The Glenn County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help in an effort to solve and prevent an ongoing rash of agricultural diesel fuel thefts which have occurred during the month of May.
Sheriff Larry Jones reported the thefts had resulted in the loss of thousands of dollars of diesel.
On Saturday, May 26, a total of 600 gallons of diesel was removed from two storage tanks located on property near Afton, according to Jones. Thieves cut the locks off of the storage tanks, taking diesel valued at about $2,000.
On Tuesday, May 29, approximately 200 gallons of diesel were removed from a storage tank located on State Highway 162 east of County Road Z. In that case, the suspects pulled up gate posts, with cable attached, in order to gain entry onto the property. The stolen fuel and the damage to property was estimated at $1,000, according to Jones.
On Wednesday, May 30, Namit Family Farms in the Butte City area reported theft and vandalism. Materials taken included 1,000 gallons of diesel, valued at $3,350; a single axle fuel wagon with 500 hundred gallon tank, yellow frame and silver colored tank valued at $3,500; a 100 gallon silver colored aluminum fuel tank valued at $600 were stolen; and $900 in damages done to fuel hoses.
Also on May 30 Vereschagin Farms near Orland reported the theft of 425 gallons of diesel fuel and the theft of a 500 gallon fuel tank from their orchard, Jones reported. The total value of those thefts was estimated at $1,750.
In an additional agricultural theft, a Towner brand 21-foot 2000 model field disc was stolen from a field north of Highway 162 and east of Butte City at the end of April or early in May, Jones reported.
The disc, yellow in color, would weigh several tons and whoever took it would have to have had a heavy trailer to place it on and a front loader to accomplish the theft, Jones said. The equipment is valued at more than $20,000.
Anyone with information regarding these, or similar crimes, or who may have observed suspicious activity in the areas of these thefts, is urged to contact the Glenn County Sheriff’s Office at 707-934-6431. Callers may remain anonymous.
Ranchers and farmers are also urged to take special precautions in an effort to deter fuel and equipment thefts.
Lake County Animal Care and Control is located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport, next to the Hill Road Correctional Facility.
Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Cal Fire is reporting that the number of fires it's responded to so far this year across California is nearly twice the number it responded to in the same timeframe in 2011.
In the agency's latest situation report, which can be viewed above, Cal Fire spokesman Daniel Berlant said winter's overall rainfall was well below average, despite a rainy March.
The dry winter is considered a factor in the increase in wildfires. Berlant said that from Jan. 1 through May 29, Cal Fire had responded to 1,375 fires, compared to approximately 700 fires for the same period in 2011.
This year's number of wildfires also is well above the five-year average, Berlant said.
Warmer temperatures are expected throughout the coming week, bringing with them increased fire danger.
Drier conditions also are expected to continue in June, and Berlant said Cal Fire already has begun transitioning its operations for fire season, which usually begins July 1.
Homeowners are urged to protect themselves and their homes by having 100 feet of defensible space around their residences.
For more information on how to be fire safe visit www.readyforwildfire.org .
LOWER LAKE, Calif. – A new educational facility at Lower Lake High School will offer students the chance to learn valuable career skills and also will help fill a need for well trained and certified automotive mechanics.
The high school’s new auto shop had its grand opening in a small ceremony on Wednesday evening.
Dana Moore, Konocti Unified School District’s director of classified services, said the new building is 3,600 square feet, with eight automotive repair bays, a classroom, tool room and locker room.
Funding for the automotive program and the shop itself came from Proposition 1D vocational money – Lower Lake High was one of the first schools in the state to receive the funds – as well as a grant written by Karen MacDougall, wife of Konocti Unified Superintendent Dr. Bill MacDougall.
Work began on the shop last September and was completed in April, according to Bill Gabe, the auto shop teacher.
Bill MacDougall said that five years ago – while he was still Carlé Continuation High School’s principal – he was asked by then-Superintendent Dr. Louise Nan to work with career tech educators in the district to create a premier school-to-career program.
A new automotive repair program – and the new facility itself – grew out of that effort, he said.
Lower Lake’s automotive program – the only one of its kind in Lake County – also will certify students as mechanics, said MacDougall.
“That will put our students ahead of the game,” he said.
Gabe said it was his dream to create a program that would fit into the modern day, and offer the most up-to-date education and qualifications for young people.
He said his shop will be a place where students will be able to take the test to become certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, or ASE.
Among the disciplines offered, Gabe’s students will learn every aspect of automotive repair, from taking work orders through body repair and painting techniques, with an emphasis placed on making cars safe.
