AccuWeather reports Punxsutawney Phil, Pennsylvania's weather forecasting groundhog, saw his shadow on Friday morning, signaling six more weeks of winter weather for the United States.
The forecast aligns with that of AccuWeather's long-range meteorologists, who say cold weather will largely dominate throughout the month of February.
The main storm track from the East Coast will favor the Northeast and mid-Atlantic throughout February, allowing for a few powerful storms to impact the I-95 corridor.
"Boston to New York City and Philadelphia may see snow a few more times before the end of the season," AccuWeather Expert Long-Range Forecast Paul Pastelok said.
Harsh cold will also make a return around the middle of the month.
Across the Midwest and northern Plains, a blast of arctic air caused by a shifting polar vortex will cause temperatures to plummet. A few heavy snow events will be possible.
Meanwhile, in the southern Plains, one or two big cold waves remain in store before the air begins to feel springlike.
Across the remainder of the U.S., the air will gradually warm as the calendar nears March and April.
From the Northwest to the Rockies, temperatures around normal in February will mean a mix of snow and rain.
Conversely, temperatures in the Southwest are predicted to climb well above normal, preventing storms from leaving much precipitation behind.
In the Southeast, where warmth can appear at times, February will usher in the threat for severe thunderstorms.
The spring season officially begins on March 20.
AccuWeather's 2018 spring forecast, a region-by-region breakdown of the season, will be released on Feb. 7.
Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) off California. Credit: Craig Hayslip, Oregon State University. The largest animal ever to have lived on Earth is not a long-extinct dinosaur, but a mammal that’s found throughout the world’s oceans – the blue whale.
An adult can weigh up to 180 metric tons and stretch nearly 6 full-sized cars in length. Despite its massive size, this gentle giant is listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
“The biggest threat to whale populations…is still humans,” said Monica DeAngelis, a marine mammal biologist with NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service. And the threats are numerous, she added: “Vessel collisions, climate change, habitat loss or destruction, entanglement in any kind of gear – marine debris or fishing gear.” In fact between 1988 and 2012, there were 100 documented large whale ship strikes along the California coast alone.
No ship’s crew wants to risk a whale strike during its operations, and in terms of protecting both vessel and marine mammal, the largest obstacle has been knowing where the whales are located.
“The whale swims underwater most of the time and the ships don’t have a sensor that they can see it,” explained Kip Louttit, executive director of the Marine Exchange of Southern California, which oversees maritime commerce through the region. “In the same way that the ships are very conscious about the weather, they’re very conscious of the whales…and if they know where the whales are, they can avoid them.”
The practice of tagging the whales has helped both scientists and mariners track whale movements through satellite telemetry, but now a joint NASA/NOAA project is using Earth observations to predict where the whales will likely be.
Led by Research Assistant Professor Helen Bailey of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, the project integrates the tagging database with NASA satellite information to generate an online tool called WhaleWatch.
“We have tracking data from 1993 to 2009 that was collected by Bruce Mate and his team at Oregon State University,” said Bailey. “[With WhaleWatch] we are combining the satellite telemetry data for the whales with satellite-derived environmental data to understand not just where are the whales going, but why are they going there.”
That environmental data includes sea-surface height, sea-surface temperature, chlorophyll concentration, and water depth.
These factors help characterize habitats the blue whales favor or travel through during different times of their migration.
With this information, the team is able to determine suitable locations for the whales, and then predict where they are moving along the California Current System, from Washington State southward to Baja California.
The benefit of the satellite data is that it fills the gaps in the telemetry data — providing new insights into blue whale migration and behavior.
During the project’s research, the team found that “the most important variables were sea-surface temperature, which helped to explain the seasonal migration…chlorophyll concentration, which was related to the abundance of food, and…ocean winds,” Bailey remarked. The winds were important because they produced the upwelling that supports the whales’ food source – krill. In addition, information on seabed slope determines where the krill aggregate.
With this combination of multiple data sources, the project team was able to create maps of standardized daily blue whale locations as well as habitat-based models of population density and probability of occurrence – a blue whale forecast, so to speak.
Marking the culmination of this project, these forecast model maps are now online and publicly available on NOAA’s website, so the question of knowing where the whales are located and headed can be solved by the click of a mouse. In fact, with its success with the blue whale, this approach is now being used for other species.
“The bottom line is, this is the best available science,” DeAngelis noted. “We are now able to use that information to give whales a voice, so that humans can change their behavior to reduce the threat to whales.”
