LOWER LAKE, Calif. – A second person has died as a result of a Tuesday morning crash near Lower Lake.
The single-vehicle wreck, which occurred on Highway 29 north of Diener Drive at 2:40 a.m., has now claimed the lives of a 53-year-old Clearlake Oaks man and a 28-year-old Kelseyville man, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The names of the two men have so far not been released, pending notification of kin, the CHP said.
According to a report from investigating Officer Adam Garcia, 26-year-old Dylan Waters of Clearlake Oaks was driving a 1999 Chevy Tahoe SUV southbound on Highway 29 when he failed to negotiate a left curve in the road.
The Tahoe continued straight off the road and struck an oak tree, according to Garcia’s report.
The 53-year-old passenger, riding in the right front, was declared dead at the scene, Garcia reported.
The 28-year-old, who was riding in the right rear of the Tahoe, was transported by CalStar air ambulance to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, where Garcia said the man died.
Waters was transported to St. Helena Hospital Clearlake for treatment of minor injuries, according to the report.
The CHP said that Waters was not wearing his seatbelt, but both of his passengers were belted.
Garcia said alcohol was not a factor in the crash.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The city of Lakeport is preparing to host Wednesday’s Independence Day festivities in the downtown area.
The Lakeport Main Street Association and the Lake County Chamber of Commerce are sponsoring a free day of events beginning at 7 a.m. July 4.
There will be a daylong street fair in Library Park between First and Third street, the cardboard/duct tape boat race and fireworks over Clear Lake at dusk.
The Lakeport Police Department said Lakeport City Hall will be a manned operational command center for this event.
During the celebration, the following roadways will be closed to vehicular traffic: All of Park Street from the south side of Third Street to the north side of First Street, and Second Street from the east side of North Main Street to Park Street.
All drivers are asked to use the utmost of care and diligence in their travels at all times while in the city of Lakeport during the July 4 celebration as there will be a heavy amount of foot traffic, especially small children and the elderly.
Lakeport is the only area of the county where safe and sane fireworks are allowed around the July 4 holiday.
The use of safe and sane fireworks within the city area limited to a small area of the public parking lot, immediately adjacent to the southeast corner of Coach Craft, which will be clearly delineated by orange cones/delineators, and any street within the incorporated area of Lakeport which does not violate any city of Lakeport ordinance, police reported.
In years past it was not uncommon to have safe and sane fireworks in the Safeway, Kmart, High Street and Shoreline Centers, and the Vista Point parking lot. However, the Lakeport Police Department said those areas are private property and law enforcement does not have the authority to grant permission for such activities.
The days and hours for the legal discharge of safe and sane fireworks for the rest of the week are 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday, July 3, and 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Wednesday, July 4.
The discharge of legal safe and sane fireworks outside of these days and times is a violation of local ordinance.
The use of any type of firework other than safe and sane is a violation of both local and state law, the agency reported.
The Lakeport Police Department can be contacted at 707-263-5491.
The California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) has confirmed a mountain lion attacked a 63-year-old man who was camping northwest of Nevada City.
The attack occurred in the early morning hours of July 1.
The man was traveling through Nevada County on a planned hiking trip and decided to stop for the night to sleep.
He was lying on a sleeping bag out on a tributary to the Yuba River when, at approximately 1 a.m., he was attacked in his sleeping bag for what he reported to be between one and a half to two minutes.
He said the animal attacked, bit and clawed him through his sleeping bag, and also bit through the cap he was wearing and his clothes.
The animal ceased the attack, looked at him from 15 feet away for another 15 to30 seconds, then ran into the night, according to the report.
The man drove himself to a hospital in Grass Valley where he was treated for non-life threatening injuries and later released.
DFG wardens responded to the hospital and verified that he had suffered severe scratches and puncture wounds.
They collected several articles of clothing and his sleeping bag, which were analyzed at DFG’s Wildlife Forensics Laboratory in Sacramento.
Wardens also responded to the attack scene where they found lion tracks. Specially trained dogs attempted to track the lion but were not successful.
They also found the remains of one domestic cat with injuries consistent with a lion attack.
The effort to find the lion continues, DFG reported.
California has now had 15 confirmed mountain lion attacks since 1890.
LOWER LAKE, Calif. – One person was reported to have died and another suffered major injuries in a single-vehicle crash near Lower lake early Tuesday morning.
