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- Written by: Lake County News reports
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The service of seven search warrants this week in a multiagency drug eradication operation resulted in 17 arrests and nearly 1,600 marijuana plants.
Sgt. Steve Brooks of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office said the warrants were served on four properties in the Jerusalem Valley area near Middletown and three in Upper Lake on Tuesday and Wednesday.
He said the Lake County Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force served the warrants with the assistance of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security, United States Customs, Bureau of Land Management, United States Forest Service, HIDTA, California Highway Patrol, California Department of Fish and Game, Lakeport Police Department, Clearlake Police Department, Marin County Sheriff’s Office, Lake County District Attorney's Office, Lake County Code Enforcement and Lake County Public Works.
On Tuesday, Brooks said the Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force conducted the Jerusalem Valley operation and eradicated 467 marijuana plants.
He said detectives also located a honey oil/hash lab. This method of converting marijuana into hash is extremely dangerous, due to the high risk of explosion. Detectives also located two firearms and a small amount of methamphetamine.
As detectives entered three of the locations, several suspects attempted to flee, said Brooks. A total of seven subjects who had fled were captured and arrested.
Detectives approached a tent located at one of the grow sites, which was occupied. Brooks said the subjects inside refused to comply with instructions to exit the tent, so a United States Forest Service apprehension K9 was deployed. The occupants of the tent were taken into custody without further incident.
Brooks said the following suspects were arrested during the Jerusalem Valley operation: Alex Joel Crespi, 31, of Miami, Fla.; Robert Nelson Garcia, 34, of Venezuela; Raul Adrian Esteva, 37, of Lower Lake, Calif.; Stephanie Lynn Mildred Liscio, 23, of Palm City, Fla; Maxwell Reed Whalen, 21, of Palm City; Molly Grace Dolan, 21, of Middletown, Calif.; Quentin Vernon Rollins, 27, of Middletown; Nicholas James Nobach, 28, of Clearlake, Calif.; Teague Wesley Shaver, 32, of Stateline, Nev.; and Jorge Delgado Melgoza, 37, of Thermal, Calif.
All of the suspects were arrested for marijuana-related charges and transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility and booked, Brooks said.
On Wednesday, Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force conducted the Upper Lake operation and eradicated 1,110 marijuana plants and located a hash conversion lab, Brooks said.
During the search, detectives located one firearm and an underground marijuana growing facility. Brooks said they also seized a bulldozer, tractor, utility vehicle, dump bed trailer, commercial grade electric generator and $2,500, which are all pending asset forfeiture proceedings.
Brooks said the following suspects were arrested during the Upper Lake operation: Jose Maria Fernandez, 55, of Upper Lake, Calif.; Derick Berrelleza Jimenez, 27, of Oakland, Calif.; Rolando Molina Lona, 43, of Napa, Calif.; Anthony David Morrell, 28, of Upper Lake; Manuel Mixteya Meros, 32, of Clearlake; Jesus Hernandez-Guzman, 21, of Clearlake; Javier Becerra, 41, of Clearlake.
He said all of the suspects were arrested for marijuana-related charges and transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility and booked.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office thanked all of the agencies that participated in the dismantling of these large illegal marijuana growing operations.
The Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force can be contacted through its anonymous tip line at 707-263-3663.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Firefighters responded early Thursday evening to two small wildland fires outside of Lakeport.
The fires initially were reported to be on Mission Rancheria Road and Soda Bay Road shortly after 6 p.m.
One of the fires reportedly started to jump a berm and go toward nearby homes, according to radio reports.
Personnel from Lakeport, Kelseyville, Northshore Fire and Cal Fire were among those responding.
The California Highway Patrol was asked to respond to control traffic on Soda Bay Road.
Nearby residents were reported to be out throwing dirt on the fire with shovels.
Just after 7 p.m. incident command reported that the main body of the fire, on the north side of Mission Rancheria Road, was contained, with the second fire, on the south side of the road, controlled.
Additional details will be posted as they become available.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
LAKEPORT, Calif. – One sentinel chicken and three more mosquito samples collected in Lake County tested positive for West Nile Virus this week, making the total findings of the virus in the county this year the highest since 2006.
On Thursday Lake County Vector Control and county health officials reported that a sentinel chicken near Lower Lake tested positive for the virus, and several more positive mosquitoes were collected near Clearlake Oaks and Upper Lake.
So far this year, 18 mosquito samples, five dead birds and the one sentinel chicken have tested positive for West Nile Virus in Lake County, officials reported.
The trend across California also shows an increase in West Nile Virus cases this year, according to state records.
Vector control and health department officials said no human cases of West Nile Virus infection have been reported in Lake County this year.
“The risk of exposure to West Nile Virus in Lake County is the highest we've seen since 2006. Even though we have not seen human cases of illness so far, my goal is to keep that number at zero,” said Lake County Health Officer Dr. Karen Tait.
Tait reminded county residents that it’s “important to take precautions against mosquito bites until the mosquito season is well behind us.”
“There is still a lot of West Nile Virus activity throughout the county, and residents can help protect themselves and their neighbors by getting rid of standing water where mosquitoes develop,” said Jamesina Scott, Ph.D., the district manager and research director of the Lake County Vector Control District.
Scott encouraged residents to spend a few minutes in their yards this afternoon to look for standing water where mosquitoes develop.
“You can dump out small containers like plastic wading pools or buckets, or call the district for free mosquito fish for containers that you cannot drain like ornamental ponds and out-of-service swimming pools,” she said. “These are simple and environmentally friendly ways to prevent mosquitoes around your home.”
Officials encourage residents to protect themselves from mosquito bites by avoiding being outside at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active, and to wear long sleeves and use an insect repellant containing an EPA-registered active ingredient like DEET, Picaridin, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus, or IR353.
