This chart compares artist's concept images of the first Earth-size planets found around a sun-like star to planets in our own solar system, Earth and Venus. Image credit: NASA/Ames/JPL-Caltech.

NASA's Kepler mission has discovered the first Earth-size planets orbiting a sun-like star outside our solar system.

The planets, called Kepler-20e and Kepler-20f, are too close to their star to be in the so-called habitable zone where liquid water could exist on a planet's surface, but they are the smallest exoplanets ever confirmed around a star like our sun.

The discovery marks the next important milestone in the ultimate search for planets like Earth.

The new planets are thought to be rocky. Kepler-20e is slightly smaller than Venus, measuring 0.87 times the radius of Earth. Kepler-20f is a bit larger than Earth, measuring 1.03 times its radius.

Both planets reside in a five-planet system called Kepler-20, approximately 1,000 light-years away in the constellation Lyra.

Kepler-20e orbits its parent star every 6.1 days and Kepler-20f every 19.6 days. These short orbital periods mean very hot, inhospitable worlds.

Kepler-20f, at 800 degrees Fahrenheit, is similar to an average day on the planet Mercury. The surface temperature of Kepler-20e, at more than 1,400 degrees Fahrenheit, would melt glass.

“The primary goal of the Kepler mission is to find Earth-sized planets in the habitable zone," said Francois Fressin of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics in Cambridge, Mass., lead author of a new study published in the journal Nature. "This discovery demonstrates for the first time that Earth-size planets exist around other stars, and that we are able to detect them.”

The Kepler-20 system includes three other planets that are larger than Earth but smaller than Neptune.

Kepler-20b, the closest planet, Kepler-20c, the third planet, and Kepler-20d, the fifth planet, orbit their star every 3.7, 10.9 and 77.6 days.

All five planets have orbits lying roughly within Mercury's orbit in our solar system. The host star belongs to the same G-type class as our sun, although it is slightly smaller and cooler.

The system has an unexpected arrangement. In our solar system, small, rocky worlds orbit close to the sun and large, gaseous worlds orbit farther out. In comparison, the planets of Kepler-20 are organized in alternating size: large, small, large, small and large.

"The Kepler data are showing us some planetary systems have arrangements of planets very different from that seen in our solar system," said Jack Lissauer, planetary scientist and Kepler science team member at NASA's Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif. "The analysis of Kepler data continue to reveal new insights about the diversity of planets and planetary systems within our galaxy."

Scientists are not certain how the system evolved but they do not think the planets formed in their existing locations.

They theorize the planets formed farther from their star and then migrated inward, likely through interactions with the disk of material from which they originated. This allowed the worlds to maintain their regular spacing despite alternating sizes.

The Kepler space telescope detects planets and planet candidates by measuring dips in the brightness of more than 150,000 stars to search for planets crossing in front, or transiting, their stars.

The Kepler science team requires at least three transits to verify a signal as a planet.

On Dec. 5 the team announced the discovery of Kepler-22b in the habitable zone of its parent star. It is likely to be too large to have a rocky surface.

While Kepler-20e and Kepler-20f are Earth-size, they are too close to their parent star to have liquid water on the surface.

"In the cosmic game of hide and seek, finding planets with just the right size and just the right temperature seems only a matter of time," said Natalie Batalha, Kepler deputy science team lead and professor of astronomy and physics at San Jose State University. "We are on the edge of our seats knowing that Kepler's most anticipated discoveries are still to come."

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

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The California Department of Public Health said the man was in his late 30s.

“This death is a somber reminder that the flu can be a serious and even deadly disease,” said Dr. Ron Chapman, director of the California Department of Public Health and state public health officer, in a report issued by the agency. “I encourage Californians to get their flu vaccine to help protect themselves and their families.”

Statewide surveillance shows that influenza activity remains low in California. Typically, influenza peaks between January and March.

According to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, flu-associated deaths nationwide range from an estimated 3,000 to 49,000 annually.

Lake County Health Officer Dr. Karen Tait told Lake County News in a Thursday e-mail that it has been a fairly quiet flu year so far as well for Lake County, where flu concerns are heightened due to the large senior population.

So far this flu season, vaccine totals for Lake County Public Health are “definitely fewer than last year,” said Tait.

However, she added that local pharmacies have done a lot of vaccinating this year.

