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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
Lt. Dave Garzoli of the Lake County Sheriff's Office reported Friday that 17 local law enforcement officers from five different agencies took part in the operation, which targeted known or suspected members of criminal street gangs.
Participating agencies included the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Patrol and Investigations divisions, Lake County Sheriff’s Office Central Dispatch, Lakeport Police Department, Lake County Probation Department, California Highway Patrol and Lake County Narcotics Task Force.
Garzoli said the task force's activities Thursday took place at several locations in and around the Lakeport and Kelseyville areas, resulting in the five arrests.
The task force arrested 18-year-old student Armando Barajas Vasquez of Kelseyville for possession of a dangerous weapon with a gang member enhancement, Garzoli reported. Jail records indicated Vasquez's bail was set at $25,000. He remained in jail Friday night.
Two 16-year-old Hispanic male juveniles from Kelseyville also were arrested on probation violations, Garzoli reported.
Other arrestees included Brittney Leanne Amparo, 18, of Kelseyville for possession of less than 1 ounce of marijuana in a motor vehicle; and Alfredo Corona-Ramirez, 20, a laborer from Finley, for obstructing/resisting a peace officer in performance of their duties.
Garzoli reported that the task force's mission is to gather intelligence on criminal street gangs, street gang members, and their associates and to conduct directed anti-gang law enforcement operations in effort to combat and suppress criminal street gangs and their influences in Lake County.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: Lake County News Reports
LAKE COUNTY – A snow advisory has been issued for Lake County and surrounding mountains overnight Friday and into Saturday morning.
At 4:17 p.m. Thursday the National Weather Service in Sacramento issued a snow advisory for Lake County and the surrounding mountains as another weather system moves through the area with both rain and snow forecast.
Cobb received 4 inches of snow Thursday night, while Clearlake received 1 inch according to the National Weather Service. They predict accumulations of up to 2 inches throughout the county Friday night.
Snow levels will be around 1,500 feet at first then rising to more than 4,000 feet by early Saturday morning, the National Weather Service states.
A snow advisory means that intermittent periods of snow may cause travel difficulties.
As reported earlier by Lake County News, numerous cases of cars sliding off area roadways were reported Thursday night following snow flurries.
The National Weather Service advises drivers to use caution on the roads and reduce speeds due to slippery road conditions and limited visibility.
E-mail Terre Logsdon at
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN UPDATED.
LAKE COUNTY – Snowy conditions in parts of Lake County caused mayhem Thursday night, with dozens of cars reported sliding off area highways and drivers fighting in the road.
On Thursday evening Caltrans issued requirements for vehicles to have either chains or snow tires while traveling from one mile north of the junction between Highways 29 and 53 to the junction with Highway 281/Kit's Corner.
On Highway 175, Caltrans reported that chains were required on all vehicles except four-wheel drives with snow tires on all wheels from six miles east of the junction with Highway 101 in Mendocino County to two miles west of the junction with Highway 29 outside of Lakeport.
County Public Works Director Gerald Shaul said his road crews was out by about 4 p.m. Thursday in an effort to clear and sand county roadways.
Shortly after snow began falling in parts of Lake County in the early evening, the California Highway Patrol's incident logs showed several cases of cars either becoming stuck in the snow or sliding off onto road shoulders.
Snow fell on the Hopland Grade, where the CHP reported a vehicle was stuck in snow in the middle of the road on the Lake County side.
The CHP reported that as many as seven vehicles were stuck in snow just after 7 p.m. on Bottle Rock Road between one and two miles from Highway 29. About half the vehicles needed to be towed out.
The Lake County Roads Department sent out a plow to clear Bottle Rock, which was reportedly free of snow about six and a half miles from the highway, according to the CHP. Officials had to call out more than one tow service in order to find tow equipment capable of towing the cars without losing traction in the snow.
Across the county, things only got worse as the evening progressed.
At 8:41 p.m. CHP reported that 15 vehicles had gone off the road on Highway 29 near Kit's Corner.
Scanner traffic indicated at about 9 p.m. that as many as 30 vehicles were stuck on roadsides countywide, as sheriff's personnel, fire departments and other county departments were called for assistance.
Emergency personnel, in some cases, were stuck behind multiple vehicle jams and accidents, or were stuck themselves, according to radio reports.
Just after 10 p.m., CHP reported that approximately 23 vehicles had slid off Highway 29 just south of Diener Drive near Lower Lake, with 11 of them stuck in the snow.
The Lake County Sheriff's Office closed the Glasgow Grade a short time later, according to radio reports. The roadway has since reopened.
The CHP reported the need for Caltrans to bring sand and snow plows to the Glasgow Grade area, while local tow companies reported being out of chains.
In some cases, delays and being stranded caused some peoples' tempers to flare.
At Kit's Corner, where the roadway was blocked by cars unable to navigate the snow and ice, the CHP reported that fights were breaking out between drivers.
Tow trucks had to help remove some of the vehicles, while Caltrans sent a plow which cleared the roadway shortly before 10:30 p.m., according to CHP reports.
Snow affected other areas of the North Coast.
In Mendocino County, the CHP reported that portions of Highway 101 – between northbound Highway 101 at Uva, just north of Redwood Valley, and southbound 101 at Browns Corner just south of Willits – was closed for a few hours due to snow on the Willits Grade. The closure was lifted at about 10 p.m., according to a CHP report.
In Napa County, 1 inch of snow was reportedly sticking to Highway 29 at the summit of Mount St. Helena, according to the CHP.
CHP reported shortly after 1 a.m. Friday that all Lake County roadways were open.
Caltrans' chain requirements on areas of Highways 29 and 175 in Lake County remained in effect early Friday.
For the latest on roadway conditions, visit Caltrans' Web site at www.dot.ca.gov/cgi-bin/roads.cgi or call their information line at 800-427-7623.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
Harold LaBonte contributed to this report.
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- Details
- Written by: Lake County News Reports
LAKEPORT – It didn't exactly arrive in time for a "White Christmas," but snow began falling at lake level around 8 p.m. on Thursday evening, making road conditions hazardous in some parts of the county.
The snow was mixed with rain, with outdoor temperatures registering at 35 degrees and falling.
Other areas around Lakeport reported one-half inch of accumulation by 8 p.m. – along with numerous children out playing in the snow.
Unfortunately for the kids, school is already out of session this week so there's no chance of a "snow day."
The National Weather Service in Sacramento has issued a snow advisory which will be in effect until 2 a.m. Friday morning for elevations down to 500 feet with an 80-percent chance of precipitation overnight tonight.
Friday will see a 50-percent chance of precipitation with highs near 47, according to the National Weather Service.
E-mail Terre Logsdon at
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