LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Congressman Mike Thompson (CA-05) announced plans to help Korean War veterans in Napa and Lake counties receive a medal for their service and encouraged those former service members to contact his office.

Thompson is again working with the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea to facilitate presentation of the Ambassador for Peace Medal, an honor given by the South Korean government to American veterans in recognition of their service.

“Far too often, our brave service members who answered the call during the Korean War have gone without recognition of their service. They traveled around the world and far from home to further the cause of peace and democracy across our globe. Too many were not honored for that service – indeed the Korean War is often called as the ‘Forgotten War,’” said Thompson. “But we will not forget. I am honored to be working with the Korean government to recognize our service members. I encourage our veterans to come forward and contact my office so that we can properly honor the sacrifice they made for our nation.”

Thompson is working to compile a list of eligible Korean War veterans who live in Napa and Lake Counties so they may receive the Ambassador for Peace Medal.

Veterans and their families should contact Thompson’s office at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by Friday, May 31.

Eligible veterans include those involved in either the hostilities or the following United Nations peacekeeping mission between June 25, 1950 and July 27, 1953 and UN peacekeeping operations until the end of 1955.

Enlisted support personnel who aided in these missions are also eligible (e.g. supporting positions including nurses who served on the territory of Korea).

The medal can be awarded posthumously.

These recognitions will be presented at a ceremony to be announced at a later date.

HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE, Calif. – A Wednesday evening fire destroyed a Hidden Valley Lake home.

The South Lake County Fire Protection District and Cal Fire were dispatched to the fire in the 16000 block of Eagle Rock Road at approximately 5:07 p.m., Cal Fire reported.

Neighbors returning from work reported the fire, officials said.

Cal Fire said the owner was not home when the fire started, and there were no injuries to first responders or the public.

South Lake County Fire Protection District was supported with engines and support resources from Lake County Fire Protection District, Kelseyville Fire Protection District, Northshore Fire Protection District and the Northshore Support Team.

Cooperating agencies who arrived and supported the operation are Hidden Valley Security and Hidden Valley Lake Community Services District, who ensured a constant water supply for the duration of the incident.

Cal Fire said the incident was terminated and all remaining units were released from the Incident around 1 a.m. Thursday.

Eighty percent of the home was damaged in the fire, with a loss estimate of $275,000, according to Cal Fire spokesman Will Powers.

Powers said the fire’s cause remains under investigation.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Police arrested a teenage boy from Kelseyville who had a blood alcohol limit three times the legal limit after he ran a stop sign and crashed into a People Services bus early Thursday.

The teen, whose name was not released because of his age, was taken into custody for felony driving under the influence causing injury, according to the Lakeport Police Department.

At approximately 7:43 a.m. Thursday Lakeport Police officers were dispatched to a traffic collision involving two vehicles at the intersection of Armstrong and S. Estep streets, police reported.

The department reported that officers arrived within seconds and observed a bus belonging to People Services Inc., occupied by eight passengers, had been involved in the collision, along with a second vehicle driven by the 17-year-old Kelseyville juvenile.

Through the course of the investigation, the Lakeport Police Department said its officers learned the bus was traveling east on Armstrong Street and as it entered the intersection with S. Estep Street.

The male juvenile, traveling on S. Estep, ran the stop sign at Armstrong Street and collided with the bus, police said.

As a result of the collision, police said three of the passengers on the bus received non-life threatening injuries and were treated and released at scene by Lakeport Fire personnel.

While at the scene, the police department said officers determined the male juvenile was displaying signs of intoxication.

They conducted a series of field sobriety tests and determined the male juvenile was three times over the legal limit, which is 0.08 percent, the blood alcohol content for adults, police said.

Officers subsequently arrested the teen for felony driving while under the Influence and causing injury, and transported him to the Lake County Probation Department where he was booked.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport City Council on Tuesday got a progress update on the effort to install a statue downtown to honor Lake County’s native tribes.

The bronze statue of a Pomo family is to be located in downtown’s Historic Courthouse Museum Park, across from the memorial for the county’s fallen firefighters and law enforcement officers, according to Les Miller, a member of Tribal Advisory Committee for the Museums of Lake County.

