Saturday, 07 December 2024

News

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Old West lives on in Lake County with the return of two annual western-themed events, Wild West Day in Upper Lake on June 4, and Middletown Days, in Middletown on June 17, 18 and 19, where families can enjoy a ranch rodeo, live music, parades, wagon rides, Old West skits and much more.


Wild West Day


The 18th-annual Wild West Day, held in downtown Upper Lake on from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 4, is a Western-themed street festival and wearing costume is encouraged.


With Old West skits, a parade, pancake breakfast, tri-tip barbecue, wagon rides, and country music, Wild West Day is a family-friendly event and all ages can enter contests for best beard, bonnet, and costume.


Established in 1854, the town of Upper Lake once was a former stagecoach stop along the route from Sacramento to Mendocino and today features the restored Tallman Hotel, which is listed on the California Register of Historic Resources as a Point of Historical Interest, a re-created Blue Wing Saloon & Café next door, and a former livery that is now home to an antique plumbing business.


Also along Upper Lake’s Main Street, visitors will find a local wine tasting bar, antiques, and collectibles from all over the world, local crafts, and fine art from throughout Northern California, as well as household necessities, pet care items, gifts and home décor.


Wild West Day in Upper Lake is sponsored by the Upper Lake Community Council for community projects and the Northshore Fire Protection District. Admission is free. Call 707-275-2000 for more information.


Middletown Days


In the south county, June 17-19, Middletown Days – a tradition for 50 years – returns for three days of family fun and features a ranch rodeo, live music, craft and food booths, children’s activities and more.


Friday features a team roping event in the evening and Saturday begins with a parade at 10 a.m. and ends with a dance at 8:30 p.m. Sunday features the gymkhana.


Established in 1870, Middletown, midway between Lower Lake and Calistoga, is surrounded by outlying ranches, vineyards, and The Geysers, the largest geothermal energy source in the world.


Middletown balances Old West charm and forward-thinking businesses with a vision for a sustainable world, including Harbin Hot Springs, one of the oldest operating hot springs resorts in California, Hardester’s Market, Boar’s Breath Restaurant and more.


Middletown Days is held at Middletown Central Park, 15299 Central Park Road. Admission is free; small fee for dance on Saturday night. Team Roping on Friday begins at 5 p.m.; parade on Saturday begins at 10 a.m. and gymkhana at 9 a.m. on Sunday. Call 707-994-1954 for more information.


For information about guided trail rides, the 82nd-annual Lake County Rodeo on July 8 and 9, and other equestrian activities, contact the Lake County Visitor Information Center at 800-525-3743 or www.lakecounty.com.


For visitor information, contact the Lake County Visitor Information Center at 800-525-3743 or www.lakecounty.com.


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The Lower Lake Stone Jail in Lower Lake, Calif., was built in 1876. Photo courtesy of the Lake County Historical Society.


 


In commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the founding of Lake County this year, Lake County News is publishing a series of historical stories about the county, its people and places. In this week's story, Camisha Knowlton describes a story from the Mauldin files about the Lower Lake Stone Jail.


The Lower Lake Stone Jail was built in 1876 and is known as the smallest jail in the United States.


It is located on the corner of Highway 29 and Main Street in Lower Lake.


One of Lower Lake’s first stone masons, Stephen Nicolai, built the jail from local materials with the help of John and Theodore Copsey.


The Copsey brothers, thrilled with the completion of the jail’s construction, celebrated in one of the local saloons and became rather rowdy. Hence, the brothers became the jail’s first occupants but didn’t remain so for long.


The Copseys realized that they had not yet fastened the wooden roof down and, being tall men, they were able to lift up the roof and escape.


There is some speculation as to whether John and Theodore got themselves arrested for the sole purpose of being the jail’s first occupants. It would make sense since only they knew that if they were put in jail, they would not have to remain there.


One may wonder why a jail was needed for such a small town. The population in Lower Lake was at 1,000 people and quicksilver mining was at its peak. The Sulphur Bank Mine began mining quicksilver in 1874, and as there were jobs available, more people were drawn to Lake County.


The combination of steady income, liquor and disagreements made this one of the wildest times for Lake County.


As the population continued to grow, crime rose with it. There became an urgent need for civil order, so plans to build the jail began to unfold.


The Lower Lake Stone Jail, although small, has seen quite a bit of action in its time.


