The quake was reported at 1:57 a.m., according to the US Geological Survey.

It was recorded at a depth of 2.2 miles right at the steamfield, six miles west southwest of Cobb and seven miles west northwest of Anderson Springs, the survey reported.

Fifteen quake reports from eight zip codes – Kelseyville, Middletown, Hidden Valley, Calistoga, San Ramon, San Jose, Cloverdale and Geyserville – were submitted to the US Geological Survey.

A 3.0-magnitude earthquake was reported near The Geysers on Nov. 18, as Lake County News has reported.

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Clearlake Police officers will use a donation of toys and blankets to help children in need who they encounter during their. Photo courtesy of the Clearlake Police Department.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A generous Lake County resident has made a donation that police intend to use to help the community’s children.

Clearlake Police Sgt. Rodd Joseph said that on Wednesday, Dec. 7, a Lake County resident who wishes to remain anonymous, donated approximately 40 packages, each containing a brand new children’s blanket and a stuffed animal.

The donations were made and obtained by a group of volunteers for the purposes that law enforcement officers might hand these out to children in need during law enforcement contact, Joseph said.

He said the packages will go a long way in helping children during difficult times.

The packages already have been dispersed to all Clearlake officers and detectives, who will hand them out during the holiday season.

The Clearlake Police Department greatly appreciates this group’s efforts and any persons who make donations such as this, Joseph said.

Though the resident wishes to remain anonymous, persons wishing to donate funds to this group to help purchase the blankets and stuffed animals can contact Joseph at 707-994-8251.

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Kenneth Mark West, 26, a transient who lived between Ukiah and Willits, died after he was hit in an incident that occurred at 8:30 a.m. in the 2200 block of N. State Street, according to Capt. Kurt Smallcomb of the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office.

Smallcomb said the California Highway Patrol is conducting the investigation.

Traffic control was reportedly in effect around the area as the investigation took place.

Reports from the scene indicated a yellow three-axle semi truck seen heading southbound from the crash scene may have been involved.

Shortly before 3 p.m. a CHP officer reportedly made contact with a possible suspect in the incident, but no additional details of that contact were available Thursday night.

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On Tuesday, a bat found near the intersections of Point Lake View Road and Anderson Road in Lower Lake tested positive for the rabies virus, according to Animal Care and Control Director Bill Davidson.

Davidson said the bat had been in contact with a neighborhood pet and the appropriate rabies treatment protocols are being taken for the family involved.

“We would like to take this opportunity to remind all residents to make certain their family pets are currently vaccinated against rabies and that contact with wild animals should be avoided,” Davidson said.

He said humans can be exposed to rabies carried by bats through direct contact, bites or scratches. Inapparent exposure can occur when a bat is present in a room where people are sleeping.

If a possible exposure has occurred, the bat should be carefully trapped and submitted for testing whenever possible, Davidson said.

Questions about the need for treatment to prevent rabies can be directed to Lake County Public Health at 707-263-1090 or 1-800-794-9291, or if you or your pet comes into contact with a wild animal, please contact the Animal Care and Control Department at 707-263-0278.

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Steelhead and Chinook in the Napa River in 2008. Courtesy photo.

NAPA COUNTY, Calif. – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Napa County officials on Friday announced the details of nearly $3.3 million in federal, state and local funding aimed at restoring water quality and riparian and aquatic habitats in the Napa River watershed.

As part of two major restoration efforts covering 15 miles of the Napa River, more than 40 landowners have committed to converting nearly 135 acres of farmland to wildlife habitat.

Regional steelhead and Chinook salmon populations have suffered steep declines as a result of high concentrations of fine sediment in the Napa River, which clouds spawning gravel.

In-stream erosion has degraded the once complex channel, severely reducing rearing habitat for these species.

The river, which runs 55 miles from Mt. St. Helena to the San Pablo Bay, is also prone to seasonal flooding from November to April.

