The May revise, unveiled Monday morning, proposes to reduce the amount of taxes needed to balance the budget by $3 billion, improve debt management, offers tax incentives to spur job creation and would pay off most of the state's $34.7 billion debt that has accumulated over the last decade, according to Brown.

“California’s economy is growing, but we still face a $10 billion structural deficit and a wall of debt for years to come,” said Brown. “California’s finances were plunged into turmoil by the Great Recession and a decade of short-term fixes and fiscal gimmicks. This is not the time to delay or evade. This is the time to put our finances in order.”

As part of the revisions, Brown is planning to further downsize state government, proposing the elimination of 43 boards, commissions, task forces, offices and departments, among them the Departments of Mental Health and Alcohol and Drug Programs, which Brown said will be cut as services are returned to the local level. He also proposes to merge the Healthy Families Program into the Medi-Cal program.

Brown is proposing to sell off “underutilized” state-owned properties such as the Los Angeles Coliseum, the Montclair Golf Course in Oakland, the Capital Area Development Authority in Sacramento and the Ramirez Canyon property in Southern California.

The governor also said he intends to restore honesty to the budget process by addressing revenue shortfalls in departments such as the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and Department of Mental Health, which he said were underfunded last year by $465 million.

Brown said he plans to spur job creation through a number of tax incentives, including restrictions on enterprise zone credits to create new jobs only, reduced sales tax on equipment purchases to encourage manufacturing jobs and a revamped hiring tax credit.

He said the revised budget also will increase funding to public schools by $3 billion, but the state still owes schools billions . Brown said the state has spent years shortchanging schools, which resulted in schools having to borrow to balance their budgets.

Brown's budget received a mixture of praise and criticism.

Senate Republican Leader Bob Dutton (Rancho Cucamonga) and Senate Budget Vice Chair Bob Huff (R-Diamond Bar) said in a joint statement that Senate Republicans believe Brown is moving in the right direction by making education and law enforcement funding a top priority, and they also credited Brown for embracing what they said were Republican proposals of paying down state debt and providing some job-creation incentives.

“But the May Revise goes too far on taxes and not far enough on reforms,” they said.

They said that Brown didn't curb government spending in the May revise, which they said still “still sets the state on a course of excessive spending growth in the future – spending that relies on tax increases.”

Republicans also said it's “ridiculous” to ask voters for five years of new taxes with an estimated $6.6 billion in new revenues.

Instead, they called for a hard spending cap, pension reform and business-regulation relief.

California Chamber of Commerce President and Chief Executive Officer Allan Zaremberg weighed in, saying, “The only path out of this on-going crisis is a bi-partisan, comprehensive budget solution that solves both short and long term budget issues.” Such a solution, he added, needs to “recognize and correct the costly impact that our regulatory climate has on jobs here.”

State Controller John Chiang appeared optimistic that the May budget revision was heading in the right direction.

“The test of a budget’s soundness involves looking at its sustainability, honesty, and whether it positions California for lasting economic prosperity,” Chiang said in a Monday statement. “While the particulars will be ironed out in the days ahead, I commend Governor Brown for presenting a plan that appears to avoid one-time gimmicks, begins reigning in the state’s borrowing, and offers fundamental and cost-effective reforms for the delivery of local and state services.”

California Community Colleges Chancellor Jack Scott called Brown's budget “a fiscally responsible, balanced approach to lead the state in the right direction.”

Scott commended Brown for allocating $350 million to reduce the colleges' present deferral funding of $961 million, following nearly $1 billion in cuts over a three-year period. He said the funds will give colleges badly needed resources in this difficult year and will assist them to provide both job training and the first two years of a college education.

“We hope that Californians can vote on a tax extension that could provide education for thousands of students,” said Scott.

At the same time the California Federation of Teachers, which pointed out that even with the additional funds public education's proposed spending in 2011-12 will be $7 billion less than it was in 2007-08, suggested that increasing taxes by 1 percent on the wealthiest 1 percent of Californians would raise $2.5 billion for education and services.

