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NORTH COAST, Calif. – The Sonoma County Sheriff's Office reported that a Clearlake man was the victim of a fatal Friday shooting that has resulted in the arrest of a trio of Clearlake family members.

Antonio Botello-Arreola, 25, was killed in the shooting, officials said.

Sonoma County detectives on Friday arrested Clearlake residents Maria Guadalupe Torres, 40, her husband, 40-year-old Rene Espinoza Martinez Sr., and their son, 20-year-old Rene Espinoza Martinez Jr., as Lake County News has reported.

The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office said it received a call at around 8:30 a.m. Friday from the California Highway Patrol, which found Botello-Arreola’s blue Toyota Previa minivan in the 4500 block of Porter Creek Road in Santa Rosa, with deputies responding a short time later.

The Toyota had its windows shot out, there were bullet holes on the driver’s side, and blood inside and outside of the vehicle, according to the sheriff’s office.

Deputies found Botello-Arreola’s body down a nearby ravine, officials said.

Torres, her husband and son were located in Lake County, interviewed and subsequently arrested, according to the sheriff’s office.

Based on the investigation, Torres and Botello-Arreola were having an affair. Torres’ husband and son and had recently found out about the affair and didn’t approve, authorities said.

Torres and Botello-Arreola were in his minivan early Friday when they pulled over in a dirt turnout, where authorities said she got out of the vehicle while her husband and son pulled over alongside them.

The sheriff’s office said the father and son fired into the driver’s side of Botello-Arreola’s vehicle.

Botello-Arreola fled the vehicle from the passenger side and ran to the ravine, where he collapsed and died, and where deputies found his body hours later, according to the sheriff’s office report.

Torres, her husband and son are being held without bail in the Sonoma County Jail and are scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday, according to jail booking records.
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CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – Firefighters are battling a wildland fire along Highway 20 east of Clearlake Oaks.

The Mule fire near the Double Eagle Ranch subdivision was first reported at about 2:45 p.m. Tuesday, according to radio reports.

The California Highway Patrol’s incident reports stated that the fire began as the result of a motorhome that caught fire along Highway 20 and spread rapidly to the nearby hillside.

Firefighters from Northshore Fire, Lake County Fire and Cal Fire are working at the scene, which is reported to be a quarter-mile east of the entrance to the Double Eagle Ranch subdivision, located about 13 miles east of Clearlake Oaks.

The sheriff’s office issued an evacuation order for the Double Eagle Ranch as a result of the fire just after 3 p.m., canceling that order about a half-hour later.

Cal Fire’s air attack has been actively working the incident, using Copter 104 from Boggs Mountain, Copter 101 from Howard Forest and tankers from Beale Air Force Base, according to radio reports.

Just before 3:55 p.m., air attack estimated the fire’s size to be 20 acres, with helicopters working to control a spot fire ahead of the main fire.

The sheriff’s office said Highway 20 is open to one lane of traffic.

The agency said motorists should travel through the area with caution, as there are numerous fire trucks and emergency vehicles in the area.

A four-acre fire at the entrance to the Double Eagle Ranch was controlled on Aug. 27, as Lake County News has reported.

Additional information will be reported as it becomes available.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
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KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – A program offered by Habitat for Humanity Lake County aims at helping to make home improvements specifically for the county’s large veteran population.

World War II veteran Andrew Pappas, 92, is a Kelseyville resident and one of a dwindling number of veterans from that war.

Born and raised in Pennsylvania, he joined the war effort by entering the U.S. Navy in 1943 at the age of 18 and served in the Pacific Arena as an aviation ordnance crewman aboard the supercarrier U.S.S. Kitty Hawk.

The passage of years has taken away many of the memories of those times, but he remembers firing cannons at people and being shot at.

“Those were frightening times,” he recalls, “but we did our job. It’s what we were there for.”

After his discharge in 1946, he returned to Pennsylvania for a time where he worked for Pennsylvania General Energy for a time as a drafting engineer before moving to Southern California. There he worked for Wilson Sports as a salesman until his retirement.

During that time, Pappas met several sports celebrities and amassed a collection of more than 2,000 varieties of golf balls, which he still owns.

He eventually retired to Lake County, where he spends his time watching television and playing with his dog, Penny.

In gratitude for his service to our country, Habitat for Humanity Lake County, with financial support from the Home Depot Foundation, was honored to be able to provide numerous repairs to his home, in addition to a wheelchair lift that enables him to get in and out of his home.