The crash was reported at approximately 2:41 a.m. and involved an SUV into a telephone pole, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Reports from the scene stated the crash occurred in the 8400 block of Highway 29.
Lake County Fire and Kelseyville Fire, along with CHP and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, responded to the scene.
Upon the arrival of emergency personnel radio reports indicated there were two people in the vehicle, one of whom had died, with the other having major injuries and needing to be extricated.
The northbound highway lane was partially blocked as a result of the crash, according to reports from the scene.
A landing zone was set up at Red Hills Road, with a CalStar air ambulance responding to the scene to transport the surviving patient.
Incident command at the scene was cleared shortly before 5 a.m., with the roadway reopened.
Additional details about the crash, its cause and the victims were not immediately available.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Attorney General Kamala D. Harris announced that the California Homeowner Bill of Rights is one step closer to becoming law after key provisions passed the California Legislature Monday.
The bills, which provide first of their kind protections for homeowners and reforms to the mortgage and foreclosure process, will now be sent to the desk of Gov. Jerry Brown for consideration.
Gov. Brown issued a statement Monday afternoon indicating his support for the bills.
“The Homeowner Bill of Rights will prevent banks from throwing Californians out of their homes while they are trying, in good faith, to renegotiate their mortgages,” Brown said in a written statement issued by his office. “This bill establishes important consumer protections that are long overdue and I commend Attorney General Kamala Harris for her determined pursuit of these changes.”
The bills were approved 53 to 25 in the Assembly and 25 to 13 in the Senate.
“Passing these key elements of Homeowner Bill of Rights represents a significant step forward for struggling homeowners,” said Attorney General Harris. “These common-sense reforms will require banks to treat California homeowners more fairly and bring more transparency and accountability to their practices in our state. Responsible homeowners will have a better shot to keep their homes.”
“Californians will finally have a fighting chance to keep their homes, as this measure brings fairness to the loan modification and foreclosure process,” said Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg. “At the same time, the protection gained by homeowners will help stabilize the housing sector of our economy. I applaud my colleagues for their hard work to protect consumers through this reasoned compromise.”
“The package approved by the Legislature today is a major victory for California’s consumers,” said Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez. “We impose tough new regulations on banks and lenders to stop the abusive practices we’ve seen since the collapse of the housing market, and this package will bring relief to hundreds of thousands of California homeowners.”
The California Homeowner Bill of Rights consists of a series of related bills, including two that were passed on June 26 by a two-house conference committee: AB 278 (Eng, Feuer, Pérez, Mitchell) and SB 900 (Leno, Evans, Corbett, DeSaulnier, Pavley, Steinberg).
The two identical bills passed by the conference committee contain key elements of the legislative package and provide protections for borrowers and struggling homeowners, including a restriction on dual-track foreclosures, where a lender forecloses on a borrower despite being in discussions over a loan modification to save the home.
The bills also guarantee struggling homeowners a single point of contact at their lender with knowledge of their loan and direct access to decision makers.
For the first time, the Homeowner Bill of Rights imposes civil penalties, of up to $7,500, on the repeated filing of foreclosure documents without verifying their accuracy, a practice commonly known as “robo-signing.”
In addition, homeowners may require loan servicers to document their right to foreclose.
Homeowners also will have a clearly-defined right to access the courts to protect themselves from violations of these protections.
The Homeowner Bill of Rights also consists of four bills outside of the conference committee process. These will enhance law enforcement responses to mortgage and foreclosure-related crime, in part by empowering the attorney general to call a grand jury in response to financial crimes spanning multiple jurisdictions.
Additional elements will help communities fight blight related to foreclosure, and the crime that results, and provide enhanced protections for tenants in foreclosed homes.
The California Homeowner Bill of Rights was introduced Feb. 29 at a press conference featuring Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez and Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg and bill authors from the Assembly and Senate.
The Homeowner Bill of Rights codifies many of the core protections from the recent national mortgage settlement.
The California Homeowner Bill of Rights extends Attorney General Harris’ response to the state’s foreclosure and mortgage crisis.
Attorney General Harris created a Mortgage Fraud Strike Force in March 2011 to investigate and prosecute misconduct related to mortgages and foreclosures.
In February 2012 Attorney General Harris extracted a commitment from the nation’s five largest banks to dedicate an estimated $18 billion to mitigate financial harm to California borrowers caused by bank misconduct in the foreclosure process.
