UKIAH, Calif. – Mendo Lake Credit Union is sponsoring a “School Supply Drive” to provide much-needed items to students in Lake and Mendocino counties.
Donations may be dropped off at any of MLCU’s four branches through Aug. 19.
“The credit union is striving to help the children throughout both counties by giving them the supplies they will need this new school year,” says MLCU President and CEO Richard Cooper. “We are counting on our members and friends to aid us with this endeavor.”
Some of the items that may be donated include pencils, pens, folders, binders, notebooks, notebook paper, composite notebooks, crayons, markers, glue, scissors, erasers, rulers and backpacks.
MLCU members giving a minimum of five items will have a chance to win a Kindle tablet. MLCU membership is open to everyone who lives or works in Lake and Mendocino counties.
For information about the supply drive and the raffle, inquire at one of MLCU’s branches in Lakeport, Clearlake, Fort Bragg and Ukiah.
Mendo Lake Credit Union is a member-owned community development financial cooperative and has been serving members’ financial needs since 1959.
For more information on membership, contact the Mendo Lake Credit Union Member Service Center at 707-468-0161.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Lakeport's Soper Reese Theatre will play host to a Blues Hall of Fame inductee and four-time Blues Music Award winner in a special appearance this weekend.
Bluesman Joe Louis Walker will perform at 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 13, at the theater, located at 275 S. Main St., Lakeport.
Walker has played his electric guitar with the likes of B.B. King, Jimmy Hendrix, John Lee Hooker and Muddy Waters.
Considered one of the greatest bluesmen of his generation, Walker is a four-time Blues Music Award winner and Blues Foundation Contemporary Male Artist of the Year.
He's nominated for Best Rock Blues Album of the Year for his latest release, “Everybody Wants A Piece.” Walker will be playing songs from that new work as well as previous albums at the Saturday concert.
In an interview with Lake County News, Walker – who now lives on the East Coast – described growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area in a family that loved music.
Walker credits his parents with inspiring him to become a musician.
His parents came from the South, and they shared with their children the music that they had grown up with and loved.
When he was small, his father would come home from work, put his little record player up on the table and play his 45 RPM records.
His mother and older siblings also loved to share their music, and Walker later would join a band formed by his cousins.
He said music kept them out of trouble and directed their energy in a positive way.
While he's played with many greats over the years, Walker said he has worked hard to create his own distinct voice and sound, which greats like Willie Dixon and BB King encouraged him to do.
“Do you,” he recalled Dixon telling him. “You doing a bad version of you is better than you doing a good version of me.”
He said he's drawn on a lot of influences in developing his distinctive style, noting that “Music is university.”
Describing his music, he again hearkens to something Dixon once told him, “'Your music is sort of all over the place,' and I sort of like it like that.”
Walker doesn't consider himself a pure blues or a pure rock guy, adding that he doubts anyone is “pure” anything in any genre these days.
“I just try to keep my ears and my eyes and my heart open, and I think if you do that, it keeps you current and it keeps you sort of relevant,” he said.
Tickets are on sale for $20, $18 and $15. All seats are reserved. The theater’s dance floor will be open. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Tickets are available online at www.SoperReeseTheatre.com or at The Travel Center, 1265 S. Main, Lakeport, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For more information call 707-263-0577.
If you can't make the Saturday concert, Walker said to keep an eye out for him on other dates around California, where he'll be visiting throughout August, with a return trip planned in September.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
EMERYVILLE, Calif. – More than 200,000 crashes involved debris on U.S. roadways during the past four years, according to a new study released by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.
Road debris has resulted in approximately 39,000 injuries and more than 500 deaths between 2011 and 2014. AAA is calling for drivers to properly secure their loads to prevent dangerous debris.
AAA researchers examined common characteristics of crashes involving road debris and found that nearly 37 percent of all deaths in road debris crashes resulted from the driver swerving to avoid hitting an object. Overcorrecting at the last minute to avoid debris can increase a driver’s risk of losing control of their vehicle and make a bad situation worse.
More than one in three crashes involving debris occur between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., a time when many people are on the road hauling or moving heavy items like furniture or construction equipment. Debris-related crashes are much more likely to occur on Interstate highways. Driving at high speeds increases the risk for vehicle parts to become detached or cargo to fall onto the roadway.