The presentation begins at the 5:00 mark in the video above.

Miller explained that in 2015 the committee spoke with then-Curator Tony Pierucci about installing a bronze statue of a Pomo family in the park, and Pierucci thought it was a good idea.

Pierucci later left, and Whitney Petrey, the next curator, kept it going. Miller said the newest curator, J. Clark McAbee, has continued the support and is working on a grant through the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Miller said they have raised $20,000 locally from businesses and tribes. “It’s going rather well, actually,” said Miller. “I'm just so proud of the community.”

He said he believes the statue will bring more interest to downtown, causing tourists to stop, visit the museum and local shops.

“I think it's just a plus for all involved, the whole community,” he said.

More information about the project can be found at https://www.lcpomostatue.com/.

Also on Tuesday, the council unanimously approved a resolution making a determination that public convenience or necessity would be served by the issuance a Type-20 Off Sales Beer and Wine Liquor sales license to Dolgen California LLC for the Dollar General at 1450 South Main St. The store opened in January.

The council had heard the matter at its last meeting in February and, at that point, directed staff to return with the resolution.

Lakeport Police Chief Brad Rasmussen, who presented the report, said the Community Development Department had worked on the resolution.

Community Development Director Kevin Ingram said the resolution was based off of public testimony given and evidence discussed by the council at its Feb. 19 meeting.

Lakeport resident John Saare was the only member of the public to speak against granting the liquor license, saying that he hopes in two or three years’ time an honest assessment is done of the store’s performance. If it’s not positive, he said he hoped someone from the city or county will become willing to take part in a discussion that doesn't equate all forms of free enterprise with community betterment.

Steve Rawlings, a consultant acting on behalf of Dollar General, said they had read the resolution and supported it.

Councilmember Stacey Mattina moved to approve the resolution, which was seconded by Councilmember Mireya Turned and approved 5-0.

In other business, the council received a report from Utilities Superintendent Paul Harris on the Wastewater Intrusion and Infiltration Project; approved a professional services agreement with LACO Associates for engineering on the Hartley St Pedestrian Improvement Project; new Public Works employees Michelle Humphrey and Ron Harpster, and new Lakeport Police Department volunteer Luke Steely were introduced; and the Lakeport Main Street Association presented its Business of the Quarter Award to Paradise Skate.

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.

030519 Lakeport City Council agenda packet by LakeCoNews on Scribd

LAKEPORT, Calif. – In a short Wednesday session, the preliminary hearing of the man charged with setting the Clayton fire and a series of other wildland blazes in 2015 and 2016 featured testimony from the deputy sheriff who arrested him and one of the many law enforcement officers involved with investigating the fires.

Wednesday was day six of the preliminary hearing for Damin Anthony Pashilk, 43, of Clearlake.

At the end of the hearing, which could continue until next week due to an unexpected delay on Wednesday, Judge Andrew Blum will decide if Pashilk will stand stand trial on 23 charges for setting the Clayton fire in August 2016, 15 other fires between July of 2015 and August of 2016, and an attempted start of a 17th fire that self-extinguished.

The prosecution initially had intended to present a day’s worth of testimony in the case, but the session was cut short after about two hours after the defense requested new discovery information and a day to review it.

The two witnesses who testified on Wednesday morning were Lake County Sheriff’s Deputy Ben Moore and Branden Smith, a Cal Fire battalion chief and peace officer.

It was Moore who, while on routine patrol on Aug. 15, 2016 – two days after the Clayton fire began – arrested Pashilk during a vehicle stop.

Moore testified that he had been advised that Cal Fire wanted Pashilk for questioning. Later that day, he would spot Pashilk driving the Chrysler Sebring he was known to drive, and on which authorities has placed a GPS tracking device.

Knowing that Pashilk had a suspended license, Moore pulled him over. “He did tell me that he should not have been driving and his license was still suspended.”

Moore arrested Pashilk and drove him to the sheriff’s main office in Lakeport while Cal Fire confiscated the vehicle.

Smith, who said he has investigated in excess of 500 fires, was assigned to surveillance and investigation of suspicious fires in Lake County in the summers of 2015 and 2016.

