The fire was first reported shortly after 2 p.m. in a doublewide mobile home with an addition at 8120 Reclamation Road, according to radio reports.

The initial reports stated there was a fire somewhere in the residence and that the occupants had safely evacuated.

Northshore Fire Protection District Chief Jay Beristianos said the district sent three engines to the scene, and had the fire knocked down within a few minutes. A few hours later all units had cleared the scene.

Beristianos said it was a “room and contents” fire, with the blaze confined to one bedroom and minimal smoke damage throughout the rest of the house.

“The cause on this is clearly electrical,” Beristianos said.

Beristianos estimated total damage at between $14,000 and $15,000.

The two adult residents of the home were displaced, but were uninjured, said Beristianos. Red Cross was called to give them housing assistance.

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New York state residents Michael Gladis, 25; Laura Fowler, 27; and 32-year-old James Waugh were arrested on Monday during the service of two search warrants in the city of Clearlake, according to a Tuesday report from the Clearlake Police Department.

An investigation that served as the basis for the search warrants' issuance allegedly revealed that the two residences – 15933 35th Ave. and 15933 36th Ave. – and their occupants were connected to the illegal cultivation and distribution of marijuana, police said.

On Monday, Clearlake Police officers along with Lake County District Attorney’s Office investigators, served two search warrants simultaneously at two Clearlake residences, according to the Tuesday report.

At 15933 35th Ave. police and district attorney investigators arrested Gladis and Fowler. Police said Gladis was arrested for cultivation of marijuana for sale, possession of simulated hand grenades, possession of illegal assault rifles, armed in the commission of a felony and conspiracy. Fowler was arrested for cultivation for sale, possession of illegal assault rifles, armed in the commission of a felony and conspiracy.

At 15933 36th Ave., Waugh was arrested for cultivation of marijuana for sale and conspiracy, police said.

Also at that residence, police reported that officers seized more than 300 marijuana plants in various stages of growth out of the residences, an AR-15-type assault rifle, an SKS type assault rifle, two simulated hand grenades and $13,464 pending judicial asset forfeiture proceedings.

Police said the investigation revealed that the conspirators were planning on growing the marijuana for sale and were possibly going to ship the marijuana via the U.S. Postal Service to other parts of the country.

Fowler and Gladis are being held at the Lake County Jail with a bail of $150,000 each, and Waugh is being held at the Lake County Jail with a bail of $100,000, according to jail records.

The Clearlake Police Department thanked the Lake County District Attorney’s Office for its assistance with the investigation and the concerned citizens who brought this matter to law enforcement's attention.

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Pictured sitting left to right: Jennifer Strong, Clear Lake High School; Derek Butcher, Clear Lake High School; Tom DeLapp, California Consortium of Education Foundations; Pat Iaccino, Upper Lake High School; Margie Irwin, Kelseyville Education Foundation; Alisha Stottsberry, Kelseyville Education Foundation. Pictured standing left to right: Wilda Shock, Lake County Friends of Mendocino College; Katie Wojcieszak, Mendocino College Foundation; Wally Holbrook, Lake County Office of Education; Amy Wind, Lakeport Education Foundation; Jill Falconer, Lakeport Education Foundation; Dr. Bill Haddon, Friends of the Taylor Observatory; Cathy Wilder, Lower Lake High School Boosters. Courtesy photo.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – With education facing greater financial challenges, nonprofits and educators are working to find how they can best work together to ensure Lake County's students have the resources they need.

Representatives from many of the Lake County education foundations and nonprofits gathered at a recent meeting hosted by Lake County Superintendent of Schools Wally Holbrook and the Lake County Office of Education.

The purpose of the meeting was to foster a collaborative and cooperative approach among the groups with a common goal of improving education in Lake County, according to a report from Holbrook's office.

Also attending the meeting was Tom DeLapp, a California Consortium of Education Foundations board member. DeLapp provided information and suggestions on operating successful foundations, and developing strategic plans for the long-term health of foundations and nonprofits.

Each participant shared basic information about their organization along with past and future activities. The group has agreed to meet twice a year to continue to expand communication and further coordinate activities and events.

