The fatal crash occurred at 11 p.m. Saturday, according to a Monday report from the California Highway Patrol.

A 2004 silver Dodge Stratus was traveling north on Highway 29, south of Highway 175 to Cobb, at an undetermined speed when the solo male occupant was unable to negotiate a left curve in the road, the CHP said.

The Stratus went left across the southbound lane where it hit a dirt embankment along the road's west edge. The CHP report said the vehicle spun in a counter-clockwise direction with the rear of the vehicle striking a tree, causing major inward intrusion on the rear of the car.

The vehicle continued to spin around before coming to rest facing north along Highway 29's west shoulder, the CHP said.

The report explained that a preliminary CHP investigation indicated that the rear inward intrusion caused the gas tank to ignite and start a fire.

The CHP said passing motorists stopped and attempted to help the driver while emergency personnel were en route. However, the fire burned the vehicle so quickly the driver couldn't escape.

The driver's death was attributed to the fire before it could be extinguished, the CHP said.

By the end of Monday the driver hadn't been identified. The CHP said no one else was injured due to the crash and fire.

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The pageant will take place on Friday, Sept. 3, beginning at 7:30 p.m. in the Museum Park area at the fairgrounds in Lakeport.

“We're really looking forward to hosting this event during the Lake County Fair,” said Fair Chief Executive Officer Richard Persons.

“The date worked well, and we had a stage available in the Museum Park, which is pretty quiet and well separate from the demolition derby in the grandstands and the other stages,” Persons said. “We worked with Konocti Christian Academy to provide a classroom to be used for a dressing room just adjacent to the stage, and it all seems to be working out. It should be a great night.”

In the 1960s and 1970s, the pageant was held in conjunction with the annual county fair, but in the late 1970s the pageant date was changed and the event has taken place several weeks prior to the Lake County Fair in most years since.

This year's pageant includes six contestants for the title of Miss Lake County, and three contestants for the title of Miss Teen Lake County.

The pageant is an official preliminary to the Miss California and Miss America pageants which are talent based scholarship programs, and is not associated with the Miss USA beauty contest system.

The Miss America scholarship system is the largest provider of scholarships for young women in the world.

In 2009, the Miss America Organization and its state and local affiliates provided more than $45 million in scholarships to young women.

The 2010 contestants for Miss Lake County include Lauren Berlin, Alissa Iaccino, Carly Davis, Jennifer Humble, Salsei Monthei and Michelle Wells. Contestants for Miss Teen Lake County include Sarah Christensen, Faith Hornby and Makayla Paulson.

Like in all Miss America preliminaries, the contestants are judged in five categories. The one with the highest overall score among the panel of judges is crowned Miss Lake County. The categories include a personal interview (25 percent of total score), talent (35 percent of total score), evening wear (20 percent of total score), swimwear (15 percent of total score), and the on-stage question (5 percent of total score).

In the personal interview, each contestant participates in a private interview with the panel of judges. Scoring is based on overall communication skills including personality and intelligence, overall first impression and personal appearance, and whether the contestant possesses quality that would make her a good Miss America. The audience doesn't get to see this interview, as it takes place earlier in the day.

For the talent portion, each contestant performs a 2 minute routine of their own choosing. Scoring is based on skill, personality, interpretive ability, technical skill level, stage presence and a totality of all elements. Talent performances can range from singing to dramatic monologues to playing a musical instrument.

During the evening wear portion, each contestant appears onstage in an outfit of her own choosing representative of something she would wear to a social event. Scoring is based on overall first impression, sense of confidence, personality and stage presence, walk and posture, appropriateness of attire and sense of attractiveness.

For swimwear, each contestant appears briefly on stage in a swimsuit of her own choosing. Scoring is based on overall first impression, statement of physical fitness and health, overall physique which is pleasing to her height, weight, and bone structure, walk, posture and grace, sense of confidence, and presence on stage.

The on-stage interview phase of competition is designed for the contestant to make an on-stage statement of her interests, opinions, and aspirations.

Overall "first impression," charisma, and stage presence to be a spokeswoman for the state/local organization will be evaluated. Judges will give special attention to whether or not the contestant answered the question she is asked and if she had the commanding presence to make the audience want to listen to her.