“These new reports show that road debris can be extremely dangerous, but also indicate that these crashes are preventable,” said Cynthia Harris, AAA Northern California spokesperson. “Drivers can easily save lives and prevent injuries by securing their loads and taking other simple precautions to prevent items from falling off the vehicle.”
About two-thirds of debris-related crashes are the result of items falling from a vehicle due to improper maintenance and unsecured loads.
Crashes involving vehicle related-debris increased 40 percent since 2001, when the Foundation first studied the issue.
The most common types of vehicle debris are:
– Parts becoming detached from a vehicle (tires, wheels, etc.) and falling onto the roadway. – Unsecured cargo like furniture, appliances and other items falling onto the roadway. – Tow trailers becoming separated and hitting another vehicle or landing on the roadway.
Drivers can decrease their chances of being involved in a road debris crash by:
Maintaining vehicles: Drivers should have their vehicles checked regularly by trained mechanics. Badly worn or underinflated tires often suffer blowouts that can leave pieces of tire on the roadway. Exhaust systems and the hardware that attach to the vehicle can also rust and corrode, causing mufflers and other parts to drag and eventually break loose. Potential tire and exhaust system problems can easily be spotted by trained mechanics as part of the routine maintenance performed during every oil change.
Securing vehicle loads: When moving or towing furniture, it is important to make sure all items are secured. To properly secure a load, drivers should:
· Tie down load with rope, netting or straps · Tie large objects directly to the vehicle or trailer · Cover the entire load with a sturdy tarp or netting · Don’t overload the vehicle · Always double check load to make sure a load is secure
“Drivers have a much bigger responsibility when it comes to preventing debris on the roads than most realize,” added Harris. “It’s important for drivers to know that many states have hefty fines and penalties for drivers who drop items from their vehicle onto the roadway, and in some cases states impose jail time.”
Currently every state has laws that make it illegal for items to fall from a vehicle while on the road. Most states’ penalties result in fines ranging from $10-$5,000, with at least 16 states listing jail as a possible punishment for offenders.
AAA encourages drivers to educate themselves about specific road debris laws in their state. Drivers should also practice defensive driving techniques while on the road to prevent debris related crashes from occurring.
“Continually searching the road at least 12 to 15 seconds ahead can help drivers be prepared in the case of debris,” continued Harris. “Always try to maintain open space on at least one side of your vehicle in case you need to steer around an object. If you see you are unable to avoid debris on the roadway, safely reduce your speed as much as possible before making contact.”
AAA also recommends that drivers avoid tailgating and remain alert while on the road. Additional tips on defensive driving and how to report road debris to the proper authorities are available online at www.AAA.com/PreventRoadDebris .
Established by AAA in 1947, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, publicly-supported charitable educational and research organization. Dedicated to saving lives and reducing injuries on our roads, the Foundation’s mission is to prevent crashes and save lives through research and education about traffic safety.
SACRAMENTO – The Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board is urging boaters and recreational users to avoid direct contact with or use of waters containing blue-green algae, or cyanobacteria, in the Mountain Meadows Reservoir in Lassen County.
The recommendation is based on the potential health risks from the algae, which is currently blooming in the reservoir.
Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board staff visually observed a cyanobacteria bloom in the reservoir near the Indian Ole Dam.
Bloom conditions can change rapidly and wind and waves may move or concentrate the bloom into different regions of the reservoir.
A water sample collected near the dam has confirmed the presence of at least two different cyanobacteria genera (Gloeotrichia sp., and Aphanizomenon sp.).
These types of cyanobacteria are capable of producing toxins. However, the presence of toxins has not been confirmed.
Mountain Meadows Reservoir is a recreational lake near the town of Westwood and is part of the Upper Feather River Hydroelectric System operated by Pacific Gas and Electric Co. The lake is not used for drinking water supply.
PG&E has posted caution signs at known public access points around the reservoir and along Hamilton Branch, where water discharges from the Indian Ole dam.