She said Lake County has no special concerns due to this year’s flu season, but added, “the usual precautions are as important as always.”

Some of those usual precautions offered by health officials include staying home when sick; covering coughs or sneezes with an elbow or a tissue, and then properly disposing of used tissues; washing hands thoroughly with soap and warm water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer; avoiding touching eyes, nose and mouth; and trying to stay healthy by eating right, staying hydrated, not smoking, and getting adequate rest and exercise.

The seasonal flu vaccine is recommended for everyone over 6 months of age and includes protection against the H1N1 strain, the California Department of Public Health reported. It is particularly important for people at high risk of complications, including pregnant women, people with chronic diseases such as diabetes, children and older adults to be vaccinated.

Chapman urged Californians to get their flu shot if they have not done so already. In addition, the nasal spray flu vaccine is available for healthy individuals ages two through 49 who are not pregnant.

“Since the flu season can last through May, it is not too late to get a flu vaccine,” Chapman said. “There is plenty of flu vaccine available.”

Tait said Lake County Public Health has plenty of the $2 vaccine available. The department can be reached at 800-794-9291 or 707-263-1090 for more information.

The California Department of Public Health offers more information on flu prevention at its Web site, http://www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/immunize/Pages/default.aspx.

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Fernando Gabriel Parra, 29, of Kelseyville, Calif., was arrested on Wednesday, December 21, 2011, on drug charges and for probation violations. Lake County Jail photo.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – A probation search this week by the Lake County Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force and the Lake County Probation Department resulted in one arrest and the seizure of 14.7 grams of methamphetamine.

On Wednesday at approximately 8:30 am, narcotics detectives and probation officers conducted a probation search where 29-year-old Fernando Gabriel Parra of Kelseyville – who is on felony probation – was residing, according to Sgt. Steve Brooks.

When narcotics detectives entered the home, Parra was located and detained without incident, Brooks said.

A sheriff’s narcotics detection K9 alerted on a nightstand dresser drawer in one of the bedrooms. Brooks said narcotics detectives conducted a search of dresser drawer and located approximately 14.7 grams of methamphetamine, which was packaged in 24 plastic baggies.

Parra was arrested for possession of a controlled substance for sales, violation of a court order preventing domestic violence and probation violation, Brooks said.

Parra was transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility and booked. Jail records indicated he remained in custody on Saturday on a no-bail probation hold.

The Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force can be contacted through its anonymous tip line at 707-263-3663.

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The Lake County Sheriff

“As you prepare for the holiday traffic and winter weather, remember to plan ahead and leave yourself some extra time to make the trip,” said CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow. “Rest assured that the CHP will be out there to assist you whenever there is a need.”

Throughout their holiday travels motorists may encounter a number of CHP officers who begin their annual Christmas Maximum Enforcement Period (MEP) on Friday, Dec. 23, at 6:01 p.m.

The CHP will continue the holiday enforcement effort through Monday, Dec. 26, at 11:59 p.m.

“This time of year more people travel, celebrations increase and the weather can be a challenge,” said Commissioner Farrow.

Last year during the Christmas holiday weekend, four people were killed in collisions in California, according to the CHP.

One week later, 25 people were killed in crashes during New Year’s weekend; half of those who died were not wearing a seat belt, the CHP reported.

In addition, the CHP said it made 658 arrests for driving under the influence during the Christmas MEP and 961 arrests the following holiday weekend.

“It’s important to remember as the holiday celebrations kick into high gear during the next couple of weeks, always designate a driver before the party begins,” added Commissioner Farrow.

The CHP will conduct a similar MEP effort over the New Year’s holiday weekend which begins Friday, Dec. 30, at 6:01 p.m. and continues through 11:59 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 2, 2012.

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The fire, first reported late Tuesday morning at 18390 North Shore Drive, drew dozens of firefighters from around the county.

The Lake County Arson Task Force had been called to the scene Tuesday to lead the investigation.

South Lake County Fire District Battalion Chief Scott Upton, the incident commander on the fire, said Wednesday that the investigation had concluded that the fire’s cause was “accidental but undetermined.”

He said the home’s insurance company is planning to conduct some more advanced testing.

“So hopefully we’ll get more of a determination,” he said.

Upton said the two people injured in the fire were listed as being in critical condition on Wednesday morning.

Both were transported via air ambulances to out-of-county trauma centers, one to UC Davis Medical Center, one to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, officials reported.