He said the shop also has a muscle car project and is building a Jammer to compete at the Lakeport Speedway.
In addition to high school auto shop classes, the shop will host night college classes in automotive repair, Gabe said.
“I have never seen a shop quite like this, I have never seen a program quite like this,” said Gabe, adding that they also have enjoyed great community support.
Konocti Unified Board President Anita Gordon thanked her fellow board members – Bill Diener, Herb Gura, Hank Montgomery and Mary Silva – for their support for educational opportunities like the auto program.
“No matter what the state does to us, no matter how much money they take from us, no matter how much they try to strip our programs, this district believes in what’s best for the kids,” said Gordon. “And I liken us to a little engine that could. No matter what, no matter what happens, we manage to come up with money, grants – whatever it takes – to make a program like this for our kids.”
Lower Lake High School Principal Jeff Dixon said the new auto shop is one of several new additions to the campus over the last several years, including a new library and new gym.
“Not every kid is college bound, we know that,” he said. “But every kid is adult bound.”
Vocational and career technical programs help many young people advance to the next step in their lives and careers, and Dixon said the school plans to expand more of its offerings in those areas, including agricultural education. The school also is expanding its visual and performing arts classes and Advanced Placement classes, he said.
An entry point to a career
The project of bringing the new building to fruition had a lot of support from local businesses, including Clearlake-based A&B Collision, which donated a paint booth, which will be installed this summer; Lake Parts of Lakeport, which donated the paint system for the booth; and Martin Senour, which is donating the paint.
For A&B Collision owners Bill Stone and Alvaro Valencia – who advised the school on how to set up the facility – it’s hoped that the program will provide them with a qualified pool of mechanics and technicians from which to hire.
Stone told Lake County News that finding qualified employees has been one of his business’ biggest challenges, and has necessitated him bringing in staff from all around the state.
But finding well-trained and certified mechanics to fill high paying jobs isn’t just a Lake County problem, said Stone.
“It’s all across the United States,” he said.
On hand to show their support were members of the Lake County A’s, which presented $600 to the program. Clear Lake Car Club President Blue Miller also attended on behalf of his group, which raises money for scholarships for high school students.
Also present for the event was James Fairless, an educational representative for the NASCAR Technical Institute, a branch campus of the Universal Technical Institute.
He said the institute recently took a group of Lower Lake High automotive students over to tour UTI’s Sacramento campus.
Fairless said the new building signified “a lot of potential.”
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
In a strong showing of bipartisan strength, on Wednesday members of the State Assembly voted in unanimous support of legislation authored by Assemblymember Jared Huffman that would help rescue California state parks from financial paralysis and prevent park closures.
“I’m proud to be joined by my colleagues from both parties in this effort to preserve our state parks,” said Huffman, D-San Rafael. “This bill gives the state additional tools it needs to help keep state parks open and provide for more sustainable management of parks in the future.”
Assembly Bill 1589, also known as the California State Parks Stewardship Act of 2012, proposes both long and short-term strategies for keeping open many of the state parks slated for closure as a result of funding reductions to the Department of Parks and Recreation.
The bill calls on the Department of Parks & Recreation to develop a prioritized action plan to increase revenues and collection of unpaid user fees at state parks, while maintaining the character and values of the state park system.
It also creates a State Park Enterprise Fund and states legislative intent regarding the need for a multi-disciplinary independent assessment of ways to ensure long-term management and sustainable funding options for state parks.
Additionally, it includes provisions that authorize the Department of Motor Vehicles to offer special fee-based state park license plates to support the park system and allow taxpayers to redirect portions of their tax refunds to the California State Parks Protection Fund in exchange for an annual state park day-use access pass.
“AB 1589 will end closures and make the State Parks system more self-sufficient, with a net long-term savings to the state’s general fund,” said Assemblymember Wesley Chesbro, D-North Coast, a joint author of the bill. “This legislation is also an investment in our state’s economy. Small communities throughout rural California depend on State Parks to sustain small businesses and provide jobs.”
AB 1589 also revises the factors the Department of Parks and Recreation considers when selecting state parks for future closure, requiring the Department to publicly disclose its methodology and rationale when evaluating them, and requires that park closures be considered only as a last resort after other options, including public/private partnerships, have been explored.
AB 1589 is also jointly authored by Assemblymembers Kevin Jeffries, Roger Dickinson and Mike Gatto, and coauthored by 16 other Democratic and Republican members.
