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- Written by: Lake County News reports
This planned maintenance revealed the fragile state of portions of the pipe in the water system, according to Lake County Special Districts, which oversees the Kelseyville water system.
Recently, while working on aged and fragile pipes in the distribution system, the system experienced an interruption of water service and pressure in parts of Kelseyville and Finley, as Lake County News has reported.
On Aug. 12, low pressure started early in the morning and the full extent of the water shortage was realized later that morning.
In an effort assure the health and safety of affected customers, Lake County Special Districts and other agencies coordinated emergency response measures to safely mitigate the problem.
“In cases like this, standard procedures include notifying the California Department of Public Health which mandates specific precautionary steps be taken to ensure the safety of the water once it is restored,” said Peter Preciado, Special Districts deputy administrator.
“The Lake County Sheriff’s Department’s reverse 911 provided notifications to the affected customers along with posting boil water notices on affected homes by 7 p.m. that evening,” said Preciado.
Emergency procedures and notification are required including boil water notices any time system water pressure drops below 20 psi. When pressure is too low or less than surrounding water sources, there is a possibility that those sources – wells, groundwater – might “backflow/siphon” and enter the system, Special Districts reported.
Systems checks such as flushing lines, confirming appropriate pressure and verifying chlorine residuals are standard emergency procedures after low water pressure is experienced. The chlorine residual is an indicator that the water is adequately disinfected and there is some chlorine remaining. Laboratory analysis for bacterial contamination confirms that the water is safe to drink.
Test results take about 24 hours and the California Department of Public Health requires two tests completed consecutively with both results absent of bacterial contamination before the boil water order can be lifted. Notices in the recent situation were lifted by Saturday afternoon.
The water pipes in the area of State Street to Second Street along Main have been the source of maintenance issues and were the cause of the recent leaks and loss of pressure, the county reported. Special Districts utility workers were closing water valves in the area to isolate the water pipe to allow RAD Construction to connect a new 10-inch PVC water pipe.
“Unfortunately, the remaining pipes in their fragile state began to fail under the increased water flow as Main Street between State Street and Konocti Road was now being bypassed,” said Preciado.
He said system pressure also began to drop. The efforts and professional expertise of RAD Construction, a local contractor, assisted in restoring water service by bringing the new water main into operation ahead of time.
“We want to thank the community for their patience and cooperation during this recent water emergency,” said Preciado.
He said Special Districts recognized the precautionary measures required by the California Department of Public Health following an interruption of water service due to low pressure are inconvenient and frustrating for customers.
Every effort was made in the most recent incident to have service restored as quickly as possible, he said.
For more information about the Kelseyville Waterworks upgrades call Lake County Special Districts administrative office at 707-263-0119.
Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf .
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
LAKEPORT, Calif. – As board of education trustees and office of education staff looked on, Wally Holbrook was sworn in as the new Lake County superintendent of schools on Wednesday afternoon.
Holbrook won the office in the June primary.
Outgoing Superintendent of Schools David Geck retired early, and will be assisting Holbrook's transition in an unpaid, volunteer capacity, as Lake County News has reported.
Holbrook has said he plans to begin a review of the Lake County Office of Education's programs and services, and will share the results with the community in the months ahead.
Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf .
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
Thomas Lee Carter, 59, was arrested by agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration, according to Sheriff Rod Mitchell.
Mitchell, whose deputies also were on scene during the operation, said Carter was arrested on a federal warrant, but was not able to provide additional details.
Lake County News left several phone and e-mail messages for the DEA's San Francisco division spokesperson on Wednesday, but none of the messages were returned.
Sonoma County Jail officials confirmed late Wednesday that Carter was being held in their main detention center on a detainer until he is picked up for transport to a facility in San Francisco.
He was booked into the Sonoma County Jail at 2:49 p.m. on a no-bail hold, according to jail records.
Carter and several other people – including one of his own employees – were arrested by the DEA in August 2009 and have since been charged with a battery of felonies related to the alleged production and sale of illicit marijuana, as Lake County News has reported.
In addition to Carter, arrested last year were Scott Feil, 44, and his wife, Diana, 29, of Upper Lake and Redwood Valley; Steven Swanson, 60, of Sebastopol; and Brett Bassignani, 44, of Nice, who works for Carter.
Court documents show that the government is alleging that the defendants in the case were conspiring to sell marijuana in an operation that began with growing and some sales in Lake County, and stretched to medical marijuana dispensaries in Los Angeles and San Diego. More than 100,000 pages of discovery have been submitted in the case.
