Saturday, 09 November 2024

News

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The new year started with heavy rainfall overnight as well as snow in parts of Lake County.


The National Weather Service issued a winter weather advisory for Lake and surrounding counties Friday night that lasts until noon on Saturday.


Rain and snow are expected to continue to fall across the region, with moderate to heavy snow showers falling New Year's morning, the National Weather Service said.


Forecasters said the snow level is expected to dip below 1,000 feet, where 2 to 4 inches of snow could fall, while 6 to 10 inches of snow are expected above the 3,000 foot level.


In the Lake County area, the National Weather Service predicted 1 to 2 inches overnight.


Lake County News received reports from area residents of snow falling in Clearlake Oaks, Clearlake, Lucerne and Cobb, and from Lakeport to outside of Hopland on Friday evening.

 

Officials urged drivers to be cautious out on the roads.


The California Highway Patrol reported vehicles sliding off of Highway 175 near Cobb early Saturday morning, with snow plows reported to be at work in the area of Highway 29 and Seigler Springs Road and a lot of snow on Bottle Rock Road.


On Highway 29 over Mount St. Helena, the CHP reported several vehicles were stuck in the snow, including a tour bus and five to six other cars.


Calls were put out to the Napa County Roads Department as well as to Caltrans for assistance at about 3:30 a.m. CHP reported that AAA could not respond to the Mount St. Helena situation due to the snow.


E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews , on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf and on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/LakeCoNews .

HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE, Calif. – The Hidden Valley Lake area has been the target of multiple night time thefts from unlocked vehicles over the past week, the Lake County Sheriff's Office reported Thursday.


Since late Sunday evening and the early hours of Monday morning, deputies have either responded to, or discovered during their patrols, as many as 20 incidents of theft or attempted theft from vehicles in the residential subdivision, according to Capt. James Bauman.


Virtually all of the incidents of intrusion, theft, or tampering occurred to vehicles that had been left unlocked, Bauman said.


Bauman said investigations into the rash of intrusions began early Monday morning just after midnight, when a resident on Donkey Hill Road reported hearing noises outside of his home and then discovered the driver’s side doors of both his vehicles had been left open by apparent thieves. An iPod was the only loss at that home.


Soon after clearing the Donkey Hill Road incident, deputies were dispatched to a home on Maple Leaf Court for a similar incident in which the victim discovered his driver’s door standing open, however nothing had been stolen, Bauman said.


Throughout the morning, deputies patrolled the area and while no leads or suspects were located, Bauman said deputies did locate several more vehicles with opened doors in the areas of Powder Horn Road and Mountain Meadow North, which had obviously been gone through by the suspects.


The following night, deputies responded to several more reports of theft or attempted theft from unlocked vehicles in the Hidden Valley Lake areas of Fishhook Court, Spur Court and Spyglass Road, he said.


This particular rash of thefts and vehicle intrusions appears to be focused on the Hidden Valley Lake area, Bauman said.


However, he added that the Lake County Sheriff’s Office strongly encourages citizens residing anywhere to always keep their vehicles and homes locked when unattended no matter the hour of the day.


He said Hidden Valley Lake residents should be particularly diligent with security measures, given the recent rash of vehicle intrusions there.


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THE GEYSERS, Calif. – A 3.1-magnitude earthquake hit The Geysers area on Cobb late Tuesday afternoon.


The quake occurred at 4:12 p.m., according to the US Geological Survey.


Its epicenter was three miles east of The Geysers, six miles southwest of Cobb and four miles west northwest of Anderson Springs at a depth of 1.4 miles, the agency reported.


The US Geological Survey received five shake reports from four zip codes – Middletown, Eureka, Vallejo and one from San Diego, 839 miles away.


A 2.9-magnitude earthquake was reported Tuesday at 6:26 p.m., also at a depth of 1.4 miles, two miles west of Anderson Springs, four miles east southeast of The Geysers, four miles south of Cobb, the survey reported.


