The agencies were on scene until late while working on the hazmat spill on Tuesday, October 11, 2011, near Lucerne, Calif. Photo by Gary McAuley.

The spill resulted from a fuel tanker rollover that was reported just before 2:30 p.m. in the 8800 block of E. Highway 20, a quarter-mile off of the highway, according to the initial California Highway Patrol report.

Initial reports were that 700 gallons of kerosene were spilled because of the tanker rolling over.

A Jonas Oil fuel tanker had rolled down a hillside while making a delivery to a private residence. The driver reported to officials that he tried to miss the branches of a tree that had encroached into his lane by driving onto the right shoulder.

However, the road's shoulder was soft and the truck slid off, rolling two to three times, according to estimates from officials at the scene.

The truck came to rest on its passenger side – approximately 100 feet off the roadway – against an oak tree. One of the tank's vent caps was damaged, causing the spill.

The driver reported to officials that only three of the tank's four compartments contained some amount of fuel, though it was unknown just how much remained after a morning of deliveries.

Officials at the scene said the driver was wearing his seat belt and was able to get out of the truck on his own. He reported being unharmed and denied medical attention, but was assessed by a paramedic on scene. He later was taken to St. Helena Hospital Clearlake for a mandatory blood draw, as is common in crashes.

Jonas had representatives on scene shortly after the incident occurred, providing assistance and information to the incident command set up at the scene.

The initial fire crew on scene disabled the trucks electrical system and set up a hazardous materials leak containment system. The Lake County Hazmat Unit arrived on scene and then secured the damaged area and stopped the leak.

After an assessment by officials on scene, it was determined that in order for the tow company to recover the vehicle safely, a “stinger operation” would have to occur, in which the fuel tank's compartments are tapped and drilled into and then vacuumed of there fluid contents into another tanker.

This operation requires a minimum of six hazmat trained personnel, but only three of Lake County's team were available to respond, so a mutual aid request was made to neighboring Mendocino County's Redwood Empire Hazardous Incident Team, and they responded.

Two tow and recovery trucks were called in from Pope Valley; they winched off the tanker to provide stabilization so the crews could work safely around the vehicle.

REHIT arrived approximately three hours into the incident, and a plan was made involving the four agencies on scene – Northshore Fire, Cal Fire, Lake County Hazmat and REHIT. As night fell, crews worked together getting equipment to the site.

In just under an hour, the stinger operation was able to remove 1,085 gallons of kerosene were removed from the truck.

Officials said it will be determined how much of the trucks kerosene was lost once the truck's delivery logs were scrutinized.

The tanker's maximum capacity was 2,800 gallons, but with an unknown amount delivered, hazmat officials estimated somewhere between 100 to 600 gallons spilled onto the hillside.

The crews had a debriefing and the all the command staff had high praise for the teamwork of the agencies on scene.

Northshore Fire Protection District responded with a chief, deputy chief, two engines, medic unit, rescue, support unit and water tender; Lake County Fire responded with the hazmat unit and a division chief; Cal Fire responded with an engine; and also responding were the California Environmental Health Agency, California Department of Fish and Game and CHP.

Nearly 30 emergency personnel were on hand representing the six agencies.

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A tanker overturned on the afternoon of Tuesday, October 11, 2011, near Lucerne, Calif., necessitating a six-agency response due to concerns that several hundred gallons of kerosene were spilled. Photo by Gary McAuley.

A hazmat team uses a

Vikki Lynn Lowry, 55, of Clearlake, Calif., was arrested on Friday, October 7, 2011, was arrested in connection to an Internet fraud case. Lake County Jail photo.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A Clearlake woman has been arrested following an investigation into allegations that she defrauded a Canadian man in an Internet transaction.

Vikki Lynn Lowry, 55, was arrested on felony counts of forgery, forging an official seal, petty theft with a previous jail term and a felony probation violation, according to Lake County Jail records.

Clearlake Police Sgt. Rodd Joseph said that on the morning of Tuesday, Oct. 4, a man called the Clearlake Police Department from Toronto, Canada, reporting that he had placed a cellular phone for sale on the Internet site Craigslist in late September.

The man said that Lowry contacted him via email and stated she was interested in purchasing the cellular phone from him. Joseph said the man claimed that Lowry sent emails to him in Canada, which falsely reported she had sent money to his PayPal account.

Believing the emails to be valid at the time, the victim shipped the phone to Lowry at a Clearlake address via the Canadian Postal Service, Joseph said. After sending the package, the victim learned that the emails were fictitious and he had not actually been paid.

