Large schools of fish have been observed on Adobe Creek at the Bell Hill crossing, and a few scattered specimens have been seen elsewhere, including several who have been attempting to spawn in a vineyard slough in the Cole Creek drainage a couple of specimens being caught by raptors.

The hitch (lavinia exilicauda chi) is a fish found only in Clear Lake and a California listed Species of Special Concern; they live deep in the lake most of the year, but during a brief breeding season every spring move up into the surrounding creeks.

Once present in unimaginable abundance, hitch were a valuable food source for wildlife and of great importance to the native people of the region, but their population has declined substantially over the past fifty years, for reasons that are not completely understood.

Recently they have been found in reliably large numbers only in Kelsey and Adobe creeks.

This coming Saturday, April 2, the Chi Council, an organization dedicated to the long-term survival of the hitch which has recruited dozens of volunteers to observe the spawning migration, will conduct its annual field trip to see the spawning run in progress.

This year's excursion also will include a special opportunity to observe the tribal fish-tagging process on Adobe Creek.

Participants are asked to meet at Studebaker's, 3990 Main St. in Kelseyville, at 10 a.m.

The event is free, and everyone is invited, particularly those who have never had an opportunity to see this thrilling spectacle for themselves. No reservations are needed.

For more information about the hitch, including still photographs, a video of spawning in progress, and a field guide to Clear Lake fish, visit the Chi Council Web site, www.lakelive.info/chicouncil.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena) has introduced a resolution to help increase tsunami awareness and preparedness in at-risk coastal communities.

Earlier this month, tsunami waves generated by a 9.0-magnitude earthquake in Japan caused significant damage in Crescent City, Fort Bragg, Santa Cruz and other parts of Northern California.

The California Emergency Management Agency has tentatively estimated damages to be in excess of $40 million, Thompson's office said.

“Over 7 million Americans live or vacation in coastal communities that are at-risk of experiencing a tsunami,” said Thompson. “While relatively rare, these natural disasters can literally wipe out entire communities and cause significant loss of life. In the wake of the recent disaster in Japan, it’s important to encourage at-risk communities to plan and prepare for a potential tsunami. We don’t get to pick the next disaster, so it’s important to be informed about the threats and hazards we face.”

Tsunamis are a series of large ocean waves generated by major undersea disturbances, including earthquakes, landslides and volcanic eruptions.

All U.S. ocean coasts can be impacted by tsunamis, although some areas are at much greater risk than others.

Since 1812, California has experienced 14 tsunamis with wave heights higher than 3 feet. Of these, six caused significant destruction, including the devastating 1964 tsunami that killed 11 people in Crescent City.

H. Res 185 includes the following advice for those who see tsunami warning signs:

• Keep calm;

• Immediately move to your local tsunami shelter using defined tsunami evacuation routes;

• Move to higher ground that is at least 100 feet in elevation, a mile inland, or to the highest floor of a sturdy building and stay there if there are no evacuation routes defined;

• Do not move from a safe location;

• Move on foot when possible, do not drive, keep roads clear for emergency vehicles;

• Stay tuned to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio or news broadcasts for changes in tsunami alerts; and

• Stay away from the coast and low-lying areas until local officials say it’s safe to return.

The resolution goes on to state that the House of Representatives:

• Supports the goals and ideals of National Tsunami Awareness Week;

• Encourages the staff of NOAA, especially the National Weather Service and the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center and the West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Center, and other appropriate Federal agencies, to continue their work of educating people in the United States about tsunami preparedness;

• Endorses the efforts of the National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program (http://nthmp.tsunami.gov), a coordinated national effort of federal, state and local entities, to assess tsunami threats, prepare community response, issue timely and effective warnings, and mitigate damage; and

• Urges the people of the United States to recognize such a week as an opportunity to learn more about the work of NOAA in warning for and mitigating the impact of tsunamis and educating citizens about the potential risks of these natural disasters.”

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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Gov. Jerry Brown said Tuesday he was calling off budget negotiations with the State Legislature's Republican leaders because efforts to reach agreement on key issues had stalled.

Brown said he actually called off discussions to address the state's “massive deficit” on Monday after he was unable to get support to put tax extensions before voters in a special June election.

Instead, he said he plans to take a budget plan directly to the people in the weeks ahead.

In a response, Senate Republican Leader Bob Dutton claimed Brown and Democrats were “obviously upset and lashing out at their inability to get buyoff from public employee unions for the reforms that the public supports and Republicans think are necessary to fix California.”

