LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Lake County’s state senator is set to take on the leadership of the Senate early next year.
This week, the Senate ProTem’s Office released a memo in which it was announced that the ceremony to formally elect Senate ProTem Designee Mike McGuire as the Senate Leader will take place on Feb. 5, 2024.
The memo from McGuire and Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins said the ceremony will take place on the Senate floor, during a Senate floor session.
Additional details will be released in the coming weeks, the memo said.
“We’re looking forward to this momentous occasion!” Atkins and McGuire said in the joint memo.
In addition to McGuire’s ascent to Senate leadership, Lake County’s Assembly representative, Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, was appointed Assembly majority leader in November, as Lake County News has reported.
CLEARLAKE, Calif. — The Clearlake City Council this week will consider an agreement with the Elem Indian Colony regarding its plans for a travel center in the city and discuss what possible actions to take in light of significant increases in the costs of the Burns Valley Sports Complex Project.
The council will meet at 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7, in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.
Comments and questions can be submitted in writing for City Council consideration by sending them to City Clerk Melissa Swanson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
To give the council adequate time to review your questions and comments, please submit your written comments before 4 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7.
On Thursday, the council will consider a memorandum of understanding with the Elem Indian Colony regarding development of a travel center at 14825 and 14855 Lakeshore Drive. The site, near Redbud Park, was the former location of Mario’s Restaurant and Silk’s. The tribe purchased it in 2019 and was successful in having it placed into trust.
Also on Thursday, the council will have a discussion with staff and possibly give direction related to cost increases with the Burns Valley Sports Complex Project that staff said are arising due to delays because of the Koi Nation’s lawsuit against the city.
In other business, the council will appoint the 2024 mayor and vice mayor; consider a summary vacation of the irrevocable dedication of a roadway and public utility easement as being a part of an existing subdivision as requested by Mitchell and Patricia Markowitz; authorize a five-year contract with Flock Safety for automated license plate reader cameras; and hold a public hearing to adopt the first amendment to the 2023-24 fee schedule, update facility rental fees.
The council on Thursday also will meet December's Adoptable Dogs and present the employee years of service awards and certificates of appreciation to volunteers.
On the meeting's consent agenda — items that are considered routine in nature and usually adopted on a single vote — are warrants and City Council minutes; award of a contract to Pro-Ex Construction in the amount of $30,300 and authorize the city manager to approve up to 10% for additional unforeseen contract amendments; minutes of the Oct. 11 Lake County Vector Control District Board meeting; review and approval of the annual calendar of meetings for 2024; approval of Resolution 2023-46 for the application of the Outdoor Equity Program Grant; and receipt and filing of a memo regarding holiday closure of the City Hall administration office.
The council also will hold a closed session discussion regarding the Koi Nation’s lawsuits and a liability claim of Andrew Kirkendall against the city.
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.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — A Clearlake woman died Friday evening after she was hit by a vehicle while walking along Highway 29 near Middletown.
The California Highway Patrol’s Clear Lake Area office did not release the name of the woman, which also was not available from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office on Monday.
The CHP’s report said the woman was walking southbound on Highway 29, south of Central Park Road, at approximately 6:18 p.m. Friday when the crash occurred.
Fatmah Freimund, 31, of Hidden Valley Lake was driving her 2020 Tesla Model S northbound on Highway 29, approaching the pedestrian's location, the CHP said. Conditions were wet and rainy.
For reasons still under investigation, the CHP said the female pedestrian was struck by the Tesla within the northbound lane of Highway 29.
The female pedestrian sustained major injuries as a result and was transported by South Lake County Fire Department to Adventist Health Clear Lake, according to the report.
The CHP said that, despite the efforts of medical personnel, the pedestrian was pronounced deceased due to her injuries sustained from the collision.
Freimund, who was wearing her seat belt, sustained minor injuries, and a 6-year-old male riding with her was not harmed, the CHP said.
The CHP is conducting an investigation into the incident.
Initial information indicated alcohol may be a factor for the pedestrian, the report 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.