Joseph said the alleged victim attempted to stop the shipment but learned that the package was already in the custody of the United States Postal Service and his local law enforcement could not assist him. He subsequently asked the Clearlake Police Department for assistance.

Clearlake Police verified the victim’s story with the Ontario Provincial Police, and working with the US Postal Service Clearlake Police officers managed to intercept the package at the Clearlake Post Office prior to it going out to delivery, according to Joseph.

Additional information was gathered during the investigation which led officers to believe that there were other possible fraud victims from Canada and elsewhere associated with Lowry and the same Clearlake residence, Joseph said.

Joseph said that with information obtained during the investigation, Det. Ryan Peterson was able to secure a search warrant for the suspect’s home located in the 3000 block of 12th Street.

Last Friday, Oct. 7, Clearlake Police officers along with US Postal Service law enforcement officers conducted an undercover operation at Lowry's residence on 12th Street, Joseph said. Once the undercover operation was completed, Clearlake Police officers and Detectives immediately served the search warrant at the residence.

Joseph said Lowry was located at the home and arrested, and evidence was located and seized pursuant to the search warrant service.

He said the stolen cellular phone has been returned to the victim in Canada.

Though this case has been submitted to the Lake County District Attorney’s Office for charges, the case is still under investigation and additional fraud victims are still being sought. Joseph said that with evidence obtained at Lowry’s residence, additional charges may be forthcoming.

Lowry remained in the Lake County Jail on Tuesday on the probation hold.

Any person with information on this matter is asked to contact Detective Ryan Peterson at 707-994-8251. Callers may remain anonymous.

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SB 819, by Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco), allows the use of existing regulatory fees collected by gun dealers to fund the Armed Prohibited Persons System (APPS), a program administered by the California Department of Justice.

California Attorney General Kamala Harris praised Brown for signing the bill.

“Department of Justice Special Agents are the secret weapon of California law enforcement,” said Harris. “I applaud Gov. Brown for signing this law that will authorize our special agents to utilize existing funds to seize firearms from felons, gang members, the mentally ill and others who cannot legally possess such weapons.”

Harris added, “Seizing guns from the most dangerous among us is the kind of smart law enforcement that makes a difference in the everyday lives of Californians.”

Leno said there is “a troubling blind spot” in the state's current enforcement of firearms laws.

“Thousands of gun owners who once obtained their weapons legally still possess firearms despite subsequent issues, including criminal activities, which disqualify them from owning weapons,” said Leno. “Innocent lives have been lost because we allow guns to be in the hands of known criminals and people who have serious mental illnesses. SB 819 helps remedy this troubling threat to public safety.”

The Bureau of Firearms has identified more than 18,000 Californians who illegally possess tens of thousands of firearms. Every day, 15 to 20 names are added to the list of prohibited persons who own firearms.

SB 819 allows the Department of Justice to use a surplus from the Dealer's Record of Sale account to enforce APPS.

The program, which began in 2007, cross-references five databases to find people who legally purchased firearms since 1996 with those who have since been prohibited from owning or possessing them.

Law enforcement officials in California have long struggled to disarm people who are prohibited from owning a firearm.

State and local officials lack the resources necessary to confiscate the enormous backlog of weapons, nor can they keep up with the daily influx of newly-prohibited persons. SB 819 helps to ensure that more persons on the APPS list are identified and their weapons confiscated.

In June, Harris announced the results of a statewide sweep in which 1,209 firearms were seized from individuals legally barred from possessing them.

The six-week sweep conducted by 99 agents from the Department of Justice also seized 155,731 rounds of ammunition and two grenades.

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On Wednesday, October 12, 2011, Congressman Mike Thompson and fellow members of the California Democratic Congressional Delegation called on President Barack Obama to act to deal with the country's troubled housing market. Photo courtesy of Congressman Mike Thompson's office.

On Wednesday Congressman Mike Thompson (CA-1) joined 32 members of the California Democratic Congressional Delegation in sending a letter to President Obama urging him and the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) to act immediately to address our country’s troubled housing market.

More than two million homeowners in California owe more on their homes then their homes are worth, which equals 30 percent of all California homes with mortgages.

“Our economy will continue to suffer and taxpayer confidence will never return if we do not help hard working families navigate through this mortgage nightmare,” said Thompson. “Nothing the FHFA or the Administration has done is working and Californians are the ones who are suffering. Families are living paycheck to paycheck, struggling to keep roofs over their heads. Doing nothing is not an option. Today we are calling on the White House and the FHFA to step up and take immediate action to help our communities and hard working middle-class families who just want to keep their homes.”

