HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE, Calif. – A 19-year-old Clearlake woman died and two other young women were injured in a single-vehicle crash Tuesday night near Hidden Valley Lake.

Leah Davidson Hernandez died at the scene of the wreck, which occurred just before 7 p.m. on Highway 29 north of the Spruce Grove Road Extension and Arabian Lane, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The driver in the crash, 23-year-old Nina A. Litzin of Clearlake, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, the CHP reported.

Hernandez was riding in the front passenger seat of a 1997 Chrysler Sebring convertible which Litzin was driving, with Tamara L. Davidson, 21, also of Clearlake, riding in the backseat, the CHP said.

The CHP investigation determined that Litzin was driving the Chrysler southbound in a reckless manner when she lost control.

A driver reported to the CHP that a vehicle was swerving behind them, attempted to pass and then went off the roadway and over an embankment.

The CHP said Litzin's Chrysler went off the west roadway edge, narrowly missing a guardrail.

The car continued down the embankment, hitting a tree and several rocks, before it rolled over and Hernandez was ejected from the vehicle, sustaining fatal injuries, according to the report.

The CHP said Litzin suffered a broken back and Davidson sustained minor injuries. Both were flown out to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital in separate REACH air ambulances.

Before she was transported, Litzin was placed under arrest, the CHP said.

The CHP said it's still trying to determine whether the women were using seatbelts.

The crash's exact cause also is still under investigation, the agency said.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

On Tuesday state Sen. Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa) and state Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) unveiled a budget proposal to keep open up to 50 state parks slated for closure this year while providing a stable and long-term funding solution that will keep all parks open.

As many as 70 state parks had been slated for closure beginning July 1, 2012. Among them is Anderson Marsh State Historic Park, which the Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association is negotiating with the state to run.

The essence of Evans' and Simitian's “Sustainable Parks Proposal” is:

Providing assistance to non-profit partners working for operating agreements for state parks;

• Finding “new ways of working” in the parks, including allowing parks to become more entrepreneurial and allowing more personnel flexibility;
• Accessing up to $121 million of existing funding sources that may be appropriately used for park purposes over a five year period, including using up to $10 million/year of existing funds collected the Motor Vehicle Account, $21 million from the Local Assistance Program, and $10 million/year from the Clean Water Revolving Loan Fund.

The Sustainable Parks Proposal will be up in Senate Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Resources, Environmental Protection, Energy and Transportation, which is chaired by Simitian, on Wednesday, May 9, at 2:30 p.m. in room 4203 in the State Capitol.

“This plan is worthy of the legacy that has been left in our trust,” said Evans, who represents the North Coast, including Lake County, in the California Senate “I am thankful for Sen. Simitian’s dedication to a solution-oriented and sustainable long term funding plan to keep parks open and thriving. Utilizing existing funds, providing flexibility and giving needed assistance to our nonprofit partners will keep parks in the public trust for generations to come.”

“It’s unacceptable to imagine putting up the ‘closed’ sign on these precious public resources,” said Simitian. “It’s also penny-wise and pound foolish. Closed parks are easy prey for crime, fire and vandalism. If we work together creatively to keep these parks open, we can prevent the kind of problems that will end up costing California far more in the long run.”

Simitian noted as well that state parks “are an extraordinary economic asset for California. They pump tourism and hospitality dollars into the economy, and create jobs in the process.”

The proposal also would give Californians voluntary opportunities to support the parks. Under the proposal, Californians could purchase a specialty parks license plate for a fee and give a voluntary donation at the time of their vehicle renewal.

“I believe this is a solid proposal that will set the financial foundation for saving our parks,” continued Evans.  “In the short term, we will be able to keep most of our parks open this year, and in the long run, it will help make our park system stronger and more creative.”

Last May, the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) announced that 70 parks would close due to budget cuts.

Since then, nonprofit organizations and the public, as well as local and federal agencies, have stepped up efforts to find ways to fund the parks – many signing operating agreements with the state – and the number of parks slated to shut dropped to 54 last month.

To help encourage these community efforts, the proposal would also include extending liability coverage to local and nonprofit agencies that work in partnership to manage the parks.

“The effort that the California Parks Foundation and other nonprofit organizations have put forward to keep parks open has been nothing short of heroic,” said Simitian. “Their hard work and innovation are the good news in these tough budget times. We want to continue to encourage these creative partnerships. The state parks belong to all of us, and we’re all going to have to work together to keep them going.”