Chinese workers at the mines usually smoked opium in moderation. One incident is recorded where moderation went out the window and five Chinese men, extremely high on opium, were thrown into the Lower Lake Stone Jail all at one time.


There was never a guard or watchman for the jail, even when there were occupants. The jail also was without a sanitary facility of any kind and food and water were only provided when absolutely necessary.


After some time, the little jail was closed. For years after it served the county as a gasoline storehouse.


In later years, some townspeople wanted to get rid of it entirely. The Civic Club, Luncheon Club and Native Sons of the Golden West came to the rescue and saved the little building.


It became a California Historic landmark on Oct. 2, 1962.


For more information about the Lake County Sesquicentennial, visit www.lc150.org, join the celebration at https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Lake-County-Sesquicentennial/171845856177015 and follow it on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCo150 .


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 .

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – A Kelseyville woman has been arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of prescription drugs after she crashed into a Kelseyville Unified school bus on Thursday afternoon.


Sandra Jean Burnett, 57, was booked into the Lake County Jail late Thursday night on felony charges of driving under the influence causing bodily injury and being under the influence of a controlled substance while in possession of a firearm, and misdemeanor charges of driving on a license suspended for DUI, an addict driving a vehicle and a misdemeanor probation violation, according to her booking sheet.


An initial collision report completed by California Highway Patrol Officer Nick Powell said that the crash between Burnett's 2000 Chevy Prizm and the 1994 Thomas Type 1 School Bus occurred at 2:40 p.m. Thursday on Kelsey Creek Drive south of Wight Way.


Powell's report said that Burnett was driving northbound on Kelsey Creek Drive at an unknown speed while the school bus, driven by 39-year-old Shawn Dale Rogers was driving southbound, also at an unknown rate of speed.


Burnett allegedly allowed her vehicle to drive into the school bus' path. Rogers slowed and took evasive actions but was unable to avoid hitting the Prizm head-on, according to Powell.


The crash caused major damage to the Prizm and moderate damage to the bus, Powell said.


Powell said four of the 25 grade school age children on the bus complained of pain but were not transported to the hospital.


Rogers was uninjured, while Burnett reportedly suffered minor injuries, with abrasions to her left elbow and left hand, Powell reported.


Burnett was allegedly under the influence of prescription medication and subsequently arrested, Powell said.


During interviews on Thursday with Lake County News, Kelseyville Unified School District officials had credited Rogers for his response to the situation, as well as other school transportation staff who helped respond.


The bus in question is to remain out of service until fully repaired, but all bus routes were covered on Friday, according to Kyle Reams, the district's director of maintenance and transportation.


Burnett's bail was set at $150,000 on the charge of DUI causing great bodily injury, but the alleged probation violation resulted in a no-bail hold, according to jail records.


As a result, jail records showed that Burnett remained in custody on Friday.


Her booking document indicated that she is to appear in Lake County Superior Court for arraignment on Monday, May 23.


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 .

A Bay Area legislator's bill to require disclosures about cell phone radiofrequency emissions is headed for a hearing by the California Senate.


Sen. Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) introduced SB 932 in February.


On May 10, the bill passed the Senate Environmental Quality Committee.


According to the Legislative Counsel's Digest, the bill would require cell phone retailers to prominently display – in their stores, on Web sites and on cell phone packaging – the radiofrequency energy emitted by the phones.


Because cell phones emit a form of radiation called radiofrequency energy, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has established maximum exposure limits in order to prevent any possible health effects from this energy source, Leno's office reported.


Currently, information on the computer-modeled estimate of radiation released by each cell phone – a value known as the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) – is found in fine print in packaging.


“Buried somewhere around page 80 of your cell phone manual is a notice that tells you your phone emits radiofrequency energy and that holding it directly against your body could lead to exposure levels exceeding federal limits,” said Leno. “These advisories are clearly important and need to be posted where consumers can read them without the help of a magnifying glass.”


“The cell phone industry seems to be afraid that consumers might actually read their manuals and become informed about the proper way to use their phones,” said Renee Sharp, California director of the Environmental Working Group, which supports the bill. “We’re glad to see that, at least so far, the California Legislature doesn’t agree with them.”


Some members of the wireless industry have reportedly argued that the requirements would violate their free speech right.


However, Devra Davis, PhD, MPH, and president of the Environmental Health Trust, said major tech-savvy governments around the world, including Israel and France, are requiring that the SAR be posted on cell phones.


