LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Caltrans maintenance crews statewide dedicated Thursday, April 19, to litter removal for this year's annual Litter Day.

Last year's Litter Day efforts resulted in the removal of 2,533 cubic yards of litter statewide, enough to fill 158 garbage trucks, Caltrans reported.

Caltrans said a final tally for the litter picked up in Lake County wasn’t available on Friday.

However Caltrans spokesman Phil Frisbie said crews worked on Highway 29 and on Highway 53, picking up trash – most notably 10 discarded mattresses found along the highways – and painted over graffiti they found on several local bridges.

This cleanup effort is part of the Great American Cleanup campaign, sponsored each spring by the nonprofit organization Keep America Beautiful.

More than 2,800 Caltrans Adopt-A-Highway groups also are helping this campaign by picking up litter along their sections of highway sometime in April or May.

Caltrans said litter is an ongoing problem on state highways. Litter is not only ugly, but it also can lead to pollution in lakes, rivers and beaches.

Cigarette butts are the No. 1 item littered in California — they are discarded by the millions, often causing roadside fires, clogging storm drains, and threatening water quality and wildlife, Caltrans said.

In addition, motorists face the risk of accident, injury, and death as the result of trash and other debris fallen from vehicles hauling unsecured and untarped loads, the agency reported.

“During this time of limited public resources, Caltrans is spending millions of dollars every year cleaning up litter from California highways,” said Caltrans District 1 Director Charlie Fielder. “There are so many other uses for that money. We’re asking the public to help us reduce the litter problem — please Don’t Trash California.”

For more information on the Caltrans Adopt-A-Highway program, call Mike Cossolotto at 707-445-5761.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A man who crashed his vehicle last weekend and who allegedly left the scene and his passenger – who died – has been rearrested in the case.

Danny Fields II, 27, of Clearlake was arrested for vehicular manslaughter, felony driving under the influence, felony hit and run resulting in death or injury and driving on a suspended license, according to Officer Kory Reynolds of the California Highway Patrol’s Clear Lake Area office.

The collision in which Fields was involved, which occurred early on the morning of Sunday, April 15, took the life of 31-year-old Jennifer Clark of Clearlake, as Lake County News has reported.

According to the investigation, Clark had been riding with Fields in his 1984 Chevrolet El Camino, headed southbound on Highway 29 just north of Lower Lake when the collision occurred, sometime between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m. Sunday.

Fields’ vehicle went off the road and down an embankment, hitting a walnut tree, according to investigators.

He then allegedly left the scene, got a ride to the Lower Lake Tower Mart, and from there was transported by his parents to St. Helena Hospital Clearlake, which notified the CHP just before 9 a.m. that day that a collision had occurred.

The vehicle was discovered by sheriff’s deputies less than 20 minutes after the crash was reported, according to officials. Clark, still inside the vehicle, was pronounced dead at the scene.

CHP officers originally had arrested Fields for felony driving under the influence and felony hit and run causing death or injury, and had a blood sample taken. However, they had released him due to his injuries, Sgt. Rick Okazaki told Lake County News earlier this week.

Okazaki had said releasing Fields did not preclude the CHP from pursuing charges against him.

Reynolds said Fields, who sustained major injuries in the crash, was arrested on Thursday following his release from Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, where he had been transferred for treatment.

Fields was booked into the Lake County Jail with bail set at $210,000, Reynolds said.

Fields did not appear in online jail records Friday afternoon.

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

The California Fish and Game Commission adopted ocean and inland salmon fishing regulations for 2012 at its April meetings.

Inland salmon season regulations were adopted for the Central Valley, and Klamath and Trinity rivers.

Longer seasons and increased fishing opportunities are the hallmarks of what is expected to be a banner season for ocean and river anglers.

"We are optimistic that excellent ocean and inland salmon seasons lie ahead for California anglers," said Department of Fish and Game (DFG) Director Charlton H. Bonham. "This could be one of the best salmon seasons in a decade, supporting both recreational and commercial fishermen and their communities.”

