LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Russ passed away on April 1, 2017, at the age of 77.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Susan McKee; seven children; 17 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary in Lakeport on Friday, April 21, at 1 p.m.
For further information, please contact Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary at 707-263-0357 or 707-994-5611, or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com .
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – A fallen tree that took down power lines resulted in an extended road closure at Highway 175 at Diamond Dust Trail late Thursday night and into Friday morning.
Firefighters responded to the area shortly before 10 p.m. Thursday on the report of downed power lines, in the midst of a heavy wind and rainstorm.
Reports from the scene indicated a large tree took down the lines, and that the fallen lines had melted a portion of the roadway.
Pacific Gas and Electric and California Highway Patrol units also were reported to have responded to the scene.
Just before 12:30 a.m. Friday, the CHP issued an update reporting that the road was due to be closed for several hours, with no estimated time for reopening.
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.
The Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration announced its cemeteries will host wreath-laying ceremonies the week of April 6 to commemorate the 353,082 World War I Veterans interred in VA sites across the country.
“These wreath-laying ceremonies recommit our promise to memorialize the service and sacrifice of World War I Veterans enshrined in our national cemeteries,” said Ronald E. Walters, interim under secretary for Memorial Affairs. “We encourage the community to honor this generation of brave Veterans.”
On April 2, 1917, President Woodrow Wilson asked Congress to declare war on the German Empire after attacks on American ships and commercial ships transporting American passengers.
On April 6, 1917, Congress voted to declare war on the German Empire. When the war ended Nov. 11, 1918, more than 2 million Americans had served.
NCA will arrange wreath-laying ceremonies with assistance from local cemetery support committees and other veterans service organizations.
For a full listing of World War I Centennial events, please visit http://www.cem.va.gov/ .
VA operates 135 national cemeteries and 33 soldiers' lots and monument sites in 40 states and Puerto Rico.
More than four million Americans, including veterans of every war and conflict, are buried in VA's national cemeteries.
UPPER LAKE, Calif. – For the Upper Lake Community United Methodist Church, 604 Clover Valley Road in the town of Upper Lake, the week preceding Easter is known as Holy week.
It begins on Palm Sunday, April 9, and is traditionally a week of somber reflection on the events that lead up to Jesus’ death.
On Palm Sunday at 11 a.m. they celebrate Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, where the people laid palm branches on the road to welcome Him as He rode a donkey into the city. Palm branches will be prevalent in the sanctuary on this day.
On April 13 at 6 p.m. they celebrate the next event of Holy week, Maundy Thursday (also called Holy Thursday) when we commemorate the Last Supper – a Passover meal that Jesus shared with his disciples the night before his death.
At the meal, Jesus broke the bread and offered his followers wine, saying, “This is my body, given for you. During the Last Super Jesus predicted the events that would follow, including his betrayal, the denial of Peter, and his death and resurrection. Communion will be served at this service which will be held in the church fellowship hall.”
Friday April 14, Good Friday, is a day of mourning for the church. During this brief but moving evening service (7 p.m.) they meditate on Jesus’ suffering and death.
This service is based on the seven last words of Jesus on the cross which begins with “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing” and ends with “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.”
On Easter Sunday, April 16, they will celebrate Jesus’ resurrection. The SONrise service is scheduled to start at 6 a.m. Breakfast will be served after the service. They return again at 11 a.m. for the regular Easter Day service and the flowering of the cross.
Learn to love the Bible and Jesus through Pastor Bob’s inspirational sermons whose thoughts, actions and messages to the congregation always come from the heart.
All are welcome to attend any of the Holy week services or the regular Sunday worship service at 11 a.m.
The United Methodist Church motto is “Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors,” and “Passion for Christ, Compassion for all.”
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Savings Bank and Integrity Shred have teamed up to help prevent identity theft by offering the public an opportunity to shred outdated confidential documents.
The Lakeport shred event will take place on Thursday, April 27, from 9 to 11 a.m. at Savings Bank, 290 S. Main St.
Bring up to three 35-pound boxes of documents for safe, secure on-site shredding. Hours and number of customers accommodated may be limited to truck capacity.
Other dates and locations include:
– Ukiah on April 21, 9 to 11 a.m. at the Pear Tree Center on East Perkins Street;
– Fort Bragg on May 5, 9 to 11 a.m., across the street from the Bank at Sport Chrysler Jeep Dodge;
– Willits on May 5, 1 to 3 p.m. in the Humboldt Street parking lot behind the Bank.
