SACRAMENTO – Gov. Edmund G. Brown Jr. and First Lady Anne Gust Brown hosted the 86th annual Capitol Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony Thursday evening on the West Steps of the State Capitol.

"Tonight we have the joy of lighting this Christmas tree,” said Gov. Brown. "We celebrate the children who put the ornaments together and all of you here on this wonderful occasion – a tradition thousands of years old and one we all remember with great fondness.”

This year, the governor and first lady lit the Capitol Christmas tree with 7-year-old Sofia Garcia of Los Angeles.

The tree is illuminated by approximately 10,000 ultra-low wattage LED lights and decorated with more than 900 hand-crafted ornaments made by children and adults with developmental disabilities who receive services and support from the state’s development centers and 21 nonprofit regional centers.

This year’s tree is a 65-foot-tall white fir from the Latour Demonstration State Forest located near Redding in Shasta County, the sixth Capitol Christmas tree to come from a state forest managed by Cal Fire on behalf of the public.

Kitty O’Neal of KFBK Radio emceed the ceremony, which included feature performances by the California Army National Guard’s DET 1, 40th Infantry Division Band, Brass Quintet, the Governor’s Own; students from the Oakland Military Institute and Oakland School for the Arts; Mariachi Puente; and St. Paul’s Baptist Church Choir.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Wine Alliance on Wednesday distributed $95,000 in proceeds from the 2017 Wine Auction to five area high schools and 17 other Lake County organizations.

Distribution of this year's donations took place at a festive event on Wednesday evening at the Saw Shop Gallery Bistro in Kelseyville.

The event was attended by more than 50 representatives of the beneficiaries and sponsors.

Distributions for 2017 were as follows:

– The five comprehensive high schools of Lake County for their arts programs;
– The Lake County Sheriff’s Activity league for their anti-bullying program;
– United Christian Parish for its food pantry;
– Totes4Teens to support children living in poverty;
– Lake County senior centers for meals on wheels;
– Worldwide Healing Hands for Lake County medical outreach;
– Woodland Community College Lake County Campus Culinary Arts Club for its mobile kitchen classroom program;
– Lake County Office of Education for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library for books;
– EcoArts of Lake County to subsidize school field trips;
– Lake County Symphony Association for its youth music program;
– Children’s Museum of Art and Science for its annual art and science camp;
– Channel Cats swim team for new equipment;
– United Veterans Council for emergency help for veterans in trouble;
– Church Women United for shoes for needy children;
– Lake County Mock Trial program for scholarships for needy students;
– Operation Tango Mike in support of Lake County service personnel;
– Sponsoring Survivorship to assist those with breast cancer;
– Lake County 4-H for student programs.

Lake County Wine Auction, held at Cache Creek Vineyard and Winery, was a production of the nonprofit Lake County Wine Alliance, which is made up of local wineries, grape growers, related businesses, community sponsors and many community volunteers.

Since its founding in 2000, the Lake County Wine Auction has raised $1,491,502.00 to foster performing arts at each of the five county high schools, benefit health services and to support community charities.

The organization thanked its valued sponsors, which include Sutter Lakeside Hospital, Tribal Health, Community First Credit Union, Beckstoffer Vineyards, American AgCredit, Trinchero Family Estates, Pacific Gas & Electric, Brassfield Estate Winery, Six Sigma Ranch & Winery, Savings Bank of Mendocino County, Cache Creek Vineyards, Artist John Clarke, Umpqua Bank, Bella Vista Farming, Santa Rosa Press Democrat, Tricorbraun Winepak, Servpro, Sysco Foods, Saw Shop Gallery Bistro, Wildhurst Vineyards, The Travel Centers, Boatique Winery, Shannon Ridge Family of Wines, Kelseyville Pharmacy, Congressman Mike Thompson and the Lake County Winegrape Commission.

Members of the Wine Alliance board are Kaj Ahlmann, Lower Lake, president; Judy Luchsinger, Lakeport, vice president; Sharron Zoller, Kelseyville, secretary; Rob Roumiguiere, Kelseyville, treasurer; and Marie Beery, Kelseyville, and Bill Groody, Kelseyville, director.

The 2018 Lake County Wine Auction will be Saturday, Sept. 15, at Boatique Vineyard & Winery on Red Hills Road in Kelseyville, hosted by owners, Madi and Robert Mount. This stunning facility has become a must see destination for wine lovers and tourists visiting Lake County.

Applications to be a beneficiary for 2018 may be submitted through auction Web site, www.WineAlliance.Org.