The bill proceeds to the Senate for further consideration.
SACRAMENTO – Attorney General Kamala D. Harris on Tuesday announced that a bill she is sponsoring to ensure that those convicted of human trafficking crimes involving minors will not be able to keep the financial benefits reaped from those crimes unanimously passed out of the state Senate.
"The trafficking of human beings is an unseen problem in California and throughout the country," said Harris. "I am proud to sponsor legislation that will undercut the trafficking of human beings throughout our state."
Senate Bill 1133, authored by Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco), ensures that those convicted of human trafficking crimes involving minors will not be able to keep the financial benefits reaped from those crimes.
This bill expands on the current list of assets that the perpetrator must forfeit and provides a formula to redirect those resources to community groups that aid victims of human trafficking. It passed the Senate floor 36 to 0.
"Sex trafficking of minors is a horrendous crime that is driven by the prospect of lucrative profits," said Leno. "This legislation aims to deprive convicted criminals of the financial resources and assets that would allow them to continue luring young people into the sex trade. In turn, proceeds from those forfeitures would rightfully be used to help victims begin to repair their lives."
Human trafficking in California first became a felony in 2005 with the California Human Trafficking Victims Protection Act that Harris co-sponsored when she served as the district attorney of San Francisco.
Harris also has served on the California Alliance to Combat Trafficking and Slavery Task Force and the Department of Justice is currently updating the report "Human Trafficking in California," which was released by the task force in 2007. The updated report is expected to be issued this summer.
The Attorney General is sponsoring a second human trafficking bill this session. Assembly Bill 2466 (Preservation of Assets for Victims of Human Trafficking), by Assemblymember Bob Blumenfield (D-San Fernando Valley) will require that more victims of human trafficking receive restitution.
Under California law, victims are entitled to mandatory restitution; however there are no laws to help prevent human trafficking defendants from liquidating and hiding their assets before conviction.
Assembly Bill 2466 would allow a court to order the preservation of the assets and property by persons charged with human trafficking.
The bill passed the Assembly unanimously earlier this month and is pending in the Senate.
Human trafficking is estimated to be a $32 billion industry, the world's third most profitable criminal enterprise behind drugs and arms trafficking.
Human trafficking involves the recruitment, smuggling, transporting, harboring, buying, or selling of a person for purposes of exploitation, prostitution, domestic servitude, sweatshop labor, migrant work, agricultural labor, peonage, bondage, or involuntary servitude.
While human trafficking often involves the smuggling of human beings across international borders, numerous Americans are trafficked around the United States ever year.
Human trafficking strips people, especially women and children, of their freedom and violates our nation's promise that every person in the United States is guaranteed basic human rights.
MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Richard Schaut, an English teacher at Middletown High School, has been selected as the 2012-13 Lake County Teacher of the Year.
Tim Gill, senior director of educational services at Lake County Office of Education, announced Schaut's selection.
Schaut will represent Lake County in the upcoming California Teacher of the Year competition.
Schaut holds a bachelor’s degree in English from University of California, Los Angeles, and a master’s degree in humanities, language and literature from California State University, Dominguez Hills.
He has been an instructor at Middletown High School since 1990 and currently teaches English 12, AP English Composition, Honors English 11 and English 9, as well as philosophy.
“Students know three things will happen when they go into Mr. Schaut’s classroom: 1) There will be energy from the teacher that will start before the bell and will run until the echo of the final bell that day; 2) As a student they will be challenged to open their mind and not be afraid to get better; and 3) Both the teacher and the student become better as a result of the interaction,” said Middletown High School Principal Bill Roderick.
Schaut explains his teaching viewpoint best. “Today my philosophy of teaching is that to teach well, we must love our subject, we must love learning, we must love the process of teaching, and we must genuinely care about our students. To do this well we must have patience, we must practice, and we must be persistent, both as teachers and as students. Teaching is about building relationships and explaining processes, passing on what we know to be true.”
Each year the school districts in the county select one exemplary teacher as their district teacher of the year. A committee of community leaders then interviews these candidates.
The criteria for selection of the Lake County Teacher of the Year is based upon the state and national requirements, which include professional development activities, commitment to the improvement of the educational system, personal attributes, creativity and ability to communicate ideas effectively, and professional skills in delivering curriculum and instruction to students.
This year’s selection committee members were Pamela Bordisso, Tim Gill, Marilyn Grock, Nyla Norris and Richard Smith.