Three shake reports were made to the US Geological Survey from two zip codes – Morgan Hill and Olivehurst.


A 3.4-magnitude earthquake occurred near Anderson Springs on Dec. 21, as Lake County News has reported.


E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews , on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf and on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/LakeCoNews .

Veterans using the Post-9/11 GI bill will see their monthly living stipends stopped between fall and winter semesters, starting next year, and only full time students will continue to draw stipends at the 100 percent rate.


Those two cost-saving changes, plus a new $17,500 nationwide cap on Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits for students attending private colleges and universities, freed up enough program dollars for Congress to expand new GI Bill eligibility and improve other features, all to take effect by fall of 2011.


So say lawmakers and congressional staff members who negotiated final details of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Improvements Act of 2010. Congress passed the bill, S 3447, before Christmas. President Obama will sign it into law at a White House ceremony in early January.


Here is part of what was gained by streamlining use of the stipend and imposing the new tuition cap for all private college degree programs:


EXPANDED COVERAGE – Post-9/11 GI benefits no longer will be limited to pursuing a college degree. Veterans will be able to use their benefits also to gain skills through on-the-job training, apprenticeships, vocational-technical schools and other non-degree granting institutions.


MORE GUARD MEMBERS ELIGIBLE – Correcting an oversight of the 2008 GI Bill law, National Guard members soon will quality for the new GI Bill if activated for sufficient length of time since 9/11 under Title 32 for domestic emergencies or homeland security missions. Also qualifying will be full-time service under the Active Guard and Reserve (AGR) program.


COMPLEXITY REDUCED – New GI Bill benefits used at public colleges and universities will continue to cover full tuition and fees. But the variance in entitlements for attending private colleges will be end through use of a $17,500 benefit cap, to be adjusted annually based on the nationwide rise in education costs. The cap will replace different ceilings in every state based on tuition and fees at its most expensive degree-granting public college.


BOOK STIPENDS – Active duty members and spouses attending college will be eligible for the new GI bill book stipend, up to $1000 a year.


ONLINE STUDENTS – Students exclusively taking classes online will receive a living stipend equal to half of the average housing allowance stipend paid to resident students, a payment of more than $650 a month.


HELP FOR DISABLED – Veterans with service-connected disabilities who are eligible for GI Bill benefits but electing to participate in Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VRE) training will become eligible for a new living allowance too, of up to $780 a month. This will provide financial help to disabled vets who don’t want to lose VRE case management services but have been missing out on the stipend paid Post-9/11 GI Bill users.


KICKERS – Students who received recruitment or retention kickers from the Defense Department under Montgomery GI Bill or MGIB for Selected Reserves will be able to convert that assistance into Post-9/11 benefits.


Tim Tetz, director of American Legion’s national legislative commission, estimates that 400,000 veterans will benefit from these and other changes in the first year after reforms take effect. He particularly lauded the expansion in type of training covered, and the extension of benefits to as many as 85,000 more National Guard members.


But Tetz said the reduction in stipend payments and the cap on tuition fees for private schools were an unfortunate price to pay to ensure passage.


The reform bill tightens the new GI Bill in less obvious ways too. For example, it will become a kind of payer of last resort, picking up only whatever charges remain after other forms of support, including state-paid educational assistance for veterans, have been applied to school costs.


Earlier drafts of the reform package from the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee would have set the nationwide cap on benefits at private colleges at $20,000. But in late-hour negotiations in the lame-duck session of Congress, the cap was lowered to ensure the reform bill was cost-neutral.


The cap might have been lower than necessary, suggested one Senate source. When the Congressional Budget Office used a more accurate figure for number of National Guard members newly eligible for the Post-9/11 benefits, its final cost estimate came as a surprise to architects of the package. It went beyond cost neutral to save $734 million over 10 years.


Keith M. Wilson, director of VA’s education service, said in a phone interview Wednesday that the totality of changes made to the new GI bill unquestionably will make it better both for beneficiaries and for schools.