Brown said Tuesday, “The budget plan that I put forth is balanced between deep cuts and extensions of currently existing taxes and I believe it is in the best interest of California.”

However, the state constitution requires that two Republicans from the Assembly and two from the Senate must agree before the matter can be put on a ballot, support Brown's plan didn't get.

“Each and every Republican legislator I’ve spoken to believes that voters should not have this right to vote unless I agree to an ever changing list of collateral demands,” said Brown.

Brown said he supported pension reform, regulatory reform and a spending cap and offered specific and detailed proposals for each of these during our discussions.

But he added that while those reform issues were the subject of “significant progress,” he accused Republicans of making demands that would worsen the state’s problem by creating a $4 billion hole in the budget.

In a March 25 letter to Dutton he shared with the media, Brown said Dutton presented to him that day a list of 53 separate demands “many of which are new and have no relationship whatever to the budget,” including “obscure” aspects of labor law and shifting the presidential primary from February to March.

Brown wants to require multinational corporations be treated the same as individual taxpayers and not be allowed to choose their preferred tax rate.

In negotiations he said Republicans wanted to give a billion dollar tax break to corporations, which Brown said he wasn't willing to do as, ultimately, it “will come from our schoolchildren, public safety and our universities.”

Dutton said that, as far as Republicans knew, corporate tax increases weren't included in the “fine print” of Brown's campaign pledge to have all taxes go to a vote of the people.

“Republicans believe the people deserve the right to vote on issues such as reforming the unsustainable public employee pension system and placing constitutional restraints on state spending growth, in addition to taxes,” Dutton said.

Dutton said Republicans' positions on the issues are “remarkably similar” to the ones Brown championed during his campaign to return to the governor's office.

He said they, too, are committed to solving the state's long-standing budget crisis, but while they need compromise to avoid an “all-cuts” budget, Dutton added, “it involves more than the Republicans going along with the first, last and only solution of higher taxes offered by the Majority Party during this budget debate.”

Brown has pledged that, in the coming weeks, “I will focus my efforts on speaking directly to Californians and coming up with honest and real solutions to our budget crisis.”

The deadlock came just four days after Brown had signed a series of 13 budget bills to address $11.2 billion of the state's $26.6 billion budget gap.

“These are painful cuts,” Brown said at the signing ceremony.

“Certainly the next round of cuts will be much more painful and much more disruptive than the budget reductions to date,” he said, adding that he wanted people to understand, “We are in a serious bind here.”

He expressed optimism, said they were making progress and reported he was talking to Republicans who want to give people the right to vote on some of the solutions.

With the Legislature's Democrats and Republicans having reached an impasse, it leaves much undecided about the potential impacts for local communities, schools and redevelopment agencies, and just how that serious budget bind will be solved.

A final vote has not been held on Brown's proposal to abolish redevelopment agencies across the state.

Many agencies – including Lakeport's – have taken actions to shelter property and assets due to concerns that the state will take them to pour into the budget hole.

On the education front, in recent interviews with Lake County News, local educators and California Teachers Association representatives said the special June election Brown had proposed was crucial to avoiding deeper cuts for schools.

In one example, Kelseyville Unified School District representatives said having no tax extensions would necessitate $700,000 more in budget cuts over the coming two fiscal years, as Lake County News has reported.

County and city officials also have expressed concern about what the state's fiscal troubles might mean for local governments.

Brown told Dutton in his March 25 letter that he remained ready to work with Republicans on pensions, regulatory reform and a budget spending cap.

In a handwritten note near his signature line, Brown wrote, “Let's get moving!”

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SACRAMENTO – Gov. Jerry Brown on Thursday released the actual bill language of seven separate pension reform measures.

In addition, Brown listed five other specific pension reforms that he is developing.

These include a pension benefit cap, limits on post-retirement public employment, hybrid defined contribution/benefit options, an action plan to address CalSTRS unfunded liability, and a measure to change and improve the board governance of CalPERS and CalSTRS.

All 12 of these pension reform measures were presented and discussed in detail with Republican legislators.

Talks broke down, however, over other issues earlier this week, as Lake County News has reported.

Brown said he intends to introduce these pension reforms with or without Republican support.

Information on all twelve pension reforms is available below.

