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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
Vicente Zeta Colacion, 32, was shot to death near the seawall in Library Park on Friday night.
Colacion was a poet and visual artist. In honor of his life and memory, community members have organized two upcoming events.
From 6:30 to 9 p.m. Friday, the Middletown Art Center’s open mic event will be dedicated to Colacion. Readers and singers are welcome to perform in his memory.
“MAC mourns the loss of powerfully intense and moving Lake County poetry artist Vicente Zeta Colacion. Gone too young, too soon, too tragically. Vicente read many a visceral poem at the MAC over the years. Always impressive. Always physically vibrational. Speckled with brilliance, desire, need, and lonesomeness,” the center said on its Facebook page.
“Vicente liked to come and read from his phone from time to time. Let's do it for him,” the center said.
Then, on Saturday night, a candlelight vigil will be held from Colacion at Library Park.
The vigil will begin at 7:30 p.m. and take place at the gazebo.
Community members are invited to come and honor him.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
Joshua Jacob Tovar, 33, of Lakeport was arraigned on Tuesday afternoon in Lake County Superior Court, said Chief Deputy District Attorney Rich Watson.
Tovar was arrested Sunday morning for the killing of 32-year-old Vicente Zeta Colacion, also of Lakeport.
Colacion was found unconscious near the seawall in Library Park shortly before 9:30 p.m. Friday. He died at the scene a short time later.
The District Attorney’s Office’s filing against Tovar includes four felony charges: homicide, assault with a firearm, in this case, a handgun; felon in possession of a firearm; and felon in possession of ammunition.
Along with those four main charges are seven special allegations: five for personal and intentional use of a firearm, one for inflicting great bodily injury and the last which outlined the crime’s numerous aggravating factors, including its violence, Tovar being armed and the way it was carried out, indicating it involved planning.
The criminal filing also stated that Tovar has served a prior prison term, and that his previous performance on probation and post release community supervision was “unsatisfactory.”
Tovar’s prior convictions outlined in the complaint document include two each in San Joaquin and Lake counties.
The San Joaquin County felonies, both from October 2012, were for Tovar — while a California Youth Authority inmate — assaulting a person who was not an inmate, and assault with a deadly weapon.
The Lake County felony convictions include a November 2016 conviction for carrying a concealed dirk or dagger and an August 2018 conviction for felony battery on a police officer by gassing, which involves throwing bodily waste on a peace officer.
Along with the homicide case, the District Attorney’s Office on Tuesday filed a second complaint against Tovar, alleging three felonies: possession of a controlled substance with two prior convictions, possession of methamphetamine with two priors and a felon in possession of ammunition, with four priors.
Authorities have so far offered few details of what led to the shooting, but have tied it to a fight earlier in the evening at a downtown bar between Colacion and Parker John Coggins, 27, of Lakeport.
Coggins, who was taken into custody early Saturday, also has a lengthy criminal record. He is being held at the Lake County Jail and was also scheduled for arraignment on Tuesday. His booking sheet shows him as being charged with assault with a deadly weapon that’s not a firearm and a probation violation.
Friends say Colacion was a creative man who wrote poetry and also was a visual artist.
A candlelight vigil for Colacion will be held at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the gazebo in Library Park.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The council will meet at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6, in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.
The agenda can be found here.
The meeting will be broadcast live on the city's YouTube channel or the Lake County PEGTV YouTube Channel.
Community members also can participate via Zoom. The webinar ID is 883 3990 4760, the pass code is 356647. One tap mobile is available at +16694449171,,88339904760#, or join by phone at 669-444-9171 or 253-205-0468.
The council will start the meeting with a presentation of a proclamation declaring February 2025 as Black History Month.
Business items for the meeting include the council’s consideration of several contract awards.
They include:
• The 2025 City Wide Striping Project in the amount of $437,625.50 to Chrisp Co., along with authorizing City Manager Alan Flora to approve up to 10% for additional unforeseen contract amendments.
• The Senior Center Landscape Irrigation Project; no contractor or cost is included in the agenda packet.
• Abandoned Vehicle Abatement Program towing, storing, dismantling and disposal services contract, proposed to be awarded to Alvarez Performance LLC; a total contract amount was not reported.
• A contract with Case Excavating for $229,400 for the demolition and abatement of properties located at 16140 Dam Road, 16272 32nd Ave., 16116 33rd Ave., 13790 Sonoma Ave., 3273 11th St., 6347 Armijo Ave., 14045 Hale St., 14053 Hale St., 14236 Hale St., 3014 Fifth St., 13535 Santa Clara Ave., 5740 Hale Ave., 16026 25th Ave., 3971 Pine Ave. and 3783 Cedar Ave.
The council also will review its norms and procedures.
On the meeting's consent agenda — items that are considered routine in nature and usually adopted on a single vote — are warrants; minutes; continuation of the director of emergency services/city manager proclamation declaring a local emergency for the Boyles Fire; adopt resolution to approve allocation and execution of Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Grant Agreement for 2017/18 disasters; closeout of 20-Community Development Block Grant-CV1-00184 Senior Community Center Kitchen Remodel and submit the closeout package; and approval of Amendment No. 1 to consultant services agreement with Government Finance Services LLC for a new total of $60,000.
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- Written by: LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
The district office will be open to walk-in traffic Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon to allow for paperwork drop off and limited services.
The agency said its district office was closed to walk-in traffic in September due to a staffing shortage.
“The district has not fully resolved our staffing shortage, however we are reopening with limited days and hours,” said Air Pollution Control Officer Doug Gearhart.
Gearhart advised the community that intermittent office closures may occur during these times due to ongoing staffing shortage. Appointments are still recommended to ensure staff is available to assist members of the public. The district asks that the public call its office to schedule an appointment.
Burn permits are required for all outdoor burning in the Lake County Air Basin. Residential and agricultural burn permits can be obtained online at www.lcaqmd.net or by appointment at the district office.
A smoke management plan burn permit is required for multi-day burns, overnight burns, standing vegetation burns, whole tree or vine removal, burns over 20 acres in one day, and any other burn where significant smoke impacts may occur or sensitive receptors may be impacted and can be obtained at the district office. Appointments are required for smoke management plans.
Requests for county or city building and demolition permit sign-offs can be submitted in person at the district office or to its general email at
Additionally, a drop box is generally available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the district office if you wish to drop off documents.
To obtain applications, forms and more information visit www.lcaqmd.net.
“We appreciate your support during this difficult time,” Gearhart said.
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