Gov. Gavin Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom hosted the 92nd annual California State Capitol tree lighting ceremony Wednesday evening alongside special guest Harley Goodpasture — marking the 40th year a child from a Department of Developmental Services regional center has helped light the State Capitol tree.
Five-year-old Harley, who is the first California Native American child to assist with the ceremony, receives services from the Inland Regional Center and represents over 400,000 Californians with intellectual and developmental disabilities who receive services from the state’s nonprofit regional centers.
Harley's story is one of joy and resilience. Her first word was "love," and her appreciation of outdoor activities, singing, dancing and learning reflects her vibrant spirit.
Her mother is a member of Susanville Indian Rancheria, while Harley, her siblings, and her father belong to the Pala Band of Mission Indians, located in Southern California.
Her parents, Season and James Goodpasture, founded Acorns to Oak Trees, the first regional center vendor service provider on tribal land, in partnership with San Diego Regional Center.
“As Harley steps into this historic role, she not only illuminates the Capitol Holiday Tree but also shines a light on the strength, diversity, and inclusivity California represents,” said DDS Director Nancy Bargmann. “Her infectious spirit and light inspire us all to embrace the magic within each child, during this holiday season and throughout the year."
The Capitol Tree Lighting festivities have been a tradition since the 1930s. For the past four decades, a child from a regional center has lit the tree.
As part of this cherished tradition, individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities from all over California created ornaments that will adorn this year's majestic 60-foot red fir tree.
Also, a first this year, the 21 regional centers each had their own individual 6- to 7-foot tree set up near the Capitol tree, providing a unique opportunity for regional centers to showcase the work of the individuals they serve in celebration of the holiday season.
This year, California expanded the long-standing tradition of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities creating ornaments for the State Capitol tree.
The celebration also included a blessing from the Chairman of the Wilton Rancheria and a performance from the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Lake County Sheriff’s Office has identified a woman who was struck and killed by a vehicle along Highway 29 near Middletown last week.
Susan Alice Johnson-Cline, 57, died at the scene of the crash, which occurred shortly after 6:15 p.m. Friday on southbound Highway 29, south of Central Park Road, as Lake County News has reported.
The California Highway Patrol’s Clear Lake Area office originally gave Johnson-Cline’s city of residence as Clearlake.
However, Lauren Berlinn, spokesperson for the sheriff’s office, said Johnson-Cline’s residence was in Lower Lake.
The CHP’s initial report said Johnson-Cline was walking along the highway in wet, rainy conditions.
It’s so far not known what led to her being struck by a 2020 Tesla Model S in the northbound lane of Highway 29.
However, the report said that alcohol may have been a factor on Johnson-Cline’s part.
Johnson-Cline died of her injuries at Adventist Health Clear Lake Hospital, the CHP 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.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — A new park project in Cobb is being recommended by California State Parks for funding through the National Park Service.
On Monday, the California State Parks announced recommendations to the National Park Service, or NPS, for $35.6 million in Land and Water Conservation Fund, or LWCF, grants for 16 local park projects.
Funding would provide public agencies with the ability to acquire land and/or develop recreational amenities such as playgrounds, sports fields and courts, exercise stations, dog and skate parks.
The recommendations include the county of Lake’s proposed Cobb Community Park acquisition. If approved, the county would be awarded $207,500 to acquire approximately 12.88 acres to create the new Cobb park.
Other projects on the list include cities such as Santa Ana in Orange County that would receive funding to build a new park and construct a shaded playground, exercise area with shade, walking path, a skatepark and half basketball court, picnic area, gathering area, and lighting and landscaping throughout the park.
Funding for Chico Area Recreation and Park District in Butte County would help them build a new aquatic park that includes a new competition pool, wading pool with water slides and play equipment, permanent cabanas, shade sails and a parking lot.
State Parks evaluated more than $154 million in LWCF funding requests, for the available $35.6 million in this application cycle.
Monday’s recommended applicants will proceed with post-selection federal requirements prior to the projects being forwarded to NPS for review and federal funding approval.