“This is a good piece of legislation that addresses a lot of the things that weren’t addressed in, or that we’ve learned since, the initial legislation. From the perspective of the user, it simplifies a lot of things and simplification for our potential students is good,” Wilson said.


He acknowledged the $17,500 cap will cut benefits at some private schools in some states. But he said, “The yellow ribbon program still applies to those private institutions that charge more than that national cap.”


Under yellow ribbon, private colleges can soften the impact of tuition and fees that exceed the cap on GI Bill benefits by waiving up to half of charges not covered and then the VA will reimburse a matching amount.


Veteran service organizations were united in praise of the reform bill. Privately, however, some said they expected more careful consideration of the cap and final passage of the bill in the next Congress.

Rep. Steve Buyer (Ind.), ranking Republican on veterans affairs committee who is retiring from Congress, criticized the rush toward passage and the stalwart support of veterans groups in the face of some benefit cuts.


Veterans in several states, including Texas, New York and New Hampshire, he said, will see GI Bill payments reduced and “will be forced to pay for this reduction from other sources or from their own pocket.”


The typical student veteran, Buyer added, “would oppose improving their own benefit at the expense of one of their comrades … I am surprised that the veterans service organizations have jumped on board in support.”


One vet group countered privately that Buyer had passed on a chance to support a more favorable GI Bill reform package earlier in 2010.


To comment, send e-mail to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or write to Military Update, P.O. Box 231111, Centreville, VA, 20120-1111.


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SAN FRANCISCO – Pacific Gas and Electric Company said Thursday that its millions of energy customers in Northern and Central California could expect a slight decrease in power rates starting next month, to be followed by an increase in the spring.


The company said its average systemwide bundled electric rate will decrease 0.8 percent on Jan. 1.


That rate change will be followed by a slight forecasted increase in March 2011 that is approximately 2.3 percent less than what the rate was in March 2010, the company reported.


Actual bill impacts in March will vary depending on usage, PG&E said.


“We know our customers care more than ever about their electricity bills during these tough economic times so we are focused on keeping rates down,” said Tom Bottorff, senior vice president of Regulatory Relations for PG&E. “Smart energy purchasing strategies coupled with lower gas prices have allowed us to pass on savings to the millions of Californians who rely on us for their energy needs.”


The January rate change reflects higher operating costs offset by lower energy purchasing costs, according to the PG&E report.


The company said the March rate change will take into account additional transmission-related costs and is expected to include the utility’s 2011-13 General Rate Case revenue requirements.


PG&E in September filed a settlement with consumer groups on its General Rate Case revenue request and expects a California Public Utilities Commission decision in early 2011.


The company said rates for its natural gas customers around the state would stay about the same in January 2011 as in January 2010, as increased costs for maintenance, operation and mandated social programs will be offset by a decrease in natural gas prices.


The average residential gas bill, however, may be slightly higher than last January because of increased usage driven by colder temperatures, PG&E reported.


Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews , on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf and on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/LakeCoNews .

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Malyia Jeffers, 2, fell ill early in December 2010 with streptococcal toxic shock syndrome, a severe and rare form of invasive Group A Streptococcus. She is being treated at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford University in Palo Alto, Calif., where she has had to have one hand and both feet amputated. Friends of her family are raising money to help defray the costs of her care. Courtesy photo.
 

 



LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A young man with Lake County connections is enduring a parent's nightmare – watching his young daughter fight for her life against a rare and often deadly bacterial infection.


Ryan Jeffers and his wife, Leah, have been with their 2-year-old daughter, Malyia, throughout a month-long ordeal involving a near-fatal bacterial infection that resulted in amputations of her feet and one hand.


On Dec. 1, the tiny Malyia was flown by helicopter from Sacramento to Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford University in Palo Alto after she contracted Group A Streptococcus, also referred to as Strep A, her father said.


“I didn't even know what it was,” Jeffers said, explaining that he wants to help raise awareness of the condition.


