CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Clearlake's celebration of Independence Day will once again feature fun and festivities for all ages, from a popular parade to the International Worm Races.

The Redbud Parade is the biggest annual event in Clearlake, and it is a centerpiece of the city's  Independence Day weekend activities, which this year happen on Saturday, July 2.

The parade leaves Clearlake’s Redbud Park at 11 a.m., follows Lakeshore Drive north and arrives a mile away at Austin Park.

This year's theme is “Star Wars, Out Of This World.”

Parade participants are invited to decorate and dress in Star Wars style, but this is not required. Of course, there will be prizes and trophies.

At the park the festivities will continue with the Show & Shine car show, food, beverages, music, arts and crafts, and the famed International Worm Races. The CalStar/Reach helicopter is expected to land around 1 p.m.

On Saturday evening there will be the fireworks display, co-sponsored by Pacific Gas and Electric and countless local businesses.

The Show & Shine car show is in its 17th year and is open to all vehicles of special interest. Entries can arrive from 9 a.m., or participate in the parade and then enter the show.

The International Worm Races are sponsored by the Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce.

The Redbud Parade is the largest annual fundraiser for the Lakeshore Lions and Lioness Clubs.

Lions support the local community by paying for eyeglasses, high school sports and arts equipment, scholarships, fire and police equipment, senior center expenses, community patrol, Boy Scouts, South Shore Little League, Meals-On-Wheels and many other worthy causes.

The Lions are accepting new members. Learn more at www.lakeshorelions.org .

Parade and car-show applications can be picked up from Clearlake Automotive, Kevin Ness Jewelers and Tatonka Trading, all on Lakeshore Drive; from Bob’s Vacuums at Mullen and Pearl; and from the Chamber of Commerce office in the senior center on Burns Valley at Bowers.

For more information, arts and crafts vendors should telephone Bob Kiel at 707-994-9752; car show questions will be answered by Kevin Ness at 707-994-2307; and Parade Chairman Ray Bridges can be reached at 707-994-3070.

COBB, Calif. – A 3.4-magnitude earthquake gave a strong shake to the Cobb area on Tuesday afternoon.

The quake occurred at 1:37 p.m., according to a preliminary report from the US Geological Survey.

The epicenter of the quake was located one mile west of Cobb, 11 miles southwest of Clearlake and 14 miles north northeast of Healdsburg, at a depth of seven-tenths of a mile, the survey said.

Area residents who felt the quake described it on social media – including Lake County News' Facebook page – as a strong one that lasted a few seconds, with a mild aftershock.

One person described it as having a circular motion, with another noting that she had been concerned it would break her windows.

The last quake measuring 3.0 or above in the county was a 3.2-magnitude quake that occurred in the Geysers area on May 31, according to US Geological Survey records.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The busy spring season has helped Lake County achieve its lowest unemployment rate in nearly 15 years.

The California Employment Development Department's latest report on joblessness across the state reported that Lake County's unemployment dropped to 5.9 percent in May, down from a revised 6.6 percent in April and well below the 7.1 percent reported in May 2015.

The agency said California's May unemployment rate was 5.2 percent, down from 5.3 percent in April and 6.4 percent the previous May.

Nationwide, unemployment in May was at 4.7 percent, compared to April's 5 percent and the May 2015 rate of 5.5 percent, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Lake County's 5.9 percent unemployment rate in May was the lowest the county has seen since August of 2001, when unemployment was at 5.8 percent, based on Employment Development Department historical data.

The late spring and summer months are traditionally strong for Lake County's employment picture, as two of the county's key industries – agriculture and tourism – hit their peak seasons.

The “total farm” employment category grew by 40.4 percent in May compared to April, with nearly 360 jobs added, according to state data. However, compared to May 2015, farm jobs last month were 4.6 percent – or 60 jobs – down.

In the “total nonfarm” category, leisure and hospitality was up 3.7 percent in May – or 40 jobs – and was 2.8 percent or 30 jobs over the same month a year ago, data showed.

Other strong subcategories in May included information, 8.3 percent; federal government, 6.7 percent; state government, 5 percent; goods producing, 3.9 percent; and service providing, 1 percent.

Countywide, jobs totaled 16,560 in May, compared to 16,040 in April and 16,280 in May of last year, the state reported.

Statewide, nonfarm jobs in California totaled 16,407,100 in May, an increase of 15,200 jobs over the month, according to a survey of 58,000 businesses. The state added 440,300 jobs, a 2.8 percent increase, from May 2015 to May 2016.

A federal survey of 5,500 households showed an increase in the number of employed people, estimating that 18,081,000 Californians held jobs in May, an increase of 9,000 from April, and up 337,000 from May of last year.

Lake County's May rate ranked it No. 30 out of California's 58 counties, with San Mateo County once again having the lowest unemployment, 2.6 percent, while Imperial County had the highest, with 19.4 percent.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A Sunday night crash that injured two teenagers has led to the arrest of a Clearlake man who police said was driving recklessly.

Earl Lee Vogt, 34, was arrested on felony charges of child endangerment and reckless driving, according to Clearlake Police Sgt. Travis Lenz.

Just after 8:30 p.m. Sunday Clearlake Police officers were dispatched to the intersection of 33rd and Phillips avenues on the report of a collision involving a vehicle and numerous juveniles, Lenz said.

Once on scene, Lenz said officers determined a 2005 Dodge Dakota, driver by Vogt, had collided with a street legal enduro motorcycle ridden by two 15-year-old male juveniles.