“They are also requiring that people be given simple information about reducing directed-microwave radiation from cell phones to their brains and bodies, and taking special precautions with children,” Davis said. “Evidence that cell phone radiation can have biological impacts has grown over the past two decades; this is why so many nations have issued precautionary advice, along with major cancer centers such as MD Anderson and the University of Pittsburgh.”


On May 17, the bill was read and amended for a second time, and ordered to a third reading, according to legislative records.


The bill now would require the following warning: “This device emits radiofrequency energy. Consult the user's manual for additional information on safe use.”


Removed from the required language was this warning: “Do not hold or carry it directly against the body when connected to a network or you may be exposed to levels greater than the safety limit established by the Federal Communications Commission.”


SB 932 will next be heard on the Senate floor.


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.

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Thermal infrared images of Saturn from the Very Large Telescope Imager and Spectrometer for the mid-Infrared (VISIR) instrument on the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope, on Cerro Paranal, Chile, appear at center and on the right. An amateur visible-light image from Trevor Barry, of Broken Hill, Australia, appears on the left. The images were obtained on Jan. 19, 2011.
 

 

 


 


NASA's Cassini spacecraft and a European Southern Observatory ground-based telescope are tracking the growth of a giant early-spring storm in Saturn's northern hemisphere so powerful that it stretches around the entire planet.


The rare storm has been wreaking havoc for months and shooting plumes of gas high into the planet's atmosphere.


“Nothing on Earth comes close to this powerful storm,” said Leigh Fletcher, a Cassini team scientist at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, and lead author of a study that appeared in this week's edition of Science Magazine.


“A storm like this is rare,” said Fletcher. “This is only the sixth one to be recorded since 1876, and the last was way back in 1990.”


Cassini's radio and plasma wave science instrument first detected the large disturbance in December 2010, and amateur astronomers have been watching it ever since through backyard telescopes.


As it rapidly expanded, the storm's core developed into a giant, powerful thunderstorm, producing a 3,000-mile-wide (5,000-kilometer-wide) dark vortex possibly similar to Jupiter's Great Red Spot.


This is the first major storm on Saturn observed by an orbiting spacecraft and studied at thermal infrared wavelengths.


Infrared observations are key because heat tells researchers a great deal about conditions inside the storm, including temperatures, winds, and atmospheric composition.


Temperature data were provided by the Very Large Telescope (VLT) on Cerro Paranal in Chile and Cassini's composite infrared spectrometer (CIRS), operated by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md.


“Our new observations show that the storm had a major effect on the atmosphere, transporting energy and material over great distances – creating meandering jet streams and forming giant vortices – and disrupting Saturn's seasonal [weather patterns],” said Glenn Orton, a paper coauthor, based at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif.

 

 

 

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This false-color infrared image shows clouds of large ammonia ice particles dredged up by the powerful storm. Credit: Cassini.
 

 

 


The violence of the storm – the strongest disturbances ever detected in Saturn's stratosphere – took researchers by surprise. What started as an ordinary disturbance deep in Saturn's atmosphere punched through the planet's serene cloud cover to roil the high layer known as the stratosphere.


“On Earth, the lower stratosphere is where commercial airplanes generally fly to avoid storms which can cause turbulence,” said Brigette Hesman, a scientist at the University of Maryland in College Park who works on the CIRS team at Goddard and is the second author on the paper. “If you were flying in an airplane on Saturn, this storm would reach so high up, it would probably be impossible to avoid it.”


A separate analysis using Cassini's visual and infrared mapping spectrometer, led by Kevin Baines of JPL, confirmed the storm is very violent, dredging up deep material in volumes several times larger than previous storms. Other Cassini scientists are studying the evolving storm and, they say, a more extensive picture will emerge soon.


The Cassini-Huygens mission is a cooperative project of NASA, the European Space Agency and the Italian Space Agency.


The mission is managed by JPL for NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington.


The European Southern Observatory in Garching, Germany operates the VLT in Chile. JPL is a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena.


Stay tuned to Science@NASA for updates.


Dr. Tony Phillips works for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.


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 .

LUCERNE, Calif. – A man whose car went into the lake Friday evening was rescued thanks to the actions of a passerby.


A 79-year-old man, whose name was not immediately available, reportedly fell asleep at the wheel of his 2009 Ford Focus while driving eastbound along Highway 20 just west of Pepperwood Cove, according to reports from the scene.


