CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Matthew Christian Holmes went to be with the Lord on Sunday, April 9, 2017, in Clearlake.

He was born in Santa Rosa on Dec. 31, 1982.

Matthew was a great dad, son, barbecue cook and welder.

Matthew was preceded in death by his mother, Maxine Stevenson-Holmes; grandmother, Vivian Stevenson; grandparents, A.J. and Laverne Whitt; uncles, Roger Stevenson and Donald Gabriel Wesley and Jemina Wesley.

He is survived by his father, Robert; step-mom, Debbie; sons, Matt and Marques; brothers, Robert Holmes Jr., Isaac, DJ, Selena Wesley; aunts, Jeannie Stevenson and Candy Bell, Charlene Whitt, Alice Whitt; and uncle, Gary Stevenson.

Matthew also leaves behind stepchildren, Eric and Nina; nephews and nieces, Demetrius, Justin and Robert III, Ari, Trina, Brian, Doria, Brandy, Maria, Amber, Ronnie, Devon, Dillon, Val, Christian, Candy, Cece, Ryder, Meshon, Bill, Michael, Anthony, Kim, Nalahja, Terrail, Darren, Dallen, Ronnie Jr. and Kilo.

A memorial service is planned for Tuesday April 25, beginning at 11 a.m. at the Chapel of Santa Rosa Memorial Park. Committal will be immediately after at the graveside. Reception to follow at the Odd Fellows Hall, 545 Pacific Ave., Santa Rosa.

Arrangements under the care of Jones & Lewis Clear Lake Memorial Chapel.

Please share your loving memories of Matthew by signing his online guestbook at www.jonesandlewis.com and www.legacy.com .

When and where are turkeys nesting?

Question: I know that turkeys roost in trees at night and that this is their courtship and nesting season, but where do they nest and for how long?

We’re seeing lots of toms running around right now but not many hens. I’ve not found any sitting on nests. When can we expect the newly hatched chicks to be out and on their own? (Dwayne J.)

Answer: In most areas, nests can be found in a shallow dirt depression surrounded by moderately woody vegetation that conceals the nest.

Hens look for locations close to food and water and with ample cover to safely conceal the hen and her poults (chicks) once hatched. Hens are very leery of predators, such as coyotes and fox, but do leave the nest unattended for brief periods to feed and drink.

Hens typically lay a clutch of 10 to 12 eggs during a two-week period, usually laying one egg per day. She will incubate her eggs for about 28 days, occasionally turning and rearranging them, until they are ready to hatch.

A newly hatched flock must be ready to leave the nest to feed within 12 to 24 hours. Poults eat insects, berries and seeds while adults will eat anything from acorns and berries to insects and small reptiles. Turkeys usually feed in early morning and in the afternoon.

For more on wild turkeys, please see our “Guide to Hunting Wild Turkeys in California” publication online as well as the National Wild Turkey Federation Web site.

How to catch spot prawns with only a half-inch trap opening?

Question: I took a look at a few online California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) articles about traps, mesh sizes, etc. Once I saw that other types of shrimp traps have a logical trap opening size compared to the size of the shrimp, I began to wonder if the regulations might have an error.

Can you verify if there has been some sort of error in defining the half-inch opening of the trap as the mesh size of the trap?

If this is the case, the size of the opening of the spot prawn trap should be more in line with other shrimp traps.

If the opening of the shrimp traps could be in the 3-5 inch range with an alum hoop as the standard, recreational spot prawn trap fishing would be as enjoyable as lobster hooping. (Geoff H.)

Answer: The trap openings cannot exceed a half-inch as you’ve noted, and the regulation has not changed.

“Shrimp and prawn traps may be used to take shrimp and prawns only. Trap openings may not exceed one half-inch in any dimension on traps used south of Point Conception nor five inches in any dimension on traps used north of Point Conception” (California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 29.80(f)).

The reason for the difference in opening dimensions is to protect juvenile lobsters (found south of Point Conception) from being incidentally taken in these traps.

Does a licensed fishing guide’s son need a guide fishing license, too?

Question: I’m a licensed fishing guide on the upper Sacramento and Feather rivers. Is it legal for my son to help me on my vessel while I’m guiding?

I’m seeing that there is a guide employee permit but in this situation that permit doesn’t seem right. Is there a deckhand permit where he can help me and help other friends in their boats that are guided also? He’s not being paid; he’s just there for the experience. (Michael T.)

Answer: If he is not collecting a fee or accepting tips, then he would not meet the definition of an employee as he is a family member and simply a volunteer.

However, if he took any kind of compensation, then he would technically be an employee and subject to those licensing requirements. If he is assisting people by casting or fishing and he’s 16 years old or older, then he will need to have a fishing license.