Meeting participants expressed appreciation at the opportunity to network with other educational foundations, and are optimistic that this group will prevent “donor burnout” and fundraising oversaturation in our communities.

Opportunities for partnership also are a potential outcome of this group.

“The positive response to this idea is a great example of how Lake County organizations are willing to explore ways to collaborate and better serve our students and communities,” said Holbrook.

If you would like more information on the foundation group and future meetings, please contact Wally Holbrook at 707-262-4101 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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Wotherspoon is being recognized for his leadership, mentoring and charitable involvement throughout the region.

“I feel that being a PGA professional means many things, but the most important is promoting the game of golf by setting a positive example,” said Wotherspoon. “I do this by giving back to the community and to those in the business that I have the pleasure of mentoring,”

Wotherspoon is among 18 recipients of the NCPGA’s 2011 Annual Section Awards.

Section awards are given to PGA Professionals and industry leaders who have excelled in the game and business of golf.

The NCPGA will recognize its 2011 Annual Section Award winners on Sunday, Dec. 4, at the NCPGA Special Awards Ceremony & President’s Dinner at Marin Country Club in Novato.

This event, a highlight for the year, will be held the evening prior to the NCPGA Annual Meeting. There are more than 200 golf professionals and industry leaders expected to attend.

“Mark has helped so many people through golf,” said NCPGA Awards Chairman Cathy Jo Johnson, PGA. “He has been a great leader as the founder of the North Coast Chapter of the NCPGA, he has mentored many golf associates, and he has been responsible for raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for local charities.”

Wotherspoon has been a leader within the NCPGA. He helped found the North Coast Chapter (NCC) of the Nor Cal PGA Section, served four years as NCC President and Chapter Representative on the NCPGA Board of Directors, three years as the NCC Vice President, and three years as the NCC Tournament Chairman.

He founded the Lake County Amateur Golf Circuit 19 years ago and today it ranks as the third largest amateur golf circuit in the Northern California Golf Association (NCGA). He also helped overturn non-PGA biased NCPGA Tournament Rules and Regulations.

He takes pride in knowing he has mentored at least 10 current PGA professionals whether it was a co-worker or an up and coming apprentice working toward membership. Seeing a need within his Chapter, Wotherspoon started an apprentice fund in the NCC to support apprentices with their education.

Wotherspoon’s community involvement and charitable contributions are many and have resulted in tremendous benefits for organizations locally and abroad.

He hosted the Lake County Wine Alliance Event and the Pepsi Celebrity Quarterback Shootout with Konocti Harbor Resort. The Lake County Wine Alliance Event generated donations up to $100,000 annually that were directed locally and the Pepsi Celebrity Quarterback Shootout generated donations up to $250,000 annually that were distributed locally and abroad amongst several United Way-affiliated organizations.

During his 20 years at Buckingham Golf & Country Club, he has been responsible for more than $100,000 being given back to the local community in green fees, cart fees, dinners and 19th hole donations.

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Anthony Romero Diaz Jr., 58, of Clearlake was identified as the fatality, according to Capt. James Bauman of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

Bauman said an autopsy was conducted, and Diaz's preliminary cause of death was listed as drowning.

An official cause of death is pending as toxicology testing and necropsy reports have not been finalized, Bauman said.

Clearlake Police responded to the 14100 block of Lakeshore Drive on Wednesday, Nov. 2, on the report of a body floating offshore, as Lake County News has reported.

Diaz was found floating facedown. He was not clothed, but police reported finding his clothes and personal items on shore nearby.

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Lake County Sheriff's deputies found more than 50 pounds of processed marijuana, concentrated cannabis or hashish, and weapons during a search warrant service on Friday, November4, 2011, at the home of Raymond Dyer, 26, of Kelseyville, Calif. Photo courtesy of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The service of a bench warrant on a Kelseyville man by sheriff’s patrol deputies has resulted in felony marijuana and weapons charges, as well as the seizure of over 50 pounds of processed marijuana, concentrated cannabis or hashish, and weapons.

Raymond Bryan Dyer, 26, was arrested last Friday, Nov. 4, as a result of the warrant service, according to a Monday report from Capt. James Bauman of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

At 9:20 a.m. Nov. 4 sheriff’s deputies went to Dyer's home on Diamond Dust Trail to serve an arrest warrant related to Dyer’s failure to appear on a prior narcotics charge, Bauman said.

