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LAKE COUNTY – The county's October unemployment rate edged slightly upward from September and was noticeably higher over October 2006, according to the latest state figures.
Lake County’s October 2007 unemployment rate was 7.4 percent, up 0.4 percent from September and 1.4 percent above the year-ago, October 2006 rate, according to a report from Dennis Mullins of Employment Development Department's Labor Market Information Division.
October's jobless 7.4 percent jobless rate in Lake County compares to a seasonally unadjusted rate of 5.4 percent for California and 4.4 percent for the U.S., Mullins reported.
Some surrounding county rates included 9.2 percent for Colusa, 5.0 percent for Mendocino and 4.4 percent for Sonoma, Mullins added. Marin again had the lowest rate in the state with 3.8 percent and Imperial County had the highest at 20.3 percent.
Lake County's October unemployment rate ranks it 44 among the state's 58 counties.
Total industry employment increased 470 jobs (3.1 percent) between October 2006 and October 2007, ending the year-over period with 15,810 jobs, according to Mullins' report.
Year-over job growth, Mullins reported, occurred in farm; trade, transportation and utilities; information; private educational and health services; leisure and hospitality; other services; and government.
Year-over job losses occurred in natural resources, mining, and construction; and professional and business services, Mullins noted.
Industry sectors with no change over the year were manufacturing and financial activities, Mullins added.
The farm sector again led industry gainers adding 190 jobs for the year, according to Mullins. Private educational and health services gained 120 jobs and government added 100.
In addition, Mullins reported that trade, transportation and utilities gained 50; leisure and hospitality, and other services were up 30 jobs each; information picked up 10 jobs.
Losing jobs, according to Mullins, were natural resources, mining and construction, which shed 50 jobs, and professional and business services dropped 10 for the year-over period.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
Judge Stephen Hedstrom sentenced Craig Alvin Lemke, 45, to 68 years to life in prison for the February 2006 home invasion robbery of an elderly Lower Lake couple, as Lake County News previously reported Friday.
Lemke was convicted by a jury of the crime on Oct. 2.
The stiff sentence resulted, in part, because the jury found Lemke was guilty of two prior “strikes,” one of them a similar home robbery, Chief Deputy District Attorney Richard Hinchcliff said Thursday.
On Friday, Lemke's attorney, Jason Webster, reported that Lemke filed an appeal on Thursday, the day of the sentencing. However, Webster said he wasn't able to further discuss the appeal.
Along with Lemke, Joe Moncivaiz Jr. was accused of taking part in the robbery. According to a previous report from Hinchcliff, the two men had bound the elderly couple with tape before stealing thousands of dollars in cash, guns and ammunition.
Moncivaiz admitted his participation and pleaded guilty to first-degree burglary, Hinchcliff stated in an October interview.
Webster said Moncivaiz received a “substantial deal” in the case and was reportedly sentenced to only four years in prison.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
But that was just the case on Thursday, when local law enforcement officers could be found – complete with smiles and speedy table service – at Main Street Bar and Grill for “Tip-A-Cop,” a fundraiser for Lake County Special Olympics.
Officer Adam Garcia of the California Highway Patrol said the event, which took place between 6:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., raised $1,758 in tips. Main Street Bar and Grill owner Sam Polo matched that amount, bringing the total to approximately $3,516.
“Sam is very generous to us today,” said Garcia.
Garcia said the the agencies participating included the Lake County Sheriff's Office, Probation Department, CHP, Lakeport Police and Clearlake Police.
“I think it's a worthy cause for our community,” said Garcia.
Approximately 65 athletes, ranging in age from 5 to 65, take part in Special Olympics locally, said Special Olympics volunteer Kristina Navarro.
In Lake County, there are events for the athletes year-round, said Navarro. A bowling tournament is scheduled for Nov. 24 at Lakeside Lanes.
Athletes also can compete to qualify for regional events, Navarro said.
There are two Tip-A-Cop events each year, said Navarro – besides the Clearlake event, there is one in Lakeport, which is held earlier in the year – along with a Torch Run and the Scorchin' Torch Poker Run.
Ruth Fortino, who has worked as a waitress at the restaurant for seven years, said the officers and deputies were doing well on their table-waiting assignments, and all were “eager to help.”
“It's been fun,” she said.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LAKEPORT – A man found guilty last month of robbing an elderly couple received a stiff sentence Thursday.
Craig Alvin Lemke, 45, of Lakeport was convicted Oct. 2 of a February 2006 home invasion robbery in Lower Lake, as Lake County News previously reported.
Lemke was found guilty of two counts of first degree robbery, first degree burglary, elder theft, two counts of false imprisonment of an elderly person and grand theft of firearms, according to a previous report from Chief Deputy District Attorney Richard Hinchcliff.
Lemke also was found guilty of several special allegations, including two previous “strikes,” three prior prison terms between 1986 and 1996, committing a felony while released on own recognizance and crimes against elders were found to be true, Hinchcliff reported in an October interview.
Lemke's attorney, Jason Webster, attempted to get one of the strikes dismissed, but Judge Stephen Hedstrom didn't agree, said Hinchcliff.
On Thursday, Hedstrom sentenced Lemke to 68 years to life in prison, Hinchcliff said.
The prior strikes, which Hedstrom wouldn't discount, doubled the sentence, said Hinchcliff.
Lemke's prior strikes, said Hinchcliff, “arose out of a case just like this.”
In that particular case, Hinchcliff said Lemke went into a home, bound a man and his 15-year-old nephew with tape, and robbed them.
“He went to prison for that for seven years,” Hinchcliff said.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
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