Strep A is the same bacterium that causes millions of cases annually of such illnesses as strep throat or impetigo, according to a fact sheet from the Centers for Disease Control.


However, in some cases, a life-threatening, invasive Group A Streptococcus – or GAS – disease results in people who can't fight off the infection, the agency reported.


In Malyia's case, it was one of the most severe – and least common – forms of invasive GAS disease, called streptococcal toxic shock syndrome.


The Centers for Disease Control said streptococcal toxic shock syndrome causes major organ failure and a rapid drop in blood pressure.


Such was the case with Malyia, whose organs failed. Her father said she was put on dialysis as a result, and also required blood pressure medication.


The Centers for Disease Control said that, nationwide, there are between 9,000 and 11,500 cases of invasive GAS disease reported annually, with between 1,000 and 1,800 deaths resulting.


Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome accounts for 6 to 7 percent of those invasive cases. The Centers for Disease Control said that between 10 and 15 percent of those with invasive GAS disease die from it, while 35 percent of those with streptococcal toxic shock syndrome succumb to it.


Jeffers said of his daughter, “She's very lucky to be even alive right now.”


The severity of the infection led to doctors having to amputate both of Malyia's feet, along with her left hand and some of the fingers on her right hand, her father said.


On Tuesday, Jeffers said his young daughter was doing a lot better – much better than expected – and is recovering.


He said she was wide awake and doctors were checking her eyes. She was shaking her head “yes” and “no” in response to questions.


“She wants me to stay there with her,” Jeffers said, noting she would put her hand on his to indicate wanting him to stay.


Jeffers said Malyia is off of blood pressure medication, but still requires dialysis.


A trial skin graft surgery using donor skin is to take place on the amputation areas Wednesday, Jeffers said. If that goes well, they plan to do skin grafts using Malyia's own skin.


Jeffers said he, his wife and two sons are holding up, and getting a lot of support from friends in Lake County, where he was raised in Kelseyville by his grandmother, who died about a year ago.


He said doctors had a plan for getting Malyia home in about three weeks, but Jeffers isn't sure about when his daughter's hospitalization would end.


“There's still a long ways to go,” he said.


Friends of the family are working to raise funds to help defray the costs of staying with the child at the hospital, as well as the enormous medical bills.


Just to fly Malyia from Sacramento to Palo Alto via helicopter cost $26,000, said Jeffers, who just received a bill for the flight.


Friends have started a donation page at www.chipin.com .


The page, set to expire on Jan. 2., showed that 82 contributors had given approximately $2,717 as of Tuesday night.


To donate, visit http://jeffersfamily.chipin.com/ryan-jeffers-and-family.


For a full fact sheet on Strep A, along with tips on how to prevent its spread – which include things as basic as thorough hand washing – visit the Center for Disease Control's Web site at www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/groupastreptococcal_g.htm .


E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews , on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf and on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/LakeCoNews .

On Dec. 17, 2010, President Barack Obama signed “stop-gap” legislation to resolve the uncertainty regarding the estate and gift tax, at least for the years 2010 through 2012.


Let us examine the changes to the estate and gift tax laws. First, let’s look at the estate tax.


For persons dying in 2010, the decedent’s executor has a choice to make: Either elect to follow the existing temporary repeal of the estate tax in 2010 (per 2001 legislation) or else accept the new estate tax relief for years 2011 and 2012.


The new temporary law provides a $5,000,000 estate tax exemption (threshold), which is much higher than the $3,500,000 allowed in 2009. In addition, the estate tax rate is lowered from 45 to 35 percent of the taxable estate.


Accordingly, in 2010 through 2012, persons dying with estates valued at under $5,000,000 that pass to someone other than a spouse are not subject to estate tax, and unlimited amounts may be gifted to one’s surviving spouse.


Estates transferring more than $5 million to persons other than a surviving spouse pay an estate tax equal to 35 percent of the amount over the $ 5 million exemption threshold amount.


Remarkably, in 2010, decedents can completely escape paying any estate tax whatsoever, no matter how large their estate.


