An artist's concept of MESSENGER orbiting Mercury. Courtesy of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft successfully achieved orbit around Mercury at approximately 9 p.m. EDT on Thursday, March 17.

This marks the first time a spacecraft has accomplished this engineering and scientific milestone at our solar system's innermost planet.

“This mission will continue to revolutionize our understanding of Mercury during the coming year,” said NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, who was at MESSENGER mission control at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Md., as engineers received telemetry data confirming orbit insertion.

“NASA science is rewriting text books. MESSENGER is a great example of how our scientists are innovating to push the envelope of human knowledge,” Bolden said.

At 9:10 p.m. EDT March 17, engineers Operations Center, received the anticipated radiometric signals confirming nominal burn shutdown and successful insertion of the MESSENGER probe into orbit around the planet Mercury.

NASA's MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, Geochemistry, and Ranging, or MESSENGER, rotated back to the Earth by 9:45 p.m. EDT, and started transmitting data.

Upon review of the data, the engineering and operations teams confirmed the burn executed nominally with all subsystems reporting a clean burn and no logged errors.

MESSENGER's main thruster fired for approximately 15 minutes at 8:45 p.m., slowing the spacecraft by 1,929 miles per hour and easing it into the planned orbit about Mercury. The rendezvous took place about 96 million miles from Earth.

“Achieving Mercury orbit was by far the biggest milestone since MESSENGER was launched more than six and a half years ago,” said Peter Bedini, MESSENGER project manager of the Applied Physics Laboratory (APL). “This accomplishment is the fruit of a tremendous amount of labor on the part of the navigation, guidance-and-control, and mission operations teams, who shepherded the spacecraft through its 4.9-billion-mile journey.”

For the next several weeks, APL engineers will be focused on ensuring the spacecraft's systems are all working well in Mercury's harsh thermal environment.

Starting on March 23, the instruments will be turned on and checked out, and on April 4 the mission's primary science phase will begin.

“Despite its proximity to Earth, the planet Mercury has for decades been comparatively unexplored,” said Sean Solomon, MESSENGER principal investigator of the Carnegie Institution of Washington. “For the first time in history, a scientific observatory is in orbit about our solar system's innermost planet. Mercury's secrets, and the implications they hold for the formation and evolution of Earth-like planets, are about to be revealed.”

APL designed and built the spacecraft. The lab manages and operates the mission for NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington.

Dr. Tony Phillips works for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

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A week after a 9.0-magnitude earthquake hit Japan, causing widespread destruction and seriously damaging a Japanese nuclear reactor, Gov. Jerry Brown and other officials on both the state and federal levels sought to quell public concerns over impacts of radiation from the deteriorating reactors.

“As this very tragic situation in Japan unfolds, I want Californians to know that we are closely monitoring any potential impact on our state. I also want to emphasize that there is no threat to the people of California due to radiation in Japan,” said Brown.

The assurances came on Friday, the same day that the federal Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy issued a joint statement reporting that no radiation levels of concern have reached the United States by the U.S. Government's extensive network of radiation monitors.

However, as part of that report, the agencies acknowledged that a monitoring system in Sacramento that feeds into the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization’s International Monitoring System detected miniscule quantities of the radioactive isotope xenon-133. The origin was determined to be consistent with a release from the Fukushima reactors in Northern Japan.

The levels detected were approximately 0.1 disintegrations per second per cubic meter of air, which results in a dose rate approximately one-millionth of the dose rate that a person normally receives from rocks, bricks, the sun and other natural background sources, according to the report.

EPA and the Department of Energy reported that Xenon-133 is a radioactive noble gas produced during nuclear fission that poses no concern at the detected level.

The Sacramento detection validated a similar reading taken Wednesday and Thursday in Washington state. Officials said the readings remain consistent with their expectations since the onset of this situation in Japan.

Following the explosion of the Chernobyl plant in Ukraine in 1986 – the worst nuclear accident in world history – air monitoring in the United States also picked up trace amounts of radioactive particles, less than one thousandth of the estimated annual dose from natural sources for a typical person, based on the EPA and Department of Energy statement.

On Friday, Gov. Brown and the interim director of the California Department of Public Health, Dr. Howard Backer, assured Californians that public health and safety do not face any threat from radiation released at nuclear facilities in Japan this week.

“The California Department of Public Health and our Emergency Management Agency are in constant contact with the federal agencies responsible for monitoring radiation levels in California, and we will tell the public if any precautions become necessary. However, there is no cause for alarm,” Brown said.

