This Hubble Space Telescope image shows NGC 1275, the galaxy located in the center of the Perseus Galaxy Cluster. The red threadlike filaments are composed of cool gas suspended by a magnetic field. (Credit: NASA/ESA/Hubble Heritage (STScI/AURA)-ESA/Hubble Collaboration).

X-ray observations made by the Suzaku observatory provide the clearest picture to date of the size, mass and chemical content of a nearby cluster of galaxies.

The study also provides the first direct evidence that million-degree gas clouds are tightly gathered in the cluster's outskirts.

Suzaku is sponsored by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) with contributions from NASA and participation by the international scientific community. The findings will appear in the March 25 issue of the journal Science.

Galaxy clusters are millions of light-years across, and most of their normal matter comes in the form of hot X-ray-emitting gas that fills the space between the galaxies.

“Understanding the content of normal matter in galaxy clusters is a key element for using these objects to study the evolution of the universe,” explained Adam Mantz, a co-author of the paper at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md.

Clusters provide independent checks on cosmological values established by other means, such as galaxy surveys, exploding stars and the cosmic microwave background, which is the remnant glow of the Big Bang. The cluster data and the other values didn't agree.

NASA's Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) explored the cosmic microwave background and established that baryons – what physicists call normal matter – make up only about 4.6 percent of the universe. Yet previous studies showed that galaxy clusters seemed to hold even fewer baryons than this amount.

Suzaku images of faint gas at the fringes of a nearby galaxy cluster have allowed astronomers to resolve this discrepancy for the first time.

The satellite's ideal target for this study was the Perseus Galaxy Cluster, which is located about 250 million light-years away and named for the constellation in which it resides. It is the brightest extended X-ray source beyond our own galaxy, and also the brightest and closest cluster in which Suzaku has attempted to map outlying gas.

“Before Suzaku, our knowledge of the properties of this gas was limited to the innermost parts of clusters, where the X-ray emission is brightest, but this left a huge volume essentially unexplored,” said Aurora Simionescu, the study's lead researcher at the Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology (KIPAC) at Stanford University.

In late 2009, Suzaku's X-ray telescopes repeatedly observed the cluster by progressively imaging areas farther east and northwest of the center. Each set of images probed sky regions two degrees across – equivalent to four times the apparent width of the full moon or about 9 million light-years at the cluster's distance. Staring at the cluster for about three days, the satellite mapped X-rays with energies hundreds of times greater than that of visible light.

From the data, researchers measured the density and temperature of the faint X-ray gas, which let them infer many other important quantities.

One is the so-called virial radius, which essentially marks the edge of the cluster. Based on this measurement, the cluster is 11.6 million light-years across and contains more than 660 trillion times the mass of the sun. That's nearly a thousand times the mass of our Milky Way galaxy.

The researchers also determined the ratio of the cluster's gas mass to its total mass, including dark matter – the mysterious substance that makes up about 23 percent of the universe, according to WMAP.

By virtue of their enormous size, galaxy clusters should contain a representative sample of cosmic matter, with normal-to-dark-matter ratios similar to WMAP's. Yet the outer parts of the Perseus cluster seemed to contain too many baryons, the opposite of earlier studies, but still in conflict with WMAP.

To solve the problem, researchers had to understand the distribution of hot gas in the cluster, the researchers say. In the central regions, the gas is repeatedly whipped up and smoothed out by passing galaxies. But computer simulations show that fresh infalling gas at the cluster edge tends to form irregular clumps.

Not accounting for the clumping overestimates the density of the gas. This is what led to the apparent disagreement with the fraction of normal matter found in the cosmic microwave background.

“The distribution of these clumps and the fact that they are not immediately destroyed as they enter the cluster are important clues in understanding the physical processes that take place in these previously unexplored regions,” said Steve Allen at KIPAC, the principal investigator of the Suzaku observations.

Goddard supplied Suzaku's X-ray telescopes and data-processing software, and it continues to operate a facility that supports U.S. astronomers who use the spacecraft.

Suzaku (Japanese for “red bird of the south”) is the fifth Japanese X-ray astronomy satellite. It was launched as Astro-E2 on July 10, 2005, and renamed in orbit. The observatory was developed at JAXA's Institute of Space and Astronautical Science in collaboration with NASA and other Japanese and U.S. Institutions.