Following NPS approval, grantees will participate in a mandatory grant administration workshop, receive grant contracts from State Parks, and begin work to complete their projects.
Since 1965, this grant program has provided funding to cities, counties, eligible districts and state agencies to create outdoor recreational resources.
Four of every 10 Californians have no access to open space within walking distance of their home, and six of every 10 Californians live in park-poor neighborhoods.
Programs such as the LWCF help advance the “Outdoor Access for All” initiative championed by Governor Gavin Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom and the Natural Resources Agency’s “Outdoors for All” initiative.
This effort expands outdoor access to all Californians through focused investments in open space infrastructure, outdoor programming, and improvements to permit applications, with a priority to expanding access in underserved communities.
State Parks develops grant programs to provide funding for local, state and nonprofit organization projects.
Since 1964, more than 8,000 local parks throughout California have been created or improved from grant funding. Since 2000, the department has administered approximately $3 billion in grant funding throughout California. For more information, please visit http://parks.ca.gov/grants.
The full list of recommended projects (listed by the county and city where projects are located) are listed below.
Alameda County
Hayward: Hayward Area Recreation and Park District, D & Clay Streets Neighborhood Park: $1,306,580 to create a new park that will include an approximate 800-foot segment of the paved Foothill Trail, natural play area, open lawn area for sports and games, picnic areas, a bridge, walking paths, resting areas, benches and preservation of Sulphur Creek.
Butte County
Chico: Chico Area Recreation Park District, Chico Aquatic Park: $6 million to create a new competition pool, wading pool with water slides and play equipment, pool decks, cabanas, shade sails, parking, fencing, landscaping and lighting throughout the park. Humboldt County
Eureka: City of Eureka, Grace Marton Memorial Park: $619,989 to create a new playground, game area, picnic areas, drinking fountains, signage, landscaping, extend and renovate the trail and amphitheater.
Kern County
Shafter: Shafter Recreation and Park District, Shafter Community Park: $904,135 to create a new dog park, community garden, fitness course, tennis/pickleball courts, outdoor gym, picnic area, parking lot, restroom, landscaping and lighting throughout the park.
Lake County
Cobb: County of Lake, Cobb Community Park acquisition: $207,500 to acquire approximately 12.88 acres to create the new Cobb Community Park in the town of Cobb.
Los Angeles County
Santa Clarita: City of Santa Clarita, Via Princessa Park: $6 million to create a new park including four full-sized multipurpose fields, pickleball courts, shaded plaza/gathering area with seating, shaded nature-themed playground, natural play area with wooden bridges, shaded picnic shelters, monument signs, walking pathways, signage, bike racks, and lighting and landscaping throughout the park.
Pico Rivera: City of Pico Rivera, Smith Park Aquatic Center: $6 million to construct a new pool deck, competitive pool lanes, diving board, racing platforms, fixed interactive water features, bleachers with shade structures, turf seating, scoreboard and clock, perimeter fencing, storage and chemical room, and lighting.
Los Angeles: Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles, Children’s Park Development Project: $1,450,000 to create a new park with play areas with seating, a junior basketball court, stepped seating feature, open space lawn area, tyke track, walkways, lighting and landscaping throughout the park.