Details are available at www.savingsbank.com .
Shredding confidential financial documents and paperwork is one way to deter criminals from stealing personal information. Identity theft is a serious crime that can wreak havoc with your finances, credit history, reputation, and can take time, money and patience to resolve.
“Savings Bank also encourages customers to protect their identity by switching from paper account statements to eStatements,” said Katie Kight, Savings Bank marketing officer. “With eStatements, customers reduce the risk of confidential account information getting into the wrong hands through tampering of mail and paper records that are stored at home.”
Savings Bank representatives will be available at the shred events to supply information about preventing identity theft and what to do if your identity is stolen.
State Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones is encouraging all Californians to understand their financial needs as they move toward retirement in honor of National Retirement Planning Week, April 3 through 7.
People are living longer than ever before so it is important consumers evaluate how much money they will need to retire. Annuities can provide a steady income after retirement and increase financial security.
"Whether you are a Baby Boomer, Gen Xer or a Millennial, you need to be proactive and have a plan for retirement," said Insurance Commissioner Jones. "It is crucial that Californians are aware of their retirement options, including annuities, to ensure their future financial security."
Each day 10,000 Baby Boomers across the nation leave the workforce and enter retirement and by 2030, one in five Californians will be 65 or older.
Many of those entering retirement today are largely unsure of their financial futures, but there are steps everyone can take. The first step is developing a plan for retirement to help realize retirement dreams and ensure future financial security.
Another step to consider is purchasing annuities, which can ensure a steady income after retirement, but can also be very confusing and not suitable for everyone.
An annuity is an investment so it is important for consumers to be cautious and determine their needs before signing a contract. The Department of Insurance has created a list of things to consider before buying annuities.
Informed consumers are less likely to make mistakes. Consumers are urged to make sure their agent's license is current and the company is licensed by the California Department of Insurance.
If consumers have questions or concerns the Department's Consumer Services Division is available to assist at 1-800-927-4357.
National Retirement Planning Week is a national effort to help consumers focus on their financial needs in retirement.
While National Retirement Planning Week is only one week every year, resources and tools to help Californians plan for retirement are available year round at www.RetireOnYourTerms.org .
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County was lashed by high winds and heavy rains on Thursday evening and into early Friday morning, with forecasters expecting rain to continue well into next week.
The National Weather Service had issued a high wind warning for the county from 11 p.m. Thursday to 8 a.m. Friday.
That warning means that a “hazardous wind event” was expected or already occurring.
In Lake County, gusts of about 30 miles per hour were anticipated in the forecast.
The winds were the result of a strong spring storm moving over the region through Friday.
That storm also brought heavy rains to the county on Thursday.
For the 24-hour period ending at 1:30 a.m. Friday, Lake County had the following rainfall totals, in inches:
– Boggs Mountain: 2.56;
– Hidden Valley Lake: 1.38;
– Indian Valley Reservoir: 0.78;
– Kelseyville: 1.5;
– Lakeport: 1.23;
– Lower Lake: 1.44;
– Middletown: 1.89;
– Upper Lake: 1.70;
– Whispering Pines: 1.84.
Lake County is forecast to get more rain on Friday totaling up to about half an in inch, with another tenth of an inch expected on Saturday, the National Weather Service reported.
More rain is expected through much of next week, with breaks on Monday and Tuesday before the rain is anticipated to resume, forecasters said.
Cooler temperatures are expected to over the next several days as well, with nighttime temperatures expected to drop into the high 30s on Friday and low 30s on Saturday, and the low 50s in the daytime.
Temperatures are forecast to warm up early next week, with daytime temperatures back around the low 60s and nighttime temperatures hovering around the low 40s, forecasters said.
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. – The Sons of Norway Vikings of Lake Lodge will hold its monthly Heritage & Culture Day on Saturday, April 8.
The event will take place beginning at 1 p.m. at Galilee Lutheran Church Community Center, 8860 Soda Bay Road in Kelseyville.
There will be a welcome ceremony for new members for 2016-17.
A pork roast dinner with a potluck of sides and desserts also will be served. The cost is $6 each.
Kris Andre-Stocker will offer a presentation on the Norwegian Mystery Tour.
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – On Saturday, April 8, the Spring of Hope fire benefit will be held from 6 to 9:30 p.m. at Big Valley Hall, 1510 Big Valley Road.
Proceeds will be utilized by Hope City to purchase materials to rebuild homes lost in the Valley and Clayton fires with insufficient or no insurance.
Hope City is a project of the disaster relief agency Hope Crisis Response Network from Elkhart, Ind. They can be found locally at their new office at 21277 Calistoga Street in Middletown, at the former sheriff’s substation.
Spring of Hope will feature dinner music by Levity, a seven-piece acoustic folky-rock band with a sense of humor.
Their members play an interesting array of instruments including: accordion, banjo, dobro, mandola, mandolin, melodica, harmonica, percussion, bass, guitar, saxophone and violin.
Double Standyrd from Ukiah will bring dancing music from 7:15 to 9:30 pm. The six-piece band performs classic rock and blues, Southern rock and other favorites to keep audiences dancing.
Tickets are $10, at the door only. Dinner will be sold for $8, as a benefit for Big Valley Hall renovations.
Big Valley Hall, formerly known as Big Valley Grange, is well known for their first Sunday breakfasts and holiday craft fairs.
Dinner will be homemade beef or vegan Tuscan bean stew on mashed potatoes with salad and homemade dressing. Dessert, soft drinks, wine and beer will be sold separately. Bring extra for the raffle and silent auction.
Thanks to sponsors Jonathan Smith of CANI Painting in Lakeport, Horn's Pest Control in Lakeport, Brad White of American Plumbing Co. in Kelseyville and Lake County Contractors, who have been busy rebuilding on Cobb.
Spring of Hope is produced by Spotlight On Productions in partnership with The Time Bank of Thrive Lake County, KPFZ and individual community members.
More information and photos are on Facebook at Lake County Fire Recovery Benefits. Questions can also be left at 707-278-7126.
A statewide transportation package that proponents say will put $52 billion over the coming decade toward repairing California’s roads and improving public transit passed the State Legislature late Thursday night.
SB 1 will raise more than $5 billion annually through a number of avenues, including a $0.12-per-gallon increase to gas tax, phased in over three years; a 20-cent increase to the diesel excise tax; a $38 increase to the vehicle registration fee; a $100 vehicle registration fee on zero emission vehicles; $300 million from existing cap and trade funds; and returning $500 million in vehicle weight fees phased in over five years.
The bill has faced opposition from the Legislature’s Republicans, who couldn’t muster enough votes to prevent its passage.
Senate Republican Leader Jean Fuller (R-Bakersfield) called it “the largest gas tax hike in California’s history.”
“It is deeply disappointing that legislative Democrats chose to punish Californians with tax increases after neglecting our roads for years,” Fuller said. “This out of touch plan will particularly hurt Californians struggling to make ends meet and give us all less than we deserve.”
Fuller had signed on as a co-author to Assembly Bill 496, introduced by Assemblyman Vince Fong (R-Kern County), vice chair of the Transportation Committee, which she said was a better solution.
State Sen. Mike McGuire, a co-author of the bill whose district includes Lake County, lauded the bill’s passage.
“Our communities are home to some of the worst roads in the state, we can’t keep kicking the can down the crumbling road. Tonight’s vote to approve this critical transportation funding package was a long overdue step,” said McGuire. “Advancing a tax increase is never easy, especially for California residents who have to foot the bill, but we have a transportation funding crisis. Our roads, highways and bridges are literally falling apart and tens of millions of California commuters, businesses and travelers have literally been paying the price for the lack of action.”
McGuire said the transportation funding package will provide cities and counties with significant annual revenue streams to make local infrastructure improvements like rebuilding and paving local roads and streets and bridge repair.
He said strict accountability is included to ensure funds are only spent on transportation – essentially placing funds in a lock box – and by passing a constitutional amendment to prohibit spending the funds on anything but transportation.
Every billion dollars spent on transportation infrastructure, creates 14,000 full-time jobs, McGuire said.
McGuire said Lake County – the county government as well as the cities of Clearlake and Lakeport – is expected to receive approximately $3,763,000 annually from the bill, or $37.6 million over the next decade.
Other counties in McGuire’s district will receive the following amounts:
– Del Norte: $1,475,000 annually;
– Humboldt: $7,732,000 annually;
– Marin: $9,732,000 annually;
– Mendocino: $5,568,000 annually;
– Sonoma: $20,739,000 annually;
– Trinity: $2,300,000 annually.