The case filed by the US Attorney's Office alleges that Bassignani agreed to sell 500 marijuana clones to undercover DEA agents and an informant in May of 2006, and that he told investigators that part of his income with Carter's business came from marijuana sales.
Carter is facing a single count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana, which carries a minimum 10-year sentence and $4 million fine, and two counts of distributing or possessing with intent to distribute marijuana, which carry a five-year minimum and a $2 million fine for each conviction, according to court documents.
Bassignani is charged with two counts of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana and one count of distributing or possessing with intent to distribute marijuana.
The charges against the men appear not to have changed as the result of a superseding indictment a federal grand jury handed down in the case on July 22.
Scott and Diana Feil and Steven Swanson, Diana Feil's stepfather, also are charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana, distributing or possessing with intent to distribute marijuana, conspiracy to launder money, engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specific unlawful activity.
The superseding indictment additionally accused Scott Feil of two counts of filing false tax returns, and Swanson of two counts of tax evasion.
The new indictment also added another defendant, Mark Leonard Garcia, in connection to a San Diego dispensary. Garcia is charged with two counts of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana.
The government is seeking forfeiture of millions of dollars in land, vehicles and other assets used or derived from proceeds of the alleged counts. That includes several hotels the Feils own around the North Coast and property belonging to Carter in Upper Lake.
Carter was released after posting $200,000 bail in August 2009, using his property at 1622 Hunter Point Road in Upper Lake to secure the bail, according to the conditions of his release.
The same document showed that he was subject to numerous conditions in order to remain out of jail, including not committing any federal, state or local crimes; not harassing, threatening or intimidating witnesses, victims or officers of the court; submitting to warrantless searches; and making all court appearances.
A criminal minute order from an Aug. 26 status conference in the case showed that motions are due in December, with the case continued to Jan. 27, 2011.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: Dave Fromer
LAKEPORT, Calif. – There was a time when names such as Empire Builder, Coast Daylight and City of New Orleans prompted images of luxurious hotels on wheels. Those were the days when the railroads ruled and massive steam locomotives were king.
Those days are still alive, although on a much smaller scale, thanks to the members of the Lake County Model Railroad Club, who have recreated the early 1950s in their miniature empire located in the old Armory Building at the rear of the Lake County Fairgrounds in Lakeport.
“We’ve attempted to capture small glimpses of what California was like when the railroad was still the major mover of people and goods,” longtime club member Bill Cossey said. “We combine our hobby with a lesson in history to tell a story.”
While Cossey mentioned that all the major trackwork has been completed on their layout that just about completely fills the 40- by 60-foot building, the members are focusing their attention to the scenery and other details that bring the empire to life.
Visitors can imagine seeing a large freight or passenger train leaving Los Angeles working its way through the Sierra Nevada mountains before ending it’s journey in Sacramento.
“We’ve even captured the flavor of the old narrow gauge railroads that served the logging and mining areas of the state,” Cossey said. “You might even spot buildings you recognize.”
Cossey said the club’s plans include modeling a section of downtown Petaluma because of its railroad history and members Dennis Burke and Dave Fromer plan to model historic Lake County structures as well.
“You might find yourself staring at the Stonehouse from Hidden Valley or the Prather Brother’s lumber company in Lakeport,” Cossey said. “We model whatever catches our interest.”
Club members also belong to the larger National Model Railroad Association and its Redwood Empire Division that includes the coastal counties from Marin to the Oregon border.
“We host the annual fall meeting in November at our club,” Cossey said of the daylong event that features modeling classes and ends in a large operating session.
The club has been in existence for close to 20 years although in its infancy it lacked a permanent home and had to settle on a more portable operation that the members set up and took down every night.
“We needed a permanent home and fortunately nearly eight years ago the Lake County Fair made are dreams come true when we moved into the old armory building and began planning our new railroad,” Cossey said.
Noting that the club has made substantial progress during the eight years they’ve been at the fairgrounds, there is still the time consuming process of recreating the towns and countryside in miniature.
Those interested in viewing the club’s operation may do so during its annual open house held in conjunction with the Lake County Fair, which begins Thursday, Sept. 2, and runs through Sunday, Sept. 5.
The club also welcomes visitors and new members every Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Contact Dave Fromer at 707-987-3542 for further information about the group.
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