The outstanding district teachers of the year for 2012-12 are Matthew Carpenter, Kelseyville Unified School District; Valerie Duncan, Upper Lake Union Elementary District; Teresa Dunne, Upper Lake Union High District; and Stacy Holland, Lakeport Unified School District.
Also acknowledged for excellence in teaching is Marlene Henry, Konocti Unified School District.
Schaut and the district teachers of the year will be honored for their exceptional achievement at an event this fall.
For more information on the upcoming award dinner, please contact Shelly Mascari at the Lake County Office of Education, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The man killed in a Tuesday afternoon crash on Highway 53 in Clearlake has been identified, and a Wednesday report explained the circumstances that led to the fatal incident.
Ricardo Perez, 46, of Nice died after he was struck by a tow truck driven by 45-year-old Joseph L. Brown of Yuba City at about 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The CHP conducted the fatal crash investigation at the request of the Clearlake Police Department.
According to the report, Rosa M. Reyes, 23, of Clearlake was stopped in her Lexus sedan northbound on Highway 53 waiting to turn left on Polk Avenue.
Perez was standing at the rear of his parked 1997 Ford Ranger pickup on the shoulder of northbound Highway 53 facing north and south of Polk Avenue, the report said. Police had said Perez was doing landscaping work.
At the same time, Brown was driving his International flatbed tow truck northbound on Highway 53 at approximately 45 to 55 miles per hour.
The CHP said Brown saw Reyes' sedan stopped in the northbound lane with its left turn signal activated. He began to decelerate and apply the tow truck's brakes, but realized he would be unable to stop before hitting the Lexus.
Brown turned his vehicle to the right and continued braking, with the left of his vehicle hitting the right rear of the Lexus, causing minor damage, the CHP said.
After hitting Reyes' Lexus, Brown continued past that vehicle and went into the dirt shoulder toward Perez and the Ford pickup, according to the CHP.
The CHP report said the front of the tow truck hit Perez and then the rear of the tow truck hit the parked Ford pickup.
Perez was picked up by a REACH air ambulance to be flown to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, but Clearlake Police said he died en route.
Reyes sustained minor injuries and was taken to St. Helena Hospital Clearlake for treatment, the CHP said. Brown was uninjured. Both Reyes and Brown were wearing seat belts.
Alcohol was not a factor in the Tuesday collision, according to the CHP.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The preliminary hearing of Robinson Rancheria’s tribal chair – alleged to have embezzled thousands of dollars from another Lake County tribe – has been set for August.
At a hearing last week, an Aug. 1 preliminary hearing date was set for 50-year-old Tracey Avila of Nice, according to Deputy District Attorney Rachel Abelson, the case’s prosecutor.
Avila was arrested last September on a felony charge of grand theft for allegedly taking more than $60,000 from Elem Colony of Clearlake Oaks.
She had worked for Elem as its fiscal officer from February 2006 to September 2008, according to case documents.
Elem conducted its own investigation before contacting federal authorities to request assistance.
Case documents showed that the federal investigation ultimately led to Avila’s arrest last year.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
California Attorney General Kamala D. Harris announced on Wednesday that the Assembly and Senate each passed important components of the California Homeowner Bill of Rights that will help protect homeowners from scams.
The bills enhance the attorney general's enforcement powers and allow the attorney general to use special grand juries to prosecute multi-jurisdictional financial crimes.
The Mortgage Fraud Strike Force established by the attorney general has been investigating and prosecuting a wide range of crimes related to mortgages, foreclosures and real estate.
"California was the epicenter of the mortgage and foreclosure crisis and scammers have been preying on vulnerable citizens who simply want to keep their homes," said Attorney General Harris. "These bills will aid our efforts to prosecute and convict these criminals."
These are two of the six bills in the California Homeowner Bill of Rights. Other portions of the package are being considered in a Joint Legislative Conference Committee, including elements to restrict unnecessary foreclosures and protect the due process rights of borrowers and homeowners.
AB 1763 (Assemblymember Mike Davis, D-Los Angeles) and SB 1474 (Senator Loni Hancock, D-Berkeley) would allow the Attorney General to convene a special grand jury to investigate and indict the perpetrators of financial crimes involving victims in multiple jurisdictions. Both bills passed out of their respective houses unanimously with bipartisan support.
The special grand jury would convene in cases involving fraud or theft that occurs in more than one county and where all potential charges are against a single defendant or multiple defendants working together.
Crimes of a financial nature often occur in multiple jurisdictions. Under current law, crimes where the fraud victims are all over the state require separate grand juries and charges filed in each county where the defendant committed the crime. This legislation would provide for the option of a special grand jury that can investigate financial crimes beyond the scope of single-county grand juries.