Two months after more than 100,000 residents fled, as wind-whipped wildfires ripped through Northern California and parts of Southern California, state Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones revealed the latest statewide total of insured losses.

Jones said those losses now top $9.4 billion in residential and commercial claims from the October wildfires, which are now counted among the most deadly and costly in the state's history.

The North Bay fires account for $9 billion in claimed losses alone, Jones reported Wednesday.

"These numbers not only represent staggering losses to tens of thousands of Californians," said Jones. "The October wildfires that devastated whole communities and tragically cost 44 people their lives have now proven to be the most destructive and deadliest in our state's history."

For residential property, the losses break down as follows in Northern California, according to details the Department of Insurance provided to Lake County News:

– Lake County: Number of claims, 258; number of claims resulting in total loss, 96; direct incurred losses, $51,906,422; amount paid to date, $16,130,962.

– Alameda County: Number of claims, nine; number of claims resulting in total loss, three; direct incurred losses, $3,627,701; amount paid to date, $603,494.

– Mendocino County: Number of claims, 545; number of claims resulting in total loss, 190; direct incurred losses, $153,996,885; amount paid to date, $55,269,975.

– Napa County: Number of claims, 2,470; number of claims resulting in total loss, 447; direct incurred losses, $1,099,707,466; amount paid to date, $398,098,816.

– Solano County: Number of claims, 180; number of claims resulting in total loss, five; direct incurred losses, $3,387,617; amount paid to date, $1,738,456.

– Sonoma County: Number of claims, 14,686; number of claims resulting in total loss, 4,785; direct incurred losses, $6,902,401,719; amount paid to date, $2,371,899,061.

The Department of Insurance said this is the commercial breakdown of claims to date in Northern California:

– Lake County: Number of claims, four; number of claims resulting in total loss, one; direct incurred losses, $171,604; amount paid to date, $0.

– Alameda County: Number of claims, 20; number of claims resulting in total loss, six; direct incurred losses, $14,315,647; amount paid to date, $1,909,992.

– Mendocino County: Number of claims, 57; number of claims resulting in total loss, five; direct incurred losses, $17,567,432; amount paid to date, $3,266,879.

– Napa County: Number of claims, 587; number of claims resulting in total loss, 40; direct incurred losses, $127,734,869; amount paid to date, $21,305,861.

– Solano County: Number of claims, 19; number of claims resulting in total loss, zero; direct incurred losses, $246,389; amount paid to date, $171,955.

– Sonoma County: Number of claims, 1,595; number of claims resulting in total loss, 127; direct incurred losses, $480,328,308; amount paid to date, $128,853,110.

The latest report is the result of a formal data call in which more than 260 insurers reported their total claims as of Dec. 1 and includes the destruction and damage for more than 21,000 homes, 2,800 businesses, and more than 6,100 private autos, commercial vehicles, and 788 losses involving other lines of insurance such as agricultural equipment and watercraft.

Commissioner Jones visited the wildfire zones throughout Northern California and met with residents at local assistance centers where he heard first-hand the harrowing stories of loss from victims who escaped with only minutes to spare.

Jones took extraordinary steps to assist wildfire victims by dispatching detectives from the department's law enforcement team to educate residents about how to avoid being victimized by scam artists who prey on vulnerable residents after disasters and sending consumer services teams to every local assistance center to personally meet with consumers and help them begin the claims process and answer insurance-related questions.

As of Dec. 1, the department's consumer services team assisted more than 2,000 individuals across the state, the majority of which were in Northern California.

On Dec. 9, the Department of Insurance will host the Insurance Recovery Workshop for North Bay residents at the Glaser Center-Unitarian Universalist Church in Santa Rosa from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The workshop will include department experts and insurers to provide wildfire victims with one-on-one assistance with their specific insurance claim questions.

Consumers will also find experts from the Contractors State License Board and FEMA offering assistance, as they work toward recovering and rebuilding their homes and their lives.

Consumers that have any difficulty with their insurer will find the department's consumer services team stands ready to assist at 800-927-4357.

The department has recovered more than $300 million dollars for consumers since Jones took office in 2011.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Clearlake Animal Control has three dogs waiting for new homes this week.

This week’s available dogs include mixes of shepherd and pit bull.

To meet the animals, call Clearlake Animal Control at 707-994-8201 and speak to Marcia at Extension 103 or call Extension 118, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday, or leave a message at any other time.

Below are this week's available pets.

‘Clyde’

“Clyde” is a male pit bull terrier with a short coat.

