From left, Clear Lake CHP Office Commander Lt. Dane Hayward, Glenn Courtney, Officer Mike Humble, Lakeport Unified Superintendent Erin Hagberg and Dave Norris, the district's transportation supervisor. Photo courtesy of CHP.

LAKEPORT – A local school bus driver who has taken local children safely to school for more than three decades received a special honor Tuesday.

At a presentation at Lakeport Unified School District, the California Highway Patrol recognized school bus driver Glenn Courtney with the 2006 School Bus Driver of the Year Award for his years of service and professional driving, reported Officer Mike Humble.

Only two of the awards are given out each year, for Northern and Southern California, said Humble.

Courtney wasn't expecting an award, Humble said, so the presentation came as a complete surprise.

Helping surprise him Tuesday were his family, along with California Highway Patrol Northern Division Chief Bell, Clear Lake Area CHP Commander Lt. Dane Hayward, Humble, Officer Josh Dye, Lakeport Unified Superintendent Erin Hagberg and Dave Norris, the district's transportation supervisor, Humble reported.

For the last two and a half years, Humble has been the Clear Lake CHP Office's school bus safety officer. He oversees the county's 32 school bus drivers, working with them to complete the rigorous requirements necessary for bus driver certification.

Humble nominated Courtney for the award, citing his 31 years of driving without a single collision.

Courtney has logged more than 400,000 miles as a driver, said Humble. The only thing that surpasses Courtney's longevity on the job, according to Humble, is his commitment to students' safety. Teachers and coaches described Courtney as “safe, dependable and conscientious.”

Humble said he believes Courtney is the first Lake County school bus driver to receive the state award.

School bus drivers are the most regulated commercial drivers on the road, said Humble. Every five years they must go through a stringent recertification process.

“The standards are so high, I don't know what more we could ask from them,” said Humble.

The standards pay off, said Humble, with drivers safely transporting children back and forth to school each day.

Humble said a study has found school buses to be the safest form of travel in the United States.

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

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FRACTURE (Rated R)

Playing the cold, calculating and diabolically clever villain is practically journeyman work for talented actor Anthony Hopkins. It’s something he perfected in the character of Hannibal Lecter.

While the courtroom thriller “Fracture” does not require Hopkins to go to such extremes, the ease with which he is cunning and devious in a battle of wills during a trial is nothing less than stunning.

As the defendant in a criminal trial, Hopkins plays to the hilt his role of the chess master who is thinking through every possible move and countermove. It’s a guilty pleasure watching a charming sociopath game his way through the legal system.

“Fracture” begins with Hopkins’ millionaire Ted Crawford tailing his beautiful younger wife Jennifer (Embeth Davidtz) to a hotel in Santa Monica where she’s having an affair. Then he waits for her to return home, and after declaring his love for her, he pulls out a handgun and shoots her point blank in the face.

Calmly and carefully, after tidying up the crime scene, he waits for the police to arrive before making a confession. Most curiously, the officer on the scene is Rob Nunally (Billy Burke), the very same person having the affair with the suspect’s wife.

Of course, the situation gets messy when the officer flies into a rage, and yet Ted is already thinking about three steps ahead. This review does not intend to spoil the surprises, but suffice it to say there are plenty of twists that loom on the horizon.

Though he has confessed to the shooting, Ted is cleverly setting in motion a very twisted plot that could allow him to walk as free as O.J. Simpson. One thing to keep in mind is that Jennifer does not die from the gunshot wound, but she ends up in a coma on life support.

After being arraigned for attempted murder, Ted shifts his plea to not guilty when he gets a chance to have a face-off with young hotshot prosecutor Willy Beachum (Ryan Gosling), who has one foot out the door of the District Attorney’s office on his way to a very lucrative job in a corporate law firm.

The cocky, overeager Willy assures his boss, the District Attorney (David Strathairn), that the case is such a slam-dunk that he can wind it up with a guilty verdict before he even finishes cleaning out his desk drawer.