PENSION REFORM PROPOSAL: APPLIES TO STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

1. Eliminate Purchase of Airtime. Would eliminate the opportunity, for all current and future employee members of all state and local retirement systems, to purchase additional retirement service credit. (RN 14777) (Note Walters, SB 522, would eliminate Air Time)

2. Prohibit Pension Holidays. All California public agencies would be prohibited from suspending employer and/or employee contributions necessary to fund the normal cost of pension benefits. (RN 14777)

3. Prohibit Employers from Making Employee Pension Contributions. All California public agencies would be prohibited from making employee contributions that fund the normal cost of employee retirement benefits in whole or in part. (RN 14777)

4. Prohibit Retroactive Pension Increases. All California public agencies would be prohibited from granting any retroactive pension benefit increases, such as benefit formula improvements that credit prior service. (RN 14777)

5. Prohibit Pension Spiking: Three Year Final Compensation. Final compensation for new employees would be defined as the highest average annual compensation during a consecutive 36 month period. (RN 14777)

6. Prohibit Pension Spiking: Define Compensation as Only Regular, Non-recurring Pay. Compensation means normal rate of pay or base pay. (RN 14777) (Note Simitian, SB 27, would exclude from defined benefit changes in compensation principally for the purpose of enhancing benefits; would place stricter limits on creditable compensation)

7. Felony Convictions. Prohibits payment of pension benefits to those who commits a felony related to their employment. (RN 14777) (*Note Strickland, SB 115, similar prohibition)

PROPOSALS UNDER DEVELOPMENT

Impose Pension Benefit Cap.

Improve Retirement Board Governance

Limit Post-Retirement Public Employment

Hybrid Option

Address CalSTRS Unfunded Liability

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The Education Pavilion at Clear Lake State Park near Kelseyville, Calif., soon will fill with the voices of children and adults exploring at the wonders of nature and the out-of-doors. Photo by Stephen Stetzer.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Years of work by the Clear Lake State Park Interpretive Association to bring a new education pavilion to Clear Lake State Park will reach completion in a special weekend dedication ceremony.

The Clear Lake State Park Education Pavilion will officially open on Saturday, April 2, during a public dedication ceremony which association board President Madelene Lyon will open at 2 p.m.

On hand for the dedication will be Congressman Mike Thompson, an advocate and supporter during the six years it has taken to bring the project to completion, State Parks Director Ruth Coleman, Assemblyman Wesley Chesbro, Northern Buttes District Superintendent Marilyn Linkem and Clear Lake Sector Superintendent Bill Salata.

Early in 2005 the board of directors of the nonprofit, volunteer-led Clear Lake State Park Interpretive Association (CLSPIA) voted to undertake the building of a new facility to support and enhance the environmental educational programs offered at the park on Soda Bay Road near Kelseyville.

As news of the project spread, collaboration with individuals, park visitors and community organizations developed to assist with funding.

Major donors to the project included the Keeling-Barnes Family Foundation, Wildhurst Vineyards, Brad and Kathy Barnwell, William and Roberta Beat, the California State Park Foundation, D.A. and Leona Butts, Henry and Dorothy Hurkett, Madelene and Walt Lyon, Ernie Mendes, Dorothy Meyer, Tom and Val Nixon, Brad Onorato, the Priest Family Charitable Fund, Rotary Club of Lakeport, Grant Cary Family, Thrivent, Neil and Bobbi Towne, and Tom and Tina Wasson.

The education pavilion has been built in partnership with the California State Department of Parks and Recreation.

CLSPIA volunteer Bud Hurkett prepared the initial blue print draft for presentation to the state in late 2005.

When the plans reached Coleman's desk, she signaled her support by setting aside funds within the department’s budget specifically for the pavilion.

Even as state budget cuts occurred during the ensuring years, Coleman made sure the funds for the building remained intact.

The California Conservation Corps team based in Ukiah did the construction.

The ceremony will be at the pavilion, across the street from the visitor center at Clear Lake State Park, located at 5300 Soda Bay Road.

A large parking lot is adjacent to the area. There will be no entrance fee for those attending this event.

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Ariana Diaz and Arthur Wilkie are congratulated by Lake County Superintendent of Schools Wally Holbrook for their wins in the Lake County Junior High Spelling Bee held at Upper Lake Middle School in Upper Lake, Calif., on Tuesday, March 15, 2011. Photo courtesy of the Lake County Office of Education.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Four spelling standouts will represent Lake County at state competitions this spring.