There is, however, an income tax drawback created by the complete repeal of estate tax in 2010.


The drawback, associated with the 2010 repeal of the estate tax, is that only $1.3 million of total appreciation for all appreciated assets combined can be eliminated; whereas before 2010, all taxable appreciation was eliminated for income tax purposes by the so-called “step-up” in basis to date of death values due to the existence of the estate tax.


This “stepped-up” basis has been very beneficial for all American families, even if no estate tax was paid.


But in 2010, assets may keep the decedent’s “cost basis” and receive an upward adjustment to such cost basis – not exceeding its date of death appraised value – provided that the total upward basis adjustments for all appreciated assets do not exceed $1.3 million collectively.


Thus, for wealthy persons dying in 2010 that elect 2010 treatment, if an appreciated asset’s basis is not fully adjusted upward, to its date of death fair market value, taxable capital gains may be recognized for income tax purposes, if and when the appreciated asset is later sold for a price exceeding its basis.


Such capital gains will then have to be paid, either by the trustee/executor or by the beneficiary, depending on who sells the asset.


Given that most estates are under $5 million in net worth, the executor will prefer to follow the 2011 estate tax regime in order to receive a full step-up in basis to date of death values.


In some limited cases, for estates between $5 million and $7 million, the executor may still elect to follow the 2011 estate tax regime in order to get the full step-up in basis, so long as less estate tax is paid than would otherwise be payable in income tax associated with capital gains on appreciated assets (where total appreciation well exceeds $1.3 million).


Now, let’s turn to the gift tax.


In 2010, a person’s lifetime gift tax exemption is $1 million. This means that an individual can make $1 million – and a couple $2 million – in otherwise taxable gifts during his or her lifetime.


But in 2011 and 2012, that exemption dramatically increases to $5,000,000. Recipients of gifts, however, do not get a step-up in basis; they keep the donor’s basis.


After 2012, we are back to the same dilemma faced now. That is, the estate and gift tax law returns to its 2001 tax rates and $1 million individual threshold.


It is entirely possible that a permanent fix will elude us even as we approach 2012.


Dennis A. Fordham, attorney (LL.M. tax studies), is a State Bar Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Probate and Trust Law. His office is at 55 First St., Lakeport, California. Dennis can be reached by e-mail at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by phone at 707-263-3235.


Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews , on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf and on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/LakeCoNews .

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Cal Fire Southern Region Chief Dale Hutchinson. Photo courtesy of Cal Fire.



SACRAMENTO – Following a significant amount of turnover in its leadership, Cal Fire this week announced five key leadership appointments.


Chief Ken Pimlott, acting Cal Fire director, announced the appointments, which take effect on Monday, Jan. 3, 2011.


The following chiefs will fill critical vacant positions managing Cal Fire's two regions and 21 operational units: Southern Region Chief Dale Hutchinson, Northern Region Chief Bill Holmes, Assistant Southern Region Chief Stan Craig, Assistant Northern Region Chief Doug Wenham and Assistant Deputy Director, Cooperative Fire, Training and Safety Program Clare Frank.


“I cannot recall a time when Cal Fire has experienced such a significant turnover in key leadership positions at one time,” said Cal Fire Director Ken Pimlott. “Each of these individuals brings new depth and experience to an already strong leadership team that will guide the Department through the many challenges ahead.”



Southern Region Chief Dale Hutchinson


Chief Hutchinson, of Banning, has 30 years of experience in the fire service, and most recently served as the assistant region chief for the Southern Region where he managed operations, administration and resource management for the nine Southern Operational Units and five contract counties within the Southern Region.


Hutchinson also served as the California Emergency Management Agency (Cal EMA) Fire and Rescue Branch Region Coordinator for Cal EMA Region 6 (Mono, Inyo, San Bernardino, Riverside, San Diego and Imperial counties).


Prior to his assignment as the assistant region chief, he served as the unit chief of the Madera-Mariposa-Merced Unit where he managed all risk operations in the three counties.