The pageant is a separately ticketed event from the Lake County Fair, with advanced sale tickets that include both fair admission and pageant admission on sale now for a reduced price of $15.

On the day of the event, attendees will need to purchase both a full price fair admission and a full price pageant admission for entrance into the pageant venue.

Sales outlets for the reduced price pageant tickets include CPS Country Air Properties, Your One Stop Party Shop, Skin Fitness, Healing Earth, Focused on Wine, Totorica Plumbing and Elegant Touch.

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Summer squash and other vegetables at the Barber County Farms booth at the Saturday morning farmers' market at Steele Winery in Kelseyville, Calif., on August 28, 2010. Photo by Russ Oertel.

My husband came home Saturday morning with an armload of summer squash from the farmers’ market in Kelseyville. He had visions of grilled vegetables for dinner, and I certainly didn’t argue!

Laid out on our kitchen counter, they were a cornucopia of colors and shapes – squat, scalloped patty pan, two-toned crooknecks that were half yellow, half green, and chubby straight necked squash with dramatic dark and light striations.

Almost every farmer there had some form of summer squash to offer, and most were grown organically.

If you’re a home gardener, you’ve probably heard the jokes about getting rid of overzealous summer squash this time of year. Here are a couple of examples.

How do you know someone’s got no friends? When you see him shopping for zucchini in summertime.

Or, when do small town folks lock their doors? In the height of summer, for fear someone might slip a bag of zucchini in their car.

You get the idea.

A single squash plant can produce dozens of fruits over the course of a couple of months, prompting stealth gifts to neighbors and friends.

The truth is, young, tender, recently-picked summer squashes are a magnificent treat, whether grilled, sautéed, added to recipes, grated into salads or eaten in raw spears with a dip.

Thankfully, they can also be frozen for later use in recipes, and I’ll share that method below.

Modern day squash, whether summer or winter varieties, originated in Mesoamerica, in an area between Mexico and Guatemala, gradually spreading throughout the Americas. They were brought to Europe from the Americas by explorers.

Squash has been consumed for more than 10,000 years, but it was initially cultivated only for its seeds, as the ancestor of the squashes we know today had very little flesh, and what it did contain was bitter.

Squash is one of the “Three Sisters” planted by American Indians, with the others being maize (corn) and beans. All indigenous, they formed the basis of their agriculture. The cornstalk provided support for the climbing beans, and the beans shaded the squash, whose vines spread to provide ground cover against weeds. The beans also provided needed nitrogen for the soil.

The English word “squash” derives from the Native American “askutasquash,” a word from the Narragansett language, spoken in what is now Rhode Island. It literally means “a green thing eaten raw.”

In contrast to winter squashes, which are harvested in their fully mature state, summer squashes are harvested and consumed while immature. Otherwise, the skin becomes hard and the seeds bitter. Perhaps you’ve seen mature yellow crookneck squashes left on the vine resembling gourds, with thick, bumpy skin.

Summer squashes are generally divided into four main categories: crookneck (such as the yellow variety), straight neck, scallop (or patty pan) and zucchini (also known as Italian squash, or “courgettes” by the French and British). Plant breeders develop new strains each year, making for an interesting variety.

The best tasting summer squashes have been harvested when young, though not too young to have undeveloped flavor. They should be picked just as the blossom on the end of the squash begins to turn brown. Zucchini, crookneck and straight neck varieties should be between 4 and 6 inches long, and patty pan should measure 2 to 3 inches across.

Low in calories and high in water content, summer squashes are a good source of manganese, vitamin C, magnesium, vitamin A, fiber, potassium, vitamin K and folate. These nutrients have been shown to be beneficial for the prevention of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries due to fatty deposits), high blood pressure and diabetic heart disease.

Although phytonutrient research on summer squashes is limited, in studies they’ve shown a mild benefit in the prevention of cancer-like changes in cells. Other studies have shown them to be useful in reducing symptoms associated with prostate enlargement in men.