When deputies announced themselves at the residence, they were told by an unidentified female that Dyer was not home, Bauman said.

However as the deputies were leaving, they were alerted to a noise coming from inside of a shed located west of the house. Bauman said when they again announced themselves, Dyer emerged from the shed and was detained without incident.

Deputies detected a strong odor of marijuana coming from the shed and searched it pursuant to the terms of Dyer’s probation. Bauman said a search of the structure revealed large amounts of marijuana in various processing and packaging stages, contained in paper bags, garbage bags, ice chests and buckets. A glass jar containing nearly a pound of concentrated cannabis, or hashish, also was located in the shed.

A loaded handgun and a .12 gauge shotgun, which were both easily accessible to Dyer, were also seized from the building, according to Bauman's report.

Dyer was unable to produce a medicinal marijuana recommendation to account for the large amount of marijuana and much of the processed product was clearly packaged for sales, Bauman said.

Bauman said Dyer subsequently was arrested for cultivation of marijuana, possession of marijuana for sales, possession of concentrated cannabis, being armed in the commission of a felony, violation of probation, and the bench warrant deputies were initially there to serve.

He was transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility, where he remained in custody on Monday due to a no-bail hold on a misdemeanor probation violation, according to jail records.

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Raymond Bryan Dyer, 26, of Kelseyville, Calif., was arrested on Friday, November 4, 2011, for possession of a large amount of processed marijuana, hashish and weapon. Lake County Jail photo.

The California Department of Fish and Game on Wednesday commenced the process to join federal litigation that challenges the removal of vegetation on levees.

The case, Friends of the River, et. al. v. United States Army Corps of Engineers, et. al. was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California. It essentially challenges the Army Corps of Engineers' adoption of a national policy that requires removing virtually all trees and shrubs on federal levees.

“DFG, along with many other local, state and federal agencies, has been in discussion with the Corps about this policy for several years,” said DFG Director Charlton H. Bonham. “It’s unfortunate that the discussions haven’t led to a more agreeable outcome, but if adhered to, the policy will do incredible damage to California’s remaining riparian and adjacent riverine ecosystem, especially in the Central Valley.”

Roundtable discussions on the policy have included the California Department of Water Resources (DWR), Central Valley Flood Protection Board, National Marine Fisheries Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. DWR and DFG have repeatedly expressed concerns about the policy in letters to the Corps. The policy has also received pushback from farmers and other water users.

The Central Valley is home to the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Flood Management System. This flood protection system has approximately 1,600 miles of federal project levees along the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers and tributaries. This policy would require removing most of the remaining five percent of riparian forest there.

Riparian habitat is essential for several endangered species including Chinook salmon, Central Valley steelhead, Valley elderberry longhorn beetle, riparian brush rabbit, Western yellow-billed cuckoo and Swainson's hawk.

Moreover, the riparian habitat provides scenic beauty and recreational enjoyment for people up and down the river.

The policy adopted by the Corps fails to comply with either the National Environmental Policy Act or the federal Endangered Species Act.

Historically, the Corps has allowed and even encouraged the planting of trees and other vegetation on California levees. They have even collaborated with state and federal agencies in developing levee design approaches intended to benefit federal- and state-listed threatened and endangered species. The new policy directly conflicts with their past actions.

DFG and DWR estimate that complying with the Corps' policy could cost up to $7.5 billion and divert funds away from more significant levee deficiencies like seepage and erosion.

DFG seeks to join current plaintiffs in the case including Friends of the River, Defenders of Wildlife and the Center for Biological Diversity.

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LAKEPORT, Calif. – A unique educational program is coming to Lake County, with members of the local judiciary, attorneys and educators meeting this week for an initial orientation.

The Lake County Superior Court and the Lake County Office of Education are partnering to bring the California Mock Trial Program to Lake County.

A program orientation for members of the legal and academic communities will take place from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 10, in Department 2 of the Lake County Superior Court, located on the fourth floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.