The fire victims’ names were not released by the fire district, and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office did not have their names for release on Wednesday.

CHP Officer Josh Dye, who had been one of the first on scene and helped tend one of the burn victims, suffered some smoke inhalation and was taken to the hospital on Tuesday, according to CHP Officer Kory Reynolds, the Clear Lake CHP Area office’s public information officer.

However, Dye was back at work on Wednesday and doing great after getting “a little too much smoke,” Reynolds said.

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So when does it make sense to amend, restate or revoke a trust and start over? Let us examine these alternatives.

A trust is amended when the settlor wishes to make revisions to particular terms within a trust. Each amendment is an overlay to each preceding one and to the original trust itself.

Naturally the more numerous amendments the more cumbersome reading and understanding the trust becomes.

Reasons to amend a trust include changing who becomes successor trustee or the distribution scheme.

Sometimes entirely restating the trust is desirable. A restatement is an amendment that completely rewrites the whole trust. It preserves the trust’s existence but with entirely new terms.

A restatement is desirable when a trust might have numerous inadequacies that require substantial corrections. Also, amending a trust with many prior overlapping amendments may require a restatement.

An advantage of the restatement is that trust assets do not have to be retitled in the name of a new trust. When many trust assets are involved a restatement can save time and money.

But sometimes it is necessary to revoke a trust and to transfer the assets into a new trust. Let us now see why.

Four reasons come to mind why a settlor might want a new trust rather than a restatement.

First, the settlor may not wish for the trust beneficiaries to receive copies of the prior amendments to the trust.

As a matter of law, when a settlor dies, the beneficiaries and heirs of the deceased settlor are all entitled to a copy of the original trust together with all amendments. This may be disagreeable to any settlor who prefers to keep the earlier amendments secret.

Second, the settlor may not wish to leave open the possibility that the most recent amendment (which might even be a complete restatement) could be destroyed by a dissatisfied beneficiary.

That is, someone might wish to discard the most current amendment in order to proceed under an earlier version of the trust. Titling assets over into a new trust with a new name and creation date cuts-off that possibility.

Third, with a joint trust (i.e., one settled by a married couple) the surviving spouse might decide to transfer her share into a new trust in the survivor’s name alone.

Although the surviving spouse can typically use a power of appointment to change who inherits what assets, the surviving spouse may or may not be able to make amendments to the provisions of the trust after the first spouse dies.

In the case of a blended family, the surviving spouse may wish to remove her assets from a joint trust into a new trust for the benefit of her own children to the exclusion of the step children.

Fourth, when the community property and separate property rights of one spouse in a joint trust assets are transmuted (changed) into the other spouse’s sole and separate property the trust is terminated and assets transferred into a single settlor trust.

This happens when assets are transferred between spouses in order to allow one spouse to qualify to receive Medi-Cal at a skilled nursing facility.

Amending or restating the original joint trust in that case is not a solution.

As discussed, the revocable living trust is flexible. Options to amend, restate or revoke are available.

Reviewing one’s estate plan every five years, sometimes sooner if circumstances necessitate, with a qualified attorney is a generally advisable.

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. Visit his Web site at www.dennisfordhamlaw.com.

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Jose Louis Vallejo Ruiz, 28, was arrested for driving under the influence causing injury and driving without a driver’s license, while both of his passengers, 29-year-old Neri Averdano-Rosas and Clemente Sarmiento Rosas, 21, were booked for public intoxication, according to the California Highway Patrol’s Clear Lake Area office.

The crash occurred at 12:10 a.m. Wednesday on Highway 29 north of Hofacker Lane, the CHP reported.

The CHP said Ruiz was driving his 1994 Honda Accord northbound at an unknown speed when he allowed his vehicle to drift off the roadway, resulting in it overturning several times.

Ruiz and Averdano-Rosas were not injured, but Clemente Rosas sustained minor injuries in the collision, the CHP said.

CHP Officers Jensen and Garcia responded to the crash scene and contacted the three men, arresting all of them, according to the report.

All three men were taken to St. Helena Hospital Clearlake Hospital and medically cleared prior to being booked at the Lake County Jail, the CHP said.

Jail records indicated all three men remained in custody late Wednesday due to no-bail immigration holds.

The collision is still under investigation by Officer Jensen.