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Suzaku explored faint X-ray emission of hot gas across two swaths of the Perseus Galaxy Cluster. The images, which record X-rays with energies between 700 and 7,000 electron volts in a combined exposure of three days, are shown in two false-color strips. Bluer colors indicate less intense X-ray emission. The dashed circle is 11.6 million light-years across and marks the so-called virial radius, where cold gas is now entering the cluster. Red circles indicate X-ray sources not associated with the cluster. Inset: An image of the cluster's bright central region taken by NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory is shown to scale. (Credits: NASA/ISAS/DSS/A. Simionescu et al.; inset: NASA/CXC/A. Fabian et al.)

LAKEPORT – This week the Lake County Office of Education announced three senior director appointments that are part of a restructuring of the agency.

With the departure of Lake County Office of Education (LCOE) Deputy Superintendent Chris Thomas, who was recently appointed state trustee to the Round Valley School District, Superintendent of Schools Wally Holbrook has led his office on a process of restructuring and evaluating how best to serve Lake County communities while efficiently and effectively utilizing resources.

Upon election in September, Holbrook launched a detailed 100-Day Plan, which included a comprehensive review of programs and services.

“Our program review is now complete, and it provided an ideal platform for analyzing how best to restructure the county office and ensure smooth transitions,” Holbrook said.

The program review is available on the LCOE Web site, http://www.lake-coe.k12.ca.us/forms/document.asp?Q=1843&T=Documents , or hard copies can be accessed at the county office, located at 1152 S. Main St., Lakeport.

Rather than replace Thomas as deputy superintendent, LCOE has eliminated this position, and is restructuring by adding three senior director positions to the management team, which Holbrook said has resulted in increased efficiency, cost savings and greater expansion capabilities.

The transition began March 1, with the appointment of Tim Gill to the position of senior director of Educational Services.

Gill has served at LCOE as the director of curriculum and instruction, and prior to that has extensive experience teaching middle and high school math. He also provides a wide range of professional development in the area of mathematics instruction to schools throughout California.

Additionally, Business Services Director Michelle Buell has been appointed senior director of business services.

Buell has served at LCOE for 16 years. She began as an accounts clerk at Kelseyville Unified School District and moved to the County Office in 2005. Buell was promoted to internal business manager in 1998, and has served in her current position as director of business services since 2007.

Finally, the executive management team will be completed with the appointment of Brock Falkenberg to the position of senior director of human resources and designated programs.

Falkenberg has worked at LCOE for five years, and currently serves as the director of regional occupational programs.

This final transition will not be complete until July, ensuring the executive management team will be fully in place for the 2011-12 school year, the LCOE said.

“We are excited about this opportunity to improve our efficiency and effectiveness; there is a real sense of optimism throughout our organization,” said Holbrook. “We are confident that these strategic appointments and the restructuring of our organization will translate into increased support and resources to our schools, districts, students and communities.”

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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – On Saturday, March 26, senior centers around Lake County will host “March For Meals” to highlight the importance of Meals on Wheels programs.

Each senior center will hold a celebration, offering awards and thanks to those who sponsored and participated in the event.

March For Meals is an annual national campaign to raise awareness of senior hunger and to encourage action on a local level, including fundraising to support the programs.

Senior nutrition programs across the United States promote March For Meals in their local communities through public events, partnerships with local businesses, volunteer recruitment and fundraising initiatives, according to the Meals On Wheels Association of America.

The association said the campaign takes place in the month of March because it was during this month that the law was enacted that included Senior Nutrition Programs in the Older Americans Act.

An integral part of this initiative includes the pledge to end senior hunger in America by 2020, the association said. Local senior nutrition programs encourage as many people as possible during their March For Meals events to sign the Pledge and take action against senior hunger.

Mayors For Meals is a component of March For Meals that utilizes the involvement of local mayors. Mayors and other local officials deliver meals on one day in March to show their support of their local senior nutrition program. Local leaders delivered meals earlier this week.

Money collected at the local event will be submitted to the Feinstein Foundation for a contribution match to benefit local Meals on Wheels programs.

For more information, contact one of the local senior centers:

• Highlands Senior Center, 3245 Bowers Road, Clearlake, 707-994-3051, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

• Kelseyville Senior Center, 5245 Third St., 707-279-2175.

• Lakeport Senior Center, 527 Konocti Ave., 707-263-4218, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., www.lcseniors.com .

• Live Oak Senior Center, 12502 Foothill Blvd., Clearlake Oaks, 707-998-1950.

• Lucerne Alpine Senior Center, 3985 Country Club Drive, 707-274-8779, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , www.lucernealpineseniorcenter.com/ .