Lenz said the driver of the motorcycle sustained moderate injuries as a result of the collision, while the rear passenger sustained major injuries.

Lake County Fire Protection District personnel arrived on scene and began treating the motorcycle riders for their injuries, Lenz said.

As a result of the investigation, Lenz said it was determined that Vogt – who had three juveniles in the rear seat of his vehicle – was following a red Ford Mustang while driving recklessly throughout the city of Clearlake prior to the collision.

Once on Phillips Avenue, the two vehicles proceeded southbound until they came up behind the motorcycle, according to Lenz's report.

Lenz said the driver of the Mustang crossed over the double yellow lines into the oncoming lane of traffic to pass the motorcycle.

While traveling at an unsafe speed, Vogt also crossed over the double yellow lines into the oncoming lane of traffic in an attempt to overtake the motorcycle and keep up with the Mustang he was following, Lenz said.

As Vogt was rapidly approaching the motorcycle, the motorcycle began to make a left turn onto 33rd Avenue in front of Vogt’s vehicle, at which time Vogt collided with it, Lenz said.

Lenz said both riders were ejected from the motorcycle. The driver of the motorcycle was transported and treated at St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake, while the passenger of the motorcycle was flown to an out-of-county hospital for medical treatment. Vogt was uninjured.

Phillips Avenue was shut down for several hours after the collision as the scene was investigated by Clearlake Police Department Traffic Officer Michael Perreault, according to Lenz.

Based on statements obtained and the evidence located at the scene of the collision, Lenz said it was determined Vogt caused the traffic accident by crossing over the double yellow lines while driving at an unsafe speed.

It does not appear alcohol or drugs contributed to the collision, Lenz said.

Vogt was arrested, transported and booked into the Lake County Jail, with his bail was set at $75,000. Jail records indicated he later was released.

He is tentatively set to appear in court on Aug. 16, according to his booking sheet.

Anyone with information in regard to this investigation is asked to contact Officer Perreault at the Clearlake Police Department at 707-994-8251, Extension 543.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – On Monday firefighters contained two small fires in different parts of the county before the blazes could turn into big incidents.

The “Goose” fire burned near Clearlake early Monday while the “Bear” fire occurred in the Cobb area Monday afternoon.

Lake County Fire Protection District Chief Willie Sapeta said the Goose fire was dispatched shortly after 1 a.m. in the area between Carter Lane and Parkview Drive, off of San Joaquin Avenue.

It's an area in the hills above Clearlake that has seen fires previous over the last several years, he said.

Lake County Fire and Cal Fire responded, sending a total five engines, a water tender and a medic unit, with Sapeta and a Cal Fire battalion chief responding, he said.

Altogether about six acres burned, with no structures threatened, Sapeta said.

He said firefighters remained on scene until about 5 a.m. Monday, then went back out to the fire area later in the day to retrieve hose and put out some burning snags.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, according to Sapeta.

The Bear fire was first dispatched at about 3:30 p.m. Monday in the 14000 block of Bottle Rock Road near Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Campground, according to radio reports.

Firefighters at the scene reported arriving to find a small vegetation fire with a nearby structure on fire. It was later reported that the building – which a witness described as a cabin – had a fire in the attic.

The fire was reported to be contained at around 5 p.m., with about three hours of mop up expected at that point.

“Everything's looking good up there now,” Cal Fire Division Chief Greg Bertelli told Lake County News shortly after he left the scene early Monday evening.

In addition to the damaged structure, Bertelli said the fire burned just over half an acre. There were no injuries.

Cal Fire and South Lake County Fire sent a full wildland response that included several engines plus air attack, with Bertelli adding that Lake County Fire also sent a water tender in response to a request for the equipment.

Bertelli said the cause is under investigation.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The popular Living History Day series continues at the Ely Stage Stop & Country Museum at noon on Saturday, June 25, with local biologist Dr. Harry Lyons.

On the fourth Saturday of each month local historians come to the main house to visit with guests and answer questions regarding different aspects of Lake County history.

As these visits are recorded, the stories of Lake County’s history are being preserved for future generations.

This month Dr. Harry Lyons, retired Yuba College biology professor, will join Ely guests for Living History Day. 

Dr. Lyons will weave the stories of two nutrient-rich aquatic ecosystems, the Hudson River and Clear Lake, addressing the problems and promises of such rich biological communities.

Although differing in their geological and hydrologic histories, the two systems face similar problems with over-enrichment and point-source contamination.

Most feel the biological condition of the Hudson has improved; some feel the biological condition of Clear Lake has not.

Dr. Lyons’ talk will address whether political action taken on behalf of the Hudson River serves as a model for pushing improvement of water quality in Clear Lake, and will explore if there is a chance of success through political action dependent on the type of pollution and its causes.

He grew up swimming and fishing in the Hudson River. His life-long interest in water led him to pursue his PhD in oceanography from the Scripps Institution of the University of California after academic work at Rutgers and Stanford. He has lived by, sampled from, and swum in Clear Lake for over thirty-five years.

His talks are always peppered with the spirit of relevant songs. His presentation will begin at noon.

The Lake County Historical Society’s Ely Stage Stop & Country Museum is located at 9921 State Highway 281 (Soda Bay Road) in Kelseyville, near Clear Lake Riviera, just north of Highway 29-Kit’s Corner.

Current hours of operation are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday. Private tours can be arranged by appointment.

Visit www.elystagestop.org or www.lakecountyhistory.org on Facebook at www.facebook.com/eleystagestop or call the museum at 707-533-9990.

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