LAKEPORT, Calif. – Following a stormy Thursday, Lake County could still be facing more thunderstorms through the weekend, according to the latest forecast.

The National Weather Service said Lake County is facing the potential for daytime thunderstorms on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, before conditions give way to sunny and warm temperatures next week.

On Friday and Saturday, new rainfall totals are expected to be about a tenth of an inch each day, based on the forecast.

Calm winds topping out at about 8 miles per hour are expected both days, while weekend temperatures will range into the high 80s during the day and high 50s at night, the National Weather Service said.

Next week, conditions are expected to be calm, with daytime highs into the low 90s and nighttime highs in the high 50s, the forecast said.

Thunderstorms on Thursday brought brief periods of torrential rain to some areas of Lake County and resulted in a flash flood warning from the National Weather Service, as Lake County News has reported.

The National Weather Service’s observation stations recorded the following 24-hour rainfall totals, in inches, through 2 a.m. Friday:

– Bartlett Springs: 0.06.
– Boggs Mountain: 0.06.
– High Glade Lookout (above Upper Lake): 0.07.
– Kelseyville: 0.12.
– Knoxville Creek: 0.01.
– Lake Pillsbury: 0.22.
– Lakeport: 0.49.
– Lower Lake: 0.13.
– Mendocino National Forest portable station: 0.76.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – A Lakeport Police officer this week arrested a Kelseyville man following a traffic stop after finding a stash of cocaine and a large number of opioid pills, as well as cash.

Leopoldo Bravo, 25, was arrested Wednesday evening, according to Lt. Jason Ferguson.

Ferguson said Officer Casey Debolt pulled Bravo over for a vehicle equipment violation.

During the stop, Bravo acknowledged to Debolt that he is on searchable probation out of Los Angeles County for selling heroin, Ferguson said.

Debolt searched Bravo’s car, finding more than an ounce of cocaine, 100 opioid tablets and approximately $1,968 in cash, according to Ferguson.

Based on the denominations on many of the monetary bills, combined with the amount of drugs, led authorities to determine that Bravo was in possession of the drugs for sales.

Debolt arrested Bravo shortly after 6 p.m. Wednesday, with Bravo booked into the Lake County Jail later that night on felony charges of possession or purchase for sale of narcotics or a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance for sale, sale or transfer of non-narcotic controlled substance, and transportation or sales of narcotics and controlled substances, with bail set at $35,000, according to booking records.

Bravo, whose booking sheet lists him as being unemployed, is tentatively scheduled to appear in Lake County Superior Court for arraignment on Friday.

Debolt has received recognition both from his department and from Mothers Against Drunk Driving for his enforcement efforts related to drugs and alcohol, as Lake County News has reported.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Clearlake Animal Control’s kennel is once again full with dogs in need of new homes.

The kennels also have many dogs that need to be reunited with their owners. To find the lost/found pet section, click here.

The following dogs are ready for adoption.

‘Cadbury’

“Cadbury” is a female Staffordshire Bull Terrier mix with a smooth medium-length beige coat.

She is No. 1215.

‘Chopper’

“Chopper” is a male Chihuahua mix with a short red coat.

He is No. 257.

‘Jason’

“Jason” is a male pit bull mix with a short blond and white coat.

He is No. 1663.

‘Mitsy’

“Mitsy” is a female pit bull terrier mix with a medium-length red coat.

She is No. 2084.

‘Snowflake’

“Snowflake” is a male Chihuahua with a white coat.

He is No. 1864.

‘Steve’

“Steve” is a pit bull mix with a medium-length brown coat.

He is No. 2093.

‘Tyson’

“Tyson” is a male American Staffordshire terrier mix with a medium-length gray and white coat.

He is No. 1863.

‘Wynn’

“Wynn” is a male American Staffordshire Terrier with a short brindle coat.

Staff said he has been at the shelter for a few months. He loves affection and is available for adoption or through the foster to adopt program.

He’s believed to be about 6 to 7 years old.

He is No. 969.

Clearlake Animal Control’s shelter is located at 6820 Old Highway 53, off Airport Road.

Hours of operation area noon to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. The shelter is closed Sundays, Mondays and major holidays.

Call Clearlake Animal Control at 707-994-8251, Extension 1, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to inquire about adoptions.

Visit Clearlake Animal Control on Facebook or at the city’s Web site.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

NORTH COAST, Calif. – The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office has identified the Ukiah woman who died in a wreck discovered on Tuesday afternoon near Hopland.

Suzanne Bentley, 69, was the victim of the crash, according to Capt. Greg Van Patten.

Authorities initially had not identified Bentley while contacting her family out of state.