“Despite long-term habitat degradation and falling fish populations, the Napa River represents one of the most important watersheds within the San Francisco Bay-Delta estuary for the recovery of regional steelhead populations,” said EPA Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest, Jared Blumenfeld. “This $1.5 million EPA grant will help manage erosion, improve spawning gravel, and create habitat for critically endangered salmon.”

At a press conference along the banks of the Napa River in Rutherford, with fall run Chinook salmon spawning below, U.S. EPA Administrator Jared Blumenfeld was joined by U.S. Congressman Mike Thompson, County Supervisor Diane Dillon, and key federal, state and local officials to highlight the pioneering private-public partnership designed to improve water quality and salmon habitat and address eroding streambanks within this important agricultural area.

The Napa River has cut down so much that it’s up to three times deeper than it once was, creating vertical stream banks up to 30 feet high. In some locations the banks have become unstable and subject to catastrophic collapse. The river channel is also much narrower than before, making flows more erosive.

To stabilize river banks and create wildlife habitat, vineyard owners in the Rutherford area have committed to converting 20 acres of agriculture land back to river habitat.

Landowners are continuing the restoration of the Napa River south of Rutherford between Oakville and Oak Knoll in the Napa Valley and in total, have committed to restoring more than 115 acres.

“Today’s announcement is a win for our environment, wildlife, and economy,” said Rep. Thompson (D-St. Helena). “We are reducing erosion and sediment runoff, we are improving steelhead and Chinook salmon habitat, and we are strengthening the Napa River which is at the heart of our economy, giving life to agriculture and our thriving wine industry that pumps more than $61 billion into our economy every year. I thank the grape growers and landowners for their partnership and commitment to this restoration process.”

The Napa River historically supported a run of 6,000 to 8,000 steelhead, but by the late 1960s those numbers had declined to an estimated 2,000 adults. Today the steelhead run is estimated to be less than a few hundred adults.

The EPA grant will help restore Napa River water quality by implementing several priority actions of the Napa River Sediment total maximum daily load (TMDL) and habitat enhancement plan.

The grant, with nearly $1.8 Million in matching and leveraged funds, will restore a nearly mile-long section of the Napa River in Rutherford to improve steelhead and Chinook habitat and water quality, complete restoration design along an additional 3.9 miles of the Napa River in Oakville and eradicate five acres of invasive non-native Giant Reed and plant native riparian trees.

It also will assist ranchers to reduce erosion on 80 percent of Napa watershed grazing lands in the watershed, implement BMPs to reduce sediment runoff from rural roads and stream crossings throughout the watershed and establish a tracking system to advance water quality improvements through increased accountability.

The primary grant recipient is Napa County, in partnership with the Napa County Resource Conservation District, the California Land Stewardship Institute, U.C. Cooperative Extension and the Rutherford Dust Restoration Team of the Rutherford Dust Society landowner group.

The grant builds on more than two decades of local stewardship involving landowners, the County, elected officials and partner agencies.

“We are very grateful to be receiving this grant from EPA and also grateful to all our other project partners in restoring the Napa River, including the voters in Napa County who approved County Measure ‘A,’ which has been vital in making all this possible,” said Napa County Supervisor Diane Dillon.

The Napa River watershed has many active stakeholders showcasing environmental innovation and leadership, and represents an opportunity to succeed in minimizing polluted runoff, restoring impaired waters, maintaining native fisheries and implementing pollution standards.

“The River Restoration Project is striking a balance between economy and ecology,” said local vintner and land manager Davie Pina. “Landowners, the community, and government are investing equitably in the preservation of our environmental and agricultural heritage for the benefit of future generations.”

The EPA has been active in the Napa River watershed providing technical and financial assistance since the early 1990s. Since 2007, Napa has received approximately $4.8 Million in EPA grants for sediment management.

The grant funding source is $22 million appropriated since 2008 for San Francisco Bay, currently supporting 38 projects, with 53 organizations leveraging and matching more than $42 million.

