NASA's Gravity Recovery And Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) spacecraft orbiting the moon officially have begun their science collection phase.

During the next 84 days, scientists will obtain a high-resolution map of the lunar gravitational field to learn about the moon's internal structure and composition in unprecedented detail.

The data also will provide a better understanding of how Earth and other rocky planets in the solar system formed and evolved.

“The initiation of science data collection is a time when the team lets out a collective sigh of relief because we are finally doing what we came to do,” said Maria Zuber, principal investigator for the GRAIL mission at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge. “But it is also a time where we have to put the coffee pot on, roll up our sleeves and get to work.”

The GRAIL mission's twin, washing-machine-sized spacecraft, named Ebb and Flow, entered lunar orbit on New Year's Eve and New Years Day. GRAIL's science phase began on Tuesday, March 6, at 5:15 p.m. PST.

During this mission phase, the spacecraft will transmit radio signals precisely defining the distance between them.

As they fly over areas of greater and lesser gravity caused by visible features such as mountains, craters and masses hidden beneath the lunar surface, the distance between the two spacecraft will change slightly.

Science activities are expected to conclude on May 29, after GRAIL maps the gravity field of the moon three times.

“We are in a near-polar, near-circular orbit with an average altitude of about 34 miles (55 kilometers) right now,” said David Lehman, GRAIL project manager from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, Calif. “During the science phase, our spacecraft will orbit the moon as high as 31 miles (51 kilometers) and as low as 10 miles (16 kilometers). They will get as close to each other as 40 miles (65 kilometers) and as far apart as 140 miles (225 kilometers).”

Previously named GRAIL A and B, the names Ebb and Flow were the result of a nation-wide student contest to choose new names for the spacecraft.

The winning entry was submitted by fourth graders from the Emily Dickinson Elementary School in Bozeman, Mont.

Nearly 900 classrooms with more than 11,000 students from 45 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia, participated in the contest.

JPL manages the GRAIL mission for NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington.

The GRAIL mission is part of the Discovery Program managed at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. Lockheed Martin Space Systems in Denver built the spacecraft.

For more information about GRAIL, visit http://www.nasa.gov/grail .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – An undercover operation by narcotics detectives that lasted more than a month led to the arrest in early February of a Lakeport man.

Noe Reyes Gutierrez, 41, was arrested on Feb. 3, according to a Friday report from Capt. Chris Macedo of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

Macedo said that beginning in late December 2011, Lake County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Task Force detectives began working an undercover operation into possible sales of methamphetamine by Gutierrez, who was working as a landscaper.

On Dec. 29 Gutierrez traveled to Yuba City and sold an undercover detective approximately one ounce of methamphetamine for $1,300, Macedo reported.

On Jan. 27, Gutierrez again met with the undercover detective, this time in the Walmart parking lot in Clearlake, and sold the detective approximately one ounce of methamphetamine for $1,200, according to Macedo.

Then, on Feb. 2, detectives conducted surveillance on Gutierrez, who Macedo said arranged to meet with the undercover detective to sell two more ounces of methamphetamine.  

Gutierrez met with the undercover detective and stated that the two ounces of methamphetamine would be ready the following day, Macedo said.

Detectives with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Task Force obtained a warrant for Gutierrez’s arrest, as well as a search warrant authorizing a search of Gutierrez’s person, home and vehicles, according to Macedo.

On Feb. 3, Narcotics Task Force members contacted Gutierrez and arrested him for the warrant. Macedo said the detectives also served the search warrant and located ammunition, a small quantity of marijuana and a glass pipe commonly used for ingesting methamphetamine.  

Gutierrez remains in custody with $200,000 bail on several counts of violation of Health and Safety Code section 11379, transportation or sales of a controlled substance.

Anyone with information that can assist the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Task Force is encouraged to call the Narcotics Anonymous Tip Line at 707-263-3663. 

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A grant for a boat launch improvement project proposed by the city of Clearlake will go before a state commission next week.

The California Boating and Waterways Commission will meet on Wednesday, March 14, in San Diego to consider $1.49 million in boat launching facility grants.

The meeting is open to the public and will convene at 9 a.m. at the Marriott Hotel, 333 West Harbor Drive.

Items being considered by the commission include Clearlake's proposed Redbud boat launching facility upgrades.

The city is seeking a $945,000 grant to complete improvements to the Redbud boat launching facility.

The proposed project includes lengthening one existing boarding float, replacing two suspended boarding floats, incidental dredging required for dock installation, parking lot rehabilitation and lighting.

Also on the agenda is a $540,000 grant to the county of San Luis Obispo to repave and restripe access way and parking areas to the Santa Margarita Lake boat launching facilities, install a new fish cleaning station, and remove overhead electrical power lines across the lake and replace with a solar power system.