Blue-green algae can pose health risks, particularly to children and pets. People are urged to choose safe activities when visiting Mountain Meadows Reservoir and recommend that people and their pets avoid contact with water, and avoid swallowing lake water in an algae bloom area.
An evaluation of a water sample collected near the Indian Ole Dam has confirmed the presence of at least two different genera of cyanobacteria – Gloeotrichia sp. and Aphanizomenon sp.
The algae bloom can appear as cut grass in the water or blue-green, white or brown foam, scum or mats that can float on the water’s surface and accumulate along the shoreline and boat ramp area.
Recreational exposure to toxic blue-green algae can cause eye irritation, allergic skin rash, mouth ulcers, vomiting, diarrhea, and cold and flu-like symptoms. Pets can be especially susceptible because they tend to drink while in the water and lick their fur after.
The Statewide Guidance on Cyanobacteria and Harmful Algal Blooms recommends the following for blue-green algae impacted waters:
– Take care that pets and livestock do not drink the water, swim through algae, scums or mats, or lick their fur after going in the water. Rinse pets in clean water to remove algae from fur. – Avoid wading, swimming, or jet or water skiing in water containing algae blooms or scums or mats. – Do not drink, cook or wash dishes with untreated surface water from these areas under any circumstances; common water purification techniques (e.g., camping filters, tablets and boiling) do not remove toxins. – People should not eat mussels or other bivalves collected from these areas. Limit or avoid eating fish from these areas; if fish are consumed, remove guts and liver, and rinse filets in clean drinking water. – Get medical treatment immediately if you think that you, your pet, or livestock might have been poisoned by blue-green algae toxins. Be sure to alert the medical professional to the possible contact with blue-green algae.
NORTH COAST, Calif. – Caltrans reports that the following road projects will be taking place around Lake County and the North Coast during the coming week.
Included are Mendocino County projects that may impact Lake County commuters.
LAKE COUNTY
Highway 20
– Pavement repairs from Manzanita Road to the junction of Route 53 will continue. One-way traffic control will also be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.
– The Mine Restoration Project has been issued a long-term Caltrans Encroachment Permit to allow trucks to access their worksite near the Colusa County Line. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.
Highway 29
– Fog sealing operations from Ackley Road to the Lakeport Boulevard Overcrossing will begin Sunday, August 14. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.
Highway 53
– AT&T has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to perform utility work near mile marker 10 beginning Tuesday, Aug. 16. One-way traffic control will be in effect between 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
– AT&T has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to perform utility work between Dry Creek and Cry Creek Road beginning Tuesday, Aug. 16. One-way traffic control will be in effect between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
Highway 175
– Valley Fire recovery work between Middletown and Loch Lomond will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.
MENDOCINO COUNTY
Highway 1
– Mowing operations between Albion and the north limits of Elk will begin Tuesday, August 16. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.
– Mowing operations between Ward Avenue and Beach Access Road will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.
– Highway repairs a quarter-mile north of Ocean Meadows Circle will continue. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
– Sign work between the El Roble Overcrossing and the junction with Route 253 will begin Wednesday, Aug. 17. A northbound lane closure will be in effect between 7:30 a.m. and 5 p.m., weekdays. Motorists may encounter minor traffic slowdowns.
Highway 101
– Rumble strip installation between Uva Drive and one half-mile south of the Haehl Overhead Bridge will begin Monday, Aug. 15. Traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m., weekdays. Motorists may encounter minor traffic slowdows.
– Sign work near Reeves Canon Road will begin Wednesday, August 17. A southbound lane closure will be in effect between 7:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Motorists may encounter minor traffic slowdowns.
– The city of Willits has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to perform utility work related to their water main project between Sherwood Road and Casteel Lane beginning Friday, Aug. 12. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. Motorists may encounter minor traffic slowdowns.
– Rumble strip installation at various locations between Willits and Confusion Hill will begin Monday, Aug. 15. One-way traffic control will be in effect between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.
– Paving operations between Sherwood Road and Rattlesnake Creek will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.
– Emergency slide repairs just south of Standish-Hickey State Park will continue. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
Highway 128
– Drainage work from 2.5 to 7 miles east of the junction with Route 1 will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.
