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- Written by: Lake County News reports
MENDOCINO COUNTY, Calif. – Mendocino County officials are investigating the death of a man whose body was found near the Pacific Ocean over the weekend.
The man, whose identity has not yet been released, was found on the afternoon of Saturday, April 7, according to a report from Capt. Kurt Smallcomb of the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office.
Smallcomb said that at 1:45 p.m. Saturday Mendocino County Sheriff's deputies and Westport Fire were dispatched to the north side of the Juan Creek coastside where the unidentified decedent had been washed to shore and wedged into the rocks.
Emergency personnel removed the decedent from the rocky terrain – approximately 20 feet from the Pacific Ocean – and the body was transported to Chapel by the Sea Mortuary, Smallcomb said.
Deputy sheriffs examined the decedent and found him to be a male adult. Smallcomb said it appeared the decedent had been in the ocean for several days prior to washing ashore.
An autopsy was conducted Monday morning, Smallcomb said.
The Mendocino County Sheriffs Office is continuing the investigation into the identity of the man and the circumstances around his death, Smallcomb said.
Smallcomb said more information will be released once the identity of the man has been established.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A Homeland Security grant has provided the Northshore Dive Team with several new pieces of important equipment to use in recovery and rescue operations in local waters.
Northshore Fire Capt. John Rodriguez said the team received the $16,000 grant at the end of December.
Diver Keith Hoyt said Willie Sapeta, Lake County's interim Office of Emergency Services coordinator and – beginning in January – the new Lake County Fire Protection chief, was important in the work of securing the grant.
In early January the team purchased the new equipment, Rodriguez said.
The new items include two air bags that can be inflated with scuba tanks, each with the capacity to lift 2,000 pounds underwater. Hoyt said the bags can be used to lift sunken cars or other vehicles out of a lake or other water body.
Rodriguez said the team also purchased four complete face mask sets that allow the divers to talk to each other, and their surface team, wirelessly. Recently the team has been practicing with the masks at the Westshore Pool in Lakeport.
In addition, they purchased hardwired communication ropes and an accompanying Aquacom communications box that also can be used for diver-to-surface and diver-to-diver communication.
In fact, Rodriguez said the special rope allows divers to speak to each other and the surface at the same time – a kind of underwater conference call.
In a practice this past Saturday in Nice, the team tried out the hardwired communication rope for the first time.
“It went great. It went even better than expected,” said Rodriguez
The grant is a major development for the team, which has been in existence for eight years and now has a total of nine members – five divers and four “tenders” who work on shore to assist the divers.
The entire team is swift water certified, with all of the divers having gone through a public safety diving course, Rodriguez said.
Team members are first responders whenever water-related incidents are reported – whether it's collisions involving vehicles going into one of the local lakes or a missing swimmer, he said.
They've worked on recovery missions in Clear Lake, Blue Lakes, Hidden Valley Lake and Lake Pillsbury, and also have assisted with operations in the Ukiah area, Rodriguez said.
“We respond to any of the lakes in Lake County,” he said.
During the team's eight-year existence, it's been supported mostly through donations and the team's beer booth at the annual Wild West Day in Upper Lake, according to Rodriguez. At the upcoming Wild West Day all of the new gear will be on display.
He said all donations go toward gear and training.
The team normally trains the first Friday and third Sunday of every month, Rodriguez said.
Donations can be made to the team at Northshore Fire Protection District's main office in Lucerne, located at 6257 Seventh Ave., telephone 707-274-3100.
Visit the team's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Northshore-Dive-Team/289897949089 .
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE, Calif. – The Hidden Valley Lake Community Services District Board of Director has dismissed the district's longtime manager and is now working to secure an interim manager while the recruitment process moves forward.
The district provides sewer and water to the Hidden Valley Lake community's estimated 7,000 residents.
At a special meeting held March 20, the board went into closed session and emerged to announce that General Manager Mel Aust “will be dismissed for cause, effective immediately,” by a unanimous vote of the board, according to board documents.
Aust recently had overseen a nearly $2 million solar project for the district's water reclamation plant, as Lake County News has reported.
According to State Controller John Chiang's Web site tracking local government pay rates, Aust's salary in 2010 had been $184,424, making him one of the highest paid officials in the county at that time.
Finding Aust's successor has been the topic of several special board of directors' meetings since late March.
On March 24, the board discussed a possible succession plan, a discussion held over to the board's next special meeting on March 28, at which time board members also discussed hiring a temporary general manager.
Last Thursday, April 5, following a closed session, the board announced that it had agreed on a short list of candidates from among the resumes board members reviewed for the interim general manager position, according to district documents.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Looking for a new companion? Now is a good time to find one.
Lake County Animal Care and Control has a full house of puppies and adult dogs needing a new home to call their own.
Thanks to Lake County Animal Care and Control’s new veterinary clinic, many of the animals offered for adoption already are spayed or neutered and ready to go home with their new families.