“I don’t go out much,” Pappas said, “as it’s too hard to go anywhere anymore. But I’m grateful I don’t need to struggle with the stairs anymore.”

If you are a military veteran, or know a military veteran who is need of home repair services, please contact Habitat for Humanity Lake County at 707-994-1100 for information on how to apply.
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LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport City Council on Tuesday night welcomed the city’s newest police officer, remembered a fallen deputy and approved purchases and change orders for the city’s Public Works Department.

At the start of the meeting, Mayor Stacey Mattina called for a moment of silence for Lake County Sheriff’s Deputy Rob Rumfelt, who died on Aug. 22 in the line of duty after backing up the Lakeport Police Department on a domestic violence call.

Rumfelt and another deputy fought with a suspect at the scene, and a short time later as Rumfelt was leaving the area in his patrol vehicle he crashed into a tree. He died a short time later.

Lakeport Police Chief Brad Rasmussen on Tuesday also introduced his newest officer, Kaylene Strugnell, whose first day on the job was Thursday.

Strugnell, who grew up in Kelseyville, also is an emergency medical technician who previously worked for the Lakeport Fire Protection District.

After her introduction, Strugnell and Sgt. Joe Eastham left the meeting to get back to work.

During the meeting, the council gave unanimous approval to several requests from Public Works Director Doug Grider.

Grider presented a bid award for the replacement of an 8-inch well pump to Valley Pump & Motor Works in the amount of $40,685.

The new pump will replace one that was installed in 1978 and kept running well past its prime by now-retired Public Works staffer Bill Gradek, Grider said.

Grider also received the council’s support to begin an informal bidding process to replace the failing HVAC system at the corporation yard office, where the air conditioning has been out for three weeks. As part of that item, the council approved a budget adjustment of not more than $20,000 for the unit.

The council also authorized the purchase of a new 45-horsepower Flygt submersible pump for the Larrecou Lift Station at a cost of $30,955, and change orders with Green Right O’Way Constructors Inc. for the additional work on the Giselman Waterline Replacement Project, with a total fiscal impact of $39,836.92.

City Manager Margaret Silveira also asked for – and received – the council’s support for two proposed resolutions to be presented at the upcoming League of California Cities conference regarding public safety, emergency service levels and direct emergency medical response.

In other business, Silveira announced that the first candidate approved for the new assistant city manager training assignment is Community Development Director Kevin Ingram.

The assistant city manager position was approved by the council in July as a way of assisting with the city’s leadership succession planning. It allows selected staffers to work outside of their areas of expertise for six months to a year, with a $500-per-month stipend.

Silveira said she is excited about starting the program.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

090517 Lakeport City Council agenda packet by LakeCoNews on Scribd

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CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The city of Clearlake has welcomed three new officers to its police department.

During a formal swearing-in ceremony at City Hall on Thursday, Aug. 31, Mauricio Barreto and Jonathon Reynolds took their oaths as police officers and Officer Melinda Wymer was sworn in as a new animal control officer, according to City Manager Greg Folsom.

Reynolds is new to law enforcement, while Barreto is a law enforcement veteran, having previously worked for the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.

Folsom said several experienced officers recently resigned to take positions with other agencies, which created opportunities to hire new officers.

“We are proud to bring Officers Barreto and Officer Reynolds onto our team as new police officers, and we are very happy to be bringing on Animal Control Officer Wymer as an additional resource for our Animal Control unit,” said acting Police Chief Tim Celli.

Folsom and Mayor Russ Perdock were in attendance at the swearing in.

“The Clearlake Police Department does an amazing job with the resources that they have and Officers Barreto and Reynolds will help us with our goal of improving safety in our community,” said Folsom. “Animal Control Officer Wymer will be a great asset as well as we increase our capacity by bringing on a second animal control officer.”
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CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Key community leaders representing a wide range of government, business and educational interests from throughout Lake County gathered on Aug. 23 at the Lake County Campus of Woodland Community College in Clearlake for the Economic Outlook & Forecast II, "Maximizing Lake County’s Opportunities."

The keynote speaker, Robert Eyler, PhD, president of Economic Forensics and Analytics Inc., and professor and chair of economics at Sonoma State University, focused his presentation on Lake County’s evolving economy and workforce.

He stressed the importance of working regionally and developing key partnerships to take advantage of Lake County’s economic opportunities, encouraging the audience to think five to ten years out.

Eyler shared both “bad and ugly” points and the “good and opportunities” during his one-hour presentation.