Specifically, the letter calls on President Obama to urge the Federal Housing Finance Agency to establish a plan to refinance all mortgages owned or guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and to push for a major principal reduction plan for underwater homeowners, such as modifications in coordination with Chapter 13 bankruptcy filings.

The delegation is also asking that a “Homeowner’s Bill Of Rights” be instituted, which would apply to Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP), the Federal Housing Finance Agency FHFA, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and private servicer modification programs.

That program would make the process homeowner-friendly, eliminate needless obstacles to effective modifications, and ensure accountability and establish an appeals process.

The full text of the letter is below.

October 11, 2011

The President

The White House

Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Obama:

As Members of Congress from California, we are writing to express our continuing concerns about the ongoing housing market decline and the manner in which the financial institutions are handling delinquent mortgages, mortgage modifications, and foreclosures. We believe that these institutions are failing to act in good faith and that there are immediate steps your Administration should be taking to address the devastating problems facing homeowners.

On October 4, 2010, we wrote to your Administration requesting help for struggling homeowners who were at the mercy of mortgage servicers. Our letter included dozens of cases from throughout California that highlighted systemic problems in the way financial institutions handle mortgages and the foreclosure process. Since then, we have held meetings with the Secretary of Treasury, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and others outlining the enormous obstacles facing our constituents who are trying to save their homes. Additionally, in March 2011, a group of Members requested a meeting with the Vice President to discuss ways the Administration can be helpful. We continue to hear from our constituents that servicers are uncooperative, misleading and even deliberately obstructive and we have not seen successful efforts from your Administration in response.

In September 2011, RealtyTrac released data that showed that one in every 226 housing units in California had a foreclosure filing during the month of August alone – more than twice the national average. The data also showed that California had a staggering 55% increase in foreclosure notices in August, the second highest in the nation. Numerous reports indicate that our housing troubles are worsening. Each foreclosure represents a missed opportunity for a family to stay in its home. We cannot afford to allow this to continue.

We therefore respectfully urge you to take the following actions:

• Urge the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) to use its conservatorship of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to allow all mortgages currently owned or guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac that meet basic criteria the opportunity to refinance at historically low market rate. This would allow homeowners to reduce their monthly mortgage payment by hundreds of dollars — reducing the number of defaults and preventing foreclosure.

• Secure a far greater number of meaningful principal reductions for underwater homeowners. One promising possibility would be a temporary reduction in the interest rates of certain homeowners who file for Chapter 13 bankruptcy, so that the entirety of their monthly payments would go to paying down their principal balances for five years. Coordination with the bankruptcy process would make these reductions more likely to succeed than other types of loan modifications, while also limiting the program to those who truly need it and avoiding the administrative failures that have plagued many other initiatives. Such a plan could be implemented for mortgages held by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, as we believe that such a plan would be entirely consistent with FHFA’s obligation to minimize taxpayer losses in the Enterprises. This plan could also be implemented as part of the nationwide settlement currently being negotiated by a group of state attorneys general.

• Institute a “Homeowner’s Bill Of Rights” that would apply to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Veterans Affairs, Home Affordable Mortgage Program, Federal Housing Finance Agency, and private servicer modification programs and include the following:

• Make the process homeowner-friendly: Establish a single point of contact; require servicers to review documents within a timely fashion and disclose information about the process; and ban “advanced fees.”

• Eliminate needless obstacles to effective modifications: Allow for flexibility in the debt to income ratio; end the requirement that homeowners be delinquent in order to be eligible for a loan modification; cease dual tracking; and prohibit servicers from reporting adverse credit information while trial or permanent modification is underway.

• Ensure accountability and establish an appeals process: Create an Office of Consumer Advocate; conduct random audits of modifications; and establish an independent appeals process for homeowners who believe their modifications have been improperly rejected or handled in violation of program rules.

These are actions that can be taken immediately by your Administration to help address the overwhelming problems facing our constituents. We understand that these are not the only actions that must be taken, and we will continue to work in Congress on behalf of struggling homeowners to encourage recovery in the housing market and to prevent similar problems in the future.

Our current economic crisis began in the housing market. Until the housing market is stabilized, our economy will not be able to fully recover. We hope you will act in the best interest of the American people who are facing extreme hardships to keep homeowners in their homes and stabilize the economy.

Mike Thompson

Joe Baca

Karen Bass

Xavier Becerra

Howard Berman

Lois Capps

Dennis Cardoza

Judy Chu

Jim Costa

Susan Davis

Anna Eshoo

Sam Farr

Bob Filner

John Garamendi

Janice Hahn

Mike Honda

Barbara Lee

Zoe Lofgren

Doris Matsui

Jerry McNerney

George Miller

Grace Napolitano

Laura Richardson

Lucille Roybal-Allard

Linda Sanchez

Loretta Sanchez

Adam Schiff

Brad Sherman

Jackie Speier

Pete Stark

Henry Waxman

Lynn Woolsey

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The Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association is looking at the possibility of a partnership with the state to keep Anderson Marsh State Historic Park open. Such an agreement is possible under the newly signed AB 42. Courtesy photo.

LOWER LAKE, Calif. – Thanks to a new law, state parks slated for closure – including Lake County's own Anderson Marsh – could be spared through cooperative agreements with nonprofits.

On Oct. 4, Gov. Jerry Brown signed AB 42 by Assemblyman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael).

According to a report from Huffman's office, AB 42 authorizes the California Department of Parks and Recreation to enter into operating agreements with qualified nonprofit organizations to operate a state park unit if the agreement will enable the state to keep open a state park that would otherwise be closed.

In a statement, Huffman said his bill represents “a creative solution” to allow some parks to remain open despite the state's budget challenges.

“Particularly in these tough economic times, creative public/private partnerships are an essential tool in providing ongoing protection of, and continued access to, these treasured public assets,” said Huffman. “As we struggle to address California’s state budget deficit, I will continue to work to protect funding for state parks.”

The bill also has the support of the California State Parks Foundation, which said state parks are more at risk now than ever before.

“By signing AB 42, Gov. Brown has recognized that nonprofit organizations are essential partners to our state parks, particularly as 70 parks are set to close,” said Elizabeth Goldstein, president of the California State Parks Foundation.

In 2008, 2009 and again this year, Anderson Marsh State Historic Park was included on a list of parks proposed for closure due to budget cuts.

But with AB 42 now law, the Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association may be able to move forward with an agreement with the state to keep the park open.

The 1,000-acre park – which contains Pomo archaeological sites estimated to be at least 10,000 years old as well as a 19^th century ranch house and barn complex – was acquired by the state in 1982. Two years later, AMIA formed to support it, according to a history of the group on its Web site, www.andersonmarsh.org/.

The group of volunteers organizes walks and outdoor education events at the park, puts on an annual Christmas event and for the last six years has hosted the Old Time Bluegrass Festival, with the park as its backdrop. AMIA's fundraisers also support conservation and facilities rehabilitation projects at the park.

Volunteers have continued to urge the state to keep the park open despite its appearance on the closure lists, and they're willing to step up and make a bigger commitment to keep it accessible to the public, said Henry Bornstein, AMIA treasurer and board member.

“We are definitely very interested in keeping the park open by funding some sort of agreement with the state,” said Bornstein. “We've been talking with the state and they are very interested in doing that also.”

The exploration of such an agreement already had begun before AB 42 became law, according to Bornstein, but they had to wait for the governor's signature to move forward.

Bornstein said there are two possible scenarios – a full or partial operating agreement between AMIA and the state, or a comanagement agreement in which the state and the group each would have certain responsibilities.

“They all amount to the same thing, which is that AMIA would go to the local community, which has been very supportive, to see if people want to get together with us and keep the park open,” he said.

AMIA is meeting this month with the sector and district park superintendents to begin formal negotiations, Bornstein said.

The park isn't huge, and it doesn't have big bills, said Bornstein.

He estimated that the park annually costs as much as $12,000 a year to operate. “Because of that we think this is really doable. It's within our range to do it.”

It's a realistic goal, especially considering that Bornstein said the bluegrass festival, AMIA's main fundraiser, raised $7,000 last year. “That's significant funding.”

Referring to a statement by State Parks Director Ruth Coleman, Bornstein said the new model for running parks involves thinking outside of the box.

Bornstein said AMIA is looking at partnering with local agencies, service groups and businesses to secure all the needed funding to keep the park operating at its current level.

“There's a lot of interest,” he said.

If AMIA reaches an agreement with the state, Bornstein said a public meeting would take place to kick off the group's effort to help operate the park.

Bornstein said Anderson Marsh went into a seasonal closure on Sept. 12, but AMIA plans to continue offering nature walks in October and November.

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CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – After four years of strife resulting from overturned or delayed elections and the disenrollments of dozens of tribal members, a majority of the members of the Robinson Rancheria Band of Pomo decided they had had enough.

Meeting on Sunday afternoon at Elem Colony in Clearlake Oaks, tribal members acted, in their words, to take back control of their tribe by kicking out the sitting council, installing a new one and voiding the tribal government structure.

“It just shows that we're all fed up,” said EJ Crandell, who by meeting's end would find himself among the newly elected council members.

According to the organizers of the Sunday meeting, based on Bureau of Indian Affairs guidelines and the tribe's own constitution, approximately 75 enrolled members – or 51 percent of the tribal roll – needed to take part in the voting to make it valid.

Of the close to 100 people present, it was determined that 79 enrolled members were present, clearing the way for them to move forward on a slate of 12 resolutions.

And move they did, swiftly voting unanimously to nullify a 31-year-old tribal constitution and removing from power the sitting tribal council, which includes Chair Tracey Avila and members Curtis Anderson Jr., Michelle Monlo, Kim Fernandez, Stoney Timmons and Nick Medina.

“It's a new world. It's a new path,” said Clayton Duncan, who was elected the interim tribal chair.

Along with Duncan, the new interim council will include Bruce White, Nathan Solario, Monty Orozco, Rosita Anderson and Crandell, a slate accepted as part of the agendized resolutions.

The new council will spend the next 90 days working to get the tribe's operations back up and running, appointing new committees and setting up an election for permanent officers.

“We're going to go in there and work,” said Duncan, who has experience as a former council member.

Part of the goal will be to investigate the tribe's finances.

Members of the new council alleged at the meeting that late last week Avila had $2.3 million removed from the vaults of the tribe's casino in Nice and put into the care of the tribe's attorney, Lester Marston of Ukiah.

Computers and other equipment also were reportedly taken from the tribal administrative offices late last week, and questions were raised about what had happened to nearly $200,000 in other tribal funds.

Last week, Marston and Avila also went on the offensive, sending a letter to the BIA claiming that the organization of the special meeting was due to the efforts of those disenrolled over the last three years.

Marston's Oct. 4 letter also claimed that some of those same people were living in tribal housing with delinquent rent, and that the tribe had not evicted them due to concerns over violence.

Tribal members received a packet that included, along with Marston's letter, a letter from the casino's human resources director reporting that the tribe's post office box had been closed.

Solario said that the US Postal Service had cut off the mail delivery and was conducting an investigation. That may be due to issues raised at the meeting which included concerns that mail was being taken from members' boxes.

Tribal members on Sunday claimed that Avila and her council have spent years trampling on their rights, refusing to hold elections, invalidating elections in which Avila was not reelected and using tribal resources for their own uses. Her tenure as tribal council chair was compared to a dictatorship.

The BIA in July sent Avila a letter urging her to hold tribal elections in accordance with the tribe's constitution and election ordinances, which as of the Sunday meeting still hadn't taken place.

Questions also arose Sunday about members' per capita payments – which they are paid every two months – that have been withheld from most of the tribe while family members of Avila and others on the ousted council had been paid.

Avila was arrested late last month on charges that she embezzled more than $60,000 from the Elem Colony while she was a bookkeeper there form 2006 to 2008, as Lake County News has reported.

Avila's arrest appeared to galvanize opponents, who passed out copies of her mugshot and articles written about her arrest at Sunday's meeting.

Other votes taken during the two and a half hour Sunday afternoon meeting included lowering the tribal council's weekly salaries from a reported $2,500 to $2,800 per week that Avila and the former council were drawing to $1,000 per week for new council members going forward.

They also voted to remove the gaming commission and replace it with three new members, setting their salaries at $1,000 per week; removed check signers on the bank's accounts and assign new ones; and removed all members of existing delegations, committees and commissions.

The one resolution that didn't move forward was the reinstating of those who were disenrolled from the tribe. After discussion, that matter was tabled, and the interim council pledged to make it a priority to reinstate those members wrongly removed from the tribal rolls.

The last of the resolutions to receive a vote was one to bar Avila and the former council and gaming commission from entering all tribal properties – from the casino and administration office to social services the tribe supports. That same resolution also suspended the membership rights of the former council pending the outcome of an investigation into alleged wrongdoing.

Some people called for Avila and her colleagues on the former council to be disenrolled themselves, but the interim council urged against that action.

The actions on Sunday suggested that the power had shifted.

“It's over for them. They don't have the checkbook any more,” Wanda Quitiquit, who along with her family was disenrolled from the tribe in 2009, said of the former council.

Her sister, Luwana, appealed to the interim council not just to investigate but to fire Marston, who she said has continued to take legal actions against her and many others in an attempt to evict them from their homes.

After the meeting, tribal members hugged and congratulated each other. Many agreed with Duncan that it was a new day, and that it was a time to hold their heads high.

Bernardine Tripp, one of the organizers of the action, thanked the many nontribal members who had offered support in the effort.

She told the group on Sunday that they had the support, prayers and good wishes of many people in the larger Lake County community.

Outside of the meeting two Lake County Sheriff's deputies were on the scene, organizers had asked the sheriff's office to ask for assistance in case a confrontation arose. But the meeting was peaceful and by the time it was over the deputies had left.

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The incident, which involved a male victim, was reported at about 8:50 p.m. at the Jack in the Box at Dam Road and Highway 53.

Reports from the scene indicated that the suspect in the stabbing – who reportedly worked at the nearby Carl's Jr. – threw a rock at a vehicle that was described as a green Ford Focus.

In response, a 22-year-old male got out of the car and went after the subject who had thrown the rock, based on radio reports.

The suspect – believed to be a gang member – then reportedly stabbed the man in the leg using a pocket knife, according to radio traffic.

Following the stabbing the suspect was reported to have stolen the vehicle and fled the scene.

A vehicle that had been left on the side of the road nearby initially was thought to be the one that had been stolen, but it was later determined to be the wrong car, according to reports on the radio and an entry in the California Highway Patrol online incident logs.

Lake County Fire Protection District paramedics responded to the scene within minutes, with a district ambulance transporting the male stabbing victim to St. Helena Hospital Clearlake.

Radio traffic indicated police were still looking for the suspect shortly before midnight Wednesday.

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The first substantial rainfalls for the season occurred as October began, followed by several days of warm and sunny weather – before rains returned on Monday.

The winegrape harvest has stalled as growers wait on red varietals and the walnut harvest gets under way, but luckily forecasters are predicting skies to clear Tuesday afternoon with a warming trend and abundant sunshine to ramp up throughout the remainder of the week.

Forecasters state that Wednesday and Thursday will both top out in the 80s, with Thursday reaching into the mid- to upper-80s before temperatures dip slowly back to the 70s for at least the next 10 days.

Overnight temperatures are expected to remain in the mid-40s to 50s throughout this period.

Forecasters at AccuWeather.com report that apart from the Southwest United States, people across the western US, including Lake County, can expect large swings in weather conditions throughout the winter, according to their Long-Range Forecasting Team.

December is likely to feature above-normal warmth across much of the entire West, however from late December into January, the team expects a transition where cold fronts will drop farther south along the West Coast, reaching Northern and Central California and bringing temperatures back to near normal in Lake County.

The famed “Pineapple Express” – a phenomenon that occurs when a strong, persistent flow of tropical moisture sets up from the Hawaiian Islands to the West Coast of the U.S. – could develop for a time this winter according to Accuweather.com, which explains that this phenomenon often leads to excessive rain and incredible snow events.

“Last year, California was hit hard when the Pineapple Express set up from Dec. 17-22, producing massive flooding and 13 feet of snow in the Sierra,” senior meteorologist Paul Pastelok with AccuWeather explained.

During that time, Lake County received several inches of rain, as previously reported.

“The Pineapple Express could develop for a period this winter and take aim at northern and central California. That could lead to monster snowfall and heavy valley rain with the risk of flooding and mudslides,” according to Pastelok.

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

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The delay will allow the project proponent, AltaGas Renewable Energy Pacific Inc., time to complete a revised plan of development, according to a statement from the Bureau of Land Management.

Alta Gas applied for a right-of-way authorization on public lands for a 67-megawatt wind energy project with an interconnection to the Pacific Gas & Electric 115-kiloVolt distribution system.

The Bureau of Land Management’s Ukiah Field Office received a letter on Oct. 5 from AltaGas requesting a delay until 2012.

Although the draft environmental impact study release has been delayed, a notice from the Environmental Protection Agency announcing the document’s availability published in the Federal Register today because there was not enough time after BLM’s receipt of AltaGas’ letter to cancel the EPA’s notice.

A retraction of the EPA notice will be published in the Federal Register this week.

The proposed project would be built within a 7,882-acre right-of-way on federal land on Walker Ridge under the jurisdiction of the BLM Ukiah Field Office.

The draft environmental impact study alternatives include 29 or 42 wind turbine generators, an underground electrical collection system, a substation, a 115-kV overhead transmission line, an interconnect station, an operations and maintenance building, access roads, and a temporary lay down area.

The draft environmental impact study will analyze site-specific and cumulative impacts of the alternatives to the environment, the Bureau of Land Management reported.

The Ukiah Field Office Resource Management Plan identified the Indian Valley Management area, which includes Walker Ridge, as available for wind energy development.

The draft environmental impact study describes and analyzes the proposed action and alternatives, including measures to avoid, minimize or mitigate impacts on the environment.

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Early indications are, it's working, according to CHP Lt. Greg Baarts, commander of the Clear Lake Area office.

“We’re encouraged by the preliminary figures which show a considerable decrease in the number of collisions and people injured or killed as a result of DUI crashes, as well as motorcycle-involved collisions,” Baarts said.

To accomplish the goals set for the “Five Alive” grant, CHP’s Clear Lake Area office conducted enhanced enforcement efforts that were directed at impaired drivers and at assuring the safety of motorcyclists throughout the region.

The enforcement effort was in addition to aggressive public education and awareness programs about the dangers of impaired driving, the CHP reported.

These grant-funded enforcement programs included: 252 individual DUI saturation patrols, four motorcycle safety operations conducted during motorcycle rallies and eight DUI motorcycle enforcement task force operations.

The enforcement operations were conducted in conjunction with other local law enforcement agencies, warrant service operations targeting drivers with multiple DUI offenses and CHP air operations.

Lake County provides a primary thoroughfare linking Interstate 5 and U.S. 101 via state routes 20, 29, and 53. These scenic and winding roadways are favored by thousands of motorcyclists, often while riding in special motorcycle-related events.

The CHP said alcohol is also commonly served at these events, which compounds the problem. Some of the visitors to nearby wineries also drive while impaired through Lake County.

“Remember, when you’re on a ride, please stay alert, ride the speed limit, and ride sober. And don’t forget to wear the proper protective gear,” added “If you’re in a car, watch for motorcycles and share the road.”

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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“The four million adults who drink and drive each year put everyone on the road at risk,” said CDC Director Thomas R. Frieden, M.D., M.P.H. “In fact, nearly 11,000 people are killed every year in crashes that involve an alcohol-impaired driver.”

For the study, CDC analyzed data from the 2010 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey.

The study also found that:

• Men were responsible for 81 percent of drinking and driving in 2010.

• Young men, ages 21-34, made up only 11 percent of the U.S. population in 2010, yet were responsible for 32 percent of all episodes of drinking and driving.

• Eighty-five percent of drinking and driving episodes were reported by people who also reported binge drinking. Binge drinking means five or more drinks for men or four or more drinks for women during a short period of time.

“Drunk driving is a public health problem with far-reaching effects,” said Linda C. Degutis, Dr.P.H., M.S.N., director of CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. “Drunk drivers, who have delayed reaction times and reflexes, put even the most responsible drivers and pedestrians in harm’s way. Public support to prevent drunk driving is strong. Thankfully, there are proven ways to protect everyone on the road.”

Proven, effective strategies to prevent alcohol-impaired driving include:

• Sobriety checkpoints: At sobriety checkpoints drivers are stopped to assess their level of alcohol impairment. According to the Transportation Research Board, more widespread, frequent use of these checkpoints could save about 1,500 to 3,000 lives on the road each year.

• Minimum legal drinking age laws: These laws prohibit selling alcohol to people under age 21 in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Keeping 21 as the minimum legal drinking age helps keep young, inexperienced drivers from drinking and driving.

• Ignition interlocks: These devices prevent drivers who were convicted of alcohol-impaired driving from operating their vehicles if they have been drinking. Interlocks are effective in reducing re-arrest rates from drinking and driving by about two-thirds while the device is on the vehicle.

For more information about drinking and driving and overall motor vehicle safety, please visit www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety and www.cdc.gov/injury. In addition, a policy issue brief, Policy Impact: Alcohol-Impaired Driving, features more information on state policies to prevent alcohol-impaired driving. For a copy of the data brief, visit www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/alcoholbrief.

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A view from the top of Mt. Konocti. Photo by Wayne Diggs.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – How many of us have sat and looked at the majestic Mt. Konocti and wondered just what the view would be like if you could only get to the top?

Well, until just a few months ago, this was most likely not going to happen. Now it can.

