LAKEPORT, Calif. – Have you seen Bella?
She went missing on Thursday sometime between 8 a.m. and noon when landscapers accidentally let her out of her yard in the gated community where she lives.
Since then, her owner has been unable to find her.
She is believed to be somewhere on Lakeshore Boulevard in Lakeport.
If you've seen her, please call Geneva at 707-349-8053.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Fire officials said Wednesday night that the Sawmill fire is nearly at full containment.
The fire reached 90-percent containment on Wednesday, with the size estimate increased to 1,609 acres, Cal Fire said.
The Sawmill fire has been burning in rugged terrain 10 miles east of Cloverdale since late Sunday morning. Cal Fire said the cause remains under investigation.
No structures have been burned, but the fire resulted in some evacuations of nearby homes as well as at The Geysers geothermal steamfield, with those evacuation orders lifted earlier this week, as Lake County News has reported.
Firefighters continued with mop up and perimeter patrol on Wednesday, according to Cal Fire.
Approximately 241 firefighters – along with 17 fire engines, four fire crews and four water tenders – remained assigned to the incident on Wednesday, Cal Fire 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.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The 26th annual Konocti Challenge cycling event is set to occur this Saturday, Oct. 1.
This event, produced by the Rotary Club of Lakeport, brings in hundreds of cyclists and their guests to participate in this very unique and fun event.
“This is an amazing event for our community and we are excited to bring all of these folks to our beautiful area,” said Konocti Challenge Ride Director and Lakeport Rotarian Jennifer Strong. “This is a great opportunity for us to show off the incredible assets we have and to encourage these cyclists to come back other times during the year.”
The ride is stage from the Skylark Shores Resort in Lakeport with the festivities beginning on Friday afternoon with a wine tasting and rider packet pickup from 4 to 7 p.m.
The ride takes off from the Skylark on Saturday at 7 a.m. with cyclists traveling around the lake with four different routes to choose from.
The 20-mile and 40-mile routes travel through Scotts Valley and to Kelseyville.
The 65- and 100-mile routes circle Clear Lake with the 100 mile route traveling to Middletown and up and over Cobb Mountain.
The ride route maps can be found at www.konoctichallenge.com .
The ride brings in hundreds of thousands of dollars to the Lake County community with hotels filled, restaurants filled and the shops and wineries seeing many visitors.
The ride is highly regarded as one of the best in the state as was apparent with their recent Cycle CA! Magazine Awards for the Best Metric Century of 2014 and the 2015 Excellence in Service Award.
There's still time for interested riders to register to participate.
Go to www.konoctichallenge.com or register at the event on Friday afternoon or Saturday morning.
There are also still volunteer opportunities available. Send a message to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you are interested in helping.
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
– Culvert rehabilitation from Le Trianon Resort to Scott Valley Road will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
– Pavement marker replacement from 0.1 miles east of Clover Creek to Hudson Avenue will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect overnight from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
– Pavement repairs at various locations from Sayre Avenue to the junction of Routes 20/53 will continue. One-way traffic control will also be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.
– Rocky fire cleanup between the north fork of Cache Creek and the Colusa County line will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
Highway 29
– Bridge repairs at the Saint Helena Creek Bridge will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
– Pavement marker replacement from 0.3 miles north of the Siegler Canyon Bridge to just north of Cruikshank Road will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect overnight from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance just south of Kelseyville beginning Monday, Oct. 3. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.
Highway 175
– Culvert rehabilitation from 1.0 mile east of Wild Cat Road to Salmina Drive will continue through Friday, Sept. 30. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
MENDOCINO COUNTY
Highway 1
– Bridge deck repairs at the Brush Creek will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
– Geotech work at Russian Gulch 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.
– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance near Boice Lane beginning Monday, Oct. 3. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.
– Highway repairs a quarter-mile north of Ocean Meadows Circle will continue. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
– Mendocino Land Trust has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to construct pubic parking near Abalobadia Creek. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
– Roadway reconstruction about one mile north of Blue Slide Gulch will continue. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
Highway 20
– Pavement marker replacement from 0.5 mile west of Potter Valley Road to the Lake/Mendocino County line 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 101
– Pavement marker replacement between Geysers Road and the Russian River began Monday, Sept. 26. A northbound lane closure will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. Motorists may encounter minor traffic slowdowns.