Chief Hutchinson has extensive experience in cooperative fire protection agreements and contract county administration from his 25 years working through the ranks from volunteer firefighter to deputy chief in the Riverside Unit.


He has a diversified background in fire protection operations, administration, budgets, labor relations, volunteer firefighter programs, fire prevention, law enforcement and pre-fire engineering.


Hutchinson served on Cal Fire Incident Command teams for eight years, with his last position as incident commander.


As the Cal Fire Southern Region chief, Hutchinson will oversee nine units from the Central Valley to the Mexico border.


 

 

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Cal Fire Northern Region Chief Bill Holmes. Photo courtesy of Cal Fire.
 

 



Northern Region Chief Bill Holmes


Chief Holmes, of Cameron Park, started his career with Cal Fire as a seasonal firefighter in 1969 while attending college. He worked his way up through the ranks to the position of unit chief for the Amador-El Dorado Unit.


He is a certified chief officer in Cal Fire and with the State Fire Marshal. Holmes is a qualified national incident commander, operations section chief and agency administrator having served on major incidents throughout California, Wyoming, Montana and Oregon.


In 2007, Chief Holmes co-chaired the branding committee that developed and recommended the new Cal Fire logo.


As the Cal Fire Northern Region chief, Holmes will oversee 12 units from the Oregon border to the Bay Area.


 

 

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Cal Fire Assistant Southern Region Chief Stan Craig. Photo courtesy of Cal Fire.
 


 


Assistant Southern Region Chief Stan Craig


Chief Craig, of Coarsegold, began his career with Cal Fire in Orange County in 1973. He worked in the Orange Unit and the Riverside Unit before moving to the Cal Fire Training Academy in Amador County.


After working at the training academy, Chief Craig moved to the Madera- Mariposa-Merced Unit (MMU), where he spent the remainder of his first 31 years with the Department.


In MMU, he worked his way up from battalion chief all the way to unit chief before he retired in May 2004.


In July of 2009, Chief Craig returned to state service and was appointed to the position of management services staff chief for the Southern Region.



 

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Cal Fire Assistant Northern Region Chief Doug Wenham. Photo courtesy of Cal Fire.
 

 



Assistant Northern Region Chief Doug Wenham


Chief Wenham, of Redding, began his career with Cal Fire in 1982 as a seasonal firefighter in the Shasta-Trinity Unit (SHU).


In 1988, after a stint with the city of Redding Fire Department, he returned to Cal Fire and was appointed to a position as a fire apparatus engineer in the Nevada-Yuba-Placer Unit (NEU). He worked in NEU in various assignments including fire captain and battalion chief.


In 2000, he transferred back to SHU where he promoted to assistant chief in 2006, deputy chief in 2007 and to unit chief in January 2010.


As the SHU unit chief Wenham also served as the Shasta County Fire Warden and the Shasta County Cal EMA Operational Area Coordinator.


Chief Wenham is also a peace officer, has an AA degree in fire science and served seven years on Cal Fire Incident Command teams, including as the Incident Commander on Cal Fire Incident Command Team 1.


 

 

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Cal Fire Assistant Deputy Director of Cooperative Fire, Training and Safety Program Clare Frank


Chief Frank, of San Jose, has more than 23 years of fire service experience.


Prior to this appointment, Frank was the deputy chief of the Civil Cost Recovery Program, which recouped nearly $26 million in the past 24 months from parties who negligently caused fires.


Chief Frank began her career as a seasonal firefighter in the San Mateo-Santa Cruz (CZU) Unit in 1982.


She has held a variety of field and management positions in the Department, working in training, fire prevention, administration and operations.


She also served as the fire chief for the city of Milpitas, a progressive, all-risk fire department in the San Francisco Bay Area.


Chief Frank is also an accomplished attorney who has practiced as a labor-employment lawyer, a California deputy attorney general and a federal staff attorney for the U.S. District Court.