Mt. Konocti is a dormant volcano thought to have last erupted perhaps 10,000 years ago. There is archaeological evidence of the Pomo and Wappo Indian occupation of the Clear Lake area over 11,000 years ago. Although they never inhabited Mt. Konocti, they were – as we are – awed by its beauty.

The park was acquired in 2009 by the county of Lake. The county-owned portion of the park is more than 1,500 acres, with nearly 800 adjoining acres owned by the Bureau of Land Management.

So, let’s get started. Pick up the county brochure as there are some interesting facts here as well as a good map of the hike. These are available at the county parks office and sometimes at the gate. Information about the park also can be found here: http://www.konoctitrails.com/trails-information/mt-konocti-regional-park.

First off, at least initially, the county has placed several restrictions on the use of the park. Basically you can only bring your kids and your lunch. No dogs, motorized vehicles, bikes or horses.

Start out in downtown Kelseyville and take Konocti Road at the south end of town. You will drive up about four miles and come to the main gate, another mile or so to the main parking lot.

The road will be dusty or perhaps a bit muddy now that the rains have started, but it is a good solid surface gravel road, suitable for just about anything with four wheels.

Once you leave the parking lot, follow the road up to another gate and pedestrian turn-stile. This stretch is going to fool you though. It seems so easy at first. Let's not quibble about it, this isn’t an easy hike, but not really too difficult either. You will gain 1,650 feet in elevation, and it is truly a six mile round trip, to the top of Wright Peak and the fire tower.

Very quickly you start up hill. As you skirt off the fire road to avoid private property, it gets really steep for about one-quarter mile. This is the test, make this and you can do the rest.

I am going to describe this in terms of time, not miles as most of us have no idea of how long a mile is when you are walking it. I am well into my 60ss and not a professional hiker. It took me two hours and 15 minutes total, about one and three-quarters hours of actual hiking to reach the top.

The Cal Fire tower on top of Mt. Konocti. Photo by Wayne Diggs.

So, the first hour is a mostly a steady uphill climb with glimpses of lake views towards the north and west; some very nice views of Lakeport and Kelseyville.

You will come to the first fork in the road; going left takes you to Buckingham Peak (elevation 3,952 feet) which is a five-mile round trip, better left for another day. Continue for another 15 minutes into a stand of towering canyon oaks, some believed to be more than 500 years old. You are now at 3,500 feet in elevation, well on your way to the top at 4,299 feet in elevation.

As you pass through the deep forest, just past the second walnut orchard you will come to a road off to your right. This is a lesser used road which will take you to Mary Downen’s cabin built in 1903. She lived here and tended her walnut orchard, by herself, signaling her daughter in Lakeport with a mirror every day at 2 p.m. that all was well.

I spent about 20 minutes looking at the cabin and surrounding area; it was a nice placed to take a break. I saw several deer and evidence of other wild life in the little orchard. From here it took me half an hour of steady hiking, up some 10 percent to 12 percent grades and I was at the top.

Continuing on back to the main road, you really start to gain elevation from here to the top. About 15 minutes from the top you will see a road off to the left which will take you to Howard Peak at 4,286 feet elevation, about a half-mile diversion. Again, I left this for another day.

Soon, you have arrived at the top and will be greeted by the fire tower, which in my case I had looked at through my telescope many times and wondered just what it would look like close up. It is a bit taller and larger than I expected, and kind of shaky looking. But, it was built 1964 and has withstood the test of time.

I was a bit disappointed that the county had not cleared the brush blocking your view toward the north. Unless you hit it on a day when the docent is on duty, you can not climb the tower for the best 360-degree unobstructed views. However, looking to the south I was able to clearly see the top of Mount St. Helena at 4,330 feet elevation, just a few feet higher than my location. Looking a bit east I could see the Sutter Buttes and to the west the Mayacamas and the steam from the Geysers.

It took me a total of two hours 15 minutes to reach the top of Wright Peak and the tower, which included a 20- to 30-minute break at Mary’s cabin. This is a 1,650 foot gain in elevation from the parking lot.

If you are younger or a more experienced hiker you could make it in less time, but I think that anyone in reasonable shape who does some hiking can do this trip. Back to the car took one hour and 30 minutes and it was all downhill. There are three porta-potties along the way, but no source for water.

This is a hike that is best done on a cool day, when the top of the mountain is clear of fog or mist. It is well worth the effort if only to be able to say, “I hiked to the top.”

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One of the oaks in the ancient oak grove that visitors will be able to visit while hiking through Mt. Konocti County Park. Photo by Elizabeth Larson.