– Bridge deck repairs at the Comminsky Station Viaduct and the Korean War Veterans Memorial Bridge will continue. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in both directions from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.
– Routine maintenance near Frog Woman Rock will continue. A northbound lane restriction will be in place. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.
– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from the Pieta Creek Bridge to the Hopland Overhead Bridge beginning Monday, Oct. 3. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
– Bridge deck repairs at the Robinson Overcrossing, Doolan Creek Bridge, Gobbi Street Overcrossing, and the North State Street Overcrossing will continue. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in both directions overnight from 5 p.m. to 7 a.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.
– Emergency bridge repairs at the Perkins Street Overcrossing will continue. Southbound traffic will be restricted to one lane 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns. The Perkins Street onramp to southbound Route 101 will be closed 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists will directed to use the southbound Gobbi Street onramp.
– Pavement marker replacement from just south of Uva Drive to just north of Grider Road will continue. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in both directions from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.
– Rumble strip installation between Uva Drive and one half-mile south of the Haehl Overhead Bridge will continue. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in both directions from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.
– Bridge rail upgrades at the South Willits Overhead will continue. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in both directions from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.
– Highway construction near the Haehl Overhead Bridge will continue. Intermittent one-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
– Highway construction near the north Willits railroad crossing will continue. Intermittent one-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
– Rumble strip installation at various locations from Willits to Confusion Hill will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.
– Pavement repairs from County Road 307 to Rattlesnake Creek 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.
– PG&E has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility repairs near Steele Lane on Friday, Sept. 30. One-way traffic will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
– Emergency slide repairs just south of Standish-Hickey State Park will continue. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days a week. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
Highway 128
– AT&T has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility repairs near Big Oak Drive beginning Monday, Oct. 3. One-way traffic will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
Highway 253
– Highway repairs east of Cattle Pass will continue. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. 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).
A new bill signed this week will make it easier for the wrongfully convicted in California to prove their innocence and be released from prison.
On Wednesday, Gov. Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill 1134 into law.
This bill, authored by Democratic Senator Mark Leno and Republican Senator Joel Anderson, makes it easier for wrongfully convicted people in California to use new evidence to prove their innocence.
Supporters of the legislation say that, for far too long, Californians convicted and imprisoned for crimes they did not commit have struggled, and most often failed, to prove their innocence because the standard of proof, “points unerringly to innocence,” was so hard to meet.
SB 1134 enacts a standard of proof that innocent people, with strong new evidence of innocence, can meet.
Under the new law, wrongfully convicted individuals must prove that, had the new evidence been available at the original trial, they more likely than not would have been acquitted of the crime. This standard is comparable to standards in 43 other states and is still difficult to meet, but is fair.
The bill received unanimous bipartisan support in both the Senate and Assembly. Legislators on both sides of the aisle recognize the injustice of wrongful convictions and the immeasurable harm to innocent people when their freedom is taken away.
This new law gives innocent people in California a better chance to regain their freedom and gives a fallible system a better chance to remedy mistakes.
“We are proud that a strong bipartisan coalition of Republicans and Democrats committed to ensuring that wrongfully convicted people have viable legal remedies to prove their innocence,” said Hadar Harris, executive director of the Northern California Innocence Project, or NCIP, at Santa Clara University School of Law.
NCIP, the California Innocence Project at California Western School of Law in San Diego, Loyola Law School’s Project for the Innocent and the ACLU co-sponsored the bill.
“For many years California has been the most difficult place in the United States to bring a new evidence claim on behalf of innocent clients,” said Professor Justin Brooks, director of California Innocence Project. “Finally, we have a standard where the courts can reverse a conviction based on new evidence that would have led to an acquittal had it been introduced at trial. This law makes sense, has bipartisan support, is consistent with the new evidence standards across the United States, and will save taxpayers the cost of housing innocent people in prison.”
NCIP, the California Innocence Project and Project for the Innocent fight to free innocent people who have been wrongfully convicted and incarcerated in California.
Since 1999, California-based innocence organizations have helped 44 innocent people regain their freedom; these individuals collectively spent more than 530 years in prison.
Among that group is Luther Ed Jones Jr., who was released in February after spending 20 years behind bars after being wrongfully convicted in Lake County, as Lake County News has reported.
