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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – A retired local postmaster has come forward to claim his multimillion dollar prize in the California State Lottery.
Antonio Velasquez, 69, of Clearlake Oaks was one of two lucky ticket holders in last Saturday’s SuperLotto Plus $28 million jackpot.
The winning numbers were 3, 4, 27, 30, 39, plus the Mega number of 3.
Velasquez was introduced as the winner at a Tuesday afternoon press conference held at the California State Lottery offices in Sacramento.
Velasquez will split the $28 million jackpot with the holder of a ticket purchased in Milpitas, who so far has not claimed their prize. Lottery officials said each ticket is worth an estimated cash option amount of $10.3 million.
He purchased the SuperLotto Plus ticket at the Red and White Store on Highway 20 in Clearlake Oaks last week. Thanks to being the retailer of the winning ticket, the store is set to receive $70,000.
It was Velasquez’s son, Tony, who told him that someone who bought their ticket at Oaks Red & White Store had won the SuperLotto Plus jackpot on Saturday night, according to a California State Lottery statement.
Velasquez was quick to call his wife, who is in Greece, but he didn’t tell her the whole story. “She knows I won, she just doesn’t know how much,” he explained.
He said he plans to use the money to help his four children and eight grandchildren, and also will donate money to a couple of his favorite charities.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A Lower Lake man who led police on a high speed chase last Sunday night has been arrested.
William Lefferts, 41, was taken into custody on Wednesday morning, according to Clearlake Police Sgt. Rodd Joseph.
Lefferts had led officers on a high speed chase through residential neighborhoods late Sunday night after an officer who recognized him as being a wanted parolee tried to pull him over, as Lake County News has reported.
Due to safety concerns, officers ended the chase, but later located the black Ford Ranger pickup Lefferts had been driving during the chase in the area of 19th Avenue.
On Wednesday at approximately 9:44 a.m. Officer Bradlee Middleton was on patrol in the area of 19th and Oak avenues when he spotted Lefferts walking in the area, Joseph said.
Middletown knew Lefferts was wanted in connection with the felony high speed vehicle pursuit on Sunday, and also was aware that Lefferts had a felony parole hold warrant for his arrest, according to Joseph.
Joseph said Middleton attempted to contact Lefferts, who fled on foot.
Middleton chased Lefferts for approximately two blocks and caught Lefferts in the wooded area between St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake and 18th Avenue, Joseph said.
While Middleton was attempting to arrest Lefferts, Joseph said Lefferts discarded a large knife, which is a prohibited weapon pursuant to his parole terms.
Lefferts was charged with felony evading, driving on a suspended license, resisting a police officer, a parole violation and his felony parole hold, and was booked into the Lake County Jail.
Any person with information about a crime that has occurred in the city of Clearlake is asked to contact the Clearlake Police Department at 707-994-8251. Callers may remain anonymous.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A Clearlake school was briefly locked down on Wednesday afternoon in response to a report of what was believed to be gunshots in the area.
The precautionary lockdown occurred at Burns Valley School, according to Lt. Tim Celli of the Clearlake Police Department.
Celli said police were notified at 12:50 p.m. that a school employee heard what they believed to be gunshots in the area of Walnut Avenue near Pine Avenue.
As a precautionary measure, Burns Valley School officials initiated a school lockdown, said Celli.
Celli said Clearlake Police officers responded and checked the school and surrounding areas. The area check did not reveal the source of the alleged gunshots.
He said the school grounds, children and employees were all determined to be safe and the school campus was reopened at approximately 1:11 p.m.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
NORTH COAST, Calif. – Firefighters on Tuesday dramatically increased the containment on a fire burning since the previous day in Mendocino County.
The Flynn Fire, which started Monday afternoon along Flynn Creek Road and Comptche Ukiah Road near the community of Comptche, was held at 200 acres on Tuesday, with Cal Fire reporting that containment was up to 40 percent.
Fire crews were busy Tuesday constructing and improving containment line, and conducting heavy mop up 150 feet inside the fire line, Cal Fire reported.
Fire officials expect the fire to be fully contained by Friday.
After burning five structures in its first day, the Flynn Fire – which still was posing a threat to another 70 buildings – had not reached any other structures on Tuesday.
Approximately 765 firefighting personnel, 47 engines, 29 fire crews, four air tankers, one helicopter, five bulldozers and 11 water tenders were assigned to the Flynn Fire, Cal Fire said.
Cal Fire said the cause of the blaze remains under investigation.
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