How to resolve AdBlock issue? 
News
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Firefighters responded to a burning travel trailer and downed power lines in Clearlake on Thursday night.
The fire was was reported at about 8:25 p.m. Thursday in the 5900 block of Cottage Avenue at Mohican Place, according to reports from the scene.
Lake County Fire Protection District Chief Willie Sapeta said the fire was in a travel trailer that had been abandoned on the corner of Mohican Place.
At the scene, Sapeta said firefighters found the trailer was almost completely burned by the time they arrived.
In addition, there were downed power lines that were arcing. He said the trailer fire led to the downed lines.
Initially Sapeta had requested Cal Fire to respond, but that mutual aid request later was canceled.
Reports from the scene indicated that the fire was contained at 8:46 p.m., with 20 minutes of overhaul needed.
Sapeta said they got the fire knocked down with two engines and about six firefighters.
He said the cause of the fire is under investigation.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
- Details
- Written by: Lake County News reports
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – A reckless driving report last week led to the arrest of a Kelseyville couple found to have a large marijuana growing operation at their home and another property.
Traci Krista Goodroe, 31, and Zeb Charles Goodroe, 36, of Kelseyville were arrested in connection to the case, according to the California Highway Patrol’s Clear Lake Area office.
The CHP said that at 12:02 p.m. Nov. 7 Ukiah CHP Communications Center broadcast a “be on the lookout” from a 911 call of a reckless driver in a green Ford pickup headed northbound on Highway 29 from Lower Lake.
The Ford had reportedly hit cones in a construction zone, was weaving and driving into oncoming traffic. The CHP said a short time later the Ford turned onto Highway 281 where it ran off the road and collided with an embankment.
A witness who had been following the Ford saw a solo male driver, later identified as Zeb Goodroe, exit the Ford with a shotgun. The CHP said Goodroe, originally from Ohio, now lives in Kelseyville.
CHP officers responded and arrived on scene at approximately 12:14 p.m. as Zeb Goodroe was removing items from the wrecked Ford F-150.
Also at the scene was his wife, Traci Goodroe. The CHP said a loaded shotgun was found in her vehicle.
Zeb Goodroe exhibited signs and symptoms of drug impairment and was taken into custody. The CHP said he was covered in marijuana resin and the Ford had evidence inside linking him to a possible marijuana grow off of Morgan Valley Road and possibly at his residence in the Clear Lake Rivieras.
The Lake County Narcotics Task Force was contacted with the information regarding a potential marijuana grow at Goodroe's residence.
Using information developed by CHP officers in this investigation, the LCNTF was able to obtain search warrants for the Goodroes’ home and of a property in Lower Lake resulting in multiple arrests and a large seizure of processed marijuana.
Traci Goodroe later was booked into the Lake County Jail on felony charges of possessing marijuana for sale, selling or furnishing hashish and committing a felony while armed with a firearm, and misdemeanors of destroying or concealing evidence and giving false information to a peace officer. Her bail was set at $15,000.
Zeb Goodroe was booked on felonies charges of possessing marijuana for sale, selling or furnishing hashish, committing a felony while armed with a firearm, carrying a loaded firearm in public and obstructing or resisting an executive officer, and misdemeanor charges of being under the influence of controlled substances, resisting a peace office and driving under the influence. His bail was set at $25,000.
Both Traci and Zeb Goodroe later posted bail and were released, according to their booking sheets. They are set to next appear in court Jan. 29.
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Forecasters are predicting wet weather this weekend and into the Thanksgiving holiday week for Lake County.
The National Weather Service said two storms systems are expected to move through interior Northern California from Friday through Sunday.
Lake County is predicted to have rain beginning on Friday and lasting through Saturday night, with daily rain amounts ranging as high as half an inch to three quarters of an inch.
The forecast calls for breezy and gusty southernly winds to accompany the rain, possibly lasting into Monday. Winds on Friday and Saturday are expected to be between 8 and 17 miles per hour.
After the two main storm systems pass, still more rain is possible, with the Lake County forecast calling for a chance of showers beginning on Sunday and lasting through Thanksgiving.
Nighttime lows are forecast to be in the high 30s, with daytime highs in the high 40s, the National Weather Service said.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
- Details
- Written by: Lake County News reports
CHICO, Calif. – In the wake of a fatal alcohol overdose by one of its students, on Thursday California State University, Chico said it would immediately suspend all social Greek letter organizations on campus until further notice.
Chico State President Paul Zingg made the announcement in a noon meeting with approximately 400 fraternity and sorority members in the Bell Memorial Union Auditorium on the CSU, Chico campus.
Earlier in the day, the Chico Police Department had reported that the death of 21-year-old Chico State student Mason Lee Sumnicht was believed to have resulted from alcohol poisoning.
Sumnicht, who reportedly had been pledging the Sigma Pi fraternity, had been celebrating his 21st birthday on the night of Nov. 3 at a number of downtown bars. Just before 1:30 a.m. Nov. 4 firefighters and police were dispatched to the 400 block of Hazel Street where they found him unresponsive, police said.
He was hospitalized and reported to be in stable and critical condition. On Thursday the Chico Police Department said it had been notified of his death.
Vice President for Student Affairs Drew Calandrella, who along with Zingg addressed the students at the Thursday meeting, said a number of serious incidents had taken place involving Greek chapters in 2012, including alcohol policy violations, allegations of hazing, alleged assaults and other violations of rules governing Greek life on campus.
While he said some of the fraternities and sororities were “exemplars,” the behavior of others reflected poorly on the entire Greek system and the University as a whole.
The university has approximately 1,200 students in 26 social Greek organizations. The university’s fall 2012 enrollment is 16,470 students.
CSU, Chico said it will communicate with fraternities and sororities at the beginning of the spring 2013 semester about new guidelines chapters must meet to be considered for reinstatement.
Until that time, campus fraternities and sororities may not hold any activities or events and must remove or cover up the Greek letters on their chapter houses.
On Thursday Zingg described in stark terms the dangers of binge drinking, out of control parties and treatment of chapter recruits that constitutes hazing. He said recent examples of these behaviors had tarnished the Greek system on campus and necessitated the suspension of all chapters.
“We need to re-set, review and think about our future together,” Zingg said. “The system has to rise or fall on the commitment of its members.”
Calandrella and Zingg used the analogy of the airline industry, where one serious aircraft problem means the fleet must be grounded until the problem is assessed.
Calandrella said he understood some students were upset about the decision. “I’m asking all of you to reflect on what you stand for,” he said, both as individuals and as organizations. “The question to ask is: Are you committed?”
Calandrella said Student Affairs staff had spoken fraternity and sorority leadership earlier this year warning them that serious violations occurring could bring changes for Greek chapters on campus.
Calandrella said he anticipated some top-flight chapters might not have difficulty meeting new strict guidelines for reinstatement. Regarding other chapters being reinstated, he said, “Some won’t come back – some won’t choose to come back.”
Zingg said he wants a Greek presence on campus, and told the students he was a 45-year member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity.
“I follow them with pride,” he said. But fraternities and sororities must live up to their charters, which stand for scholarship, civility, brotherhood and other values that the University also shares.
“Like it or not, you are leaders on this campus,” he said.