MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. — Firefighters have managed to hold in check the growth of a lightning-caused fire on the Mendocino National Forest.
The Slide 1 fire in the Yolla Bolly Middle Eel Wilderness remains at 473 acres and 50% containment.
On Saturday, the fire stayed in its current footprint. As of 5 p.m. Saturday, the fire area was getting precipitation from storms moving through the area.
The remote, steep terrain is challenging, but firefighters are making steady progress on containment, forest officials said.
Firefighters have secured a containment line along the eastern edge of the fire. Two hotshot crews are working to secure the lines along the northern edge of the fire to keep it south of Buck Creek.
On the southern flank, aircraft are assisting crews working on that portion of the line. No new resources have been ordered, and several crews are being released.
There is a 30% chance of showers this evening and that weather will continue through the weekend with higher chances of showers Sunday afternoon. Temperatures are cooling and humidity is increasing gradually.
A wetter pattern is in the forecast for early next week. Higher humidity, cooler temperatures and precipitation can help keep fire behavior at low to moderate intensity, though gusty and erratic winds near thunderstorms remain a concern.
On the west side of the forest, thunderstorm activity will increase this evening, with high risk for lightning on dry fuels and potential for strong outflow winds in portions of Trinity, Mendocino and Lake counties.
Chances for rain will increase beginning Sunday night through Tuesday. Fire personnel are patrolling and monitoring for any new lightning starts.
This weekend the forest has seen an increase in visitors during the opening weekend of B zone archery hunting. Forest officials remind visitors that fire restrictions are in effect and a closure is in effect in the Slide 1 fire area.
LAKEPORT, Calif. — After several particularly challenging years in which it struggled to find officers, the Lakeport Police Department is once again fully staffed.
During the Lakeport City Council’s regular Tuesday night meeting, Police Chief Brad Rasmussen introduced his department’s newest trainee and officers.
They include Alex Pizano, who is heading off to the police academy; officers Jonatan Moreno and Austin Eldred; and Sgt. Sarah Hardisty.
Before they were brought forward, Todd Freitas, the new president of the Lakeport Police Officer’s Association, spoke during public comment, telling the council, “Today is an important day,” with the introduction of the new department members.
Freitas said he’s pleased to see the new department members’ careers blossom, and he thanked city management for their work to fill the jobs.
“The last several years have been difficult times for law enforcement, not just locally but across the nation,” he said.
The police department is composed of a diverse group of law enforcement professionals, and Freitas commended Rasmussen, City Manager Kevin Ingram and Administrative Services Director/City Clerk Kelly Buendia, who he said have worked to provide open and honest communication with him and his association.
Freitas said his work is to ensure the association and the city retain quality staff. He added that he’s grateful to be a city of Lakeport employee, as he feels valued and supported.
Rasmussen, in his introduction of the new officers, thanked Freitas, the council, Ingram and Buendia, offering his gratitude for the help in restaffing his department, which has 13 sworn officers positions budgeted.
Rasmussen said Pizano is headed to the police academy in Santa Rosa, with an anticipated graduation date in December.
Pizano was born in Mexico and at age 2 came with his family to the United States, where he has grown up.
Rasmussen said Pizano was working at a local business when he applied for the Lakeport Police Department’s trainee program, testing well and being accepted. The program pays for the cost of a police officer candidate to attend the police academy.
Moreno is a veteran of the United States Navy, attended the police academy and had been working as a correctional deputy for the Lake County Sheriff’s Office when he was hired.
A community resident, Moreno is now in the field training process, required before he can go solo on the streets.
Eldred previously worked at the Ukiah Police Department.
Rasmussen said Eldred wanted to work in Lakeport since he lived here, so he also tested and was hired. He also is now in field training.
The fourth new hire is Hardisty, a 16-year law enforcement veteran who started her career with the Clearlake Police Department before moving on to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office for the last 15 years.
Hardisty found out the Lakeport Police Department was testing for sergeants and she applied, and was hired at that rank. Rasmussen said she started with his agency four weeks ago, and she required a shorter training before immediately being put to work training other officers.