Bradley Kenneth Pendleton, 33, of Lakeport, Calif., was arrested on Thursday, February 1, 2018, rape, lewd acts with a child that is 14 or 15 years old, and oral copulation with a person under age 18. LAKEPORT, Calif. – A Lakeport man who formerly officiated at middle and high school basketball games has been arrested on charges including rape and lewd acts with a child in a case spanning seven years, and authorities believe there may still be more victims.
Bradley Kenneth Pendleton, 33, was taken into custody on a felony arrest warrant on Thursday, according to Lt. Corey Paulich of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
It’s alleged that, in his capacity as a school sports official, he committed rape and had sexual contact with young girls between 2010 and 2017, Paulich said.
Paulich said Pendleton was booked into the Lake County Jail for rape, lewd acts with a child that is 14 or 15 years old, and oral copulation with a person under age 18.
The charges are related to five separate underage female victims, all from the Lakeport area, Paulich said.
Paulich told Lake County News that the rape charge is specific to one incident, with Pendleton alleged to have had sex with at least one other victim.
The agency also is looking for other potential victims, Paulich said.
Pendleton was arraigned in Lake County Superior Court on Friday. His bail, originally set at $100,000, was raised to $155,000.
Jail records indicated he remained in custody on Friday evening.
Paulich said the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit began its investigation into the allegations involving Pendleton in May.
During the course of the investigation, authorities discovered that Pendleton was meeting girls while acting as a sports official at local middle and high school basketball games, according to Paulich.
The results of the investigation were forwarded to the Lake County District Attorney’s Office, which filed a criminal complaint with the Lake County Superior Court. Paulich said a felony arrest warrant was then issued for Pendleton.
On Thursday, Pendleton voluntarily turned himself in at the Lake County Sheriff’s Office where Paulich said he was interviewed by detectives.
During the course of the interview, Pendleton provided statements which corroborated the young victims’ allegations and he subsequently was arrested, Paulich said.
Paulich said investigators believe there could be other victims – in addition to the five so far identified – who have not yet come forward to report a crime.
If you have any information regarding the current investigation or possible unreported criminal conduct involving Pendleton, please contact Lake County Sheriff’s Office Detective Shamus Stafford at 707-262-4231 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
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. – A special Clearlake City Council meeting on Thursday night yielded a significant development when a council member resigned in order to pursue the city’s police chief job.
Russell Perdock, now nearing the end of his first term on the council and Clearlake’s mayor for the last two years, made the announcement during the 17-minute meeting.
Perdock’s surprise announcement came during a meeting in which the council approved extending a moratorium on commercial cannabis cultivation businesses west of Highway 53 and the hiring of an executive search firm to help fill the police chief’s post.
In December, Craig Clausen’s tenure as police chief officially ended after two years on medical leave. Since he left in 2015 due to a work-related injury, Clausen’s post has been filled by Lt. Tim Celli, an agency veteran.
The council in December made Celli – who has been acting chief – the interim chief until the job is filled permanently, as Lake County News has reported.
Despite ably managing the agency over the past two years, Celli told Lake County News that he doesn’t intend to apply for the permanent position.
Perdock’s last vote on the council came on the cannabis urgency ordinance, which was approved 4-0.
Before the council could take up the discussion of the police chief search, Perdock asked for a pause. He then handed out a copy of his resignation letter, accompanied by a copy of a letter from the Fair Political Practices Commission, to each council member, as well as to City Clerk Melissa Swanson, City Attorney Ryan jones, City Manager Greg Folsom and to Lake COunty News.
“I had to make a big decision that is obviously going to impact each of you and I apologize for that,” he told his fellow council members.
On the dais, seated next to council members Nick Bennett, Phil Harris and Mayor Bruno Sabatier – Councilwoman Joyce Overton was absent – Perdock then read his resignation letter, which explained his decision to step down.
“I’m not one who believes much in luck, but I do believe that preparedness and ability coupled with opportunity creates success,” he said. “Therefore, after many years of experience, training and service, along with my passion for the profession and this incredible opportunity to truly make a difference, I will apply for the position of chief of police for the city of Clearlake.”
He said that, in order to ensure the process is open and transparent, he requested an opinion from the Fair Political Practices Commission, which indicated that by resigning there would be no conflict of interest in pursuing the chief’s position.
The Jan. 4 opinion letter from the Fair Political Practices Commission noted that it was in response to a request for advice that Perdock submitted via email to the commission on Oct. 2.
