The workshop will be held on Thursday, Aug. 11, at 5:30 p.m. at the Sons of Italy Hall, located at 2817 E. Highway 20 in Nice, and is presented by the Lake County Redevelopment Agency and Mogavero Notestine Associates.

David Mogavero, principal at Mogavero Notestine Associates, will review observations and input from the April workshop and present two conceptual site plans for the Holiday Harbor property.

The plans seek to maximize the site’s developable area while providing public access to the harbor and the lake.

Community input and questions on the conceptual plans will be solicited in an open forum. Lake County Redevelopment Agency officials will outline the proposed next steps in the process, including a time line for the final plan.

The Lake County Redevelopment Agency purchased the Holiday Harbor Resort and Marina, located at 3605 Lakeshore Boulevard, Nice, in June 2008.

The site includes 134 boat slips, picnic areas, restrooms, a boat launch and on-site caretaker.

The agency envisions development of the site and surrounding area as the future town center for Nice. The short-term goal of the agency is to develop a market development plan, including conceptual plans and other marketing pieces, to attract investment in the site by a private developer.

Funding for the creation of the market development plan is provided by a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Planning and Technical Assistance grant.

The agency awarded a contract for development of the plan to Mogavero Notestine Associates through a competitive request for proposals in February.

Mogavero Notestine Associates (MNA) is an award winning architecture, planning, urban design and development firm that specializes in innovative urban infill projects. Not only does MNA provide traditional architecture and planning services, but the agency expects their experience in feasibility analysis and private development to provide both a creative and tangible plan for the Holiday Harbor site.

Formed in 1999, the Lake County Redevelopment Agency works to eliminate blight and promote economic development in communities within the Northshore Redevelopment Project Area, which includes parts of Upper Lake, Nice, Lucerne, Glenhaven and Clearlake Oaks.

For more information about the project, contact the Lake County Redevelopment Agency at 707-263-2580 or visit www.co.lake.ca.us/redevelopment.

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The crash occurred at 2:35 p.m. Tuesday, according to a report from CHP Officer Kory Reynolds.

Holden King, 20, of Ukiah was driving a 1998 Ford truck tractor towing a Budweiser delivery trailer northbound on Highway 29 north of Mockingbird Lane at approximately 55 miles per hour when he feel asleep at the wheel, according to Reynolds.

When King fell asleep it allowed the truck to drift off the roadway and clip the Robinson Creek Bridge abutment. Reynolds said the vehicle continued northbound up the embankment and struck a power line support pole.

The truck and trailer came to rest blocking the northbound lane and phone lines were across both lanes, Reynolds said. Highway 29 was closed in both directions for approximately 90 minutes.

He said King was trapped in the truck and had to be extricated.

King was taken by REACH to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital with a possible left leg fracture, ruptured spleen and lacerations to his left leg, Reynolds said.

The collision is still under investigation by Officer Erich Paarsch.

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Pamela Bernal, 65, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, which occurred off of San Joaquin Drive, according to Sgt. Martin Snyder of the Clearlake Police Department.

Shortly after 4 p.m. Clearlake Police officers received two reports of a possible intoxicated driver in the Clearlake Park area, Snyder said.

Snyder said the reporting parties told police that the driver, later identified as Bernal, had hit a stop sign at the intersection of Arrowhead and San Joaquin. They then lost sight of the vehicle near San Joaquin and Carter Lane.

Police officers responded to the area and conducted a search, which Snyder said was necessary due to the area's steep terrain.

During the search Snyder said officers found a silver Ford that had gone off San Joaquin and traveled approximately 110 feet down the hillside.

He said the vehicle – which appeared to have rolled several times – had major damage as a result of the crash.

When officers got down to the vehicle they found Bernal inside. Snyder said they administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation until Lake County Fire Protection District paramedics arrived and pronounced her deceased.

Bernal's cause of death is pending a full autopsy, Snyder said.