Evans is the author of two bills complimentary to the Sustainable Parks Proposal. SB 974 requires transparency and public involvement in future closures and a planning process to reopen parks. SB 1078 helps focus DPR on innovative revenue generation projects.

A full copy of the eight-point Sustainable Parks Proposal can be seen below.

WILLOWS, Calif. – The Mendocino National Forest will be hosting two open houses later this week for community members to meet Forest Supervisor Sherry Tune.

The first open house will be held Thursday, May 10, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Upper Lake Ranger District Office, located at 10025 Elk Mountain Road in Upper Lake.

The second open house will be Friday, May 11 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Covelo Ranger District Office, located at 78150 Covelo Road in Covelo.

Tune, who previously was the Monterey District ranger on the Los Padres National Forest, has been on the Mendocino National Forest for less than three months.

Her early months on the forest have been spent getting oriented, meeting employees and touring the forest.

She succeeded former Forest Supervisor Tom Contreras, who is now assigned to the Angeles National Forest.

Tune has the distinction of being the first woman selected to serve as forest supervisor for the Mendocino in its 103-year history.

“I am very excited to be here and look forward to working with our partners and public who enjoy the many benefits from this remarkable forest,” Tune said. “The open house is just the first step for me to begin engaging local communities to improve the overall health and sustainability of the resources on the Mendocino National Forest.”

Prior to her experience on the Los Padres, Tune served as a deputy district ranger for the Coronado National Forest in Arizona.  

Her career started as a clerk-typist in 1978 before transitioning to fire where she has extensive experience, including working on hotshot crews, leading a handcrew, serving as assistant forest fire management officer, an emergency center manager, fire planner, fuels program manager and fire ecologist.

Tune’s Forest Service experience also includes work as a certified timber cruiser, law enforcement officer, national training coordinator, and union steward.

Her educational background includes studying landscape ecology at the University of Arizona.

NICE, Calif. – On Tuesday several families that had been subject to tribal disenrollment several years ago were evicted from their homes on Robinson Rancheria.

Tribal member E.J. Crandell said about five homes were evicted beginning Tuesday morning.

The tenants evicted on Tuesday were tribal members disenrolled in late 2008, including Karen Ramos, Inez Sands, Robert Quitiquit and Reuban Want, Crandell said.

The home of Luwana Quitiquit, who had died in December, also was targeted for the eviction, according to Crandell.

Sgt. Steve Brooks of the Lake County Sheriff's Office said the evictions were conducted by the Robinson Rancheria Police Department and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

He said personnel from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office were present during the evictions and acting in a support role only. Brooks said they were only on scene in case a crime was committed against the officials who were conducting the evictions.

Northshore Fire was staged in case of emergency, according to Chief Jay Beristianos.

District Attorney's Office staff also were reported to be on scene, Crandell said.

The disenrollments arose in the wake of a disputed June 2008 election during which Crandell challenged Tribal Chair Tracey Avila.

Crandell won the election, which he alleged later was overturned by an election committee composed of Avila's family members.

The tribal council, led by Avila, later would disenroll approximately 67 individuals, one of them posthumously.

An effort to evict the families began after the Bureau of Indian Affairs upheld the disenrollments. The tribal council formed a tribal court, which ruled against the five tenants in January 2011, according to court documents.

In documents associated with a federal court action the tribe brought against the tenants in August 2011, the tribe alleged that it was evicting the group for failure to pay a monthly administration fee as rent in violation of tenant agreements.

However, the tenants argued in their response that they resided in homes they contracted to purchase through a federally funded, low-income housing program, and that they were actually targeted because they had been disenrolled.

That federal case was dismissed, on the agreement of both parties, this past March.

Crandell said tenants were presented with eviction documents from the tribal court. He said the documents had not been presented to the group's current attorney.

The move comes less than a week before tribal leaders are set to meet as part of the Lake County Indian Gaming Local Community Benefit Committee to discuss giving grants from the Indian Gaming Special Distribution Fund – to which Robinson Rancheria and Big Valley Rancheria contribute – to local agencies. Both the sheriff's office and the District Attorney's Office have applied for those funds.

That meeting is set to take place at 9 a.m. Monday, May 14, in conference room B in the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.

Last year, a dispute between Sheriff Frank Rivero and Robinson Rancheria resulted in his department getting none of the funds, as Lake County News has reported.

Avila, meanwhile, is scheduled to appear in court later this month for the scheduling of a preliminary hearing in a felony grand theft case against her.

