse and dog shot and killed by him. He is known to regularly shoot into the bushes around his home in hopes of “getting a Mexican”. Yes, that is really “preserving the small town quality of life”.
We also find it strange that there is no actual comments from Mr. Brown himself in his response. The last sentence states: “Don't sign this petition. Say NO to the dishonest recall campaign against Rob Brown.” Sorry Mr. Brown, we say NO to YOU and YOUR DISHONESTY, that is what this campaign is all about!
The Committee to Recall Rob Brown”
Signature gathering should begin before the end of the month. There is a 90 day window to gather signatures for a special election, which would occur in February at an approximate cost of around $10,000., far less than the $100,000. needed to recall the Sheriff. A total of 1833 signatures are needed to get Mr. Brown in a special election. Mr. Brown will not be facing a regular election until 2016.
If anyone would like to assist in the signature gathering process, contact the committee through their website at recallrobbrown.org. You must be a registered voter and a resident of the Fifth District to gather signatures. If you would like to contribute to the campaign or volunteer to help, you can contact the admin at the webiste and/or make a donation on the recall website through Pay Pal.
 To Whom It May Concern:
I am Joel Moore, and I would like to clear the air about statements made by Supervisor Rob Brown on the subject of the Recall Rob Brown campaign.
First, the group is made up entirely of registered voters who live in District 5. I am not the official spokesman for the group. The official spokesman is Mr. Robert Blackmoore. I am a professional marketing consultant, and in that capacity, I organize, promote and co-ordinate events. I was chosen for my reputation for getting things done. I do believe in this cause, and feel it is important for Mr. Brown to realize that his actions have had an impact on the entire county, and that he is accountable to us all.
As for our timing: that was dictated by law. We were not able to take any action until Mr. Brown had been sworn in for at least 90 days, which fell on April 9th of this year. We had our first attempt ready, and filed within 30 days, but there were some minor problems which made it necessary for us to redo it. Sorry, everyone makes mistakes, but we had our second attempt ready and filed, and this time approved, again within 30 days. We have been prepared to act on this since Mr. Brown was re-elected.
Regarding the vagueness of the complaint: we feel that we are right on point, but we are only allowed 200 words. There are several conflict of interest issues on the table, and more information to that effect as well as other information can be found on our website : www.recallrobbrown.org.
 Clear Lake Scullers Coach Mike Sullivan will be teaching the basics of sweep rowing the week of June 24th at 5:30pm, for adults, at the boat yard in Lakeport near Main and 6th Streets, down by the water.
The youth program, at 10:30am, will focus on water safety using paddle boards, kayaks and canoes.
If you enjoy being a part of a team and the camaraderie of being in a boat with eight people, then sweep rowing is for you. Rowing is a total body workout, providing both aerobic and strength conditioning. It improves and maintains flexibility, burns calories, is impact free, and best of all, takes place on our beautiful lake.
If you prefer to row by yourself, sculling lessons will be offered on Saturday June 22nd and 29th. Sculling lessons are on a drop-in basis between 8:00am and noon.
Club Membership, which is $100 for the summer, includes the sweep rowing classes, the use of the CLS indoor rowing machines and all sculls, sweep boats, canoes, kayaks and paddle boats at the boat yard.
Youths must have basic swimming skills to participate. The youth program is $80 per child, with some scholarship money available.
For more information contact Mike Sullivan at sul@slac.stanford.edu or call (707)349-9779.  On June 14, officers from the Clearlake Police Department conducted shoulder tap operations at various businesses in the city of Clearlake.
Shoulder Tap operations are law enforcement programs that the Alcoholic Beverage Control and local law enforcement agencies use to deter and detect alcohol related crimes involving the sale/ furnishing of alcoholic beverages to minors. During the operations, a minor is used as a decoy to solicit the purchase of alcoholic beverages from an adult. Operations are conducted outside ABC licensed businesses.
During the operation, numerous people were contacted by the minor decoy and two arrests were made by Clearlake Police Officers for criminal violations involving the furnishing of alcohol to minors. The subjects arrested during the operation were Shawn Kossow and Lourdes Torres, both residents from Clearlake. Both were later issued citations and released.
