Casey Meroshnekoff of Red Bluff, Calif., comes out of the gate during the bareback bronc riding competition on Saturday, July 10, 2010, during the 81st annual Lake County Rodeo in Lakeport, Calif. Meroshnekoff won the event with a score of 63. Photo by Nick Moranda.
LAKEPORT – The county's rodeo tradition continued this past weekend with the 81st annual Lake County Rodeo, which drew cowboys and cowgirls from around California.
“Rodeo takes all of us back to simpler times, less hectic and filled with down-to-earth family values,” said Lake County Rodeo Association President John Fulton in his message in the rodeo magazine.
The events included in rodeo today come from experiences on the ranch or the range. Rodeo officials explained that one event in particular – steer wrestling – came about after one man got frustrated with a testy steer and decided to pounce on the animal’s back.
This year's rodeo included the Rodeo, Tractor and Pet Parade, which peacefully trotted down Main Street in Lakeport at 11 a.m. Saturday, featuring grand marshal Monte Montana Jr.
Brad McGilchrist of Marysville, Calif., competes in steer wrestling at the Lake County Rodeo in Lakeport, Calif., on Saturday, July 10, 2010. McGilchrist would place second in the competition. Photo by Nick Moranda.
A new event was “Come learn about the rodeo,” where event-goers had the opportunity to meet the new barrel man, Charlie “Too Tall” West as well as Ted Dwyer, the California Cowboys Pro Rodeo Association announcer, an hour before the event began.
“Too Tall” also treated the crowd to a bit of a comedy skit mixed in with a few tricks from his miniature show horse, Molly, who jumped over, and went under, several bars.
The competition itself saw competitors from around the state taking part in numerous competitions – from saddle and bareback bronc to bull riding, team roping to break-away roping, and barrel racing.
Competitors in the mutton bustin' event line up on Saturday, July 10, 2010, at the Lake County Rodeo in Lakeport, Calif. Photo by Tera DeVroede.
A big hit for people of all ages was the dance, which wrapped up the night of excitement with a concert by Lou Derr & Bootleg.”
Results for the competition are listed below. For online results as they are posted, visit http://ccpra.com/.
CCPRA Championship Point Standings Report – Saturday, July 10, 2010:
Calf roping
Name, city of residence, time (in seconds)
Blake Hirdes, Turlock, 8.7
Ethan Garcia, Bishop, 11.0
Adam Andreini, Red Bluff, 11.0
Dusty Bravos, Redding, 11.3
Steer wrestling
Name, city of residence, time (in seconds)
Shane Radelfinger, Ferndale, 4.4
Brad McGilchrist, Marysville, 4.8
Tyler Mitchell, Napa, 5.2
Break-away roping
Name, city of residence, time (in seconds)
Fallon Avery, Aromas, 2.9
Marla Zuber, Orick, 3.5
Jodie Coleman, Ferndale, 3.6
Christie Buckner, Lakeport, 3.7
Barrel racing
Name, city of residence, time (in seconds)
Natasha Haddad, Crescent City, 14.17
Nina Moore, Reno, 14.22
Jamie Cook, Willows, 14.28
Jenny Millsap, Willits, 14.42
Leslie Moore, Bridgeville, 14.47
Rainey Hatch, Ukiah, 14.49
Angie Hardin, Cottonwood, 14.51
Kaitlyn Wiggin, Williams, 14.52
Team roping
Name, city of residence, time (in seconds)
David Ramont, Hughson, and Wyatt Williams, Cottonwood, 6.1
Ryan Reed, Lodi, and James Ferrera, Lodi, 6.1
John Jones, Kelseyville and J. Cody Jones, Kelseyville, 6.7
Wade Bunn, Palo Cedro, and Sam Williams, Cottonwood, 8.8
Saddle bronc riding
Name, city of residence, score
Luke White, Lincoln, 66
Logan Nallon, Greenwood, 63
Ethan Lemon, 62
Tyler Thomson, Tehachapi, 58
Bareback bronc riding
Name, city of residence, score
Casey Meroshnekoff, Red Bluff, 63
Mark Thomson, Tehachapi, to be announced
Clint Lear, Anderson, to be announced
Bull riding
Name, city of residence, score
Joe Chamberlain, Newman, 78
Scott Williamson, 76
Tyler Stueve, Marysville, 67
Jordan Spears, Redding, to be announced
Chad Morlan, Kelseyville, to be announced
Jesse Aitken, Laytonville, to be announced
Ricky Wilson, San Jose, to be announced
Leif Ferri, Willits, to be announced
Dustin Haberman, Crescent City, to be announced
E-mail Tera deVroede at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf .
From left, 2010 Lake County Rodeo Queen Ashley Johnson of Kelseyville; Miss California Cowboys Pro Rodeo Association 2010 Jennifer Marinelli and 2010 Lake County Princess Kimberly Fischer of Kelseyville. Photo by Tera DeVroede.