One neglected (“green”) pool can produce hundreds of thousands mosquitoes per week, and those mosquitoes can fly up to five miles away.
The Lake County Vector Control District traps and tests mosquitoes throughout the county to identify the areas that have the highest risk, and targets those areas for source reduction and treatment using an integrated vector management program.
Residents with questions, who want to report a green pool, request mosquitofish or want help with a mosquito problem should contact the Lake County Vector Control District at 707-263-4770 or visit their Web site at www.lcvcd.org .
For more information about West Nile virus, visit www.westnile.ca.gov/ .
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LOWER LAKE, Calif. – Wine giant E. & J. Gallo Winery has made its first property purchase in Lake County, buying one of the area’s well-known Cabernet Sauvignon producers.
Gallo spokesperson Susan Hensley confirmed to Lake County News that the corporation purchased Snows Lake Vineyard, located in Lower Lake. She said sale terms were not being disclosed.
The land purchase includes 2,000 acres, of which 800 are planted, Hensley said.
“It’s part of our strategy to be in all of the premier winegrowing areas in California,” Hensley said.
Hensley said Gallo looks forward to working with Snows Lake’s customers.
Another Gallo spokesperson, Loree Stroup, confirmed that it’s the corporation’s first land purchase in Lake County.
George Myers, whose family developed the vineyard, said he had no comment on the sale at this time.
Lake County Assessor-Recorder Doug Wacker said the sale recorded last Friday afternoon.
He said there were numerous parcels included in the total acreage, with a 100-percent change of ownership from several entities – Ojai Ranch & Investment Co., Miracle Land Co. and Snows Lake Vineyard – to Gallo Vineyards Inc.
Wacker said a form can be filled out to avoid disclosure of sales prices, and that was done in this transaction.
However, Wacker said, “It’s a pretty significant sale.”
Monica Rosenthal, executive director, Lake County Winery Association, welcomed Gallo to Lake County.
“We’re excited to have Gallo here in Lake County,” Rosenthal said. “It will be fun working with them.”
She said they are sorry to lose Snows Lake, which has been a supporting member of the association. “We hope we have a similar relationship with Gallo.”
Shannon Gunier, president of the Lake County Winegrape Commission, said having Lake County recognized as a premier winegrape producing region, and therefore a draw for big players like Gallo, was a positive factor of the sale.
A downside of the purchase, at least from the commission’s viewpoint, is that Gallo will be exempt from paying the assessment that supports the commission, Gunier said. That’s because the assessment doesn’t apply to operations growing for their own wine production.
Another downside – several full-time Snows Lake employees were let go as a result of the sale, including longtime Chief Operating Officer John Adriance. The laid off staff were reportedly unable to comment due to the sale agreement, and Adriance did not respond to messages seeking comment.
Hensley said she did not have information about staff layoffs.
The Snows Lake purchase is the largest of Gallo’s land acquisitions in the past decade, adding to the 16,000 acres of vineyard and eight wineries across California that it already owned, according to company statements.
Last month, Gallo announced it was purchasing Courtside Cellars in San Miguel, which includes 34 acres and a winery. That followed the purchase earlier this year of 300 acres of vineyards in Monterey County and last year’s acquisition of the 62-acre Edna Valley Vineyard near San Luis Obispo. The William Hill Estate Winery in Napa County, acquired in 2007, totals 140 acres, and the 105-acre Bridlewood Estate Winery, located in Santa Ynez, was bought by Gallo in 2004.
Growing reputation for quality winegrapes
The Snows Lake property has produced award winning Cabernet Sauvignon, with the grapes notable for their quality, coming from the rich red volcanic soils of the county’s Red Hills Lake County American Viticultural Area.
A Snows Lake Vineyard map showed that, along with Cabernet Sauvignon, the property has produced a number of other varietals, including Barbera, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Merlot, Primitivo, Petite Syrah, Petite Verdoh, Syrah, Tempranillo and Zinfandel, the last being another grape for which it was becoming known.
Snows Lake was the source of winegrapes for labels including Stag's Leap Wine Cellars, Cakebread Cellars, Rosenblum Cellars, La Famiglia and Dynamite Vineyards, according to the company’s Web site.
In addition to sourcing grapes, Snows Lake also produced two wines of its own, Snows Lake One, 100-percent Cabernet Sauvignon, and Snows Lake Two, a Cabernet Sauvignon blend with Cabernet Franc.
Much of the property has been managed as undeveloped habitat. The Snows Lake Web site said the land is on the Pacific Flyway, and also includes a 240-acre wildlife corridor protected from future development by an open space conservation easement.
Gunier said Lake County is becoming known for putting out high quality winegrapes, and the county’s Cabernet Sauvignon is now getting strong interest.
“We’re getting some real stellar reviews,” Gunier said.
The dream, said Gunier, is that Gallo would do a Lake County or Red Hills brand that would boost the area’s visibility in the wine world.
“We have a lot of Lake County brands, but they’re all really small,” she said.
One thing local industry members are counting on is that Gallo’s purchase will take 20 percent of the county’s Cabernet Sauvignon off the market, which promises a price boost and increased demand for Lake County.
Gallo has accomplished what Gunier called an “amazing change,” remaking its company image from one that produced inexpensive wines to one with a higher price range of $15 to $20. “We fit right in that,” she said.
“I think it’s a real turn for Lake County,” and something that wouldn’t have happened 10 years ago, said Gunier, who announced last week that she was retiring as the commission’s president, a decision she attributed to Lake County now being very well positioned in the industry.
“We’re on top now,” said Gunier.
Email Elizabeth Larson at