Shelter staff said Clyde is a staff favorite. He likes to play with toys, likes to go for walks and loves to smile.

He is one of the dogs that came in after the Sulphur fire, and he needs a home with lots of love.

‘Nellie’

“Nellie” is a female shepherd mix with a short tan coat.

Shelter staff said she is sweet and very smart.

‘Teddy’

“Teddy” is a male shepherd mix with a long black and tan coats.

Shelter staff said he is ready for his new family.

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. – The disaster recovery center, or DRC, that opened in Lake County following the Sulphur fire will close at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 9.

The DRC, jointly operated by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, is located at the Clearlake Senior Community Center at 3245 Bowers Ave. in Clearlake.

The center will remain open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Friday, Dec. 8, and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9.

Residents of Butte, Lake, Mendocino, Napa, Nevada, Orange, Sonoma and Yuba counties who had damage and losses caused by the wildfires in October can register for disaster assistance or get help with their application by going online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. Applicants who use 711 or Video Relay Service may call 800-621-3362. The toll-free numbers are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.

Survivors can continue to receive in-person help at the local assistance center in Napa County and three other DRCs in Mendocino and Sonoma counties.

To find the closest DRC, go online at www.fema.gov/drc or text 43362 with the message DRC and your ZIP Code. Standard message and data rates apply.

The deadline to register for disaster assistance is Monday, Dec. 11.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – A Napa County woman was arrested on Wednesday for setting wildland fires near Lake Berryessa.

At 6:30 a.m. Wednesday Cal Fire law enforcement officers and Napa County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Debra Ann Windholz, age 59, of Napa for committing arson to forest land.

Officials said Windholz was booked into the Napa County Jail on 11 counts of arson to forest land and is being held on $500,000 bail.

Windholz is suspected of lighting wildland fires around the north end of Lake Berryessa, Cal Fire reported.

Cal Fire said Windholz was not responsible for any of the devastating fires that began during the night of Oct. 8 across Napa, Sonoma and Lake counties.

“We will not tolerate arson of any type and will track down those suspected of causing harm to our communities,” said Cal Fire Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit Chief Shana Jones.

The investigations into the origin and cause of the October Fires are ongoing, as investigators continue to work to conclude their investigations, Cal Fire reported.

Cal Fire said residents should be vigilant in their preparedness and aware of suspicious persons when a fire does start. Suspicious activity should be reported including the time, individual’s physical description, and a vehicle description, including the license plate number. Always contact law enforcement, never approach a suspicious person.

Anyone with information about arson is urged to contact the Cal Fire Arson Hotline at 1-800-468-4408. Callers can remain anonymous.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – A Northshore man who fought with deputies during a domestic violence call shortly before one of them died in late August has reached a plea with the District Attorney’s Office.

Alex Michael Castillo, 22, of Nice pleaded guilty to making threats, resisting an officer, felony child endangerment and felony inflicting corporal injury on another person with a prior conviction, according to District Attorney Don Anderson.

On Aug. 22, Lakeport Police officers and Lake County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a domestic violence call in the city of Lakeport where Castillo had assaulted his girlfriend and tried to walk off with his young child, as Lake County News has reported.

Deputies Nate Newton and Rob Rumfelt struggled with Castillo and apprehended him. A short time later, as he was leaving the scene in his patrol vehicle, Rumfelt crashed into a tree. He was transported to Sutter Lakeside Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Castillo initially had been arrested for manslaughter on the theory that the struggle may have led Rumfelt to having a medical emergency such as a heart attack, but Anderson concluded that pursuing such charges would be difficult to prove.

Instead, Anderson’s office moved forward with the domestic violence case against Castillo, who previously was convicted of assaulting the same woman.

When he’s sentenced, Castillo – who has remained in jail since his August arrest – faces a maximum of five years and eight months in prison, “which is what we will be arguing for,” Anderson said.

Anderson said he is still working to complete his investigation and findings on the cause of Rumfelt’s death.

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. – Mendocino College invites all Mendocino and Lake County residents to join the annual strategic planning retreat.

A community forum will be held on Thursday, Dec. 7, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Mendocino College Little Theatre on the Ukiah Campus.

Who should attend this forum?

This forum is open to all Lake and Mendocino County residents, community agencies, local business employees and owners, and all other community members interested in the offerings at Mendocino College. Mendocino College would like to hear from you.

Additionally, Mendocino College will be hosting forums for specific community groups as outlined below.

Thursday, Dec. 7

AMERICAN INDIAN FORUM: Thursday, Dec. 7, 10 to 11:30 a.m., Mendocino College Little Theatre. Who should attend? For American Indians, members of the native communities, tribal council chairs and council members, community agencies, advocates, tribal education staff, and agencies serving the American Indian community.