The newly adopted ocean salmon sport fishing regulations conform to those adopted by the Pacific Fisheries Management Council.

The opening date in the Klamath Management Zone is May 1. All other zones are currently open.

Complete ocean salmon regulations are posted at www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/oceansalmon.asp .

On all Central Valley rivers, the daily bag and possession limit is two Chinook salmon. On the Trinity and Klamath rivers the daily bag limit is four Chinook of any size and eight in possession prior to reaching the quota.

All anglers must have Salmon Harvest Cards in their possession when fishing for salmon on the Klamath and Trinity rivers.

Other enhanced salmon fishing opportunities are available on the Mokelumne River and portions of the Feather River from the unimproved boat ramp above the Thermalito Afterbay Outfall down river.

Key elements of the newly adopted inland salmon seasons and regulations for Central Valley rivers and the Klamath and Trinity rivers are listed below.

The full regulations package approved by the commission is available at   www.fgc.ca.gov/regulations/2012/index.aspx .

SACRAMENTO RIVER

Open Aug. 1 through Dec.16 from the Deschutes Road Bridge near Anderson downstream to 500 feet upstream from Red Bluff Diversion Dam.

Open July 16 through Dec. 16 from 150 feet below the Lower Red Bluff (Sycamore) boat ramp to the Highway 113 Bridge near Knights Landing.

Open July 16 through Dec. 16 from the Highway 113 Bridge near Knights Landing downstream to the Carquinez Bridge.

FEATHER RIVER

Open July 16 through Oct. 15 from unimproved boat launch ramp above the Thermalito Afterbay Outfall downstream to 200 yards above the Live Oak boat ramp. Open July 16 through Dec. 16 from 200 yards above Live Oak boat ramp to the mouth.

AMERICAN RIVER

Open from July 16 through Dec. 31 from Nimbus Dam to Hazel Avenue Bridge.

Open from July 16 through Aug. 15 from Hazel Avenue Bridge to the United States Geological Survey (USGS) gauging station cable crossing near Nimbus Hatchery.
 
Open July 16 through Oct. 31 from the USGS gauging station cable crossing near Nimbus Hatchery to the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) power line crossing the southwest boundary of Ancil Hoffman Park.

Open from July 16 through Dec. 16 from the SMUD power line crossing at the southwest boundary of Ancil Hoffman Park to the Jibboom Street Bridge.

Open July 16 through Dec. 16. from the Jibboom Street Bridge to the mouth.

MOKELUMNE RIVER  

Open July 16 through Oct. 15 from Camanche Dam to the Highway 99 Bridge.

Open July 16 through Dec. 31 from the Highway 99 Bridge to the Woodbridge Irrigation District Dam, including Lodi Lake.

Open July 16 through Dec. 16 from the Lower Sacramento Road Bridge to the mouth. (For purposes of this regulation, this river segment is defined as Mokelumne River and its tributary sloughs downstream of the Lower Sacramento Road Bridge, east of Highway 160 and north of Highway 12.)

KLAMATH RIVER

Open to fall-run Chinook salmon fishing from Aug. 15 through Dec. 31 with a daily bag limit of four Chinook salmon of any size. The possession limit is eight Chinook salmon of any size.

The 2012 quota for the Klamath River basin is 67,600 fall-run salmon more than 22 inches long. Once this quota has been met, no Chinook salmon greater than 22 inches long may be retained (anglers may still retain a limit of Chinook salmon under 22 inches).

A weekly DFG status report will be available by calling 1-800-564-6479.

Open to spring-run Chinook salmon fishing from Jan. 1 through Aug. 14 with a daily bag and possession limit of two salmon. The take of salmon is prohibited on the Klamath River from Iron Gate Dam downstream to Weitchpec from Jan. 1 through Aug. 14.

TRINITY RIVER

Open to fall-run Chinook salmon fishing from Sept. 1 through Dec. 31 with a daily bag limit of four Chinook salmon of any size. The possession limit is eight Chinook salmon of any size.