Some of the harshest criticism came from a coalition of redevelopment supporters, who said that Brown's continued plans to eliminate redevelopment – which they said were illegal according to the by California Legislative Counsel and numerous constitutional and redevelopment experts – will harm local job creation and the economy.

“The governor has repeatedly claimed he wants to end the gimmicks and wants honest budgeting,” said Chris McKenzie, executive director, League of California Cities. “But his proposal to eliminate redevelopment will result in more of the same. It is illegal, will not provide the State any budgetary relief and, by destroying local economic growth, will actually reduce State and local revenues.”

Rather than supporting redevelopment's total elimination, the groups are backing SB 450 (Sen. Alan Lowenthal) and SB 286 (Sen. Roderick Wright), which the group said would implement reforms, increase accountability and allow redevelopment agencies to voluntarily and legally contribute $2.7 billion to schools over 10 years to help offset state general fund obligations.

“We’re confident legislators will reject the Governor’s illegal proposal and instead act to reform redevelopment to preserve this critical local job-creating tool for future generations,” said John Shirey, executive director, California Redevelopment Association.

On the other end of the spectrum, Jean Ross, executive director of the California Budget Project, a nonpartisan public policy research group, said Brown's approach remained “the only credible path” to a balanced budget, but regretted his decision to retain the Enterprise Zone Program while proposing to close parks and cut services to vulnerable members of society.

The May Revision can be found at www.ebudget.ca.gov/.

E-mail Elizabeth Larson 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 , on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf and on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/LakeCoNews .

Michael Mitchell was arrested on several drug-related charges following the service of a search warrant at his home in Clearlake, Calif., on Thursday, May 12, 2011. Lake County Jail photo.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A Clearlake man who is the focus of several ongoing criminal cases has been arrested on drug-related charges following a search of his home this week.

On Thursday, May 12, Clearlake Police officers served a search warrant at the 19^th Avenue home of Michael Tremell Mitchell, 25, according to a report from Sgt. Tim Hobbs.

Hobbs said Officer Travis Lenz – one of two officers assigned to the Community Oriented Policing beat in which Mitchell’s residence is located – has taken numerous complaints in the past several months regarding allegations of disturbances and illegal sales of narcotics and controlled substances at Mitchell’s residence.

Court records show that Mitchell has 11 active criminal cases currently, and is named in a wrongful death civil suit regarding the November 2005 shooting death of Eric Moss, an incident which occurred during a house party. A criminal prosecution has so far not been filed in the case.

On May 2, Mitchell was arrested for allegedly being a felon in possession of a firearm, a restrained person in a restraining order in possession of a firearm and possession of a concealed firearm in a vehicle, Hobbs said.

Based on that May 2 arrest, Lenz obtained a search warrant that authorized a search of Mitchell and his residence for firearm-related items, Hobbs said.

During the search no firearm related items were located, however Hobbs said large amounts of marijuana, methamphetamine, ecstasy, drug paraphernalia, scales, packaging material and a deadly weapon – a billy club – were located.

Det. Ryan Peterson, who Hobbs said was assisting Lenz with the search, obtained an additional search warrant that authorized the seizure of marijuana, methamphetamine, ecstasy, drug paraphernalia, scales, packaging material and deadly weapon.

Mitchell was booked into the Lake County Jail for possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), possession of a controlled substance (ecstasy), possession of marijuana for sales, cultivation of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia, Hobbs said.

A bail enhancement to $250,000 was obtained on Mitchell, who remained in the Lake County Jail on Saturday.

Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews , on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf and on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/LakeCoNews .

Robert Baer IV of Ventura, Calif., won the adult division of the Clearlake Oaks-Glenhaven Catfish Derby on Sunday, May 15, 2011, with a 23.04-pound catfish. Courtesy photo.

CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – Despite rain and cooler temperatures over the weekend, the people and the catfish came out in strong numbers for the annual Clearlake Oaks-Glenhaven Catfish Derby.