The vehicle went off the highway and into the lake and was partially submerged, with the man trapped.


A passing motorist, Amy Goszulak-Zingone, dove into the water and pulled the man from the sinking car, according to an account she shared on the Lake County News Facebook page.


She reported that the man was shaken up but OK.


When dubbed a hero by other readers on the Facebook page, she said, “I don't feel like a hero. I didn't have time to think about anything; I was on auto pilot! I'm just glad he is okay!”


She said the man asked her how he could ever repay her for saving his life. “I told him if he wanted to repay me, he needs to pay it forward. Help someone else who needs it, just like I did,” she said.


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 .

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This beautiful head of cauliflower grows in the protection of collard-like leaves at the Kelseyville, Calif. farm of Sky Hot Specialty Grower. The leaves are edible, but are relatively tough, so require a long cooking time. Photo by Esther Oertel.





 

This week’s title is a reference to a quote by Mark Twain: “Cauliflower is nothing but cabbage with a college education.”


If the witty Mr. Twain meant that advanced degrees won’t alter humble roots, he may not be too far from the truth.


Cauliflower is a descendant of wild cabbage native to the coastal regions of western and southern Europe.


Along with relatives such as cabbage, broccoli, collards, Brussels sprouts, kale, bok choy, radishes and mustard, cauliflower is a member of the family of plants known as brassicas, all containing powerful phytochemicals that possess proactive health benefits.


Plants from this genus are sometimes called cole crops, a term derived from the Latin word for stem or cabbage. They’re also known as cruciferous vegetables because of the resemblance their four-petaled flowers bear to a Greek cross.


The head of the cauliflower, composed of bunches of tiny florets on clusters of stalks, is known as the curd. (Appropriate, in my opinion, because of its resemblance to curds formed in cheese making.)


Cauliflower draws its name from the Latin word for cabbage, “caulis,” and flower, a nod to its unique place in a family of plants known mainly for their green leafiness.


In addition to the creamy white color we commonly see, there are cauliflower varieties that sport lime green, purple or orange heads. Colored cauliflower is generally sweeter and more strongly flavored than its white cousins, and the orange variety has the added benefit of being rich in beta-carotene.


As a cold weather crop, cauliflower is generally available in the fall and winter; however, a spring crop is grown in mild climates and should be available at local farmers’ markets.


The best cauliflowers are those consumed within a few days of picking, making these venues perfect spots for purchase. If you can find a head still surrounded with its large, protective leaves, all the better.


Because of its delicate taste, cauliflower works well when paired with foods with strong flavors, such as pungent cheeses, garlic, curry, mustard, lemon, pepper, cumin, anchovies and the like.


In contrast to this, it’s also a favorite with rich, comforting ingredients like cream, butter and mildly-flavored cheeses for applications such as a casserole with béchamel sauce, steamed florets with a cheesy topping or baked with butter and bread crumbs.


Roasted cauliflower is a favorite treat of mine, ranking right up there with gooey chocolate desserts. The process of roasting brings out an amazingly sweet nutty flavor and there’s nothing like it.


While I enjoy roasted cauliflower as is, it may be pureed (on its own or with potatoes) for an especially comforting yet healthy food. Using cauliflower in mashed potatoes adds nutrition and reduces the amount of carbohydrates consumed. A dab of hearty mustard, garlic or sharp cheese is a nice addition to the mixture.


Roasted cauliflower may be pureed for thickness with mild white beans, such as cannelloni, and used as a spread – either warm or cold, on toasted slices of baguette.


When pureed and heated with a bit of broth, roasted cauliflower makes a creamy and flavorful soup. It can be finished, if desired, with some half and half or cream, but that’s not a necessity.


A simple sauce of Dijon mustard, lemon juice and sour cream or yogurt is a perfect way to dress up lightly-steamed cauliflower. These flavors also work when making a dip for raw cauliflower florets.


One of the most creative uses of cauliflower I’ve seen is to boil it with broccoli until very tender, and then further cook the veggie pair with olive oil, garlic, thyme, a bit of reserved cooking water and, if desired, a few hot peppers until tender enough to mash.


This mixture is then piped into tubes of uncooked cannelloni pasta, which are baked until tender in a white sauce with basil and mozzarella cheese. My mouth is watering just thinking of it.