“She is the first female that has ever held a supervisory position in our entire existence, which goes back to 1888,” Rasmussen said of the department.
Ingram said it wasn’t an accident that there were four new employees being introduced, as the city has been working very hard on recruitment.
“This is a national problem where we’ve seen shortages of officers,” Ingram said.
While it has been a challenge, Ingram said they have had success going out to the community to look for new hires. Trying out those new things “has been a huge help.”
He said it’s still a process, and it can take up to a year to get an officer on the street. With the new hires, “We’ve crossed a threshold that we haven’t been at in a long time,” he said, adding that all positions in the department are now allocated although the training requirements for the new officers mean they are still short of officers on the street.
Ingram added that Hardisty’s daughters have said she looks better in the blue uniform of the Lakeport Police Department. The sheriff’s office’s uniforms are tan and green.
“They are all a sight for sore eyes. We are really happy to have you,” Mayor Stacey Mattina told the new officers.
Councilwoman Kim Costa said she was glad they were there.
Later in the meeting, Costa recounted how she had seen a bull and cow heading onto the city streets near her home by Westside Park, and she called in the Lakeport Police Department.
The cows ended up heading back into the park. “Public safety was maintained,” Costa said.
She said police brought out a cowboy who she could hear calling to the cow, “Come on, Matilda.”
Hardisty responded to that incident. It was noted that the cows were owned by the same person who owned an emu that had escaped.
Costa said it was a lighthearted police interaction.
In other police department-related news, the council held a public hearing and unanimously approved a military equipment policy that is being updated to authorize the department to purchase a Daniel Defense SOCOMMK18 SBR CAL NATO 5.56mm x 45mm 10.3-inch barrel rifle.
Rasmussen also reported that the city will host its National Night Out event from 4 to 7 p.m. Oct. 3 at Library Park.
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.
With Hurricane Hilary forecasted to be the wettest tropical cyclone in state history and the first-ever tropical storm watch issued for California, the state is mobilizing to protect people from the storm and reminding everyone in the storm’s path to take steps now to prepare.
Hurricane Hilary — currently a powerful Category 4 storm — is forecast to track into Southern California over the weekend and into early next week, bringing moderate to heavy showers, thunderstorms and possibly stronger winds to Southern California.
Some parts of Southern California could receive a year’s worth of rain from this storm. The location and intensity of precipitation and winds will be variable as the hurricane approaches California.
At the same time, in the coming days, Lake County is forecast to experience showers and the potential for thunderstorms, along with cooler temperatures. However, the majority of the storm’s impact is expected to be to the east, the National Weather Service reported.
“We should never underestimate the power of Mother Nature,” said Gov. Gavin Newsom. “California is coordinating with federal and local governments to support communities as they prepare for this unprecedented storm. Heed warnings from local authorities, be ready and stay informed.”
Gov. Newsom is headed to Southern California and will be there for the next several days as the storm makes landfall.
At Newsom’s direction, the State Operations Center at the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, or Cal OES, is currently activated and the state is closely monitoring incoming impacts from rain, wind, and potential flash flooding and power outages.
The State Operations Center is actively coordinating across state agencies to provide resources in preparation for potential impacts and to support response and recovery efforts.
In coordination with locals, the state is prepositioning resources including swift water rescue teams, California National Guard teams, and flood fighting tools while also working closely with community-based organizations to protect vulnerable unhoused people.
Additionally, California is staffing highway maintenance crews 24 hours a day and taking proactive steps to maintain roadway safety.
Here are the top 5 things you can do to stay safer during the storm:
Stay connected. Californians are reminded to dial 3-1-1 to get help or ask questions. If you have a critical emergency, call 911. Stay informed by signing up for emergency alerts including warnings and evacuation notices. Go to CalAlerts.org to sign up to receive alerts from your county officials. Check in with loved ones and neighbors.