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Steven Greg Humphries, 34, of Kelseyville, Calif., was arrested for drugs, violating his parole and assault on a peace officer on Thursday, November 29, 2011. Lake County Jail photo.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – A Kelseyville man is in custody after he assaulted a detective who was attempting to conduct a parole compliance check.

Steven Greg Humphries, 34, was arrested on Thursday, Nov. 29, according to a report from Michelle Gonzalez of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.

On Nov. 29 at approximately 4:28 p.m., members of the Lake County Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force spotted Humphries walking eastbound across the Main Street Bridge in Kelseyville. Gonzalez reported that Humphries was known by Task Force detectives to be on active state parole.

When one of the task force members approached Humphries and asked him if he was on parole, Humphries attempted to throw a small backpack he was carrying over the edge of the bridge, Gonzalez reported.

She said Humphries was taken to the ground by the detectives, but continued to violently resist their actions. A passing motorist quickly came to the aid of the detectives and assisted in subduing Humphries.

Once handcuffs and leg restraints were placed on the Humphries, medics responded to medically clear him. Gonzalez said he refused medical treatment.

During a search of the backpack Narcotics Detectives located a glass pipe with a white residue, 11 small baggies with a clear crystalline substance, which tested presumptive positive for methamphetamine, weighing a total of one ounce; a digital scale, packaging materials and marijuana.

Humphries was transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility where he was booked for possession of a controlled substance for sale, possession of controlled substance paraphernalia, violation of his parole, and battery on a peace officer, Gonzalez said.

On Wednesday Humphries remained in custody without bail due to a parole hold. Neither Humphries or the sheriff’s detectives were seriously injured during the altercation, according to Gonzalez.

Anyone with information that can assist the Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force in eradicating narcotics is encouraged to call the anonymous tip line at 707-263-3663.

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These drugs and paraphernalia were allegedly found by narcotics detectives on Steven Greg Humphries, 34, of Kelseyville, Calif., on Thursday, November 29, 2011. Photo courtesy of the Lake County Sheriff

“Wreaths Across America” is returning to Lake County again this year.

On Friday, Dec. 9, local volunteers, Boy Scouts Troop 42, Clear Lake High School Interact Club and families of veterans will lay 686 wreaths on the graves of veterans at Hartley and Kelseyville cemeteries.

Formal wreath-laying ceremonies will take place promptly at 9 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, at both cemeteries.

Seven specially designated ceremonial wreaths for the Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Merchant Marine and POW/MIA will be placed on memorials during the local ceremonies, which will be coordinated simultaneously at more than 600 participating locations all across the United States.

The ceremonies will be performed by local youth and veterans organizations, including Boy Scout Troops, Girl Scout Troops, Sea Scouts, Highway Patrol Explorers and Royal Rangers, the United Veterans Council’s Military Funeral Honors Team and Patriotic Guard Riders.

The national anthem and “Amazing Grace” will be sung by Michaela Mahnke and Bianca Torres. Chaplain Woody Hughes, and pastors Gary Zeek and Gary Dromi will officiate at the ceremonies.

This is the fifth year that there has been a wreath laying ceremony at Hartley Cemetery and the first year at Kelseyville Cemetery, according to Toni Funderburg, the effort’s local coordinator. A future goal is to hold events at other county cemeteries.

The second Saturday in December will mark the 20th anniversary of Worcester Wreath Co. of Harrington, Maine, donating wreaths to be placed on headstones at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA.

The national wreath sponsorship campaign under the guidance of the nonprofit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org will bring the same remembrance wreaths to national and state veterans cemeteries, monuments and community centers all across the nation.

In addition to these ceremonial wreaths, local Boy Scout Troop 42 has joined with Wreaths Across America to promote sponsored wreaths to be placed on veterans’ graves.

Funderburg said the first goal for this year was to place a wreath on every veteran’s gravesite at Hartley Cemetery, and this will happen as a result of the support of the community’s generosity.