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Friends and family built a roadside memorial to 4-year-old Joseph McCloud, who died on Wednesday, July 27, 2011, after he was struck by a car on Soda Bay Road outside of Lakeport, Calif. Photo by Elizabeth Larson.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – On Thursday the California Highway Patrol offered additional details on the Wednesday accident that took the life of a young child.

Four-year-old Joseph McCloud of Lakeport died after he was struck by a car on Soda Bay Road east of Osprey Court, according to CHP Officer Kory Reynolds.

Reynolds said the child was walking east with family members along Soda Bay Road's north shoulder just after 12:30 p.m. Wednesday when, for unknown reasons, he stepped into the westbound lane.

When he did so, the little boy was hit by the right front of a 2004 Saturn SUV driven by Lakeport resident James Bishop, 39, Reynolds said.

Lakeport Fire Chief Ken Wells had said on Wednesday that his paramedics responded to the Fastop convenience store at the intersection of Soda Bay Road and Highway 175, where the child had been transported. Paramedics found CHP working on the child to try to save him.

A Lakeport Fire ambulance transported the child to Sutter Lakeside Hospital where a REACH air ambulance was prepared to fly him out of county. However, Reynolds said the child was pronounced dead at 1:20 p.m.

Reynolds said the CHP is handling the investigation into the incident, in which alcohol was not a factor.

A memorial to the little boy has been built by friends and family at the accident site, near Big Valley Rancheria.

On Thursday, bright red and pink heart-shaped balloons, toy cars, candles, flowers and an array of stuffed animals – a kangaroo, toy dog, teddy bear, and Winnie the Pooh characters Tigger and Piglet – sat along the roadside near where the child was struck.

There also were homemade signs with handwritten messages to the little boy – who also was identified as Joseph Anderson – who would have turned 5 years old in September, according to a sign that recorded his birth date.

“We love you, Joe!” read one sign, while another sign said, “Forever in our thoughts.”

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The memorial to 4-year-old Joseph McCloud of Lakeport, Calif., included homemade signs, stuffed animals, flowers, balloons and candles. Photo by Elizabeth Larson.

On Wednesday, Congressman Mike Thompson (CA-1) successfully offered an amendment to H.R. 2584, the Interior-Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2012, that will preserve essential federal protections for America’s endangered and threatened species.

Specifically, Rep. Thompson’s amendment removed language – known as the Extinction Rider – that would have prevented the Fish and Wildlife Service from spending any funding to list new plants and animals under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

“We’ve been trying to get more species off the endangered species list for years, and the majority party is leading the way,” said Rep. Thompson. “Unfortunately, their strategy is to prevent endangered species from being listed as endangered in the first place. The Extinction Rider is so ridiculous that it would be comical, but for the dangerous effect it would have on imperiled species that are struggling to survive.”

“It is our responsibility to be good stewards of this earth and prevent the extinction of wildlife, plants, and fish,” Rep. Thompson added. “The sad truth is that once we lose a species we will never get it back. That is why we need to allow for science-based policies and recovery plans for imperiled species instead of allowing politics to drive listing decisions and activities.”

Congressman Thompson co-authored his amendment to remove the Extinction Rider from H.R. 2584 with Reps. Norm Dicks (D-WA), Michael Fitzpatrick (R-PA), and Colleen Hanabusa (D-HI). 37 Republicans joined Congressman Thompson and over 180 of his Democratic colleagues in supporting the amendment, which was approved by the House in a 224-202 vote.

“I applaud my colleagues, particularly the Republicans, for joining me to fight this misguided legislation,” Rep. Thompson said. “Many of my colleagues are truly invested in saving our natural resources, and I was impressed by their impassioned remarks in support of my amendment. Their efforts will ensure that our endangered and threatened species are protected for the future.”

If the Extinction Rider had been in effect 44 years ago, the American bald eagle, our national bird, would be extinct. In the 1960s, there were less than 450 nesting pairs of bald eagles. But thanks to the Endangered Species Act, this national symbol was removed from the endangered species list in 2007 and now there are nearly 10,000 nesting pairs of bald eagles.

A more local example of the ESA’s positive impact is the Aleutian goose. In 1967, there were no more than a few hundred of these birds left in the wild. ESA protections allowed the Aleutian goose population to rebound, to a population of more than 100,000 birds in 2008. In fact, the ESA recovery effort was so successful that the Aleutian goose was delisted in 2001 and is today being hunted in Humboldt and Del Norte counties.

In addition to the Extinction Rider, H.R. 2584 contains nearly 40 other anti-environment policy riders, including provisions that would:

• Block protections for more than 1 million acres of land around the Grand Canyon, leaving them open to toxic uranium mining.

• Prohibit the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from implementing the just-finalized Cross-State Pollution Rule, which protects communities from dangerous pollution from power plants upwind of them.

• Indefinitely stop long-overdue standards to control toxic mercury air pollution from power plants, endangering pregnant women, infants and children.

• Block EPA from moving forward with standards for new vehicles after 2016 that would reduce our foreign oil imports and cut pollution.

• Allow oil companies to pollute more when drilling offshore by weakening the Clean Air Act and exempting polluting support vessels from regulation.

Thompson represents California’s 1st Congressional District, which includes Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Napa, and portions of Sonoma and Yolo counties. He is a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Rep. Thompson is also a member of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition and Co-Chair of the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Wine Caucus.

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The California Highway Patrol reported that crash involving a Eagle Distributing Co. truck occurred shortly after 2:30 p.m. on Highway 29 north of Mockingbird Lane and south of the intersection with Highway 20.

The truck – which was empty – reportedly went over onto its side, blocking both lanes of traffic and trapping the driver.

The collision also knocked out a utility pole, which left wires down across the roadway, the CHP said.

Along with the CHP and firefighters, Caltrans responded to the scene to help reroute traffic around the crash, using Mockingbird Lane and sending vehicles around through Nice, according to reports from the scene.

The CHP reported that the highway was reopened shortly before 6 p.m.

The extent of the driver's injuries weren't immediately available.

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The list so far does not include any Lake County post offices, although there are several around Northern California may be shuttered – including those in San Gregorio, Camp Meeker, Artois, Paskenta and Yountville.

US Postal Service officials said that, as more customers choose to conduct their postal business online, on their smart phones and at their favorite shopping destinations, the need for the agency to maintain its nearly 32,000 retail offices – the largest retail network in the country — diminishes.

“Today, more than 35 percent of the Postal Service’s retail revenue comes from expanded access locations such as grocery stores, drug stores, office supply stores, retail chains, self-service kiosks, ATMs and www.usps.com, open 24/7,” said Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe. “Our customer’s habits have made it clear that they no longer require a physical post office to conduct most of their postal business.”

As a result, the US Postal Service said it will take the next step in right-sizing its expansive retail network by conducting studies of approximately 3,700 retail offices to determine customer needs.

As part of this effort, the Postal Service also introduced a retail-replacement option for affected communities around the nation.

For communities currently without a postal retail office and for communities affected by these retail optimization efforts, the Postal Service introduced the Village Post Office as a potential replacement option. Village Post Offices would be operated by local businesses, such as pharmacies, grocery stores and other appropriate retailers, and would offer popular postal products and services such as stamps and flat-rate packaging.

“By working with third-party retailers, we’re creating easier, more convenient access to our products and services when and where our customers want them,” Donahoe said. “The Village Post Office will offer another way for us to meet our customers’ needs.”

With 32,000 postal retail offices and more than 70,000 third-party retailers — Approved Postal Providers — selling postage stamps and providing expanded access to other postal products and services, customers today have about 100,000 locations across the nation where they can do business with the Postal Service.

“The Postal Service of the future will be smaller, leaner and more competitive and it will continue to drive commerce, serve communities and deliver value,” Donahoe added.

The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses, and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

The list of California post offices being considered for closure follows.

OFFICE – CITY – ZIP

Blocksburg – Blocksburg – 95514

Downtown Davis – Davis – 95616

Honeydew – Honeydew – 95545

Neeland – Kneeland – 95549

Korbel – Korbel – 95550

Phillipsville – Phillipsville – 95559

Redcrest – Redcrest – 95569

Samoa – Samoa – 95564

Veterans Home – Yountville – 94599

Weott – Weott – 95571

Ryde – Ryde – 95680

Colma – Daly City – 94014

Linden – South San Francisco – 94080

Loma Mar – Loma Mar – 94021

San Gregorio – San Gregorio – 94074

Colonnade – San Jose – 95112

Chinese Camp – Chinese Camp – 95309

Fish Camp – Fish Camp – 93623

Hornitos – Hornitos – 95325

Moccasin – Moccasin – 95347

Yosemite Lodge – Yosemite National Park – 95389

Artois – Artois – 95913

Big Bar – Big Bar – 96010

Callahan – Callahan – 96014

Castella – Castella – 96017

Challenge – Challenge – 95925

Forks Of Salmon – Forks Of Salmon – 96031

Grimes – Grimes – 95950

Hat Creek – Hat Creek – 96040

Old Station – Old Station – 96071

Paskenta – Paskenta – 96074

Stirling City – Stirling City – 95978

Zamora – Zamora – 95698

Zenia – Zenia – 95595

East Bakersfield – Bakersfield – 93305

Helm – Helm – 93627

Big Creek – Big Creek – 93605

Posey – Posey – 93260

Yettem – Yettem – 93670

Darwin – Darwin – 93522

Fellows – Fellows – 93224

Tupman – Tupman – 93276

Victoria Court – Santa Barbara – 93101

Tecopa – Tecopa – 92389

Topaz – Topaz – 96133

Antelope – Citrus Heights – 95621

Eastgate – Beverly Hills – 90211

Veterans Administration – Los Angeles – 90073

Westside Pavilion – Los Angeles – 90064

Baldwin Hills/Crenshaw Finan – Los Angeles – 90008

Hollywood Pavilion – Los Angeles – 90028

Arcade – Los Angeles – 90013

Arco – Los Angeles – 90071

Bandini Station – Bell – 90201

Bunker Retail Postal Store – Los Angeles – 90071

Cudahy – Cudahy – 90201

Federal Finance Station LA – Los Angeles – 90012

Lugo – Los Angeles – 90023

Market – Los Angeles – 90021

Maywood – Maywood – 90270

Soto – Huntington Park – 90255

State Street – Huntington Park – 90255

Broadway Manchester – Los Angeles – 90003

Crenshaw Imperial – Inglewood – 90303

Morningside Park – Inglewood – 90305

North Inglewood – Inglewood – 90302

Alla Vista – Los Angeles – 90066

Del Amo – Torrance – 90503

Lennox – Inglewood – 90304

Hub City – Compton – 90220

North Long Beach – Long Beach – 90805

Willowbrook – Compton – 90222

City Of Industry – La Puente – 91744

Firestone – South Gate – 90280

Hollydale – South Gate – 90280

Alleghany – Alleghany – 95910

Canyon Dam – Canyon Dam – 95923

Clipper Mills – Clipper Mills – 95930

Davis Creek – Davis Creek – 96108

Eagleville – Eagleville – 96110

Fort Bidwell – Fort Bidwell – 96112

Gold Run – Gold Run – 95717

Goodyears Bar – Goodyears Bar – 95944

Kyburz – Kyburz – 95720

Likely – Likely – 96116

Lookout – Lookout – 96054

Milford – Milford – 96121

Nubieber – Nubieber – 96068

Ravendale – Ravendale – 96123

Sierraville – Sierraville – 96126

Twain – Twain – 95984

Twin Bridges – Twin Bridges – 95735

Washington – Washington – 95986

Olive – Orange – 92857

Plaza Orange – Orange – 92856

Downtown Ontario – Ontario – 91762

San Bernardino Mo Windows – San Bernardino – 92403

Center Ave – Huntington Beach – 92605

Midway City – Midway City – 92655

Trade Center – Long Beach – 90831

Laguna Woods Mobile Unit – Laguna Woods – 92637

Pala Vista Annex – Vista – 92084

Marine Corps Recruit Depot – San Diego – 92140

Camp Meeker – Camp Meeker – 95419

Villa Grande – Villa Grande – 95486

Bayview – San Francisco – 94124

Civic Center P O Box Unit – San Francisco – 94102

Federal Building San Francisco – San Francisco – 94102

Mclaren Station – San Francisco – 94134

Visitacion Station – San Francisco – 94134

Byron Rumford – Oakland – 94612

Eastmont – Oakland – 94605

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Currency, methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia were allegedly found at the Kelseyville, Calif., home of David Gale Wheeler on Saturday, July 23, 2011. Photo courtesy of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The service of a search warrant by the Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force on Saturday morning has resulted in one arrest and the seizure of nearly half an ounce of methamphetamine, controlled substance sales paraphernalia and more than $2,000 in currency for asset forfeiture.

