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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Firefighters were able to contain two small wildland fires before they reached homes on Thursday evening.
The fires were first reported after 6 p.m. along Mission Rancheria Road.
Lakeport Fire Chief Ken Wells said the main fire, which burned about seven acres, was on the west side of Mission Rancheria Road on Big Valley Rancheria in a heavily wooded area with a lot of grass and cattails, betwee
n some nearby homes and Konocti Vista Casino.
The second blaze, which he said was a spot fire from the main fire, was on the east side of Mission Rancheria Road. He said it burned about a quarter of an acre.
In addition to Lakeport and Kelseyville Fire personnel, Wells said Northshore Fire and Cal Fire also responded. The California Highway Patrol was called for traffic control on Soda Bay Road.
Wells said the fire had the potential for spreading and reaching structures on Sod
a Bay Road. “We didn’t know what we were going to have there for awhile.”
Reports from the scene had indicated that the main fire was contained at 7 p.m. and the spot fire was controlled.
Wells said firefighters cleared the scene at about 9 p.m.
The fires remain under investigation.
“We’ve had a couple fires in there already this year,” he said,noting the area is well traveled and a popular place to hang out for tribal members.
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SPORTS: Quickness prevails in the early season; Cardinals and Cougars should win in close encounters
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- Written by: Rich Mellott
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – In the collision sport of football, size has always mattered. But for Lake County teams this season, the benefits of bulk have been overshadowed by the qualities of quick.
The Middletown Mustangs (2-1), the county’s best team, is also the county’s quickest.
“We’re small, so we’d better be quick,” coach Bill Foltmer said before the season started.
This week, as his team prepared for Friday night’s league opener at home against heftier Lower Lake (0-3), the Mustangs’ coach seemed to be downplaying the speed factor when he said, “Quickness is what you talk about when you don’t have any size.”
But you get the feeling that Foltmer wouldn’t trade in this new sports car of a team he’s driving this season – imagine a BMW Z4 convertible – for one of those nice Buicks or Lincolns he’s coached in past years.
In fact, the Delaware wing-T offense he runs requires quick linemen to get outside to lead the sweep or to dart left or right to “trap” a defense lineman.
Sleek and swift – maybe this will turn into Foltmer’s dream team. Especially if it can out-quick the allegedly mercurial St. Helena Saints (3-0) in the game that will probably decide the NCL championship on Oct. 12.
It’s difficult to downplay the Mustangs’ team speed, which gave powerful (in a quick kind of way) Salesian a scare before falling 7-3, and then, in a classic matchup of speed vs. size, dominated Upper Lake, 28-8.
At least two other NCL I teams are relying on quickness to be competitive this season, partly because their size probably won’t win them any games.
Kelseyville is small and Clear Lake is even smaller. Both take 2-1 records into their openers Friday night against beefier opponents, the Knights visiting Willits and the Cards traveling to Fort Bragg.
Kelseyville rolled to its second straight victory last week, 38-0 over Esparto, which should have been an indication that the Knights, who have talent and speed at the skill positions, might be a factor in the NCL I title chase.
But that optimism and momentum faded quickly with the news that quarterback John Mark Reagan – team leader, running threat, passing threat, solid defensive back – will be out six to eight weeks with a broken collar bone.
Also injured in the Esparto game was running back Dasan Vasquez, who’s expected to miss one to three games with a high ankle sprain.
If there’s a surprise team in the county, it’s the undersized Clear Lake Cardinals, whose most impressive outing may have been the season-opening loss to Durham.
They’ve dominated inferior opponents Stellar Prep and South Fork in subsequent victories, all the while demonstrating impressive balance on offense and intelligence on defense.
While the county’s flyweight teams have enjoyed a measure of success, the two biggest teams have struggled. Lower Lake’s problem has been a ridiculously tough schedule, which doesn’t get any easier this week in its NCL I opener at Middletown.
Upper Lake (1-2), along with some lapses in intensity, has had some scheduling issues, having to play two games in five days (against strong teams from Middletown and Portola).
But the Cougars can get back on track with a victory in their NCL II-Bay football opener at California School for the Deaf (Fremont), before getting on with what should be an interesting battle with Tomales and St. Vincent for the league title.
Here the previews and predictions for this week:
Clear Lake (2-1) at Fort Bragg (2-1), Friday, 7:30 p.m. This could be the best of the season-openers. For a team lacking in manpower, the Cards have a lot of different weapons, including QB quarterback Ken Henninger, RBs Andre Buendia, Luke Punzalan and Vince Rave, and receivers Zuhuri Manley and David Mansell. CL has also shined on defense and special teams. If the Cardinals can avoid the turnovers they’ve been known to make, they’ll prevail in what should be a close game. Prediction: Clear Lake 21, Fort Bragg 13.
St. Helena (3-0) at Cloverdale (0-3), Friday, 7:30 p.m. The Eagles, who’ve played some decent teams close, might get a win or two in league, but the Saints, with the best QB in the league and excellent team speed, are on a roll. Prediction: St. Helena 34, Cloverdale 7.
Kelseyville (2-1) at Willits (2-1), Friday, 7:30 p.m. Any chance the Knights had of upsetting the Wolverines probably evaporated when QB John Mark Reagan was injured in last week’s win over Esparto. Willits’ defense is tested-tough. Prediction: Willits 27, Kelseyville 8.
Upper Lake (1-2) at CSD (3-0), Friday, 7 p.m. The Cougars, who lost two games in 5 days, should be ready to mount an NCL II/Bay Football title drive. Prediction: Upper Lake 33, CSD 27.
Lower Lake (0-3) at Middletown (2-1), Friday, 7:30 p.m.: Middletown has a star on the rise in junior running back Arthur Benson. Senior QB Ben Pike’s ability to scramble away from pressure has helped the Mustang passing game (along with Pike’s rushing totals). Tyler Drew, injured in the Upper Lake game, will resume his kicking duties this week, and also should get some carries at RB. … For Lower Lake, tall and athletic Thomas Cross has been QB Richard Tucker’s favorite target, and look for the Trojans to try isolate him up against one of Middletown’s smaller DBs. Prediction: Middletown 40, Lower Lake 7.
Prediction record: Last week: 7-0. Season: 16-2.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Sheriff’s Office reported on Thursday that members of its force will be working with the federal government on drug-related investigations.
Sgt. Steve Brooks said that effective Oct. 1 two of the agency’s narcotic detectives will be cross-deputized as Drug Enforcement Administration Task Force officers.
Their assignment will be to investigate narcotics-related offenses on a federal level, according to Brooks.
Brooks said the cross-deputized detectives will seek federal prosecution of major drug offenses occurring within Lake County and the surrounding region.
The DEA was among several regional, state and federal agencies that assisted the Lake County Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force in serving seven search warrants in Middletown and Upper Lake earlier this week.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Local officials responded to a report of strong chemical smells in a Clearlake neighborhood on Thursday morning.
Neighbors reported waking up early Thursday to the smell of heavy chemicals coming from a mobile home in the 4300 block of Hill Avenue.
Lake County Fire Chief Willie Sapeta said his agency received a report about the situation at about 10 a.m.
He said firefighters responded to the scene, with Lake County Air Quality Management District and Lake County Environmental Health staffers also sent to the scene. Clearlake Police also were reported to have responded.
“We found some trace amounts of solvents,” Sapeta said.
None of the solvents and old waste oils they found were in quantities large enough to constitute a health hazard, but were more of a nuisance, according to Sapeta.
He said the resident on whose property the solvents were found was given directions about the materials and firefighters cleared the scene after about an hour.
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