Highway 162
– PG&E has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to perform tree work between the Long Valley Creek Bridge and Short Creek Road. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
– Paving operations between East Lane Road and Short Creek will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.
Highway 253
– Paving operations between the Anderson Creek Bridge and Slide Creek will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 20-minute delays.
– Highway repairs from Cattle Pass to Butler Ranch will continue. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.
The Caltrans Traffic Operations Office has reviewed each project and determined that individual project delays are expected to be less than the statewide policy maximum of 30 minutes, unless noted otherwise above.
For information pertaining to emergency roadwork or for updates to scheduled roadwork, please contact the California Highway Information Network (CHIN) at 1-800-GAS-ROAD (1-800-427-7623).
LAKEPORT, Calif. – After less than four hours of deliberation, a jury on Tuesday found a Clearlake man guilty of a July 2015 drive-by shooting that claimed a man's life.
Billy Raymond Mount, 36, was convicted of second-degree murder for the shooting death of 40-year-old Steven Galvin on July 2, 2015.
In addition to the murder conviction, the jury found Mount guilty of assault with a firearm, discharge of a firearm from a vehicle, felon in possession of a firearm, as well as numerous special allegations, including shooting a firearm from a vehicle, discharge of a handgun, personal use of a firearm, inflicting great bodily injury and being a member of a criminal street gang, according to statements from Senior Deputy District Attorney Sharon Lerman and defense attorney Andrea Sullivan.
Lerman said the jury found that Mount – a known skinhead – had committed the crime for the benefit of, or with direction from, a criminal street gang.
Galvin had been walking through a neighborhood on 35th Avenue when witnesses said a small white pickup pulled up. Two shots were heard and Galvin collapsed in a nearby yard after being struck in the back by a .22-caliber bullet.
When the case's lead investigator, Det. Ryan Peterson of the Clearlake Police Department, arrived at the scene, paramedics were trying to examine Galvin, who was writhing on the ground and gasping, based on footage from Peterson's body camera shown in court both during opening and closing arguments.
Peterson asked Galvin, “Who did this to you?” Galvin clearly told him several times, “Cyclops,” the name for David Cox, another Clearlake resident and known skinhead who had several confrontations with Galvin over his belief that Galvin had stolen his tablet computer.
During about six weeks of trial Lerman had argued that it was Mount who committed the crime, with Cox and another man, Sean Whiteman, giving key testimony in the case.
Cox received a total of three immunity agreements during the different phases of the case – the initial investigation, the preliminary hearing and the trial – in exchange for truthful testimony, according to statements in court.
Some of his key testimony related to interactions with Mount, including a confrontation he said they had shortly before the shooting in which Cox called out Mount for a domestic violence issue. Cox also claimed that Mount confessed to him that he shot Galvin.
Mount had ridden in Whiteman's white Chevy S10 pickup to the shooting scene, according to Whiteman's testimony.
Whiteman also would lead police to a gun he said was used in the shooting. While there was DNA and fingerprint evidence on the weapon, experts were not able to lift the prints or DNA. They were, however, able to find a print and DNA from Mount on an AC/DC CD case in Whiteman's pickup, according to statements in court.
Sullivan, however, argued that Galvin's dying declaration held the truth – that it was Cox who had shot him. Galvin would die at the hospital less than an hour after the shooting.
Closing arguments had wrapped up on Friday, at which point the jurors began deliberating. Both Sullivan and Lerman estimated the jury was in session about an hour that day, before returning on Wednesday morning at 9 a.m. The verdict came in at about 11:30 a.m., and was read just before noon.
“I was very surprised,” Sullivan said of the verdict. “I thought that the evidence was pretty convincing that there was reasonable doubt in light of the witness credibility issues and the fact that there was a dying declaration and no physical evidence.”
Sullivan said she didn't believe the prosecution's theory made sense, and felt Whiteman had been caught in lies that discredited his testimony.
“It's hard to tell what they based their verdict on,” Sullivan said of the jury, explaining that while she sometimes polls jurors on their decisions, she did not feel it was appropriate to do so on Wednesday as one of the jurors was visibly crying.
For her part, Lerman said she believed justice was served by the jury's decision.
