The 3,000-square-foot lodge at Four Springs Retreat, located outside of Middletown, burned Monday night, as Lake County News has reported.

The building at the 55-year-old resort was valued at about $800,000, according to fire officials.

Cal Fire said that its investigator from the Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit concluded the inquiry into the cause and origin of the retreat's fire on Wednesday.

The investigation found that on midday Monday, the fire pit's ashes were improperly disposed of, with someone placing the ashes into a plastic bag, then placing the plastic bag into a cardboard box next to the structure.

Cal Fire Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit Chief Tim Streblow recalled the phrase “can your ashes” from when he began his career with the department. The slogan reminds residents to carry out proper ash debris disposal.

Hot coals, hidden in a pile of ashes, are well insulated and can stay hot for many days, officials said.

They said that ashes should never be emptied into a paper or plastic bag, cardboard box or similar container.

When disposing of ashes from a fireplace, wood stove, fire pit or barbecue, Cal Fire said ashes should be stored in a noncombustible metal container with an air tight seal. After adding ash to the bucket, pour water in the bucket to extinguish any hot coals. Place lid on container tightly.

In addition, they ash buckets should be stored in a safe location away from flammable materials – buildings and decks – just in case stray cinders escape.

“The department’s goal is to prevent fires and we ask residents for their help to bring us closer to success,” Streblow said.

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The lodge at the Four Springs Retreat, located at 14598 Sheveland, outside of Middletown, was reported to be on fire shortly before 8:30 p.m. Monday, according to South Lake County Fire Battalion Chief Scott Upton.

Upton said the fire in the 3,000-square-foot building, which included seven bedrooms, dining facilities and a conference room, was spotted by an individual on Highway 175 in Middletown.

“They reported seeing smoke and flames,” Upton said.

As Upton was driving up Highway 29 toward the resort, he said he could tell it was a heavily involved structure.

When firefighters arrived, “It had fire coming out of every window and every door,” Upton said.

He said eight fire units – including engines, water tenders, utility vehicles and a medic unit – responded to the secluded resort.

It took firefighters about 20 minutes to contain the fire, Upton said. “There was nothing we could do but protect the surrounding structures, which we did.”

He said the fire's heat scorched the paint and melted plastic gutters on some of the resort's nearby cabins.

There were a minimal threat of the fire getting into nearby wildland, but there were some power lines involved, Upton said. The resort's swimming pool was used as an additional water resource.

Some firefighters were left to help guard the site overnight and keep it secure, according to Upton.

He said there were no injuries, as no one was on the scene.

The lodge was a total loss, said Upton. It had been remodeled in 2005 and was valued at $800,000. He said it was reportedly filled with antiques, instruments and art.

“It was a real loss,” he said, noting the owners “were very upset about it.”

Upton said the fire's cause doesn't appear to be arson.

He said it's under investigation, with investigators narrowing in on a final cause.

The retreat's Web site, www.foursprings.org, explains that it has operated as a retreat since 1956, and in addition to the main lodge has numerous small cabins, meditation and seminar rooms, an arbor and trails.

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On May 26, the Board of Parole Hearings denied parole for convicted murderer Timothy John Connors, 64.

Lake County Chief Deputy District Attorney Richard Hinchcliff, who prosecuted Connors in the case, attended the lifer hearing at the Mule Creek State Prison in Ione to argue against Connors’ release.

Connors, who was represented by defense attorney Judy Conard, was convicted of the second-degree murder of his girlfriend, Nina Estagin Rolih. He was sentenced by Lake County Superior Court Judge David Herrick to 16 years to life on Dec. 28, 1998.

His minimum eligible parole date was July 12, 2012, Hinchcliff reported.

On April 10, 1997, Clearlake Police Department received a 911 call that Rolih, who was living with Connors, had been hit and killed by a truck. When officers arrived at 3527 Monroe St. they found Rolih’s body under some debris and a blanket next to the roadway, according to case records.

Upon further investigation by Clearlake Police Investigator Ron Larsen, who is now retired, it was determined that Connors had cut Rolih’s throat with a butcher knife inside the residence, loaded her body in a garbage can, wheeled her down the driveway, dumped her at the end of the driveway, and partially covered the body.

Investigators also determined the murder took place a day and a half before Rolih's death was reported.

Connors gave investigators a detailed story about how some guys in a big black truck were racing up and down the street at night and hit Rolih, killing her.

After officers told Connors they did not believe the story, he claimed he acted in self defense and had to kill her when she attacked him in a drunken rage.

At trial, which lasted six weeks, Connors claimed self defense and further claimed that because of extreme intoxication at the time he could not have formed the intent to kill her.

The prosecution pointed out that he went to great lengths to hide the crime and set up a defense for someone who claimed not to know what they were doing.

At trial Hinchcliff also put on evidence of prior domestic violence, including evidence that Connors had previously threatened to kill Rolih and that he had stabbed her several times with a knife while intoxicated in 1996.

At the two-hour hearing May 26, Hinchcliff asked the Board of Prison Hearings to deny Connors parole on the ground that he still presented an unreasonable risk of danger to the public, especially females, if released, and failed to exhibit any remorse or accept responsibility for his conduct.

Connors has also had disciplinary problems while in prison and failed to address his chronic alcoholism or domestic violence problems, Hinchcliff said.

Hinchcliff also asked the commissioners for a lengthy parole denial for the reason that it would be unrealistic to expect Connors to be ready for parole at any time in the near future.

The Board of Parole Hearings agreed with that assessment and denied parole for the maximum allowable time of 15 years.

Connors’ next scheduled parole hearing will be in 2026.

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The beacon, restored last fall by the Lake County Public Services Department, has shorted out and is awaiting repair, according to Public Services Director Kim Clymire.

Clymire said the new light, installed on top of the tower on Buckingham Peak last Oct. 13, went off on Jan. 15.

He said fixing the beacon requires a climber certified to scale the 120-foot tall communication tower.

Such a climb costs around $800 to $1,000, Clymire said.

“Instead of paying that every time we need to do maintenance on the tower, I have decided to send county staff to a two-day 'tower climbing certified training' class that is being held next week in Sacramento at a cost of around $2,000 for the class, climbing equipment and an overnight stay,” Clymire said.

He said he and his Public Services staff had been waiting for the class to be held before repairing the light.

Clymire said they expect to have the beacon repaired this month.

The beacon was off from the fall of 2006 until last October, when a new $2,500 beacon was installed on top of the tower. On its tower-top perch, the beacon sits at an elevation of 4,172 feet mean sea level, as Lake County News has reported.

The light has been a county fixture for decades.

Public Services reported that the beacon originally was used to comply with a Federal Communications Commission regulation for the old Lake County TV tower on the top of Mt. Konocti, and also has been used by the Lake County Sheriff’s Marine Patrol Division to signal water skiers when they are supposed to be off of the water.

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Capt. James Bauman of the Lake County Sheriff's Office said Ronald Alan Gustafson was found on Monday afternoon after he had been injured in a motorcycle wreck.

On Sunday, May 29, at approximately 10:30 p.m., sheriff’s deputies responded to a vacation home in Lower Lake to investigate a missing person, Bauman said.

Helen Gustafson reported that her husband, Ronald Gustafson, had failed to return from a day ride he had taken on his dual-sport motorcycle to visit friends at a cabin in the “Board Camp” area of the National Forest in Colusa County, according to Bauman.

Ronald Gustafson had left their vacation home on Swedberg Road in Lower Lake at approximately 11 a.m. Sunday and was due to return by 7 p.m. Bauman said Helen Gustafson had last heard from her husband at approximately 4 p.m. as he was leaving the cabin to return to Lower Lake.

Sheriff’s deputies spent several hours before dawn on Monday morning searching for signs of Gustafson or his trail, Bauman said. Despite checking four different forest service roads and venturing as many as 12 miles into the forest, deputies were unable to locate Gustafson.

At approximately 8 a.m. Monday sheriff’s Lt. Chris Macedo began coordinating a Search and Rescue operation to locate Gustafson, Bauman said.

As further information was gathered from Helen Gustafson, Bauman said Search and Rescue volunteer ATV teams and a SAR volunteer logistical team established a base camp off of Elk Mountain Road.

He said that by late morning, a fixed-wing California Highway Patrol airplane had responded to the area from Redding to assist with the search. A U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement Officer also responded to assist.

At approximately noon on Monday, Search and Rescue authorities determined that Gustafson had been found by two unidentified motorcycle riders on forest road 17N04 near Crabtree Hot Springs, Bauman said.

Gustafson had reportedly wrecked his motorcycle and was injured. Bauman said the two riders, who had found Gustafson shortly after 11 a.m., had apparently stayed with the injured man until another unidentified party driving a pickup truck happened by and managed to get Gustafson into the truck.

As Search and Rescue authorities were preceding to the area of the wrecked motorcycle, they crossed paths with the pickup truck just as Gustafson was being driven from the site, Bauman said.

He said a REACH helicopter was dispatched to the area and after finding a landing zone, Gustafson was transported to the air ambulance and subsequently flown to the U.C. Davis Medical center with a possible fractured leg.

It was later determined that Gustafson had wrecked his motorcycle on the forest road at approximately 5 p.m. the previous evening and was stranded the entire night where the bike went down, Bauman said.

Sheriff Frank Rivero expressed his deepest gratitude to Macedo, the Search and Rescue volunteers who contributed to the operation, the CHP air crew, the REACH air crew, the U.S. Forest Service, and to the civilians who found Gustafson and expedited his rescue.

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The protesters, representing tribes from throughout Indian Country, issued a statement in which they decried actions taken by tribal officials in violation of tribal and federal laws.

Several protestors had made formal requests to meet with Assistant Secretary Indian Affairs Larry Echo Hawk, who was scheduled to attend the forum.

Assistant Secretary Echo Hawk is charged with carrying out the Department of Interior’s trust responsibilities to tribes and individual Indians.

The protestors wanted an opportunity to discuss the problems of corruption and rights violation in Indian Country and question him on the actions the department would take to uphold its trust responsibility to the thousands of individual Indians who have been victimized by tribal leaders.

To date, the department, through the Bureau of Indian Affairs, has declined to intervene and allowed tribal leaders to continually terrorize targeted individuals and groups unless the tribe's governing documents allow BIA intervention

Assistant Secretary Echo Hawk failed to respond to the numerous requests, and when several protestors attempted to enter the forum, they were confronted by individuals claiming to be the assistant secretary’s bodyguards. The protestors were questioned by the bodyguards and asked to provide proof of their identification, but they were not allowed to meet with the assistant secretary.

A small group of protestors was eventually allowed to meet with BIA Pacific Regional Director Amy Dutschke and Superintendent Robert Eben of the Southern California Agency.

The BIA representatives listened to the individuals concerns regarding corruption and rights violations in Indian Country.

Regional Director Dutschke did inform those she met with that sanctions could be levied against offending officials and tribal governments and promised to take the issue to Echo Hawk.

The BIA is not the only forum that has declined to intervene in matters considered internal to the tribes. The courts have almost always declined to hear cases involving internal tribal matters.

Tribes and tribal officials accused of violating tribal and federal laws – such as the Indian Civil Rights Act of 1968 – have routinely claimed that their actions are cloaked by sovereign immunity and beyond the jurisdiction of the courts.

In a recent case involving the Snoqualmie Tribe of Washington State, a federal judge ruled that tribal leaders had illegally banished members of the tribe. In spite of the court's ruling, the Snoqualmie tribal council has failed to comply with the decision and continues to cite sovereign immunity as justification for their unlawful actions. The illegally banished members are now being subject to disenrollment, against the wishes of their tribal members, by the very same tribal officials.

A contingent of the banished Snoqualmie Tribal members traveled over the course of several days to join representatives from several California tribes, Oklahoma, and Arizona. The Snoqualmie and others believe it is important that tribal leaders and federal officials begin to understand the breadth and impact of human and civil rights violations in Indian Country.

“In the past decade, thousands of Indians throughout the United States have been the victims of gross human and civil rights violation,” said John Gomez Jr., a founding member of the American Indian Rights and Resources Organization.

“The rise in the number of crimes committed by tribal officials against individual Indians appears to coincide with the expansion of Indian gaming,” Gomez said. “Greed and the desire to maintain control of businesses that bring in millions, sometimes hundreds of millions, of dollars are motivating factors to get rid of opposing factions within the tribe and deny membership to those who would share in any profits.”

He added, “As long as tribal officials can continue to escape prosecution for their illegal acts by invoking immunity from suit, such crimes will continue unabated. Many more will be banished; disenrolled; denied membership; denied voting rights and medical services; and stripped of the rights guaranteed by tribal and federal laws.”

Congress enacted the Indian Civil Rights Act in 1968 in response to claims made by individual Indians that tribal officials were violating basic human and civil rights. The ICRA provides that tribes and tribal officials are barred from denying individuals rights such as due process and equal protection of laws. Unfortunately the ICRA failed to include an effective enforcement mechanism by which tribal officials could be held accountable for violations of its provisions.

Those who gathered at the protest agreed that tribal officials must be held accountable for their actions.

A means to accomplish this goal would be to amend the ICRA and provide for the prosecution of tribal officials for any violations of the actions prohibited in the law.

While such an action would be seen by tribes as an infringement on their sovereignty, those who have already been victimized do not believe that sovereignty should protect criminals or provide an environment where crimes can and will continue.

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A report from Sgt. Rodd Joseph said the incident occurred at about 11 p.m. Tuesday.

He said Clearlake Police officers were dispatched to a reported hit-and-run with a vehicle in the 16100 block of 32nd Avenue.

When officers arrived to the scene they discovered a parked vehicle with significant rear end damage and a damaged metal driveway gate, he said.

Police interviewed witnesses who described the suspect vehicle as a black SUV with a chrome front grill guard, Joseph said.

The suspect vehicle, after crashing into the parked vehicle and metal gate, was last seen driving east on 32nd Avenue. Joseph said vehicle debris left on scene indicates that the suspect vehicle is likely a 1994-1996 black Jeep Cherokee.

The vehicle will have both front and rear end damage, said Joseph.

He said police are looking for this vehicle and owner.

Anyone with information about this vehicle is asked to contact Officer Michael Carpenter at 707-994-8251. You may remain anonymous.

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Over the last few years, there has been mounting concern about the possibility of adverse health effects resulting from exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields, such as those emitted by wireless communication devices.

The number of mobile phone subscriptions is estimated at 5 billion globally.

From May 24-31, a working group of 31 scientists from 14 countries has been meeting at IARC in Lyon, France, to assess the potential carcinogenic hazards from exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields.

These assessments will be published as Volume 102 of the IARC Monographs, which will be the fifth volume in this series to focus on physical agents, after Volume 55 (Solar Radiation), Volume 75 and Volume 78 on ionizing radiation (X‐rays, gamma‐rays, neutrons, radio‐nuclides), and Volume 80 on non‐ionizing radiation (extremely low‐frequency electromagnetic fields).

The IARC Monograph Working Group discussed the possibility that these exposures might induce long‐term health effects, in particular an increased risk for cancer.

The group said this has relevance for public health, particularly for users of mobile phones, as the number of users is large and growing, particularly among young adults and children.

The IARC Monograph Working Group discussed and evaluated the available literature on the following exposure categories involving radiofrequency electromagnetic fields: occupational exposures to radar and to microwaves; environmental exposures associated with transmission of signals for radio, television and wireless telecommunication; and personal exposures associated with the use of wireless telephones.

International experts shared the complex task of tackling the exposure data, the studies of cancer in humans, the studies of cancer in experimental animals, and the mechanistic and other relevant data.

The evidence was reviewed critically, and overall evaluated as being limited among users of wireless telephones for glioma and acoustic neuroma, and inadequate to draw conclusions for other types of cancers.

The evidence from the occupational and environmental exposures mentioned above was similarly judged inadequate.

The working group did not quantitate the risk; however, one study of past cell phone use (up to the year 2004), showed a 40 percent increased risk for gliomas in the highest category of heavy users (reported average: 30 minutes per day over a 10‐year period).

Dr. Jonathan Samet of the University of Southern California, overall chairman of the working group, indicated that “the evidence, while still accumulating, is strong enough to support a conclusion and the 2B classification. The conclusion means that there could be some risk, and therefore we need to keep a close watch for a link between cell phones and cancer risk.”

“Given the potential consequences for public health of this classification and findings, it is important that additional research be conducted into the long-term, heavy use of mobile phones,” said IARC Director Christopher Wild. “Pending the availability of such information, it is important to take pragmatic measures to reduce exposure such as hands‐free devices or texting.”

The working group considered hundreds of scientific articles; the complete list will be published in the monograph.

The group said it is noteworthy to mention that several recent in‐press scientific articles resulting from the Interphone study were made available to the working group shortly before it was due to convene, reflecting their acceptance for publication at that time, and were included in the evaluation.