The second goal this year was to build wreath stands for all the wreaths at Hartley Cemetery. Thanks to Pam Huebner and her generosity they have wreath stands for all of that cemetery’s veteran gravesites, Funderburg said.

Subsequent to meeting these two goals sponsorships continued from many who value and respect veterans and their families, she said.

With that support they are able to lay approximately 686 wreaths at Hartley Cemetery and Kelseyville Cemetery, according to Funderburg.

The mission of Wreaths Across America is to “Remember (the fallen), Honor (those that serve), Teach (our Children the Value of Freedom).”

Troop 42 and community sponsors want these holiday wreaths to symbolize honor to those who have served and are serving in the armed forces of the United States, as well as to their families, who endure sacrifices every day to preserve freedom, Funderburg said.

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This vehicle went off of Highway 20 in Lucerne, Calif., and rolled over but shopped short of going completely into Clear Lake on Thursday, December 8, 2011. Photo by Nicole McQ.

LUCERNE, Calif. – A Thursday vehicle rollover that ended up with a car on the lakeshore resulted in no injuries, according to initial information provided by the California Highway Patrol and witnesses.

The single-vehicle incident occurred shortly before 4:30 p.m. on Highway 20 at Bel Ray Avenue in Lucerne, according to the CHP.

The vehicle, heading eastbound, went off the road, rolled over and came to rest on its wheels on the lake’s edge, about 30 feet off the roadway, according to the CHP and witness reports.

A young man was driving the vehicle with an older man sleeping in the passenger seat when the vehicle went off the road. A witness reported that the driver said he was blinded by the sun, which led to him going off the road.

The car’s two occupants were able to get out of the car and reported they were OK, according to reports from the scene.

The men were seen by medical personnel; the CHP’s preliminary report indicated they were not injured.

A tow truck was called to the scene, as reports indicated the vehicle would need to be pulled up over boulders in order to get it off the shoreline.

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Christopher Fox, 37, of Laguna Niguel and Curtis Melone (AKA Curtis Kubat), 37, of Huntington Beach were arrested Tuesday on 37 felony counts, including conspiracy, grand theft and unlawful collection of advance fees.

They are being held at the Orange County Jail on $500,000 bail and will be arraigned today in Orange County Superior Court, Harris’ office reported.

Fox and Melone – along with King Harris III, 42, of St. Louis, Missouri – allegedly collected more than $6 million in up-front fees through Orange County- based Green Credit Solutions.

The Attorney General's Office will seek extradition of King Harris, who currently faces federal mail and wire fraud charges in Missouri.

"Homeowners continue to struggle throughout California and across the country to hang onto their homes, and this prosecution is another warning to predators who would seek to profit from their distress: this kind of criminal conduct will meet with swift and certain consequences," Attorney General Harris said.

She advised that homeowners should never pay up-front fees to reduce their loans.

“Californians who face mortgage difficulties should instead contact a nonprofit housing counselor, either through www.HUD.gov or a local nonprofit housing clinic, to learn about the mortgage process and their rights as homeowners,” she added.

In June 2009, the Attorney General's Office launched an investigation of Orange County- based Green Credit Solutions – later renamed Guardian Credit Services and Get My Credit Grade – in response to numerous consumer complaints filed with the office, as well as with the Better Business Bureau, the California Department of Real Estate and the State Bar of California.

Through witness interviews, analysis of the company's marketing materials, and its business and financial records, Department of Justice investigators uncovered a scheme in which thousands of victims paid $3,500 for what they believed were attorney-backed loan modification services to reduce their interest rates, monthly payments or principal balance.

From November 2008 to October 2009, Fox, Melone and King Harris collected more than $6 million from thousands of homeowners across California and nationwide.

Victims were told their funds would be held in a so-called "attorney escrow account" until services were completed. In fact, those fees were often deposited into the account of a disbarred attorney and then promptly transferred to GCS.

Likewise, the company fraudulently claimed that loan modification services would be performed by attorneys; King Harris is a disbarred Tennessee attorney and marketing materials referred to his alleged partners at the defunct law firm of "Smith Harris PLLC."