“It was a long trial and it wasn’t an easy one to sit as a juror,” she said, adding that she believed the jury showed a lot of patience and tenacity in reaching its verdict.
Lerman said she told Galvin's brother of the verdict, and he expressed relief that there was justice in the case.
As for Cox, Lerman said the immunity agreement is limited, which means that his testimony can't be used against him.
“It does not mean that he can never be charged,” she explained.
However, Lerman added, “As the evidence stands today, we don’t have evidence to charge him with,” and she didn't know if he actually directed Mount to shoot Galvin or if it was an unfortunate circumstance that Cox couldn't see coming.
Mount is scheduled to be sentenced at 1:30 p.m. Sept. 6 by Judge Andrew Blum, who has presided at his trial, Sullivan said.
Lerman said Mount is facing an indeterminate sentence of 25 years to life in state prison.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
With the arrival of back-to-school season, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) urges parents and guardians to ensure their children are current on vaccines.
The agency said immunizations protect against a number of serious and potentially life-threatening diseases.
“Getting children all of the vaccines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control is one of the most important things parents can do to protect their children from serious diseases,” said Dr. Karen Smith, CDPH Director and state public health officer. “If you haven’t done so already, check with your child’s doctor to find out what vaccines your child needs. Vaccinations are the best way to ensure that students are protected against serious and preventable diseases, including measles.”
When children are not vaccinated, they are at increased risk for contracting diseases and can also spread diseases to other people, including students in their classrooms and both children and adults within their communities.
Babies who are too young to be fully vaccinated, and people with weakened immune systems due to cancer or other health conditions are especially susceptible.
California law requires students to receive certain immunizations in order to attend public and private elementary and secondary schools as well as licensed child care centers.
Schools and licensed child care centers are required to enforce immunization requirements, maintain immunization records of all children enrolled, and report student immunization status to CDPH.
Talk to your child’s doctor to find out which vaccines are recommended for them before going back to school.
Visit www.ShotsforSchool.org for more information on immunization laws and required vaccinations.
LOWER LAKE, Calif. – The Lake County Democratic Club has rescheduled its August meeting due to the Lower Lake fires on Tuesday.
Instead, the club will meet at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 18, in the Lower Lake Community United Methodist Church social hall, 16255 Second St., Lower Lake.
Guest speakers will be Mitch Markowitz, Konocti Unified School District Board member, and his guest Tom Hoskins, human resources/local control and accountability plan director; and Middletown Unified School Board candidate Sean Millerick.
The usual business meeting will be dispensed with in order to accommodate these speakers.
The Lake County Democratic Club is an officially chartered club of the Democratic Party of Lake County.
All meetings are open to the public. Membership is open to registered Democrats.
Visit www.lakecountydemocraticclub.org or email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Eleven months after the Valley fire tore through south Lake County, state officials released their conclusions as to the cause and discussed the next steps, including a review for possible criminal prosecution.
Chief Ken Pimlott, Cal Fire's director, came to Middletown on Wednesday to deliver the news that faulty electrical wiring at a residence was determined to be the cause of the fire.
The Cal Fire investigative report was released to the public Wednesday afternoon, about an hour and 15 minutes after local officials were briefed and given their copies of the report, according to Sheriff Brian Martin.
Right up to the document's release, local officials had indicated to Lake County News that they had no idea what Cal Fire's findings would be.
A copy of the final report can be found at http://calfire.ca.gov/fire_protection/fire_protection_firereports .
The third most damaging fire in California history burned from Sept. 12 to Oct. 6, 2015, wreaking most of the damage in just the first few days.
Altogether, 76,067 acres burned and 1,955 structures were destroyed, among them 1,349 homes.
Then there was the loss of human life. Bruce Burns, Robert Fletcher, Barbara McWilliams and Leonard Neft perished in the fire. A fifth person reported missing at that time, Robert Litchman, has never been found, Martin said.
Four Copter 104 firefighter crew members from the Boggs Mountain Helitack were injured, with Cal Fire officials reporting that one of the injured men was unable to return to his job due to his injuries.
Pimlott was accompanied at Wednesday's announcement by Sheriff Martin, District Attorney Don Anderson, District 5 Supervisor Rob Brown, County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson and a host of other local officials.