 

 

 

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Rows of cauliflower are laid out alongside rows of their cousin, broccoli, at the Sky Hoyt Specialty Grower farm in Kelseyville, Calif. Photo by Esther Oertel.
 

 

 


Cauliflower is popular in Indian cooking, and an especially tasty take on this cuisine is to fry them after dipping in a batter seasoned with curry and cumin.


A unique cooking method to achieve maximum creaminess is to use milk, either dairy or almond, as a medium for gently cooking the florets on the stove top.


Cauliflower is an excellent source of vitamins C and K, contains an array of other vitamins and minerals and is a good source of dietary fiber. It has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and detoxifying benefits and is a very good source of omega 3 fatty acids.


The phytonutrients present in cauliflower as a member of the brassica family provide a variety of health benefits, including protection against heart disease, cancer and diabetes.


A powerful cancer-fighting phytonutrient, sulforaphane, is responsible for the unpleasant smell that cauliflower and its vegetable cousins emit when cooking; however, its positive health benefits far outweigh that unpleasantness.


When buying cauliflower, choose heads that are firm with compact florets. Stay away from those which have developed brown spots on the curd. The surrounding leaves should be green with no sign of yellowing.


Cauliflower may be stored, unwashed and uncooked, in the fridge for 3 to 5 days when tightly wrapped. Cooked cauliflower will generally keep for 1 to 3 days.


Today’s recipe is a basic one for roasting cauliflower, simple yet immensely delicious, an important one to have in your repertoire. Grating fresh Parmesan cheese on the finished product is optional. Enjoy!


Roasted cauliflower


1 head of cauliflower, rinsed and patted dry

2 or 3 cloves of garlic, peeled and coarsely minced

Lemon juice from half a lemon

Extra virgin olive oil

Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper

Fresh Parmesan cheese for grating, optional


Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.


Cut cauliflower into florets and put in a single layer in an oven-proof baking dish.


Toss in the garlic.


Squeeze lemon juice over the cauliflower, drizzle each piece with olive oil, and sprinkle with salt and pepper.


Roast cauliflower in the oven, uncovered, for 25 – 30 minutes, or until the top is lightly brown. The cauliflower should be soft and fork tender.


Remove from oven and sprinkle generously with Parmesan, if desired.


Serve immediately.


Makes about four servings.


Esther Oertel, the “Veggie Girl,” is a culinary coach and educator and is passionate about local produce. Oertel teaches culinary classes at Chic Le Chef in Hidden Valley Lake, Calif., and The Kitchen Gallery in Lakeport, Calif., and gives private cooking lessons. 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..


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 .

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – A 3.6-magnitude earthquake was reported in the Bay Area Saturday evening.


The quake was recorded at 7:04 p.m. two miles south southeast of Hercules, eight miles north of Berkeley and 17 miles north northeast of San Francisco, according to the US Geological Survey.


The depth of the quake was 6 miles, US Geological Survey records showed.


The survey reported receiving 3,977 shake reports from 182 zip codes as of 2 a.m. Sunday.


Most of the reports were from around California, although one was from Graham, Wash.


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 .

The search for the owner of Tulip Hill Winery, who went missing Wednesday while flying his plane from Nevada to the Central Valley, was continuing in a remote area of Northern California on Friday.


On Wednesday afternoon, Robert “Budge” Brown, 78, was supposed to meet his son, Jeff Brown, in Tracy, Calif., but when he didn't arrive by early evening Jeff Brown said he alerted authorities and the search began.


Ian Gregor, a spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration's Pacific Division, said that the plane Brown was reported to have been flying, a Lancair Legacy with the tail number N121J, departed around 4 p.m. Wednesday from Minden, Nev., for a private airstrip near Tracy.


“The pilot was not communicating with, or being tracked by, air traffic controllers,” Gregor said.


Gregor said the FAA received the information about the overdue at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday.


Brown was reported to be the only person on board the plane, according to his family and the FAA report.


Jeff Brown said the search is focusing on the Bear River Reservoir area off of Highway 88 near Placerville and above Jackson.


He described the search area as very rugged and densely forested, with a significant amount of snow reported to be on the ground.


He said it's “not a place you want to go down in an airplane, for sure.”


Jeff Brown said that he had spoken to his father early on Wednesday afternoon. His father wanted to have dinner with him that evening, and was excited to be leaving for a trip to Mexico with a friend the next day.