Zucchini is delightful prepared on the grill. Simply slice them into half rounds and thread them on a skewer so they lie flat on the grill. Brush them with a bit of olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and sprinkle chopped fresh rosemary or tender thyme tips on top. Grill until they’re seared and tender. Cherry tomatoes make for a nice contrast of color and flavor when threaded between the zucchini slices.

I enjoy yellow crookneck squash prepared in the simplest of ways. It develops such a tender sweetness – almost like a dessert – when gently sautéed with a bit of olive oil, garlic and a sprinkling of salt and pepper. If sautéing zucchini, sun-dried tomatoes (along with their oil, if jarred) pair well with them in the pan.

Being the quintessential versatile vegetable, summer squashes can be added to breads, muffins, pasta sauces, soups, stews, quiches, lasagna and casseroles, either as a complement to the recipe or the star of the show.

They can be sliced to make a crust for a vegetable or meat pie, and can be used in lieu of eggplant in your favorite Eggplant Parmigiana recipe.

Try it sliced thin on pizza with feta cheese, grated as an addition to potato pancakes, or in a hearty grilled veggie sandwich or wrap.

For a vegetarian treat, small zucchini may be roasted till tender in the oven and used in lieu of hot dogs in a bun.

When summer squash is frozen, it softens and is not ideal on its own, but since it serves as a component of so many recipes, it’s wonderful to have a supply on hand in your freezer.

A closeup of summer squash grown offered by Sky Hoyt at the Saturday morning farmers' market at Steele Winery in Kelseyville, Calif., on August 28, 2010. Photo by Russ Oertel.

To freeze, wash and slice the squash and blanch in boiling water for two to three minutes. Remove from the boiling water and place in an ice water bath to cool it down. Once cooled, drain the squash thoroughly and place in freezer safe zipper locked bags. Remove as much air as possible, seal partially and suck the remaining air out with a straw before sealing all the way. Lay bags flat in the freezer until frozen through.

I freeze grate zucchini raw in quantities needed for bread or muffin recipes, and allow it to thaw and drain before I use it.

A delightful benefit of summer squash is that their blossoms also are edible, with a plethora of creative ways to use them in cuisine.

They are sometimes available at farmers’ markets, but if you have a home garden, this tasty treat is at your fingertips. They’re quite perishable, so should be used within hours of harvest or purchase.

If you harvest them yourself, do so in the early morning before the blossoms have twisted shut. Male squash blossoms appear on long stems and can be harvested without curtailing production of squash. They should be picked with a length of stem attached. Female squash blossoms are attached to the end of the squash itself. Be sure to remove the bitter stamen in the center of each blossom before using them.

They’re a tasty and colorful addition when added raw to salads or as a garnish for soup. They can be added to the pan when sautéing summer squash, paired with cream cheese in an omelet or with Asiago cheese in a frittata, with cream cheese and chives for a spread, or with queso fresca (Mexican cheese) for a unique quesadilla.

Squash blossoms often are battered and fried, sometimes with stuffing, and I offer such a recipe today. They can be made with or without stuffing in this recipe, and either way is delicious. Enjoy!

Battered squash blossoms

The batter:

1 cup flour

1/2 cup cornstarch

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup fat-free chilled milk, beer or water

Cheese-mushroom stuffing:

1/4 cup ricotta cheese

1 garlic clove, minced or pressed

1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper

2 tablespoon mushrooms, finely chopped

1 tablespoons fresh basil or parsley, minced

16 large squash blossoms, washed

Canola oil for frying

1. Prepare the batter first. Sift together dry ingredients, then whisk in milk, beer or cold water until smooth. Cover and set in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Leftover batter can be stored for up to two days. If it is too thick after refrigeration, add a few drops of water to return to original consistency.

2. Meanwhile, prepare the stuffing. In a bowl combine the ricotta cheese, garlic, salt, pepper, mushrooms and basil. Open the blossoms and spoon about one 1/2 teaspoon of the mixture into the center of each. Avoid overfilling the blossoms. Twist the top of each blossom together to close. Place on a baking sheet and refrigerate for 15 minutes.

3. Pour the oil into a skillet to a depth of 1/2 inch. Heat over high heat until a small cube of bread dropped into the oil turns golden brown within seconds.