David Gale Wheeler, 47, of Kelseyville was arrested as a result of the operation, according to Capt. James Bauman of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

On Thursday, July 14, narcotics detectives secured a search warrant for Gale's home and person, Bauman said.

At 7 a.m. Saturday, July 23, detectives served the warrant at Wheeler’s home with the assistance of officers from the California Highway Patrol, according to Bauman.

David Gale Wheeler, 47, of Kelseyville, Calif., was arrested on Saturday, July 23, 2011, after detectives found methamphetamine and other paraphernalia at his home. Lake County Jail photo.

After announcing themselves repeatedly at the front door, narcotics detectives received no response from inside and forced entry into the home, Bauman said. Detectives located Wheeler lying in bed in the master bedroom and while he initially refused to obey their commands, he was subsequently detained without incident.

During a search of the home, detectives located in Wheeler's bed a small handbag containing nearly half an ounce of methamphetamine individually packaged for sales, a digital scale, $2,000 in currency and other packaging materials, Bauman said.

Another baggie of methamphetamine was found concealed in a bedroom dresser drawer and a glass “meth” pipe was located on a nightstand. Bauman said detectives seized additional currency from Wheeler’s wallet, and all of the currency found in the home was seized as the suspected profits of drug trafficking.

Wheeler was arrested and transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility. He was booked for possession of a controlled substance for sales and possession of narcotics paraphernalia, Bauman said.

Jail records showed that Wheeler's bail was set at $10,000. He remained in custody on Tuesday.

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

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“Romeo and Juliet” will appear on the Soper-Reese stage for seven shows between Friday, July 29, and Sunday, Aug. 6.

In addition, a special preview will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 28. General admission tickets cost $7.

“This is the start of something big,” said John Tomlinson, artistic director of New Vintage Productions – the theater company producing the event – at the first rehearsal at the theater on Sunday, July 24.

Auditions were held in May, and the cast has been rehearsing since early June, according to Gina Dickson, mother of cast-member Natalia Dickson.

“The production has come so far in a short time,” Dickson said. “Not only have they learned their parts, they have learned about all aspects of what it takes to produce a successful show including selling ads, marketing, designing and constructing sets – everything – including language lessons!”

The production includes an all-ages cast ranging from 6 year olds to those over 60, according to the producers.

Tomlinson said that according to Managing Director Claudia Listman, co-founder of the Lake County Repertory Theatre, this full production of Shakespeare's famed Romeo & Juliet will be the first full-scale Shakespeare production in Lake County.

Included in the 24-member cast and ensemble, the seven-member “Il Mio Divas” will entrance the audience with a Capella songs.

In the future, New Vintage Productions plans to do a major theater production each summer, Tomlinson said, with other smaller productions throughout the year to give the community and its youth experience in the theater arts.

“We try to engage the youth in drama arts,” Tomlinson said, “and all cast members participate in the outcome of the production. … It's about the process. Keeping people involved and enjoying what they do.”

Shows will take place at 7 p.m. Friday, July 29, and Saturday, July 30; 2 p.m. Sunday, July 31; 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 5; 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6; and 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 7.

Advance tickets cost $15 for general assigned seating and $20 for premium seating; all tickets cost an additional $2 at the door.