This project is part of the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control’s Minor Decoy/ Shoulder Tap Grant Project, funded by the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  There’s an old story, “The Emperor’s New Clothes”, wherein a child in a crowd points to the king passing in a parade and says, “look ma, he has no clothes” (to paraphrase, speaking truth to power).
Newspapers once commonly provided investigative journalism as part of their function, pointing to and substantiating abuses of power. Now, more are geared to support those abuses, selling clothes for those in power. In the mainstream media we mostly see corporate money talking (“corporations are people” and “money is speech”), weaving politically contaminated decisions toxic to “We the People” who mostly eat it up like genetically engineered corn, hardly conscious of its harmful toxicity.
Corporate, brainwashed news-anchors, with pierced lips and forked tongues that wobble, like politicians, in all sincerity, disseminate subtle party-line propaganda as the news, the news being the facade, cut, trimmed, slanted and designed as the clothing People should wear as the kingdom’s proscribed clothing.
This misuse of media and power distorts truth to serve itself, rather than “We the People” who are losing Constitutional freedoms, just as we have already lost our health, being duped for so many years by greed-based corporate mentalities that put toxic additives in food. Eating, reading, and digesting toxic-food-for-profit for years is not healthy for body, mind, or country, yet even now corporate interests lobby to keep us from knowing what’s in our food (or law); so goes free speech and what’s really in the news.
Main street news gleefully overlooks the collusion corporate monies have with government groceries on many levels, the FDA being only one of many corrupt agencies with which we live and die with contaminated food and policy. The enormity and degree of political toxicity is symptomatic of a serious deterioration of Constitutional rights promised as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
The War in the Middle East (based on lies and media propaganda), the war on drugs (full of lies and distorted fact), in conjunction with a grotesque Federal justice system colluding politically with special interests, have essentially and substantially damaged America: lack of jobs and small business development; innovation and the middle-class substantially reduced, robbed and threatened; higher education far too costly and not relevant; American manufacturing destroyed and shipped overseas; City, State, and Federal infrastructure broken; economic insolvency looming. One might ask who are the real terrorists when security and “the pursuit of happiness” are turned into a nightmare generated by our own corporate, greed-based government.
It’s obvious the American government does not represent the People, but a kingdom, clothed with the rhetoric and dogma of special interests for the rich and those in power. We would never have created a war in Iraq if responsible journalism were able to question the lies and penetrate the media hypnosis generated by a brainwashed corporate controlled national puppet show. Main street news succumbed to “embedded journalism”, government staged “news” fed by liars owned by corporate interests. And “We the People” have, even now, not yet been allowed to understand or see the devastating effects upon Iraq, the inhumanity such engineered lies created, as well as the hatred that generates terrorism.
Economic terrorism by corrupt banks and insurance companies in this country (with government collusion) has yet to fully play out as our Federal Reserve continues to monetarily compensate, digging an ever-widening economic sinkhole by feverishly printing money to forestall the economic collapse. The breakdown inevitably comes, as the falsely propped up economic appearance does not match (again, remember the emperor has no clothes) actual and real economic facts (the lack of production and manufacturing). “We the People,” will end up paying again, as economic slaves, to the tragic drama of a system burning, on fire with greed and power in the kingdom of a deadly political showbiz.
There’s big money at work folks as America begins to smell of decay and the vultures circle. Word-authority is a powerful means of control over the citizen mind. The billionaire Koch brothers’ attempt to buy up major newspapers is not simply to print unbiased news or a truthful journalism, but to inject right-wing dogma and propaganda for the few, dogma disguised as the clothes king and country should wear, their subjects should see and accept. It’s to distort the news for propaganda in the service of moneyed interests and power. It’s to control the minds of a citizenry to prepare them properly for the vulture culture.
Meanwhile, showbiz back at home where County Supervisors and the local newspaper, the Observer-American, perform: the corporate owned newspaper prints an editorial with the heading “Reckless Rivero” (May 1, 2013). The article vilifies and condemns Lake County’s Sheriff Rivero in the middle of his term. This editorial is not about news but about political propaganda in the Kingdom of Lake County. As such, it produces mental clothing for local citizens, designer clothing for the party line. County Supervisors draw up a new design for a Rivero clothing line in a style of “no confidence” (they voted vote 5 to 0). But this “style” appears counter to the look the People wove when they voted Rivero into office to clean up “good ol’ boy” routines and substandard professionalism that have noticeably plagued Lake County for years. So Rivero ruffled some status quo cloth but the People might notice, here, those Supervisors in the Kingdom of Lake County have no clothes, nor does the Observer-American.
As mainstream media has never really covered the war in the Middle East (censored out the human tragedy and our complicity), so also are we blessed by being protected from: knowing what’s in our food; knowing the degree to which medical drugs are dangerous; knowing the degree to which we are being watched covertly (email and internet activity); knowing what governments do to weave laws that tend to undermine and exploit “We the People”; knowing what special interests are involved, clothed to misuse the People’s money.
Increasingly, the People in America are beginning to fear their own government. They’re also beginning to see through worn threads and clothes that don’t fit Constitutional mandates that are supposed to protect and serve the People rather than manipulate for self-serving covert-as-possible special interests and the ultra-wealthy.
CAL FIRE Suspends Burn Permits
St. Helena – Unit Chief Eric Hoffmann of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s (CAL FIRE) Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit announced beginning 8:00am, Monday, June 17, all permits for open burning within State Responsibility Area and Local Responsibility Areas under contract to CAL FIRE are suspended. Chief Hoffmann produced an official proclamation declaring a suspension of burn permits for the counties of Colusa, Lake, Napa, Solano, Sonoma and Yolo until the close of fire season.
Agriculture, land management, fire training, and other industrial-type burning may proceed if a CAL FIRE fire official inspects the burn site and issues a special permit. Campfires are allowed in designated campgrounds, or in established facilities on private property, with permission of the jurisdictional authority. Persons doing burning under special permit must also check with their regional air quality management district for addition regulations and requirements.
Experience has shown that suspending open burning is an effective way of preventing fire escapes, especially as California enters the summer season period of hotter and drier weather. Although all fires cannot be prevented through a burning suspension, their numbers can be significantly reduced. CAL FIRE reminds everyone that it is each individual’s responsibility to use fire safely and to prevent fires that destroy lives, property and our wildland.
Key fire prevention efforts include:
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Developing and maintaining a 100 foot defensible space around structures.
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Use fire safe practices with mechanized equipment:
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Spark arrestors are required on exhaust producing tools (mowers, chain saws, etc)
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If dry grass needs to be cut, use a string trimmer and work in the early part of the day when temperatures are cool and humidity is higher. Never cut dry grass with a metal blade.
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
PROCLAMATION SUSPENDING BURNING PERMITS
In the CAL FIRE Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit
Including all State Responsibility Areas and Local Responsibility Areas under contract to CAL FIRE within the following counties:
Colusa, Lake, Napa, Solano, Sonoma, Yolo
Due to the extreme menace of wildfires and their potential to destroy life, property, and natural resources; and due to current and predicted fire weather and the acute dryness of vegetation; under the authority vested in me by the Director of the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection as per Section 4423.1 of the Public Resources Code, I hereby suspend, except within incorporated cities, the privileges of burning by permit and other use of open fire, with the following exceptions:
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Agricultural, forest management, fire training, and other industrial-type burning may proceed if a CAL FIRE official has inspected the area and issued a permit.
This suspension will begin at 8:00 AM Monday, June 17, 2013, and will continue in place until formally cancelled.
This PROCLAMATION is issued at St. Helena, California, this 14th day of June, 2013.
 It has been said, “The true test of a man’s character is what he does when no one is watching.” (John Wooden)
The character of our Sheriff, Francisco Rivero, has been a topic of great discussion lately. He’s been described as “tough as nails” and “a maverick”. His efforts to root out corruption, take down commercial marijuana operations, and bring justice to Lake County have earned him the admiration of many and the criticism of others. In a recent conversation with someone close to me, I learned a little more about the character of our Sheriff.
It was a stormy night, just after Halloween, in the early hours of November 1, 2011. Rose and her husband had been sleeping for a little while when the wind knocked the electricity out. They awoke to the beeping of his oxygen system, a warning that he needed to switch to a portable tank until power was restored. Rose quickly made the switch and her husband walked the short distance across the hall to use the bathroom.