Ariana Diaz and Arthur Wilkie were the champs at the Lake County Junior High Spelling Bee held at Upper Lake Middle School on Tuesday, March 15, and David Thinnes and Tyler Parrott won the Lake County Elementary Spelling Bee at Terrace School on Tuesday, March 22, in Lakeport.

Each of the four students were awarded a medal of excellence and a $25 gift certificate to Catfish Books in Lakeport.

Ariana and Arthur were the top finalists in the junior high contest, which proved a true test of endurance for seventh and eighth grade spellers.

Ariana is an eighth grade student at Middletown Middle School. Arthur is an eighth grader from Lucerne Elementary School.

They will both compete in the California State Junior High Spelling Championship on Saturday, May 14, at Miller Creek Middle School in San Rafael.

Neither Ariana nor Arthur is a stranger to competition at the statewide level. They both represented Lake County at last year’s California State Spelling Bee.

In the heated competition between Lake County elementary students – grades fourth through sixth – David Thinnes, a sixth grader from Lucerne Elementary and Tyler Parrott, a fifth grader from Cobb Mountain Elementary School, emerged on top.

Lake County Superintendent of Schools Wally Holbrook congratulates Lake County Elementary Spelling Bee at Terrace School winners David Thinnes and Tyler Parrott. The event was held at Terrace School in Lakeport, Calif., on Tuesday, March 22, 2011. Photo courtesy of the Lake County Office of Education.

Both David and Tyler will compete in the 2011 California State Spelling Championship on April 16 at the San Joaquin County Office of Education in Stockton, Calif.

In addition to Ariana and Arthur, the junior high competition was filled with a host of super spellers from schools around Lake County.

Students taking part in the competition included:

– Burns Valley School: Teda Chang and Kim Gonzales.

– East Lake School: Taylor Klemin and Jeremy Meade-Malley.

– Lower Lake School: Joseph Llewellyn and Weeden Wetmore.

– Middletown Middle School: Natalia Young.

– Mt. Vista Middle School: Bryce Bouchard and Roberto Lozano.

– Pomo School: Lacey Amaral and Katrina Willimas.

– Terrace School: Charlie Crockett.

– Upper Lake Middle School: Juan Ruiz and Lyla Seevers.

Students who qualified but were unable to participate in the completion are Taylor Kruszewski, Terrace School and Alanna Taylor, Lucerne Elementary School.

In the elementary spelling bee, school spelling champs who participated in the competition were:

– Burns Valley School: Karina Martinez.

– Cobb Mountain Elementary: John Thomas.

– Coyote Valley Elementary: McKenna Farres and Olivia Glosser.

– East Lake School: Vanessa Hughes and Maile Weldon.

– Kelseyville Elementary: Esgar Aguirre and Faith Thomas.

– Lower Lake Elementary: Rhianna Rhodes.

– Lucerne Elementary: Desiree McInerney.

– Minnie Cannon Elementary: Cate Allen and Sara Vierra.

– Mt. Vista Middle School: Peter Diaz and Kaylie Williams.

– Pomo School: Cyrus Pouladdezh.

– Riviera Elementary School: Jason Gentle and Hailey Johnson.

– Terrace School: Maclane McGrath and Flynn Melendy-Collier.

– Upper Lake Elementary: Lia Long.

– Upper Lake Middle School: Emil Driskell.

Students who qualified but were unable to participate in the elementary competition include Jonathan DeCou, Burns Valley Elementary; Jordan Harris, Pomo School; and Brittany Delfino, Lower Lake Elementary.

The Lake County Office of Education, which coordinates the annual spelling competitions, offered a very special “thank you” to Principal Tony Loumena and the staff at Upper Lake Middle School for hosting the junior high spelling bee and to Assistant Principal Andy Goodwin and staff at Terrace School in Lakeport for hosting the elementary spelling bee.

Master of ceremonies/spell master for both of the spelling bees was Stephanie Wayment, ELA/ELD specialist at Lake County Office of Education.

The judges for the competition were Robin Totorica and Jan Bailey, also from the Lake County Office of Education.

Lake County Superintendent of Schools Wally Holbrook was in attendance to congratulate each of the spelling champions.

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SACRAMENTO – Following significant increases in statewide rainfall and mountain snowpack this season, on Wednesday Governor Jerry Brown proclaimed an end to the state’s drought, but urged Californians to keep conserving water as we move into the spring and summer months.

“While this season’s storms have lifted us out of the drought, it’s critical that Californians continue to watch their water use,” Brown said. “Drought or no drought, demand for water in California always outstrips supply. Continued conservation is key.”