The 2012 quota for the Klamath River basin is 67,600 fall-run salmon more than 22 inches long. Once this quota has been met, no Chinook salmon greater than 22 inches long may be retained (anglers may still retain a limit of Chinook salmon under 22 inches).

A weekly DFG status report will be available by calling 1-800-564-6479.

The Trinity River main stem downstream of the Highway 299 Bridge at Cedar Flat to the Denny Road Bridge in Hawkins Bar is closed to all fishing Sept. 1 through Dec. 31.

Open to spring-run Chinook salmon fishing from Jan. 1 through Aug. 31. The daily bag and possession limit is two Chinook salmon. The take of salmon is prohibited from the confluence of the South Fork Trinity River downstream to the confluence of the Klamath River from Jan. 1 through Aug. 31.

All other regulations for bag and possession limits for trout, salmon and other species, as well as general information about restrictions on fishing methods and gear on the above rivers, are available on the DFG Web site at www.dfg.ca.gov/regulations .

CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – The service of two search warrants by the Lake County Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force Wednesday morning has resulted in four arrests and the seizure of narcotics, firearms, body armor and drug paraphernalia.

Arrested were Clearlake Oaks residents Kenneth Kurt Neumiller, 29; Ashley Lauren Jackson, 20; Timothy Todd Ryden, 45; and Karen Lyn Williamson, 45, according to Sgt. Steve Brooks of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

Brooks said narcotics detectives secured a search warrant for Neumiller's person, home and vehicle, as well as for Ryden's home, vehicle and person on Friday, April 13. Both search warrants were based on
a single narcotics investigation.

On Wednesday, April 18, at approximately 7 a.m., both search warrants were served simultaneously, Brooks said.

When narcotics detectives entered Neumiller’s residence, which is located on Iris Way in Clearlake Oaks, both Neumiller and Jackson were detained without incident, according to Brooks.

During a search of Neumiller’s residence narcotics detectives located and seized a loaded 12 gauge shotgun and an AR-15 rifle in the master bedroom. Brooks said they also located three glass pipes, commonly used to smoke methamphetamine.

Neumiller was arrested for being in possession of a loaded firearm while under the influence of a controlled substance, under the influence of a controlled substance and possession of narcotics paraphernalia, Brooks said.

He said Jackson was arrested for being under the influence of a controlled substance and possession of narcotics paraphernalia.

Both were transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility and booked, Brooks said.

Neumiller's bail was set at $15,000, while Jackson's was set at $5,000. Jail records showed both later posted bail and were released.

Brooks said when narcotics detectives entered Ryden’s residence, which is located on Nectarine Way in Clearlake Oaks, both Ryden and Williamson were detained without incident.

During a search of Ryden’s residence narcotics detectives located and seized a handgun in a nightstand in the master bedroom. Brooks said they also located a hypodermic needle and a glass methamphetamine pipe in a dresser located in the master bedroom along with numerous narcotics and body armor.

Ryden was arrested for being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, possession of a hypodermic needle, possession of narcotics paraphernalia and being under the influence of a controlled substance. He was booked into the jail with bail set at $200,000, and remained in custody early Saturday.

Williamson was arrested for possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, possession of a hypodermic needle, possession of narcotics paraphernalia and being under the influence of a controlled substance. Her bail was set at $15,000 and jail records indicated she later posted bail and was released.

The Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force can be contacted through its anonymous tip line at 707-263-3663.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Communications workers rallied in Clearlake Thursday afternoon to bring attention to their struggle to reach a contract with AT&T.

Members of Communications Workers of America Local 9400 carried signs at the intersection of Old Highway 53 and Olympic Drive between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. Thursday, and organizer Shawn Heape said they will continue such demonstrations around the county every Thursday until they get a new, fair contract.

Those taking part were mostly local outside technicians who work on overhead and underground communications equipment for AT&T, said Frank Arce, senior vice president for Local 9400. There also were some AT&T workers from Concord and Santa Rosa who came for the event.

Union members have been working without a contract since April 7, when their last three-year contract expired, Arce said.

By working without a contract, said Arce, “that allows us to walk at any moment.”