4. Briefly dip each stuffed blossom into the batter, then carefully slip into the hot oil. Cook until golden on all sides, about three minutes total cooking time. Add only as many blossoms at a time as will fit comfortably in the skillet. Transfer with a slotted utensil to paper towels to drain briefly.

5. Sprinkle with salt, if desired, and serve immediately.

Esther Oertel, the "Veggie Girl," is a personal chef and culinary coach and is passionate about local produce. Oertel owns The SageCoach Personal Chef Service and teaches culinary classes at Chic Le Chef in Hidden Valley Lake. She welcomes your questions and comments; e-mail her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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The chip seal is intended to extend the life of the pavement, delaying major rehabilitation which will eventually cost tens of millions of dollars, the agency reported.

The new high-traction surface will increase wet weather safety and the rubberized binder is helping to recycle more than 34,000 passenger car tires. Over the next several months the aggregate, or chips, will settle and the surface will become more smooth, Caltrans reported.

These projects, with a combined cost of about $2.1 million, are complete except for construction of the center line rumble strip and final striping, which is anticipated to be completed within three weeks, according to the report.

The striping, the agency said, is being delayed due to a nationwide shortage of reflective highway paint, caused by the combination of a chemical plant breakdown earlier this year and an increased number of highway projects funded by President Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

For the most current road information on all state highways, call 1-800-427-7623 (1-800-GAS-ROAD) or visit www.dot.ca.gov.

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The burros are the last of a herd of 69 wild burros found stranded without water and outside their normal herd management area.

BLM Needles Field Office Manager Rusty Lee said BLM was notified by a local rancher on Aug. 20 that he had come across a number of burros that apparently had died of dehydration, but there were also others that were still alive at Fenner Spring, in the Piute Mountain Wilderness Area, about 35 miles west of Needles, Calif.

The herd was about 40 miles from the Chemehuevi Herd Management Area, the nearest BLM herd management area.

The rancher, who grazes livestock in an allotment covering the area, said the dead animals had clogged the spring in the pursuit of water in the 110-degree heat, preventing other burros from getting to the spring. He attempted to pull out as many as he could with his horse, but wasn’t able to reopen access to the spring.

The nearest alternative source of water is 12 miles away; Fenner Spring, an abandoned mine adit, is the only reliable source of water in the Piute Mountains.

Lee said BLM immediately mobilized a helicopter, a county water tender, folding water tanks, and other equipment needed to rescue the remaining burros. Although the site is in a federal wilderness area, BLM has authority to use “minimum tool” equipment in the case of emergencies, he said.

A BLM fire crew was dispatched to the area and deployed portable water troughs. Corral staff from the BLM Ridgecrest Wild Horse and Burro Facility were also dispatched.

A contract fire helicopter reached the scene later that afternoon and began moving water from large portable troughs by the highway to a smaller water "pumpkin" near the spring.

Thirteen live burros watched a helicopter deliver 750 gallons of water. BLM personnel then backed off at sunset to allow the burros to approach the water.

Upon returning in the morning, 13 live burros were seen in the area and the water trough was empty.

Corral staff then ordered another 1,000 gallons delivery by helicopter and also set up secondary troughs for more water. The county water tender delivered another 3,000 gallons to the helicopter drop point to be readily available as needed.

Corral crews have been on-site to stabilize the surviving burros for further recovery and later transport to the Ridgecrest Corrals.

Lee said the rancher’s discovery and rapid reporting of the situation “saved the lives of the remaining burros.” He said range specialists were unsure how the animals wandered into this area although burros are adept at finding water sources in the desert.

Lee said the agency took special precautions to minimize impacts to the wilderness and to rehabilitate the area, which was already disturbed due to the previous mining operation.

BLM California Deputy Director Tom Pogacnik said BLM will conduct an inquiry into the incident and credits Lee and all others involved with “a fast response and plan that undoubtedly saved the lives of the remaining animals.”

The preliminary findings from the veterinarian brought to the site to check both living and dead burros were that the animals died from dehydration. The remaining animals are in fair condition and with an adequate supply of water on hand are expected to survive.

