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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The jury in the trial of a Clearlake Oaks man accused of a child's murder last summer completed its first day of deliberations on Tuesday.
The jury for Paul William Braden, 22, heard the last of its instructions from visiting Yolo County Judge Doris Shockley at 10 a.m. before beginning deliberations.
The five-woman, seven-man jury must decide whether Braden is guilty of 15 counts – including first-degree murder, five counts of attempted murder, two counts of mayhem, six counts of assault with a firearm and discharge of a firearm at an inhabited dwelling – plus dozens of special allegations for a shooting in the city of Clearlake on the night of June 18, 2011.
The shooting killed 4-year-old Skyler Rapp, wounded his mother, Desiree Kirby and her boyfriend, Ross Sparks, and also left three others – Andrew Sparks, Joseph Armijo and Ian Griffith – wounded.
Last Friday, after about four hours of deliberations, a separate jury found Braden's codefendant, 24-year-old Orlando Joseph Lopez Jr. of Clearlake Oaks – guilty of all charges, with all special allegations being found true.
Braden's jury left the Department 2 court, where they've been deliberating, at about 3:45 p.m. Tuesday.
They are set to return at 9 a.m. Wednesday to continue their deliberations.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Napa-Lake Workforce Investment Board has announced a new name for one-stop employment services in Lake County.
The one-stop will now be called the WorkforceLake Business and Career Center.
WorkforceLake in Lakeport provides assistance to adult and youth job seekers and local businesses.
Many services can be accessed online at www.workforcelake.org or by visiting the comprehensive WorkforceLake Business and Career Center located at 55 First St., Lakeport, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Services include but are not limited to:
- Online computers, fax machines, phones and other office equipment to assist job seekers with their job search;
- Computerized career exploration workshops;
- Business center with resources for employers;
- Labor market information, employment and training provider information;
- Orientations and referrals to appropriate partner agencies for such services as filing claims for unemployment insurance; assistance in establishing eligibility for financial aid for training and education; training and job placement services and more;
- Workshops and seminars for job seekers for resume preparation, mock interviews, social networking, etc.;
- Work readiness workshops for youth to prepare them for the workforce;
- Entrepreneurial seminars for those interested in starting a business or work from home;
- Seminars for employers for tips to identify qualified applicants, interviewing, legal hiring and dismissal, social networking tips for marketing;
- Rapid response services for businesses and workers in transition due to the economy and other factors that force lay offs and business closures;
- Veterans receive priority of service.
WorkforceLake partner agencies include California State Employment Development Department, Department of Rehabilitation, California Human Development Corp., Goodwill Industries, Experience Works, County of Lake Department of Health and Human Services, NCO/Community Action Agency, Clearlake Youth Center, Mendocino College, Yuba College and Yuba College Small Business Development Center.
Through partner agreements, satellite sites providing access to online job search tools, career counseling and workshops will soon be available in several locations including Clearlake, Middletown and Cobb.
On July 9, WorkforceLake will host a free four-day Job Seekers Network. This workshop series will provide job seekers with the tools necessary to improve their success by learning to apply the latest job search strategies.
For more information about WorkforceLake, WIA programs and services or the Job Seekers Network call 707-467-5903 or 1-800-616-1196, Extension 5903.
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- Written by: Lake County Sheriff's Office
U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell on Tuesday announced the agency is adding four heavy helicopters to the aviation firefighting fleet.
“The addition of these helicopters to our aviation fleet will increase our ability to respond quickly and aggressively to fight wildfires and protect lives and property,” said Tidwell. “We will continue to mobilize our firefighting assets when and where they are needed as we respond to a very challenging wildfire season.”
The helicopters will be available this summer for large fire support and initial attack to any location in the United States.
The U.S. Forest Service successfully suppresses about 98 percent of the approximately 10,000 wildfires that occur each year on National Forest System lands.
Two of the heavy helicopters are S-61s owned by Siller Helicopters of Yuba City, Calif.; one is an S-64 Skycrane owned by Erickson Air Crane of Central Point, Ore.; and one is an S-70 owned by Firehawk Helicopters of Leesburg, Fla.
Helicopters are used primarily for dropping retardant or water during wildland fires, supporting the actions of firefighters on the ground.
The additional helicopter assets will strengthen the agency’s capability to respond effectively to fire activity during the summer wildfire season.
The Forest Service can respond vigorously to wildfire with an array of assets that includes more than 15,000 USDA and Department of the Interior firefighters (about 70 percent from the Forest Service) and up to 950 engines, 14 large airtankers, eight Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems, one very large (DC-10) airtanker, 300 call-when-needed helicopters, and a mix of type 1, 2 and 3 helicopters.
On June 13, the agency awarded exclusive use contracts for seven "Next Generation" airtankers. Three will be operational in 2012 and four in 2013. This is the first step in implementing the Large Airtanker Modernization Strategy, which was submitted to Congress in February and recommends 18 to 28 large airtankers.
The Forest Service uses many tools for wildland fire suppression including accelerated restoration efforts that include thinning and other fuels treatments. Restoration of National Forest System lands are critically needed to address a number of threats to the health of forest ecosystems, watersheds, and forest dependent communities.
This year, as in the past, firefighting experts will continuously monitor conditions and move assets as necessary to be best positioned and increase initial attack capabilities.
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- Written by: John Jensen
HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE, Calif. – The name of the man who died in a Hidden Valley Lake crash Monday night has been released by the Lake County Sheriff's Office.
Marty Victor Marks, 60, of Clearlake, was declared dead at the scene of the wreck, which occurred at 6:30 p.m. on Highway 29 at Putah Lane.
According to the CHP Marks was driving a 2008 Pontiac Grand Am heading northbound at an unknown speed when another vehicle crossed into his path. He was wearing a lap and shoulder harness.
Marks attempted to veer sharply to the right to avoid the crash but the CHP said he was unsuccessful, and the two vehicles collided head-on in the northbound lane.
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