The letter, written by members of the commission’s legal division, said Perdock would not be barred from applying for the job because he did not participate in any discussions concerning recruitment or the terms of conditions of employment, and would be resigning before applying for the position.
In his resignation letter, Perdock also listed some of the key achievements during his tenure, including the passage of Measure V, an updated general plan, the arrival of more national retailers, a new home for the Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce, universal garbage collection and new regulations to govern the cannabis industry.
“As my last request from this position, please continue to listen and respect each other as you have these past three plus years and keep the city moving forward to be a ‘cleaner, safer and better managed city’,” said Perdock.
After he read the statement, he embraced each of his fellow council members and then left the dais.
Because Perdock’s resignation was not an agendized item, City Attorney Ryan Jones told council members that they couldn’t have any discussion about Perdock’s comments.
Folsom then introduced the discussion about the police chief search.
On Jan. 5, just a few weeks after Clausen’s retirement, Folsom said the city issued a request for proposals to seven executive recruitment firms and also posted it on the city’s Web site.
He said four firms responded, including Ralph Anderson and Associates, the company staff recommended the council select.
The contract cost is $24,500, with up to $1,500 in change orders. Folsom said the companies who submitted proposals came in around that prices range.
He said Ralph Anderson and Associates offers a specific benefit – it has a former police chief who will manage the recruitment.
During public comment, city resident Bill Shields questioned the cost, with Folsom explaining how the company will manage the recruitment.
Retired Councilman Chuck Leonard said the contract amount will be “money well spent,” as it will be helpful for the city to have professional assistance in the recruitment process.
The council approved the contract in a 3-0 vote.
Perdock offers more insight into decision
After he left the council meeting but before he departed from City Hall, Perdock told Lake County News, “This is a very unique situation.”
He said the timing was perfect for him to give serious consideration and deliberation to taking this next step to apply for the police chief’s job, and it was a decision he and his wife have discussed extensively.
Perdock said he can serve the city better – and help create a safer city – if he’s hired as chief of police.
“This was just the right decision to make,” he said.
He said he had told Folsom of his interest in the position and that he would abstain from any decision related to the chief’s job while he was making his decision. Once the decision was made, he chose to step down from the council.
Perdock has about 25 years of full-time law enforcement experience, having worked that time at the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
If it were not for what he believes to have been “political persecution,” he still would have been with the agency, Perdock said.
Perdock was terminated from the sheriff’s office in April 2010: http://bit.ly/2E9Ld1R .
By that time, Perdock – then a chief deputy – had been on administrative leave for 10 months, a time which coincided with the trial of a Carmichael man in connection to an April 2006 boat crash that claimed a woman’s life.
Perdock, who was off duty, was driving a speedboat on the night of April 29, 2006, in Konocti Bay near Kelseyville when his boat collided with a sailboat owned by then-Willows resident Mark Weber, who was handling the boat’s sails while Bismarck Dinius of Carmichael sat at the tiller.
During the wreck, Weber’s girlfriend, 51-year-old Lynn Thornton, was mortally wounded, dying three days later at UC Davis Medical Center.
The incident resulted in a civil suit settled between Dinius, Perdock and Weber, whose insurance companies paid settlements to Thornton’s adult son.
However, it became a cause célèbre after the District Attorney’s Office declined to charge Perdock but prosecuted Dinius instead. In August 2009 Dinius was acquitted by a jury of felony boating under the influence.
The county of Lake would not disclose the reasons of Perdock’s termination due to confidentiality rules.
District Attorney Don Anderson told Lake County News that Perdock is not on the “Brady” list of law enforcement officers his agency compiles who have credibility issues.
The FPPC response to Perdock stated that since his termination from the sheriff’s office, he has not worked in law enforcement but instead as a state-licensed insurance agent/producer.
Several years after the Dinius acquittal, Perdock won a seat on the Lake County Fire Protection District Board and in 2014 was elected to the council.
He said that being a cop is not about putting on a uniform, but rather it’s about “who you are.”
Losing his law enforcement job, “frankly, created a hole in who I am,” Perdock caid.
Perdock, who cited his extensive training and experience, and degree from California State University, Sacramento, said he wants to serve and help the public.
“I just had to step forward and make this my next step,” he said.
City officials did not say on Thursday what process would be taken to fill Perdock’s seat for the remainder of his term on the council.