Although the workers weren’t yet on strike on Thursday, Arce said there has been no progress made at the bargaining table, and a strike could take place any time.

AT&T said that four core wireline contracts for different regions of the United States – West, Midwest and East, plus Legacy T Core – expired on April 7, affecting 40,000 employees.

The company said the parties agreed to continue to negotiate. Employees are to work under the expired contract’s terms while the negotiations continue.

In the case of the West contract, which covers the workers rallying in Clearlake, it affects a total of 17,000 employees in California and Nevada, AT&T reported.

The company said the bargaining tables “are working on major issues like health care, attendance and pension.”

AT&T provided a health care proposal to the union on April 7, the union responded on April 13 and on Tuesday the company responded to the proposal. In a Wednesday report AT&T said proposal details will remain confidential.

Arce said union members are not asking for big gains; they just want to keep what they have and not have to roll back pay and benefits at a time when the company is thriving and its chief executive officer and board chair, Randall Stephenson, reportedly has a total compensation package of $22 million annually.

“Their answer is to cut our salaries and have us work harder,” said Arce.

Technicians already work long days, sometimes seven days a week, he said.

Some of the technicians who were rallying on Thursday afternoon described challenging working conditions and company actions that stripped them of seniority.

Matt Willis said he had worked for the company for a time before it laid him off for nearly seven months, rehiring him after he lost his seniority. He was required to go back through the probation process and now makes $10 less an hour than he did before.

Bryan Brentwood said he was told he had to take an $11 an hour pay cut and was forced to move across the state with his family in order to keep his job.

“We’re just in a tough spot, you know?” Brentwood said, holding a sign at the intersection’s edge.

Arce, a 28-year AT&T veteran, said he’s been on strike three times in his tenure with the company; eight years ago, for four days; for two weeks in 1989; and for two and a half weeks in 1983.

Customers could face some service losses if a strike occurs, said Arce. While new teams are waiting to be brought in to cover for striking workers, he said it takes two to three years to learn the technician jobs.

Arce said the union also is fighting against AT&T’s efforts to move jobs and services overseas.

“We want jobs here in California,” he said.

On Wednesday, North Coast Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey sent a letter to Stephenson at his Dallas office, urging AT&T to invest in its workers’ health and welfare.

She said AT&T workers in her district have expressed concern that their wages, health benefits and workplace considerations are being eroded. “I share these concerns.”

Woolsey added, “At a time when the American public believes increasingly that it is ignored by corporate interests and excluded from employers’ profits, it would be irresponsible to exact such substantial concessions from middle-class families,” and encouraged the company to “reach a just and expeditious resolution that respects its workers’ contributions.”

Email Elizabeth Larson at elarson@lakeconews .

HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE, Calif. – An Oregon man was arrested Monday night after he led sheriff's deputies on a high-speed pursuit through Hidden Valley Lake.

Thomas William Medeiros, 20, of Bonanza, Ore., was arrested following the chase, according to Sgt. Steve Brooks of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

On Monday, April 16, at approximately 10:15 p.m., Lake County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to an address on Greenridge Road in Hidden Valley Lake, where it was reported that several subjects were seen at a residence that was believed to be vacant, Brooks said.

As the deputies approached the residence they noticed a Dodge pickup backing out of the driveway, according to Brooks.

Brooks said the vehicle's driver then accelerated away from the residence at a high rate of speed and failed to stop at the stop sign located at Greenridge Road and Northshore Drive.  

Deputies reported the posted speed limit to be 25 miles per hour and estimated the Dodge pickup to be traveling 70 miles per hour, Brooks said.

When deputies activated their emergency lights and siren to initiate an enforcement stop, the pickup continued to accelerate, Brooks reported.

The deputies reported as they approached a four way intersection controlled by stop signs that the vehicle did not slow down and accelerated through the intersection at a high rate of speed. Brooks said the deputies also observed the pickup cross over the double yellow line several times and travel in the opposing lane.

The Dodge pickup pulled over and came to a stop on Marine View Road in Hidden Valley Lake, where the deputies took Medeiros into custody, according to Brooks' report.