A detailed agenda of the meeting and information on the commission may be found at http://www.dbw.ca.gov/Commission/ .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – January saw Lake County's unemployment inch upward, while state and national unemployment rates edged down.

The California Employment Development Department's monthly report on unemployment – based on two separate surveys – showed that California’s unemployment rate decreased to 10.9 percent in January, and nonfarm payroll jobs decreased by 5,200 during the month, for a total gain of 322,400 nonfarm jobs since the recovery began in September 2009.

In December, the state’s unemployment rate was 11.2 percent, and in January 2011 the unemployment rate was 12.1 percent. The unemployment rate is derived from a federal survey of 5,500 California households, the report explained.

The U.S. unemployment rate decreased in January to 8.3 percent from 8.5 percent in December, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The nationwide unemployment rate for January 2011 was 9.1 percent.

Lake County's unemployment rate went from 16 percent in December to 16.5 percent in January, but was down 2.5 percent from January 2011 when it hit 19 percent, according to the report.

The county's statewide ranking for employment improved from 52 in December to 43 in January among the state's 58 counties, according to Employment Development Department data.

Dennis Mullins of the Employment Development Department's North Coast Region Labor Market Information Division said Lake County wage and salary employment decreased in January “following normal seasonal trends.”

Total jobs in Lake County decreased 60 jobs between December and January, but the county's jobs were up by 420 over this time last year, Mullins said.

Year-over-year job growth occurred in farm, 390; trade, transportation and utilities, 50; financial activities, 10; professional and business services, 40; and other services, 60, according to Mullins.

Manufacturing and leisure and hospitality had no change in job numbers since January 2011, Mullins reported.

He said industry sectors that showed job declines over the year included mining, logging and construction, with a loss of 40 jobs; information, 10; private educational and health services, 20; and government, down by 60, the sector with the largest decline.

According to the Employment Development Department report, surrounding counties' employment figure were as follows: Colusa, 27 percent, No. 58; Glenn, 16.8 percent, No. 45; Mendocino, 10.7 percent, No. 18; Napa and Sonoma County both had 9.2 percent unemployment, tying for ninth place; and Yolo, 14.1 percent, No. 33.

Marin County continued to have the lowest unemployment in the state, at 6.6 percent, while Colusa County's 27-percent rate gained it the state's highest rate.

The Employment Development Department reported that there were 575,895 people receiving regular
unemployment insurance benefits during the January survey week. That's compared with 536,442 in December and 603,946 in January 2011.

At the same time, new claims for unemployment insurance were 59,344 in January 2012, compared with 80,276 in December and 63,331 in January of last year, according to the report.

Small increase noted in employed Californians

The federal survey of households, done with a smaller sample than the survey of employers, showed an increase in the number of employed people.

It estimated the number of Californians holding jobs in January was 16,443,000, an increase of 28,000 from December, and up 308,000 from the employment total in January of last year.

The number of people unemployed in California was 2,020,000 – down by 40,000 over the month, and down by 203,000 compared with January of last year, according to the report.

EDD’s report on payroll employment – wage and salary jobs – in the nonfarm industries of California totaled 14,173,800 in January, a net loss of 5,200 jobs since the December survey. That followed a gain of 38,500 jobs in December and a year-over-year increase of 126,100 jobs, up 0.9 percent, based on a survey of 42,000 California businesses.

Six categories – mining and logging; construction; manufacturing; trade, transportation and utilities; professional and business services; and leisure and hospitality – added jobs over the month, gaining 35,400 jobs, the state reported. Trade, transportation and utilities posted the largest increase over the month, adding 14,400 jobs.

Five categories – information, financial activities, educational and health services, other services and government – reported job declines over the month, down 40,600 jobs, according to the state.

Information posted the largest decrease over the month, down 22,900 jobs. In a year-over-year comparison – January 2011 to January 2012 – nonfarm payroll employment in California increased by 126,100 jobs, an increase of 0.9 percent.

Six categories – mining and logging; manufacturing; trade, transportation and utilities; professional and business services; educational and health services; and leisure and hospitality – posted job gains over the year, adding 181,700 jobs, the Friday report showed.

Professional and business services posted the largest gain on a numerical basis, adding 61,000 jobs, up
2.9 percent. The report said that mining and logging posted the largest gain on a percentage basis, up by
3.6 percent, an increase of 1,000 jobs.

Five categories – construction, information, financial activities, other services and government – posted job declines over the year, down 55,600 jobs. The state said government posted the largest decline on both a numerical and percentage basis, down by 41,400 jobs, a decrease of 1.7 percent.

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

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – An investigation by the Lake County Sheriff's Narcotic Task Force led to a Clearlake man's arrest last month on several drug-related charges.

Ricky Lawrence Bryan, 52, a truck driver, was arrested on Feb. 15, according to a Friday report from Capt. Chris Macedo.