When he returned, Rose could see that his pace had slowed. As he crossed the hall to return to bed, he became short of breath. She stood behind him to help him as he walked. Despite her efforts, he grew unsteady. He went to his knees, and could no longer stand. As he lay on the floor, Rose called 911 for help.
The paramedics arrived quickly. They gathered around him, and made their assessment: he was gone. There was nothing more they could do to help. Rose’s husband passed away that night. And as the paramedics began to leave, Sheriff Francisco Rivero arrived.
Sheriff Rivero didn’t hesitate to help. He walked into a dark house, with no electricity, in the middle of a stormy night. He knew someone had died, and he was there as Sheriff – Coroner. Rose was distraught, anxious, and caught up in a whirlwind of emotions She didn’t know what to expect; the paramedics were leaving, and the news was just sinking in.
It was clear that Sheriff Rivero was there to help Rose from the very beginning. He spoke with her first. He consoled her, and listened as she described what happened. He assessed her husband and waited with her. His presence was reassuring, and she knew that he was not there to judge her. He didn’t interrogate her. He didn’t search her house. fact, Rose felt that he was only there to help her, and that he had a firm understanding of the situation. For nearly an hour, Sheriff Rivero sat with Rose and offered words of kindness and comfort. He waited with her until Hospice arrived; until he knew that she would not be alone.
As he helped her through this terrible time, Rose came to understand just how seriously Francisco Rivero takes his responsibility to the people of his community. He often meets people on the worst days of their lives and offers only kindness, professionalism, and reassurance in return.
Sheriff Rivero could have left after making his assessment of the deceased. He could have questioned the new widow, filled out his report, and gone home. He didn’t have to get so involved in a particularly uncomfortable situation. After all, it was the middle of a stormy night, there was no electricity, and the timing was definitely outside of the typical workday. Instead, he never hesitated to take the time, despite the circumstances, to help one member of his community through a devastating loss. For his actions that night, Rose and I are thankful to have a man of such character as our Sheriff. Main Street Bicycles was recently recognized by the Lakeport Main Street Association (LMSA) for the quality of its street side appearance, and was presented with the “Best Storefront Presentation Award” for the month of April.
Owners Jeff & Tami Cramer have operated the store for three years, offering a selection of new bikes, parts, cycling gear and practical accessories for every day or vacation riding. The full service shop won the award based on its colorful display windows, and consistently clean and well-maintained store front.
Main Street Bicycles is located at 125 North Main Street in Lakeport, and is open from 10:00am to 5:30pm, Tuesday through Saturday. For more information, call (707)263-3344.
The Lakeport Main Street Association is a non-profit organization which follows the National Trust Main Street program. LMSA’s mission is to improve the economic health of downtown Lakeport, preserve its historic beauty and foster its small town friendliness. On Sunday, June 23rd, from 2:00 to 3:30pm, the Grace Hudson Museum will host a "Meet the Artists" tour of "Points of Encounter: Catherine Woskow and Larry Thomas", the Museum's current exhibit of two internationally known and widely exhibited painters. Both Woskow and Thomas will be on hand for the tour, along with Curator Marvin Schenck. The open dialogue between artists, curator, and audience will focus on the inspiration and creative techniques behind the art. The event is free with Museum admission.
The Grace Hudson Museum is at 431 South Main Street in Ukiah and is a part of the City of Ukiah's Community Services Department. General admission to the Museum is $4, $10 per family, $3 for students and seniors, and free to members or on the first Friday of the month. For more information please go to www.gracehudsonmuseum.org or call 467-2836. Lakeport - The Time Bank of Thrive Lake County will hold a "Time Bank Meet-Up Brunch" on Saturday, June 22nd from 10:00am to noon at the Middletown Methodist Church, 15833 Armstrong Street, Middletown.
This fun and education event is open to current, new, and potential members of the time bank. The first hour will be focused on acquainting new and prospective members on the concept of time banking, and the second hour will be a "Quick Exchange Line Up" where members meet to get and give services. After the meeting, there will be time set aside for people wanting time bank software education, as well as a get-together among people wishing to become involved with building the time bank.
All ages are welcome. Admission is free, and you can earn hours from the Time Bank from this event in the following ways:
1) One hour will be provided for anybody who brings a breakfast or brunch food item to share with eight other people.
