LUCERNE, Calif. – A Monday afternoon fire destroyed a singlewide mobile home in a Lucerne park.

The fire at Lorraine Village on Highway 20 was first reported at around 3 p.m., according to scanner reports.

Northshore Fire responded, with Cal Fire and the US Forest Service also dispatched to assist, reports from the scene indicated.

The arriving units reported there were live power lines down, which was hampering their efforts to fight the fire. Pacific Gas and Electric was requested to respond.

There had been concerns the fire could spread to nearby wildland, but reports from the scene indicated that the quick arrival of firefighters prevented it from moving beyond the mobile home park.

Northshore Fire Chief Jay Beristianos reported just before 3:30 p.m. that the fire was under control.

Due to a breached and failed meter, Beristianos reported over the air that the main propane supply to the park needed to be temporarily shut off while repairs were made, with the propane company called and asked to respond to the scene.

Beristianos told Lake County News that the mobile home, which had an addition, was destroyed in the fire.

He said a neighboring home sustained damage to its swamp cooler and siding, and had broken windows as a result of the fire.

The owner of the home that was destroyed was in a back bedroom at the time the fire began and escaped uninjured. Beristianos said a working smoke detector would have alerted the resident sooner.

The resident and two cats were displaced and are being assisted by Red Cross, Beristianos said.

Total resources on scene included seven engines, one medic unit, two command personnel, two support vehicles and a total of 24 personnel, Beristianos said.

Beristianos said the fire's cause is under investigation.

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.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – A Lakeport man arrested last fall for a hit-and-run crash that seriously injured two cyclists has been sentenced to state prison.

David Allen Lent, 29, was sentenced on Tuesday to three years in state prison after pleading guilty to felony hit and run resulting in permanent, serious injury, according to Senior Deputy District Attorney John DeChaine.

Lent's defense attorney, Barry Melton, said he had no comment on the case.

Lakeport Police arrested Lent for the Sept. 29 hit-and-run crash that left Corey Bauman of Lakeport and Nick Thompson of Upper Lake seriously injured, as Lake County News has reported.

Police said Lent hit the men as they were riding their bikes in the area of Martin and Bevins streets and then fled the scene.

Bauman and Thompson were flown to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, beginning a lengthy recovery period that is still ongoing for them, according to their friend and fellow cyclist, Dave Garzoli.

David Lent was arrested the following morning at the home of his mother, Lynda Lent, who at that time also was arrested for being an accessory to a crime.

However, DeChaine said Lynda Lent was not prosecuted. “There was insufficient evidence to demonstrate that she was criminally complicit in the crime.”

DeChaine said David Lent – who has remained in custody since his September arrest – did not stand trial. Instead, he pleaded guilty to the felony hit and run charge.

“We insisted that he plead guilty to that serious hit and run charge as opposed to entering a no contest plea,” said DeChaine.

He said guilty pleas can be required in such cases, adding that the reasoning behind it was an attempt to provide some solace to Bauman, Thompson and their families, and to demonstrate that Lent is taking responsibility for his actions.

Lent had no prior criminal record, DeChaine said, which prevented him from receiving a more severe sentence. “His lack of criminal record was a mitigating factor.”

At the July 26 sentencing, “There was a strong turnout from the friends and family of the victims in this case,” said DeChaine. “Numerous individuals addressed the court and expressed their feelings about the crime.”

Garzoli said he was present for the sentencing, but he didn't speak. Bauman's family gave statements, he said, adding that while Thompson was present, he chose not to address the court.

DeChaine credited the Lakeport Police Department for its professional handling of the investigation, singling out Det. Dale Stoebe in particular for his work on the case.

“It's frustrating for all involved that the legislation doesn't provide for more meaningful penalties in cases like this,” said DeChaine.

He added that fleeing the scene where people are left bleeding and possibly dying “is a true act of cowardice.”

Garzoli said his friends are recovering, but the physical and emotional scars are enduring.

“As a cyclist, I think about their accident every time I ride and wonder when it's going to be me that gets hit by a texting, drunk or careless driver,” Garzoli said.