Backer said the Department of Public Health takes the situation in Japan seriously, and is monitoring it very closely. “As both President Obama and Governor Brown have stated, there is no threat to California, and so people should not be taking precautionary health measures.”

He said potassium iodide is only appropriate for much higher levels of radiation that may be generated within close proximity to a nuclear source. “Using potassium iodide when inappropriate can result in significant side effects.”

The Lake County Air Quality Management District said there is no radiation monitoring taking place locally.

However, this week the EPA’s Radiation Emergency Response Team and EPA Region 9 reported that they were working with the California Air Resources Board and selected local air districts to enhance radiation monitoring capabilities in California should it become necessary to deploy additional samplers.

In California, fixed EPA RadNet stations are located in Anaheim, Bakersfield, Eureka, Fresno, Los Angeles, Riverside, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco and San Jose, the agency reported.

The EPA said air pollution control districts in Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, Mendocino County and the North Coast Unified Air Quality Management District were contacted for their permission to set up additional temporary monitors if needed.

Californians with questions about radiation exposure can contact the California Department of Public Health’s Emergency Operations information line at 916-341-3947.

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A Jeep that had overturned during a single-vehicle crash on the morning of Friday, March 18, 2011, near Nice, Calif., is pictured after being set back on its wheels before being towed from the scene. Photo by Gary McAuley.

NICE, Calif. – Friday's rainy conditions and a possible case of driving under the influence of alcohol are believed to have contributed to a single-vehicle collision.

The crash involving the late model Jeep occurred shortly before 8:30 a.m. in the 3800 block of Lakeview Drive between Howard and Hudson, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Reports from the scene indicated the 18-year-old male driver was traveling westbound on Lakeview Drive at a speed too fast for conditions, hit the embankment and flipped the vehicle over onto its top.

Two Northshore Fire medic units and an engine, and two CHP units were reported to have responded.

The driver – who was not wearing his seat belt – was reported to have sustained moderate injuries, while his passenger, who was wearing his seat belt, was not injured.

The CHP said the driver was taken to Sutter Lakeside Hospital, where along with treatment he was expected to undergo a blood draw.

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An important estate planning consideration that sometimes gets overlooked is the funeral, burial and memorial arrangements. What do you want? Who do you want to be in charge? How will the expenses be paid? Do you wish to have your burial site cared and maintained on a regular basis? Let’s examine your options.

Your funeral, burial and memorial wishes should be memorialized in a written instrument, such as your advance health care directive; but the instrument can also be written in a letter to your executor, or your will.

Your written instructions regarding the disposition of your remains and any funeral goods and services must be faithfully observed; provided that your directions are clear and complete, and that necessary payment arrangements have been made.

Financial arrangements can involve insurance, funds designated for that purpose, or prepayment with a funeral director or cemetery.

Your directions regarding internment should say whether you wish cremation or burial. And, if cremation is involved, where and how your ashes should be spread or interred.

The person whom you want in charge should be named as agent in your advance health care directive. Your health care agent has first priority over anyone else with regard to disposing of your bodily remains.

Otherwise, if there is no health care agent, your next of kin – in order of priority – have the legal authority and responsibility to dispose of your remains. Your next of kin are secondarily responsible to pay for the cost of disposing of your remains in the event that your estate is unable to pay the costs.

Those who wish to preserve their burial gravesite in good order may leave money for its care and maintenance. The arrangement for the care of one’s burial site can occur at the time when the site is purchased by you while alive; or, after your death, as a bequest in your will or trust paid to the cemetery.

If you have or will purchase a gravesite, inquire whether the cemetery maintains an endowment care fund to care and maintain the cemetery and/or specific sites.

Such cemetery endowments may remain in existence for perpetuity so long as the money lasts and the cemetery remains in existence. The money can be used for the improvement, embellishment planting or cultivation of the cemetery generally, or for the care improvement, repair, planting, or cultivation of any part of or plot in the cemetery. Paying the cemetery in advance of your passing is the most common approach.

Alternatively, if relevant, you may make a gift of money to a church, or other qualified charitable beneficiary, for the same purposes.

Lastly, leaving money in a so-called “honorary trust” to be established after you die is the least desirable approach as such honorary trusts are unenforceable and may exist for no more than 21 years.

When no such arrangements are made the results can be detrimental for the surviving loved ones.