There’s nothing simple about this case, or even for that matter about how Willy will transition to the private sector, especially since he’s falling into a torrid affair with his sexy new boss Nikki Gardner (Rosamund Pike), which in itself is fraught with peril for his new career.

Meanwhile, Ted quickly sizes up his courtroom adversary and seizes upon Willy’s weak spots, which are easy to exploit when many distractions get in the way. The edge goes to Ted because he is brilliant and fierce, mostly because he made his fortune as an aeronautical engineer specializing in fracture mechanics, analyzing malfunctions and plane crashes with his uncanny ability to spot even the smallest defect or weakness in any system.

In the courtroom, Willy is so sure of himself that he can’t see the oncoming train. Ted pulls out all the stops in his bag of tricks, and the verbal jousting between the cagey old man and the arrogant youngster is a real treat.

“Fracture” is not a film that one should take too seriously, because if you diligently apply some analytical skills the flaws and imperfections may become too easily detectable, much in the same way Ted would perform a study of the fuselage of a downed aircraft.

But one should not quibble over the small matters, because “Fracture” entertains greatly as it allows Ted to taunt Willy in a delicious cat-and-mouse game that enlivens the whole affair. Watching Anthony Hopkins and Ryan Gosling spar with each other in a clever battle of wits is just too much fun to pass up. “Fracture” beckons us to a ringside seat for some dazzling theatrics.

Tim Riley writes film reviews for Lake County News.

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NICE – A man who reportedly skipped out on parole for manslaughter in 1989 and has been living under an assumed name was found and arrested this week in Nice.

Lt. Cecil Brown of the Lake County Sheriff's Office reported Thursday that deputies arrested James Bradley Sherman, 47, on Wednesday.

Sherman came to the attention of sheriff's detectives thanks to an anonymous tip, Brown reported.

According to the tip, a man using the name “Martin Sugarman” was living in Nice and wanted for a murder that occurred in California 10 years ago. Brown said the tip didn't say what the man's real name was.

Detectives Corey Paulich and Brian Kenner began checking records related to the name “Martin Sugarman,” which initially appeared to be the the man's actual identity. He'd been issued both a driver's license and a Social Security card in that name, Brown reported, had purchased property and even initiated contact with law enforcement using that identity.

However, upon further study Paulich and Kenner determined that Sugarman seemed to have not appeared until 1995, Brown said.

After they obtained a thumbprint, they found out that Sugarman's real name actually was James Bradley, who had served a prison term for voluntary manslaughter with a firearm in the 1980s. Sherman, born in Santa Monica, had been working in construction.

Sherman had been released on prison on the condition that he satisfactorily complete a period of parole, Brown reported. However, Sherman reportedly skipped out on that obligation, and in July 1989 authorities issued a fugitive from justice warrant for him.

On Wednesday sheriff's detectives and patrol deputies positioned themselves near Sherman's Nice home, arresting him in front of the house without incident, said Brown.

Deputies searched his house, finding five firearms, ammunition and side-handle baton – the latter being unlawful to possess, unless specifically authorized by California law, Brown said.

In the case of Sherman, a convicted felon, possessing firearms or ammunition also is illegal, Brown added.

Sherman was booked at the Lake County Jail on felony charges of parole violation, unlawful possession of a weapon (billy club), convicted felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. He is being held without bail due to the parole violation.

The case, said Brown, is still under investigation to determine if Sherman violated laws regarding falsifying documents or identity theft.

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

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LAKEPORT – The Board of Supervisors Tuesday approved a request by Sheriff Rod Mitchell to add eight positions to his jail staff.

Mitchell went to the board to ask them for the positions, which he said he would pay for through deputy sheriff vacancies.

“Mr. Chair, this issue can't wait until final budget hearings,” Mitchell said to Board Chair Jeff Smith.