Brown issued a proclamation officially rescinding Executive Order S-06-08, issued on June 4, 2008, by former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, and ends the States of Emergency Schwarzenegger called on June 12, 2008, and on Feb. 27, 2009.

Brown's announcement came the same day as the state Department of Water Resources' fourth snow survey of the season found that water content in California’s mountain snowpack is 165 percent of the April 1 full season average.

“Recent storms have significantly contributed to the above-average snowpack, helping to stabilize California’s water supply for the year,” said DWR Director Mark Cowin. “While this is beneficial for California’s farms, businesses and communities, we remind residents to practice sensible water use and conservation as we transition to warmer weather.”

Water Resources said Wednesday's manual survey and electronic readings are the most important of the year, since April 1 is when the state’s snowpack normally is at its peak before it melts into streams and reservoirs in the spring and summer months.

March precipitation has helped register 2011 among the top years in snowpack water content, despite dry weather conditions in January and early February, the state said.

The mountain snowpack provides approximately one-third of the water for California’s households, industry and farms as it melts into streams and reservoirs.

Electronic readings indicate that water content in the northern mountains is 174 percent of the April 1 seasonal average.

Electronic readings for the central Sierra show 163 percent of the April 1 average. The number for the southern Sierra is 158 percent. The statewide number is 165 percent

On March 1, the date of this winter’s third manual survey, percentages of the snowpack’s normal water content were 109 percent of the full season average, 103 percent for the northern Sierra, 106 percent for the central Sierra, and 119 percent in the south.

On this date last year, snowpack water content readings of the April 1 average were 123 percent in the north, 88 percent in the central ranges, 102 percent in the south, and 102 percent statewide.

California’s reservoirs are fed both by rain and snowpack runoff.

A majority of the state’s major reservoirs are also above normal storage levels, the state said.

Lake Oroville in Butte County, the State Water Project’s principal reservoir, is 104 percent of average for the date (80 percent of its 3.5 million acre-foot capacity). Lake Shasta north of Redding, the federal Central Valley Project’s largest reservoir with a capacity of 4.5 million acre-feet, is at 111 percent of average (91 percent of capacity).

DWR estimated it will be able to deliver 70 percent of requested State Water Project (SWP) water this year. The estimate likely will be adjusted upward as hydrologists make adjustments for snowpack and runoff readings.

The SWP delivers water to more than 25 million Californians and nearly one million acres of irrigated farmland.

In 2010, the SWP delivered 50 percent of a requested 4,172,126 acre-feet, up from a record-low initial projection of 5 percent due to lingering effects of the 2007-2009 drought. Deliveries were 60 percent of requests in 2007, 35 percent in 2008, and 40 percent in 2009.

Given the heavy water inflow from the series of storms that have swept across California, the state’s flood managers are monitoring high river flows and making flood control releases from reservoirs to maintain storage space.

The last 100 percent allocation – difficult to achieve even in wet years due to pumping restrictions to protect threatened and endangered fish – was in 2006, Water Resources said.

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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Late last week, the California Transportation Commission allocated $101 million in funding to 90 projects to improve transportation statewide, including a $13 million project for Lake County that is the largest by dollar amount of any in the state.

“From one end of the state to the other, transportation projects are providing jobs and improving mobility for people and businesses in California,” said Caltrans Director Cindy McKim in a statement released following the meeting.

The most expensive single project approved statewide in this recent round of funding approvals is the $13,321,000 that will be used to improve areas of Highways 175 and 29 in Lake County, according to the commission's list of approved projects.

The project will run from 4.9 miles east of the Lake/Mendocino County line to the junction of Highway 175 and 29 near Lakeport, and near Kelseyville from the Highway 175/29 junction to the area in Middletown where the two highways also meet.

Approximately 46.2 lane miles of roadway will be improved by overlaying it with concrete asphalt to improve ride quality and prevent further deterioration of the traveling surface, which is meant to minimize costly repairs and extend the pavement's surface life, according to commission documents.

Caltrans spokesman Phil Frisbie said some of the improvements in southern Lake County will include paving over the area of a large aggregate chip seal project completed last year.

The firm International Surfacing Systems received a total of $2.1 million to complete chip seal projects along 12 miles of Highway 29 from the Lake/Napa County lines to the Coyote Creek Bridge and 8.5 miles on Highway 175 from Cobb to Middletown, as Lake County News has reported.