Medeiros was arrested and transported to the Lake County Jail where he was booked for felony evading a peace officer and misdemeanor driving while under the influence. Bail was set at $5,000, according to his booking sheet.

Jail records showed that Medeiros later posted bail and was released.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Proactive enforcement efforts by Lake County Sheriff’s patrol deputies have resulted in two arrests, the seizure of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

On Tuesday, April 17, deputies arrested Ashley Nicole Saxon and Casey Rodgers, both 26 and Kelseyville residents, according to Sgt. Steve Brooks of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.

On Tuesday at approximately 11:28 a.m. deputies conducted a search of Saxon and her Cypress Avenue residence, Brooks said.

Saxon allegedly had been released from custody with a search clause for a prior narcotics sales case, Brooks said. When deputies entered the residence they also contacted Rodgers.

While conducting a search of the residence deputies located a substantial amount of methamphetamine. Brooks said they also located digital scales, a glass pipe commonly used to smoke methamphetamine and packaging materials.

He said Saxon admitted that the aforementioned items belonged to her.

Saxon was arrested for possession of a controlled substance for sales, committing a felony while released on her own recognizance, possession of paraphernalia used for smoking a controlled substance and for being under the influence of a controlled substance, Brooks said.

Saxon was transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility and booked. She remains in custody on a no-bail hold, according to jail records.

Rodgers was arrested for having an outstanding warrant. He later was released from custody on his signed notice to appear in court.

The Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force is encouraged to call the anonymous tip line at 707-263-3663.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – During the first two and a half months of 2012, the four candidates in this year’s judicial race raised just under $20,000 to go toward their campaigns, according to campaign finance reports.

Judy Conard, Michael Friel, Susan Krones and Michael Lunas are running for the bench in Lake County Superior Court Department 1.

Judge David Herrick, who currently holds the seat, is not seeking reelection and will retire at year’s end.

The campaign finance reports cover the period of Jan. 1 through March 17.

Contributions – monetary and nonmonetary – as well as loans, payments, cash balances and contributors are detailed in the reporting documents.

As of the end of the filing period, Lunas had the largest overall amount in contributions, $7,826.80, of which $4,000 was cash he had loaned himself, according to the filings.

He was followed by Friel, with a total of $6,473 raised and no loans, the only candidate not to loan himself cash for the campaign; Conard, with $3,713.46 and just under $2,100 that she had loaned herself; and Krones, with $1,750, of which $1,700 were loans to herself.

The Registrar of Voters Office said the deadline for the next reporting period is May 24.

The primary is June 5.

Details of each judicial candidates’ financial statements are shown below, with the candidates listed in alphabetical order.

JUDY CONARD

Contributions received

Total contributions received for reporting period: $3,713.46
Total contributions received, year to date: $3,713.46
Monetary contributions for reporting period: $1,387
Monetary contributions, year to date: $1,387
Loans received for reporting period: $2,081.94 (all to self)
Loans received, year to date: $2,081.94 (all to self)
Nonmonetary contributions for reporting period: $244.52
Nonmonetary contributions, year to date: $244.52
Itemized monetary contributions: $1,045
Nonitemized monetary contributions: $342

Expenditures made

Total expenditures made for reporting period: $467.24
Total expenditures made, year to date: $467.24
Payments made for reporting period: $467.24
Payments made, year to date: $467.24
Loans made for reporting period: $0
Loans made, year to date: $0

Current cash statement

Beginning cash balance: $0
Cash receipts: $3,713.46
Cash payments: $467.24
Ending cash balance: $3,001.70

Itemized monetary contributions received: $1,045

David A. Carter, MD, retired physician, Ukiah; $250
Donna Herndon, retired school district business manager, Lakeport; $100
Walter G. Lyon, self-employed farmer, Lyon Vineyards, Kelseyville; $100
Ann Moorman, Mendocino County Superior Court judge, Ukiah; $100
Dennis Rollins, retired teacher, Lakeport; $100
Olga Martin Steele, retired public administrator, Clearlake Oaks; $145
Mary Ann Villwock, retired attorney, Ukiah; $250