Bentley’s 1997 Mercury Tracer was found overturned down an embankment and next to the Russian River near Frog Woman Rock late Tuesday afternoon, as Lake County News has reported.

Firefighters arriving at the scene found Bentley deceased in the vehicle, which the California Highway Patrol said had been traveling southbound on Highway 101 when it went off the roadway and off a dirt and grass embankment.

The CHP has been working to determine exactly when and why the crash took place.

Anyone who saw the crash or has any information can call the Ukiah Area CHP office at 707-467-4420.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Late Thursday afternoon, the National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning and special weather statement in response to thunderstorms and torrential rain reported in some areas of Lake County.

The flash flood warning for southeastern Lake County is in effect until 6:45 p.m. Thursday, officials said.

The agency said that just before 4 p.m. the public reported thunderstorms producing heavy rain near Clear Lake, with up to 1 inch of rain having already fallen by that point.

The National Weather Service said flash flooding is expected, with areas of concern including Clearlake, Soda Bay, Mount Konocti, Konocti Bay, Finley, Kelseyville, Buckingham Park, Lower Lake and Clearlake Park.

The special weather statement that accompanied the flash flood warning said a strong thunderstorm will affect southwestern Lake County.

As of approximately 3:54 p.m., a strong thunderstorm was located over Knobcone Camp west of Lakeport, moving east at 15 miles per hour, the National Weather Service said.

Half-inch hail is possible with this storm, forecasters said.

Areas that could be impacted include Lakeport, Soda Bay, Adams, Loch Lomond, Mount Konocti, North Lakeport, Knobcone Camp, Konocti Bay, Finley, Kelseyville and Buckingham Park, according to the special weather statement.

Weather maps appeared to show two storm cells on either side of Clear Lake on Thursday afternoon.

Lake County residents were reporting rain, hail, thunder and lightning mid- to late Thursday afternoon, with residents of the Kelseyville and Lakeport areas noting particularly heavy rainfall.

The storm appeared headed for the Northshore as of 4 p.m.

Shortly after 4 p.m., the Lake County Sheriff’s Office issued an alert on the flash flood warning by phone and email through its LakeCoAlert system.

Additional information about conditions will be posted as they become available.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Memorial Day weekend once again saw a large number of fatalities and drunk driving arrests statewide and around the region.

The California Highway Patrol instituted its Memorial Day Maximum Enforcement Period, which ran from 6 p.m. Friday, May 24, to 11:59 p.m. Monday, May 27.

During that time period, the CHP reported that it investigated 21 fatal collisions statewide, which resulted in the deaths of 25 people.

The agency said that nearly 50 percent of those killed during the Memorial Day weekend crashes were not wearing a seat belt.

This year’s number of Memorial Day weekend fatal collisions statewide dropped by 9 percent, with the number of deaths down by 8 percent compared to last year, according to the CHP.

In the Northern Division, which covers 13 Northern California counties including Lake, there were two crashes resulting in two deaths, the CHP said.

One of those fatal wrecks occurred on Highway 20 in Lake County near Nice shortly after 11:30 p.m. on Memorial Day, when Josh Anthony Calderon, 29, of Santa Paula and Nice crashed his motorcycle and subsequently was run over by two vehicles, as Lake County News has reported.

Statewide, the CHP reported that it made 1,099 arrests for DUI over the Memorial Day weekend.

In the Northern Division, there were 47 arrests for DUI, and the CHP said the number of DUI arrests rose by nearly 4 percent over 2018.

Clear Lake Area CHP Officer Joel Skeen said the CHP had seven DUI arrests in Lake County during the Memorial Day weekend, a number he said didn’t include statistics from the Lakeport or Clearlake police departments.

One of the local CHP’s DUI arrests was for a crash on Saturday night near Blue Lakes, when Shana Lee Smith, 42, of Clearlake was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol following a solo-vehicle wreck that injured her and her passenger.

Lakeport Police Chief Brad Rasmussen said his agency had one DUI crash and arrest on Friday evening following a three-car crash in the city’s downtown. There was just one injury, a complaint of pain.

In the city of Clearlake, the Clearlake Police Department reported having a total of four crashes during the Memorial Day weekend, two resulting in injury and the other two being noninjury. None appeared to be related to DUI, based on its Citizen RIMS reporting program.

The Clearlake Police Department also reported that it had two DUI arrests during the holiday weekend.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Boggs Mountain Copter 104 is now staffed for the 2019 fire season and will be conducting training throughout Lake County.

The helicopter will be frequently seen and heard flying around Lake County over the next few weeks.

Cal Fire advises county residents not to be alarmed, this is normal training activity in preparation for the upcoming fire season.