Macedo said that on that date the Lake County Sheriff’s Narcotic Task Force Detectives served a search warrant at Bryan’s Clearlake residence.

Narcotic detectives assisted by the Clearlake Police Department responded to the residence, Macedo said. When detectives announced their presence at his front door Bryan fled into his bedroom.

The front door of the residence was open, but a closed and locked security door briefly delayed detectives entering the residence, Macedo said.

Detectives forced entry into the residence and detained Bryan as he exited his bedroom. Also located inside the suspect’s bedroom was Ashley Jackson, who Macedo said was detained without incident.

While searching the residence detectives located a locked safe in Bryan’s bedroom. Macedo said detectives forced the safe open and located approximately one pound of crystal methamphetamine, $3,240 in US currency and a loaded .22 caliber pistol.  

Macedo said detectives also located a loaded a 9 millimeter pistol in a desk drawer in the suspect’s bedroom.  

While searching the suspect’s garage, five pounds of marijuana was located, and several glass pipes used to smoke methamphetamine were located throughout the residence, Macedo said.

Bryan was booked into the Lake County Jail early on the morning of Feb. 16 for possession of a controlled substance for sale, being a felon in possession of a firearm, being armed in commission of a felony, possession of ammunition by a felony and possession of marijuana for sale.

His bail was set at $25,000. Jail records show Bryan later posted bail and was released.

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), along with other state agencies, is conducting a survey of California residents’ travel behavior.

The California Household Travel survey will help transportation planners ensure improved access to jobs, air quality, and quality of life in each region of the state.

“We need to look ahead to a time when California will add millions of new residents and vehicles to our state transportation system,” said acting Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty. “Based on this research, we can make decisions that will lead to a better place to call home.”

The comprehensive survey is a partnership among Caltrans, the California Air Resources Board, the California Energy Commission, and local transportation planning agencies and is intended to inform decision-makers on ways to improve the travel options available to Californians.

Efforts are already under way to contact a random sample of households to participate, and after an initial household interview, respondents receive diaries and are asked trip-related questions including where and when they travel and how they get to and from their destinations.

Approximately 57,000 households around the state are expected to complete the survey. In addition, a small sample of households who choose to participate will be provided with a global positioning systems or on-board diagnostic devices to record their vehicle movements.

All Californians who are contacted are urged to participate. The survey will continue through February 2013.

For additional information, visit http://www.californiatravelsurvey.com/ .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Local and state officials recently conducted an operation aimed at reducing underage drinking in the city.

The Lakeport Police Department and the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control conducted a decoy “shoulder tap” program on the night of March 1, according to a Friday report.

The Decoy Shoulder Tap Program is an enforcement program that ABC and local law enforcement agencies use to detect and deter shoulder tap activity.

During this program, a minor decoy, under the direct supervision of law enforcement officers, solicits adults outside ABC licensed stores to buy the minor decoy alcohol.

The minor contacted 19 adult individuals at five different locations and solicited those adults to purchase them alcohol, according to the Lakeport Police Department.

Police said three adults were arrested and later released on a citation for purchasing the minor alcohol.

One of the arrests took place in the 2900 block of Lakeshore Boulevard in north Lakeport, and two arrests occurred in the 2600 block of S. Main St., also in Lakeport, police said.

The individuals arrested were Erma Holladay of Lakeport; Luis Bandillo of Hood River, Ore.; and Bartolo Valerio-Garcia of Walnut Creek, according to the report.

The Lakeport Police Department thanked the remaining 16 citizens who were contacted and refused
to purchase the minor decoy alcohol.

This project is part of the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control’s Minor decoy/Shoulder Tap Grant Project, funded by the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Two children abducted from Willows in Glenn County on Friday morning have been found safe.

A statewide Amber Alert had been issued early Friday afternoon for 2-year-old Randi Martinez and 5-year-old Vanessa Martinez, who allegedly had been abducted by Leonard Dale Tuttle Jr., 30, their mother's former boyfriend.

Officials reported shortly before 3 p.m. that Tuttle had been taken into custody and the children were safely recovered.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A complaint against the Lake County Jail has led to an inquiry by the state agency that enforces workplace safety regulations.

The California     Division of Occupational Safety and Health – more commonly known as Cal/OSHA – opened an inspection of the jail on Tuesday, according to Erika Monterroza, an agency spokesperson.

The jail, or the Hill Road Correctional Facility as it’s more formally known, is located on Hill Road outside of Lakeport. It’s operated under the auspices of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.

Monterroza said the inspection was initiated by a complaint.

Cal/OSHA has a process that allows employees to file complaints if they believe their employer is not complying with the law, according to its Web site, http://www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/Contactus.html .

Monterroza said the agency keeps the names of complainants confidential to protect people from retaliation.

She said the agency also doesn’t discuss the specific details of ongoing investigations.

“It could be a very long process,” Monterroza explained.

Cal/OSHA has six months to complete its work on the case. Monterroza said such inquiries usually last three to four months.

Once the inspection is closed, there could be a finding that there were no violations of state occupational safety and health standards and regulations, or there could be a citation, Monterroza explained.

If there is a citation, the employer has the right to appeal, she said.

That appeals process also can be lengthy, according to Monterroza.

E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews, on Tumblr at www.lakeconews.tumblr.com , on Google+, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf and on YouTube at www.youtube.com/user/LakeCoNews .

On Saturday night, March 10, Californians will be turning their clocks forward in observance of Daylight Saving Time.

When they do, Cal Fire is reminding them to replace the batteries in all smoke alarms. Firefighters are also urging residents to replace the batteries in the carbon monoxide alarms as well.

This minimal effort could mean the difference between life and death.

Already this year several fatalities have occurred in California which might have been prevented with working smoke alarms.

“Cal Fire has long advocated the ‘Change Your Clock, Change Your Battery’ campaign,” said Chief Ken Pimlott, director of Cal Fire. “A smoke alarm is one of the cheapest and most effective ways homeowners can provide year round fire protection for themselves and their families.”

Every year lives are lost in homes without smoke detectors or those homes with a non-functioning smoke detector.

In a study conducted by the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA), nearly 96 percent of households report having at least one fire alarm.  

Yet the US Fire Administration reports residential fires make up nearly 83 percent of all civilian fire deaths.  The culprit is generally a disconnected or dead battery.

Save a life. Change your clocks; change your smoke alarm batteries.

Fire officials also remind residents that smoke alarms should be replaced at least every ten years and when residents buy a new one, purchase an alarm with 10-year batteries

“Smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms unquestionably help save lives, but they are nothing without working batteries inside of them,” said Chief Tonya Hoover, California’s state fire marshal. “Just a few minutes twice a year to change that battery can truly mean the difference between life and death."

For more information, visit the Cal Fire Web site at www.fire.ca.gov .

An Amber Alert has been issued for two children abducted from Willows in neighboring Glenn County this morning.

The California Highway Patrol reported that Leonard Dale Tuttle Jr., 30, is alleged to have taken two little girls, 2-year-old Randi Martinez and 5-year-old Vanessa Martinez, at about 9:30 a.m. Friday.

The children, both of whom are American Indian, are described as follows: Randi Martinez is 3 feet tall, 35 pounds, with brown eyes and brown hair, and Vanessa Martinez is 4 feet tall and 70 pounds, with brown eyes and brown hair.

Tuttle is as an American Indian male, is 6 feet, 7 inches tall, weighing 360 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.

He has a tattoo of lips on the left side of his neck and a feather and panther tattoo on his right arm.

Tuttle was last seen driving a 2002 white Mitsubishi Lancer, California license plate 5PIB347.

Anyone who sees the suspect should call 911 or the Willows Police Department at 530-934-3456.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – A new wellness center serving the needs of the county's native peoples is opening this month.

The new Circle of Native Minds Wellness Center will celebrate its grand opening on Friday, March 16, starting at 11 a.m.

The center is located at 845 Bevins St. in Lakeport.

All tribal people are invited to tour and give their comments about the center.

Invited speakers are District 4 Supervisor Anthony Farrington, Lakeport Mayor Suzanne Lyons and county Mental Health Director Kristi Kelly.

One part of the center’s conference area has been transformed into the likeness of a traditional round house by Pomo artist Robert Quitiquit.

“It gives a person the feeling and the ambiance that this is a good place to be,” said Pomo elder Wilbur Augustine.

The center is funded by MHSA Proposition 63 through the Lake County Mental Health Department and will serve all American Indians in the county.

The center is supported by evidence suggesting the most successful treatment models for American Indians are those that are delivered within a cultural specific context.

“By healing themselves, they transform the lives of their families, friends and communities,” said elder Donna Gitchel.

The center proposes to hold weekly activities for all age groups on the different aspects of cultural healing: talking circles, traditional and contemporary art projects, native speakers, native film, the Pomo language and more.

The center will serve as a place for American Indians to connect and communicate with elders, treatment specialists/professionals and spiritual advisers.

Tribal outreach and engagement specialist Thomas Leon Brown has been working with individuals and families, including persons incarcerated or on probation, on a range of problems, the most common are alcohol and drugs.  

An “elders talking circle” consisting of native elders, some of whom are official volunteers with the County. Volunteers will oversee the center on a daily basis.

Among its partnerships are the Lake County Tribal Health Clinic, and a wide number of county programs and offices.

The center is equipped with four computers and a large screen television, and will serve as a clearinghouse of information, including national native newspapers, resource materials and children’s books.

The Circle of Native Minds Wellness Center will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The center can be reached at 707-263-4880, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

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