Representatives of the Mendocino County's Mock Trial Program will offer an overview of the program.

The orientation is the first step in planning for implementing the competition; the first will take place in Lake County in the 2012-13 school year.

In 1980, Constitutional Rights Foundation introduced the Mock Trial program to all the counties in California, according to the foundation's Web site, www.crf-usa.org/mock-trial-program/mock-trial-program.html.

The Mock Trial Program currently has 36 California counties participating, Constitutional Rights Foundation reported.

The program was created to help students acquire a working knowledge of the judicial system, develop analytical abilities and communication skills, and gain an understanding of their obligations and responsibilities as participating members of society.

In addition, the Mock Trial Program assists students in developing skills to master state content standards for history and social science, the foundation reported.

Cases are released to all California counties in the early fall, with county-level competitions usually taking place in late fall or early spring, according to the foundation Web site.

The foundation explained that county competition winners go on to the state finals in March, and in May, the winner of the state competition represents California at the annual National High School Mock Trial Competition, involving teams from 54 states and territories.

For more information on the Mock Trial Program in Lake County, call the Lake County Office of Education, 707-262-4100.

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David Edward Green, 52, of Clearlake Oaks, Calif., was arrested on Tuesday, November 1, 2011, on several narcotics charges as well as arrest warrants. Lake County Jail photo.

CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – A Clearlake Oaks man has been arrested for felony narcotics violations and narcotics-related warrants by the Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force.

David Edward Green, 52, was arrested following the service of warrants at a residence on the afternoon of Tuesday, Nov. 1, according to a Monday report from Capt. James Bauman of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

Bauman said narcotics detectives contacted Green to serve him with two outstanding arrest warrants at a residence on East Highway 20 in Clearlake Oaks.

When Green answered the door, he initially spoke with undercover detectives, but then shut the door and fled back into the home. Bauman said additional detectives entered the home and located Green in a computer room. He was subsequently arrested without further incident.

During a search of the home pursuant to Green’s probation terms, narcotics detectives located methamphetamine and narcotics paraphernalia in the living room, Bauman said.

A further search of the home revealed more methamphetamine, “meth” pipes, and other narcotics paraphernalia in a bedroom. Bauman said narcotics sales packaging materials and digital scales were also found concealed in two duffel bags believed to belong to Green.

Green was arrested for possession of a controlled substance for sales, possession of narcotics paraphernalia, felony violation of his probation and two narcotics related arrest warrants. Bauman said Green was transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility where he remained in custody on Monday.

The Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force can be contacted through its anonymous tip line at 707-263-3663.

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On the ballot Tuesday were board of trustee positions for the Mendocino-Lake Community College District, Upper Lake Elementary School, Upper Lake High School and Lakeport Unified School District.

In Hidden Valley Lake, voters also selected three new members for the Hidden Valley Lake Community Services District Board.

For the Mendocino-Lake Community College District seat, retired Lake County Superintendent of Schools Dave Geck of Kelseyville won election to a seat he's filled by appointment.

He received 56.6 percent of the vote, or 1,907 ballots, to defeat Derek Tippit, also of Kelseyville, who received 1,443 votes, or 42.8 percent, according to elections returns posted Tuesday night.

Voters selected Ron Raetz and Mel O'Meara to fill two seats on the Upper Lake Elementary School District Board. Raetz received 388 votes (40.8 percent), followed by O'Meara with 359 votes (37.8 percent). Walt Christensen finished third with 203 votes, or 21.4 percent.

In the Upper Lake High School District, where another two seats were decided, Keith Austin was the top vote getter, receiving 518 votes (35.9 percent), followed by Richard Swaney with 488 votes (33.9 percent) and Wanda Quitiquit, who received 430 votes, or 29.8 percent, the Lake County Registrar of Voters reported.

Three seats were open on the Lakeport Unified School District Board of Trustees. The field was led by Phil Kirby, 27.8 percent or 760 votes, followed by Wally Cox, 26.8 percent, 732 votes; Lori Holmes, 23.2 percent, 633 votes; and Renee Teverbaugh, 22 percent, 600 votes.

In Hidden Valley, Jim Freeman, Jim Lieberman and Carolyn Graham were elected to the Hidden Valley Lake Community Services District, according to the election returns.