She holds an associate of science degree in fire protection technology, a bachelor's of science degree in fire administration, a juris doctorate from Santa Clara University School of Law and is a member in good standing of the California Bar.


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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Heavy rain fell across the county for much of Tuesday, with forecasters predicting more rain and warning of small stream flood conditions.


The National Weather Service issued small stream flood warnings for Lake County and surrounding counties that remains in effect through 1 p.m. Wednesday.


A storm front moving across the region is expected to intensify rainfall into early Wednesday, the agency said. Between 1 and 3 inches of rainfall is expected, particularly over the Coastal Range.


Officials cautioned that drivers needed to give themselves more time when traveling. If water covers the roadway, don't cross it, as it may be too deep for a vehicle to safely pass.


The National Weather Service also issued a wind advisory through 4 a.m. Wednesday for Lake County below 4,000 feet, warning of gusts between 25 and 35 miles per hour, and as high as 50 miles per hour.


Lake County could see snow as low as 2,300 feet on Wednesday, with chances of rain at 50 percent, according to the forecast.


Rain is expected to taper off during the week, with rain possible on New Year's Day, the forecast said.


Lake County Public Works Road Division crews were checking drainages and patching potholes on Tuesday, according to Road Superintendent Steve Stangland.


He told Lake County News late Tuesday afternoon that all county roads were open, with some standing water reported on Soda Bay Road near Big Valley Rancheria outside of Lakeport.


“That's the only report we have of anything out of the ordinary,” Stangland said.


On the area's highways Tuesday there were reports of potholes, pooling water, rocks and mud as a result of the storms, according to the California Highway Patrol.


The CHP reported a tree on Bottle Rock Road near Kelseyville before 10 p.m. and a large boulder on New Long Valley Road just north of Highway 20 shortly before 11 p.m.


E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews , on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf and on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/LakeCoNews .

CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – A Clearlake Oaks woman was the victim of a fatal Thursday morning wreck, according to the California Highway Patrol.


Rebecca Manka, 45, died as the result of the rollover crash, which occurred on Lakeview Drive in Clearlake Oaks at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, CHP Officer Steve Tanguay said.


Tanguay said Manka was driving a 1995 Saturn northbound on Lakeview Drive approaching Widgeon Way.


As she was traveling uphill the roadway curved to the left. For unknown reasons, Manka allowed her vehicle to drift off of the roadway to the right, Tanguay said.


He said Manka's vehicle broke through a wire-mesh fence and dropped down a steep embankment more than 10 feet high, with the vehicle overturning and landing on its roof.


Neither alcohol nor drugs appear to be a factor in the collision, said Tanguay.


Tanguay said CHP Officer Nick Powell is investigating the crash.


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From left, Tribal Council Treasurer Sally Peterson, Tribal Chair Carl Rivera, jackpot winner Dale Valentine, Tribal Council Secretary Pam Reyes-Gutierrez and Tribal Council Representative Tim Rivera on Tuesday, December 28, 2010. Photo by www.minennaphotography.com .
 

 

 


MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – A retired firefighter from San Leandro won big when he visited a local casino this week.


Dale Valentine was making one of his regular visits to Twin Pine Casino in Middletown on Tuesday when he hit a jackpot of approximately $8,430,301.44 on a statewide California Megabucks slot machine.


“Our tribe has been committed to providing great success in our community,” said Tribal Chairman Carl Rivera. “We are extremely excited with the new found fortune of Dale Valentine, one our loyal customers who frequents our gaming facility.”


Rivera said it's truly inspiring when a valued customer like Valentine wins a jackpot of this magnitude.


Valentine and his wife, who call Twin Pine their favorite casino, own a vacation home in Lake County and spend much of their time in the county.


“I’m glad I hit the jackpot, but I’m really glad it happened here,” Dale Valentine said.


Twin Pine officials reported that Valentine has been a loyal customer at the casino for 15 of the 16 years it has operated, and has hit a few smaller jackpots during that time.


The couple's plans for the money include putting some away in the bank, a large donation to hospice, learning how to ride a Harley Davidson motorcycle for him and for her a larger bathroom and closet.