Mitchell said he's successfully filled all 50 current correctional officers positions. However, he said, “We're still not having success recruiting experienced peace officers or academy graduates to the county.”

He continued, “I feel very positive about the fact that we have not only a full staff in the custody division but continue to receive qualified applicants for that job.”

Bringing on more staff, said Mitchell, will allow him to offer experienced correctional officers the chance to take the next step – attending the peace officers' academy and filling those deputies' vacancies – without causing staffing issues at the jail.

Smith said he appreciated Mitchell's effort to solve his staffing issues in a creative way.

Supervisor Rob Brown agreed. He said many of Mitchell's best deputies started out as officers at the jail. “They're more inclined to stay with us,” said Brown. “I really believe this is going to be a huge savings to us in the long run and have huge benefits to the community by keeping these guys local.”

Mitchell thanked the board for its role 'in helping us get to where we need to be” on staffing issues, including wages and benefits.

Supervisor Denise Rushing said she thought Mitchell's plan set up an excellent “farm system” to keep and develop talent. She asked about the effect on next year's budget, and Mitchell said he is working with County Administrative Officer Kelly Cox to ensure that no additional expense occurs.

Mitchell said he's increasingly seeing potential job candidates who say they're eager to work for the sheriff's department and stay in Lake County.

There are also many correctional officers currently in the department who want to go to the academy, Mitchell said. There's two ways to get through the academy, he added: either a candidate is agency-sponsored or they go at their own expense.

Mitchell said he wants to be able to sponsor more candidate through the academy, a chance he plans to offer first to current staffers in an effort to reward longevity.

He said he already has 10 correctional officers who want to attend the academy, and he expects more will follow once it's clear that the opportunity is there.

“This is a huge step in the right direction,” said Mitchell.

Brown offered the resolution, which the board unanimously approved.

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

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CLEARLAKE – The Clearlake Police Department is pleased to announce the formation of a new volunteer program called Volunteers in Policing (VIP).

Chief Larry Todd said VIP is an innovative program that strives to expand the department's partnership with members of the community in order to enhance the level of service provided to citizens, business owners and visitors.

It will be the mission of the VIP program to promote individual responsibility and commitment to enhancing a strong police-community partnership in the City of Clearlake.

The concept behind the program is simple: recruit volunteers from the community, train them in various non-hazardous police-related duties, and then allow them to function in direct support of the police department. Clearlake has proved to be an ideal environment for such a program since its citizens pride themselves in community involvement.

These volunteers will serve as extra eyes, ears and helping hands. VIPs will assume many tasks which otherwise require police personnel to perform. Todd said this will significantly enhance the department's ability to focus police officers and other paid staff on tasks that will enable the department to increase the level of public safety services provided to the community without the need to hire additional staff.

The VIP personnel will perform a wide variety functions such as: vacation house checks, staffing the front counter, fingerprinting, volunteer patrol, clerical work, Neighborhood Watch programs, child fingerprinting programs, vehicle maintenance, handicap parking enforcement, assisting with code enforcement, staffing at special events, crime victim followup contacts, business emergency contact list updates, and a wide range of other office and crime prevention duties.

Todd said individuals must be 18 years of age or older, and don't have to live in Clearlake. All volunteers must successfully pass the same background investigation required of civilian employees, which includes a fingerprint records check, driver and criminal history review, and go through a 24-hour training academy prior to starting in the program.

The academy will consist of a two-hour ride-along with an officer on patrol, a two-hour session in dispatch, a four-hour CPR training session, and 16 hours of assigned classroom training covering a variety of police related subjects designed to familiarize the volunteer with police procedures, radio codes, traffic safety, driver awareness, crime prevention and other law enforcement procedures.

Volunteers will be asked to commit a minimum of four hours per week to participate in the program and will be assigned to areas that correspond to their interest. For instance, not everyone will want to or are able to participate in patrolling the city, but instead may have interest in crime prevent programs, greeting the public or performing filing and data entry functions. The department will strive to match volunteers to their area of interest and to provide learning opportunities.