She is alleged to have stolen more than $60,000 from the Elem Indian Colony of Pomo Indians in Clearlake Oaks while she worked for that tribe as a fiscal officer from February 2006 to September 2008.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Nearly two dozen of Lake County's most valued volunteers and leaders were honored during the Stars of Lake County Awards ceremony, held Sunday night in Clearlake Oaks.

Humanitarians, students, volunteers and those who have given of themselves over the years were celebrated during the Sunday reception and dinner.

The winners are listed below.

• Humanitarian of the Year: Dr. Paula Dhanda, Kelseyville
• Senior of the Year: Janet Taylor, Lakeport
• Volunteer of the Year: Phyllis Kelsey, Middletown
• Female Student: Cheyanne Horvath, Cobb
• Male Student: Eli Wade, Clearlake
• Youth Advocate – Professional: Bill MacDougall, Kelseyville
• Youth Advocate – Volunteer: Bill Stone and Alvaro Valencia, Clearlake
• Agriculture Award: Farm to School Program, Kelseyville
• Organization – Nonprofit: Healthy Start, Lakeport
• Organization – Volunteer: Any Positive Change, Lower Lake
• Environmental Award    : Gae Henry and Henry Bornstein, Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association, Lower Lake
• New Business    of the Year: 2 Women Traders, Middletown
• Small Business of the Year: Here for the Holidays/Accents on the Lake, Kelseyville
• Large Business of the Year: Calpine Corp., Middletown
• Best Idea of the Year: Window Treatments for Vacant Storefronts, Lake County
• Local Hero Award: Amy Zingone, Clearlake Oaks
• Arts Award – Professional: Verna Wicks-De Martino, Lakeport
• Arts Award – Amateur: Lake County Quilt Trail
• Spirit of Lake County: Voris Brumfield
• Selection Committee Special Award: John Fulton
• Woman of the Year: Antoinette Funderburg, Lakeport
• Man of the Year: Tom Lincoln, Lakeport
• Lifetime Achievement: Stephen R. Elias, Esquire, Lakeport

SACRAMENTO — The Assembly Revenue & Taxation Committee on Monday gave unanimous, bipartisan support to legislation authored by Assemblymembers Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) and Wesley Chesbro (D-North Coast) that offers several creative funding opportunities to help prevent state parks from being closed.

Assembly Bill 1589, also known as the California State Parks Stewardship Act of 2012, addresses short and long-term needs for California State Parks in order to achieve substantial budget savings without wide-scale park closures.

The bill includes an option for taxpayers to designate all or a portion of their state income tax refund towards purchase of an annual state parks pass.

“Today, our bipartisan effort to save state parks took an important step forward,” said Huffman, who represents the 6th Assembly District, which encompasses southern Sonoma County and all of Marin County. “It’s important that as we continue to make technical improvements to the bill, we are getting unanimous votes in committee, and members of both parties continue asking to be added as co-authors. I’m also grateful that State Controller John Chiang registered his support and is working with us to make sure key revenue elements of the bill are administratively feasible.”

“The parks closures disproportionately impact rural California, and nowhere is that more true than on the North Coast,” said Chesbro, who represents the First Assembly District. “One of the key elements I wanted included in AB 1589 is the opportunity for Californians to purchase an annual parks pass with their tax refunds. This tool will increase revenue for the parks system with no impact to the general fund and more California families will get out and enjoy our state parks.”

AB 1589 includes the following additional provisions:

• Encourages formation of a state compact that guarantees an ongoing level of state funding for operations and maintenance of state parks.
• Creates a State Park Enterprise Fund to be used for construction and installation of modern revenue and fee collection equipment and technologies to increase park visitation and revenues.
• Produces a California State Park environmental license plate which individual vehicle owners could purchase and have the fees go towards support of state parks.
• Requires the Department of Parks and Recreation to be more transparent on how it evaluates and selects specific parks for closure, and places a cap of 25 state park units on the number of park closures allowed from 2012 to 2016 without legislative approval.

AB 1589 is also joint-authored by Assemblymembers Roger Dickinson, Mike Gatto and Kevin Jeffries.

The bill proceeds to the Assembly Appropriations Committee for further consideration.

LUCERNE, Calif. – Three people were injured as the result of a Tuesday night crash between a motorcycle and a vehicle in Lucerne.

The head-on wreck was reported at about 8:45 p.m. on Highway 20 at Oakcrest Drive, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Both lanes of traffic were blocked as Northshore Fire Protection District firefighters and the CHP responded to the scene, radio reports indicated.