• Middletown Senior Center, 15299 Central Park Road, 707-987-3113, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , www.middletownseniorcenter.org/ .

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SACRAMENTO – Motorists traveling at an unsafe speed is consistently found to be the No. 1 primary collision factor (PCF) in injury collisions in California; it is among the top three PCFs when it comes to fatal collisions.

“Speed is one of the most prevalent factors when it comes to fatal and injury collisions, which is a significant public safety concern,” said California Highway Patrol (CHP) Commissioner Joe Farrow. “The CHP primarily exists to save lives and we’re committed to reducing the number of people killed and injured annually in California.”

To help slow the pace of the number of speed-related collisions, the CHP is conducting an enforcement project statewide.

In 2009, the most recent year for which finalized data from the Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System is available, speed was indicated as the primary collision factor in roughly 30 percent of all crashes in the state; that year there were 423 fatal collisions in addition to the 47,869 injury crashes due to unsafe speed.

Through the federal grant-funded “Comprehensive Approach to Reducing Speed III Project” (CARS III), the CHP will focus on reducing the number of victims killed and injured in speed-caused collisions along state highways and county roads.

The CARS III project also places special emphasis on reducing the number of motorcyclists injured and killed in speed-related collisions.

Throughout the effort, specific attention will be paid to 15 state highways which have a high rate of fatal, speed-related collisions, including: Interstate 5, state Route 299, Interstate 15, state Route 99, Interstate 10, state Route 1, Interstate 80, state Route 60, Interstate 710, U.S. Route 101, Interstate 405, U.S. Route 50 and Interstate 880.

“Speed-related collisions are the result of poor decision making on the part of the driver,” added Commissioner Farrow. “Hopefully, with an aggressive enforcement effort, the mere presence of a patrol vehicle will encourage motorists to slow to a safe, legal speed – those that don’t will pay the price.”

Funding for the CARS III project is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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SACRAMENTO – Assemblyman Wesley Chesbro (D-North Coast) has introduced a bill package to help Del Norte and Mendocino counties recover from the damage caused by the March 11 tsunami.

One bill would ensure the state covers the entire local government cost of responding to the emergency, while the second bill would provide tax relief for those who suffered a significant loss of income, his office reported Friday.

AB 1429 is the bill to ensure local governments are compensated for the expenses they incurred responding to the emergency caused by the tsunami and its aftermath.

If the federal government eventually declares a federal disaster in counties that suffered tsunami damage, the federal government will pay 75 percent of the cost of responding to the emergency, Chesbro's office said. Normally, the state covers 75 percent of the remaining 25 percent and the local government is responsible for the remainder.

Under AB 1429, Chesbro is proposing that the state would reimburse local governments for the full amount of their expenses not reimbursed by the federal government, even if the federal government does not declare a Federal Disaster.

“Crescent City and Fort Bragg are already grappling with the economic blow caused by the tsunami surges that crashed into the North Coast,” Chesbro said. “This comes on top of a time when local governments are financially strapped and responding to a natural disaster is a considerable financial burden.”

AB 1428 would provide tax relief for those in Del Norte and Mendocino counties who suffered a large loss of income as a result of tsunami damage.

“AB 1428 will help lighten the blow for those who lost a significant amount of income by allowing individuals and companies to carry over financial losses to subsequent tax years if the amount of their loss exceeds the amount of the allowed deduction in the current tax year,” Chesbro said.

In addition to these bills, Chesbro last week asked Gov. Jerry Brown to waive the normal one-week waiting period to file for unemployment for those who lost their jobs as a result of the tsunami. The governor agreed and issued a proclamation waiving the waiting period on March 18.

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CLEARLAKE PARK, Calif. – Fire officials are investigating the cause of a Sunday morning fire that destroyed a mobile home.

The fire occurred at 3126 12^th St. in Clearlake Park on Sunday, March 20, according to Lake County Fire Protection District Battalion Chief Willie Sapeta.

Sapeta said the fire was dispatched at 2:25 a.m., with firefighters arriving on scene five minute later.

“It was basically down to the ground by the time we got dispatched,” Sapeta said, adding that it was a total loss, with the roof and awnings already down by their arrival.

No one was hurt, as the mobile home was unoccupied at the time, Sapeta said.

Neighbors reported hearing loud explosions, which Sapeta said came from an exploding propane tank as well as the exploding tires on a nearby vehicle that also burned.

No other structures were in danger, with Sapeta explaining that the wind blew the smoke and fire away from adjacent structures.