He asked his son – also a pilot – about the weather conditions. “He said that he was going to wait for some weather to clear in the Minden area and that he'd probably leave around 4 p.m. and he'd see me about 4:30 p.m.,” Jeff Brown said.


However, by 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jeff Brown said he began calling his father's friends to find out if anyone had seen him. “What worried me is he didn't call the people he normally calls.”


When it became clear no one had seen Budge Brown, the authorities were called. On Thursday morning the Civil Air Patrol and the Amador County Sheriff's Office initiated a search by air and ground, Jeff Brown said.


It appeared that Budge Brown wasn't on any kind of a flight plan, which isn't required although is strongly recommended, his son explained.


He said his father had made the same trip hundreds of times since he learned to fly in 1978.


Jeff Brown said a forensics specialist worked to try to track a radar signal believed to have been from Budge Brown's plane.


They found an airplane flying on a commonly followed course from Minden to Tracy, he said.


“Based on radar returns, it looked like the plane started deviating somewhat and then descending in altitude at a pretty rapid rate,” Jeff Brown said.


Based on that information, Jeff Brown said authorities identified the area where they believed the plane had gone down and started the search, after checking on whether he could have landed at any of the airports along the way.


“I believe the search is going to continue on for several more days,” Jeff Brown said.


He added, “We're really confident something will happen today.”


He said he and his family are hoping that the search can continue until his father is found.


Jeff Brown said his father loved airplanes and flying. “He was always trying to be better,” and had become an accomplished pilot in his 33 years of flying, his son said.


The Brown family also been active in the wine industry in other parts of California and in Nevada.


Shannon Gunier, executive director of the Lake County Winegrape Commission, said she was heartbroken at the news about Budge Brown, who she called “a great guy.”


The Brown family has been active in Lake County's wine industry, where in 2003 they purchased and began renovating the the old Vittel water bottling facility on the outskirts of Nice.


Gunier said she and her husband, Rick, worked with the Browns on locating at the facility. She'd also ridden with Budge Brown in his plane.


“We were just so excited to have him invest in Lake County,” she said.


Under the Brown family's guidance the Vittel facility, once used to bottle water from Bartlett Springs, was transformed into the Tulip Hill Winery, which – true to its name – is festooned each spring by a multicolored carpet of tulips.


“We've tried really hard to be active in the community,” said Jeff Brown, who grows some of the grapes used for the company's wines in Tracy.


Gunier said the Browns had indeed been great supporters of the county, and she was hopeful that there might be a happy ending to the search.


Budge Brown also has been noted for his philanthropy.


In 2005, following the death of his wife of 48 years, Arlene, who lost a battle with cancer, he founded Cleavage Creek Wines, based in Napa, which raises money for cancer research.


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 .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – A 3.2-magnitude earthquake centered near Lakeport was reported early Sunday morning.


The quake occurred at 1:53 a.m., according to the US Geological Survey.


It was centered six miles west of Lakeport and 12 miles southeast of Ukiah at a depth of 2.9 miles, the agency reported.


Twenty-four shake reports from five zip codes – Lakeport, Hopland, Ukiah, Forestville and Martinez – had been submitted to the survey by 2:30 a.m.


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 .

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Tulip Hill Winery owner Budge Brown's plane was found Friday, May 20, 2011, in the El Dorado National Forest near Placerville, Calif. It's believed he crashed two days earlier on the way to Tracy, Calif., from Minden, Nev.




The wreckage of a plane identified as the one that was being flown by a missing entrepreneur and winery owner was discovered Friday afternoon, ending a day-and-a-half-long search in a remote area near Placerville.


Robert Henderson “Budge” Brown Sr., 78, of Gardnerville, Nev., was reported missing by his son Wednesday evening after he failed to arrive in Tracy following a brief plane trip from Minden, Nev., as Lake County News has reported.


His son, Jeff Brown, confirmed late Friday that his father's plane was discovered by searchers earlier in the afternoon, a discovery he was notified of at around 4:30 p.m.


A body also was discovered in the wreckage, but it has yet to be positively identified, Jeff Brown said.


Budge Brown was a respected businessman and member of the wine industry, who owned wineries in Nevada and in California, including Tulip Hill Winery in Nice.


He had been expected in Tracy at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, his son said. He had flown the route hundreds of times in his 33 years as a pilot.