REACH and CalStar air ambulances responded, landing at Lucerne Harbor Park.

Two of the crash victims were subsequently flown to regional trauma centers, according to radio reports. A third patient was transported to Sutter Lakeside Hospital.

The CHP said the highway was reopened shortly before 9:30 p.m., with fire officials clearing the scene about an hour after the call was first dispatched.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Animal Care and Control is featuring a number of friendly, adoptable cats for adoption this week.

Through Friday, May 11, the county is waiving the county adoption fee, which reduces the overall cost to adopt a cat by $20.

Cats that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are either neutered or spayed and microchipped before being released to their new owner. License fees do not apply to residents of the cities of Lakeport or Clearlake .

If you're looking for a new companion, visit the shelter. There are many great pets there, hoping you'll choose them.

The following cats at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption (other cats pictured on the animal control Web site that are not listed here are still “on hold”).

Gray domestic short hair mix

This male gray domestic short hair mix is 8 weeks old.

He has blue eyes, weighs 1 pound and has not yet been altered.

He’s in cat room kennel No. 100a, ID 32478.

Female tabby kitten

This gray and black female tabby is 8 weeks old.

She has blue eyes and is not yet spayed.

Find her in cat room kennel No. 100b, ID No. 32479.

Male orange tabby

This male orange tabby is 7 months old.

He has a short coat, gold eyes and has been neutered.

Find him in cat room kennel No. 1, ID No. 32499.

Female black domestic short hair mix kitten

This female domestic short hair mix is 12 weeks old.

She weighs nearly 2 pounds and has been spayed.

She is in cat room kennel No. 52b, ID No. 32501.

Male black domestic short hair mix kitten

This male domestic short hair mix is 12 weeks old.

He weighs 2.2 pounds and has been neutered.

Find him in cat room kennel No. 52c, ID No. 32502.

Black female short hair

This black domestic short hair mix is 1 year old.

She weighs 8 pounds and has been spayed.

Shelter staff said she is a very mellow cat that would like nothing more in life than to curl up on the couch or chair. She also likes to sit in your lap.

Find her in cat room kennel No. 13, ID No. 32378.

Gray female tabby

This gray female tabby is 2 years old.

She has a short coat, weighs 7 pounds and has been spayed.

Shelter staff said she is playful and enjoys the company of other cats.

She is in cat room kennel No. 16, ID No. 32431.

Gray domestic short hair

This male domestic short hair mix is 11 months old.

He weighs 5.4 pounds, has green eyes and has been neutered.

See him in cat room kennel No. 40, ID No. 32494.

Brown male tabby

This brown male tabby is 2 years old.

He has green eyes, a medium-length coat and has not yet been altered.

Find him in cat room kennel No. 8, ID No. 32632.

Lynx point Siamese

This female lynx point Siamese is 1 year old.

She has blue eyes and a short coat.

She is in cat room kennel No. 7, ID No. 32558.

Adoptable cats also can be seen at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Cats_and_Kittens.htm or at www.petfinder.com .

Please note: Cats listed at the shelter's Web page that are said to be “on hold” are not yet cleared for adoption.

To fill out an adoption application online visit http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Dog___Cat_Adoption_Application.htm .

Lake County Animal Care and Control is located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport, next to the Hill Road Correctional Facility.

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Visit the shelter online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control.htm .

For more information call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.

Devastating wildfires threaten California every year, and to ensure Californians are ready, Gov. Jerry Brown declared May 6-12, 2012, as “Wildfire Awareness Week.”

Cal Fire is taking advantage of Wildfire Awareness Week to remind residents of the dangers from wildfires and the simple steps they can take to prepare for them.

“Despite a rainy March, this year’s overall precipitation is below average,” said Chief Ken Pimlott, Cal Fire director. “As a result of the dry winter, the number of wildfires that Cal Fire firefighters have responded to is nearly three times that of last year.”

According to the state’s final snow survey on May 1, the statewide snowpack water content is only 40 percent of normal.

From January to April, Cal Fire crews have responded to over 800 wildfires, nearly two and half times the number in 2011 when there were approximately 300. This year’s number of wildfires is above the five-year average as well, where the average is over 600 wildfires.

During Wildfire Awareness Week, Cal Fire is reminding Californians that when it comes to wildfires, remember “Ready, Set, Go!” Being ready for a wildfire starts by maintaining 100 feet of defensible space and hardening homes with fire resistant building materials.