“Helicopter operations are critical to the Cal Fire’s mission of serving and safeguarding the people and protecting the property and resources of California,” said Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit Chief Shana Jones. “It is vital for mission success that our Helitack Crews are properly trained to be effective, efficient and safe while conducting flight operations during fires, while performing rescues, and supporting prescribed burns.”

Cal Fire also encourages Lake County residents to prepare the defensible space around their homes before fire season is upon us.

If you need more information regarding defensible space please download the new Cal Fire “Ready for Wildfire” phone app or visit www.readyforwildfire.org .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport City Council last week heard from the police chief on plans for dealing with illegal fireworks during the July 4 city celebration and got an update on services being offered to local businesses.

One of the main items of discussion during the half-hour meeting was Chief Brad Rasmussen's illegal fireworks operations plan, which he is required to present and have filed with the council by city code.

Rasmussen provided the council with the police operations plan for fireworks, patrol and enforcement for the 30-day period surrounding the holiday, from June 17 to July 16.

The report said that the police department has identified the city’s parklands and Will-O-Point as those areas most affected by illegal fireworks.

“The Police Department provides routine patrol to those areas which present the most problems on a daily basis when staffing levels permit and during the course of the patrol officer’s duties. Increased patrols with targeted enforcement will occur in specific areas when deemed necessary,” the report said.

The report also notes, “The Police Department will provide uniformed patrol to those areas described above through June 17 and July 16 when staffing levels permit. As it relates to Independence Day, the Police Department will set up a command post at City Hall and with the assistance of allied agencies and conduct a mass canvass of the ‘Parklands’ utilizing officers on foot patrol. Officers assigned to the ‘Parklands’ will directly target the troublesome areas and seek out illegal fireworks violators. Officers will also be assigned to the remaining areas of the City, not demeaned as troublesome, in patrol units.”

Rasmussen told the council that police expect to have issues similar to those they experienced last year, with a lot of people in town also a lot of use of illegal fireworks.

“We will try to do what we can to enforce and limit the use” of illegal fireworks, Rasmussen said, adding that it's very difficult. He said the police department will work with the Lakeport Fire Protection District on that effort.

Councilman Kenny Parlet asked about language included in the report about the use by the public in years past of the Safeway, Kmart, High Street Center, Shoreline Center and Vista Point parking lots for shooting off safe and sane fireworks.

The report notes, “these are private parking lots, and law enforcement does not have permission to allow such activities. Persons took it upon themselves to use these lots without expressed or written consent.”

Rasmussen said the intent of that language was to let people know that police can't specifically address the use of those private properties. He said the owners don't want the property used for the safe and sane fireworks but people use them anyway.

Over the last few years, the fireworks company providing the safe and sane fireworks to approved nonprofits for sale has been good at getting the groups who sell the fireworks to go out and clean up the areas in the city where those fireworks are used, so that the businesses aren't faced with cleaning up their big messes, Rasmussen said.

Councilman George Spurr moved to approve the report, which the council approved 5-0.

In other business, Maryanne Petrillo, chief executive officer of the West Business Development Center, gave the council an update on her organization, which hosts the Small Business Development Center and is funded by the federal Small Business Administration.

She said they can do free business advising to all businesses with less than 100 employees, which is most of the county's businesses.

They provide workshops including one coming up at 5:30 p.m. June 17 in Lakeport on fire preparedness. Petrillo said the center developed the workshop and a book based on what they saw local businesses were missing in facing the area's wildland fires.

“We are really here to serve you,” she said.

Petrillo said the organization has been in existence for 30 years and has sometimes talked people out of going into business, but those individuals have come back when they're actually ready. She said it is harder than ever to start, own and run a business.

Also at last week’s meeting, the Lakeport Main Street Association presented the Business of the Quarter Award to O'Meara Bros. and the council unanimously approved the purchase of granular activated carbon for two vessels at the surface water treatment plant.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – The California Highway Patrol reported that a paint spill from a semi last week did not end up causing a major hazard.

On May 22, CHP Dispatch received a call of a semi truck leaking red paint onto the roadway while driving westbound on Highway 20, east of Old Long Valley Road.

The CHP responded to the scene and found the vehicle was stopped on the shoulder with a small amount of red paint leaking from the rear of the box trailer.

The driver was 42-year-old Manzoor Sholiay of Yuba City, the CHP said.

Northshore Fire Protection District was on scene ahead of the CHP and Caltrans was requested to respond, the report said.

The CHP said it was determined that the paint was not hazardous and presented no danger to human life.

