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- Written by: Lake County News reports
Court Executive Officer Krista LeVier said there will be no major changes immediately, but that the court is starting to take steps to allow more court business to be conducted in-person.
Some of the changes planned include moving some trials back to the courthouse from the Lake County Fairgrounds and vacating civil jury trials in May.
Court officials have remained in contact with Public Health Officer Dr. Gary Pace regarding public safety conditions for court operations.
“The court continues in the effort to provide necessary and essential services to court users while protecting the health of all who come before or work within the court. The court will continue to limit the number of cases on calendar, require social distancing in court facilities, require face coverings and will continue to handle matters via remote means whenever possible pending further notice,” said a written statement from LeVier and Presiding Judge Michael Lunas.
The court is continuing to post updates at its website.
The following changes are planned.
In-person court calendars
Beginning April 26, the calendars below will begin (or continue) to allow in-person appearances.
Zoom appearances will be allowed for those parties or attorneys that were previously ordered to appear by remote appearance. All other calendars will remain as remote proceedings only.
– Felony settlements, Department 3, Tuesdays.
– Felony preliminary hearings.
– Felony sentencing hearings (remote appearance may be allowed by the judicial officer).
– Felony law and motion, specially set Tuesdays at 2:30 p.m.
Civil and family law court trials and evidentiary hearings
Cases set for a hearing on or after May 17 for civil and family law court trials or evidentiary hearings will be conducted in-person.
Appearances may still be made by remote means, upon request and approval of the judicial officer at the time of the setting of the trial or hearing.
The cases that have already been set for remote hearing or trial shall remain set as remote proceedings.
Criminal jury trials
The court will continue to conduct jury selection at the fairgrounds facility in all cases.
Commencing the week of May 3, criminal jury trials will be conducted at the courthouse except for cases specifically set for jury trial at the fairgrounds facility.
Jurors who are unable to serve because they are high-risk for COVID-19 related complications will be excused prior to coming to the courthouse.
Additional details about the process and precautions will be provided with the jury summons.
Civil jury trials
Civil jury trials set for the month of May will be vacated along with the associated mandatory settlement conference and trial assignment dates and will be set for case management conference for resetting.
Commencing with the civil jury trial settings for June, the trial date, mandatory settlement conference and trial assignment dates shall remain as set. A civil jury trial that’s to be conducted, as with criminal cases, will have jury selection at the fairgrounds and trial at the courthouse.
Clearlake court calendars
Department of Child Support Services Calendar
The DCSS child support calendar will continue to be conducted by remote appearances. However, beginning May 17, appearance in-person will be allowed.
Traffic calendars
All traffic calendars will continue to be conducted by remote appearance. However, beginning May 17, appearance in-person will be allowed.
Unlawful detainer and small claims calendars
Beginning May 17, unlawful detainer trials and small claims trials will be conducted in-person. However, appearances may still be made by remote means, upon request and approval of the judicial officer.
Self-Help Center
Same-day appointments will be available on a walk-in basis again on Wednesdays beginning May 19. Individuals may phone or come in-person to the self-help public counter to schedule a same-day appointment. After scheduling, individuals will leave and return at their appointment time.
Public access to self-help computer lab will also return May 17, subject to capacity limits due to social distancing.
All other calendars will continue to be conducted by mandatory remote appearance.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
The cleanup will take place from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the public parking lot north of the Fifth Street boat ramp in downtown Lakeport.
This event is limited to city of Lakeport residents. Those dropping off trash and waste will be required to provide photo identification and a copy of a city of Lakeport utility bill.
Participants are required to follow the following COVID-19 safety protocols:
– Face covering must be worn.
– One person per vehicle.
– Stay in vehicle while Lakeport Disposal staff unloads materials.
– Two visits maximum per each address.
– Household trash, televisions, specified appliances, electronic waste, mattresses, household furniture, unusable clothes/blankets/towels and similar materials will be accepted.
– Items that will not be accepted: refrigerators, hot tubs/spas, construction debris and household hazardous waste.