Itemized nonmonetary contributions received: $244.52

Mitchell Hauptman, self-employed attorney, Lakeport; Web site hosting, domain registration and search engine optimization; $137.67
Olga Martin Steele, retired public administrator, Clearlake Oaks; purchased campaign buttons, $101.50

Itemized payments made for reporting period: $319.46

Olga Martin Steele, retired public administrator, Clearlake Oaks; reimbursement for order from “Dr. Don’s Buttons,” $118.07; reimbursement for order from Printingforless.com, $201.39

MICHAEL FRIEL

Contributions received

Total contributions received for reporting period: $6,473
Total contributions received, year to date: $6,473
Monetary contributions for reporting period: $6,050
Monetary contributions, year to date: $6,050
Loans received for reporting period: $0
Loans received, year to date: $0
Nonmonetary contributions for reporting period: $423
Nonmonetary contributions, year to date: $423
Itemized monetary contributions: $6,050
Nonitemized monetary contributions: $423

Expenditures made

Total expenditures made for reporting period: $4,166.56
Total expenditures made, year to date: $4,166.56
Payments made for reporting period: $4,153.56
Payments made, year to date: $4,153.56
Loans made for reporting period: $0
Loans made, year to date: $0
Nonmonetary adjustment, reporting period: $13
Nonmonetary adjustment, year to date: $13

Current cash statement

Beginning cash balance: $0
Cash receipts: $6,473
Cash payments: $4,166.53
Ending cash balance: $2,306.44

Itemized monetary contributions received: $6,050

Howard Friel, retired, Kelseyville; $200
James Dvorak, Lakeport; $1,000
Patricia White, attorney at Snyder and White, Lakeport; $250
Merldene Friel, retired, Eureka; $2,000
John Brosnan, Upper Lake, $100
Cheryl Pick, self-employed at First Pick Accounting, Lakeport; $100
Deborah Tully, physical therapist at Sutter Care, Lakeport; $100
Roberta Lyons, administration at Cloverdale Reveille newspaper, Lower Lake; $100
Robert Riggs, self-employed attorney, Clearlake; $1,000
Robert and Barbara Bridges, attorney for county of Lake, Lakeport; $100
Michael and Kimberly Friel, candidate and self-employed attorney at Friel Law, Lower Lake; $1,000

Itemized payments made for reporting period: $4,153.56

Lake County Record-Bee, Lakeport, advertisement; $266.40
Saw Shop Gallery Bistro, Kelseyville, campaign kickoff; $1,000
Rainbow Balloons, Lower Lake, fundraising event decor; $21.45
Signs of Randy Hare, Clearlake, campaign signs; $65.25
Lake County Registrar of Voters Office, Lakeport, filing fees; $1,411.29
Lake County Registrar of Voters Office, Lakeport, filing fees; $273.03
Linnell Printing, Kelseyville, print materials; $327.34
Lake County Registrar of Voters Office, Lakeport, filing fees; $102.26
Lake County Registrar of Voters Office, Lakeport, candidate statement for ballots; $686.54

SUSAN KRONES

Contributions received

Total contributions received for reporting period: $1,750
Total contributions received, year to date: $1,750
Monetary contributions for reporting period: $50
Monetary contributions, year to date: $50
Loans received for reporting period: $1,700 (all to self)
Loans received, year to date: $1,700 (all to self)
Nonmonetary contributions for reporting period: $0
Nonmonetary contributions, year to date: $0
Itemized monetary contributions: $50
Nonitemized monetary contributions: $0

Expenditures made

Total expenditures made for reporting period: $809.64
Total expenditures made, year to date: $809.64
Payments made for reporting period: $809.64
Payments made, year to date: $809.64
Loans made for reporting period: $0
Loans made, year to date: $0

Current cash statement

Beginning cash balance: $0
Cash receipts: $1,750
Cash payments: $809.69
Ending cash balance: $940.31