Sheriff's officials said there had been no emergency radio traffic received from Budge Brown and no emergency locator transmitter from his plane. Jeff Brown said his father didn't have a flight plan, which is recommended but not required.


The Amador County Sheriff's Office's Search and Rescue Nordic Team, assisted by the Civil Air Patrol and the California Highway Patrol, had conducted a search since early Thursday morning in the southeastern area of Amador County within the El Dorado National Forest, officials reported.


It was there that Brown's Lancair, composite, single engine airplane – which had been tracked by radar – had reportedly dropped from 15,000 to 12,000 feet in altitude before falling off the radar at the 11,000-foot level over the national forest.


The sheriff's office said the Civil Air Patrol had identified the search area based on analysis of radar data and experience with past aircraft accidents.


The region still has snow on the ground, with the Civil Air Patrol said presented “somewhat of a challenge” in the search for the white aircraft.


Ground and snowmobile teams, Civil Air Patrol aircraft and two CHP helicopters were involved in the search, as the area was heavily wooded and covered with 6 to 10 feet of snow, according to an Amador County Sheriff's Office report.


Civil Air Patrol flight crews flew in from Concord, Sacramento, Auburn and Redding with additional aircraft from across the state on alert to assist, and mission management and operations staff working from locations the length of the state, the agency said.


They flew a route search, which meant they were flying the entire path that the plane was to have taken from Minden and Tracy, based upon radar data and other intelligence, according to the Civil Air Patrol.


The Civil Air Patrol said that by Thursday evening four of its planes had flown more than 20 hours on five sorties to find Brown's plane.


On Friday the Civil Air Patrol reported that the search area was expanded, with several of its search aircraft looking for the missing plane in the morning.

 

Finally, on Friday afternoon, the plane was found. “They found it within a mile of where they thought he was down,” Jeff Brown said.


While a body was discovered inside the plane, “They haven't told me whether it's my dad or not,” Jeff Brown said.


He said authorities must still positively identify the body. They will then conduct an investigation into the reasons for the crash.


Brown's friends in the Lake County community expressed their sadness at the crash on Friday.


Lake County Winegrape Commission Executive Director Shannon Gunier called Budge Brown “a great guy” who was generous in his involvement in the community.


Wilda Shock, a member of the Lake County Wine Alliance board, said Budge Brown was the honorary chair of the 2010 Lake County Wine Auction, presented last September at Ceago Vinegarden, neighboring property to his Tulip Hill Winery.


His philanthropy and his support of cancer research were honored during the annual charity event that benefits numerous Lake County nonprofit organizations, she said.


On Budge Brown's Facebook page, “Live to love life” was listed as his favorite quotation.


Jeff Brown said it's not really sunk in yet that his father is gone.


He said he and his father were really close.


“I'm really saddened by him not being here anymore,” he said.


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 .

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – A crash Thursday afternoon between a vehicle and a Kelseyville Unified School District school bus resulted in minor injuries to two students.


The crash was reported shortly after 2:30 p.m. Thursday on Kelsey Creek Drive, according to the California Highway Patrol.


The CHP said the school bus driver was not at fault, said Kyle Reams, Kelseyville Unified's director of maintenance and transportation.


“It was a bad situation but the transportation staff did a fantastic job in dealing with it,” said Reams.


Two students sustained minor injuries in the collision, and were treated by emergency personnel, Reams said.


The bus driver, who was shaken by the experience, was uninjured, he added.


Reams said the bus, which the school bus driver was able to drive back to the bus barn from the crash site, also sustained damage, and would be taken out of service until it could be repaired and a mechanic could perform a service check to ensure it was back in perfect running order.


Late Thursday afternoon CHP officers were still on scene and so hadn't been able to produce a full report. Reams said early Thursday evening that he didn't yet have all the information from the CHP on what led to the crash.


The initial CHP reports from the scene indicated the driver of the vehicle that hit the bus was taken to Sutter Lakeside Hospital for a blood draw, raising concerns that alcohol may have been involved.


Reams said that all buses would be running on Friday morning, although the numbers would be different since the damaged bus was taken temporarily out of service.


He said the district also would contact parents on Friday to update them on the incident.


Kelseyville Unified Superintendent Dave McQueen also credited the bus driver with doing “an awesome job.”


He said the situation turned out “pretty good for as bad as it could have been,” adding that he was thankful that everyone was OK.


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 .

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