STUDENT FORUM: Thursday, Dec. 7, 12:30 to 2 p.m., Mendocino College Little Theatre. Who should attend? For students who attend Mendocino College and students who attend any high school in Lake and Mendocino counties.

LATINO FORUM: Thursday, Dec. 7, 3:30 to 5 p.m., Mendocino College Room 1200, MacMillan Hall. Who should attend? Members of the Latino community, community agencies, advocates, and all members of organizations serving our native Spanish speakers.

Friday, Dec. 8

BUSINESS FORUM: Friday, Dec. 8, 7 to 8:30 a.m., Mendocino College Board Room. Who should attend? For business owners, residents of Lake and Mendocino Counties who own businesses, those who are employed locally, Chamber members and staff, local business assistance agencies.

EDUCATORS FORUM: Friday, Dec. 8, 9:30 to 11 a.m., Mendocino College Board Room. Who should attend? For educational leaders, K-12 teachers and administrators, Mendocino College faculty and administrators, advocates, counselors and community agencies involved in education.

If you find you also serve one of the above groups listed, please join the Mendocino-Lake Community College District in developing a long-term vision for their future and the future of those they serve.

For more information, please call 707-468-3012.

Mendocino College is located at 1000 Hensley Creek Road in Ukiah.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A Clearlake man was arrested early Tuesday morning after he struggled with Clearlake Police officers and was found in possession of weapons, including a concealed handgun, and methamphetamine.

Officers arrested 21-year-old David Allen Haugens, according to Sgt. Rodd Joseph.

Just after 3:15 a.m. Tuesday Officer Michael Perreault observed a suspicious white van parked at the Flyers gas station, located at 15010 Lakeshore Drive in Clearlake, occupied by two males and a female, Joseph said.

He said the vehicle had exempt license plates and “Union City Police” on the rear door of the vehicle. The vehicle came back registered to Konocti Unified School District with expired registration several years old.

Perreault also recognized the person seated in the driver’s seat of the vehicle as 25-year-old Clearlake resident Sean Damico. Joseph said Perreault knew that Damico had an active misdemeanor warrant for his arrest.

Perreault and Officer Mauricio Barreto contacted the three occupants of the vehicle. The female, who was seated in the right front passenger seat, was found to be on active California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Parole for burglary. The rear passenger was identified as Haugens, Joseph said.

Joseph said Damico and Haugens were both removed from the vehicle. While Perreault was dealing with Damico and his warrant, Barreto was speaking with Haugens.

Barreto conducted a pat search for weapons on Haugens and upon doing so, immediately felt a concealed firearm inside Haugens’ right front jacket pocket. As Barreto attempted to seize the firearm, Haugens attempted to flee on foot and began reaching towards the area where the weapon was concealed, Joseph said.

Fearing that the suspect was going to flee or arm himself with the firearm, Barreto took Haugens to the ground and threw several strikes to Haugens’ face. Joseph said Perreault came to Barreto’s aid and the two officers were able to take Haugens into custody.

Joseph said the officers found a loaded .22-caliber revolver inside Haugens’ jacket pocket. An additional search of Haugens’ clothing upon arrest yielded approximately 2.3 grams of suspected methamphetamine.

A search of the vehicle was conducted and an illegal billy club and large fixed blade knife were discovered inside and located where Haugens had been sitting. Haugens admitted to possessing the knife and billy club, Joseph said.

Joseph said Haugens was discovered to be under the influence of a central nervous system stimulant, most likely methamphetamine, and was additionally charged.

Damico was arrested for his misdemeanor warrant and released on citation at the scene. The female subject in the van was searched as a condition of her parole, but was not charged. She was subsequently released, Joseph said.

Both Haugens and Barreto suffered injuries as a result of the confrontation, were treated at Adventist Health Clear Lake and subsequently released, Joseph said.

After obtaining medical treatment, Joseph said Haugens was transported to the Lake County Jail for booking.

Joseph said Haugens was changed with felony violations including possessing a concealed firearm, carrying a loaded firearm, possession of a controlled substance while armed with a firearm, being under the influence of a controlled substance while armed with a firearm, obstructing/resisting officer, carrying dirk or dagger, possession of a billy club and armed with a firearm during the commission of a felony, and a single misdemeanor violation of possession of a controlled substance.

Jail records showed that Haugens’ bail was set at $65,000. He remained in custody early Wednesday, and is scheduled to be arraigned in Lake County Superior Court later in the day.