The surveillance team of which he was a part was assigned to determine if there was an arsonist, and Cal Fire developed information through intelligence gathering that led investigators to conclude that Pashilk was the suspect, Smith said.

He said two video surveillance cameras captured a 1997 green four-door Subaru Legacy station wagon – which Pashilk was known to drive in 2015 and later sold – in the area of four different fires on three separate dates. At that point, Cal Fire transitioned to full surveillance of Pashilk.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Richard Hinchcliff asked Smith about ways he has seen fires intentionally started.

Smith said he’s seen the use of time-delayed sources, fires started by lighters or, “more times than not,” fires started with an ignition source that can’t be recovered, such as paper products that are lit and thrown from a vehicle and burn up. He investigated a Fresno serial arson case in which that was the method.

He said he investigated the Aug. 14, 2015, Sulphur fire, which began shortly before 8:30 p.m. on a turnout on Sulphur Bank Road near Clearlake. After investigating the scene – including using a magnifying glass to look at burned grass in the origin area – he eliminated all possible causes but arson.

The source of the fire, Smith determined, was an item like a lit paper product tossed from a vehicle or someone using a match or a lighter.

Another investigator, he said, saw Pashilk’s Subaru heading toward the fire area on a nearby surveillance camera a short time before the fire started.

After Pashilk’s vehicle was spotted on surveillance cameras at four different fire sites, Smith said Cal Fire got a search warrant to place a GPS tracker on the Subaru. Testimony earlier in the proceedings indicated such a tracker also was placed on the Chrysler Sebring he later drove.

Smith said he placed the GPS tracker on Pashilk’s Subaru at 3 a.m. Aug. 19, 2015, while it was parked in front of a travel trailer where he was living on Koloko Street in Clearlake. The tracker, which has four magnets to adhere it to metal surfaces, was placed on the frame or undercarriage of the car’s rear passenger side.

During the questioning, defense attorney Mitch Hauptman interrupted to ask about Cal Fire surveillance logs from 2015 that were supposed to be made available to him.

“We were trying to get these surveillance logs for awhile,” said Hinchcliff, explaining that he had only gotten his copies that morning and were having them copied for Hauptman.

Hauptman said they are extremely significant to the case theory and he wouldn’t interrupt if they weren’t available now.

“How extensive are they?” asked Judge Blum.

Hauptman said they are hundreds of pages.

Just before 10 a.m., Blum called for a morning recess so Hinchcliff could get Hauptman the copies. Hauptman returned to court about 20 minutes later, holding a thick stack of papers bound with a large binder clip.

The logs totaled about 250 pages, said Blum, who explained that Hauptman had asked him, while in chambers, for a day to review them. In court, Hauptman indicated he wanted to also give Pashilk a chance to look through the logs.

“It’s clearly good cause,” said Blum, who granted Hauptman’s request.

The proceedings will resume on Thursday morning.

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.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – With a vacancy on its board of trustees, the Kelseyville Unified School District is welcoming applications for a new member.

Superintendent Dave McQueen said applications for the open seat are being accepted until noon Friday, March 15.

McQueen said the seat that is being filled was held by John DeChaine, a former county deputy district attorney who left to accept a job in Santa Barbara.

To qualify, applicants must live within the Kelseyville Unified School District boundaries and be registered to vote. They cannot be district employees.

Community members who qualify and are interested in applying are encouraged to schedule a time to meet with McQueen to receive an application at the district office at 4410 Konocti Road.

To schedule an appointment, contact McQueen at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 707-279-1511, or his secretary, Tami Barker, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Qualified candidates will be interviewed by the four current government board members at a meeting to be scheduled for that specific purpose.

Anyone wanting to submit questions for the existing board members to consider during interviewing should submit them to McQueen at the district office no later than noon on March 15.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Three members of the Lakeport City Council will serve as members and chairs of statewide committees of the League of California Cities.

Jan Arbuckle, League president and council member from Grass Valley, recently announced that Mireya Turner, Stacey Mattina and George Spurr will play key roles in shaping the League’s policy positions on issues facing California cities and advocating for cities at the State Capitol.

Mireya Turner has been appointed chair of the League’s Environmental Quality Policy Committee, which will recommend policy positions on state matters involving air and water quality, CEQA, integrated waste management, hazardous materials, coastal issues and utilities.