Bickering over the details – such as where someone gets buried – and paying the expenses is common and can get very ugly. It is best, therefore, that you shoulder the responsibility of planning for your funeral, burial and memorial and not leave it by default to your grieving surviving family.

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.

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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The county is looking for a group of dedicated volunteers to help keep local waters safe from invasive species.

The Lake County Water Resources Department and the county's Invasive Species Council are looking for volunteers to monitor Clear Lake’s primary launching ramps in an effort to protect the lake from quagga and zebra mussels.

If you are interested in contributing to the prevention of invasive species and protecting the lake, resource, your services are truly needed.

To obtain further information and apply as a program volunteer monitor, please contact Invasive Species Program Volunteer Coordinator Doug Codling at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., telephone 707-994-3305 or fax 707-994-4130.

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A boat was knocked off its trailer during a collision on Lakeshore Drive in Clearlake, Calif., in Thursday, March 17, 2011. Photo courtesy of the Clearlake Police Department.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A two-vehicle collision – one a boat, the other a pickup – closed down a portion of Lakeshore Drive in Clearlake Thursday afternoon.

Clearlake Police officers responded to the collision on Lakeshore Drive at Emory Avenue at 3:20 p.m., according to Sgt. Tim Hobbs.

Hobbs said 43-year-old Ronald Tobey was driving a 2000 GMC Sierra and towing a 2006 Skeeter Bass Boat westbound on Lakeshore Drive, with Consuelo Castro, 31, driving a 2005 Toyota Tundra southbound on Emory Avenue.

Castro failed to stop at the posted stop sign and ran into the side of the boat being towed by Tobey, Hobbs said.

There were not any reported injuries, he added.

The Tundra sustained major damage and the boat and trailer sustained moderate damage, according to Hobbs.

Lakeshore Drive between Emory Avenue and the Corkman's Clipper restaurant was shut down for approximately one hour while the boat and vehicle were being removed from the roadway, Hobbs said.

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A 2005 Toyota Tundra driven by Consuelo Castro was damaged during a collision with a boat on a trailer in Clearlake, Calif., in Thursday, March 17, 2011. Photo courtesy of the Clearlake Police Department.

U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein (both D-CA) introduced the National Hazards Risk Reduction Act of 2011, aimed to help improve preparedness for earthquakes and violent windstorms, including supporting research into advance warning systems, improved building codes and other efforts to reduce risks and damage from natural disasters.

“This critical legislation will help safeguard our communities by developing new ways to monitor and prepare for devastating natural disasters, including earthquakes,” said Boxer.

Added Feinstein, “With the tragic earthquake in Japan, we should do everything we can to be better prepared in the case of natural disasters. This bill will better equip states like California to withstand catastrophic natural disasters and implement modern building codes to protect lives and property.”

The legislation reauthorizes the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP), which assesses new and existing earthquake hazards, improves building codes and works to decrease the damage of seismic activity by assessing overall vulnerability.

The program was first authorized in 1977 and has led to significant improvements in earthquake research and prediction and infrastructure preparedness. The most recent reauthorization expired in 2009.

California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones offered his support of the Earthquake Insurance Affordability Act Thursday.

“Recent events have shown how significant the impact of an earthquake can be and how critical it is for people to be ready to confront the challenges that arise from such a disaster. And one of the most important ways people can do this is though earthquake insurance,” Jones said.

He said the bill would enable state-sponsored earthquake programs to lower the cost of earthquake insurance, increase the amount of coverage provided and lower deductibles at little or no cost to the federal government.

“In fact, as more people buy earthquake insurance, the federal government could even see a reduction in the monies it pays out in disaster assistance after an earthquake,” Jones said.

Under the proposed legislation, the federal government would guarantee debt issued by a qualified state earthquake insurance program to pay earthquake losses. In order to qualify for the guarantee, the state program would have to demonstrate to the Treasury its ability to pay back any loan that it would seek a guarantee on, Jones office reported.

Currently, only 12 percent of Californians carry earthquake insurance leaving almost nine out of 10 California homeowners and renters exposed to potentially devastating financial loss in the event of an earthquake, according to Jones.

As the recent large earthquakes in Haiti, Chile, New Zealand and now Japan demonstrate, it’s not a question of if there will be an earthquake in California it’s a question of when, Jones reported.

The United States Geological Survey and the California Geological Survey say there is a 99.7 percent chance of a 6.7 magnitude earthquake or larger striking California in the next 30 years.