2) One hour will be provided for anybody who brings a friend to the event.
3) One hour will be provided to anyone who stays for the entire event and completes the orientation.
The Time Bank of Thrive Lake County helps Lake County residents get necessary services through allowing the exchange of time instead of cash. To find out more about the Time Bank of Thrive Lake County, or for more information about this event, visit the Thrive Lake County website at http://thrivelakecounty.org/time-bank.html, send an email to admin@timebanklakeco.com, or telephone 707-413-0220.
Lake County
Route 29 (4.9/6.3) - Middletown Central Park Association has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for the annual Middletown Days Parade on Saturday, June 15, from 9:30AM to 1PM. A full road closure will be in effect. A detour will be provided, and motorists may experience minor delays. LC#P29BA
Route 29 (20.3/52.5) - Caltrans will perform routine maintenance at various locations from Lower Lake to the junction of Routes 20/29 on Tuesday and Wednesday, June 18 and 19. Work hours are 8:30AM to 5PM. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. LC#M29BA, AA
Route 53 (3.0/7.5) - Highway widening and rehabilitation from 40th Avenue to the junction of Routes 20/53 will continue. Work hours are 6AM to 7PM, weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor - Teichert Construction of Davis. LC#C53AA
Route 175 (27.5/27.7) - Middletown Central Park Association has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for the annual Middletown Days Parade on Saturday, June 15, from 9:30AM to 1PM. A full road closure will be in effect. A detour will be provided, and motorists may experience minor delays. LC#P175BA
Mendocino County
Route 1 (5.3) - North Gualala Water Company has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for utility repairs 0.2 mile north of Fish Rock Road through Friday, June 14. Work hours are 7AM to 5PM, weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. LC#P1EA
Route 1 (14.4/22.3) - Paving from Curley Lane to Pacific View Drive will continue through Friday, June 14. Work hours are 6AM to 3:30PM, weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor - Granite Construction of Ukiah. LC#C1DA
Route 1 (33.4/33.9) - Replacement of the Greenwood Creek Bridge will continue. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal will be in effect 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Motorists should anticipate 5-minute delays. Contractor - Golden State Bridge, Incorporated of Martinez. LC#C1AA
Route 1 (37.3) - Slipout repairs 1.6 miles south of Navarro Bluff Road will continue. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal will be in effect 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Motorists should anticipate 5-minute delays. Contractor - Green Right O'Way Constructors of Willits. LC#C1GA
Route 1 (42.5/44.4) - Bridge painting at the Salmon Creek Bridge and the Albion River Bridge will continue. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal will be in effect 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Motorists should anticipate 5-minute delays. Contractor - Jeffco Painting and Coating of Vallejo. LC#C1EA
Route 1 (61.6) - North Coast Rodders of Fort Bragg has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for the Fort Bragg Car Show near Laurel Street on Saturday, June 15. Event hours are 7AM to 6PM. Turns onto Laurel Street will be restricted, and a shoulder closure will be in effect. Motorists are advised to drive with caution through the area and may experience minor traffic slowdowns. LC#P1EA
Route 1 (82.9/83.8) - Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from the Juan Creek Bridge to the Hardy Creek Bridge. Work hours are 7AM to 5PM, weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. LC#M1DA
Route 1 (92.6/93.0) - Replacement of a culvert with a bridge at Dunn Creek will continue. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal will be in effect 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Motorists should anticipate 5-minute delays. Contractor - Shasta Construction of Redding. LC#C1FA
Route 101 (4.5/5.0) - Caltrans will perform slide repairs near the Korean War Veterans Memorial Bridge (near Frog Woman Rock). Northbound traffic will be restricted to one lane 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. LC#M101GA
Route 101 (9.2/30.8) - Bridge rehabilitation at the "green" Russian River Bridge will continue. Nighttime work hours are 7PM to 7AM, weekdays. One way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 5-minute delays. Contractor - J. McLoughlin Engineering of Rancho Cucamonga. LC#C101QB
Route 101 (43.0/44.0) - Vegetation removal just south of the Haehl Overhead Bridge will continue. A shoulder closure will be in effect 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor - DeSilva Gates Construction of Dublin. LC#C101CB
Route 101 (47.7/49.0) - Vegetation removal from 0.4 miles north of Casteel Lane to the North Willits Railroad Crossing will continue through Friday, June 14. Work hours are 7AM to 6PM, weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor - DeSilva Gates Construction of Dublin. LC#C101CB
Route 101U (0.0) - Bridge rehabilitation at the Ash Creek Bridge will continue. Nighttime hours are 7PM to 7AM, weekdays. One way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor - J. McLoughlin Engineering of Rancho Cucamonga. LC#C101QB
Route 162 (0.0/28.9) - Metal beam guardrail repair at various locations from the junction or Routes 101/162 to Eberle Street will continue. Work hours are 7AM to 5PM, weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 5-minute delays. Contractor - Coral Construction of Wilsonville. LC#C162BAOn June 7, at about 4:00pm, Lake County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Task Force Detectives were conducting a walk through of the Robinson Rancheria Casino. One of the detectives was a certified canine handler.