That project angered south county residents, who said it damaged their vehicles and caused safety hazards. Caltrans met with residents in a heated meeting last October, with Caltrans District 1 Director Charlie Fielder pledging to have the area resurfaced.

Fielder said at the time that Caltrans had found the funds for the project – which later was reported to have come from savings on other projects – but just needed the California Transportation Commission's final approval, which was granted at the March 24 commission meeting.

Frisbie said the project, which is new, will go out to bid.

Lake County also received $125,000 to go toward a cultural interpretive center project located near the intersection of Highway 20 and Reclamation Road near Nice, according to the project list.

That's the site of a historical monument denoting the May 1850 massacre at Bloody Island which, due to reclamation is now a hill located one-quarter of a mile west of the marker.

In the incident, local Pomo Indians were attacked by U.S. Soldiers in retribution for the murders of Andrew Kelsey and Charles Stone on the other side of the lake in Kelseyville.

Frisbie said that, currently, the location is surrounded by some gravel so people can park and read the monument.

The project to improve the area, which Frisbie said is being funded by a transportation enhancement grant, will include paved parking, landscaping with native plants and an interpretive sign to provide additional background on the Bloody Island Massacre.

Northern California overall received a good portion of funds for its highway projects, with three of the top five projects located there.

In addition to Lake County, the top five included $10,440,000 for the city of Sacramento's complete structural retrofit, life-safety and accessibility improvements for the Sacramento Valley Station in downtown Sacramento; $10,366,000 for work on Highway 299 near Redding and east of the Trinity County line for increasing curve radii and widening paved shoulders to reduce the number and severity of collision and improve safety; $9,572,000 in Orange County for construction in Santa Ana of an auxiliary lane between interchanges to address the weaving operations of vehicles and increase the level of service; and $8 million to install predictive collision avoidance technology along the Los Angeles-to-San Diego rail corridor, which extends from San Onofre to San Diego.

Mendocino County also will benefit from a sizable $4,273,000 project for rehabilitating 21 miles of roadway with an asphalt concrete overlay from Hopland at the junction of Highway 101 to 0.6 mile east of the Mendocino County line, according to the final approved project list.

Other projects approved around the region include $5 million in Shasta County for installation of truck climbing lanes on Highway 299 near Redding and east of the Trinity County line; $1,116,000 for work on Highway 101 and Highway 169 in Del Norte and Humboldt counties that will include rehabilitating four bridges by replacing joint seals to provide a smoother ride and applying a treatment to seal the decks, and $600,000 for similar bridge repairs in Yolo and Sacramento counties.

To see the full project list visit www.dot.ca.gov/docs/ctcprojectallocationsmarch2011.pdf .

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MENDOCINO COUNTY, Calif. – A Mendocino County Sheriff's deputy narrowly avoided being run over by a suspect who later was taken into custody after deputies used a Taser and other weapons to stop him.

Robert Isaac Vargas, 54, of Fort Bragg was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon, resisting arrest and violation of probation during an altercation earlier this week in Fort Bragg.

At 3 p.m. Monday Mendocino County Sheriff's deputies responded to a reported neighborhood verbal dispute in the area of Peterson and Fawn Lane, according to a report from Capt. Kurt Smallcomb.

When the deputies arrived at the scene Smallcomb said they began speaking with one of the subjects involved in the dispute. At the same time, Vargas was observed in driveway approaching his pickup.

As one deputy continued to talk with the reporting party, the second deputy approached Vargas who had now entered his pickup, Smallcomb said.

Vargas started his pickup and put it in reverse as the deputy motioned for him to stop. Smallcomb said Vargas revved his engine and is alleged to have rapidly backed up towards the deputy, fast enough to break traction with his vehicle tires.

Smallcomb said the deputy jumped out of the way as Vargas allegedly continued to move towards him in the vehicle.

Fearing for his safety, the deputy drew his sidearm, pointed it towards Vargas and ordered him to stop, Smallcomb said.

Vargas is alleged to have exited his vehicle and confronted the deputy, who Smallcomb said was shortly joined by the other deputy. Vargas continued to be confrontational and resist arrest.

Smallcomb said the deputies were able to take Vargas into custody only after using a Taser, a baton and pepper spray.

Vargas was medically cleared at the Mendocino Coast District Hospital and eventually booked into the Mendocino County Jail with no bail, Smallcomb said.