The volunteers will wear uniforms that are distinct from those worn by police officers and will only be assigned to non-hazardous duties, said Todd.

Clearlake Police Department also has partnered with the Lake County Resource Center in the "Experience Works" program which assists adults 55 or older gain job skills through community service employment training. This work experience program is designed for those who have not worked in a long time, have never worked outside the home, have physical limitations that affect their ability to work, or have had other problems obtaining the on-the-job training skills necessary to ultimately find employment.

Individuals accepted into this program will receive an hourly wage paid through the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), which is widely recognized as one of the most successful federal employment programs. It is also the only initiative focused on meeting the training and employment needs of a rapidly growing older population. Those individuals interested in this program should contact Sheri Martendale, SCSEP assistant, at 262-3472.

Individuals interested in giving back to the community through the VIP program are invited to call Lt. Mike Hermann at 994-8251 or pick up an application at Clearlake Police Department, 14050 Olympic Drive.

The closing date for the first VIP Academy is 5 p.m. Friday, May 18.

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LAKEPORT – Sheriff Rod Mitchell plans to ask the Board of Supervisors today to increase the number of correctional officer positions in his agency, but said he doesn't need more money to cover the additions.

Mitchell said Monday that his request is for eight new correctional officer positions. Currently, the Lake County Sheriff's Office has 50 such positions in its budget, he said.

Those officers oversee the Hill Road Jail's inmate population, which averages around 300 inmates daily, said Mitchell. The jail's official capacity is actually 262 inmates, he added.

“We're over capacity in the medium and high-security areas,” he said.

Mitchell continued, “The current allocation of correctional officers is only enough to operate the jail.”

He explained that it takes approximately 5.5 people to fill one position 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“We desire to have a full eight officers on each shift,” he said. Those officers, he explained, secure the jail, conduct inmate classifications and service programs, and transport inmates to locations such as Superior Court.

Mitchell's report to the board notes that he has managed to fill all of his current correctional officer positions, and that more qualified individuals continue to apply. Many of those current officers, he writes, would like to seek promotion to deputy sheriff.

“The increase would allow us to get people hired and trained and then send veteran officers who have an interest to the peace officer academy,” Mitchell said.

His report to the board notes that the state reimburses the county $2,519 – or 30 percent – of the total costs for each academy graduate, and that he's exploring other ways of reducing those costs.

The sheriff emphasized that he's not asking for money. Rather, he plans to cover the new correctional officer positions with funds already in his budget. Mitchell said he'll use money from vacant deputy sheriff's positions to cover the new officers.

“I'm hopeful that the board will approve this,” he said. “This is crucial.”

The board on Tuesday is expected to approve a grant Mitchell is applying for to fight methamphetamine in the county.

The $214,589 California Multi-Jurisdictional Methamphetamine Enforcement Team – also called Cal-MMET – grant will be included in the Mitchell's 2007-08 budget.

“It's intended to be a performance grant, so if we don't show results targeting methamphetamine we're not likely to be funded in the future,” Mitchell said.

As long as the money is used to combat meth, Mitchell said, how it's spent is left to his discretion.

The grant will cover purchase of a vehicle and other miscellaneous expenses; Mitchell said the money also can be used to increase staffing.

However, Mitchell said he doesn't want to use the funds for staff at this point.

The grant and staffing request are connected, Mitchell said. He said the grant was one of the reasons he wanted to get approval for more correctional staff.

The reason: Mitchell said he can't afford to dedicate more staff to special details like narcotics enforcement until he can increase his patrol staff. He believes he can increase his patrol deputy ranks by adding more officers for the jail and allowing current jailers to apply for deputy promotions.

Sheriff Mitchell's request for additional staff is scheduled for 10:35 a.m. on the board agenda. The grant application is a consent agenda item.

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

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