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Gerardo Castillo and Tammi Duran were arrested during a Lake County Sheriff's Narcotics Task Force operation on Tuesday, March 15, 2011. Lake County Jail photos.

CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – The Sheriff's Narcotics Task Force's service of a search warrant on Tuesday in Clearlake Oaks has resulted in two felony arrests, and the seizure of more than a pound of methamphetamine and more than $1,900 in currency for asset forfeiture.

Tuesday’s warrant service marked the first time in years that more than a pound of methamphetamine has been taken off the streets in a single seizure in Lake County, according to a report from Capt. James Bauman of the Lake County Sheriff's Office. It's minimum street value was set at more than $51,000.

On Friday, March 11, task force members secured a search warrant for a home located on New Long Valley Road in the Spring Valley area of Clearlake Oaks, Bauman said. The task force served the search warrant on the afternoon of Tuesday, March 15, with the assistance of a sheriff’s narcotics detection K-9 team.

Four suspects were located in different areas of the home and detained without incident, Bauman said. They included Gerardo Castillo, 45; Tammi Ileine Duran, 46; Wendy Marie Yudnich, 42; and 18-year-old Travis Frank Yudnich, all of Clearlake Oaks.

Bauman said Duran was found standing near a couch in the living room and Castillo was located in a kitchen. Wendy and Travis Yudnich were located in separate bedrooms.

Upon entering the home, narcotics detectives found a video surveillance system monitoring the property. Bauman said detectives also discovered they had interrupted a narcotics transaction in progress.

He said the couch Duran was standing near was searched and beneath one of the cushions detectives located a plastic bag containing approximately one ounce of methamphetamine. A search of Duran’s purse and two make up cases found on the same couch revealed several other baggies containing methamphetamine, $400 in currency, and narcotics paraphernalia.

Narcotics detectives continued to search the residence and located a plastic bucket concealed in a fireplace, Bauman said. An inspection of the bucket’s contents revealed a large plastic bag containing a full pound of methamphetamine and two smaller bags containing over an ounce each of methamphetamine.

He said the bucket also contained a digital scale, cutting agents, smoking pipes, and other evidence of controlled substance sales and use. In a master bedroom, detectives located narcotics paraphernalia, live shotgun ammunition and more than $1,500 in currency.

All four suspects were initially arrested and transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility, Bauman said. Subsequent to booking, further investigation revealed that Castillo was in fact in the midst of selling an ounce of methamphetamine to Duran when narcotics detectives entered the home.

He said narcotics detectives also determined that Wendy and Johnny Yudnich were not directly involved in the sales transaction or the possession of methamphetamine and they were released with no pending charges.

Castillo was booked for possession of a controlled substance for sale, possession of narcotics paraphernalia and being a felon in possession of live ammunition. Bauman said Castillo remained in the custody of the sheriff Friday with an enhanced bail of $150,000.

Duran was booked for possession of a controlled substance for sale, possession of narcotics paraphernalia, and being under the influence of a controlled substance, Bauman said.

The $1,900 in currency collected from the scene was seized for asset forfeiture as the suspected profit of narcotics trafficking, he said.

The Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force's anonymous tip line is 707-263-3663.

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Donna Barber and Johnny Lee Mahoney were arrested and booked as the result of an investigation into a series of thefts in southern Lake County, Calif., on Wednesday, March 15, 2011. Lake County Jail photos.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – A recent string of thefts from vehicles and homes in Middletown and the Hidden Valley Lake areas has led to the service of a search warrant by the Sheriff’s Major Crimes Unit, resulting in two felony arrests and the recovery of stolen property associated with those burglaries.

For the past two months, sheriff’s deputies and detectives from the Major Crimes Unit have been investigating burglaries of homes and businesses in Middletown and Hidden Valley Lake, according to a report from Capt. James Bauman of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

More recently, multiple thefts from unlocked vehicles and homes have been reported in the community of Hidden Valley Lake, Bauman said.

As a result of investigative leads developed by the Major Crimes Unit, a search warrant was secured for a residence on Mountain Meadow South in Hidden Valley Lake. Bauman said the search warrant was served on the morning of Wednesday, March 15.

Donna Angelina Barber, 32, and 20-year-old Johnny Lee Mahoney were both detained without incident, Bauman said.

Bauman explained that, during a search of the Hidden Valley Lake home, detectives located several items of stolen property from burglaries committed in the Middletown Hidden Valley Lake area.

Barber was arrested for burglary, receiving stolen property and forgery. Mahoney was arrested for receiving stolen property. Bauman said both suspects were booked at the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility.

Bail for Barber and Mahoney was set at $10,000 each. Both remained in custody on Thursday night, according to jail records.

Detectives investigating the string of Middletown area burglaries and thefts have identified additional suspects and more arrests are anticipated, Bauman said.

Anyone with information that can assist the Sheriff’s Major Crimes Unit with closing these cases is encouraged to call Det. Sgt. John Gregore at 707-262-4200.

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Many people from throughout the community are active supporters of Operation Tango Mike. At left, veteran Harry Graves is a faithful supporter. At right, Von McPherson prepares her husband's care package. Photos by Ginny Craven.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – When something that survives purely out of the goodness of peoples' hearts has lasted eight years, it should be celebrated.

On Thursday, March 17, Operation Tango Mike will commemorate eight years of troop support.

On the third Thursday of every month, volunteers gather at 6 p.m. at Umpqua Bank, 805 11th St. in Lakeport, to prepare care packages for deployed troops.

Items for the care packages and shipping costs are covered through donations and fundraising.

The effort began with a small donation receptacle at a local office in March 2003 and has grown immensely.

Today, 80 to 100 monthly care packages are shipped to troops in Iraq, Afghanistan and on deployed ships.

Military families are supported as well. Many volunteers who support Operation Tango Mike have volunteered their assistance with home repairs, transportation and more.

It is often difficult to maintain a household, hold down a job and raise a family when a loved one is deployed. A helping hand is a small act of kindness with a big impact.

Since there is no base or military installation in our area, folks who wish to support troops and their families gather via Operation Tango Mike.

Families are welcomed and are provided with emotional support, knowing that they and their loved ones are appreciated. Families make great sacrifices when troops deploy, often for a year at a time. Families serve, too.

“Forget politics, support our troops,” is a guideline that has helped ensure that all are welcomed and appreciated at Operation Tango Mike functions. The effort does not involve politics and is solely motivated to support our troops and their families.

Everyone is welcome to attend packing parties. If your schedule does not allow participation, there are still ways to contribute. Correspondence is needed for every care package. All that is needed is a bit of one's time to jot down a greeting or note of support for a soldier far from home.

Children help at the holiday packing parties, including Allison, right, who decorates her mom's care package at the Christmas packing party. Photos by Ginny Craven.

Drawings and colored pictures from children are also favorites. Often, these letters and pictures are hung in "hooches" (military housing) as reminders that folks at home are thinking of the troops.

The troops receiving care packages are truly grateful. Most say it doesn't really matter to them what they receive. They are simply thankful to receive something from home and their spirits are lifted in knowing they are not forgotten.

Their appreciation is evidenced by the hundreds of thank you messages that have been sent to Operation Tango Mike. Many of the notes are hung on the wall where they can be read at packing parties. Others, such as flags flown in honor of Operation Tango Mike, are proudly displayed on shelves at Umpqua Bank.

A recent message read, “Ginny-Thank you and Operation Tango Mike for supporting F Co 2/135 AVN (DUSTOFF) Medevac serving in Farah Afghanistan for the last year. You and your group's dedication and service to those who serve is a testament to the power of caring by Great American Citizens. We

salute you and your efforts. We will start coming home early next month. Thanks Again, SSG Keith Fricker.”

Another read, “I have a few days left in Iraq, then I'll be heading home! Thank you for everything you guys do. It really helps a lot. When do you guys normally pack boxes? When I'm home on leave next month I wanted to stop by. I'm not sure what my leave days are gonna be yet. Again thanks for

everything! Sgt Prior, Roy USMC.”

The public is invited and encouraged to help celebrate and commemorate eight years' of community effort and troop support.

On March 17, from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., there will be an open house at Umpqua Bank. It will be a great opportunity to pay a visit and learn more about Operation Tango Mike, read letters from troops, see troop photos and get acquainted.

The regular monthly packing party will take place at 6 p.m. As holiday items are always shipped one month in advance to ensure timely delivery, the March care packages will be Easter boxes.

You are invited to bring along any special treats, candies or items you would like to include in care

packages.

For further information or to add your loved one to the care package recipient list, please call 707-349-2838, e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or write to 5216 Piner Court, Kelseyville, CA 95451.

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