Lancaster: City of Lancaster, Avenue J Neighborhood Park: $2,460,097 to create a new drought-tolerant demonstration garden, shaded playground, pedestrian/bike trail with lighting and benches, shaded plaza/picnic area, fitness course with exercise stations, shaded open space area, monument signs, perimeter fencing and landscaping. Glendora: City of Glendora, South Hills Bike Park Project: $1 million to create a new pump track with jump lines, multiuse trails, downhill bike-only trails, shaded picnic area, bike fix-it stand, trailhead kiosk, signage, restroom and parking lot. Renovate existing access road Orange County
Santa Ana: City of Santa Ana, 10th and Flower Street New Neighborhood Park: $2,250,000 to create a new park including a playground with shade, exercise area with shade, walking path, skatepark with lighting, half basketball court with lighting, picnic area, gathering area, fencing with landscaping and lighting throughout the park. Riverside County
Wildomar: City of Wildomar, 27-Acre Park Phase I: $2,837,500 to create a new 1.1-mile hiking trail, bike park, bike plaza, playground, synthetic turf field, shade structure, windmill, fencing, three decomposed granite parking lots with landscaping throughout the park. Sacramento County
Galt: City of Galt, Walker Park Phase II: $2,650,000 to expand the park by creating three new lighted baseball/softball fields, restrooms, storage building, bleachers, pedestrian connection path, landscaping and parking. San Bernardino County
Colton: City of Colton, Chavez Park Improvement Project: $1,015,200 to create a shade structure over the playground, new ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) walkways/trails and sidewalk for connectivity, landscaping, trees, lighting throughout the park, and six hydration stations. Renovate two tennis courts into a futsal court, playground, and an outdoor fitness circuit with lighting.
San Luis Obispo County
Cambria: Cambria Community Services District, Cambria Skatepark: $600,000 to create a new skatepark facility with a seating section with shade structure, landscaping, parking lot and restroom stall.
Santa Clara County
Milpitas: City of Milpitas, Delano Manongs Dog Park: $301,516 to create a new dog park for large dogs by installing asphalt and decomposed granite, concrete paving, fencing, signage, site furnishings, landscaping and irrigation throughout the park.
Jay L. Zagorsky, Boston University and Patrick Abouchalache, Boston University
Christmas today is a big business, and one part of that is the multibillion-dollar business of selling Christmas trees. The U.S. Christmas tree industry is so large, it even has two dueling trade groups: one that supports natural trees and the other, artificial.
We are two business school professors whose students asked us to explain the economic impact of the winter holidays. In the holiday spirit of sharing, we’re giving you some facts to discuss while trimming your tree.
Where to buy a natural Christmas tree – or chop one down yourself
There are three different ways to get a natural Christmas tree.
First, you can go into a national forest and chop down your own. Relatively few Americans do this, even though a permit costs $10 or less, because government rules require that the tree you chop must be more than 200 feet from any road, campground or recreation area. Since dragging a tree destroys its branches and needles, the 200-foot rule means that large, heavy trees have to be carried a fair distance through often snowy woods.
Your second option is to buy or chop down a tree at a local Christmas tree farm. Christmas tree farms got a big promotional boost when Taylor Swift revealed she grew up on one, but she’s hardly alone: There are nearly 3,000 Christmas tree farms across the U.S., according to the Department of Agriculture’s most recent figures. These farms sell around 12 million trees a year.
The third way to buy a tree is from a local retailer that imports trees. In 2022, the U.S. imported almost 3 million natural Christmas trees, primarily from Canada. Imports have been growing steadily: In 2014, the U.S. imported only half as many trees.
Together, this means that in 2022, roughly 15 million locally grown or imported natural trees were sold in the country.
Some people like to buy their trees from a nonprofit, like the Boy Scouts. These fundraisers are also supplied from local Christmas tree farms or imports.
An artificial tree’s journey from China to your living room
And they’re becoming increasingly common. In 2014, the U.S. imported 11 million artificial trees and sold almost 22 million natural trees. This means that back in 2014, almost two real trees were purchased for every artificial one. A decade later, natural tree sales had fallen to around 15 million, but over 20 million artificial trees were imported.
One result of the shift to replica trees is a reduction in house fires. Natural trees that aren’t watered dry out and sometimes catch on fire. In 1980, the U.S. saw about 850 Christmas tree fires that caused 80 people to be injured. Four decades later, the number of annual fires fell to 180, with only eight injuries.
Why Christmas trees are so expensive
Some people get sticker shock when they see how much Christmas trees cost. Those shocking prices don’t come from the wholesale level. Last year, wholesalers importing entire shipping containers paid $22 for each artificial tree, on average, according to U.S. government statistics. Importers of natural trees paid roughly the same price. Together, artificial and natural importers paid over a half billion dollars for trees to sell in 2022.
Unfortunately, there are no official statistics on how much Americans pay for Christmas trees at the retail level. There’s a general consensus that artificial trees cost more than natural trees, but the extra money may be worth it because they last more than one season.
Multiplying the $80 to $100 price by the 15 million natural trees and 20 million artificial trees sold in 2022 means Christmas trees are roughly a $3 billion business annually — without including any extra money spent on the decorations.
So, with so many options, how do you settle on which sort of tree to buy? Price, environmental factors, convenience and even allergies are all important factors to consider. There’s no easy answer. One of us can’t decide and has multiple trees, ranging from a 12-inch artificial tree handed down from his grandmother to a 7-foot-tall natural Fraser fir purchased at his local Christmas tree farm.
Whatever you decide – natural, artificial, both or no tree at all – just remember to add a dash of cheer to your winter celebration. After all, the best things about the season are free.
This story has been corrected to show that the meeting takes place on Friday.
LAKEPORT, Calif. — Due to an Internet outage that impacted a large part of Lake County as well as a portion of Mendocino County on Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors was unable to conduct business and has called a special meeting on Friday.
The board will meet at 9 a.m. Friday, Dec. 8, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.
The meeting ID is 885 0531 6073, pass code 778712. The meeting also can be accessed via one tap mobile at +16699006833,,88505316073#,,,,*778712#.
With the exception of the pet of the week, the agenda for Thursday’s special meeting is the same as Tuesday’s regular meeting.
Key items will include the board's consideration at 9:15 a.m. of submitting public comments in response to PG&E’s initial draft surrender application and conceptual decommissioning plan for the Potter Valley Project, which includes the Scott Dam.
At 9:45 a.m., the board will consider adopting the Lake County Hazard Mitigation Plan.
The board also will hold an untimed discussion regarding appointments to the Lakeport Fire Protection District Board of Directors.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
5.1: Approve letter of support for the 2023-2024 COCO AIM grant application entitled “Lake County Fire Safe Council Capacity Building and CMAT Implementation” project (CBCI) submitted by the Lake County Resource Conservation District (LCRCD) and authorize the chair to sign.
5.2: approve public defender contract amendment No. 11 between the county of Lake and Lake Indigent Defense LLP for the purpose of removing Anakalia K. Sullivan as partner, and authorize chair to sign.
5.3: Adopt resolution approving Agreement No. 23-0413-004-SF with the California Department of Food and Agriculture for compliance with the Sudden Oak Death Quarantine program for the period July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024, in the Amount of $4,341.69.
5.4: Approve resolution of the Board of Education of the Kelseyville Unified School District ordering an election to authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds, establishing specifications of the election order, and requesting consolidation with other elections occurring on March 5, 2024.
5.5: a) Approve the FY 2023 Emergency Management Performance Grant application in the amount of $138,341; and b) authorize Sheriff Rob Howe to sign the grant subaward face sheet, the authorized agent document and the subrecipient grants management assessment form; and c) authorize County Administrative Officer Susan Parker to act as the authorized agent on behalf of the county to sign the standard assurances and initial each page, the lobbying certification and the FFATA financial disclosure document and d) authorize the chairperson of the Board of Supervisors to sign the certification of the governing body resolution.
5.6: a) Adopt resolution approving the Lake County Sheriff's Office to apply for state of California, Department of Parks and Recreation Off-Highway Vehicle Grant funds and authorize the Lake County sheriff/coroner or his designee to sign the project agreement; and b) consideration of a delegation of authority to Lake County Sheriff-Coroner Rob Howe or his designee to execute the attached project agreement, No. G23-03-64-L01 and to act as the county’s agent in the negotiation, execution, and submittal of all related documents, including amendments to the project agreement and requests for payments.
5.7: a) Waive formal bidding process pursuant to Lake County Code Section 2-38.4 Cooperative Purchase Agreement by the Huston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) and, b) approve the purchase of a Hindsight H-4 Multi-Media Recorder from Exacom and c) authorize the sheriff to sign a purchase order not to exceed $50,000.
5.8: a) Approve the FY 2023 EOC Grant Program application in the amount of $1,318,133; and b) authorize Sheriff Rob Howe to sign the grant subaward face sheet, and the subrecipient grants management assessment form; and c) Authorize County Administrative Officer Susan Parker to act as the authorized agent on behalf of the county to sign the standard assurances and initial each page, the lobbying certification and the FFATA financial disclosure document; and d) authorize the chairperson of the Board of Supervisors to sign the certification of the governing body resolution.
5.9: a) Approve the FY 2023 Homeland Security application in the amount of $126,762; and b) authorize Sheriff Rob Howe to sign the grant subaward face sheet, the authorized agent document and the subrecipient grants management assessment form; and c) authorize County Administrative Officer Susan Parker to act as the authorized agent on behalf of the county to sign the standard assurances and initial each page, the lobbying certification and the FFATA financial disclosure document and d) authorize the chairperson of the Board of Supervisors to sign the certification of the governing body resolution.
5.10: Approve delegation of investment authority to treasurer-tax collector.
TIMED ITEMS
6.3, 9:08 a.m.: Consideration of county investment policy.
6.4, 9:15 a.m.: Consideration of submittal of public comments in response to PG&E’s initial draft surrender application and conceptual decommissioning plan.
6.5, 9:45 a.m.: Consideration of resolution adopting the Lake County Hazard Mitigation plan for the county of Lake.
6.6, 10 a.m.: Public hearing, continued from Nov. 28, consideration of proposed negative declaration (IS 23-03), General plan amendment (GPAP 23-01), and rezone (RZ 23-01) for Reynolds System Inc., to change the general plan designation of a portion of the parcel from rural lands to industrial, and rezone a portion of the parcel from rural lands to heavy industrial; Location: 18649 CA State Highway 175, Middletown (APN: 013-046-04).
6.7, 10:30 a.m.: Consideration of presentation for overview of grant award from the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research under the Adaptation Planning Grant Program.
6.8, 10:45 a.m.: Presentation of Revised State Water Resources Control Board’s Information Order Regulations for the Clear Lake Watershed.
UNTIMED ITEMS
7.2: Consideration of appointments to Lakeport Fire Protection District Board of Directors.
7.3: Consideration of the following advisory board appointment: Mental Health Advisory Board.
CLOSED SESSION
8.1, 3 p.m.: Public employee appointment pursuant to Gov. Code Section 54957(b) (1): Interviews for Health Services director; appointment of Health Services director.
8.2: Public employee evaluation: Director of Child Support Services.
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.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Voters have the chance to submit arguments for or against a proposed bond measure for the Kelseyville Unified School District.
The Lake County Registrar of Voters Office said the deadline to submit arguments for and against Kelseyville Unified School District’s Bond Measure “Q” is Tuesday, Dec. 12, at 5 p.m.
If passed by a 55% majority vote, the bond would result in the sale of up to $35.5 million in bonds to pay for facility upgrades and improvements.
Interested registered voters of the Kelseyville Unified School District are advised to contact the Registrar of Voters Office at 707-263-2372 before the deadline for information on the requirements for filing an argument.
The Registrar of Voters office is open Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., excluding county holidays.
LAKEPORT, Calif. — The Lake County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday released bodycam video of a deputy-involved shooting that led to the death of a Lakeport man on Nov. 16.
Along with the release of the video, the sheriff’s office also released to Lake County News the name of the man who died.
Sheriff’s spokesperson Lauren Berlinn identified the man as Richard Michael Pyorre, 53, Lakeport.
Pyorre was a well-known Lakeport businessman, owner of an insurance company, and at one time a wrestling coach for Clear Lake High School.
The sheriff’s office’s initial report said that deputies responded to the 100 block of Dixon Drive in Lakeport, just off Highway 175, due to reports of an assault with a knife by a male subject.
When the deputies arrived on scene, the report said they contacted the subject — now identified as Pyorre — reportedly responsible for that assault who at that point was armed with a loaded firearm.
The sheriff’s office account said the deputies made multiple attempts “to defuse and de-escalate the situation” but Pyorre refused to comply. He was shot and pronounced dead at the scene.
The sheriff’s office did not separately release another statement on the fatal shooting on Tuesday.
However, the video includes some additional new details, including that the deputies responded to the Dixon Drive residence at about 1:45 p.m.
“Upon arrival, deputies found the driveway barricaded with several vehicles and a boat. Deputies entered the property and contacted the alleged suspect of the reported assault,” the video said.
Shortly after the deputies contacted Pyorre, the sheriff’s office report said he drew a concealed loaded firearm from his waistband.
The bodycam footage was edited together with voice over and text giving additional details of the incident, and included a brief clip of cell phone video that appeared to have been taken by Pyorre having an argument with a family member. The firearm, visible from his waistband, is highlighted in the video.
The 12-minute video begins with fire radio traffic calling out medics from the Lakeport Fire Protection District in response to a phone-in report of an assault on Dixon Drive that possibly involved a knife.
Firefighters asked for the sheriff’s office to respond while they staged at 1:37 p.m.
What follows is video from two bodycams, one from Sgt. Ben Moore, and the second from Deputy Michael Nakahara. Capt. Chris Chwialkowski is also heard and seen in the video but no bodycam footage is included from him.
The deputies approached a large white house, walking around a travel trailer in the front yard. A large German shepherd came around the trailer and started to turn around when Moore sprayed it with pepper spray and it ran away.
From around the side of the house comes a figure who appears to be wearing a dark hoodie and jeans. A caption on the video said, “Suspect is drawing the loaded firearm from a holster in his front waistband.”
The figure is then seen turning and fleeing around the house with the dog following him. Moore said, “He’s got a gun. He’s got a gun.”
From that point on in the video, Pyorre cannot be seen from the vantage point of the bodycams.
Moore then called to Pyorre, telling him that he needed to come out and show him his hands, before firing a shot. Moore yelled at Pyorre not to point the gun at them again and asked for cover.
In the background, radio traffic can be heard requesting a full call out of a SWAT team from Mendocino County. That radio call went out at 1:56 p.m., according to radio traffic monitored by Lake County News on the day of the incident.
Moore continued to call to Pyorre, telling him to let him see his hands and to call out to the deputies.
He and the other deputies advanced to the corner of the house, looking toward the backyard.
“I see him. He’s up. He’s moving. He still has the gun in his hand. Drop the gun! Drop the gun, Rick! Don’t make us shoot you!” Moore shouted.
Moore continued to order Pyorre to drop the gun and to show his hands.
As they continued to call to Pyorre, Moore said he could see Pyorre with the gun in his right hand on the other side of the pool in the backyard and was pointing the gun.
At that point, the bodycam shifted as another shot was fired, and Moore shouted that the suspect was hit and had fallen into the pool, where he was splashing around.
Aerial measurements of the property conducted with Google maps indicate that Pyorre was about 100 feet away from Moore when he was shot.
Moore’s bodycam video indicates that approximately three minutes and 43 seconds elapsed from the time he confronted the dog to shooting Pyorre.
Radio traffic indicated that Pyorre was shot at 1:59 p.m., and that there had been reports of other people up the hill from the house seeing him go into the pool after being shot.
Nakahara’s bodycam showed him following Moore and remaining behind some objects alongside the travel trailer before joining Moore and a third individual — believed to be Chwialkowski — at the corner of the house.
After the bodycam videos end, a picture is shown of Pyorre’s body — with his face covered with a black box — in the pool, with his right hand still clutching what the sheriff’s office said was a loaded handgun.
Moore also fatally shot and killed Jason Richard Sienze, 35, of Madera in February 2018 after he said Sienze brandished a handgun at him while backing down Lakeview Drive in Nice in a stolen pickup. Sienze died after Moore fired close to 20 rounds at him from a rifle.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office website’s page on Use of Force Policies includes links to the video on the incident involving Pyorre and reports and video on previous use of force situations.