Prepare for high winds and ocean surges. Before a high wind event occurs: remove any dead trees or overhanging branches near structures, remove loose roofing material, bring in unsecured objects from patios and balconies, secure outdoor objects that could blow away, shutter windows securely and brace outside doors.
During a high wind event: take cover next to a building or under shelter, stay away from windows, stay clear of roadways and train tracks, avoid elevated areas such as roofs, watch for flying debris.
Avoid the ocean: The National Weather Service has issued a high surf advisory and is urging beachgoers to stay out of the ocean as Hurricane Hilary will create strong breaking waves, shore breaks and strong longshore and rip currents, making the ocean extremely dangerous.
Travel safely. Avoid non-essential travel during the peak of the storm expected Sunday and Monday. If you must drive, download the QuickMap app or visit QuickMap (ca.gov) to learn up-to-the-minute information on road conditions, traffic, closures, and more. Do not walk, swim or drive through flood waters. Turn Around, Don’t Drown! Remember, just six inches of moving water can knock you down, and one foot of moving water can sweep your vehicle away.
Be ready in case of power outages. Take inventory of the items you need that rely on electricity. Keep your devices charged. Plan for batteries and other alternative power sources to meet your needs if the power goes out such as a portable charger or power bank. Have flashlights for every household member. Also, plan accordingly for the potential of water outages.
Listen to local authorities. Always follow the guidance of your local authorities, including evacuation orders, road closures and other official notices.
Laura Fleszar, University of Washington; Allison Bryant Mantha, Harvard University; Catherine O. Johnson, University of Washington, and Greg Roth, University of Washington
Black women were more likely to die during pregnancy or soon after in every year from 1999 through 2019, compared with Hispanic, American Indian and Alaska Native, Asian, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and white women. That is a key finding of our recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The risk of maternal death increased the most for American Indian and Alaska Native women during that time frame.
Maternal deaths refers to death from any cause except for accidents, homicides and suicides, during or within one year after pregnancy.
Notably, maternal mortality rates more than doubled for every racial and ethnic group from 1999 through 2019. Most maternal deaths are considered preventable because, in the U.S., maternal deaths are most often caused by problems that have very effective treatments, including bleeding after delivery, heart disease, high blood pressure, blood clots and infections.
For Black women in 2019, the states with the highest maternal mortality ratios – meaning the proportion of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births – were Arizona, New Jersey, New York and Georgia, along with the District of Columbia. Each had a maternal mortality ratio greater than 100 for Black women. In comparison, the national maternal mortality ratio for all women in the U.S. was 32.1 in 2019.
Among American Indian and Alaska Native women, the states with the largest increases in maternal mortality between the first half of the time period (1999-2009) and the second half (2010-2019) were Florida, Kansas, Illinois, Rhode Island and Wisconsin. In each of these states, risk of maternal death increased by more than 162%. Across the whole U.S., maternal mortality for American Indian and Alaska Native women was higher in 2019 than in all other years. Some individuals other than women, including girls, transgender men and people who identify as nonbinary, are also at risk of maternal death.
Why it matters
In order to prevent maternal deaths in the U.S., it’s crucial to understand who is most at risk. Prior to our study, estimates of maternal mortality for racial and ethnic groups within every state had never been released.
Because most maternal deaths are preventable, interventions have the potential to make a significant difference. Better prevention of related events, such as preterm birth, is also necessary. We hope that our research continues to help policymakers and health care leaders put solutions in place to better prevent these deaths from happening.
We would like to investigate how the most common causes of maternal death, such as blood clots, high blood pressure and mental health issues, are contributing to the overall estimates.
Understanding these trends will help clinicians and policymakers tailor solutions to be as effective as possible.
Our study did not include data from the pandemic years. So far, maternal mortality has only been reported at the national level for those years, but reports suggest that maternal mortality rates have increased since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and that racial disparities have only gotten worse.
The Research Brief is a short take about interesting academic work.
CLEARLAKE, Calif. — Clearlake Animal Control has many dogs of various breeds needing new homes.
The Clearlake Animal Control website continues to list 32 dogs for adoption.
This week’s dogs include “Goliath,” a 6-year-old male Rottweiler mix.
“Emma” is another Rottweiler mix also available for adoption.
The shelter is located at 6820 Old Highway 53. It’s open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
For more information, call the shelter at 707-762-6227, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., visit Clearlake Animal Control on Facebook or on the city’s website.
This week’s adoptable dogs are featured below.
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.
According to scientists at NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) in New York, July 2023 was hotter than any other month in the global temperature record.
“Since day one, President Biden has treated the climate crisis as the existential threat of our time,” said Ali Zaidi, White House national climate advisor. “Against the backdrop of record high temperatures, wildfires, and floods, NASA’s analysis puts into context the urgency of President Biden’s unprecedented climate leadership. From securing the Inflation Reduction Act, the largest climate investment in history, to invoking the Defense Production Act to supercharge domestic clean energy manufacturing, to strengthening climate resilience in communities nationwide, President Biden is delivering on the most ambitious climate agenda in history.”
Overall, July 2023 was 0.43 degrees Fahrenheit (F) (0.24 degrees Celsius (C)) warmer than any other July in NASA’s record, and it was 2.1 F (1.18 C) warmer than the average July between 1951 and 1980.
The primary focus of the GISS analysis are long-term temperature changes over many decades and centuries, and a fixed base period yields anomalies that are consistent over time. Temperature "normals" are defined by several decades or more — typically 30 years.
“NASA data confirms what billions around the world literally felt: temperatures in July 2023 made it the hottest month on record. In every corner of the country, Americans are right now experiencing firsthand the effects of the climate crisis, underscoring the urgency of President Biden’s historic climate agenda,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. “The science is clear. We must act now to protect our communities and planet; it’s the only one we have.”
Parts of South America, North Africa, North America, and the Antarctic Peninsula were especially hot, experiencing temperatures increases around 7.2 F (4 C) above average.
Overall, extreme heat this summer put tens of millions of people under heat warnings and was linked to hundreds of heat-related illnesses and deaths.
The record-breaking July continues a long-term trend of human-driven warming driven primarily by greenhouse gas emissions that has become evident over the past four decades. According to NASA data, the five hottest Julys since 1880 have all happened in the past five years.
“Climate change is impacting people and ecosystems around the world, and we expect many of these impacts to escalate with continued warming,” said Katherine Calvin, chief scientist and senior climate advisor at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “Our agency observes climate change, its impacts, and its drivers, like greenhouse gases, and we are committed providing this information to help people plan for the future.”
NASA assembles its temperature record from surface air temperature data from tens of thousands of metrological stations, as well as sea surface temperature data acquired by ship- and buoy-based instruments.
This raw data is analyzed using methods that account for the varied spacing of temperature stations around the globe and for urban heating effects that could skew the calculations.
“This July was not just warmer than any previous July – it was the warmest month in our record, which goes back to 1880,” said GISS Director Gavin Schmidt. “The science is clear this isn’t normal. Alarming warming around the world is driven primarily by human-caused greenhouse gas emissions. And that rise in average temperatures is fueling dangerous extreme heat that people are experiencing here at home and worldwide.”
High sea surface temperatures contributed to July’s record warmth. NASA’s analysis shows especially warm ocean temperatures in the eastern tropical Pacific, evidence of the El Niño that began developing in May 2023. Phenomena such as El Niño or La Niña, which warm or cool the tropical Pacific Ocean, can contribute a small amount of year-to-year variability in global temperatures.
But these contributions are not typically felt when El Niño starts developing in Northern Hemisphere summer. NASA expects to see the biggest impacts of El Niño in February, March, and April 2024.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Lake County Animal Care and Control has more new dogs waiting to be adopted.
Dogs available for adoption this week include mixes of Anatolian shepherd, Belgian malinois, border collie, collie, Dogo Argentino, German shepherd, Great Pyrenees, hound, husky, kelpie, mastiff, pit bull, pointer and terrier.
Dogs that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are either neutered or spayed, microchipped and, if old enough, given a rabies shot and county license before being released to their new owner. License fees do not apply to residents of the cities of Lakeport or Clearlake.
The following dogs at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption.
Call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278 or visit the shelter online for information on visiting or adopting.
Female German shepherd
This 7-year-old female German shepherd has a black and tan coat.
She is in kennel No. 30, ID No. LCAC-A-5629.
Male border collie
This 1-year-old male border collie has a black and white coat.
He is in kennel No. 9, ID No. LCAC-A-5643.
‘Cheetos’
“Cheetos” is a 6-year-old male Great Pyrenees with a white coat.
He is in kennel No. 17, ID No. LCAC-A-4849.
Female Dogo Argentino
This 3-year-old female Dogo Argentino has a short white coat.
She is in kennel No. 18, ID No. LCAC-A-5729.
Male pit bull terrier
This 4-year-old male pit bull terrier has a short gray coat.
He is in kennel No. 29, ID No. LCAC-A-5478.
Female pointer puppy
This 3-month-old female pointer mix has a black and white coat.
She is in kennel No. 20, ID No. LCAC-A-5730.
Male Great Pyrenees
This 1 and a half year old male Great Pyrenees has a white coat.
He is in kennel No. 3, ID No. LCAC-A-5469.
‘Jake’
“Jake” is a 3-year-old male Anatolian shepherd-mastiff mix with a short fawn coat.
He is in kennel No. 5, ID No. LCAC-A-5276.
‘Roasie’
“Roasie”is a 2-year-old female pit bull terrier with a short black and white coat.
She is in kennel No. 7, ID No. LCAC-A-5434.
Female pit bull
This 3-year-old female pit bull has a short brown coat.
She is in kennel No. 8, ID No. LCAC-A-5505.
Female pit bull terrier
This 3-year-old female pit bull terrier has a brown and white coat.
She is in kennel No. 10, ID No. LCAC-A-5400.
Female German shepherd
This 2-year-old female German shepherd has a black and tan coat.
She is in kennel No. 12, ID No. LCAC-A-5488.
Male shepherd
This 2 and a half year old male shepherd has a short black and tan coat.
He is in kennel No. 14, ID No. LCAC-A-5479.
Female shepherd mix puppy
This 6-month-old female shepherd mix puppy has a short tricolor coat.
She is in kennel No. 15, ID No. LCAC-A-5659.
‘Zeta’
“Zeta” is a 1-year-old female pit bull terrier with a black and tan coat.
She is in kennel No. 16, ID No. LCAC-A-5427.
Male pit bull
This 1-year-old male pit bull has a short brindle coat.
He is in kennel No. 21, ID No. LCAC-A-5616.
Male shepherd
This 2-year-old male shepherd has a black and tan coat.
He is in kennel No. 22, ID No. LCAC-A-5423.
Female pit bull terrier
This 6-year-old female pit bull terrier has a short tan coat.
She is in kennel No. 24, ID No. LCAC-A-5410.
Male pit bull terrier
This 1-year-old male pit bull terrier has a short tan coat.
He is in kennel No. 25, ID No. LCAC-A-5628.
Male shepherd
This 1 and a half year old male shepherd has a short tricolor coat.
He is in kennel No. 26, ID No. LCAC-A-5424.
Female shepherd
This 2-year-old female shepherd has a short yellow and white coat.
She is in kennel No. 27, ID No. LCAC-A-5369.
Female collie mix
This 3-year-old collie mix has a black coat.
She is in kennel No. 28, ID No. LCAC-A-5514.
Male shepherd puppy
This 7-month-old male shepherd puppy has a short black coat with white markings.
He is in kennel No. 32, ID No. LCAC-A-5408.
‘Nana’
“Nana” is a 2-year-old female shepherd mix with a short yellow coat.
She is in kennel No. 33, ID No. LCAC-A-5277.
‘Dory’
“Dory” is a 1-year-old female German shepherd-Belgian malinois with a black and tan coat.
She is in kennel No. 34, ID No. LCAC-A-5323.
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.
MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. — The work to contain a lightning-caused fire on the Mendocino National Forest continues to progress.
The Slide 1 fire burning in the Yolla Bolly Middle Eel Wilderness is at 20% containment.
A recent reconnaissance flight has provided a more accurate picture of the fire’s size, which is at 473 acres.
Forest officials said fire behavior on Friday was mellow, and firefighters made progress on the line.
Firefighters are using a confine and contain strategy to keep the fire within the wilderness, building containment lines off of existing trails and natural barriers. This strategy helps to minimize risk and firefighter exposure in this challenging terrain.
On Friday a closure was issued for roads, trails and recreation sites in the Yolla Bolly Middle Eel Wilderness within the Grindstone District to protect public safety and emergency operations.
With the opening of B zone archery season tomorrow, forest officials urge hunters to use caution and expect fire-related traffic on the M22 Road.
The Rock fire in the Sanhedrin Wilderness remains at an estimated 2.5 acres, and crews on scene are working to contain the fire.
Chance of showers and thunderstorms overnight were reported to be slight. Temperatures are trending down through the weekend, and there is potential for a cooler and wetter pattern early next week as Hurricane Hilary moves into the region.
This story contains descriptions of sexual assaults.
LAKEPORT, Calif. — A Lakeport man has been sentenced to 45 years to life in state prison for sexually assaulting two women in early 2022.
On Tuesday, Judge J. David Markham handed down the sentence to Sean Randall Daugherty, 42.
In June, a jury convicted Daugherty of three counts of sexual assault — two counts of oral copulation by force and one count of sexual penetration by force — on the two female victims.
That trial, which began at the end of May, was his second. The first had resulted in a hung jury last year.
“Sean Daugherty prayed on people that were vulnerable and had nowhere to go,” said Deputy District Attorney Richard Watson, who prosecuted the case. “Three of the four victims that testified against Daugherty were determined to have disabilities. This conviction brings closure and a sense of security to victims that still fear Daugherty.”
On Jan. 20, 2022, Lakeport Police Department Sgt. Ryan Cooley was dispatched to Elijah House, the name for the homeless shelter then operating at the former juvenile hall, to speak with a victim of sexual assault.
The victim told Cooley that she had been homeless and staying at St. Mary’s Catholic Church on the weekend of Jan. 1 to 3.
On Friday Jan. 1, she was attacked by a man she knew by the name D.K. during the middle of the night. D.K. was later identified as Sean Daugherty, the District Attorney’s Office reported.
Daugherty struck the victim in the face and head with his hand and forced her to orally copulate him. Daugherty also pulled the victim's pants part down and digitally penetrated her with force.
The following day Daugherty attempted to again assault the victim, so she called 911 and fled the area.
On Feb. 6, 2022, Sgt. Cooley was dispatched to Library Park in Lakeport for a welfare check of a female at the Third Street boat ramp. The second victim said that she had nowhere to stay and had been sexually assaulted earlier that day at St. Mary’s Catholic Church.
The second victim said she was assaulted by a man she had met that day named D.K. During her testimony at trial, she identified Sean Daugherty as D.K.
Daugherty struck her on the lower back and buttocks and forced her to perform oral sex on him. Daugherty also called her cruel and demeaning names as he assaulted her.
After the assault she left the church and remained in Lakeport at the park until contacted by law enforcement.
Daugherty was arrested in June 2022 and has remained in custody since then.
At trial both of his victims took the stand. Two additional victims also testified against Daugherty about prior sexual misconduct he had committed.
The third victim testified that Daugherty had assaulted him in 2015. He said he knew the person who had assaulted him as D.K. and identified his attacker as Sean Daugherty during testimony.
The fourth victim said that in 2017 she was 16 years old and had run away from home. She was staying at a church in Lakeport with a man named D.K. who she identified as Sean Daugherty during testimony.
Daugherty, who was 36 at the time, engaged in unlawful sex with the minor. The young woman testified that at no time did Daugherty take her home to her parents or call for help for her. He provided her alcohol and had sex with her.
Watson said the testimony of the third and fourth victims was admissible at the recent trial under California Rules of Evidence which allows evidence of prior sex offenses in a current sex assault case.
The four victims who testified did not know each other and had never met nor discussed the case with each other. But their stories and accounts of assault were very similar.
On June 2, after an hour of deliberations, the jury returned guilty verdicts against Daugherty on the three counts alleged in the information.
Defense attorney Angelina Potter represented Sean Daugherty and Watson prosecuted the case.
At an Aug. 1 sentencing hearing, Potter asked the judge to sentence the defendant to 30 years to life, citing other court cases.
Judge Markham held the sentencing over to this week in order to consider the matter.
On Tuesday, Daugherty took the stand to speak to the court before sentencing. His comments included accusations against the judge, his attorney and the prosecution about collusion and allegations that one of the victims who testified against him at trial had perjured herself. He also kept naming the victim even when the judge admonished him not to do so.
“You’re either going to do what I tell you to do or step down. You have a choice,” Markham told Daugherty.
When Daugherty continued to argue about how the trial was handled, the judge told him, “This isn’t an appeal. You’ll be able to file an appeal in this case.”
Markham then asked Daugherty if he had anything else to say. Daugherty paused and then continued to discuss the merits of the case.
When the judge told Daugherty to step out of the witness stand, he refused. Three bailiffs then came and removed him from the witness stand and sent him back to the defense table.
Watson argued that the court should impose the maximum sentence of 45 years due to the egregiousness of Daugherty’s conduct.
In sentencing Daugherty, Markham agreed with Watson and sentenced Daugherty to the higher term, citing a high degree of cruelty and callousness and victims who were particularly vulnerable.
Markham also noted that Daugherty has a criminal record that includes five felony convictions involving unlawful sexual behavior with force and violence against four victims since 2015. Daugherty committed the most recent offenses while on probation and while under the influence of alcohol, which the judge said he has a history of abusing.
“The defendant has failed to take responsibility for his conduct,” said Markham, adding that it’s clear Daugherty will continue his conduct unless he is kept in custody.
“The people in our society deserve to be protected from Mr. Daugherty for as long as possible,” Markham said.
In imposing the tougher sentence, Markham said, “Frankly this wasn't even a close call for the court.”
Lakeport Police Chief Brad Rasmussen reported the sentencing outcome to the Lakeport City Council at the end of its Tuesday night meeting.
Note: Editor/Publisher Elizabeth Larson was on the jury that convicted Daugherty in June and was present for the Aug. 1 and 15 sentencing hearings. This story is based on a news release issued by the District Attorney’s Office, with additional information reported from the sentencing hearings and the Lakeport City Council meeting.
NASA’s New Horizons team calls for the amateur astronomical community to augment the mission’s observations of Uranus and Neptune
NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft plans to observe Uranus and Neptune from its location far out in the outer solar system this fall, and the mission team is inviting the global amateur astronomy community to come along for the ride — and make a real contribution to space science — by observing both ice giants at the same time.
In September — in tandem with the Hubble Space Telescope — New Horizons will turn its color camera toward Uranus and Neptune. From New Horizons’ position in the Kuiper belt, more than 5 billion miles from Earth, these unique images acquired from “behind” the two giant planets will provide new insights into the atmospheres above and the energy balance within both worlds.
“By combining the information New Horizons collects in space with data from telescopes on Earth, we can supplement and even strengthen our models to uncover the mysteries swirling in the atmospheres of Uranus and Neptune,” said Alan Stern, New Horizons principal investigator from the Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colorado. “Even from amateur astronomer telescopes as small as 16 inches, these complementary observations can be extremely important.”
With New Horizons and Hubble focused on the details of the planets' atmospheres and the transfer of heat from their rocky cores through their gaseous exteriors, observers on Earth can measure the distribution of bright features on Uranus or characterize any unusually bright features on Neptune. They can also track those features much longer than either spacecraft.
Following the campaign, observers can post their images — as well as the details of when they were made and in what filter passbands — on X (formerly Twitter) or Facebook using the hashtag #NHIceGiants. The New Horizons team will see and collect the images and supporting information placed on these platforms using this identifying hashtag.
Full details on the campaign — including finder charts and observation tables — are available on the New Horizons website at (URL to come).
The Hubble images of Uranus and Neptune will be made publicly available in late September on the Mikulski Archive for Space Telescopes, or MAST, at https://archive.stsci.edu/.
The New Horizons team expects to receive the images of Uranus and Neptune from the spacecraft by the end of 2023 and will make them available as well.
The Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland, designed, built and operates the New Horizons spacecraft, and manages the mission for NASA's Science Mission Directorate. Southwest Research Institute, in San Antonio and Boulder, Colorado, directs the mission via Principal Investigator Alan Stern, and leads the science team, payload operations and encounter science planning.
New Horizons is part of the New Frontiers Program managed by NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama.
MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. — Forest officials have issued a closure order for a portion of the Yolla Bolly Middle Eel Wilderness, including several trailheads, trails and roads, effective Friday, Aug. 18 through April 1, 2024.
The Slide 1 Fire, which began on Aug. 15 after more than 150 lightning strikes on the forest, prompted officials to issue the closure order.
Firefighters are actively using the roads, trails and recreation sites in the closure area.
Access for any recreation activities including hunting or hiking is prohibited in the closure area.
“We know it is hunting season, and people want to camp and hunt in their favorite spots. However, this closure is necessary to protect the public as well as our fire personnel from potential injury due to hazards in the fire area,” said Forest Supervisor Wade McMaster.
Except for this closure and the State Game Refuge, the rest of the forest is open to hunting during the seasons designated by the California State Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Officials also want to remind visitors that fire restrictions are in effect, prohibiting campfires, open flames or stove fires while dispersed camping. Within designated fire-safe recreation sites and wilderness areas, campfires are allowed with a valid permit.
The M22 Road remains open, however visitors should drive with caution and expect fire traffic.
Areas closed include:
Yolla Bolly Middle Eel Wilderness area within the Grindstone Ranger District Ides Cove Backpacker Trailhead Ides Cove Horsepacker Trailhead
Trails closed include:
9W01 9W03 9W04 9W51 9W54 9W80 10W09 10W93 10W91
Roads closed include:
25N14 25N24 25N19 25N19A 25N19C 25N21 25N21C
Emergency personnel on official duty and anyone with a permit specifically exempting them are exempted from this order.
LAKEPORT, Calif. — Konocti Vista Casino said it awarded a multimillion dollar jackpot this week, calling the win by a patron “a truly historic event.”
On Wednesday, the patron hit the largest jackpot in the casino and resort’s history, $3,278,372.39, on the iconic Megabucks slot machine located in the High Limit room.
The lucky player, who chose to keep his identity private, was playing with just a $3 wager, the casino said.
Casino officials said that after only $168 in play, the moment turned legendary when the Megabucks machine signaled the life-changing win.
Witnesses recounted the winner's “genuine astonishment and overwhelming joy, reflecting the rarity and magnitude of such a victory,” the casino said.
"We've had our fair share of jackpot winners, but this is truly unprecedented," said Konocti Vista Casino General Manager Jorge Garcia. “It's always been our mission to provide a top-notch gaming experience for our guests, and moments like this reinforce why Konocti Vista Casino is the community's favorite entertainment destination.”
Casino officials said the “monumental win” has set a new benchmark for the casino and for Lake County.
Konocti Vista Casino is the only casino on the shores of Clear Lake, and features its own private 90-slip sheltered marina, 77 lakeside hotel rooms with full convenience store, 74 space full-service RV park and its family oriented Fun Zone Arcade open daily.