For more details, please see the city’s website, its Facebook page or contact Lakeport Disposal at 263-6080.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
NORTH COAST, Calif. – With much of the West experiencing drought conditions and California squarely in a second consecutive dry year, Gov. Gavin Newson on Wednesday directed state agencies to take immediate action to bolster drought resilience and prepare for impacts on communities, businesses and ecosystems if dry conditions extend to a third year.
In addition, the governor proclaimed a regional drought emergency for the Russian River watershed in Sonoma and Mendocino counties, where reservoirs are at record lows following two critically dry years and accelerated action may be needed to protect public health, safety and the environment.
“California is facing the familiar reality of drought conditions, and we know the importance of acting early to anticipate and mitigate the most severe impacts where possible,” Gov. Newsom said. “Climate change is intensifying both the frequency and the severity of dry periods. This ‘new normal’ gives urgency to building drought resilience in regions across the state and preparing for what may be a prolonged drought at our doorstep.”
The text of today's emergency proclamation can be read below.
With an extremely low Lake Mendocino as a backdrop, the governor on Wednesday announced that he is directing state agencies to work with regional and local governments – including groundwater sustainability agencies – to identify watersheds, communities, public water systems and ecosystems that may require coordinated state and local actions to address drought impacts and protect people, natural resources and economic activity.
To encourage Californians to reduce water use and conserve supplies in case drought conditions continue next year, the proclamation also directs state agencies to partner with local water suppliers to promote conservation tips and messages through the Save Our Water campaign.
The campaign and website were critical resources for Californians during the 2012-2016 drought and remain a trusted information source on using water wisely.
The proclamation directs additional actions to coordinate with California Native American tribes; accelerate funding for water supply enhancement, conservation and species protection projects; work with counties to encourage and track reporting of household water shortages including dry residential wells; provide technical and financial assistance for water systems at risk of water shortages; support the agricultural economy and food security; and evaluate and take action to protect terrestrial and aquatic species.
To address acute drought impacts in the Russian River watershed, the proclamation directs the State Water Board to consider modifying requirements for reservoir releases or diversion limitations to ensure adequate supplies for critical purposes.
The regional state of emergency also enables flexibilities in regulatory requirements and procurement processes to mitigate drought impacts.
Under the governor’s direction, state agencies have been working together since November to prepare for continued dry conditions.
The governor recently formalized that coordination through the Drought Resilience Task Force, which includes the Natural Resources Agency, California Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Food and Agriculture, Department of Water Resources, Department of Fish and Wildlife, State Water Resources Control Board, Department of Finance, Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, California Health and Human Services Agency, California Public Utilities Commission and the Labor and Workforce Development Agency.
4.21.21 Drought Proclamation by LakeCoNews on Scribd
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office is continuing its investigation into the circumstances behind the shooting incident, first reported on Tuesday night, that killed Laura Marie Lovelady, 56, of Nice, and also resulted in the death of her husband, Kenneth Dwaine Lovelady, 60, later that night.
Lt. Corey Paulich said deputies had responded to the couple’s home in the 3400 block of Boggs Avenue at 7 p.m. Tuesday after Kenneth Lovelady called Lake County Sheriff’s Central Dispatch to say he had killed his wife and was going to also take his own life.
When deputies arrived, they found the couple suffering from gunshot wounds, and determined that Laura Lovelady had died, Paulich said.
Paulich said Kenneth Lovelady was transported to Sutter Lakeside Hospital. From there he was airlifted to an out-of-area hospital for treatment.
Kenneth Lovelady died of his injury shortly after arriving at the out-of-county hospital on Tuesday, Paulich said.
Based on the ongoing investigation by sheriff’s Major Crime Unit detectives, Paulich said they believe that Kenneth Lovelady shot and killed his wife before shooting himself.
Both appear to have died as a result of single gunshot wounds, Paulich said.
The official causes of death for the couple are pending autopsies that are scheduled to take place on Thursday, Paulich said.
“It is believed that the motive for this incident is related to a domestic dispute,” said Paulich.
Paulich said the sheriff’s office had minimal contact with either Laura or Kenneth Lovelady and the couple had no previous history of domestic disputes.
Anyone with information related to this investigation is asked to contact Det. Dean Preader at 707-262-4231.
Email Elizabeth Larson at