“Before we get into the peak of fire season, residents should prepare themselves, their families and their homes for wildfires,” said Chief Pimlott. “Defensible Space and fire resistant building materials really gives a home the best chance of surviving a wildfire.”

Cal Fire relaunched its wildfire preparedness Web site, www.ReadyForWildfire.org , with added features and steps to assist homeowners in preparing for wildfires.

The site offers tips for residents to make their homes more resistant to wildfires and to ensure that their families are ready to evacuate early and safely when a wildfire strikes.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Unusual cloud formations and vivid rainbow colors in the sky got the attention of many county residents on Tuesday.

A picture taken by Joe Steiner was posted by friend Shannon Kimbell-Auth on Facebook Tuesday. It showed a mass of clouds with an explosion of color.

Pictures Lakeport resident Russell Bishop posted on his Facebook page also showed the colors against an unusual cloud column.

Lake County News asked Alan Buis, a spokesman for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Jet Propulsion Laboratory at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, about the cloud formations and what they were.

Buis consulted with a number of scientists, and Steve LaDochy, a meteorologist at California State University, Los Angeles, and a Jet Propulsion Lab employee, offered the scientific explanation of what Lake County residents witnessed.

In Steiner's photo, what's seen is cloud iridescence, which is diffraction of sunlight by different sized cloud droplets. The typical clouds associated with cloud iridescence are cirrocumulus and altocumulus, LaDochy explained in an email.

Regarding the cloud shown in Bishop's photo, LaDochy notes in his email response, “I’ve seen these in Canada, but not quite like this down here. It is called a circumzenithal arc and is associated with ice crystals (often in thin cirrus clouds at very cold temperatures).”

He said the ice crystals cause a refraction of sunlight that enters the top of plate-like crystals and exits out one of its sides. It requires a fairly low sun, at less than 32 degrees, to accomplish it.

“A more common refraction is a halo around the sun due to ice crustals or sundogs, where the halo is brightest on the sides of the halo making it look like 3 suns. Romans thought this brought good luck,” LaDochy said.

The ice crystals that give rise to the optical wonders come from cirrus clouds high in the atmosphere, where temperatures are below -20 degrees Fahrenheit, LaDochy explained.

“They are not rain clouds, but can cause some pretty optical effects when the sun shines through them. Sometimes contrails will get a bit of these effects, but not often,” He said.

LaDochy added, “People should look up more often.”

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

COBB, Calif. – A quake that followed a larger 4.5-magnitude earthquake early Saturday, May 5, has been upgraded in size.

The U.S. Geological Survey reported Monday evening that an earthquake it originally had reported as 2.3 in magnitude – occurring just a minute after the 4.5 magnitude quake Saturday – was in fact a 3.3.

The 4.5-magnitude temblor was centered three miles east of The Geysers geothermal steamfield and three miles southwest of Cobb, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.

The 3.3-magnitude quake that followed – the largest of numerous aftershocks – was centered two miles east of The Geysers and four miles southwest of Cobb, according to the agency's report.

The larger quake elicited 220 shake reports from 46 zip codes, but as of Monday evening the U.S. Geological Survey had not received shake reports on the 3.3-magnitude quake.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Two county residents were injured on Monday when they were involved in a crash near Kelseyville.

Amber Erickson, 25, of Kelseyville and Robert Quammen, 52, of Lucerne, were involved in the wreck, which occurred on Highway 281 east of Inca Way, according to the California Highway Patrol. A time for the crash was not given.

Quammen, driving a Ford van, and Erickson, who was driving a Nissan Frontier, were both traveling eastbound on Highway 281, or Soda Bay Road, the CHP said.

Quammen, who was ahead of Erickson, drove through some cardboard box debris in the eastbound lane and pulled to the right shoulder and stopped. The CHP said Quammen's van was partially blocking the eastbound lane by about 4 to 5 feet.

Erickson also had driven through the debris, but the CHP report said she didn't see Quammen stopped on the shoulder and partially blocking the lane.

Erickson struck the left rear of Quammen's van, according to the report.

The CHP said Erickson suffered moderate injuries and was transported to St. Helena Hospital Clearlake. Quammen sustained minor injuries and was not transported.

The collision is still under investigation, according to the CHP, which said that alcohol and drugs did not appear to have been contributing factors.

The CHP said both Erickson and Quammen were wearing their seatbelts at the time of the crash.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .