This story has been updated with booking details.

HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE, Calif. – The Lake County Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday that the victim in a fatal Tuesday night Hidden Valley Lake shooting is a young local woman, with her father arrested for having killed her.

Hannah Welch, 20, was found dead by emergency responders who arrived at the scene Tuesday night, according to the sheriff’s office report.

The sheriff’s office said the suspect in the shooting is Welch’s father, 39-year-old Steven Russell Miller.

At 8:15 p.m. Tuesday sheriff’s deputies and medical personnel from Cal Fire responded to an address in the 18000 block of Spyglass Road in Hidden Valley Lake for a report of a call of a man who just shot his daughter, the sheriff’s office said.

Upon arrival, first responders contacted the reporting party who was the grandmother of the victim and mother of the suspect, according to the Wednesday report.

At that time, they also located Welch’s body inside the residence, the sheriff’s office said.

Miller had at that point left the residence, but the sheriff’s office said he was located in the subdivision within minutes by responding deputies and taken into custody without incident.  

As a result of the initial investigation, the sheriff’s office said it appears that Welch was killed by a gunshot wound. An autopsy will be conducted as part of the final investigation.

No other victims or suspects have been identified, authorities said.

Miller was transported to the sheriff’s office for questioning by sheriff’s detectives and then transported to the hospital as part of a standard medical clearing procedure prior to booking at the Lake County Jail.

As of 9 a.m. Wednesday, Miller was still in the booking process, the sheriff’s office said.

Later in the day, his booking sheet was posted, which stated he is being held on $1 million bail. He is tentatively scheduled for arraignment in Lake County Superior Court on Friday.

The sheriff’s office said a motive has not been determined.

Anyone who has information concerning this investigation is asked to contact the Lake County Sheriff’s Detective Richard Kreutzer at 707-262-4233.

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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The National Weather Service said an incoming storm system is expected to bring light amounts of rain to interior Northern California on Wednesday.

The low pressure area is moving in from the Pacific, the agency said Tuesday.

Forecasters said that it’s a weak system that’s expected to drop most of its rain over the region’s mountains and foothills on Wednesday, although some valley areas could get light rainfall amounts.

In addition to the rain, the specific Lake County forecast calls for temperatures this week that range from daytime highs in the low 80s to nighttime lows in the high 50s.

Wednesday is expected to see some rain and cloudy skies, with partly cloudy skies on Thursday. Conditions will clear, bringing sunny skies through the weekend, based on the forecast.

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.

NORTH COAST, Calif. – A Lakeport man was arrested by Mendocino County authorities late last week after he is alleged to have assaulted his ex-wife and endangered their children.

Jessie Edward Slotte, 31,  was arrested on Saturday for assault with a deadly weapon, felony domestic violence battery and child endangerment, according to a report from Sgt. Mike Dygert of the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office.

Dygert said that at 7:40 p.m. Saturday Mendocino County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a reported domestic violence incident in the 11000 block of East Road in Potter Valley.

Upon their arrival the deputies learned that Slotte and a 31-year-old adult female from Lakeport had previously been married and had children in common, Dygert said.

Dygert said both Slotte and the adult female were in a vehicle together with a 3-year-old male and a 5-month-old female.
 
Slotte’s ex-wife was driving the vehicle down the road when she and Slotte became engaged in an argument. Dygert said the argument escalated and Slotte reached down and pushed on the vehicle's accelerator pedal while one of his hands grabbed the steering wheel, causing the woman to temporarily lose control of the vehicle.

Slotte then brandished a pocket knife and held it at the adult female’s neck and threatened to kill her, Dygert said.

Dygert said the woman stopped the vehicle and attempted to get the children out when Slotte attacked her by pushing her to the ground and kicking her once on the left side of her torso.

The woman got up and was attempting to retrieve the children when Slotte started driving away in the vehicle while the adult female was partially in the vehicle, Dygert said. This caused the adult female's feet to be dragged on the ground several feet while striking some roadside mailboxes before Slotte stopped the vehicle.
 
Dygert said the woman managed to get one of the children out of the vehicle before Slotte drove off at a high rate of speed.
 
Deputies observed visible injuries on the adult female’s legs, Dygert said.
 
At 9:11 p.m. Saturday Lake County Sheriff’s deputies located Slotte in the city of Lakeport and arrested him, according to Dygert.

Slotte was booked into the Mendocino County Jail where he was to be held in lieu of $30,000 bail, Dygert said.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The Gibson Museum and Cultural Center will hold its annual “Battles at the Mansion” fundraiser on Saturday, June 24, and Sunday, June 25.

The event is a reenactment of four Civil War battles, which members of the American Civil War Association will stage on the fields behind the Middletown Mansion Event Center on Highway 29.

Between those battles, guests may go onto the battlefield to examine the weapons and chat with the participants.

These men, old and young, and a few women, are remarkably well informed about the armaments and munitions, about the authenticity of their uniforms and equipment, and about the war itself.

Apart from the black smoke powder and tumult, there will be plenty to enjoy.

Lake County’s popular women’s a Capella group, My Divas, will open the entertainment both Saturday and Sunday. Word is that the ladies, dressed in mid-19th century outfits, may also burst into song from time to time amidst the lush greenery of the mansion grounds.

David Neft, a favorite entertainer in many Lake County venues for the past couple of decades, will play Saturday afternoon.

The engaging duo of Don Coffin on guitar and Andi Skelton with her fiddle will play Sunday afternoon, to set toes tapping as they regularly do at Ely Stage Stop’s monthly Fiddlers’ Jams.

Twice on Saturday, once on Sunday, Forest Service archaeologist Barbara White will offer her delightful characterization of a Civil War era lady struggling into proper antebellum dress with all its cumbersome underpinnings. Barbara has been performing for about twenty years, and the applause keeps escalating.

Several of the area’s favorite restaurateurs will be on hand vending assorted casual outdoor foods, and soft drinks, beer and wine will also be available.

The entire affair is a fundraiser to help support ongoing work on local history and displays at Gibson Museum & Cultural Center. Sponsorships are available to help the cause and will be rewarded with promotional displays at the event. For information, call Voris at 707-295-7174 or Davis at 707-495-4811.

Tickets are now on sale at 13 venues: all three Lake County museums, in Lakeport, Lower Lake and Middletown, and at Ely Stage Stop & Country Museum in Kelseyville; at the Chambers of Commerce in Lakeport and Clearlake; at all three Country Air Realty offices in Lakeport, Clear Lake Riviera and Cobb; at Mountain High coffee shops in Cobb and Hidden Valley Lake; at the Lower Lake Coffee Shop and at 2 Women Traders in Middletown.

Advance sales prices are $12 adult, $10 senior, $5 Youth, under 6 free.

For advanced ticket purchase and a schedule of events visit www.friendsofgibson.com .

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CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Clearlake Animal Care and Control once again has a full house of dogs ready and waiting to meet their new families.

This week’s dogs include mixes of American Staffordshire Terrier, Catahoula, Chihuahua, Labrador Retriever, mastiff, shepherd and terrier.

To meet the animals, call Clearlake Animal Control at 707-994-8201, Extension 103 or 105, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday, or leave a message.
 
Below are this week's available pets.

‘Boots’

“Boots” is a male Chihuahua puppy.

He has a short black coat.

Shelter staff said that since Boots is just a baby, he needs lots of love and attention.

‘Brandy’

“Brandy” is an adult female Chihuahua with a short white coat with red markings.

Shelter staff said she’s sweet and would make a great companion.

‘Butternut”

“Butternut” is a very sweet female Chihuahua mix with a short brown coat.

She already is spayed.

Shelter staff said she gets along with cats but wants to be an only child around dogs. “She will keep your lap warm and be your best friend.”

‘Carmel’

“Carmel” is an adult female Chihuahua.

She came in with “Brandy” and the puppy, “Boots.”

She has a short red and white coat.

 
‘Courtney’
 
“Courtney” is a female Catahoula mix.
 
She has a short brown brindle coat and big brown eyes.

Shelter staff said she is about 2 years old and very sweet.

‘Hansel’

“Hansel is a handsome male terrier and shepherd mix puppy.

He has a short brown coat with black and white markings.

‘Mya’
 
“Mya” is a female mastiff-Labrador Retriever mix with a short black coat.
 
Shelter staff said her owner moved and couldn’t take her. She is very sweet.

 
‘Xena’
 
“Xena” is an American Staffordshire Terrier and Labrador Retriever mix with a short tan and white coat.
 
Shelter staff said she is a kind 2-year-old who loves to go for walks and is very well-mannered.
 
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.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – On Saturday, June 24, Dr. Harry Lyons will kick off the Clear Lake State Park’s Saturday Summer Speaker Series with a talk on the Middle Creek Restoration project.

This informative and interesting program will begin at 1 p.m. at the park visitor center, 5300 Soda Bay Road, Kelseyville.

Admission is free to enter the park for those attending the session, and the visitor center will be open for business.

Dr. Lyons has lived in Lake County for 40 years, for much of that time conveying scientific information on Clear Lake to two generations of college students.

If you have ever heard Dr. Lyons speak, you will be both informed and entertained.

The emeritus professor of biology/ecology from Yuba College grew up in Brooklyn, attended Rutgers College and Stanford University, and was awarded PhD in oceanography as a National Science Fellow from the Scripps Institution of the University of California.

He currently pursues his interest in water by serving as a director of the Lake County Resource Conservation District and as a founding member of the Middle Creek Restoration Coalition.

The project, proposed by the Army Corps of Engineers more than 20 years ago in response to a request by the county of Lake, would act on scientific findings in bestowing immeasurable benefits to the health of Clear Lake and to the people who live and visit here.

The project will deliberately breach failing levees on Middle Creek and restore 1,650 acres of historic wetlands at the north end of Clear Lake.

This winter, Clear Lake rose to its highest flood levels in 19 years and flood waters overtopped the levees. The uncontrolled failure of the levees is a real and present danger to lives and property.

The completed project is the single most effective action that can be taken to improve the quality of the water in Clear Lake, according to advocates.

Based on scientific research, restored historic wetlands in the project area will capture nutrient-laden sediments that currently flow into Clear Lake causing rampant growth of invasive aquatic plants and uncontrollable "blooms" of cyanobacteria, commonly called blue green algae.

The project also will restore wildlife habitat, improve breeding and rearing conditions for the threatened Clear Lake hitch, a native fish, and provide significant recreational opportunities for residents and visitors to Clear Lake.

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