LAKEPORT, Calif. – Both drivers involved in a Thursday night crash in Lakeport have been arrested for driving under the influence, and an elderly man hit by one of the cars as he was riding his scooter remains hospitalized.

The Lakeport Police Department said that at 8:35 p.m. Thursday Lakeport Police officers were dispatched to a report of a male hit by a vehicle, with the male lying in the roadway in the 2000 block of S. Main St.

Officers arrived within seconds and through the course of the investigation learned that the victim, a 73-year-old Lakeport resident, was riding his motorized scooter northbound on the west shoulder of S. Main Street near Industrial Lane when he was struck by a white Honda traveling southbound driven by William Gregory Wymer, 28, Lakeport.

The impact caused the victim to be ejected from the scooter, which continued to travel into the northbound lane of traffic and was struck by a silver Hyundai driven by Sandra Bowen, 74, of Calistoga, police said.

After colliding with the scooter, Bowen fled the scene, according to police.

The police department said that with the assistance of the California Highway Patrol, Lake County Sheriff’s Office and Lakeport Public Works, officers immediately closed S. Main St. between Kmart and Grace Lane pending an investigation.

While at the scene officers determined Wymer was displaying signs of intoxication and he was subsequently arrested for felony driving while under the influence causing injury, the report said.

Wymer’s bail was set at $30,000. Jail records showed that he later posted the required percentage of bail and was released on Friday. He is tentatively scheduled to appear in court on June 13.

Bowen returned to the scene and was also found to be under the influence. Police said she was subsequently arrested for driving while under the influence. A booking sheet was not posted online for Bowen.

Police said the victim was airlifted to an out-of-county hospital and on Friday afternoon was listed in stable condition.

S. Main St. remained closed until 4:30 a.m., officials reported.

The Lakeport Police Department thanked the California Highway Patrol, Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Lake County District Attorney’s Office, Lakeport Fire Department and Lakeport Public Works for their assistance during this investigation.

The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact Det. Dale Stoebe at
the Lakeport Police Department, 707-263-5491.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – With late spring and early summer being the peak time for California's wildlife to bear their young, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, or CDFW, is issuing a reminder to well-intentioned citizens: If you find a seemingly abandoned young wild animal, you should leave it alone.

Even though it may be hard to resist picking up a young wild animal that appears to be abandoned, intervention may cause more harm than good.

Young animals that are removed from their natural environment typically do not survive. Those that do may not develop wilderness survival skills, making them unsuitable for release back into their natural habitat.

"It is a common mistake to believe a young animal has been abandoned when it is found alone, even if the mother has not been observed in the area for a long period of time," said Nicole Carion, CDFW's statewide wildlife rehabilitation coordinator. "Chances are the mother is off seeking food, or she could be nearby, waiting for you to leave."

Carion noted that this behavior is common across many species.

For example, adult female deer often stash their fawns in tall grass or brush for many hours while they are out foraging for food. A female mountain lion may spend as much as 50 percent of her time away from her kittens.

If a young animal is in distress, or you are unsure, contact a wildlife rehabilitation facility and speak to personnel to determine the best course of action.

For an injured, orphaned or sick bear, elk, deer, bighorn sheep, pronghorn antelope, wild pig or mountain lion, contact CDFW directly, as most wildlife rehabilitators are only allowed to possess small mammals and birds.

Although some wildlife rehabilitators are allowed to accept fawns, injured or sick adult deer should be reported directly to CDFW for public safety reasons.

Anyone who removes a young animal from the wild is required to notify CDFW or take the animal to a state and federally permitted wildlife rehabilitator within 48 hours. These animals may need specialized care and feeding that is best done by trained wildlife care specialists.

It is important to note that wild animals – even young ones – can cause serious injury with their sharp claws, hooves and teeth, especially when injured and scared.

They may also carry ticks, fleas and lice, and can transmit diseases to humans, including rabies and tularemia.

To learn more about how to live and recreate responsibly where wildlife is near, please visit CDFW's Keep Me Wild Web site at www.keepmewild.org .

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – After devoting tens of thousands of hours of service, the California Highway Patrol’s local senior volunteer force continues to be a critical source of support and assistance for the agency’s busy officers and staff.

On Wednesday, the CHP’s Clear Lake Area office in Kelseyville office held its 15th annual senior volunteer appreciation luncheon to underscore the value of the volunteers’ contributions.

Lt. Hector Paredes, the Clear Lake Area commander, presented a plaque honoring the group to Ed McDonald, who has been a member of the program since its inception and is president of the volunteers.

In awarding the recognition, Paredes noted the 25,000 hours of work the group has given to the CHP over the past 15 years of service.

In addition to McDonald, the volunteer crew includes Jessean Boone, John Wiskirchen, Al Reynolds, Claude Meade, Dennis Van Meter, and two retired CHP officers who worked here in Lake County, Larry Caravario and Mike Humble.