The 28^th annual event – billed as the largest catfish derby west of the Mississippi – was held Friday, May 13, through Sunday, May 15.

Dennis Locke – a member of the Clearlake Oaks-Glenhaven Business Association, which sponsors the derby – said 491 adults and 112 children were entered this year.

He said attendance was down slightly from last year, which he suggested may have been a result of the inclement weather and higher fuel costs.

Out-of-county residents accounted for 61 percent of entrants, while local residents comprised 39 percent of the entries. More local residents were entered this year than last, Locke noted.

Not lacking in numbers were the fish, which Locke said the weather didn't appear to deter.

“During the derby, contestants weighed 190 fish, easily the most in any derby for the last 10 years,” he said.

Locke said a total of $8,500 in prizes in cash and merchandise were awarded.

Marcia Hatanaka of Clearlake, Calif., won second place in the adult division of the Clearlake Oaks-Glenhaven Catfish Derby on Sunday, May 15, 2011, with a 19.96-pound catfish. Courtesy photo.

This was the first year that a cash prize – $4,000 – was given to the adult contestant catching the largest fish, an addition that Locke said appeared to be well received.

This year Robert Baer IV of Ventura caught the tournament's largest fish, which was taken on Saturday and weighed in at 23.04 pounds. Second place went to Marcia Hatanaka of Clearlake with a 19.96-pound catfish, caught on Saturday, and Samuel Reynolds of Lower Lake, whose 18.93-pounder was taken on Saturday as well.

In addition to the award for the largest fish, 19 other adult contestants received cash prices, Locke said.

For the children, he said prizes included a Nintendo Wii for the winner, and bicycles, fishing poles and cash going to others.

Among the children's competitors, Max Lane of Hood River, Ore., won with a 16.86 pound catfish, caught on Sunday.

Andre Kouckekey of Palo Alto caught a 16.22-pounder on Saturday to take second place, followed by Noah Lane of Hood River with a 15.40-pound fish, caught Sunday.

Max Lane of Hood River, Ore., won the children's division of the Clearlake Oaks-Glenhaven Catfish Derby on Sunday, May 15, 2011, with a 16.86 pound catfish. Courtesy photo.

Also a first this year for the derby – results were sent out via text message and the Clearlake Oaks-Glenhaven Business Association's Twitter account, http://twitter.com/#!/clogba.

Locke said the most popular fishing spots reported included Cache Creek, Indian Island, Rattlesnake Island, Rodman Slough and the state park areas. He said a lot of fish came into the Clearlake Keys to escape the wind.

All proceeds from the Catfish Derby go back into the community to fund events like the Maxine Sherman Memorial Annual Fireworks display at Wigeon Bay in Clearlake Oaks on July 4, and donations to local organizations and scholarships.

Locke said more information and photos will be posted on Monday to the Clearlake Oaks-Glenhaven Business Association Web site, www.clearlakeoaks.org.

E-mail Elizabeth Larson 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 , on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf and on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/LakeCoNews .

Andre Kouckekey of Palo Alto caught a 16.22-pounder on Saturday, May 14, 2011, to win second place in the children's division of the Clearlake Oaks-Glenhaven Catfish Derby. Courtesy photo.

In this image, the Voorwerp floats near a spiral galaxy. Credit: NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope.

“Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known,” wrote Carl Sagan.

And now you can be the one to find it, thanks to Zooniverse, a unique citizen science Web site.

Zooniverse volunteers, who call themselves “Zooites,” are working on a project called Galaxy Zoo, classifying distant galaxies imaged by NASA's Hubble Space Telescope.

“Not only are people better than computers at detecting the subtleties that differentiate galaxies, they can do things computers can't do, like spot things that just look interesting,” explained Zooniverse director Chris Lintott, an astronomer at the University of Oxford.

Zooite Hanny van Arkel, a Dutch schoolteacher, discovered a strange green object floating in her cosmic soup, pictured above.

When van Arkel noticed this unusual greenish object and posted an image of it on the Galaxy Zoo forum, not even the experts knew what it was.