He addressed housing considerations through 2020 and the need to develop a Lake County brand and marketing strategy, emphasizing that, "solutions cannot happen from inside Lake County alone.”

Eyler kept the audience of close to 70 community members engaged throughout his thought- provoking presentation.

He finished the afternoon session with a clear list of suggested action steps, including deciding which four industries should be the focus of economic development for the next five years, and identifying partners and what they need to do.

Overall, his message is positive: the economy is good and continues to show forward, steady progress.

He summarized with a challenge to the audience: Where is the planning and the nexus of economic development and workforce training?

Those in attendance represented business and development, education, social services, agriculture, banking and finance, real estate, business associations and communities, as well as county and city government.

Dr. Michael White, president of Woodland Community College; Dr. Douglas Houston, chancellor of Yuba Community College District; and Lake County Superintendent of Schools Brock Falkenberg also participated.

District 3 Supervisor Jim Steele represented the Lake County Board of Supervisors and members of the Lakeport and Clearlake city councils with staff were present.

The offices of Senator Mike McGuire and Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry were represented and the event was supported by Brad Onorato of Congressman Mike Thompson’s office.

Other speakers included Bruce Wilson, executive director, Workforce Alliance of the North Bay; Andy Lucas, Lake County Economic Development Corp.; and Executive Dean Annette Lee, Lake County Campus of Woodland Community College.

At the close of the presentation, attendees were treated to the hospitality and expertise of students enrolled in the college’s culinary management program.

The event was coordinated by Monica Rosenthal on behalf of the Workforce Alliance of the North Bay and the Lake County Economic Development Corp., hosted by the Lake County Campus of Woodland Community College, and supported by the Lake County Chamber of Commerce.

The first Economic Outlook & Forecast event was held in December 2015. In September of 2015, Lake County was impacted by the Valley fire, the third most destructive fire in California history, which destroyed nearly 1,300 homes. In 2016, the Clayton Fire destroyed nearly 200 homes and much of Main Street in the town of Lower Lake.

Although the economy of Lake County has been severely affected by natural disasters in recent years, residents remain resilient, optimistic and engaged in making their community one that continues to be geologically unique, offer world-class air quality, fishing and wines, provides opportunity for business development and growth, and maintains rural charm and natural beauty.

The potential of Lake County to support industries such as tourism, outdoor recreation and hospitality continues to grow.

Additionally, with its close proximity to the Bay Area and Sacramento, Lake County has the potential to increase its light manufacturing and technology sectors as housing prices remain more affordable than in either area.

The Economic Outlook & Forecast II provided guidance and an opportunity for stakeholders to come together and acknowledge the current economy of Lake County. The event facilitated increased efforts to collaborate and develop partnerships within the county and region in order to maximize Lake County’s opportunities.

Monica Rosenthal is a board member on the Workforce Alliance North Bay regional committee and executive committee, a private business owner, and a Director with the Middletown Area Merchants Association, an organization focused on promoting and supporting local businesses and business owners.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County’s unemployment rate ticked up again in July, as did the rest of California’s, according to the latest report on joblessness statewide.

The California Employment Development Department reported that Lake County’s July unemployment rate was 6 percent, up from a revised 5.7 percent in June 2017, and below the year-ago estimate of 6.4 percent.

California’s overall unemployment rate in July was 4.8 percent, up from 4.7 percent in June. In July 2016, the unemployment rate was 5.4 percent.

The report said California’s employers added 82,600 nonfarm payroll jobs in July; California has
now gained a total of 2,597,500 jobs since the economic expansion began in February 2010.

The unemployment rate is derived from a federal survey of 5,100 California households.

Nationwide, the U.S. unemployment rate decreased 0.1 percentage point in July to 4.3 percent, with employers nationwide adding 209,000 nonfarm payroll jobs. The nationwide unemployment rate was 4.9 percent in July 2016.

The report said nonfarm payroll jobs in California totaled 16,784,100 in July, a net gain of 82,600 jobs from June, according to a survey of 71,000 California businesses that measures jobs in the economy. The year-over change, July 2016 to July 2017, shows an increase of 276,300 jobs, up 1.7 percent.

The federal household survey, done with a smaller sample than the survey of employers, shows a decrease in the number of employed Californians over the month but an increase over the year.

The survey estimated that the number of Californians holding jobs in July was 18,212,000, a decrease of 25,000 from June, but up 140,000 from the employment total in July of last year.

The number of unemployed Californians was 925,000 in July – up by 24,000 over the month,
but down by 114,000 compared with July of last year.