Itemized monetary contributions received: $50

Laura McAndrews Sammel, human resources, Hospice Services of Lake County, Lakeport; $50

Itemized payments made for reporting period: $809.69

Lake County Theatre Co., Lakeport; print ads, $50
Lake County Registrar of Voters, Lakeport; filing fees, $3.30
Lake County Registrar of Voters, Lakeport; filing fees, $686.54
U.S. Post Office, Lakeport; postage, $43
Wells Fargo Bank, Lakeport; campaign paraphernalia, $26.85

MICHAEL LUNAS

Contributions received

Total contributions received for reporting period: $7,826.80
Total contributions received, year to date: $7,826.80
Monetary contributions for reporting period: $3,436.80
Monetary contributions, year to date: $3,436.80
Loans received for reporting period: $4,000 (all to self)
Loans received, year to date: $4,000 (all to self)
Nonmonetary contributions for reporting period: $390
Nonmonetary contributions, year to date: $390
Itemized monetary contributions: $2,750
Nonitemized monetary contributions: $686,80

Expenditures made

Total expenditures made for reporting period: $6,281.27
Total expenditures made, year to date: $6,281.27
Payments made for reporting period: $6,281.27
Payments made, year to date: $6,281.27
Loans made for reporting period: $0
Loans made, year to date: $0

Current cash statement

Beginning cash balance: $0
Cash receipts: $7,436.80
Cash payments: $6,281.27
Ending cash balance: $1,155.53

Itemized monetary contributions received: $2,750

Michael S. Lunas, attorney/candidate, Lakeport; $1,000
Gary Butrick, Carlton Tires, Lakeport; $100
Joan Langenegger, retired, Clearlake; $100
Robert McDonald, retired, Kelseyville; $250
Deanne Rose Padel, Lake Parts, Lakeport; $100
Wolfgang G. Schug, physician, Adventist Health, Lakeport; $100
Doris J. Cline, Castlewood Estates, Lucerne; $500
Barry A. Shaffer, retired, Lakeport; $100
Mary Ann Southard, retired, Spring Hill, Fla.; $500

Itemized nonmonetary contributions received for reporting period: $320

Michael S. Lunas, attorney/candidate, Lakeport; paper and envelopes, $70; sign materials, $320

Itemized payments made for reporting period: $6,281.27

United States Postal Service, Lakeport; postage, $210
Gravitate, Lakeport; Web services, $2,358.99
Dr. Don’s Buttons, Glendale, Ariz.; campaign paraphernalia, $558.83
Lake County Chamber of Commerce, Lakeport; meeting, $50
Lake County Registrar of Voters, Lakeport; filing fees, $57.18
Lake County Registrar of Voters, Lakeport; filing fees, $686.54
Speedy Signs, Ukiah; campaign paraphernalia, $684.95
VistaPrint, www.vistaprint.com; campaign paraphernalia, $690.38
Kelseyville Lumber, Kelseyville; campaign paraphernalia, $450.02
Dr. Don’s Buttons, Glendale, Ariz.; campaign paraphernalia, $469.58
See’s Candy, Burlingame; campaign paraphernalia, $64.80

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

This weekend, NASA scientists, amateur astronomers and an astronaut on board the International Space Station will attempt the first-ever 3D photography of meteors from Earth and space.

“The annual Lyrid meteor shower peaks on April 21-22,” said Bill Cooke, the head of NASA's Meteoroid Environment Office. “We’re going to try to photograph some of these 'shooting stars' simultaneously from ground stations, from a research balloon in the stratosphere, and from the space station.”

Lyrid meteors come from Comet Thatcher.  Every year in late April Earth passes through a stream of debris from the old comet, which has been bringing Lyrid meteors to our planet for at least 2,600 years.  
Specks of Thatcher’s dust hit the top of atmosphere at 110,000 miles per hour and disintegrate in a flurry of meteors. Most years, the shower produces about 15 to 20 Lyrids per hour.

This is a good year to look for Lyrids because the Moon will be new when the shower peaks. Dark skies favor sightings both from Earth and from Earth orbit.