The Northern California Innocence Project assisted Jones' attorney, Angela Carter, in applying to the state for compensation for his incarceration. This summer he received $936,880 as a result of those efforts.
NCIP represents clients with cases in the 48 northern counties of California. The California Innocence Project represents clients with cases in the 10 southern counties, including Los Angeles County. Project for the Innocent represents clients with cases in various counties but focuses on cases in Los Angeles County.
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05) will hold a town hall meeting for servicemembers, veterans and their families on Wednesday, Oct. 5.
The town hall will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. at Kelseyville High School, 5480 Main St.
At the town hall, there will be an open discussion on the issues facing veterans and military families today, and attendees will have the opportunity to ask a panel of experts questions on any veteran-related issue.
Thompson is himself a veteran, having served during the Vietnam War.
To RSVP, or if you have any additional questions, please call Thompson’s district office at 707-226-9898 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Thompson represents California’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties.
LOWER LAKE, Calif. – Authorities have taken a Clearlake man into custody following a vehicle crash in downtown Lower Lake that killed a pedestrian.
Robert Wade Hitchcock, 47, was arrested following the crash, which claimed the life of a 40-year-old woman late Wednesday afternoon, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The CHP did not release the woman's name on Thursday pending notification of kin.
According to the CHP's report on the crash, at 4:40 p.m. Wednesday, Hitchcock was driving his 1993 Ford F-150 pickup westbound on Main Street in Lower Lake, east of Highway 53 while, at the same time, the woman was attempting to enter her vehicle, which was parked on the shoulder in front of Barreda's Lower Lake Feed Store.
For reasons that the CHP said are yet to be determined, Hitchcock allowed his pickup to veer across Main Street, enter the eastbound lane and then go onto the shoulder of Main Street, where the front of his vehicle hit the woman.
The CHP said the vehicles came to rest in the eastbound lane, partially blocking traffic.
The woman was pinned between the pickup and her vehicle, and sustained fatal injuries, the CHP said.
Hitchcock was wearing his seatbelt at the time of the wreck and was uninjured, according to the report.
The CHP said Hitchcock was determined to be under the influence of drugs at the time of the crash. He subsequently was arrested and booked into the Lake County Jail.
Hitchcock's booking sheet showed he was booked on felony charges of driving under the influence causing death and gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, and misdemeanors of driving on a suspended license, possession of controlled substance paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance. His bail was set at $250,000.
He is scheduled to appear in court on Friday, according to booking records.
The crash remains under investigation, the CHP 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.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Public Works Department reported that road construction will take place on Bevins Street on Thursday, Sept. 29.
Bevins Street between Bevins Court and Martin Street will be closed to all traffic from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Officials ask that drivers use caution in the area and be aware of city workers.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Firefighters made more significant progress on the Sawmill fire in Sonoma County on Tuesday.
The 1,500-acre fire, burning since Sunday morning 10 miles east of Cloverdale, reached the 75-percent containment mark as of Tuesday evening, according to Cal Fire.
Cal Fire said firefighters on Tuesday continued to mop up and patrol the fire perimeter.
At the same time, Cal Fire began to demobilize and reassign resources, reducing the ranks of firefighters by about 300 personnel.
Total resources assigned on Tuesday night included 717 firefighting personnel, 55 fire engines, 22 fire crews, eight water tenders, four helicopters and four dozers.
There is still no word of the fire's cause, which Cal Fire said remains under investigation.
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.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Two “Coffee with a Cop” events hosted by local law enforcement agencies will take place in October.
The Lakeport Police Department will hold its Coffee with a Cop gathering from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4, at Susie Q's Donuts at 414 South Main St. in Lakeport.
The Lake County Sheriff's Office's event will take place from 7 to 9 a.m. Friday, Oct. 7, at Judy’s Junction, 375 E. Highway 20 in Upper Lake.
Coffee with a Cop is an event where police and community members come together in an informal, neutral space to discuss community issues, build relationships and drink coffee.
There is no agenda or speeches, just a chance to ask questions, and get to know the men and women who protect and serve you every day.
At the Lakeport event, there will be members of the Lakeport Police Department, Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Lake County Probation Department and California Highway Patrol on hand to meet with community members.
Members from every rank of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office will be on hand to meet with the public and participate in real conversation on Oct. 7.
Coffee with a Cop is a national initiative supported by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, and has been implemented by many cities and towns across the country.