To buy tickets online visit https://www.ticketturtle.com/index.php?ticketing=srct or call the Soper-Reese box office at 707-263-0577. The theater's Web site is www.soperreesetheatre.com/.

The Soper-Reese Community Theatre is located at 275 S. Main St., Lakeport.

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LAKEPORT, Calif. – Officials are investigating a collision between a vehicle and a child that occurred on Soda Bay Road early Wednesday afternoon and later was reported to have resulted in the child's death.

The California Highway Patrol's online reports noted that it received a report of the crash – which occurred on Soda Bay Road at Osprey, near the Big Valley Rancheria – shortly after 12:30 p.m.

Radio reports indicated a 3-year-old child had been hit by the vehicle.

Lakeport Fire Chief Ken Wells told Lake County News that when his agency got the call the child had been transported to the Fastop convenience store at the intersection of Soda Bay Road and Highway 175.

“CHP was attending to the child,” he said.

Firefighters then took over and transported the child to Sutter Lakeside Hospital, Wells said.

Numerous CHP, Lakeport Fire, Lakeport Police and sheriff's units responded to the scene, according to the CHP and Wells.

A REACH air ambulance was summoned to pick up the child at Lampson Field, but then later rerouted to Sutter Lakeside Hospital, according to reports from the scene.

The CHP reports indicated just before 1 p.m. that the crash was fatal, but additional information was not immediately available, with CHP units still out at the scene and fire officials still involved with transport to the hospital.

The vehicle involved was towed for evidence, according to the initial CHP report.

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A new bill signed by Gov. Jerry Brown on Tuesday, July 26, 2011, is meant to offer greater protection for California's animal. Courtesy photo.

A new bill signed into law on Tuesday will increase penalties for those convicted of animal cruelty and also will ban sales of animals on roadsides and in parking lots.

On Tuesday Gov. Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill 917, authored by Senator Ted Lieu (D-Torrance), which prohibits the sale of animals on streets, in parking lots and from other similar public venues, and increases the penalty for animal cruelty by neglect to up to one year of incarceration.

“Current health and safety regulations for animal sales do not apply to roadside sales, which means young animals are being sold that are often mistreated, ill or diseased and there’s no way to track the seller,” Lieu said after the vote. “My law will remove the link between illegal puppy mills and the public by restricting the sale of pet animals on roadsides, parking lots and other outdoor venues.”

In addition, SB 917 will impose more consistent penalties for those convicted of animal cruelty and animal neglect by allowing a maximum sentence of up to one year in county jail for animal neglect and a fine of up to $20,000.

“Animal abuse is generally divided into two main categories: Animal cruelty, and animal neglect,” Lieu said. “Animal cruelty usually refers to a single act of harm on an animal. Animal neglect usually causes suffering that’s more extended or prolonged. Whether an animal is tortured or starved, too often the result is death. Either way, it’s a horrible way to die, and the penalties should be consistent.”

Lieu’s measure is co-sponsored by the State Humane Association of California, the Humane Society of the United States, the American SPCA and the SPCA Los Angeles.

Jennifer Fearing, California senior state director for The Humane Society of the United States praised the governor’s enactment, “With the stroke of a pen, Gov. Brown has significantly improved animal and consumer protection in California. We are grateful for his humane leadership.”

“Allowing puppies, kittens and other pets to be sold with no requirements for basic humane treatment has caused these animals to suffer in unsanitary and crowded cages and to go without food and water, even in extreme heat,” said Jill Buckley, senior director of Government Relations for the ASPCA. “Sen. Lieu's legislation corrects this and recognizes that neglecting an animal’s basic needs is a terrible form of animal abuse which should be taken seriously.”

Buckley added, “Criminal animal cruelty by neglect may be less obvious than the acts of torture that grab headlines, but it is more common and the abuse is more prolonged as the animal slowly suffers. California's laws did not sufficiently protect the animal victims of neglect, but Gov. Brown recognizes that failing to provide for an animal’s basic needs is a terrible form of cruelty which should be taken seriously.”

Lieu’s measure takes effect Jan. 1, 2012.

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