A concise report summarizing the main conclusions of the IARC Working Group and the evaluations of the carcinogenic hazard from radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (including the use of mobile telephones) will be published in The Lancet Oncology in its July 1 issue, and in a few days online.

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William Graves, 49, of Middletown, Calif., was arrested on Thursday, June 2, 2011, following a traffic stop in which he allegedly was found in possession of methamphetamine and also was alleged to be under the influence of a controlled substance. Lake County Jail photo.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – An enforcement stop in Clearlake by sheriff’s deputies assigned to the Sheriff’s Special Enforcement Detail has resulted in the arrest of a Middletown man and the seizure of three-quarters of an ounce of methamphetamine.

Arrested was 49-year-old William Glynn Graves, according to a report from Capt. James Bauman of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

On Thursday, June 2, sheriff’s deputies assigned to the Special Enforcement Detail were conducting proactive enforcement patrols in the areas of Clearlake and Lower Lake, Bauman said.

At approximately 12:30 p.m., one of the Special Enforcement Detail deputies observed a white Toyota Solara speeding on Highway 53 near Dam Road, Bauman said.

As the deputy pulled in behind the Toyota, the driver made an abrupt lane change in an apparent attempt to avoid the deputy. Bauman said the vehicle was stopped and the driver was identified as Graves.

When the deputy approached Graves, he displayed symptoms of being under the influence of a controlled substance, Bauman said.

While Graves was detained for further examination, a narcotics interdiction K-9 team assigned to SED arrived to assist. Bauman said the narcotics detection dog was led to the vehicle and alerted on the driver’s area.

He said a subsequent search of the vehicle by the K-9 handler revealed approximately one-quarter of an ounce of methamphetamine concealed between the driver’s seat and the center console.

Graves was arrested and transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility for booking, Bauman said. While being transported to the jail, Graves divulged to the arresting deputy that he had more methamphetamine concealed in the crotch area of his pants.

When Graves was searched by correctional officers during the booking process, another one-half ounce of methamphetamine was recovered from inside of his pants, Bauman said.

Bauman said Graves was booked for possession of a controlled substance for sales, transportation of a controlled substance, and being under the influence of a controlled substance. He remains in the custody of the sheriff on $15,000 bail.

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Three-quarters of an ounce of methamphetamine allegedly was found on Williams Graves of Middletown, Calif., during a traffic stop on Thursday, June 2, 2011, near Clearlake, Calif. Photo courtesy of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

Arrested were 52-year-old Gary Alan Collins of Lucerne and 27-year-old Anthony Wesley Thomas of Nice, according to Capt. James Bauman of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

On Friday, May 20, at approximately 6:45 p.m., narcotics detectives served a search warrant on Collins and his Lucerne home, Bauman said. Upon entering the home, Collins and Thomas were both detained without incident.

Collins was found to be in possession of methamphetamine and he was determined to be under the influence of a controlled substance. Bauman said Thomas also was determined to be under the influence of a controlled substance. A search of Collins’ home also produced a glass meth pipe and other narcotics paraphernalia.

Bauman said Collins was arrested for possession of a controlled substance, being under the influence of a controlled substance, and possession of narcotics paraphernalia. Thomas was arrested for being under the influence of a controlled substance.

Anyone with information that can assist the Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force is encouraged to call the anonymous tip line at 707-263-3663.

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William Kim, 37, was caught in the surf and swept away, according to a report from Capt. Kurt Smallcomb of the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office.

On May 28 at approximately 3:30 p.m. Kim and two other subject went diving for abalone in the ocean in the area of Mitchell Creek, Smallcomb said.

A short time later, one of the other divers caught his limit of abalone and then went towards shore. Smallcomb said the diver observed Kim and the other diver caught up in the breaking surf.

He said one of the divers with Kim told the other to go to shore and call for 911 as the water was too rough for them to return to shore.

A boat was able to rescue one of the divers, but Kim was not recovered, Smallcomb said. A short time later a portion of Kim's dive tube washed upon the shore on Pine Beach.

Smallcomb said a search effort was conducted with the assistance of Mendocino County Search and Rescue, United States Coast Guard and other emergency personnel without success.

He said search efforts have continued without success. Mendocino County Search and Rescue along with other emergency personnel will continue to monitor the waters in a continuing effort to recover Kim from the water.

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