In Lake County, the “total farm” employment category rose by 12.6 percent in July, while the total “nonfarm” category dropped by 1.6 percent.

Within the nonfarm category, subcategories showing the largest gains were 6.3 percent, federal government, financial activities, 2.7 percent; and mining, and logging and construction, 1.5 percent. Largest losses were in wholesale trade, 8.3 percent; leisure and hospitality, 4.3 percent; government, 3.5 percent; and goods producing, 1.7 percent.

The Employment Development Department said jobless rates for the various communities within Lake County in July are as follows, from lowest to highest: Cobb, 1.2 percent; Nice, 3.1 percent; north Lakeport, 3.2 percent; Hidden Valley Lake and Middletown, tied, 3.3 percent; Lakeport, 4.1 percent; Kelseyville, 4.2 percent; Upper Lake, 5.9 percent; Lucerne, 7.5 percent; city of Clearlake, 9 percent; Clearlake Oaks, 9.2 percent; and Lower Lake, 12.6 percent.

Lake County’s jobless rate in July earned it a ranking of No. 34 out of the state’s 58 counties.

Neighboring county jobless rates and rankings in July were Colusa, 11.6 percent, No. 57; Glenn, 8 percent, No. 46; Mendocino, 4.8 percent, No. 15; Napa, 3.9 percent, No. 5; Sonoma, 3.9 percent, No. 5; and Yolo, 5.3 percent, No. 23.

The lowest unemployment statewide, 3.2 percent, was in San Mateo County, while Imperial had the highest, 24.2 percent.

The Employment Development Department also reported that there were 343,729 people receiving regular Unemployment Insurance benefits during the July survey week, compared with
330,417 in June and 353,609 in July of last year.

At the same time, new claims for Unemployment Insurance were 45,264 in July, compared with 46,876 in June and 42,923 in July of last year, the agency said.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – It’s “flu” season and the Lake County Public Health Division has announced its community influenza vaccination clinic schedule.

Getting vaccinated is a great way to avoid getting the flu.

Anyone 6 months of age or older is encouraged to get a flu vaccine. Being careful to use good hygiene is another way to protect yourself and those around you. If you cough or sneeze, cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or the crook of your arm instead of your hands.

A virus can easily be passed from your hands to the things you touch. Wash your hands often and use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer when soap and water aren’t available.

Try not to touch your face with your hands. A virus can enter your system through the membranes of your eyes, nose and mouth. Protect yourself by avoiding close contact with anyone who is sick.

Choosing a healthful lifestyle can also help to keep you well. Getting enough sleep, eating nutritious foods, drinking plenty of water and staying physically active can help to maintain a healthy immune system. Together, we can help to decrease the spread of influenza in our community.

The symptoms of the flu include a temperature of over 100 degrees F combined with a cough, sore throat, body aches, headache and a lack of energy. If you are ill, stay home to keep from infecting others.

Lake County Public Health is offering seasonal flu vaccines for $2.

Scheduled clinics for the seasonal flu vaccines are as follows:

Lakeport

For the months of September and October they will be offering flu vaccines on Wednesdays from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Public Health Division, 922 Bevins Court in Lakeport.

Appointments are required. Please call 707-263-1090 or 800-794-9291 to schedule.

On Saturday, Oct. 14, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. free flu shots will be offered at the Heroes of Health and Safety Fair, Lake County Fairgrounds, 401 Martin St. in Lakeport.

Clearlake

Vaccinations will be available on Wednesday, Oct. 25, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Senior Community Center, 3245 Bowers Ave.

Flu vaccinations are also available in a variety of locations such as your primary care provider and local pharmacies.

Please call the Lake County Public Health Division at 1-800-794-9291 or 263-1090 for more information.
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CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A free class on plant-based cooking and Asian-inspired cuisine is planned for Sunday, Sept. 17.

The class will be held beginning at 2 p.m. at the Seventh-day Adventist Church Fellowship Hall, 14490 Uhl Ave. in Clearlake.

The event will include demonstrations, tastings and a short presentation, “The 10 Principles of Obtaining True Health.”

For more information contact Elicia Kalua at 707-696-3166.
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LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Sheriff’s Office has issued an update on plans for a memorial service this weekend for a fallen deputy.

Deputy Rob Rumfelt, 50, died in the line of duty on Aug. 22 in Lakeport following a fight with a domestic violence suspect and a vehicle crash, as Lake County News has reported.

Sgt. Corey Paulich said Rumfelt’s memorial service will be held on Saturday, Sept. 9, at Clear Lake High School’s Don Owens Stadium in Lakeport.