Thompson has almost recovered completely, although he hasn't returned to cycling. Garzoli said Thompson – a factory-sponsored paid BMX racer as a youngster – is “one of the most talented two-wheel guys I have ever known, on a bike or motorcycle. ”

Bauman continues to undergo rehab, but Garzoli said he has made “incredible” progress, especially considering that in the days and weeks after he was injured, friends and loved ones believed he might not survive.

The upside, said Garzoli, is illustrated in the photo above of Bauman, taken just a few days after the sentencing, when he was able to climb onto his stationary bike on his own for the first time.

Garzoli said he had been asking Bauman if he thought he could ride his spin bike and he had said yes. “I had told him a couple weeks ago, that my son Andy I would come over and help him on to it so he could see what it felt like again and he got pretty excited, so much so, he decided he wasn't going to wait for our help! ”

Garzoli also posted the picture on his Facebook page, telling all of Bauman's friends and acquaintances, “Let him be an inspiration to all of you! ”

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.

NORTH COAST, Calif. – The four people who died in a Friday crash in Humboldt County involving a REACH medical transport plane have been identified.

The Humboldt County Coroner's Office on Monday said the four crash victims were Crescent City residents Larry Mills, 54; Deborah Kroon, 49; Michelle Tarwater, 30; and April Rodriquez, 35.

REACH Air Medical Services said Mills was the plane's pilot, while Kroon was the flight nurse and Tarwater was a certified flight paramedic. Rodriguez was a patient they were taking to Oakland.

The four died early Friday morning while en route from the REACH Air Medical Services and Cal-Ore Life Flight base at Crescent City Airport to Oakland International Airport aboard a twin-engine Piper PA31.

Early into the flight, Mills declared an emergency due to smoke in the cockpit and said he was going to return to Crescent City. Communication was lost with the plane minutes later when it disappeared off radar northeast of Arcata, REACH said.

A search that took place over the course of Friday found the crash site north of McKinleyville at around 10 a.m. By Friday night, the bodies of all four had been recovered, authorities said.

Mills was a devoted father and husband with more than 20 years of flying experience. He'd been a volunteer first responder for 12 years and had been with Cal-Ore since April.

Kroon came to the United States from New Zealand and had spent 25 years as a critical care nurse, working in hospitals across the country. She had joined Cal-Ore in October 2014.

Tarwater, who had been with Cal-Ore since 2011, was the first in the region to receive National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians-Paramedic certification.

“Due to privacy concerns for the family, the company cannot share any information about the patient at this time,” REACH said in its statement.

The cause of the crash remained unknown on Monday.

The National Transportation Safety Board was on scene investigating the accident, with a preliminary report expected in 10 to 14 days.

“We all have the same questions, but until we have factual reports from the NTSB, there is nothing more we can share,” said REACH President Sean Russell.

REACH said a memorial procession and service for Mills, Kroon and Tarwater will take place on Wednesday, Aug. 3.

The procession will begin at noon that day and will lead from the Crescent City Fire Department to Brookings, Ore.

The services will be held at the band shell in Azalea Park in Brookings. Seating will begin at 1 p.m. due to the anticipated large turnout, with the service at 3 p.m. Additional details are available at http://reachair.com/news-events/ .

On Monday, state Sen. Mike McGuire tweeted a picture from the floor of the State Senate when a motion was passed to adjourn in honor of the four crash victims.

REACH has bases throughout Northern California, including one in Lakeport.

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.

Remembering 3 brave members of the Cal-Ore flight crew - along w/ patient - who passed away in the #Humboldt crash. pic.twitter.com/7FamGpymc3

— Mike McGuire (@ilike_mike) August 2, 2016

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Two fires that broke out in Clearlake on Friday have been fully contained.

Cal Fire reported Sunday evening that firefighters had achieved 100-percent containment on both the Extension fire and the North Branch Extension fire.

The two fires broke out within an hour and a half of each other, and both resulted in temporary evacuations in their immediate areas, as Lake County News has reported.

The Extension fire, located off 18th Avenue behind Woodland Community College, burned a total of seven acres, Cal Fire said.