The case will be referred to the Lake County District Attorney’s Office for filing, Joseph said.

NORTH COAST, Calif. – An Upper Lake woman was arrested in Willits last week after a deputy sheriff found her to be in possession of tear gas and drugs.

Dakota Quayle, 28, was arrested on Thursday night, according to a report from Capt. Greg Van Patten.

At 10 p.m. Nov. 30 a deputy was patrolling the area of the Sherwood Valley Casino located at 100 Kawi Place in Willits when the deputy contacted a subject standing near the entrance of the parking lot, Van Patten said.

Van Patten said the subject was identified as Quayle, who was found to be on probation in Lake County for charges of possession of a controlled substance and recent use of a controlled substance.

During the investigation, the deputy noticed that Quayle was exhibiting signs and symptoms of recently using a controlled substance. After an evaluation, Van Patten said the deputy determined Quayle was under the influence of a controlled substance and placed her under arrest.

During a search of Quayle's person and property incident to arrest, Van Patten said the deputy located drug paraphernalia, tear gas (or pepper spray) and a usable amount of a controlled substance. From further examining the tear gas weapon, the Deputy noticed that part of the label had been removed where the serial number would be located.

Quayle was additionally charged with unlawful possession of a tear gas weapon, possession of an altered/changed tear gas weapon, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia, Van Patten said.

Van Patten said Quayle was subsequently booked into the Mendocino County Jail where she was to be held in lieu of $15,000 bail.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The city of Clearlake reported that it completed its Ridgeview guardrail project last week.

The project was an installation of guardrail along Old Highway 53 and Ridgeview Avenue, officials said.

There have been several incidents of motorists driving off the road at this location, and the city reported that residents had requested a guardrail be installed to help protect the homes
in that area.

Midstate Barrier was the lowest responsible bidder on the project, with a bid of $25,250, the city reported.

“We’ve been looking forward to getting this project done for quite a while,” said City Manager Greg Folsom. “This project increases the safety along this section of Old Highway 53 significantly and we were pleased with how quickly the contractor was able to complete the project.”

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Sheriff’s Office has taken a Clearlake man into custody for a series of vehicle burglaries that occurred in October.

Jeremy James Evans, 33, was arrested last week, according to a report from Lt. Corey Paulich.

Paulich said that on Oct. 22 two separate victims made reports to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, reporting their vehicles had been broken into while they were hiking in the Anderson Marsh area in Lower Lake.

The victims had cash and credit cards stolen from their vehicles. Paulich said they provided information that the credit cards had been used at Walmart and Cheaper Cigarettes in Clearlake.

The deputy handling the investigation went to Cheaper Cigarettes and was able to obtain a photo of the suspect and suspect vehicle description, Paulich said.

On Oct. 29, another victim reported his vehicle had been broken into the previous day while he was hiking in the area of the Redbud Trail Complex near Highway 20 and the Cache Creek Bridge, according to Paulich.

Paulich said the victim had cash and credit cards stolen from his vehicle. The victim was able to provide information that his credit card had been used on Oct, 28 at Mendo Mill and Walmart in Clearlake. The deputy handling the investigation was able to obtain a photo of the suspect from Mendo Mill.

On Nov. 22, the victim received information that the suspect was Jeremy Evans. Paulich said the deputy was able to confirm that Evans appeared to be the suspect from Mendo Mill.

On Nov. 29, a Lake County Sheriff’s deputy conducted a traffic enforcement stop on a 2008 Ford Escape. Paulich said the deputy contacted the driver of the vehicle who identified himself as Evans.

The vehicle Evans was driving matched the suspect vehicle description from Cheaper Cigarettes, Paulich said.

During the traffic stop, deputies were able to determine Evans was on searchable probation out of Alameda County, according to Paulich’s report.

Paulich said deputies went to Evans’ residence, located in the 4200 block on Snook Avenue in the city of Clearlake, and conducted a probation search.

During the search, Paulich said deputies located clothing that Evans had been wearing when he fraudulently used the stolen credit cards from the auto burglaries. The deputies also located several items that had been purchased with the stolen credit cards.

Evans was arrested and transported to the Lake County Jail where he was booked into custody for burglary, use of an access card without consent, grand theft, acquiring access card without card holder’s consent and vandalism, Paulich said.

Evans, whose booking sheet lists his occupation as vineyard employee, remains in custody on $15,000 bail.

He is tentatively scheduled to appear in Lake County Superior Court for arraignment on Tuesday.