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Beginning Friday, Sept. 3, at 6:01 p.m., officers will join motorists on California’s roads for the Labor Day MEP.

The holiday enforcement initiative continues through 11:59 p.m., Monday, Sept. 6.

“I hope everyone enjoys the Labor Day weekend by keeping safety in mind,” said CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow. “With many families headed for fun, the highways will be crowded and congested with traffic. Mixing these factors with alcohol, speed and not wearing a safety belt can lead to a deadly consequence.”

Although fatalities caused by collisions were far lower than previous Labor Day weekends, last year 12 people were killed in crashes on California roadways.

In addition, 75 percent of all vehicle occupants killed in CHP jurisdiction were not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.

In addition to the Labor Day MEP, the CHP is in the midst of an aggressive crackdown on impaired driving which began on Aug. 20.

The national campaign, “Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest,” is a coordinated effort of law enforcement agencies throughout the country and continues through the holiday weekend.

Last year during the Labor Day weekend, CHP officers throughout the state made 1,417 arrests for driving under the influence.

“If we find you driving impaired we will arrest you, no exceptions,” added Commissioner Farrow. “DUI is a careless disregard for human life.”

Motorists are encouraged to call 911 if they encounter a suspected drunk driver. To help law enforcement intervene, callers should be prepared to provide dispatchers a description of the vehicle, its location and direction of travel.

“Take care of yourself and your loved ones. Designate a driver in advance, always wear your seat belt, don’t speed and be sure to pay attention to the road,” added Farrow.

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The incident was reported just after 11 p.m. on Highway 29 near Kelseyville Auto Salvage, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Several CHP officers along with firefighters and sheriff's deputies responded to the scene, where a single vehicle was reported to be on fire and completely blocking the roadway.

Witnesses reported the vehicle had been involved in a traffic collision prior to the fire, according to the initial reports.

The fire also got into nearby vegetation but was reportedly quickly stopped by the first firefighters who arrived on scene.

Traffic was diverted while authorities handled the scene. A person was said to have been trapped in the vehicle, and a coroner later was summoned to handle a reported fatality.

Caltrans later reportedly responded to the scene, where CHP had opened one-way traffic just before midnight.

Other specifics about the incident were not immediately available early Sunday morning.

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The request comes in the wake of criticism from animal rights groups who also have filed federal injunctions to try to stop horse and burro roundups in California and Nevada, as Lake County News has reported.

Earlier this month, the Animal Welfare Institute also called on Congress to take swift and decisive action “to prevent the BLM from 'managing' our nation's wild horses into extinction.”

That call followed a bipartisan letter, signed by 52 members of Congress in late July to Department of Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, calling for a National Academy of Sciences study.

The letter cited concerns about animal deaths and pointed out that the BLM was repeating mistakes from previous roundups in which deaths occurred. It also drew attention to the expense of the roundups.

“We are concerned by the inability of your agency to acknowledge these disturbing outcomes, change what seems to be deeply flawed policy, and better manage the gathers so as to prevent the unnecessary suffering and death of these federally protected animals,” the letter stated.

The NAS/NRC has previously reviewed the BLM’s management of the Wild Horse & Burro Program and produced three separate reports, which the BLM reported are now 20 to 30 years old.

In those reports, the NAS/NRC summarized what was known about wild horses and burros and made recommendations to the BLM for the Wild Horse & Burro Program management, population estimation and further research.

In the proposed effort, the BLM said many of the topics discussed in the earlier reports would be included, such as population estimation methods, annual herd growth rates, population control measures, and whether populations will self-limit, as well as other subjects needing new research.

The BLM said it must continue to base its decisions on the best available science and involve the public in its decision-making process in order to “sort through the many diverse and often conflicting opinions about how wild horses and burros should be managed.”

Commissioning the NAS/NRC to review their three earlier reports and the current available information and research about wild horses and burros is a first step, the BLM said. The second step is to ask the NAS/NRC to make recommendations about future Wild Horse & Burro Program management and needed research. A third step is to take the NAS/NRC findings and recommendations and make them available to the public in a variety of ways, perhaps to focus groups or science forums.

Both the BLM and NAS/NRC will negotiate the terms and outline for the research study, the BLM reported.

