CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – A pilot flying solo on Tuesday night survived a plane crash in the hills above Clearlake Oaks.

The crash was first dispatched shortly after 9:30 p.m. on Morine Ranch Road, according to radio and California Highway Patrol reports.

Based on radio reports, the crash involving the Cessna two-seater plane sparked a small wildland fire, with some damage to nearby power lines reported.

Northshore Fire and Cal Fire responded to the crash, along with sheriff's deputies and a California Highway Patrol helicopter, according to scanner reports.

Radio traffic between Lake County Central Dispatch and responding firefighters indicated that the pilot was able to get out of the plane on his own, called 911 on his cell phone and walked part of the way from the scene where he met first responders.

Northshore Fire Chief Jay Beristianos said firefighters had difficulty accessing the plane and the injured pilot. Fire trucks were getting stuck while trying to get up the narrow vineyard trails leading to the crash site.

Radio reports indicated that a vineyard worker finally helped authorities locate the pilot close to 10:30 p.m. The plane was reported at Morine Ranch Road at Red Rock Road under power lines.

The pilot was transported by a sheriff's deputy down to medic units, which took him to a landing zone at Orchard Shores. There, a REACH air ambulance picked up the pilot and lifted off for Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital at around 11 p.m., according to radio reports.

Fire units at the scene had reported that the vegetation that burned as a result of the crash measured about 15 feet by 15 feet, and had been knocked down quickly after firefighters arrived at about 10:30 p.m. At that point they estimated they would be on scene for a few hours mopping up.

Pacific Gas and Electric also was asked to respond to the scene to assess damage to power lines, according to fire traffic.

Beristianos, who remained on scene after the majority of other units cleared, said Cal Fire cut a line around the fire area. He said some power lines also were down.

Based on what firefighters had encountered at the scene, Beristianos said it appeared that the pilot made a hard landing in the brush.

He called the man “very lucky.”

Beristianos – who would clear the scene just after midnight – said the incident was being overseen by the Lake County Sheriff's Office, with deputies to wait on scene for Federal Aviation Administration investigators to arrive.

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.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Members of the Westside Community Park Committee are preparing for the seventh annual “Grillin’ on the Green” fundraiser, and are putting out the call for grilling aficionados to participate in the barbecue cookoff.

This year’s Grillin’ on the Green – an afternoon event featuring a friendly barbecue competition with plenty of food, drink, and entertainment for all ages – is scheduled for 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6.

The event takes place at Westside Community Park, 1401 Westside Park Road in Lakeport, and is a fundraiser for development of the park.

Grillers and sponsors are encouraged to sign up soon. Call Cindy Ustrud, 707-263-7091, or Dennis Rollins, 707-349-0969, for information.

Local organizations, individuals and professionals go head-to-head in the cookoff, preparing their best barbecue recipes for attendees who then cast People’s Choice votes for their favorites.

A group of celebrity judges will select their favorite as well. This year’s celebrity judges are Record-Bee Editor Dave Faries and retired Superior Court Judge David Herrick. They will be joined by a third judge to be named later.

The first teams to sign up for this year’s competition are last year’s “Rookie of the Year” competitor, Fresh and Bangin’ Eatery; last year’s third place finisher, the Bru Crew; the Lakeport Lions; the Nor Cal BBQ Team; Delta Iota Tau; and Passion for Food, said Rollins.

He announced that some financial support is available to individual grillers this year, thanks to the Kiwanis Club of Lakeport and others.

Attendees enjoy a full dinner with fixings to accompany the barbecue dishes, said Rollins. Past years’ Grillin’ attendees have called the fare the “best barbecue around,” he added.

Information about the event can be found on the park’s Web site, www.westsidecommunitypark.org , or on Westside Community Park’s Facebook page.

Sponsors of the event are sought and will be recognized at the Grillin’ on the Green event. Levels of sponsor recognition are $100, $300, $500 to $1,000.

Contributions of any amount may be sent to 1350 Berry St., Lakeport, and made payable to Westside Community Park Committee.

The Keeling-Barnes Family Foundation is for the seventh year offering a sponsorship match. The Foundation will match up to $4,000. Sutter Lakeside Hospital has pledged a sponsorship of $2,500. Representatives of the hospital and foundation challenge the community to match and exceed the combined $6,500 amount.

Westside Community Park is a regional recreational facility that is operated by the city of Lakeport and the Westside Community Park Committee. It has been in development for 17 years.

The nonprofit park committee is developing the park in conjunction with the city of Lakeport, volunteers, and numerous contributions by individuals and businesses dedicated to constructing a recreational facility for the youth and adults of Lake County.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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LAKEPORT, Calif. – The organizers of “Taste of Lakeport” said they are changing the name of the popular event to “Taste of Lake County.”

This year's “Taste of Lake County” will be held Saturday, Aug. 27, from 5 to 10 p.m. on Main Street.

The Lakeport Main Street Association sponsors the event, now it is 20th year.

The association reported that it decided that it is time to thank the award-winning local wineries and members of the food industry by expanding the name of the event that represents them.

Visitors this year will have the opportunity to taste local wines and beer, and enjoy delicious hors d'oeuvres from local restaurants.

There will be a street dance at 8 p.m. featuring the music of Jimmy Z.

New this year, the Lakeport Main Street Association will present a People’s Choice Award to a winery and restaurant chosen by visitors. 

For more information email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 707-263-8843.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bertelli said the cause is under investigation.

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