They named it “Voorwerp,” Dutch for “object.”

Another group of Zooites found green “peas” in theirs, and dubbed themselves the “Peas-Corp.”

The peas turned out to be small, round green galaxies about a tenth the size of the Milky Way. These are now believed to be the most efficient star factories in the universe, forming huge numbers of stars in a hurry.

“It was easy to find 'peas' by computer once we knew they were there, but without the human factor we'd never have noticed them,” said Lintott.

Lintott started Zooniverse in 2007 to solve a very large and unique problem: "I had too many galaxies on my hands," he explains.

Lintott was faced with classifying, by shape, one million galaxies imaged by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey.

First he did what any self-respecting scientist would do: “I asked a graduate student to classify them.”

These

Lake County Sheriff's Special Enforcement Detail K-9 narcotics detection teams seized cocaine, methamphetamine and cash during two felony arrests on Thursday, May 12, and Friday, May 13, 2011. Photo courtesy of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The work of Sheriff's Special Enforcement Detail K-9 narcotics detection teams led to the arrests of two local men and the seizure of cocaine, methamphetamine and money this week.

Joseph Lee Williams, 61, of Clearlake and 57-year-old Luther Gene Weathers of Clearlake Oaks were arrested on drug-related charges, according to Capt. James Bauman of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

Bauman said that on Thursday, May 12, at approximately 4:40 p.m., a Sheriff’s K-9 team assigned to the Sheriff's Special Enforcement Detail stopped a black Chevy Camaro being driven by 52-year-old Cheryl Denise Lewis on Old Highway 53 in the city of Clearlake.

Lewis did not have a valid driver’s license but Williams, who was riding as her passenger, told the deputy he possessed a valid license, Bauman said.

While waiting for sheriff’s dispatch to confirm his license was valid, Williams consented to a search. Bauman said Williams began removing articles from his pockets and was found to have a quantity of “crack” cocaine in one of his pants pockets.

Joseph Williams, 61, of Clearlake, Calif., was arrested for allegedly being in possession of crack cocaine on Thursday, May 12, 2011. Lake County Jail photo.

Williams was arrested and booked at the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility for possession of a narcotic controlled substance. He later posted the $10,000 bail and was released, according to jail records.

On Friday, May 13, at approximately 1:30 p.m., Sheriff's Special Enforcement Detail deputies were patrolling the Clearlake Oaks area when they spotted Weathers driving his blue Ford pickup truck on Third Street near Keys Boulevard, according to Bauman.

Deputies knew Weathers’ driver’s license had been suspended and initiated a traffic stop, Bauman said. As Weathers stopped his truck, he abruptly got out and ran around the truck with his hand in his pocket in an apparent attempt to conceal or dispose of contraband.

Weathers was detained and determined to be under the influence of a controlled substance. Bauman said deputies searched Weathers and recovered a bag of methamphetamine and a glass “meth” pipe from his pants pocket. More than $600 also was seized from Weathers as the suspected profits of drug sales.

Due to the furtive movements Weathers made when he exited the truck, Bauman said deputies searched the area around the truck and located a white plastic cylinder in the grass approximately 15 feet from the truck. The cylinder was believed to have been tossed by Weathers and deputies found that it contained over a third of an ounce of methamphetamine packaged in several plastic bags.

Luther Weathers, 57, of Clearlake Oaks, Calif., was arrested for charges including allegedly being in possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia, and being under the influence of a controlled substance. Lake County Jail photo.

Weathers was transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility where he was booked for possession of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance for sales, transportation of a controlled substance, possession of narcotics paraphernalia, and being under the influence of a controlled substance, Bauman said.

Weathers was arrested on March 14 for similar offenses when a search warrant was served at his home by the Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force, Bauman said. A quarter ounce of methamphetamine, numerous narcotic medications, and over $1,000.00 in currency were also seized during that arrest.

He was out of custody on bail from that arrest when deputies stopped him on Friday. Bauman said that due to multiple prior arrests for sales of controlled substances, Weathers remained in jail on Friday with an enhanced bail of $150,000.

Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews , on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf and on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/LakeCoNews .

The National Weather Service in Sacramento issued a hazardous weather outlook for Lake County and all of interior Northern California on Sunday.

The alert called for gusty winds with periods of heavy rains, hail, thunderstorms and the possibility of snow down to 2,500 foot elevation – all of which occurred on Sunday throughout Lake County.

There is more rain in the forecast early this week, according to the National Weather Service.

Rain is expected to increase again during the day on Monday, with temperatures well below average as another storm system takes aim at Lake County, forecasters said.

Widespread rain is expected to fall throughout the morning on Tuesday then becoming drier, but according to the Western Weather Group, frost and near-freezing temperatures will remain possible for low-lying areas for the remainder of the week in the mornings.

Daytime highs today and Tuesday are predicted to only reach the low 50s, warming more on Wednesday and barely reaching into the 70s by Thursday.

Because of the unsettled weather and possible near-freezing overnight temperatures, cold weather protection for people, livestock and pets, as well as frost and freeze protection for newly-planted gardens are recommended until late this week.

For up-to-the minute weather information, please visit the Lake County News homepage.

E-mail Terre Logsdon 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 , on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf and on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/LakeCoNews .

Motorcycles lined Main Street in Lakeport, Calif., on Saturday, May 14, 2011, when the Vagos visited town to hold an annual meeting. Photo by Elizabeth Larson.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Officials shut down streets in downtown Lakeport for several hours Saturday in response to the arrival of dozens of members of a group police identified as an outlaw motorcycle gang, and by day's end an effort was going on to block the possible arrival of a rival gang in the county.

The Vagos – sporting black leather jackets and bright green insignia – arrived in the city Saturday morning for an annual meeting, according to the group's sergeant-at-arms, who identified himself as “Sarge.”

Sgt. Jason Ferguson of the Lakeport Police Department said the group is an outlaw motorcycle gang which police had received word would be coming to Lakeport. He said he couldn't release information police had received about the reason the Vagos had come.

Ferguson said police weren't aware of how many Vagos would be coming or how long they would be staying. Between 75 and 100 were said to be in town, Ferguson said.

Police said there were no incidents or arrests related to the meeting.

Throughout the morning police had been contacted by county residents who spotted the group members making their way toward Lakeport, Ferguson said.

Although the Vagos and other motorcycle clubs have been in Lakeport before, “We've never had this type of numbers show up here, which caused us concern,” Ferguson said.

That prompted a mutual aid request, which resulted in the arrival of the Lake County Sheriff's Office, California Highway Patrol, Clearlake Police Department, the Lake County District Attorney's Office and California State Parks.

Main Street from First to Fourth and Third Street from Main to Forbes were closed to vehicles late Saturday morning as a precautionary measure, Ferguson said. Foot traffic was still allowed.

“The safety and security of citizens in our community is paramount,” said Ferguson.

Local law enforcement agencies were posted around downtown Lakeport, Calif., on Saturday, May 14, 2011, in response to the appearance of the Vagos. Photo by Elizabeth Larson.

A command center was set up behind the Lake County District Attorney's Office on N. Forbes Street. District Attorney Don Anderson and Lakeport City Manager Margaret Silveira were on hand with law enforcement to monitor the situation.

Sheriff Frank Rivero also was on scene, having left his son's baseball game to respond.

He said there had been concerns about safety after the large number of bikes arriving in town earlier in the day had stopped or snagged traffic. He said motorcycles had been racing up and down the streets and Vagos were stepping into the middle of the street and clogging traffic while they tried to park their bikes. Vagos also had been blocking the sidewalks and were being “overbearing,” he added.

“When we showed up it all calmed down,” he said.

Close to two dozen motorcycles were parked along Main Street while Vagos gathered inside the nearby Clearlake Club.

Sarge, with fellow members at the bar, estimated there were about 70 members there from club chapters around California and Nevada.