In May, Attorney General Harris formed a Mortgage Fraud Strike Force to investigate and prosecute mortgage fraud. In August, the Strike Force filed its first suit against a law firm that took millions from desperate homeowners.

In California, foreclosure consultants are prohibited by law from collecting money before services are performed.

For more tips on how to avoid mortgage fraud and other resources, and to report fraud or file a complaint, visit http://oag.ca.gov/consumers/loan-modification.

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120711 Green Credit Solutions case

By forging this alliance, California and Nevada will combine investigative resources, including litigation strategies, information and evidence gathered through their respective ongoing investigations, assisting each state as it pursues independent prosecutions.

This alliance will link the offices' civil and criminal enforcement teams, speeding along the full, fair and adequate investigation of wrongdoing in the two states, which have experienced similar foreclosure and mortgage fraud crises.

"The mortgage crisis is a manmade disaster that has taken a heavy toll on the country, but it saved its worst for California and Nevada," said Harris. "The mortgage crisis is a law enforcement matter, and we will prosecute to hold accountable those who are responsible and also protect the homeowners who are targeted for fraud. I am delighted that California and Nevada are entering into this alliance to leverage the best results for our investigations and look forward to forging similar collaboration with other states."

"I am pleased to join forces with General Harris to fight against fraudulent mortgage and foreclosure practices that continue to devastate lives, homes, and the economy in Nevada and California," said Masto. "This strong partnership will allow our states to make an even more concerted effort to hold fraud perpetrators accountable and ensure law-abiding homeowners receive justice."

By most objective measures, California and Nevada have been the states hardest hit by the nation's foreclosure crisis.

In October 2011, Nevada and California ranked first and second, respectively, for the percentage of their housing units that entered the foreclosure process, reflecting a parallel surge in foreclosures in the two states.

One in every 180 Nevada properties entered the foreclosure process in October, and one in every 243 California homes received a filing that month.

In 2010, California led the nation with a total of 546,669 foreclosure filings – 4 percent of the state's housing units – while Nevada led the nation with 9.4 percent of its homes receiving a foreclosure filing, totaling 106,160 units.

The crisis in these Western states is similar because both states share a foreclosure system in which a bank can foreclose on a borrower's home without court oversight, also called "nonjudicial foreclosure." The collective result has created a rich opportunity for predators, leading both states to make mortgage-related law enforcement action a top priority.

In May 2011, Attorney General Harris formed a Mortgage Fraud Strike Force, now composed of nearly 40 attorneys and investigators, that has launched a wide series of investigations and litigation.

The Mortgage Fraud Strike Force has instigated legal actions in cases including a fraudulent multi-million dollar "mass joinder" lawsuit operated by the law firm Kramer and Kaslow, and the arrests earlier this month of three top officers of a Stockton real estate company who took thousands of dollars in up-front loan modification fees and made false promises to assist struggling Central Valley homeowners with lowering their mortgage payments.

In 2007, Attorney General Masto formed the Nevada Mortgage Fraud Strike Force that launched a wide series of investigations and litigation into areas including violations of the law related to mortgage lending, servicing, and foreclosure practices and the creation, rating, marketing, sale and management of mortgage backed securities.

The Nevada Mortgage Fraud Strike Force has taken action against predatory "mortgage rescue" companies and individuals claiming to offer services to stop foreclosures.

Last month, the Strike Force announced the indictments of Gerri Sheppard and Gary Trafford, who led a massive robo-signing scheme which resulted in the filing of tens of thousands of fraudulent documents.

Nevada is also suing Bank of America and its subsidiaries, including Countrywide, for violations of a Consent Judgment for mortgage servicing and mortgage origination irregularities.

The Mortgage Investigation Alliance is the product of weeks of discussion between Attorneys General Harris and Masto regarding the most effective and efficient means of achieving justice for their respective states.

Tuesday's announcement formalizes an agreement reached between the two officials last week.

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