The service is scheduled to begin promptly at 10 a.m., Paulich said.

Paulich said parking for public vehicles will be provided at the Lake County Fairgrounds on Martin Street. The public will be shuttled from the fairgrounds to Clear Lake High School and then back to the fairgrounds after the memorial service.

No privately owned vehicles will be permitted to park on the school grounds due to the lack of available spaces, Paulich said. Personnel will be available at the fairgrounds to assist the public regarding where to park, as well as where to catch the shuttle.

He said shuttle services will begin at 7:30 a.m. to transport the public to the high school. The last shuttle from the fairgrounds to the high school will be at 9 a.m. Shuttles back to the fairgrounds will begin shortly after the services end.

Paulich said it’s anticipated that a large amount of law enforcement and fire personnel will be arriving throughout the morning resulting in heavy traffic flow around the school campuses.

All motorists are being advised to avoid the area and use alternate routes of travel, he said.
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Thursday, Aug. 24, 2017

00:02 TRAFFIC STOP 1708240002
Officer initiated activity at N Main, Lakeport. ATTEMPTING TO CATCH RACERS. Disposition: REPORT TAKEN.

04:13 WIRELESS 911 HANG UP 1708240015
Occurred on N Forbes, Lakeport. W911 BARELY CONNECTED, UNABLE TO TRACK, ON CALL BACK, UNABLE TO LEAVE MESSAGE, NO HX, NFI. Cellular E911 Call: Lat:39.043189 Lon:-122.91735. Service Class: W911. Disposition: WIRELESS HANGUP .

11:29 PEDESTRIAN CHECK 1708240067
Officer initiated activity at Remax Lake County Realty, S Main, Lakeport. Disposition: WARNING.

14:09 PEDESTRIAN CHECK 1708240093
Officer initiated activity at Lakeport Police Department, S Main, Lakeport. Disposition: REPORT TAKEN.

15:21 FRAUD 1708240109
Occurred at Shell on S Main. , Lakeport.**COUNTERFEIT BILL. Disposition: REPORT TAKEN.

17:25 PUBLIC INTOXICATION 1708240121
Occurred at Safeway on 11TH. , Lakeport. TRANSIENT MALE IS DRINKING RIGHT OUTSIDE THE DOOR AND RP HAS ASKED TO LEAVE AND IS REFUSING. RESP IS. Disposition: WARNING.

19:52 VEHICLE CODE/OTHER OFFENSES 1708240145
Occurred at 11TH/MANZANITA, Lakeport. EITHER AT MANZANITA OR BRUSH - THERE IS A STOP SIGN TURNED AROUND. Disposition: GENERAL SERVICES RENDERED.

19:53 WARRANT SERVICE 1708240146
Occurred on Berry, Lakeport. WILL BE THERE AROUND 2030 - COMING FROM SACRAMENTO - HAS MULTIPLE WARRANTS OUT FOR HIS ARREST / HIS MOTHER WOULD LIKE A PHONE CALL AT AFTER WE GO OUT THERE -THIS IS HER RESIDENCE BUT SHE WILL BE GONE DURING THIS TIME. Service Class: RESD. Disposition: GENERAL SERVICES RENDERED.

21:01 MISSING PERSON JUVENILE 1708240154
Occurred on Montana Vista, Lakeport. HAS BEEN MISSING FOR ABOUT HALF AN HOUR - ONGOING PROBLEM / JUVE MAY BE AROUND ARMSTRONG OR THIRD STREETS OR LIBRARY PARK. Disposition: GENERAL SERVICES RENDERED.

22:53 CIVIL COMPLAINT 1708240164
Occurred on 3D, Lakeport. RP'S FOSTER SON IS AT THE ABOVE ADDRESS AND RP WOULD LIKE AN OFFICER TO STAND BY WHEN HE COMES TO PICK HIM UP. Disposition: GENERAL SERVICES RENDERED.

23:06 WARRANT SERVICE 1708240166
Occurred on Berry, Lakeport. IS AT THE ADDRESS RIGHT NOW - MOTHER WILL LEAVE THE FRONT DOOR OPEN. Disposition: GONE ON ARRIVAL.

23:08 NOISE DISTURBANCE 1708240167
Occurred at Aqua Village Mobile Home Park on S Main. , Lakeport. REPORTS LOUD MUSIC, YELLING, POSSIBLE PARTY..RP NOT REQ CONTACT. Disposition: UNFOUNDED.

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