While walking through the casino parking lot, detectives noticed two dogs in the passenger area of a parked Toyota 4Runner SUV. Two of the vehicle windows were rolled down, but only by approximately two inches. Both dogs were panting heavily and appeared to be overheating. Detectives looked through the windows of the vehicle and did not observe any food or water for the dogs. The outside temperature was approximately 103 degrees Fahrenheit at the time. Fearing for the safety of the two dogs, detectives removed the dogs from the vehicle and found that the temperature inside the vehicle was considerably hotter than the temperature outside.
Detectives located the owners of the dogs, Jeremy Thomas Arnold and Stephen John Zobrist, inside the casino. Both Zobrist and Arnold agreed that it was very hot and they should not have left the dogs in the vehicle while they were in the casino. Zobrist was found to be in possession of prescription narcotic medication but did not have a prescription. Arnold falsely identified himself to detectives.
Detectives found that the dogs were left in the vehicle for approximately 30 minutes. Based on their training and experience, detectives determined that the dogs would have died had they been left in the vehicle much longer, and it was fortunate that the dogs did not die during the time they were left in the vehicle.
Detectives arrested both Zobrist and Arnold. Personnel from Lake County Animal Care and Control took custody of the two dogs. Zobrist was booked in the Hill Road Correctional for cruelty to an animal and possession of a narcotic. Arnold was booked for cruelty to an animal and providing false identification to a Peace Officer.
Jeremy Arnold was arrested for antmal cruelty by LCSO  On June 13, Lake County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Task Force Detectives were near a large marijuana grow located at 5555 Konocti Road in Kelseyville. They observed a white colored Toyota Tacoma truck near the grow site.
While conducting surveillance of the area the Toyota truck drove past. Detectives caught up to the truck and conducted a traffic enforcement stop for vehicle code violations. Detectives contacted and interviewed the driver and sole occupant of the truck, Angel Lemus Torres.
Torres told detectives that he was a Proposition 215 patient and had a recommendation to grow 99 marijuana plants. He said that the Konocti Road grow site was his. There were three other subjects at the grow site that worked with him and were involved in growing the marijuana. He did not personally use all of the marijuana produced by the plants. What he didn’t use, he sold for $1000.00 per pound. He and his partners split the profits from selling the marijuana. Torres estimated that they would each make $30,000.00 from the marijuana produced at the grow site.
Torres was found to be in possession of $10,330.00 cash. Additionally, he was an outstanding suspect in a marijuana grow site that was raided by detectives on June 4, 2013, in Clearlake Oaks, where 655 marijuana plants were eradicated. Torres admitted to being involved in that operation as well.
While two detectives were interviewing Torres, other detectives conducting surveillance of the Konocti Road grow site reported that they observed several subjects run from the area. Detectives were not able to locate the subjects that fled.
Detective later served a search warrant at the Konocti Road grow site. They eradicated over 700 marijuana plants and seized 39 pounds of processed marijuana, a loaded .223 caliber rifle, and $27,000.00 cash. Detectives also located two 55 gallon barrels full of processed marijuana needing to be trimmed.