The senior volunteer program at the Clear Lake Area office in Kelseyville began its recruitment in November 2001, under then-Commander Dane Hayward, with a notice in the newspaper, seeking community members interested in participating.

Key qualifications include having no felony convictions, being available to volunteer during office hours, the willingness to perform various duties, the ability to work with minimal supervision in an office-type setting and working with officers in the field.

The senior volunteers had their first academy and graduation over five days in February 2002, with instructor officers Mary Bosserman, who has since retired as a CHP officer, and Officer Erich Paarsch, who now is a sergeant with the agency.

The academy covered topics including duties, grooming and equipment, conduct, regulations, ethics and incompatible activities, field duties, first aid and CPR, and a driving course, according to a copy of the original academy outline McDonald provided to Lake County News.

The week after that first academy, the volunteers held their first meeting, with members at that time selecting the name the “Flying Wheel Club” for the group, which also is known as Konocti 151 Senior Volunteers.

The original group of volunteers included, in addition to McDonald, Bob O’Neil, Chris Jewell, Dave Boone, Don Stewart, Betty Votaw, and well-known Pearl Harbor survivor Walt Urmann, based on meeting notes McDonald also provided.

Officer Kory Reynolds said the volunteers are put through background checks similar to those required for state employees, although they’re not as extensive as what would be required of a CHP officer.

He said the volunteers offer a valuable service, taking on all manner of duties that allow the sworn officers to stay on the road.

Reynolds, whose father is among the volunteers, said they help with a variety of tasks, including offering support to personnel on major incidents, transporting vehicles for maintenance to out-of-county locations, taking evidence to the Department of Justice, making trips to CHP headquarters and other locations on important errands, assisting with local parades, putting out the radar trailer, monitoring traffic complaints and clerical duties.

McDonald worked for 38 years managing parking facilities in San Francisco. During that time, he would come up to Lake County and work on ski boat races.

When he retired in 1991, he returned to Lake County and made it his permanent home.

When the volunteer opportunity came up with the CHP 10 years later, he jumped at it, and has been doing it ever since.

McDonald estimates that he averages between 40 and 60 hours a month, with the other volunteers averaging around 30 hours a month.

“It keeps me busy,” and not sitting around the house, said McDonald, who will turn 83 this year and is known for his volunteering with other community causes as well.

In addition to the duties Reynolds outlined, McDonald has an extra role at the agency – portraying “Chipper” the CHP mascot.

Chipper attends school and community events and is popular with the children. “They like Chipper,” McDonald said.

Besides making good use of his time, McDonald said the volunteering is a way of giving back to the community.

And, he added, “I’m learning something every day.”

Community members interested in joining the volunteer corps at the Clear Lake CHP can call the Kelseyville office at 707-279-0103.

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. – The National Safety Council is working to drive awareness of the dangers of distracted driving by encouraging the public to take the pledge to drive phone-free during Distracted Driving Awareness Month in April.

Technology allows us to make phone calls, dictate texts or emails and update social media while driving – all actions that are proven to increase crash risk.

The National Safety Council observes April as Distracted Driving Awareness Month to draw attention to this epidemic.

One of the council’s members, Pacific Gas and Electric, is doing its part to reduce the likelihood of motor vehicle accidents, joining other leading companies in prohibiting cell phone use while driving on company time.

Employees must pull over to a safe and legal parking spot if they want to take or make a call, check email or text.

Given that PG&E employees drove 151 million miles in 2016, this policy is a key example of the company’s commitment to help keep the roads safer for all drivers.

“Distracted driving kills thousands of people on our roadways every year,” said Kelly Nantel, vice president, National Safety Council. “We applaud employers like PG&E for being leaders and empowering employees to take control of their own safety behind the wheel.  During Distracted Driving Awareness Month, the National Safety Council hopes all employers will follow this lead and ask employees to disconnect and just drive.”

Drivers talking on cell phones – whether handheld or hands-free – fail to see 50 percent of their surroundings.

Nonetheless, Americans continue to drive distracted and struggle to accurately assess risk. An NSC survey found that while two-thirds of drivers said another driver’s distraction has caused them to feel unsafe, just 25 percent feel their own distractions have put them or someone else at risk. 

More than 1,700 vehicle-caused incidents in 2016 caused power outages across PG&E’s 70,000-square-mile service area from Eureka to Bakersfield, impacting nearly 693,000 homes and businesses.

The company reported that 22 of those incidents in Lake County last year involved a driver hitting a PG&E pole. These accidents impacted service to 9,410 customers and the driver could have been billed to replace that pole – up to $10,000, the company told Lake County News.

The biggest vehicle crash involving a power pole in Lake County in 2016 happened on the morning of Oct. 27 on Highway 29 near Kelseyville. A big rig rolled over and knocked down a power pole, which impacted service to 2,740 customers for several hours.

It is estimated that 80 percent of all accidents involve some form of distracted driving. These outages can interrupt electric service to important facilities such as hospitals, schools and traffic lights. The average cost for replacing a utility pole damaged in a vehicle-caused incident was more than $10,000 this year.

“Distracted driving is one-hundred percent preventable. Unfortunately, it is also a serious public health threat and it compromises our ability to provide safe and reliable service to the communities that we serve. We share the same roads, and we encourage the public to join us and take the pledge to drive phone-free and also avoid other forms of distracted driving,” said John Higgins, vice president of Safety and Health, PG&E.

To learn more about the dangers of distracted driving and to take the pledge to drive phone-free, visit the National Safety Council Distracted Driving Awareness Month homepage at www.nsc.org/ddmonth .

Founded in 1913 and chartered by Congress, the National Safety Council, www.nsc.org , is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to eliminate preventable deaths at work, in homes and communities, and on the road through leadership, research, education and advocacy.

NSC advances this mission by partnering with businesses, government agencies, elected officials and the public on the leading causes of unintentional death, with a focus on distracted driving, teen driving, workplace safety, prescription drug overdoses and safe communities.

NICE, Calif. – According to Patricia Gross, she has always been nice, but now she gets to become the Nice postmaster.

On Friday, April 21, at 2:30 p.m., Gross will raise her right hand to be sworn in as the new postmaster at the Nice Post Office, 3964 East Highway 20.

Manager of Post Office Operations Bobbie Riley will administer the official oath of office at the Friday ceremony.

Gross will follow a proud tradition that goes back to 1930 when Max Maiereder was the first postmaster.

Gross started her postal career in 1994 as a rural carrier and transferred to the Upper Lake Post Office in 1996 as a rural carrier. She became a clerk at the Lucerne Post Office in 2000.

She started her management track as an officer-in-charge at the Covelo and Laytonville Post Offices. Her first postmaster position was in Glenhaven in 2008, the position she held until being selected as the Nice postmaster.

“It is an honor to work for the Postal Service, said Gross. “I want to provide the community with excellent customer service and show the community what a great company the Postal Service is.”

Gross, 55, enjoys camping and spending time with family, friends and spoiling her grandchildren. Her son, Kevin and daughter-in-law, Angela, have three children, Dominic, 12, Ethan, 5, and Wyatt, 18 months. Gross resides in Bachelor Valley.

Gross believes in community service and participates in community activities and school functions.

As postmaster, Gross manages all postal operations at the Nice Post Office with two employees who process and deliver an average of 2,150 pieces of mail daily to 1,832 PO boxes and one highway contract route with 313 delivery stops.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – A vehicle crash in Lakeport on Thursday night left one person seriously injured, with officials reporting that a road closure was in effect in the incident area as the investigation took place.

The crash occurred on South Main Street between the Kmart entrance and Grace Lane shortly after 8:30 p.m. Thursday, according to radio reports.

The Lakeport Police Department said the wreck involved two vehicles and a scooter.

The scooter’s operator suffered critical injuries, police said.

Reports from the scene indicated that the crash victim was transported via Lakeport Fire ambulance to Lampson Field, and from there was flown to an out-of-county hospital by a REACH air ambulance.

Shortly before 11 p.m., the Lakeport Police Department said street closures in the area of the crash on South Main Street were expected to be in place for at least a couple of hours.

Multiple departments and agencies are involved with the response and investigation, according to the police department.

The drivers of the two vehicles are expected to be charged with intoxicated driving, one on felony charges for causing injury, police said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Lakeport Police Department at 707-263-5491 or contact the agency at its Facebook page.

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.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Austin Park in Clearlake will be the site this Saturday for events to celebrate Earth Day and the community’s skatepark.

The Lake Community Pride Foundation will host the 11th annual “Andy Day” skate park event from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and the Earth Day Festival from noon to 3 p.m.

Andy Day is a celebration of Andy Johnson who died 11 years ago on April 18 as the result of a vehicle crash.

He was a young teenager when he started his skatepark activism. Without his dedication and charisma to bring the community together, the skate park would never have been built.

The park, named after Johnson, celebrates his life and his legacy each and every year around the time that he passed away.

There will be live music from The Lyricist, As All Else Fails, Fetti Rich and a Path of Exile.

Next to the skate park, those who love to play basketball can come and take part in a communitywide basketball tournament. Build your teams for a 2 on 2 and get your team to the top spot. Come ride and feel the rhythms as the community and youth are celebrated.

Earth Day is a celebration of our planet, our environment and mostly our community. Hosted by Lake Community Pride Foundation in coordination with Citizens Caring 4 Clearlake, this event will offer fun for all ages, including a bouncy house, youth activities and live music. Cactus Grill will have a food booth.

The Earth Day festival starts directly after annual Clearlake Clean Up Day. Celebrate the good deed of cleaning the community and learning new ways to continue to make Clearlake a cleaner city for everyone.

Lake Community Pride Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)3 that manages the Lake County Safe House and the official sponsor of the Power to the Youth events that are organized throughout the year.

Austin Park is located at 14077 Lakeshore Drive.