“Even though the Lyrids are not noted for spectacular rates, the combination of a New Moon and a very favorable viewing geometry from the International Space Station (ISS) presents a unique opportunity to simultaneously image shower meteors from above and below,” said Cooke.

ISS Flight Engineer Don Pettit will be operating the camera on the space station.

“Even though his equipment was designed for tasks other than meteor observing, Don is a skilled astrophotographer, and we have every confidence that he will maximize the chances of capturing a Lyrid from 400 km above Earth's surface,” Cooke said.

As the Space Station passes over North America multiple times on the night of April 21, a network of all-sky cameras – some operated by amateur astronomers and others by NASA – will be recording the shower.

In Bishop, Calif., a group of high school and middle school students will launch a helium balloon to the stratosphere. The payload floating some 40 kilometers above Earth’s surface will carry an experimental low-cost meteor camera and recorder developed by the Meteoroid Environment Office.

As astrophotographers know, catching a fleet meteor with a single camera takes some luck. Catching one meteor with multiple cameras, some of them on platforms moving as fast as 17,000 miles per hour, scattered from Earth to Earth orbit, sounds more like winning the lottery.

“Actually, we think the odds are fairly good,” said Cooke, who estimated a one in six chance of a simultaneous catch between the ISS and one of the wide-field ground cameras.

If the effort does produce 3D imagery of any Lyrids, Cooke plans to use the photos to test ideas and algorithms for processing date gathered by future space-based meteor observatories.

“We’re laying the groundwork for small satellites that might one day be used to monitor meteor showers from Earth orbit,” he explained.

Cooke encourages sky watchers everywhere be alert for meteors this Saturday night. Typical Lyrids are about as bright as the stars of the Big Dipper, so they’re good for beginners. And it's not unusual to see one or two fireballs when the shower peaks.

A good time to look is during the hours after midnight, when the shower’s radiant is rising toward its zenith.

Although the Lyrid meteor rate is usually capped at 20 per hour, better displays sometimes occur when Earth glides through an unusually dense clump of debris. In 1982, for instance, astronomers counted as many as 90 Lyrids per hour.

“Such an outburst would be great for our experiment,” said Cooke.

Amateur astronomers who wish to help monitor the 2012 Lyrids are encouraged to download the Meteor Counter for iPhones. The app records meteor counts and reports the data to NASA for possible analysis.

Also, Cooke and colleagues will be “staying up all night” on April 21 to chat with the general public about the shower. Tune in at http://www.nasa.gov/connect/chat/ .

Dr. Tony Phillips works for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Mike Thompson (CA-1) on Thursday voted against H.R. 9, the so-called “Small Business Tax Cut Act.”

The legislation, introduced by House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (VA-7) is unpaid for and would add $46 billion to the deficit, Thompson said.

“This bill will do nothing to create jobs and adds $46 billion to the deficit,” said Thompson. “Instead of spending $46 billion of borrowed money on tax breaks we can’t afford, we should help small businesses by investing in job creation so folks can afford the goods and services our small businesses provide.”

In addition to adding $46 billion to the deficit, the legislation does not require the creation of jobs.

According to the Joint Committee on Taxation, the economic impact of the bill “is so small as to be incalculable.”

Former Reagan Economic Advisor Bruce Bartlett has said this legislation “will do nothing whatsoever to increase employment. It is nothing more than an election year give-away to a favored Republican constituency and should not be taken seriously.”

H.R. 9 passed the House on Thursday by a vote of 235-173. It now goes to the Senate for consideration.

“Just yesterday in the Ways and Means Committee the House Majority voted to cut $68 billion in benefits to the elderly, disabled and poor in the name of deficit reduction,” continued Thompson. “Now today they’re turning around and adding $46 billion to the deficit. This is fiscally irresponsible, and it is wrong.”

Thompson represents California’s 1st Congressional District, which includes the Counties of Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Sonoma, Napa and Yolo. He is a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Rep. Thompson is also a member of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition and sits on the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Wine Caucus.