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.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Monday announced the final cleanup plan for the Sulphur Bank Mercury Mine Superfund site, covering the mine site and residential soils in Clearlake Oaks.
EPA said its cleanup plan will combine and cover mine waste piles, remove or cover contaminated residential soils, minimize impacts on nearby tribes, and reduce mercury entering Clear Lake sediments and fish.
The mine operated from the late 1800s to the 1950s, spreading waste with toxic levels of mercury and arsenic across the mine property and into nearby neighborhoods and Clear Lake.
The 160-acre mine property, which sits on the lakeshore, has been a Superfund site since 1990.
“This cleanup plan marks the culmination of years of planning with tribes, local government and the state to develop a joint vision for reviving the local environment and economy around Clear Lake,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzman. “EPA is committed to continuing our coordination with local stakeholders, ensuring community-wide benefits, returning land to the Elem Indian colony and collaborating on the protection of tribal and cultural resources.”
“We’re thrilled to see this project move into the next phase,” California Department of Toxic Substances Control Director Dr. Meredith Williams said. “A cleanup project of this magnitude takes immense coordination and expertise, and we look forward to our continued partnership with the US EPA and the Elem Indian Colony to protect the community.”
Before finalizing the cleanup plan, EPA held a 90-day public comment period and hosted online question and answer sessions, in-person open houses, and hybrid (online and in-person) formal public hearings for both the whole community and a tribal-focused audience.
The agency captured both written and verbal comments, considered them in cleanup planning, and responded to them in the final decision document.
The plan is detailed in a document called a Record of Decision, or ROD. The ROD and other documents on how the EPA decided on this plan are found in the site’s Administrative Record posted on EPA’s website.
EPA has already completed eight earlier cleanups at Sulphur Bank to protect community members and the environment.
These prior cleanups included controlling soil erosion, improving surface water management, removing contaminated soil on the Elem Indian Colony, and capping mine waste beneath roadways.
EPA also continues to study Clear Lake’s complex ecosystem, sediment and north wetlands to understand how to reduce mercury pollution.
LAKEPORT, Calif. — The Lakeport City Council this week is scheduled to hold a nuisance abatement hearing on the Vista Point Shopping Center and consider awarding a contract for improvements at the Carnegie Library.
The council will meet Tuesday, Dec. 5, at 6 p.m. in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.
The council chambers will be open to the public for the meeting. Masks are highly encouraged where 6-foot distancing cannot be maintained.
If you cannot attend in person, and would like to speak on an agenda item, you can access the Zoom meeting remotely at this link or join by phone by calling toll-free 669-900-9128 or 346-248-7799.
The webinar ID is 973 6820 1787, access code is 477973; the audio pin will be shown after joining the webinar. Those phoning in without using the web link will be in “listen mode” only and will not be able to participate or comment.
Comments can be submitted by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. To give the city clerk adequate time to print out comments for consideration at the meeting, please submit written comments before 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 5.
On Tuesday, city staff will ask the council to hold a nuisance abatement hearing and adopt a resolution declaring the primary structure of the Vista Point Shopping Center, located at 872 to 896a Lakeport Blvd., a public nuisance, order the property owner to abate all identified nuisance conditions within 30 days and empowering staff with authority to abate the nuisances.
The council also will consider awarding a $128,538.59 contract to Skiles & Associates for the Carnegie Library Improvements Project.
Public Works Director Ron Ladd said the project involves various interior renovations of the Carnegie Library.
Those include repairing and painting walls, insulating and installing a new ceiling, replacing damaged floorboards, new floor finishing, new recessed lights and battery powered emergency lights, and installation of a new chandelier and ceiling fan.
Ladd said work is expected to start in February and be completed by June.
On the consent agenda — items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate on one vote — are ordinances; minutes of the City Council’s special and regular meetings on Nov. 21; and direction to the city clerk to prepare the 2024 Maddy Act Appointments List and post at City Hall and the Lakeport Public Library.
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.