The program's mission is to increase community trust, police legitimacy and partnership building.
Coffee with a Cop removes the physical barriers and crisis situations that routinely define interactions between law enforcement officials and community members.
Instead it allows for relaxed, informal one-on-one interactions in a friendly atmosphere. This informal contact increases trust in police officers as individuals which is foundation to building partnerships and engaging in community problem solving.
The program also aims to advance the practice of community policing through improving relationships between police officers and the community, one cup at a time.
For more information about the Lakeport Coffee with a Cop gathering, contact Lakeport Police Officer Joe Medici at 707-263-5491, Extension 17, or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Questions about the sheriff's office event can be directed to the sheriff's administration at 707-262-4200.
NORTH COAST, Calif. – Sen. Mike McGuire, chairman of the Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture, and Congressman Jared Huffman will convene a special hearing on Tuesday, Oct. 4, at the Bodega Marine Laboratory to take an in-depth look at the aquaculture industry in California, as well as receive an update on the outlook for the upcoming Dungeness and rock crab seasons.
This hearing will be the first time that the Joint Committee has focused primarily on aquaculture, which can be thought of as “farming in water.”
The farmed fish, oysters and seaweed industry is larger than ever and panelists will explore finfish, shellfish, inland production and perspectives from state agencies. The public is encouraged to attend.
“A major turning point in history was reached in 2014. That was the first year humans consumed more farmed fish than wild,” Sen. Mike McGuire said. “World per capita fish supply reached a new record high due to vigorous consumer demand and growth in aquaculture, which now provides half of all fish for human consumption worldwide. This development highlights a new era, indicating that aquaculture will increasingly be a main driver of change in the fisheries sector.”
Unfortunately, 91 percent of the seafood we eat (by value) originates abroad, half of which is from aquaculture, creating a seafood trade deficit of over $11.2 billion annually.
The hearing, “Crab Season Outlook for 2016-17 and Modern Aquaculture in California,” will feature testimony and updates on the upcoming crab season and current and anticipated domoic acid levels from representatives with the Department of Fish and Wildlife, California Department of Public Health and top ocean scientists.
The hearing will include testimony on how the aquaculture industry will change with modern techniques and what challenges and hurdles the industry faces.
The hearing will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 4 at the Bodega Marine Laboratory in Bodega Bay. The hearing will be streamed live at www.senate.ca.gov . The public is welcome to attend.
For more information about the Fisheries and Aquaculture Hearing visit the Committee Web site at http://fisheries.legislature.ca.gov/ .
A full hearing agenda will be released on Friday of this week.
Marc Edward Bersie, 61, born Oct. 4, 1954, passed away quietly in San Francisco, Calif., on Aug. 16, 2016, from pancreatic cancer. He was a longtime resident of Lower Lake, Calif.
Growing up in Marin County, Calif., Marc graduated from Sir Francis Drake High School in 1973.
He had a natural gift to bring any motorized vehicle to life, either gifted to him in a box or found in a barn. He had such a talent he was able to restore a 1958 jaguar sport coupe to its natural beauty, a gift from his father, Louis E. Bersie when Marc was only 18 years old. Marc was also preceded in death by his mother, Beatrice L. Bersie, and brother Michael J. Pereira.
Molly, his cocker spaniel, his beloved dog is missing from the aftermath of the Clayton fire. We can only hope that she may have found peace together with Marc, and with him as he promised her as her "forever home.”
Marc passed as the Clayton fire inferno charred many of his close neighbors' and friends' homes, and hope some of his belongings will help aid with their recovery.
Marc's free spirit brought him many wonderful travels. He loved living in Hawaii, he enjoyed free riding to Canada, but most of all he has a great group of friends and friendships that he relished. Marc will be missed by many.
Marc is survived by his sister, Louan (Bersie) Homer; nieces, Joanna Homer and Angela (Homer) Riley; grand-nieces; sister, Nanci (Pereira) Gaffney; nephew Jon Gaffney; sister, Linda (Pereira-Griffith) Pillow; nephew, Tom Griffith; nieces, Michele (Pillow) Harrison and Kelly (Pillow) Dobbins; and nephew Jesse Pereira.
A celebration of life for family and close friends will be in October. Gifts to support pancreatic cancer study and/or animal shelters would be desired.
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