Caltrans arrived on scene and allowed the trucking agency the opportunity to clean up the spill. Caltrans ultimately handled the cleanup effort, the CHP said.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Symphony Association Youth Orchestra is hard at work rehearsing for its annual concert, scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday, June 2, at Lakeport’s Soper Reese Theatre.

Conductor Sue Condit said the theme for this year’s concert will be “Outer Space,” featuring recognizable pieces from classical to contemporary.

The Youth Orchestra will play several pieces that reflect the theme, including “Star Wars Episode ll, Attack of the Clones,” by John Williams with arrangement by Jerry Brubaker.

“This is by far the most challenging piece on the program with difficult rhythms and articulations,” said Condit. “The students have taken it on as a challenge and are working hard to learn their parts.”

Also included, “Music from Apollo 13” by James Horner and arranged by John Moss; this highlights the main title, end credits, re-entry and splashdown from the 1995 movie. The trumpet section is featured on the solo for this piece.

The string players are featured during several pieces: “Postcard from Mars” by Lauren Bernofsky, is a fantasy piece depicting what music would be like on Mars; “March of the Resistance,” by John Williams and adapted by Paul Lavender, is from the movie “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.”

“The difficult and driving rhythms that are typical of Williams, make this an exciting piece to play,” said Condit.

The concert also highlights the newer players who are part of the Symphony Association’s string music classes – made possible by a grant from the Lake County Wine Alliance – which include cello, viola and violin, with students from fourth grade to adult.

Teachers Jeff Ives and Clovice Lewis will conduct pieces the students have worked on in their classes.

Clearlake High School senior, Talya Luciani, will be featured during this concert, playing two of her original compositions for piano. Joining her on cello will be her composition teacher, Clovice Lewis.

Tickets are $10 for adults, with children 18 and under and season ticket holders admitted for free.

Doors open at 1:30 p.m.

The Soper Reese Theatre is located at 275 S. Main St., Lakeport, telephone 707-263-0577.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Two Kelseyville men wanted in connection to a Sunday night shooting have been taken into custody.

On Tuesday night, Sergio Alberto Fuentes, 23, and Juan Manuel Renteria, 29, were booked into the Lake County Jail.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office had identified the men earlier in the day as the suspects in a shooting that left a male subject critically injured, as Lake County News has reported.

Lt. Corey Paulich said deputies learned that Fuentes and Renteria had confronted the victim and his friends in the 6300 block of Soda Bay Road in Kelseyville on Sunday evening, shooting the victim in the upper thigh before fleeing in dark-colored sedans.

Paulich said the victim, taken to an out-of-county trauma center, remains in critical condition.

Fuentes is believed to have been the shooter, Paulich said. Both Fuentes and Renteria are believed to be gang members.

Details about how the men were located were not immediately available. However, their booking sheets showed that both were arrested about 10 minutes apart, shortly before 7 p.m. Tuesday by Det. Jerry Pfann of the Sheriff’s Major Crimes Unit.

Fuentes was booked on felony charges of assault with a deadly weapon and assault with a firearm, with bail set at $50,000. Renteria’s booking sheet showed he is being held on felony charges of assault with a deadly weapon and battery with serious bodily injury, with his bail set at $30,000.

Jail records show both men are scheduled to appear for arraignment in Lake County Superior Court on Thursday.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact Det. Pfann at 707-262-4236 or the Sheriff’s Office at 707-263-2690.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

UPPER LAKE, Calif. – A Clearlake woman was arrested following a late Saturday night solo-vehicle wreck west of Upper Lake that injured her and her passenger.

Shana Lee Smith, 42, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol, according to the California Highway Patrol’s Clear Lake Area office.

At 11:40 p.m. Saturday Smith was driving her 1997 Ford Expedition SUV eastbound on Highway 20, west of Mid Lake Road, with 42-year-old Clearlake resident Joseph Andrew Kimber riding as her passenger, the CHP said.

Due to what the CHP said was Smith's level of impairment, she allowed her vehicle to cross over the solid double yellow lines and across the eastbound lane of Highway 20 before running into a dirt embankment on the north side of the roadway.

The CHP said that, after the crash, the Ford came to a stop on its wheels, blocking the westbound lane of Highway 20.

Smith was trapped in the driver’s seat of her vehicle and required extrication by Northshore Fire Protection Department personnel. The CHP said Kimber was seated in the right front seat and sustained moderate injuries due to the crash.

The CHP said Northshore Fire transported Kimber to Sutter Lakeside Hospital, where he was treated for his injuries.

Smith was placed under arrest at the scene for suspicion of driving under the influence of an alcoholic beverage, the CHP said.

She subsequently was transported by Northshore Fire to Sutter Lakeside Hospital for treatment of major injuries. The CHP said she was released to the hospital due to her need of medical treatment.