To learn more about how the bills impact California homeowners, review the slideshow at www.oag.ca.gov .
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – A head-on collision between a Jeep Cherokee and a big rig early Monday morning seriously injured one driver and led to hours of traffic control along Highway 20.
The crash occurred on a curve along Highway 20 near Highway 16 – less than two miles from the Lake and Colusa County border – at 4:50 a.m. Monday, according to Sgt. Pete Montez of the Williams office of the California Highway Patrol.
Jesus Aguilar, 19, of Cloverdale, was driving a Jeep Cherokee eastbound on Highway 20 when he collided with a three-axle Kenworth semi driven westbound by 38-year-old Seth Gallaty of Red Bluff, Montez said.
Montez said Aguilar told officers that he thought he fell asleep. The next thing he remembered was the sound of the big rig horn.
Aguilar’s Jeep collided head-on in the westbound lane with the big rig Gallaty was driving, which was pulling a two-axle flatbed loaded with lumber, Montez said.
The Jeep came to rest in the westbound lane, while the Kenworth went off the south shoulder and hit an embankment, according to Montez.
After the big rig hit the embankment, the cab caught fire, Montez said.
Gallaty was able to escape the semi uninjured, Montez said. Aguilar’s leg was broken and he was lifeflighted to Enloe Hospital in Chico.
“We were real lucky all the way around with that crash,” said Montez, noting that the outcome had the potential to be far worse.
The highway was totally blocked for a short time. Montez said they then pushed Aguilar’s vehicle out of the road to get one-way traffic going.
He said Caltrans took over traffic control not long after the collision.
Eastbound traffic on Highway 20 at Highway 53 near Clearlake Oaks was blocked briefly until one-way traffic control around the crash scene was put in place, Montez said.
Montez said both lanes of traffic on Highway 20 at Highway 16 were expected to reopen between 1:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. Monday.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
LAKEPORT, Calif. – A wildland fire near Lakeport on Monday burned five acres before it was fully contained.
The fire occurred in the State Responsibility Area near Highway 29 and Mockingbird Lane, and was reported at approximately 11:12 a.m., according to Cal Fire Battalion Chief Julie Hutchinson.
Hutchinson said the fire – which primarily burned grass – was contained at 11:45 a.m., with mop up continuing until late Monday afternoon. No structures were reported to have been threatened.
Cal Fire sent five engines and a full response of air tankers, an air attack and a helicopter, said Hutchinson. The air tankers weren’t used but the helicopter worked the fire for about an hour.
She said local fire agencies also sent engines to the scene.
Cal Fire did not report a precise cause.
However, reports from the scene indicated there may have been issues with power equipment.
Lakeport Fire Chief Ken Wells said he received photographic evidence from U.S. Forest Service firefighters who responded that showed a dead bird next to a power pole, surrounded by burned grass.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The California Department of Boating and Waterways (DBW) reminds boaters to use caution on the water this Fourth of July.
DBW’s boating accident data shows that more boating accidents occur during this holiday than any others during the summer boating season.
“The need for boaters to become familiar with the rules of the road is critical in ensuring a safe boating experience,” said DBW’s Acting Director Lucia Becerra. “Rules such as steering to the right when approaching another vessel head on, is important to know, especially in crowded waterways.”
The following tips can greatly decrease the chances of boaters being involved in boating accidents:
Avoid alcohol. Everyone who drinks alcohol on board is at risk. Passengers can easily fall overboard, swim near the propeller, or cause the vessel to capsize.
Operate your boat at a reasonable speed. Boats do not have brakes. The stopping distance in emergencies can be critical.
Properly use water ski flags when skiers, wake boarders or tubers are down. Improper use of flags can be dangerous not only to the person in the water, but to the passing boat where its propeller when become entangled in the tow rope can result in a deadly accident.
Remember, “If it’s your boat, it’s your responsibility.”
State law requires boaters involved in accidents to file a written report with DBW when a person dies, disappears or requires medical attention beyond first aid.
A report also is required when an accident results in damage to a vessel or other property exceeding $500 or there is a complete loss of a vessel.
DBW promotes on-the-water safety and helps develop convenient public access to the waterways through programs funded by vessel registration fees, boating fuel tax dollars and boating facility construction loan payments.
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Clearlake Police officers – with the help of the agency’s K9 – took a Clearlake man into custody on Saturday after he allegedly shot at his two roommates.
Kenneth Leslie Johnson, 44, was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon and negligent discharge of a firearm after the incident, which police said took place just before 5 p.m. Saturday.
Sgt. Tim Hobbs reported that Clearlake Police officers were dispatched to a residence in the 13500 block of Arrowhead Road for a report of a subject shooting at two of his roommates.
When they arrived they found the two alleged victims, 47-year-old Scott Anderson and 61-year-old Jane Robinson, who were not injured but had fled their residence and were next door, Hobbs said.
Officers set up a perimeter around the residence as the suspect, identified as Johnson, was reported to still be inside the residence armed with a shotgun, Hobbs said. Additionally the road in front of the residence was closed to vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
Hobbs said medical personnel from Lake County Fire were dispatched to the area and staged a short distance away as a precautionary measure.
After failed attempts over the next 30 minutes to get Johnson to come out of the house, officers and Clearlake Police K9 “Dex” entered the residence, Hobbs said.
Johnson was located inside of the residence in a bedroom and surrendered without resistance as Dex entered the room he was in, said Hobbs.
The shotgun used in the shooting was located, loaded within reach of Johnson, who Hobbs said was then arrested.
Johnson, whose booking sheet lists him as a security officer, was booked with bail set at $50,000. Jail records showed Johnson remained in custody on Monday morning.
Hobbs said the Clearlake Police Department thanked the community for donations to the K9 program.
Without those donations that completely fund the K9 program the purchase of Dex would not have been possible and the outcome of this incident could have ended much worse, Hobbs said.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Clearlake kicked off the Independence Day festivities over the weekend, and now it’s the turn of other communities around the county.
On Wednesday, July 4, several celebrations will be held around the lake. Brief rundowns are listed below.
For additional holiday information, call the Lake County Visitor Information Center at 800-525-3743.
Lakeport Independence Day Festivities, Lakeport
The Lakeport Main Street Association and the Lake County Chamber of Commerce are hosting an all-day street fair with music, arts and crafts, food and beverages in Library Park, between First and Third streets.
Events begin at 7 a.m. Highlights of the day will include the cardboard/duct tape boat race and fireworks over Clear Lake beginning at dusk.
The Lakeport Police Department will have an operational command center set up at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.
Admission is free to the day’s events. Information: 707-263-5092, www.lakecochamber.com .
American Legion barbecue, Kelseyville
Kelseyville American Legion Tredway Post 194 will host a barbecue on Wednesday, July 4.
The event will take place from noon to 5 p.m. at the post, located at Second and Gaddy Lane.
The menu will include barbecue beef and chicken, beans, salad and garlic bread.
The requested donation is $8 for adults, $4 for children age 12 and under.
Maxine Sherman Memorial Fireworks Show, Clearlake Oaks
The July 4 Maxine Sherman Memorial Fireworks display is presented at the boat launch in Clearlake Oaks every year.
The fireworks are launched from the Clearlake Oaks boat launch beginning at dusk.
It’s a cherished tradition for Clearlake Oaks, and is named for the Clearlake Oaks Glenhaven Business Association member who was convinced of the importance of putting on this yearly display and worked hard to make that happen.
Bill Stone, the current association president, said Sherman lobbied the community relentlessly and put on numerous fundraisers to support the annual show.
He said CLOGBA members eventually voted to name the event after Sherman, who died in December 1999.
“Her legacy lives on in the annual fiery explosions in the sky she so loved over the community she worked so hard for,” Stone said.
For a spectacular show, the best viewing area is on the water, anchored east of Rattlesnake Island, where the fireworks twinkle overhead and reflect off the waters of Clear Lake.
From the shore, Clearlake Oaks Beach on Island Drive is a great spot, as are Clarks Island, Widgeon Way and Nylander Park.
Early on Monday Cal Fire concluded a multi-agency operation designed to prevent illegal fireworks from entering California.
The two-part operation resulted in the confiscation of more than 13,000 pounds of illegal fireworks.
“There is no excuse for breaking the law when it comes to fireworks. Illegal fireworks and pyrotechnics can cause devastating injuries and damage to property,” said California State Fire Marshal Tonya Hoover.
Two families in San Bernardino found that out early Sunday morning when their duplex was destroyed by a fire reportedly caused by illegal fireworks.
The interdiction operations were conducted at the California Agricultural checkpoints in Yermo (north of Barstow), Needles, in the community of Shoshone and the Death Valley area.