Stacey Mattina will chair the League’s Housing, Community and Economic Development Policy Committee, with responsibility for recommending positions on matters involving general plans and zoning, housing, rent control, Subdivision Map Act, residential care facilities, development fees, annexation and incorporation policy, development agreements and building standards including seismic safety standards.

Other issues are economic development policy including redevelopment and enterprise zones, military base closure and reuse, mobile home regulation and sign regulation.

George Spurr is a member of the Housing, Community and Economic Development Policy Committee in addition to serving on the Transportation, Communications and Public Works Policy Committee, which reviews state and federal legislation and regulations related to transportation planning, technology, funding, construction, public works and telecommunications.

The practice of the committees is to recommend to the League board of directors preliminary positions on legislation, based on existing League positions, adopted annual conference resolutions, and the collective knowledge and experience of the committee members.

“I am proud to have council members Turner and Mattina and Mayor Pro Tem Spurr join the League’s policy committees on behalf of their residents,” said President Arbuckle. “We will work together as a team, comprised of local front line leaders from across the state, to ensure that the local perspective guides the outcome of state policy decisions.”

More information on the League’s policy committees is available at www.cacities.org/polcomm.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The flooding impacting the city of Lakeport has caused some damage to city facilities, according to the Lakeport Public Works director.

Director Doug Grider gave an update on the situation to the Lakeport City Council at its Tuesday night meeting.

Grider said there was a particular concern on Tuesday, when a strong wind came out of the east, causing the same kind of intense wave action that undermined the city’s seawall two winters ago.

He called the east wind “our worst nightmare here,” adding that the wind is expected to continue through Wednesday.

The waves battering the lakeshore between Third Street and the Yacht Club have resulted in the loss of more of the bank, which he said was not well armored.

Grider said the water walls at Library Park – closed since last week – were holding up, although water was going over them earlier in the day. “I'm just very thankful that we have those walls,” he said. “They seem to be holding their own.”

He said Lakeshore Boulevard remains closed, with the winds pushing debris across the flooded roadway.

Once the wind event is over, Grider said his staff will do an assessment of Lakeshore Boulevard and work to reopen the northbound lane.

Grider also reported that there had been a headwall failure on a box culvert that Forbes Creek flows through, located between Savings Bank and the Chevron station and across from the Soper Reese Theatre on Main Street.

A large portion of the headwall collapsed. “We lost a pretty good chunk of ground under the sidewalk area,” Grider said.

After the meeting, Grider told Lake County News that he believes water got underneath the culvert, leading to the failure. He said the sidewalk in that area also is destroyed.

Grider told the council that he’s been in contact with Caltrans and found that the culvert is part of the federal highway system. He has authorization to proceed with emergency repairs, and plans to install riprap in the area to protect the northbound lane of the road.

The city has a clearance from Fish and Game for emergency repairs. Grider said his staff is scheduled to work overtime on Friday to complete the repairs by the end of the day.

After that, Grider said staff will begin the long and arduous process of going through federal and state environmental requirements and design of a permanent repair. He said it will probably be a year and a half until it’s fixed.

“You guys are amazing. You're doing a great job out there,” Mayor Tim Barnes told city Public Works and police staff.

Elsewhere in the city, Esplanade Street remains flooded, with city officials reporting that some residents remain in their homes despite the floodwaters.

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. – The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday hired the county’s next Animal Care and Control director.

At its Tuesday meeting, the board interviewed three candidates in closed session and emerged to vote unanimously to appoint Jonathan Armas to the job.

Armas’ appointment becomes effective upon the departure of longtime Director Bill Davidson, whose last day is Friday, as Lake County News has reported.

Armas is a lifelong Lake County resident, graduating from Clear Lake High School in 2008. He obtained his associate's degree in business administration from Mendocino College in 2016.

County officials said Armas has a strong commitment to public service and will promote from his current position as Animal Control Officer II.

A two-year employee of the department, Armas worked in close partnership with Lake Evacuation and Animal Protection, or LEAP, during the county’s wildfire disasters.

He served as Animal Care and Control team leader, alongside ASPCA representatives, during the Mendocino Complex fires in 2018.