The proposed study would tentatively begin about Jan. 1, 2011, and would cost the BLM about $1.5 million and take about two years to complete.

Congress created the NAS/NRC to be a non-federal, not-for-profit source of scientific advice. The NAS/NRC enlists the nation’s foremost scientists, engineers, health professionals and other experts to address the scientific and technical aspects of society’s most pressing problems. Each year, thousands of these experts are selected to serve, without pay, on hundreds of study committees.

The letter from the members of Congress to Salazar stated, “We strongly urge you to refrain from any further action until a clear plan is in place to sustainably manage and protect our wild herds. Only then can we move forward with a more informed, open and deliberate process, based on input from all who are concerned with the health, well being, and conservation of this animal which embodies the spirit of our American West.”

Currently, a roundup in the Twin Peaks Herd Management Area near Susanville, Calif., is under way, one of the largest the BLM will conduct this year, and the largest in California alone, as Lake County News has reported.

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The quake, which occurred at 4:49 a.m., was centered 11 miles southeast of Lake Pillsbury, 25 miles east northeast of Ukiah and 25 miles north northwest of Clearlake, according to the US Geological Survey.

Survey records showed the quake occurred at a depth of 9.1 miles.

As of Saturday night, no shake reports for the quake had been submitted to the US Geological Survey.

A 3.0-magnitude earthquake occurred 10 miles southeast of Lake Pillsbury on July 30, and a 3.4-magnitude quake took place 11 miles northwest of the lake on July 27, as Lake County News has reported.

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Eddie Lee Gillespie, 51, of Clearlake was due in Lake County Superior Court on Friday morning for a preliminary hearing in connection with the May 25 shooting death of his estranged wife, Tracey Gillespie, 52, of Clearlake Oaks.

Eddie Gillespie is charged with murder and a special allegation of using a gun, and a lesser included offense of assault with a firearm and special allegations of using a firearm and causing great bodily injury, according to Chief Deputy District Attorney Richard Hinchcliff, who is handling the case.

Gillespie faces a maximum of 50 years to life if convicted of all charges, Hinchcliff said.

The case began the day in Judge Andrew Blum's Department 3 courtroom, but an apparent backlog of cases prevented the case from being heard in the morning.

Blum arranged to have it transferred to Department 2 and Judge Richard Martin, who took up the case around 2 p.m., with friends and family of the defendant and the victim having followed the case from one courtroom to another.

When Martin took up the case, he asked, “Are both sides ready to go?”

Gillespie's attorney, Stephen Carter, indicated he was ready but he had a new concern.

That afternoon one of the correctional officers brought Carter information that caused him to question Gillespie's mental competence, or his ability to understand what is taking place in the court proceedings – a different matter altogether from sanity.

“It appears to me that he is deteriorating,” said Carter.

As a result, Carter said he had “a significant doubt” regarding Gillespie's competence, with the additional concern that Gillespie would be incapable of assisting in his own defense.

Martin asked if Gillespie had a different opinion. Carter say he may. Gillespie remained silent throughout the hearing.

Carter said he and Hinchcliff agreed to have two doctors evaluate Gillespie. Martin suggested they use the services of Dr. Chris Fischer, who lives in the county and whose thorough work has impressed the judge. Martin suggested they also go with Dr. Douglas Rosoff, who lives in close proximity to the county, which could help the evaluation be completed more quickly.

Martin temporarily suspended the criminal proceedings until the doctors can evaluate Gillespie's competency.

Noting that the general turnaround for such evaluations is three to four weeks, Martin added another few weeks for the prosecution and defense to review the doctors' findings. He scheduled the next hearing for a review of the findings at 9 a.m. Oct. 1 in Department 3 before Judge Blum.

Gillespie has remained in the Lake County Jail since his arrest on the day of his wife's shooting, with bail set at $1.5 million.

Martin said he was going to leave that bail amount in place until they can review the competency issues. If Gillespie is found incompetent, Martin said he might remove the bail possibility altogether.

Carter noted that it is Rosoff's habit to come to Lake County for evaluations, and emphasized that he doesn't want Gillespie to be transported out of the county.

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