Freeman received 215 votes (16 percent), followed by Lieberman, 205 votes (15.2 percent), and Graham, 183 votes (13.6 percent).

Also in the field were Michael H. Sand, 165 votes (12.3 percent); Lyle La Faver, 156 (11.6 percent); Frances Bunce, 153 votes (11.4 percent); Bob Barton, 153 votes (11.4 percent); and Wanda Harris, 109 votes (8.1 percent).

Of Lake County's 16,990 registered voters, only 3,532 – or 20.8 percent – cast ballots by mail and in person for the Tuesday election, according to the Lake County Registrar of Voters.

Only 819, or 4.8 percent of registered county voters cast their ballot in local precincts, with 16 percent – or 2,713 voters – voting by mail.

That turnout is the lowest reported in a Lake County election over the last five years, according to archived election data on the Lake County Registrar of Voters' Web page.

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COBB, Calif. – A moderate-sized earthquake was reported near The Geysers geothermal steamfield on Tuesday.

The 3.0-magnitude quake occurred at 11:32 a.m. two miles northeast of The Geysers, four miles west southwest of Cobb, six miles west northwest of Anderson Springs and 26 miles north of Santa Rosa, according to the US Geological Survey.

The survey reported that the quake occurred at a depth of 1.5 miles.

A total of five shake reports were sent to the survey from Middletown, San Ramon and Oakland.

A 3.0-magnitude quake occurred two miles east southeast of The Geysers on Sept. 22, the US Geological Survey reported.

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NOAA has run OSCURS (Ocean Surface Current Simulator), a numeric model for ocean surface currents, to predict the movement of marine debris generated by the Japan tsunami over five years. The results are shown here. Year 1 = red; Year 2 = orange; Year 3 = yellow; Year 4 = light blue; Year 5 = violet. The OCSURS model is used to measure the movement of surface currents over time, as well as the movement of what is in or on the water. Map courtesy of J. Churnside (NOAA OAR) and created through Google.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other federal agencies are teaming up to document and track potential marine debris generated by the Japan earthquake and tsunami in March.

EPA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will issue a monthly bulletin to keep key stakeholders informed about tsunami debris activities, an effort resulting from an EPA lead marine debris workshop held in June in Honolulu.

The workshop, part of the regular Oceania Regional Response Team meeting, explored options for a coordinated response to the tsunami debris.

The ORRT, comprised of federal, state and U.S. Territory agencies, has an area of responsibility that includes Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

Follow up meetings resulted in a coordinated strategy for reporting of debris sightings.

An advisory was issued to U.S. flag vessels at the end of September by the Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) requesting voluntary reporting of significant debris sightings in the open ocean to better characterize the extent and nature of the debris field.

“EPA and NOAA's efforts with our federal and state partners will paint a clearer picture of the amount of debris that may be floating on the ocean,” said Jared Blumenfeld, EPA’s Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest. “The federal government needs to be prepared to take action if tsunami debris poses navigational hazards or washes up on our shores.”

In March 2011 the Japanese tsunami triggered by the Great Tohoku Earthquake released what is estimated to be millions of tons of debris into the Pacific Ocean, according to the EPA.

Precise estimates are not available, although figures of between five and 20 million tons have been quoted. The Japanese Ministry of the Environment reported that the total quantity of waste from the earthquake and tsunami in that country totaled 25 tons.

University of Hawaii scientists have developed computer models that predict debris from the tsunami could potentially reach Hawaii by March 2012 and the U.S. West Coast by March 2013.

During the Sept. 17 Coastal Cleanup Day, the California Coastal Commission and U.S. EPA Region 9 worked together to evaluate what California's coast looks like in a “normal” year, which will serve as a baseline that can help identify debris surges in the future.

For more information on EPA Region 9’s marine debris efforts and to subscribe to the Tsunami Debris Bulletin and receive it via email visit: http://www.epa.gov/region9/marine-debris/ .

For more information on Tsunami Debris and the NOAA Marine Debris Program visit:

http://marinedebris.noaa.gov/info/japanfaqs.html and http://marinedebris.noaa.gov/welcome.html.

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