He said the gathering was just an annual party which had been scheduled to take place several weeks ago but was preempted by the death of one of the group's founders.

Sarge said most of the Vagos would be gone by Saturday night.

He complained about the heavy law enforcement presence. Pointing out that so many people are talking about stretched county budgets, he argued a large amount of taxpayer dollars were being spent unnecessarily.

Rivero, standing next to Sarge, said he had a lot of management staff on Saturday.

“I appreciate your concern for our tax dollars,” Rivero told Sarge.

Rivero disputed Sarge's statements about the gathering only being a regular event.

“Our intelligence was very clear on this,” Rivero said.

He explained that a Vagos member was beaten up some weeks ago by two Hells Angels prospects, and that 15 to 30 members were going to come to Lakeport to put on a show of force. Instead, they had two to three times that number show up.

Rivero said the law enforcement turnout was meant to send a message to motorcycle groups that local towns won't be handed over to them.

“I believe our show of force helped diffuse the situation,” he said.

Asked if they were concerned about other rival gangs showing up in response, Ferguson said, “There's always that concern.”

“They do have rival gang members,” he said, adding, “It's the unknown that we are preparing for.”

Groups of Vagos bikers began pulling out around 3:30 p.m., with police and CHP following them out of town, with Lake County News receiving reports that sheriff's units were following the bikes through Cobb and along other local roadways. Numerous other Vagos members continued to stay at the bar until into the evening.

Back in Lakeport, the streets were reopened to traffic close to 4:30 p.m., Rasmussen said.

At that point, action switched to the major entry points into the county.

The concern about rival gangs showing up had appeared to solidify, as Rivero said he and acting Lakeport Police Chief Brad Rasmussen received reports that Hells Angels were heading toward Lake County.

One of the reports, which came from the FBI, said there was a Hells Angels motorcycle run moving along Highway 12, Rivero said.

He said the concern was a potential confrontation between the two groups.

Rivero was directing numerous sheriff's units to gather at the entry points into the county in an effort to block any Hells Angels who might try to enter. Rasmussen said Lakeport Police also sent three units to the south county.

The Sonoma County Sheriff's Henry-1 helicopter responded to check the areas of Highway 101 and Highway 175 over the Hopland Grade, Rivero said. No groups were spotted.

The day's activities received some mixed reactions in town.

Shortly before Lakeport's streets were fully reopened to traffic, two local women, Candy Prairie and Cheryl Ann Oncale, had ridden their motorcycles into town to stop and have a drink at Molly Brennans pub on Main Street.

“They didn't like us coming through but we did it anyway,” said Oncale, sitting at the pub's bar.

The two women said police should have given community members and businesses more notice.

That was a view shared by the pub's bartender, Jeremy Potter, who said the closure hurt businesses and employees who work for tips.

“It would be nice if they were able to keep the street open and just be present,” Potter said.

Down the street at Watershed Books, owner Cheri Holden said many local businesses had closed once the street was closed to traffic, making for a very quiet Saturday.

She also said she felt the police should have given more notice to merchants.

Rasmussen said of the closure, “We just had to make a decision right away.”

Lakeport Police demobilized the command unit at about 6:30 p.m., and at about 7:45 p.m. the Lakeport Police units that had responded to the south county were back in the city, according to Rasmussen.

Rasmussen said that at about 8 p.m. they still had about 15 to 20 Vagos at the Clearlake Club.

Rivero said he was planning on keeping additional units on scene throughout the night. Rasmussen said Lakeport Police was doing the same, and was communicating with Rivero and other agency chiefs.

“We will pool our resources to deal with any issues if they come up,” Rasmussen said.

Rivero said he plans to hold a debriefing with his command staff on Monday and then meet with the gang task force on Tuesday to discuss the situation. Rivero said his agency also will be working on a long-term strategy for dealing with motorcycle gangs.

“It appears like this is heating up,” he said.

Rasmussen and his agency offered thanks to all of the allied agencies that took part in the Saturday operation, noting everyone worked well together.