Sapeta said Lake County Fire sent two engines, a water tender, a rescue unit, two medic units and two battalion chiefs.

It took firefighters a couple hours to overhaul the structure, with the units returning to quarters just after 6 a.m. Sunday, Sapeta said.

He said the fire's cause is still under investigation.

On Thursday Sapeta said the district had had no other structure fires since the Clearlake Park blaze, although they responded to a fire in an abandoned vehicle on Boyles Avenue on Wednesday night.

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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Five senior centers, five high schools, seven nonprofit organizations and one

fire district have been selected as beneficiaries of this year’s Lake County Wine Auction.

More than 40 organizations, agencies, and programs submitted their funding requests to the Wine Alliance, demonstrating the number of worthy programs in Lake County seeking financial assistance.

The recipient organizations will use their grants for these projects:

• The Arts: The fine arts and performing arts programs at the five Lake County high schools (Clear Lake High, Kelseyville High, Lower Lake High, Middletown High, and Upper Lake High) will share the funds in this category.

• Health: Any Positive Change will use funds to purchase a mobile unit to expand their outreach services; Catholic Charities’ grant will benefit the Lake County Rural Food Program; and five senior centers will support their nutrition programs for delivered meals to homebound seniors (Meals on Wheels).

• Community: Funds in this category will be shared by the Lake County Council of Church Women United to buy shoes and socks for needy children; the Lake County Literacy Coalition for a continuation of their tutoring programs; the Military Funeral Honors Team for their services to all veterans; the Northshore Fire Protection District for the purchase of dive gear used for public safety by the Northshore Dive Team; Operation Tango Mike for shipping fees and package contents for troops deployed to combat zones; and People Services Inc., for continued support services for the developmentally disabled.

The Wine Alliance, a nonprofit organization of wineries, winegrape growers, vineyard owners,

related businesses and community supporters founded in 2000, has contributed more than $831,765 to foster the arts, benefit health services, and support the community while promoting Lake County as a premier growing region for fine wine grapes.

An all-volunteer board of directors and auction committee plan and direct the annual charity event.

This year’s Wine Auction, the 12th annual, will take place at Ceago Vinegarden in Nice on

Saturday, Sept. 17.

This special venue is an ideal setting to showcase the fine foods and wine from Lake County restaurants, caterers and more than 25 wineries. The event is open to guests 21 years and older.

The Wine Alliance and Ceago management are encouraging greater attendance at the event by

offering two ticket prices.

The Grand Tasting ticket will include an afternoon of wine and food tasting in the gardens, a commemorative wineglass and tasting plate, and participation in the silent auction for $75 per person. This portion of the event will start at 3 p.m. and end at 6 p.m. with the closing of the silent auction.

The Grand Tasting and Auction Reserve ticket of $150 per person will include the afternoon of wine and food tasting in the gardens, a commemorative wineglass and tasting plate, a beautiful gift

tote, reserved seating for the served dinner, the live auction and dancing. Music for the evening will be

presented by Twice as Good.

The evening activities will start at 6 p.m. and conclude at 9 p.m.

All proceeds from the Wine Auction activities will benefit the selected beneficiaries.

Tickets for the Wine Auction will be available in April through the Wine Alliance Web site,

www.winealliance.org, or by calling1-866-279-WINE to make reservations. Information about

sponsorship opportunities is available at 707-278-0129.

Honorary chair for the 2011 Wine Auction is Bill Brunetti, Lakeport businessman and property

manager.

Live auction excitement will be generated by auctioneers Shaun Hornby of Lakeport and Stephanie Green of Kelseyville. Hornby is an experienced auctioneer with a lively and engaging personality, and Green is a certified sommelier and wine expert.

Members of the Wine Alliance board are Margaret Walker, president; Marie Beery, vice president; Rob Roumiguiere, treasurer; and Kaj Ahlmann, Judy Luchsinger, Wilda Shock, and Janet Thompson.

Luchsinger chaired the beneficiaries committee and helped the board review the record number of applications.

A large committee of volunteers from throughout Lake County is meeting monthly to plan this

major charity event.

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CHICO, Calif. – A Butte County man who was shot by a California Highway Patrol officer earlier this month following a vehicle pursuit and who later walked away from a hospital has been located and arrested.

Jeffrey Daniel Crone, 32, was taken into custody by Chico Police officers on Friday afternoon, the agency reported.

Sgt. Scott Franssen reported that Chico Police's Street Crimes Unit located Crone in an apartment on Rio Lindo Avenue at about 4:30 p.m. Friday.

He said detectives announced themselves to Crone and talked him out, and Crone was arrested without incident.

Crone was to be medically cleared for incarceration and then booked into the Butte County Jail, Franssen said.

On March 4 Crone had been involved in a lengthy vehicle pursuit with Butte County Sheriff's deputies and CHP that began the Durham area of Butte County, according to Franssen.

He said that pursuit ended with a violent collision on W. Fifth Street and Crone ramming a CHP vehicle and another occupied citizen's pickup.

Ultimately Crone was shot by a CHP officer on scene, Franssen said.

Crone, taken to Enloe Hospital in Chico for treatment, walked away from the hospital on March 14, Chico Police reported.

At that point he was not under arrest, but on Friday he was arrested on a felony warrant for charges resulting from the March 4 chase, Franssen said.

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LAKEPORT, Calif. – Although Clear Lake is still officially open to the boating public, to protect public safety and public property, the Parks and Recreation Division of the Lake County Public Services Department has temporarily closed all boat launches located on Clear Lake within county parks due to the lake's continuing high and rising waters.

Officials said the high lake level can damage park structures and facilities.

Temporary boat launch closures include Clearlake Oaks Boat Launch in Clearlake Oaks, Lucerne Harbor Park in Lucerne, Keeling County Park in Nice, Lakeside County Park in Lakeport and Rodman Slough in Upper Lake, Public Services said Friday.

Those ramps will reopen when Clear Lake recedes below the monitor stage of 8 feet Rumsey and the safety of these areas have been assured, according to the report.

Clear Lake hit flood stage, 9 feet Rumsey, early Friday morning, as Lake County News has reported. The lake is predicted to rise still higher, to about 9.5 feet Rumsey, but Monday.

Rodman Slough County Park launch – a “soft” launch with no concrete – is currently submerged and will remain closed for a longer period of time, the county reported.

Along with its boat launch, Lakeside County Park also is closed in its entirety – ball fields, picnic areas, and playground – until further notice due to high water, Public Services said.

The city of Lakeport and the city of Clearlake stated on Friday that their public launch facilities will remain open as long as it is safe to do so and Clear Lake remains open.

In Lakeport, this includes Library Park (ramps at First, Third and Fifth streets) and in Clearlake at Redbud Park, 14655 Lakeshore Drive.

Privately-owned boat launching facilities may remain open and the public is encouraged to contact these businesses directly.

The boating public is cautioned to keep in mind that due to the ongoing storms, there is much debris in the lake – tree limbs, parts of docks, etc. – and a slower speed is greatly encouraged, particularly near shore where any wake can cause potentially damaging waves to already weakened structures.

For more information about public boat launches and other park amenities, please call 707-262-1618 or visit http://parks.co.lake.ca.us.

For current information on Clear Lake, visit the Lake County Water Resources Web site at www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Water_Resources.htm .

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LEGGETT, Calif. – A woman who attempted to flee law enforcement during a Tuesday chase drowned while trying to swim across a Mendocino County river.

The body of Nicole Pollard, 27, a Mendocino County transient, was located Wednesday morning following a search, according to Capt. Kurt Smallcomb of the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office.

On Tuesday the Mendocino County Sheriffs Office assisted the California Highway Patrol on a missing person incident, Smallcomb said.

He said deputies learned that at 4 p.m. that day a CHP initiated a traffic stop in the 60000 block of Highway 271 in Leggett on Pollard, who he knew, in an attempt to arrest her on a local misdemeanor warrant as well as for driving on a suspended license.

Pollard stopped her Jeep Cherokee near the area adjacent to the Eel River commonly referred to as the “Judges Hole,” and then fled on foot, eventually diving into the Eel River in attempts to evade the officer, Smallcomb said. She attempted to swim across the river but did not make it to the shore.

Smallcomb said water rescue teams from local fire agencies were summoned and attempted to retrieve Pollard from the water, but they were unsuccessful.

As night time approached they did observe Pollard, who was caught up in the debris in the middle of the swift current, but submerged below the water level, he said.

Due to the dangerous waters, nightfall and the fact that the decedent had been under the water for a few hours prior to emerging, recovery efforts were halted until first daylight on Wednesday, Smallcomb said.

On Wednesday morning Southern Humboldt Counties Swift Water Rescue and Recovery Team arrived and removed Pollard's body from the water, according to Smallcomb.

Smallcomb said an autopsy will be conducted.

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