Charlie
Surveillance photos from Wells Fargo Bank in Chico, Calif., show a white male suspect who is alleged to have robbed the bank shortly after 10 a.m. on Tuesday, July 13, 2010.
CHICO – Authorities are looking for a suspect who allegedly walked into a Chico bank Tuesday morning and demanded money before fleeing on a bicycle.
The incident occurred at 10:18 a.m. at the Wells Fargo Bank on 954 East Ave., according to Sgt. Rob Merrifield of the Chico Police Department's Special Operations Section.
Merrifield sad Chico Police responded to the alleged bank robbery, and when they arrived at the bank employees reported that a male suspect approached one of the tellers and presented a note demanding money and suggesting that he had a weapon.
The teller complied with the demand and the suspect then fled the business on a mountain bike. Merrifield said the suspect was last seen fleeing the area eastbound on East Avenue.
Responding officers were unable to locate the suspect, Merrifield said.
The suspect is described as a white male adult, approximately 40 to 49 years old, 6 feet 4 inches tall, wearing an apparent wig underneath a dark bicycle helmet and sunglasses, according to the police report.
Merrifield said the suspect had a full beard, which may have been false, and was wearing a blue jacket and blue pants.
Anyone with information about the crime or who may have seen the suspect fleeing the area is encouraged to contact the Chico Police Department at 530-897-5820.
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Fern G. Joaquin, 67, of Covelo, Calif., died on Friday, July 9, 2010, when the vehicle she was riding in collided with a tree and rolled down an embankment in the Mendocino National Forest. Photo courtesy of the Glenn County Sheriff's Office.
MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST – A Covelo woman was identified as the victim of a fatal vehicle crash that occurred in the Mendocino National Forest last Friday.
Fern Gertrude Joaquin, 67, was the victim of the crash, according to a report from the Willows California Highway Patrol office.
The collision took place at around 8:30 p.m. on Forest Road N04 west of Forest Highway 7 in the Mendocino National Forest, the CHP reported.
The CHP reported that Fern Joaquin was riding in a 1994 Isuzu driven by 84-year-old Sylvester Joaquin of Covelo, who was traveling eastbound on Forest Road 21N04. Also in the car were 47-year-old Frances Y. Hoaglen and Angie Lynn Joaquin, 36, both of Covelo.
For an unknown reason Sylvester Joaquin lost control of the vehicle and collided with a tree before the vehicle rolled several times across the roadway and down an embankment, becoming wedged against a tree, the CHP reported.
Sylvester Joaquin, Angie Joaquin and Hoaglen all managed to get out of the vehicle, according to the CHP.
Glenn County Sheriff Larry Jones said a Butte County man who was monitoring a citizen’s band radio reported there had been a traffic accident in the mountains off of Forest Highway 7 and occupants were trapped inside.
The CHP, Glenn County Sheriff’s Office and Fish & Game responded in an effort to locate the accident scene, and ground ambulances and medical helicopters were dispatched, Jones said.
Joaquin was pronounced deceased at the scene, according to the CHP.
Paramedics transported the three surviving occupants of the car to Enloe Hospital in Chico, where all three were treated for major injuries, the CHP said.
Jones said his office notified the US Forest Service Law Enforcement Branch of the fatality in the forest.
All of the vehicle's occupants were wearing their safety belts, the CHP said.
The CHP is investigating the crash.
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UPPER LAKE – Summer's hot temperatures have hit Lake County, but area residents can get out and enjoy shopping in the cooler evening hours during Upper Lake's Thursday night markets.
The markets will take place from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. every Thursday beginning this week and continuing through Aug. 19, according to Debbie Hablutzel, president of the Upper Lake Community Council, which is sponsoring the weekly events.
“It is not exactly a farmers' market,” said Hablutzel. “We welcome arts, crafts, produce, plants and more – it’s just a fun thing.”
Hablutzel says event-goers will have between 10 and 20 vendors to visit. Expect the same pleasant yet festive atmosphere that recently kicked off the summer spirit during Upper Lake's Wild West Day.
Like Wild West Day, Main Street will be blocked off so shoppers can browse safely, Hablutzel said. Admission is free.
Singers and songwriters from around Lake County will have a chance to perform at the market, Hablutzel said.
The lineup of performers begins with Dave Hendricks this week, to be followed on July 22 by Lonnie Caldwell, Angelina & Ian on July 29, Stephen Holland & Friends on Aug. 5, Michael Barrish on Aug. 12 and on Aug. 19 by Hilarie, Milton & Moe.
Those interested about vendor space are encouraged to call Hablutzel at 707-275-2000 or Byron Green, a member of the Upper Lake Community Council, at 707-275-9515.
E-mail Tera deVroede at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf .