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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Lake County Genealogical Society will present a tour of the Hartley Cemetery on Saturday, June 28.

The tour begins at 11 a.m. at the cemetery located at 2552 Hill Road East, Lakeport

Turn right on Shady Lane and follow to cemetery gates, drive through, towards the lake, to the shady section in the back near the office (not the chapel at the entry)

Starting off the tour will be a grave dowsing demonstration and instruction. This activity is used to locate bodies in unmarked graves. 

Whether there was never a grave marker placed, or it disappeared due to fire or the elements, dowsing helps to determine if the plot is occupied. While not as accurate as ground penetrating radar, grave dowsing is a less expensive alternative.   

Older cemeteries often contain headstones which identify parent's names, but not their children. Identifying the number of children buried in a grave site helps a genealogist determine the number of family members to research.

Local genealogist Rose Davidson and others will conduct the tour with life histories of some buried therein, including Pioneers and others as the tour progresses. Suggested wear: comfortable walking shoes and a hat.

The 48-year-old nonprofit Lake County Genealogical Society maintains a Research Library of local families, along with other historic documents. Keep an eye out here at www.lakeconews.com and the Society's website lcgs-ca.org for the announcement of the new location and hours. Research inquiries can be made to via email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

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Written by: Lake County Genealogical Society

Published: 23 June 2025

AAA Northern California, the Automobile Club of Southern California, Assemblymember Lori Wilson and a survivor of a roadside collision are advocating for support of Assembly Bill 390, which expands California’s existing slow down, move over law. 

AB 390 would change the law to require drivers to slow down or vacate the lane closest to any vehicle stopped on the side of the road, if safe to do so. Currently, the law only applies to stopped emergency vehicles with lights flashing.

“For too long drivers in California have been put in a very dangerous situation every time their cars break down on the side of a freeway or highway,” said California Assembly Transportation Committee Chair Lori Wilson (D- Suisun City). “It’s time the law requires motorists passing by broken down vehicles to slow down and move over a lane, when possible, to avoid any collisions. This will help protect Californians from needlessly losing their lives while dealing with automobile issues.”

While slow down, move over laws exist in all 50 states, in some states, like California, the law applies only to stopped emergency vehicles and tow trucks with lights flashing. 

AAA Northern California, the Auto Club of Southern California and Assemblymember Lori Wilson are encouraging lawmakers to pass AB 390 and expand the law to include all stopped vehicles, including drivers experiencing mechanical issues or involved in a crash.

In 2007, while exchanging information following a rear-end collision, Heather Haenes was severely injured by another vehicle that hit her and the stopped vehicles on the side of the highway. Haenes, who was standing between the two parked vehicles, was crushed. The crash resulted in the double amputation of her legs by paramedics at the scene. 
 
“We were outside our vehicles for 30 seconds, at most, when the crash happened. It was quick. I knew it was a horrible idea to be on the side of that highway,” said Heather Haenes. “I’m just very lucky that it was just limbs. Fortunately, there is a lot of adaptive equipment and professionals who have helped me in the years following the crash. But even to this day, seeing people on the side of the road, I hold my breath every time.”
 
Making the case to strengthen California’s slow down move over law:

• Fatalities of people outside disabled vehicles, on average, increased by about 60 percent between 2013 and 2023.
• 72 truck drivers, delivery workers, motorists, and passengers were killed while standing outside of disabled vehicles in California in 2021.
• California has the 2nd highest total deaths outside disabled vehicles (behind Texas) between 2013 and 2023 and ranked 1st in 4 of those 10 years. 
• From 2013 to 2023, California saw 500 deaths out of approximately 3,500 nationwide involving individuals outside disabled vehicles. 
• The annual number of people killed outside disabled vehicles increased on average by 70% nationwide and nearly 60% in California since 2013.
• California ranked first nationally for deaths outside disabled vehicles in 2017, 2018, 2020, and 2021. 
• In 2022, over 1,200 individuals nationwide (221 in California) were killed due to drivers maneuvering too close or fast near parked cars, including road work vehicles or equipment, according to the Safe Transportation Research and Education Center, or SafeTREC, at the University of California at Berkeley. In practice, most of these fatalities were drivers and passengers inside striking motor vehicles.
 
To protect those working or stranded at the roadside, AAA recommends that drivers do the following:

• Remain alert, avoid distractions, and focus on driving.
• Be aware of situations where emergency vehicles, tow trucks, utility service vehicles or disabled vehicles are stopped on the side of the road.
• When approaching these incidents, slow down and if possible, move one lane over and away from the people and vehicles stopped at the side of the road.

AB 390 has passed the Assembly Appropriations and is heading to the Senate Transportation Committee. AAA Northern California, Auto Club of Southern California, and Assemblymember Lori Wilson urge lawmakers to pass this bill into law.

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Written by: AAA Northern California

Published: 23 June 2025

LAKEPORT, Calif. — The Cal Fire Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit and California Department of Transportation, or Caltrans, are coordinating a prescribed burn that will take place along Highway 29 between Lakeport and Upper Lake between June 24 and 26.

This prescribed burn will treat approximately 10 acres of cured annual grasses within Caltrans right-of-way in a 2.8-mile stretch between mile markers 45.1 and 47.9. This project will contribute to fuel reduction along the highway, providing safety for motorists and emergency responders while reducing the likelihood of wildfire ignitions from vehicles.

Highway 29 will be under controlled traffic during burning operations. Burning may begin as early as 10 a.m. and this project is anticipated to be completed with a single-day operation.

Cal Fire will be providing five engines and one hand crew to conduct this prescribed burn.

This is yet another significant collaborative project between Cal Fire and Caltrans District 1 in Lake County. Similar fuel reduction projects have taken place along Soda Bay Road (Highway 281) by Clearlake Riviera, Highway 29 outside of Lower Lake and Highway 20 in Clearlake Oaks.

Prescribed burns are carefully planned and must meet strict criteria for ecological benefit, weather parameters, smoke management and fire safety guidelines. The planned operation is subject to lastminute changes due to those conditions.

When all conditions are met, trained wildland firefighters conduct the burn while monitoring the set criteria, fire behavior and designated fire control lines.

If the conditions are not conducive for burning, the burn will be rescheduled. This prescribed burn will comply with the requirements of the Lake County Air Pollution Control District.

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Written by: Caltrans

Published: 21 June 2025