HEALTH: National Prevention Council issues action plan for nation’s first health, wellness road map

Surgeon General Regina Benjamin on Wednesday announced the release of the National Prevention Council Action Plan, which aims to increase the number of Americans who are healthy at every stage of life.

The action plan is the next step in the federal implementation of the National Prevention Strategy, a comprehensive plan to tackle such issues as obesity, tobacco use, health disparities and chronic disease.

The plan complements prevention and wellness efforts already underway by the federal government, states, tribal and local governments, health care systems, businesses, communities, nonprofit organizations and others.

The National Prevention Strategy was released last year by the National Prevention Council, an organization of 17 federal departments and agencies that was established by the Affordable Care Act.  

The council’s mission under the health care law is to help shift the nation’s health care focus from sickness and disease to prevention and wellness. The action plan is being released together with the council’s annual status update to Congress.

“Currently, chronic diseases and conditions account for at least 7 of every 10 deaths in our country, and many of these conditions are preventable,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, a member of the National Prevention Council. “Our council’s commitment to promoting health and preventing disease across each of our areas of responsibility is a commitment to helping Americans lead longer, healthier, and more productive lives.”

The action plan includes for the first time, commitments from all of the 17 federal departments and agencies on the council to increase tobacco free environments and access to healthy, affordable foods and to identify additional opportunities to consider prevention and health by their agencies.

Additionally, the action plan highlights more than 200 specific prevention and wellness actions that federal agencies are already taking or plan to take to implement the National Prevention Strategy.    

“The National Prevention Council Action Plan is a road map to turning around the huge burden of chronic illness and health disparities that the nation and individual Americans currently bear,” said Dr. Benjamin, who chairs the council. “I believe that prevention offers the greatest opportunity to improve the health of America’s families, now and for decades to come.”

Members of the council are the Departments of Agriculture, Defense, Education, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Justice, Labor, Veterans Affairs, and Transportation; the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Federal Trade Commission; Environmental Protection Agency; Office of National Drug Control Policy; Domestic Policy Council; Corporation for National and Community Service; and the Office of Management and Budget.

More information on the National Prevention Strategy and the National Prevention Council can be found at www.healthcare.gov/prevention/nphpphc .

Meth, prescription medications seized; two arrested

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The service of a search warrant by the Lake County Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force has resulted in two arrests, the seizure of methamphetamine and various prescription medications.

Elizabeth Ann Williams, 33, and 26-year-old Daniel Avila, both of Clearlake, were arrested during the operation on Friday, June 1, according to Sgt. Steve Brooks.

Brooks said narcotics detectives secured a search warrant for Williams and her home on Friday, May 25.

A week later, at 7 a.m. June 1, detectives served the warrant at Williams’ home on Vista Street in Clearlake, Brooks said.

When narcotics detectives entered the residence they detained Williams without incident, Brooks said.

Brooks said Avila attempted to shut the door of the bedroom to prevent detectives from entering. Detectives were able to force the door open and detain Avila after a brief struggle.

During a search of the residence, detectives located approximately a quarter ounce of methamphetamine in the bedroom, which appeared to be packaged for sales, according to Brooks. Also located in the bedroom were two digital scales and packaging materials.  

During a search of the bedroom closet, detectives located numerous prescription pill bottles containing lorazepam, amphetamine, hydrocodone and several other medications, Brooks said.

Williams was arrested for possession of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance for sales, Brooks said. Avila was arrested for obstruct or resist a peace officer, possession of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance for sales.  

Both Williams and Avila were transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility and booked. They later posted bail and were released.

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

Mistrial motions denied, closing arguments to begin Thursday in Braden and Lopez trial

LAKEPORT, Calif. – On Wednesday a judge denied mistrial motions in the trial of two Clearlake Oaks men accused of a June 2011 shooting that killed a child and wounded five others, clearing the way for closing arguments to begin Thursday morning.

After three and a half months of testimony, the trial of Paul William Braden, 22, and Orlando Joseph Lopez, 24, is entering its final phases.

On Wednesday afternoon, visiting Yolo County Judge Doris Shockley turned down defense motions for mistrial, according to District Attorney Don Anderson.

With the motions now addressed, closing arguments will begin on Thursday, Anderson said.

Because Lopez and Braden have separate juries, Lopez's closing arguments will be held first on Thursday, with his jury to expected to get the case on Friday, Anderson said.

Braden's closing arguments are scheduled for Friday, and Anderson said Braden's jury should begin deliberations early next week.

Anderson said Shockley wants the closing arguments to last no more than a day for each of the defendants.

Next Monday marks the one-year anniversary of the shooting for which Braden and Lopez are on trial, which took place on the night of Saturday, June 18, 2011, on Lakeshore Drive in Clearlake.

Shortly before 11 p.m. on that date shotgun fire was aimed into a crowd of friends and family members at the home of Desiree Kirby and her boyfriend, Ross Sparks.

Kirby's young son, 4-year-old Skyler Rapp, was killed, and Kirby herself was wounded and left with permanent, life-changing injuries.

Sparks and his brother, Andrew, also were wounded, as were Joseph Armijo and Ian Griffith.

The shooting claimed the most victims of any shooting incident in Clearlake's history, according to the Clearlake Police Department.

Braden and Lopez each are facing 15 counts – with charges ranging from murder to mayhem, attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon – and numerous special allegations including use of firearms and great bodily injury.

If convicted of all charges, Braden and Lopez would receive lifelong prison terms.

On Wednesday Shockley denied a motion to dismiss one of the mayhem counts, Anderson said.

Additionally, Shockley, Anderson and the defense attorneys – Stephen Carter on behalf of Lopez and Doug Rhoades on behalf of Braden – worked on jury instructions on Wednesday, Anderson said.

Shockley also denied a defense motion to strike the testimony given late last month by Kevin Ray Stone, 30, a former codefendant in the case, Anderson said.

Last fall – just after the preliminary hearing in which Stone was ordered to stand trial on the same charges with Lopez and Braden – Stone reached an agreement with the District Attorney's Office to plead no contest to lesser charges of conspiracy to commit robbery, accessory to murder and possession of a .22-caliber rifle by a prohibited person. He's facing just over 10 years in prison.

Carter and Rhoades have worked to punch holes in Anderson's case, with Carter emphasizing that the testimony – including that of Stone – did not have Lopez actually shooting a gun at the crowd.

Stone said on the stand in May that he and Lopez had watched as Braden did the shooting, using a shotgun that other witnesses claimed he sawed the handle off of earlier that night.

Rhoades has maintained in his defense of Braden that no one – other than Lopez and Stone – can put Braden at the scene of the crime.

Rhoades also has questioned the testimony of key prosecution witnesses such as Ashli Athas – the former girlfriend of Lopez's younger brother, Leonardo – who claimed she saw Braden at her home that night with the shotgun.

Athas admitted on the stand that initially she had lied to police and told them she hadn't seen Braden because she was afraid for her safety.

The trial has been a long, slow process, made more complicated by each defendant having his own jury.

The proceedings have encountered numerous delays due to issues including complex legal procedures, court furlough days and holidays, and juror absences arising from illness or family matters.

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