After the conclusion of the meeting, Mayor Sabatier discussed with Jones the process of reassigning board and commission appointments Perdock had held.
John Jensen contributed to this report.
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. – Four local high schools – three from Lake County and one from Mendocino County – will square off on Saturday in the annual Academic Decathlon event.
The competition will take place at Upper Lake High School.
This year’s topic is Africa.
The public portion of the event begins at 2 p.m. with the Super Quiz.
Teams competing in this year’s Academic Decathlon are Clear Lake High School, Middletown High School, Upper Lake High and Willits High.
Upper Lake is the returning champion.
Below are this year’s team rosters.
Clear Lake High School Superintendent April Leiferman, Principal Jill Falconer, Coach Kristi Tripp Team members: Brenden Allen, Kaity Avila, Carlos Bernardino, Michael Camacho, Nicabec Casido, Adrian Ceja, Luis Cortez, Zoe Cramer, Anna Del Bosco, Sereno Dominguez, Camille Donald, Anahit Govorgyan, Brent Hinchcliff, Trinitee Hoaglen, Blake Jensen, Brody Jensen, Kyle Jensen, Julia Lyon, Isabella Mattina, Courtney McIntosh, Nathan Porter, Oscar Quilala, Jessica Romero, Felix Salinas, Quintin Scott, Alexa Shepherd, Connor Simons, Kally Vinson, Shawnee Weed, Ethan Wynacht
Middletown High School Superintendent Catherine Stone, Principal Bill Roderick, Coach Jeff Mielke Team members: Makenna Brown, Taylor Harris, Steven Harvey, Austin Lapic, Colleen Schimansky, Amy Trapani, Amida Verhey
Upper Lake High School Superintendent Giovanni Annous, Principal Sandy Coatney, Coaches Anna Sabalone and Angel Hayenga Team members: Alan Balderas, William Cromwell, Daniela Estrada-Flores, Jeff Fannon, Anisha Kalan, Deeya Kalan, Jessica Lee, Kehlani McKelvey, Katlyn Minnis, Robert Porterfield, Brenna Sanchez, Seneca Snow, Maria Tinoco, Sarah Williams
Willits High School Superintendent Mark Westerburg, Principal Michael Colvig, Coach Mary Colvig Team members: Jacob Arms, Brieana Evans, Isabelle Grieve, Nicholas Hebel, Elizabeth Henning, Savanna Hofmaister, Mychaela Nowlin, Ariel Reyes, Micah Stamps, Naomi Strickland, Byron Torres, Ian Watson, Alisabeth Wilcox
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. – The Kelseyville Business Association is preparing to launch an ambitious effort to increase economic activity in Lake County by promoting all the activities and amenities Kelseyville and the surrounding area have to offer for tourist and local residents to enjoy.
KBA will hold a spaghetti feed on Feb. 12 at the Kelseyville Senior Center, where plans for the spring launch of a redesigned “Visit Kelseyville” Web site and social media communications platform will be discussed.
The all-volunteer organization will explain how local business can take advantage of this new resource to help attract more visitors to the region and drive visiting and local customers to their businesses.
“Kelseyville is growing as an enjoyable destination with the small town charm Bay Area and Sacramento visitors crave,” said Pear Festival Founder Marilyn Holdenried. “The Visit Kelseyville promotional effort will spread the news that the Kelseyville area is the next ‘must see’ destination for Northern California visitors.”
“I am super excited about the possibilities Visit Kelseyville provides to reach residents from right here in Lake County,” said Oak Boutique owner, Caitlin Andrus. “There are so many amenities here in Kelseyville including retail, wineries, a brewery, new accommodations and restaurants. The Visit Kelseyville platform will provide a one stop location for residents to see all there is available.”
If you are interested in learning how your business can benefit from this effort, the KBA encourages you to attend the Feb. 12 spaghetti feed at 6 p.m. in the Kelseyville Senior Center, 5245 Third St.
Left, Michelle Mead, warning coordination meteorologist for the National Weather Service and Courtney Obergfell, general forecaster for the National Weather Service, assist Frank Gehrke, chief of the California Cooperative Snow Surveys Program with the second snow survey of the 2018 snow season at Phillips Station in the Sierra Nevada Mountains on Thursday, February 1, 2018. The survey site is approximately 90 miles east of Sacramento off Highway 50 in El Dorado County. Photo by Dale Kolke/California Department of Water Resources. NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Despite moderate January precipitation in the Sierra Nevada after an historically dry December, Thursday’s Department of Water Resources manual snow survey east of Sacramento found little snowpack there, two months into what is typically California’s wettest three months.
Measurements at Phillips Station revealed a snow water equivalent, or SWE, of 2.6 inches, 14 percent of the early-February average at Phillips as measured there since 1964. SWE is the depth of water that theoretically would result if the entire snowpack melted instantaneously.
“California experiences the most variable weather in the nation,” said DWR Director Karla Nemeth. “It’s vital that water conservation efforts remain consistent regardless of the year’s precipitation.”
More telling than a survey at a single location like Phillips are DWR’s electronic readings on Thursday from 103 stations scattered throughout the Sierra.
Measurements indicate the SWE of the northern Sierra snowpack is 4.6 inches, 27 percent of the multi-decade average for today’s date. The central and southern Sierra readings are 5.8 inches (30 percent of average) and 3.8 inches (25 percent of average) respectively.
Statewide, the snowpack’s SWE is 4.9 inches, or 27 percent of the Feb. 1 average.
“The snow survey today shows water content far below average for this time of year,” said Frank Gehrke, chief of the California Cooperative Snow Surveys Program who conducted today’s survey at Phillips. “Today’s measurements indicate an anemic snowpack to date, but there is still the possibility of a wet February and March.”
On average, the snowpack supplies about 30 percent of California’s water needs as it melts in the spring and early summer. The greater the snowpack water content, the greater the likelihood California’s reservoirs will receive ample runoff as the snowpack melts to meet the state’s water demand in the summer and fall.
The Phillips snow course, near the intersection of Highway 50 and Sierra-at-Tahoe Road, is one of 260 that are surveyed manually throughout the winter.
Manual measurements augment the electronic readings from the snow pillows in the Sierra Nevada that provide a current snapshot of the water content in the snowpack.
California’s exceptionally high precipitation last winter and spring has resulted in above-average storage in 154 reservoirs tracked by the Department.
DWR estimates total storage in those reservoirs at the end of January was 24.7 million acre feet (MAF), or 106 percent of the 23.4 MAF average for this time of year.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – On Sunday, football fans across the country will gather with friends and family to watch Super Bowl LII.
The California Highway Patrol is teaming up with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to remind motorists to designate a sober driver before the game begins.
“Drunk driving is completely avoidable, but continues to be a serious problem,” CHP Acting Commissioner Warren Stanley said. “We want motorists to remember that drinking and driving is a choice that can have catastrophic results. If you choose to drink, do not drive.”
According to preliminary data from the CHP’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System, during last year’s Super Bowl, one person was killed in an alcohol-involved collision and 41 others were injured on California’s roadways.
That same day, there were 247 arrests made by the CHP for driving under the influence, or DUI. Consequences of a DUI arrest are jail time, the loss of a driver license, higher insurance rates, court fees, car towing and repair, and lost wages from time off work.
“There are no excuses when it comes to driving under the influence,” Acting Commissioner Stanley added. “Have a game plan ready to avoid a tragedy. Leave your car keys at home if you will be consuming alcoholic beverages, and use public transportation, a designated driver, or a ride-hailing service to stay safe.”
If you are hosting a Super Bowl party, be a team player and help keep impaired drivers from getting behind the wheel. Make proper arrangements and designate your sober driver before the big game begins. And remember: Fans don’t let fans drive drunk.
The public can help by calling 9-1-1 if they suspect a drunk driver. Callers should be prepared to give the vehicle’s description, location, license plate number, and direction of travel.
Reynauldo Trevino. Courtesy photo. LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the community’s help in locating an elderly man who has gone missing.
The agency is attempting to locate 84-year-old Reynauldo Trevino.
Trevino suffers from dementia and post traumatic stress disorder, officials said.
He was last seen walking southbound on Lakeshore Boulevard from Alterra Drive in the Lakeport area.
Trevino was wearing a fedora hat and black leather jacket, and he uses a walker, the sheriff’s office said.
Trevino becomes easily distracted and disoriented. He may become combative, so authorities urge caution should anyone come into contact with him.
If you see Trevino please contact the Lake County Sheriff's Office at 707-263-2690.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Lake County’s representative in the State Senate has introduced legislation to name a portion of Highway 29 in Lakeport in honor of a Lake County Sheriff’s deputy who died in the line of duty in August.
Sen. Mike McGuire introduced SCR 92 last week to name a section of the highway for Deputy Robert Rumfelt.