Dogs that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are either neutered or spayed, microchipped and, if old enough, given a rabies shot and county license before being released to their new owner. License fees do not apply to residents of the cities of Lakeport or Clearlake.
If you're looking for a new companion, visit the shelter. There are many great pets hoping you'll choose them.
The following dogs at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption (additional dogs on the animal control Web site not listed are still “on hold”).
'Hooch'
“Hooch” is a 10-month-old male pit bull terrier mix.
He came to the shelter as a stray. He had been with another dog that had been hit and killed by a car. Hooch stayed by his friend's side all night in the pouring rain, shelter staff reported.
Hooch is about 70 pounds, has a short, chocolate-colored coat and is not yet neutered.
He is a “low energy” dog and loves to be with other canines.
He's in kennel No. 27, ID No. 32256.
'Lobo'
“Lobo” is a 1 and a half year old male German Shepherd mix.
He is a very active dog who loves to play ball; shelter staff said he would play ball all day long if he could.
Lobo has lived with kids cats and other dogs, and is neutered.
Find him in kennel No. 33, ID No. 32234.
Heeler-border collie mix
This male blue heeler-border collie mix is 8 months old.
He is black and tan in color, weighs just under 35 pounds and has been neutered.
This pup must have a home with other dogs, and a big yard to run. He has a moderate energy level and enjoys playing.
Find him in kennel No. 7, ID No. 32009.
‘Ike’
“Ike” is a 6-year-old male German Shepherd mix.
He weighs nearly 79 pounds, and has a long black and tan coat.
Shelter staff said Ike is great with other dogs, large and small. He is a low energy, well mannered canine who also has lived with horses.
Find Ike in kennel No. 11, ID No. 32187.
Female shepherd mix
This 10-month-old female shepherd mix is ready for a new home.
She is about 66 pounds, has a long coat and is not yet spayed.
She was found with an old injury to her front left leg. Although she is quiet and mellow she seems to get by just fine and loves to play with other dogs her size, but may be too rough for small dogs.
Find her in kennel No. 28, ID No. 32270.
Female lab-shepherd mix puppy
This female Labrador Retriever-shepherd mix puppy is 8 weeks old.
She has black coloring and is not yet altered.
Find her in kennel No. 17d, ID No. 32265.
Female lab-shepherd mix puppy
This female puppy, also a Labrador Retriever-shepherd mix, is 8 weeks old.
She is not yet altered. She has a short, black coat.
She is in kennel No. 17c, ID No. 32264.
Female lab-shepherd mix puppy
This female Labrador Retriever-shepherd mix puppy is 8 weeks old.
She has a short, reddish coat and is not yet spayed.
She is in kennel No. 17b, ID No. 32263.
Labrador Retriever-Shar Pei puppy
This male Labrador Retriever-Shar Pei mix puppy is 8 weeks old.
He has black and tan coloring and is not yet neutered.
Find him in kennel No. 17a, ID No. 32260.
Male Labrador Retriever-Shepherd puppy
This 8-week-old puppy is a Labrador Retriever-shepherd mix.
He has a short dark coat, and is not yet neutered.
Find him in kennel No. 16e, ID No. 32262.
Male Labrador Retriever-Shepherd puppy
This male puppy is a Labrador Retriever-Shepherd mix.
He is 8 weeks old and is not yet altered.
He is in kennel No. 16d, ID No. 32261.
Male Labrador Retriever-Shepherd puppy
This male puppy is a Labrador Retriever-Shepherd mix.
He is 8 weeks old has black and tan coloring. He is not yet altered.
He is in kennel No. 16c, ID No. 32259.
Male Labrador Retriever-Shepherd puppy
This male Labrador Retriever-Shepherd mix puppy is 8 weeks old.
He has black and tan coloring and is not yet altered.
He is in kennel No. 16b, ID No. 32258.
Labrador Retriever-Shar Pei mix
This male Labrador Retriever-Shar Pei mix is 8 weeks old.
He has a short black and tan coat, and is not yet neutered.
Find him in kennel No. 16a, ID No. 32257.
Border collie mix pup
This female border collie mix puppy is 12 weeks old.
She has black coloring, a short coat and has been spayed, and weighs about 12 pounds.
She's full of energy and looking for a good home.
She's in kennel No. 15b, ID No. 32048.
Border collie mix pup
This 12-week-old female border collie mix puppy is the sister to the puppy in kennel No. 15b.
She is around 11 pounds, has chocolate coloring and a short coat, and has been spayed.
Both she and her sister are expected to be medium-sized dogs.
Find her in kennel No. 15a, ID No. 32045.
Adoptable dogs also can be seen at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Dogs_and_Puppies.htm or at www.petfinder.com .
Please note: Dogs listed at the shelter's Web page that are said to be “on hold” are not yet cleared for adoption.
To fill out an adoption application online visit http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Dog___Cat_Adoption_Application.htm .
Lake County Animal Care and Control is located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport, next to the Hill Road Correctional Facility.
Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Visit the shelter online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control.htm .
For more information call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.