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The fire at 18390 North Shore Drive Tuesday destroyed the home and injured resident Jordan Armstrong and his friend, Kevin Hart, according to the “Please PRAY for Jordan Armstrong” Facebook page.

South Lake County Fire Battalion Chief Scott Upton said investigators ruled the fire’s cause “accidental but undetermined.”

Armstrong and Hart both were flown to out-of-county hospitals with serious burns, as Lake County News has reported.

On Thursday, UC Davis Medical Center spokesperson Phyllis Brown said Armstrong was in “fair” condition.

His Facebook page reported that he suffered burns over 30 percent of his body.

Officials originally reported that Hart had been was taken to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital. However, his family said on a Facebook page for him, titled “Kevin’s Blood Drive,” that he also was at the UC Davis Medical Center Burn Center, where he was undergoing skin graft surgeries.

The Facebook page in his honor said he has suffered burns over 80 percent of his body, along with a broken nose and swollen face. He has a tracheotomy to help his breathing.

Hart’s family and friends are requesting community members participate in a blood drive for Hart through Blood Source, 3505 Industrial Drive, Santa Rosa, telephone 916-456-1500, www.bloodsource.org. His blood type is O+ but his family is asking for all blood types to donate.

Both young men are reportedly facing months of hospitalization and numerous reconstructive surgeries, according to the two Facebook pages.

The Hidden Valley Community Church is taking donations for Armstrong. Checks can be sent to the Hidden Valley Community Church, P.O. Box 1049, Middletown, CA 95461, with “Jordan Armstrong” in the subject line. For more information the church can be contacted at 707-987-3510.

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Steven Gene Hensley, 36, faced felony charges of setting 19 fires in various locations in and around the Willits area starting on July 4 and continuing through Aug. 21.

District Attorney David Eyster, who has handled Hensley’s prosecution from its inception, on Thursday announced in the Mendocino County Superior Court a sentence agreement requiring Hensley to be sentenced to a stipulated 20 years in state prison when he returns to court on Jan. 27, 2012.

Hensley also will be required to register for life as an arson offender and each count of arson as admitted by Hensley is a “strike” for purposes of any future felony misconduct under the Three Strikes law.

Eyster also will be seeking an order in January requiring Hensley to pay restitution to property owners and Cal Fire in the amount of $354,138.

On Thursday Eyster thanked fire personnel around the county who day in and day out protect and serve public safety.

He was particularly complimentary of the investigation work undertaken in Hensley’s case by Cal Fire Captains Shawn Zimmermaker and Craig Dudley.

“The defendant had no way out of this one and realized it. We have Zimmermaker and Dudley to thank for this,” said Eyster.

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Sgt. Rodd Joseph said an on-duty Clearlake Police officer noticed a suspicious silver colored Lexus sedan on 18th Avenue near Boyles Avenue at 12:44 a.m.

He said the vehicle pulled over to the side of the road and turned its lights off as the officer approached in his marked police vehicle. The driver of the Lexus, reported to be a Hispanic male adult, then turned the vehicle’s lights back on and made a quick U-turn.

Joseph said the officer got behind the vehicle and attempted to initiate a vehicle stop for a vehicle code violation, but the vehicle fled from the officer at a high rate of speed.

The Lexus and its driver led the officer on a high speed pursuit for several blocks before the officer briefly lost sight of the suspect vehicle due to poor visibility from roadway dust, Joseph said.

The officer located the vehicle at the intersection of 21st and and Phillips avenues. Joseph said the Lexus had slid off the roadway and collided with a tree. No other vehicles were involved in the collision.

He said the driver's door was open, with the driver having apparently fled on foot.

Officers discovered two additional passengers in the vehicle. Joseph said the rear passenger was identified as 28-year-old Leona Delapena of Ukiah, while the front passenger was identified as 20-year-old Jason Steele of Ukiah. Both passengers complained of pain.

Delapena initially reported that she and Steele had been carjacked at gunpoint by the suspect at a gas station, Joseph said.

However, during questioning by officers, Delapena became uncooperative and refused to provide any statements regarding the reported carjacking, Joseph said.

He said both Delapena and Steele were transported via ambulance to St. Helena Hospital Clearlake. Steele was later transported to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital via helicopter. Both passengers have since been released from medical care.

This case is still under investigation, Joseph said.

Any person with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Officer Middleton at the Clearlake Police Department at 707-994-8251. Callers may remain anonymous.

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