SCR 92 is co-authored by State Sen. Bill Dodd – who previously represented Lake County in the State Assembly – and Assemblywoman Cecilia Aguiar-Curry.
“Deputy Rumfelt selflessly served his country and dedicated his life to keeping the hard working people of Lake County safe,” said McGuire. “His impact on this community is immeasurable and the contributions he made will be his lasting legacy. After all Deputy Rumfelt’s done for our nation and right here at home, the least we can do is honor his tireless work and sacrifice so generations will know about his achievements, bravery and big heart.”
“Deputy Rumfelt was a true American hero, saving lives overseas with the United States Military, and protecting and serving his community in Lake County,” said Lake County Sheriff Brian Martin. “We’re grateful to work with Senator McGuire to honor his legacy by renaming a portion of the highway that runs through his home town in his memory.”
Martin said the portion of the highway slated to be renamed for Rumfelt extends from Highway 175 at the Hopland Grade turnoff to 11th Street.
Rumfelt, 50, died in the line of duty on Aug. 22.
He had struggled with a domestic violence suspect who was taken into custody. After clearing the scene, his patrol SUV crashed into a tree. A medical examiner concluded that Rumfelt suffered sudden cardiac death 30 minutes after a stressful physical encounter, as Lake County News has reported.
Rumfelt grew up in Lake County, graduating from Clear Lake High School in 1985 and later serving in the United States Marine Corps, where he earned numerous accolades for his honor, courage and commitment. He was an infantryman assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Division in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
Rumfelt later returned to Lake County and worked for the Lakeport Police Department beginning in 1995.
He took a leave from that agency in 2010 to serve as a police advisor to Iraqi law enforcement agencies in Ramadi, Baghdad, Kurdistan and Mosul. During his time there he risked his life during an improvised explosive device attack on an Army convoy in order to save the life of a badly injured soldier.
In 2014, after returning to Lake County, Rumfelt joined the sheriff’s office.
Rumfelt is credited with acting as an inspiring and positive force in the lives of many young people, spending countless hours at Clear Lake High School where he coached the football team and mentored youth.
He was a dedicated family man, and is survived by his wife, Kelly, his two daughters Nikki and Britney, his grandsons Robby and Johnny, his parents and his siblings.
Martin said he decided to pursue the idea to honor Rumfelt after seeing memorial highway signs in other parts of the state.
“I never wanted to have to put one up, but I do have to put this one up,” Martin said.
“We’ll never forget him at the sheriff’s office, of course,” said Martin, who wanted to have a memorial in place to remind the public of Rumfelt’s service.
“Rob deserves it,” he said.
The legislation will need to be approved, with one of the stipulations being that a source of funds must be identified to pay for the project, said Martin.
He estimated it will cost about $8,500 for signage and installation by Caltrans staff.
Martin is raising money to cover the project through the newly formed Lake County Sheriff’s Foundation.
He said he incorporated the organization in June 2015, but had to set aside working on it due to the county’s wildland fires and flood.
The Rumfelt highway memorial is one of the organization’s projects for this year, he said.
Fundraising efforts – including the foundation’s March 2 Black Tie Ball – will pay for the highway memorial, offer assistance to Rumfelt’s family and also pay to send some deputies back to the National Peace Officers’ Memorial in Washington, DC in May, he said.
Martin said he’s also working on getting a plaque for Rumfelt to install at the peace officer and firefighters’ memorial in Museum Square in downtown Lakeport. The wooden statues at the memorial also will be cleaned and refurbished.
He said at the annual candlelight vigil later this year for fallen peace officers and firefighters, Rumfelt’s name will be added to the memorial.
For more information or to donate to the foundation, call the Lake County Sheriff’s Office at 707-262-4200 or visit the foundation’s Web site at www.lakecsf.org .
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.
The super blue blood moon as seen from Lucerne, Calif., shortly after 5:30 a.m. at the height of the eclipse. Photo by Elizabeth Larson/Lake County News. LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County residents were among those in the western United States who had excellent viewing of the super blue blood moon on Wednesday morning.
The eclipse began at 3:48 a.m. and continued until 7:11 a.m.
Wednesday’s celestial event was reported to be the first super blue blood moon since 1866.
There won’t be as long of a wait for the next one – it’s set to happen on Dec. 31, 2028.
A photograph of the super blue blood moon earlier in the eclipse, as seen from Lucerne, Calif. Photo by Elizabeth Larson/Lake County News.
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