Twin Pine Casino & Hotel is owned and operated by the Middletown Rancheria of Pomo Indians of California. The casino is located at 22223 Highway 29 at Rancheria Road, Middletown. Visit the casino online at www.TwinPine.com .


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SACRAMENTO – On the heels of early season storms, manual and electronic readings taken as part of the state's first snow survey of the winter season on Tuesday indicate that water content in California’s mountain snowpack is 198 percent of normal for the date.


“This boosts our hopes that we will have an adequate water supply for our cities and farms as we continue to shake off effects of the 2007-09 drought,” said state Department of Water Resources Director Mark Cowin.


Before Tuesday's readings, the Department of Water Resources estimated that it would be able to deliver 50 percent of requested State Water Project water in 2011.


The early projection equals the amount delivered this year, and is all-but-certain to increase as hydrologic conditions continue to develop.


The final amount delivered to 25 million Californians and nearly a million irrigated acres of farmland will largely depend on weather between now and spring, the state reported.


The Department of Water Resources said deliveries were 60 percent of requests in 2007, 35 percent in 2008, 40 percent in 2009, and will total 50 percent of the 4,172,126 acre-feet requested this year.


The last 100 percent allocation – difficult to achieve even in wet years because of pumping restrictions to protect threatened and endangered fish – was in 1996.


Most of the state’s major reservoirs – bolstered by early rains with the spring snowmelt still to come – are near or above normal storage levels for the date.


Lake Oroville in Butte County, the State Water Project’s principal reservoir, is at 95 percent of normal, holding 2,099,731 acre-feet.


Lake Shasta north of Redding, the federal Central Valley Project’s largest reservoir is at 119 percent of normal, holding 3,421,013 acre-feet.


The Central Valley Project's Folsom Lake near Sacramento is at 90 percent of normal, holding 428,933 acre-feet.


Lake Oroville, heavily dependent on the spring and summer snowmelt, last filled to its 3.5 million acre-foot capacity in the summer of 2003.


Snow surveyors from the Department of Water Resources and cooperating agencies manually measure snowpack water content on or about the first of January, February, March, April and May, augmenting and checking the accuracy of electronic readings taken throughout the winter by sensors up and down the mountain ranges.


Tuesday's electronic readings show snow water equivalents in the state’s northern mountains at 169 percent of normal for the date and 57 percent of normal for April 1, generally the peak date for snowpack water content.


Readings for the central mountains are 180 percent of normal for the date, and 61 percent of the April 1 average.


The numbers for the southern mountains are 261 and 78.


Last year on this date, electronic readings indicated that water content in the statewide snowpack was 85 percent of normal for the date and 28 percent of the April 1 average.


The readings were 77 percent and 26 percent for the northern mountain ranges; 83 and 28 percent for the central mountains, and 100 and 30 percent for the southern mountains.


Northern California snowpack readings are taken from the Trinity River basin through the Feather and Truckee river basins.


Central mountain readings extend from the Yuba River and Lake Tahoe basins through the Merced and Walker river basins.


The southern measurement zone is from the San Joaquin River, Mono Lake and Owens Lake basins to the Kern River basin.


Snow water content is important in determining water supply.


The measurements help hydrologists prepare water supply forecasts as well as provide others, including hydroelectric power companies and the recreation industry, with critical data.


Monitoring is coordinated by the Department of Water Resources as part of the multi-agency California Cooperative Snow Surveys Program.


Surveyors from more than 50 agencies and utilities take readings at hundreds of snow measurement courses.


Readings from snowpack water content sensors are posted at http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cgi-progs/snow/DLYSWEQ .


Historic readings from snowpack sensors are posted at http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cgi-progs/rpts1/DLYSWEQ .


Reservoir levels may be found at http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cdecapp/resapp/getResGraphsMain.action and http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cgi-progs/reservoirs/RES .


Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews , on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf and on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/LakeCoNews .

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