LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Grand Jury for the 2013-2014 fiscal year was impaneled by Superior Court Presiding Judge Stephen Hedstrom last Wednesday, July 10.

The 2013-2014 panel members are Karen Burtness of Hidden Valley Lake, John Chamberlain of Clearlake (who was sworn this past Tuesday), Virginia Cline of Lakeport, Linda Conway of Clearlake, Rosemary Dontje of Kelseyville, Janis Eckert of Lakeport, John Hart of Loch Lomond, Reba Hawley of Clearlake, Polly Johnston of Kelseyville, William Konrad of Kelseyville, Mark Lockhart of Lakeport, William Magoolaghan of Kelseyville, Nanette Marschall of Lakeport, Alan Mattern of Kelseyville, Michael McAllister of Kelseyville, Clifford Morgan of Clearlake Oaks, Linda Schreiber of Lakeport, Thomas Swihart of Hidden Valley Lake and Christopher Twohy of Lakeport.

Virginia Cline was appointed foreperson and the grand jury immediately went into session for the purpose of organization.  

The major function of the Lake County Grand Jury is to examine county and city government and special districts to ensure that their duties are being lawfully carried out.  

The grand jury reviews and evaluates procedures, methods, and systems utilized by these entities to determine whether more efficient and economical programs may be employed.

Grand jurors are officers of the court but work as an independent body. A grand jury works to ensure that the best interests of all citizens of the county are being served by their governmental bodies.

The 2012-2013 grand jury was discharged after filing its final report earlier.  

The former panel included Virginia Cline, Linda Conway, Rosemary Dontje, Godfrey Dyne, David Eichten, Warren Fox, John Hart, Dave Johnson, Sorhna Jordan, Margaret Maloney, Alan Mattern, Karen Miller, Clifford Morgan, Janice Pankratz, Linda Schreiber, Luther Sweigert and Thomas Swihart.