SB 1 now moves to the desk of Gov. Jerry Brown, where it’s expected to be signed. Brown came out in recent weeks as a strong proponent of the package.
NORTH COAST, Calif. – Caltrans reports that the following road projects will be taking place around Lake County and the North Coast during the coming week.
Included are Mendocino County projects that may impact Lake County commuters.
LAKE COUNTY
Highway 20
– Emergency highway repairs at various locations from Bachelor Creek Bridge to Bruner Drive will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.
– Curb and sidewalk repairs from Sayre Avenue to Country Club Drive will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.
Highway 29
– Emergency culvert repairs from Spruce Grove Road to Hofacker Lane will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
Highway 175
– Emergency highway repairs from Grouss Springs Road to Emerford Road will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
– Emergency highway repairs from east of Arroyo Vista Road will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate seven-minute delays.
– Utility surveys will be performed from the Putah Creek Bridge to the Dry Creek Bridge beginning Wednesday, April 12. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.
MENDOCINO COUNTY
Highway 1
– Emergency slide removal near Leggett will continue. A full road closure is in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should seek an alternate route.
Highway 20
– PG&E has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility repairs about 0.7 mile east of Wildwood Campground. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
– Bridge deck repairs at the East Fork Russian River Bridge will begin Monday, April 10. One-way traffic control will be in effect overnight from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.
Highway 101
– Routine maintenance near Frog Woman Rock will continue. Northbound traffic will be restricted to one lane 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.
– Emergency slide repairs on the westbound Route 20 to southbound Route 101 connector ramp will continue. Intermittent ramp closures will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.
– Emergency slide removal near Hermitage Vista Point will continue. Northbound traffic will be reduced to one lane 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.
– Emergency slide removal near the Dora Creek Bridge will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate 20-minute delays.
– Emergency slide removal near Piercy will continue. Traffic will be reduced to one lane in both directions 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.
Highway 128
– Roadway repairs from Fish Rock Road to Yorkville will continue through Friday, April 7. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
Highway 162
– Emergency storm damage repairs near The Middle Way will continue. One-way traffic control with temporary stop signs will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
Highway 253
– Emergency roadway repairs from Booneville to Ukiah will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.
The Caltrans Traffic Operations Office has reviewed each project and determined that individual project delays are expected to be less than the statewide policy maximum of 30 minutes, unless noted otherwise above.
For information pertaining to emergency roadwork or for updates to scheduled roadwork, please contact the California Highway Information Network (CHIN) at 1-800-GAS-ROAD (1-800-427-7623).
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Five people suffered injuries ranging from minor to major early Thursday morning as the result of a three-vehicle crash near Lakeport.
The crash occurred at 7 a.m. Thursday on Highway 29 south of Hill Road during rainy conditions, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The wreck involved a 1987 Acura driven by Scott Lester Jr., 26, of Hidden Valley Lake; a 2004 Cadillac driven by 36-year-old Travis Carter of Ukiah; and a 2013 BMW driven by Kathryn Smith, 37, of Lakeport, the CHP said.
The CHP said Lester was driving southbound on Highway 29, while Carter was driving northbound, followed by Smith.
For reasons still under investigation, Lester lost control of his vehicle, which went through the grass and dirt center divide and into Carter’s path. The CHP said Carter was unable to avoid Lester’s Acura, and their cars collided.
Smith saw the collision occur directly ahead of her and swerved to avoid the vehicle debris. The CHP said Smith’s BMW hit the engine block from Lester’s vehicle.
Lester suffered major injuries, including a compound fracture to his right arm and lacerations, and was taken to Sutter Lakeside Hospital before being transported to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital via air ambulance, the CHP said.
Travis Carter had moderate injuries, including a complaint of pain to the left side of his body, according to the report.
Riding as Carter’s passengers were 13-year-old Faith Carter and 4-year-old Rosemary Morgan, both also of Ukiah, the CHP said.
The CHP said both children had complaints of pain, with Faith having minor injuries and Rosemary suffering moderate injuries.
Smith also had minor injuries primarily constituting complaints of pain, the CHP said.
The CHP said Smith, Carter and the two children were all taken to Sutter Lakeside for treatment.
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.
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