The North Branch Extension burned 25 acres in the area of Ogulin Canyon and Industrial Avenue. Cal Fire Division Chief Greg Bertelli said the fire destroyed three small metal buildings.

There has been no report so far as to the cause of the fires.

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.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Updates to the city's zoning ordinances will be the main agenda topic for the Clearlake Planning Commission's meeting this week.

The Clearlake Planning Commission will meet beginning at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 2, in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.

The commission will host a public workshop on the city's zoning interpretation and procedures manual.

Gary Price, the city's contract planner, explains in his report to the commission that the city is in the process of conducting a comprehensive update to its zoning code, which he said has many conflicts and internal inconsistencies “that have caused it to be difficult to understand and administer.”

Since April, city staff has developed the zoning interpretation and procedures manual which is meant to provide a mechanism for staff to develop consistent interpretations of the code on an as-needed basis, provide consistent procedures for administering the code and provide an understanding to staff and the zoning code update team of how to best develop the new code based on the city's organizational and resource needs, according to Price.

On Tuesday the commission will review the evolving manual “to understand what interpretations and procedures have been developed” during the city's planning program since April, Price said.

He said staff appreciates any comments and suggestions the commission will have on the manual.

“Also, as the Manual evolves and grows over the next six months, staff would anticipate returning to the Commission for another workshop or study session to continue this overview of staff's work,” Price said.

The meeting is open to the public, and community input on the manual is welcome.

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. – There are several colorful cats and kittens awaiting homes at Lake County Animal Care and Control this week.

Cats available include domestic short hair and long hair mixes, with orange, brown and gray tabby coats, and torbie and tortie kittens.

In addition to spaying or neutering, cats that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are microchipped before being released to their new owner. License fees do not apply to residents of the cities of Lakeport or Clearlake.

If you're looking for a new companion, visit the shelter. There are many great pets there, hoping you'll choose them.

In addition to the animals featured here, all adoptable animals in Lake County can be seen at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Shelter_Animal_Search.htm .

The following cats at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption (other cats pictured on the animal control Web site that are not listed here are still “on hold”).

Domestic longhair mix

This domestic longhair mix cat of undetermined gender has a black and white coat and green eyes.

The cat is in cat room kennel No. 1, ID No. 5356.

Domestic medium hair kitten

This male domestic medium hair kitten has a gray tabby coat.

He's in cat room kennel No. 3a, ID No. 4787.

Domestic short hair kitten

This male domestic short hair kitten has a brown tabby coat.

He's in cat room kennel No. 3c, ID No. 4866.

Domestic short hair mix

This female domestic short hair mix has a brown tabby coat.

She's in cat room kennel No. 3d, ID No. 4867.

Orange tabby kitten

This male kitten has a short orange tabby coat.

He's in cat room kennel No. 4a, ID No. 5376.

Domestic short hair mix

This adult female domestic short hair mix has a brown tabby and white coat with gold eyes.

Shelter staff describe her as a sweet, cuddly girl.

She already has been spayed, so her adoption fee is less expensive.

She's in cat room kennel No. 96, ID No. 5340.

Tortie kitten

This female domestic short hair mix kitten has a tortie coat and green eyes.

She's in cat room kennel No. 5431, ID No. 107a.

Orange tabby kitten

This female kitten has a short orange tabby coat and gold eyes.

She's in cat room kennel No. 107b, ID No. 5432.

Orange tabby kitten

This female kitten has a short orange tabby coat and gold eyes.

She's in cat room kennel No. 107c, ID No. 5433.

Domestic short hair mix kitten

This female domestic short hair mix kitten has a torbie and white coat, and gold eyes.

She's in cat room kennel No. 147a, ID No. 5370.

Domestic short hair mix kitten

This female domestic short hair mix kitten has a torbie-colored coat with white markings.

Shelter staff reported that her paws have six toes.

She's in cat room kennel No. 147b, ID No. 5371.

To fill out an adoption application online visit http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Dog___Cat_Adoption_Application.htm .

Lake County Animal Care and Control is located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport, next to the Hill Road Correctional Facility.

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Visit the shelter online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control.htm .

For more information call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.

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.