During the November Camp fire in Butte County, Armas joined the Animal Care and Control team providing mutual aid to that community during its time of crisis.

“In his time with the department, Jonathan has consistently risen to help Lake County meet critical animal services needs,” said Davidson. “This is a great chance for Jonathan to expand his contribution, and make a difference for many county residents and their animals.”

“I am excited to continue working with the incredible team of employees at our Animal Control Department, providing essential animal care services to our community. I am very grateful to the Board for this opportunity and I look forward to serving in this new capacity.” said Armas.

Board Chair Tina Scott said Armas is an “emerging new leader who exudes enthusiasm for the work of his department,” and “Lake County is fortunate to be able to select him from a strong field of candidates.”

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Enhanced Education Foundation will hold its 20th annual Party with a Purpose on Saturday, March 9, from 5:30 to 11 p.m. at the National Guard Armory at 1431 Hoyt Ave in Lakeport.

LEEF will transform the armory with a surprise theme which welcomes guests and prepares them for an evening of good food, music and the opportunity to purchase a wide variety of items in our live and silent auctions.

Attendees will enjoy a catered dinner with side dishes prepared by Chef John Arslanian and the Clear Lake High School Culinary Class.

The evening also will include dancing – which starts after the auction – and a no host bar and wine toss.

Tickets are $50 each or a table for ten can be reserved and prepaid for $500. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with a catered buffet dinner served at 6 p.m.

Tickets are available at Clear Lake High School and online at www.eventbrite.com.

This is the largest fundraising event for LEEF and supports the students, teachers, classrooms, groups and clubs.

Lakeport Enhanced Education Foundation is a nonprofit foundation founded in 1993 with the sole purpose of promoting a quality educational program for the Lakeport Unified School District by raising monies for enrichment and enhancement projects.

In the last 20 years, LEEF has funded more than $300,000 in projects for the district. The money we raised has funded several classroom enhancements including iPads and mini robots for Lakeport Elementary School, a new poster printer for the student council at CLHS, outdoor furniture for the alternative education programs, supplies for the community garden at TMS and many more.

Most recently the group has supported the robotics program at CLHS. LEEF shares its success because of the generous community of Lake County.

LEEF thanked those who have contributed each year and helped make our events so successful.

For more information or to donate, contact LEEF at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or contact the CLHS office at 707-262-3010.

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire, said it has recommended a suite of actions to maximize safety and improve forest health in the coming months and longer term as part of its effort to further protect California’s most vulnerable communities from the immediate risk of catastrophic wildfires this year.

In a 45-day report to Gov. Gavin Newsom in response to Executive Order N-05-19, Cal Fire systematically identified high priority fuels reduction projects and other measures to immediately begin to protect more than 200 of California’s most wildfire-vulnerable communities and put the state on a path toward long-term wildfire prevention and forest health.

“California is increasingly at risk of wildfire, and certain populations are particularly vulnerable given the location of their communities and socioeconomic factors such as age and lack of mobility. The tragic loss of lives and property in the town of Paradise during last year’s Camp fire makes that clear,” Cal Fire Director Thom Porter said. “California needs an all-of-the-above approach to protect public safety and improve the health of our forest ecosystems.”

The Cal Fire report identifies more than 30 strategically-defined local projects that can be addressed urgently in partnership with communities to make a difference this wildfire season.

Examples include removal of hazardous dead trees, vegetation clearing, creation of fuel breaks and community defensible spaces, and creation of ingress and egress corridors.

The report also recommends actions to accelerate measures such as home-hardening by educating the public and promoting use of Cal Fire’s Ready for Wildfire App, which recommends steps residents can take to create defensible space and make their homes more resilient to wind-driven embers and other fire risk.

The report notes that California experienced the deadliest and most destructive wildfires in its history in 2017 and 2018, which killed more than 100 people, destroyed more than 22,700 structures and burned over 1.8 million acres.

More than 25 million acres of California wildlands are classified as under very high or extreme fire threat, and the proliferation of new homes in the wildland urban interface magnify the threat and place substantially more people and property at risk than in preceding decades.

030519 Cal Fire 45-Day Report by LakeCoNews on Scribd