"The attorney general is currently engaged in the investigation of significant crimes," Senator Hancock said. "Unfortunately, county-by-county grand juries do not work well in dealing with large-scale wrongdoing in multiple jurisdictions. With this bill, the attorney general can investigate multijurisdictional crimes – it will provide protection when Californians need it the most."
In addition, AB 1950, by Assemblymember Davis, will extend to three years the statute of limitations on mortgage related crimes.
The current statute of limitations of one year can make it difficult to prosecute crimes such as the prohibition on charging up front fees for loan modification services.
Because the foreclosure process is so protracted, some homeowners may not even realize that they have been the victim of a scam before it is too late for prosecution.
"AB 1950 equips the Attorney General to do her job; to go after the bad actors that have taken advantage of homeowners. It accomplishes this by providing the Attorney General with appropriate time to investigate and prosecute those who prey on California homeowners," said Assemblymember Mike Davis. The bill passed out of the Assembly on a 46 to 18 vote.
The California Homeowner Bill of Rights also includes:
DUE PROCESS AND FORECLOSURE REDUCTION ACT: SB 900 (Leno) & AB 278 (Eng). These bills are being considered by a Joint Legislative Conference Committee.
BLIGHT PREVENTION LEGISLATION: AB 2314 (Carter) & SB 1472 (Pavley and DeSaulnier). These bills have passed the Assembly and Senate, respectively and now will be heard in the other house.
TENANT PROTECTION LEGISLATION: AB 2610 (Skinner) & SB 1473 (Hancock). These bills will be heard in the Assembly and Senate by the end of the week.
For more information on the California Homeowner Bill of Rights, go to www.oag.ca.gov .
UPPER LAKE, Calif. – A vehicle that was being towed along Highway 20 on Tuesday afternoon was the cause of three small spot fires.
The fires, located between Blue Lakes and the Lake and Mendocino County line, were first reported shortly after 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to radio reports.
Northshore Fire Chief Jay Beristianos said a wheel fell off the car that was being towed, which sparked the fires. He said the man towing the car couldn't see the missing tire.
Cal Fire and Northshore Fire sent engines to the incident, with firefighters quickly knocking down the fires before they got far, according to radio traffic.
One of the fires was near The Lodge at Blue Lakes. Beristianos said several local people extinguished the fire before firefighters arrived.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The eighth annual Lake County Wine Adventure, a two-day passport event, will be held Saturday, July 28, and Sunday, July 29.
The event, which takes place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days, is hosted by the Lake County Winery Association.
Adventurous wine enthusiasts will have an opportunity to explore the “high elevation” wine country of California’s Lake County and sample distinct, award-winning “wines with altitude.”
Throughout the weekend, wine adventurers will taste wines from five of Lake County’s six distinct viticulture areas (AVAs) as they visit participating wineries.
Adventure tickets can be purchased in advance through July 22 for $35 each at the following local wine businesses: Langtry Estate and Vineyards, Six Sigma, Laujor Estate, Steele Wines, Mt. Konocti Winery, Bell Hill Wines, Brassfield Estate and the Lake County Wine Studio.
If you miss the presale tickets, adventure passes will be available on the day of the event for $45 each and can be purchased at the wineries mentioned above and noted with a star on the Wine Adventure map.
Each ticket is good for two days of activities and entitles the holder to wine tastings and hors d’oeuvres at each winery, a logo wine glass, art exhibits, and entertainment.
“We are expecting upwards of 2000 attendees at this year’s event,” said Lake County Wine Adventure Chair Cheryl Lucido. “The wineries are excited and the community support has been outstanding.”
Event-goers will be entered into a raffle drawing when they leave their completed wine adventure tickets with the last winery they visit.
Raffle prizes include overnight lodging certificates; activities such as kayaking, guided hiking expeditions and wine tastings; fine art and jewelry; and breakfast and dinner dining selections. The grand raffle prize is a stellar cellar collection of Lake County’s finest wines.
The Lake County Winery Association thanks all of the raffle donors for their valuable partnership in the success of the eighth annual Lake County Wine Adventure.
Event organizers promote responsible hospitality and encourage all participants to designate a driver.
Designated drivers are invited to enjoy nonalcoholic drinks, food, and entertainment free of charge at each site compliments of the Lake County Winery Association.
For more information or to order your 2012 Lake County Wine Adventure tickets, visit www.lakecountywineries.org .