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From left, Robert Wenning and Anthony Peak were arrested this week as the result of Sheriff's Narcotics Task Force probation searches. Lake County Jail photos.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Probation searches conducted by the Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force over the past two days have yielded two arrests and the seizure of several firearms from felony probationers.

Robert Alban Wenning, 22, of Nice and Kelseyville resident Anthony James Peak, 33, were taken into custody, according to a Wednesday report from Capt. James Bauman of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

On Tuesday, March 29, at approximately 5:20 p.m., narcotics detectives conducted a probation search at Wenning's home on Brown Street in Nice, according to Bauman.

Bauman said Wenning, who was on probation for a prior felony vandalism conviction, was detained without incident when narcotics detectives entered the home.

While searching Wenning’s home, narcotics detectives located a sawed-off shotgun in one of the bathrooms. Bauman said Wenning was arrested and booked at the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility on felony charges of possessing an illegal weapon and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Wenning's bail was set at $10,000. Jail records indicated he posted bail and later was released.

On Wednesday, March 30, at approximately 4 p.m., narcotics detectives conducted a probation search at Peak's Wight Way home in Kelseyville. Bauman said Peak was on felony probation for a prior possession of narcotics for sales conviction.

Peak was not in the home when narcotics detectives initially arrived so they conducted surveillance in the area, Bauman said. After approximately 30 minutes, Peak arrived at the home and was detained without incident.

A search of Peak’s vehicle revealed a loaded rifle concealed beneath the front seat and several loaded magazines on the driver’s seat and the vehicle’s floor board. Bauman said detectives located narcotics paraphernalia in Peak’s home and the search of a travel trailer on the property revealed four more firearms, including a shotgun and three rifles

Peak was arrested and booked at the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility for being a felon in possession of a firearm, being a felon in possession of ammunition, possession of narcotics paraphernalia, and carrying a loaded firearm in public, Bauman said.

His bail was set at $10,000, and jail records indicated he was still in custody on Wednesday night.

Bauman said the Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force will continue its efforts to monitor the activities of known convicted criminals and pursue probation or parole violators. Anyone with information that can assist the task force with this effort is encouraged to call the anonymous tip line at 707-263-3663.

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Clear Lake's waters covered a swim beach and lined the parking lot at Lucerne Harbor Park in Lucerne, Calif., on Tuesday, March 29, 2011. Photo by Ron Keas.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – While Clear Lake remained in flood stage on Tuesday, its waters continued a slow and steady decrease that is anticipated will take it out of flood level by week's end.

Clear Lake has been at flood stage, 9 feet Rumsey, since last Friday, the first time it's reached that level in 13 years, according to Lake County Water Resources records.

The lake had been expected to hit 9.5 feet Rumsey Monday, but instead it topped out at 9.37 feet Rumsey before it started to recede, as Lake County News has reported.

While Lake County continued under a National Weather Service flood warning on Tuesday – the only part of the state to be under such a warning – local officials estimated flooding concerns are on the decrease.

Lake County Water Resources staff issued a Tuesday update in which they estimated that – with no rainfall forecast through the weekend – Clear Lake is projected to fall below 9 feet Rumsey by Friday or Saturday.

On Tuesday morning, the lake was at 9.36 feet Rumsey, decreasing to about 9.32 feet Rumsey by day's end, according to a US Geological Survey gauge on the lake.

A second day of no rain and spring weather appeared to aid in pushing the flood waters back, as did the Cache Creek Dam's releases, which a US Geological Survey stream gauge showed were at 3,930 cubic feet per second late Tuesday.

E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews , on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf and on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/LakeCoNews .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – February's unemployment figures showed improvement not just across the state and nation, but in Lake County as well.

The latest figures released by the California Employment Development Department put Lake County's February unemployment rate at 19.2 percent, down from a revised January figure of 19.8 percent.

That most recent figure ties with Lake County's February 2010 unemployment rate, also 19.2 percent, according to state statistics.

The most recent figures placed Lake County at No. 49 statewide for unemployment.

The outlook was marginally better statewide, with California's February rate at 12.2 percent, down from 12.4 percent in January, which also was the February 2010 rate.

The unemployment rate is derived from a federal survey of 5,500 California households.

The report showed that California's nonfarm jobs increased by 96,500 during February to a total of 14,055,900, according to a survey of 42,000 state businesses that is larger and less variable statistically. The year-over-year change – from February 2010 to February 2011 – showed an increase of 196,300 jobs, or an increase of 1.4 percent.

The U.S. unemployment rate also decreased in February, to 8.9 percent, its lowest rate since April 2009, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The nation's unemployment was 9 percent in January and 9.7 percent in February 2010.

Lake County's workforce in February included 24,420 people, with 4,680 people out of work. That's compared to January's figures of 24,480 workers and 4,840 unemployed.

Marin County has the state's lowest unemployment in February, at 7.8 percent, with the highest unemployment in the state found in Colusa County, where it's at 27.1 percent.

Lake's neighboring counties registered the following unemployment rates and statewide ranks: Colusa, 27.1 percent, No. 58; Glenn, 18 percent, No. 43; Yolo, 15 percent, No. 33; Mendocino, 12.1 percent, No. 19; Napa, 10.3 percent, No. 10; and Sonoma, 10.2 percent, No. 9.

Within Lake County itself, Upper Lake continued its run as the area with the lowest unemployment, with a 10 percent rate in February. Clearlake Oaks reported the highest rate, 28 percent, according to the state report.

The following unemployment rates were reported for other areas of the county, from highest to lowest: Nice, 28.1 percent; city of Clearlake, 27.4 percent; Lucerne, 20.1 percent; Kelseyville, 19.5 percent; Middletown, 19.4 percent; city of Lakeport, 18.5 percent; Cobb, 17.2 percent; Lower Lake, 16.2 percent; Hidden Valley Lake, 15.9 percent; and north Lakeport, 15.3 percent.

Dennis Mullins of the Employment Development Department's Labor Market Information Division said Lake County added 200 jobs in February, ending the month with a total of 12,170 jobs.

He said seven industries gained jobs or were unchanged over the month and four declined.

Month-over job growth occurred in the farm and leisure and hospitality categories, which Mullins said gained 240 and 10 jobs, respectively.

Industries with no change in job numbers in February were manufacturing, information, financial activities, professional and business services, and other services, Mullins reported.

Among the categories that lost jobs, total government employment was down 20 jobs in February, putting that category 100 jobs below its February 2010 level, he said.

Mullins said private educational and health services also lost 20 jobs in February, and mining, logging and construction, and trade, transportation and utilities lost 10 jobs each.

Report shows areas of job growth

The Employment Development Department said a federal survey of households, done with a smaller sample than the survey of employers, showed an increase in the number of employed people, and estimated the number of Californians holding jobs in February was 15,917,000, an increase of 12,000 from January, but down 36,000 from the employment total in February of last year.

The number of people unemployed in California was 2,202,000 – down by 44,000 over the month, and down by 49,000 compared with February of last year, the state said.

The state's report on payroll employment – wage and salary jobs – in the nonfarm industries of California totaled 14,055,900 in February, a net gain of 96,500 jobs since the January survey. This followed a gain of 700 jobs, as revised, in January.

February's report showed that 10 categories – mining and logging; construction; manufacturing; trade, transportation and utilities; information; financial activities; professional and business services; educational and health services; leisure and hospitality; and other services – added jobs over the month, gaining 97,700 jobs.

Professional and business services posted the largest increase over the month, adding 39,700 jobs, the state said.

Showing job declines statewide – as it had locally – was the government category, declining by 1,200 jobs, the state reported.

The state said a year-over-year comparison – February 2010 to February 2011 – showed nonfarm payroll employment in California increased by 196,300 jobs, or 1.4 percent.

Eight industry divisions – mining and logging; construction; manufacturing; trade, transportation and utilities; information; professional and business services; educational and health services; and leisure and hospitality – posted job gains over the year, adding 261,300 jobs, the state said.

Professional and business services posted the largest gain on a numerical basis, adding 99,900 jobs, or an increase of 4.9 percent, while information posted the largest gain on a percentage basis, up by 5.8 percent or 24,800 jobs, the Employment Development Department reported.

Three categories – financial activities; other services; and government – posted job declines over the year, down 65,000 jobs, the report showed.

The Employment Development Department said the government category posted the largest decline on both a numerical and percentage basis, down by 62,000 jobs or 2.5 percent.

In state said there were 666,260 people receiving regular unemployment insurance benefits during the February survey week, compared to 603,946 in January and 714,145 in February 2010.

At the same time, new claims for unemployment insurance were 68,203 last month, compared with 63,331 in January and 63,766 in February of last year, the state said.

E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews , on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf and on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/LakeCoNews .