Kangaroo leather motorcycle gloves

Question: I got my motorcycle gloves back in 2014-2015 and the palm area and parts of the digits incorporate kangaroo leather. I don’t intend to sell them but I’m OK to possess and wear them, right? (Anonymous)

Answer: Yes, you are fine as long as you do not have any intention of selling them. It is illegal to “import into this state for commercial purposes, to possess with intent to sell or to sell within the state, the dead body, or any part or product thereof, of a polar bear, leopard, ocelot, tiger, cheetah, jaguar, sable antelope, wolf (Canis lupus), zebra, whale, cobra, python, sea turtle, colobus monkey, kangaroo, vicuna, sea otter, free-roaming feral horse, dolphin or porpoise (Delphinidae), Spanish lynx or elephant” (Penal Code, section 653o).

Carrie Wilson is a marine environmental scientist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. While she cannot personally answer everyone’s questions, she will select a few to answer each week in this column. Please contact her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Leonard Thomas McCuan passed away in St. Helena on Monday, April 10, 2017, at the age of 68.

Born in Modesto, Calif., and formerly of Concord, Washington and Richmond, he was a resident of Lake County for 10 years.

Leonard served his county in the United States Marine Corps. He was a heavy equipment operator and carpenter for several years.

Leonard is survived by his loving wife of 39 years, Denise Jean McCuan of Clearlake; sons, Larry (Tony) Cisneros of Brentwood, Robert McCuan of Colorado, James Edward Cisneros of Colorado, Marcus Joel Cisneros of Brentwood and Isaac Mitchell McCuan of Salinas Valley; daughters, Tammy Dunbar of Arlington, Wash, and Lisa Katherine McCuan of Clearlake; brothers, Eddie Debrosky of Oklahoma City, Thomas (Sam) McCuan, Gran (Pete) McCuan, Albert McCuan and Delbert McCuan, all of Clearlake, and John Debrosky of Washington; and mother, Peggy McCuan. Leonard also leaves behind 13 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Family desires donations in Leonard’s memory be made to St. Joseph Indian School, PO Box 326, Chamberlain, SD 57326.

Arrangements under the care of Jones & Lewis Clear Lake Memorial Chapel.

Please share your loving memories of Leonard McCuan by signing his online guestbook at www.jonesandlewis.com and www.legacy.com .

NORTH COAST, Calif. – Caltrans reports that the following road projects will be taking place around Lake County and the North Coast during the coming week.

Included are Mendocino County projects that may impact Lake County commuters.

LAKE COUNTY

Highway 20
 
– Curb and sidewalk repairs from the Morrison Creek Bridge to Ogden Road will continue through Friday, April 21. Traffic will be reduced to one lane in both directions. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.

Highway 29

– Emergency culvert repairs from Spruce Grove Road to Hofacker Lane will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
 
Highway 175

– Emergency highway repairs from Grouss Springs Road to Emerford Road will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– Emergency highway repairs from east of Arroyo Vista Road will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

– Utility surveys from Anderson Springs Road to the Dry Creek Bridge will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 1

– PG&E has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for tree trimming near Hare Creek Monday, April 24, and Tuesday, April 25. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 9 a.m. to noon. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from Laurel Avenue to Fir Avenue on Wednesday, April 26. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.  

– Emergency slide removal near Leggett will continue. A full road closure is in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should seek an alternate route.

Highway 20

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance near Road 200A on Monday, April 24, and Tuesday, April 25. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

– Bridge deck repairs at the East Fork Russian River Bridge will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect overnight from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 25-minute delays.

Highway 101

– Routine maintenance near Frog Woman Rock will continue. Northbound traffic will be restricted to one lane 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.

– Emergency slide repairs on the westbound Route 20 to southbound Route 101 connector ramp will continue. Intermittent ramp closures will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

– Emergency slide removal near Hermitage Vista Point will continue. Northbound traffic will be reduced to one lane 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.
 
– Emergency slide removal near the Dora Creek Bridge will continue. The highway is fully closed until further notice. Motorists should seek an alternate route.

– Emergency slide removal near Piercy will continue. Traffic will be reduced to one lane in both directions 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.

Highway 128

– Roadway repairs from Fish Rock Road to Yorkville will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 162

– Emergency storm damage repairs near The Middle Way will continue. One-way traffic control with temporary stop signs will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 175

– Emergency storm damage repairs from Buckman Drive to the Lake/Mendocino County line will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. 7 days per week. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays at each location.

Highway 253
 
– Emergency roadway repairs from Booneville to Ukiah will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

The Caltrans Traffic Operations Office has reviewed each project and determined that individual project delays are expected to be less than the statewide policy maximum of 30 minutes, unless noted otherwise above.