Torres was booked in the Hill Road Correctional Facility for cultivation of marijuana, possession of marijuana for sale, and possession of a weapon in the commission of a felony. He is being held on a $25,000.00 bail and an immigration detainer.  In the early morning of June 11th, Officer Winslow responded to a report of a vehicle theft from the parking lot of 13865 Lakeshore Drive. Upon on his arrival he contacted San Francisco resident James Whyte. James reported he had come into town the prior night. Upon his arrival, he met two females whom he did not know. James and the females returned to his motel room at 13865 Lakeshore Drive. When he awoke the following morning, he observed his vehicle and his property missing from his hotel room. The vehicle was identified as a 2011 Toyota Prius, gray in color.
At approximately 3:50pm, Detective Lenz was conducting patrol in the area of State Route 53 and Lakeshore Drive. Detective Lenz observed a vehicle matching the description of the Prius, traveling southbound on State Route 53. Once behind the vehicle, he identified it as the vehicle which had been reported stolen earlier in the morning. Detective Lenz conducted a high risk traffic stop on the vehicle, which stopped in the Jack in the Box parking lot on Dam Road.
Additional Clearlake Police Officers arrived on scene and ordered the vehicle occupants from the vehicle and detained them for the investigation. Upon the conclusion of the investigation, Officer Winslow arrested the driver of the vehicle, Clearlake resident David Oranje, for possession of stolen property and a passenger in the vehicle, Clearlake resident Lexus Burgess, for an outstanding felony warrant out of the Lake County Sheriff's Office. The recovered stolen vehicle was released back to James Whyte at that time.
Anyone with information regarding this case can contact Officer Winslow at the Clearlake Police Department (707)994-8251.  On June 12, Lake County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Task Force detectives were walking through the parking lot of the Twin Pines Casino in Middletown. Detectives observed Martin Guzman Pantoja walk out of the casino and through the parking lot. Pantoja was acting bizarre, displaying signs of being under the influence of a controlled substance.
Detectives contacted Pantoja in the parking lot, and after conducting several field sobriety tests, determined that he was under the influence of methamphetamine. Detectives arrested Pantoja, searched his person incident to his arrest, and located a plastic bag containing 5 grams of suspected methamphetamine hidden in his sock.
Pantoja told detectives that he had recently purchased the methamphetamine and that he was a methamphetamine user. He denied that he planned to sell the methamphetamine. Detectives estimated the methamphetamine had a street value of $500.00.
Detectives later tested the suspected methamphetamine using a narcotics identification kit and received a presumptive positive result. The suspected methamphetamine was sent to the California Department of Justice for further testing.
Pantoja was booked in the Hill Road Correctional Facility for being under the influence of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance for sale. His bail was set at $25,000.00.  On June 11, Lake County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Task Force detectives received information in regards to a large marijuana grow on the property located at 9475 Bottle Rock Road in Kelseyville. It was reported that two men, David Russell Draper and Brian Matthew Bareis, had just left the property in a silver colored Dodge Ram truck.
The marijuana grow at 9475 Bottle Rock Road was observed and noted by detectives during an over flight operation conducted in late May 2013. Detectives believed that Draper was associated with several other marijuana growing operations located in the 7000 block of Highway 20 in Lucerne.
Shortly after receiving the information, detectives located Draper and Bareis in the truck, traveling on Big Valley Road in Kelseyville, and conducted a traffic enforcement stop for Vehicle Code violations. Both Draper and Bareis said that they had just visited the property to deliver items to a contractor who was working on the property. Both men denied being involved in the marijuana grow. Detectives later learned that this was not true.
Detectives obtained and served a search warrant for the following locations:
9475 Bottle Rock Road, Kelseyville
3715 Wood Plaza Way, Kelseyville
7004 Highway 20, Lucerne
7232 Highway 20, Lucerne
7242 Highway 20, Lucerne
As a result of the searches, a total of 267 marijuana plants were eradicated and 327 pounds of processed marijuana was seized. On the property located at 9475 Bottle Rock Road, processed marijuana was found stored in camouflaged steel boxes that were hidden along the tree line near the grow site. On the properties located at 7232 and 7242 Highway 20 in Lucerne, processed marijuana was found stored in steel boxes that were buried underground.
Both Draper and Bareis were arrested and booked in the Hill Road Correctional Facility for cultivation of marijuana, possession of marijuana for sale, and conspiracy to commit a crime.
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