The coordinated multi-agency operation resulted in five felony arrests including one for driving under the influence, 46 misdemeanor arrests and numerous citations for vehicle code violations.
During the operation, officers made a total of 170 contacts. The operation also led to the execution of a search warrant in the city of Los Angeles where a large amount of illegal fireworks were believed to be stored.
“This is an excellent example of what can be accomplished when cooperating agencies work together to prevent illegal activities and protect public safety,” said Hoover.
The agencies that cooperated with Cal Fire law enforcement officers included the California Agricultural Checkpoints at Yermo and Needles, the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, Inyo County Sheriff’s Department, Inyo County District Attorney’s Office, California Highway Patrol offices in Bishop and Barstow, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, San Bernardino County Fire Department, United States Forest Service, Southern Inyo Fire Protection District and the Caltrans Shoshone Office.
“One thing is for certain; the fireworks that have been confiscated will not start a disastrous wildfire, set a home on fire or send a young child to the emergency room,” said Hoover.
Officials ask state residents to remember that illegal fireworks are just that – illegal.
Safe and sane fireworks are to only be used in approved localities. The public needs to understand that it is illegal to transport, possess, use or store even safe and sane fireworks in communities and rural areas that don’t allow their use.
In Lake County, safe and sane fireworks may only be used within the boundaries of the city of Lakeport during a short period of time around the July 4 holiday.
Safe and sane does not mean non-dangerous.
According to statistics from the U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission more than 50 percent of fireworks injuries in 2011 were due to the inappropriate use of fireworks.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission also says that the vast majority of injuries are caused by fireworks that are illegal in California.
Be fire safe by being fire smart and have a safe July 4.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – There is another group of cats and kittens needing homes at Lake County’s animal shelter.
Calicos, Maine Coons, friendly adult Siamese and tabbies, and more are available to join your family.
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”).
Domestic short hair calico
This female calico is 2 years and 3 months old.
She has a short coat and gold eyes, and has not been spayed.
She is in cat room kennel No. 23, ID No. 32321.
Brown male tabby
This brown and white male tabby is a domestic medium hair mix.
Shelter staff have not provided an estimated age for him.
He has been neutered.
He’s in cat room kennel No. 29, ID No. 32484.
Maine Coon mix kitten
This male Maine Coon mix kitten is 12 weeks old.
He has a long black and gray coat, gold eyes and has not been neutered.
Find him in cat room kennel No. 53a, ID No. 33248.
Green eyed girl
This female kitten is 12 weeks old.
She has a long black coat and green eyes. She has not yet been spayed.
She’s in cat room kennel No. 53b, ID No. 33249.
'Silver'
“Silver” is a 9-year-old male Siamese mix.
He has a short, multicolored coat, blue eyes and has been neutered.
His adoption costs are $41 for the general public, $31 for seniors.
Find Silver in cat room kennel No. 54, ID No. ID: 32995.
'Joey'
“Joey” is a 14-year-old male domestic short hair mix.
He has tan coloring, green eyes and a kinked tail. He has been neutered.
His adoption costs are $41 for the general public, $31 for seniors.
He's in cat room kennel No. 55, ID No. 32994.
Gray tabby kitten
This female gray tabby kitten is 13 weeks old.
She has green eyes, a short coat and has been spayed.
Find her in cat room kennel No. 65a, ID No. 32839.
Gray tabby kitten
This male gray tabby kitten is 13 weeks old.
He has a short coat and green eyes, and has been neutered.
Find him in cat room kennel No. 65b, ID No. 32840.
Male domestic short hair mix
This male domestic short hair mix kitten is 13 weeks old.
He has gray and black coloring and green eyes, and has been neutered.
He's in cat room kennel No. 65c, ID No. 32841.
Brown tabby kitten
This male brown tabby kitten is 13 weeks old.
He has a short coat and green eyes, and has been neutered.
Find him in cat room kennel No. 65d, ID No. 32842.
Domestic short hair mix kitten
This male domestic short hair mix kitten is 15 weeks old.
He has a distinctive black and white coat, and has not yet been altered.
He’s in cat room Kennel No. 106A, ID No. 33309.
Domestic short hair mix kitten
This male domestic short hair mix kitten is 15 weeks old.
He has a black and white coat, and has not yet been neutered.
Find him in cat room kennel No. 106B, ID No. 33310.
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.