For information pertaining to emergency roadwork or for updates to scheduled roadwork, please contact the California Highway Information Network (CHIN) at 1-800-GAS-ROAD (1-800-427-7623).

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Friends of the Lake County Library is calling for donations of books for its May 6 sale.

Books should be in good condition and, except for classics, be recently published.

Cookbooks are especially welcome, as are self-help and how-to books. Unfortunately, encyclopedias and magazines are not needed.

Please expressly state that the books are for the "Friends sale" when they are delivered to your local branch.

Deliveries may be made to the circulation desks at the Upper Lake, Lakeport or Redbud branches. Proceeds from the sale will help to buy new books.

Please call the Lakeport Branch at 707-263-8817 with any questions you may have. The semi-annual sale is planned for Saturday, May 6, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Members of the Friends may access the sale at 9:30 a.m. and are entitled to a free book.

For further information about the Friends organization follow the link to http://www.friendsofthelakecountylibrary.org .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – At a recent Clear Lake Trowel and Trellis Garden Club meeting Debra Watson-O'Dell was awarded a Penny Pine Certificate for her special contributions to the club.

The certificate is for the 2012 Mill and the Pass Fires in the Mendocino National Forest.

So far, the club has contributed 71 acres to the Penny Pines reforestation program.

Under a conservation agreement, an individual or organization can contribute $68 toward the cost of planting seedlings on about one acre of National Forest land in California and receive a Penny Pines certificate.

Using the donation, together with federal funds, the Forest Service will do the planting on the National Forest of your choice.

The Penny Pines plantings are made as part of the regular National Forest reforestation program on burned-over and brush-covered areas which are potentially productive timberland.

Using these donations, combined with regular forest planting funds, millions of pine, fir, redwood, and giant sequoia seedlings have been planted on acres of National Forest land in California.

The Clear Lake Trowel and Trellis Garden Club is a member of the Mendo Lake District of the California Garden Club Inc. Pacific Region and National Garden Clubs Inc.

The club welcomes new members and information can be found by visiting www.clttgc.org or calling Dana at 707-275-3500.

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MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. – The Mendocino National Forest Supervisor’s office and Grindstone Ranger District office located at 825 N. Humboldt Ave. in Willows, Calif. will be closed to the public Tuesday, April 25.

The temporary closure is necessary for public safety while the parking lot is being resealed.

Regular business hours will resume at 8 a.m. Wednesday, April 26.

For more information, please contact Shannon Pozas, forest engineer, 530-934-3316, or visit the forest Web site at http://www.fs.usda.gov/mendocino/ . 

SACRAMENTO – Attorney General Xavier Becerra on Thursday announced a $9.8 million settlement with Walgreens, one of the largest drugstore chains in the United States.

The settlement involved allegations that Walgreens failed to adhere fully to requirements imposed by California law for the dispensing of certain prescriptions drugs under Medi-Cal.

The settlement is the result of lawsuits filed by whistleblowers and investigated and resolved by federal and state prosecutors.

The lawsuits alleged that for more than five years, Walgreens falsely certified that it had complied with diagnosis-related requirements for the lawful dispensing of prescriptions to Medi-Cal patients.

“Californians expect that pharmacies dispensing prescription drugs will do so in a safe and lawful manner,” said Attorney General Becerra. “It is a violation of the public trust when pharmacies seek payment from the Medi-Cal program while knowingly violating state law.”

Through the Bureau of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse (BMFEA), the Attorney General’s office regularly works with whistleblowers and law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute fraud perpetrated on the Medi-Cal program.

False claims lawsuits pursued by the Attorney General in the last two years have recovered tens of millions of dollars from some of the nation’s largest pharmaceutical companies for allegations of improper marketing, falsifying reports to inflate prices, and other wrongful practices.  

Members of the public who have information concerning Medi-Cal fraud or elder abuse in nursing homes or other residential care facilities are urged to call BMFEA’s hotline at 800-722-0432 or visit the Attorney General’s Web site at https://oag.ca.gov/ to file a complaint. 

A copy of the settlement agreement is attached to the online version of this release at https://oag.ca.gov/news .

“I want to thank Deputy Attorneys General Bernice Yew and Emmanuel Salazar, Supervising Deputy Attorneys General Vincent DiCarlo and Nicholas Paul, Investigative Auditor Marilyn Meixner, and special agents and legal support staff of the Bureau of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse and the California Department of Health Care Services for their collaborative efforts to protect the people of our State in this case,” said Attorney General Becerra. Additionally, the BMFEA team worked closely with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California to investigate and settle these claims. 

The claims settled by this agreement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.