Pimlott said Cal Fire's responsibility on incidents like the Valley fire “doesn't stop when the fire goes out.”
Noting that the Valley fire had begun just north of where they were standing, Pimlott said fire investigators began their work on the incident within hours, and were among the first to arrive on the scene. That investigative process concluded on Wednesday, he said.
“The investigation uncovered evidence that a residential electrical connection arced and ignited surrounding dry grass behind a home located on High Valley Road.”
Martin acknowledged that it has been a long, emotional year in the wake of the fire. “This has been a tragedy that has everyone that lives in Lake County, both directly and indirectly.”
He said the investigation had taken a long time, for a very good reason. “They wanted to make sure that they got it right.”
Martin referred to continual speculation about possible fire causes among community members, as well as information people submitted to law enforcement.
“It's fair to say there were hundreds of leads that investigators had to follow up on,” Martin said.
During the course of their work, Cal Fire investigators followed up with numerous community members who had made reports on the fire, chased down allegations that they couldn't confirm about one man setting a backfire, responded to a tweet from a teen with mental development issues who suggested that a book of matches lying in dry grass was responsible, as well as some leads they determined likely were altogether false.
Not long after the fire, investigators began interviewing John Pinch, who along with wife Cindy and friends Parker and Laura Mills have owned 8015 High Valley Road since 2009.
It was at that property that firefighters found the fire burning shortly after dispatch on Sept. 12. The home is the Pinches' main residence and a second home for the Mills. A shed and pickup were burned on the property but the home survived.
During the investigation, Pinch admitted to investigators that he installed an unpermitted wiring circuit – which was not installed to national standards – for a hot tub that Cal Fire said malfunctioned and ignited the fire. Parker Mills gave investigators similar details about the electrical circuit that Pinch had installed.
Investigators also looked at an area at Highway 175 and Gifford Springs Road where a second fire was reported after the Valley fire was under way. They searched the fire area but could find no signs of an ignition source.
Ultimately, Cal Fire Northern Region Law Enforcement Deputy Chief James Engel concluded that the fire on Gifford Springs Road was a spot fire from the main Valley fire, noting that he found no signs of arson or a power line that caused it.
He also attributed the main fire's source to Pinch's wiring, with the loose electrical connections arcing and igniting the dry grass on the property.
An ongoing process
The release of the report nearly a year after the fire broke out leaves local officials with a challenging case and, potentially, a short amount of time to make key decisions.
Martin said the final Cal Fire investigative report is being forwarded to the District Attorney's Office for review. “There's a process that needs to take place,” and additional time will be required, Martin said.
He urged the community to be patient, to provide information to authorities when they have it and to ask questions. In turn, he said authorities will work to answer questions and keep the community informed to the best of their ability.
Anderson, who by that point had only been able to briefly look at the report, said he couldn't go into the details of the case.
However, he said that first thing on Thursday he was turning the case over to his investigative staff for further inquiry, while his legal staff will determine if any crime has been committed and if the facts justify anyone being charged.
The report concluded that there was a misdemeanor violation of the Health and Safety Code referring to failing to take precautions to prevent fire when using objects that can start fires, and a violation of California Residential Code requiring proper permitting.
Anderson was asked for his opinion about what crimes the report conclusions fall under. He said that it was hard to know without having further reviewed the report. However, he explained that criminal law goes beyond mere negligence.
He also wasn't sure how much time he might have to act.
Misdemeanor cases have a statute of limitations of a year, leaving Anderson just 32 days to review the investigative report and make a determination on whether or not he can pursue a criminal filing.
If his office were to attempt to file felony charges, he said he would have another two years and 32 days due to the three-year statute of limitations.
Pimlott said all wildland fires are investigated for cause and origin, with negligence always considered.
He said Cal Fire will have discussions with the California Attorney General's Office on possible charging in concert with the work that Anderson's office does locally.
He added, “Every fire we investigate, we learn something from,” and that what has been gleaned from the Valley fire will be useful in approaching future incidents.
The release of the report was a milestone moment, but one that didn't appear to offer much satisfaction to the people whose lives were intimately and radically affected by the devastating incident.
Responses from Valley fire survivors have run the gamut of rage and disbelief, sorrow, resignation, to the determination to keep moving forward and looking for ways to keep the community safe.
Officials on Wednesday acknowledged the ongoing challenges the community is experiencing.
“Suppressing the fire was just the beginning. This community has really banded together to move forward,” said Pimlott.
He acknowledged, “The recovery process is slow, it's painful and it's difficult,” adding, “We're not done until the community's done.”
Supervisor Rob Brown said that while the release of the fire's cause is good news, it's also extremely important to focus on the community's strength and resilience.
As such, he urged the community to not be distracted by the fire cause and to continue to look toward recovery.
“Just stay focused on the positive, stay focused on moving forward, and allow the process to run its course, both criminally and civilly,” Brown said.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The Middletown Luncheon Club gathering on Wednesday, Aug. 17, will be pure musical entertainment.
The local husband and wife duo Don and Saro Deacon, who perform as “From the Heart,” will travel to Middletown from their new post-Valley Fire home in Lakeport.
The Deacons love to sing together and share the joy of music with others.
Don plays guitar and Saro plays Celtic harp. They sing a variety of folk-rock-type songs with a few Celtic tunes in the mix. They welcome singing along.
Lunch will be served at noon at the Middletown Senior Center, 21256 Washington St. The program will end promptly at 1 p.m.
For only $5 per person, enjoy chicken parmesan, spinach salad and an orange wedge.
Reservations are required. Please call 707-987-3113 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. before 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 16.
For reservations or cancellations after Tuesday evening, please call the senior center directly at 707-987-3113.
SACRAMENTO – July state revenues came in below projections in the 2016-17 Budget Act approved the previous month by $591.3 million, or 9.8 percent, with all three of the state’s main revenue sources falling short of expectations for the first month of the fiscal year, State Controller Betty T. Yee reported today.
Retail sales and use taxes missed the mark by the widest margin. Estimated at $907.9 million, they came in at just $694.5 million – 23.5 percent, or $213.5 million, lower.
Personal income tax receipts of $4.39 billion were $323.3 million lower than anticipated in the Budget Act, missing estimates by 6.9 percent.
Corporation tax receipts of $227.3 million were $49.5 million below estimates, or 17.9 percent.
“The declines in all three revenue categories may be attributable to the slower rate of job growth when compared to 2015,” said Controller Yee, the state’s chief fiscal officer. “However, we should exercise caution by further examining and understanding the possible causes of the revenue shortfalls, as a one-month snapshot is not indicative of an economic trend.”
Total disbursements of $10.42 billion were $33.2 million lower than projected.
he state ended the month of July with unused borrowable resources of $30.37 billion, which was $1.38 billion more than expected in the 2016-17 Budget Act.
Outstanding loans of $5.63 billion were $545.5 million higher than projected. This loan balance consists of borrowing from the state’s internal special funds.
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A Washington state man wanted by law enforcement was arrested in Clearlake on Wednesday.
Justin Craig Johnson, 40, was taken into custody by sheriff's deputies and detectives, according to Lt. Steve Brooks of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.
Brooks reported that on Wednesday Sheriff’s Major Crimes detectives received information that a wanted subject out of the state of Washington was in Lake County, with that individual identified as Johnson.
Johnson, a convicted felon, had an active felony warrant out of Washington for failure to appear on drug and weapon charges, Brooks said.
Brooks said Johnson was recently featured on Washington’s Most Wanted list and was listed to be extraditable in all 50 states.
Major Crimes Unit detectives and patrol deputies were able to locate a motorhome that Johnson was associated with in the parking lot of Walmart in Clearlake, Brooks said.
As deputies located the motorhome, Johnson was seen in the doorway of it. Brooks said detectives and patrol deputies quickly surrounded the motorhome and ordered Johnson to step out the vehicle.
Brooks said Johnson exited the motorhome and immediately tried to flee, but the detectives and deputies were able to take Johnson into custody after a short struggle with him.
Johnson was arrested for his active out of state warrant and resisting arrest. He was then transported to the Hill Road Correctional Facility where he was booked, Brooks said.