LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors this week will continue its discussion of short- and long-term leadership in the Registrar of Voters Office and present a proclamation declaring Lucerne as the gateway to the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument.

The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 26, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.

The meeting can be watched live on Channel 8 and online at https://countyoflake.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx. Accompanying board documents, the agenda and archived board meeting videos also are available at that link.

In an untimed item, the board will continue its consideration of what to do in the wake of Registrar of Voters Catherine McMullen’s resignation after just over four months on the job.

Her last day initially was to be Nov. 22 but she has agreed to wait until Dec. 2 in order to certify the Northshore Fire Measure N fire tax.

Last week a board majority directed staff to begin a recruitment for the registrar position, but this week a discussion is to continue about the possible restructuring of the elections office – an option being pushed by County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson. The supervisors also will consider appointing an interim registrar.

Also on Tuesday, at 9:10 a.m. the board will present a proclamation recognizing Lucerne as gateway to the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument, created by President Barack Obama in 2015. Two-thirds of the monument is located within Lake County.

The Lucerne Town Hall took action to declare the gateway status in September, as Lake County News has reported.

The full agenda follows.

CONSENT AGENDA

5.1: Approve letter of support for a grant request to Cal Fire's California Climate Investments Fire Prevention Grant Program and authorize the chair to sign.

5.2: (a) Approve letter of support for a grant request to Cal FIre’s Forest Health Grant Program and authorize the chair to sign; and (b) approve letter of support for a grant request to Cal Fire's Fire Prevention Grant Program and authorize the chair to sign.

5.3: Adopt proclamation recognizing Lucerne, California as gateway to the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument.

5.4: Approve the addendum to the consulting agreement between the county of Lake and Ellis Planning Associates Inc. and authorize the board chair to sign.

5.5: Approve the continuation of a local emergency due to the atmospheric river event 2019.

5.6: Approve the continuation of a local emergency due to the Mendocino Complex fire incident (River and Ranch fires).

5.7: Approve the continuation of a local emergency due to the Pawnee fire Incident.

5.8: Approve amendment to the agreement between the county of Lake and the county of Tehama to house juvenile wards for the period from Sept. 22, 2017, through March 30, 2020, for an amount not to exceed $380,000 annually; and authorize the chair to sign.

5.9: (a) Approve the FY 2019 Emergency Management Performance Grant application in the amount of $138,133, (b) authorize Sheriff Brian Martin to sign the grant subaward face sheet, the authorized agent document and the subrecipient grants management assessment form; (c) authorize County Administrative Officer Carol J. Huchingson to act as the authorized agent on behalf of the county to sign the standard assurances and initial each page, the lobbying certification and the FFATA financial disclosure document and (d) authorize the chairperson of the Board of Supervisors to sign the certification of the governing body resolution.

5.10: (a) Approve the FY 2019 Homeland Security application in the amount of $141,960, (b) authorize Sheriff Brian Martin to sign the grant subaward face sheet, the authorized agent document and the subrecipient grants management assessment form; (c) authorize County Administrative Officer Carol J. Huchingson to act as the authorized agent on behalf of the county to sign the standard assurances and initial each page, the lobbying certification and the FFATA financial disclosure document and (d) authorize the chairperson of the Board of Supervisors to sign the certification of the governing body resolution.

5.11: ADDENDUM: Approve the continuation of a local emergency due to the kincaid fire incident and the PG&E public safety power shutoffs events.

TIMED ITEMS

6.2, 9:06 a.m.: Consideration of continuation of a local health emergency and order prohibiting the endangerment of the community through the unsafe removal, transportation, and disposal of fire debris for the Mendocino Complex fire.

6.3, 9:10 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation recognizing Lucerne, California as gateway to the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument.

6.4, 9:30 a.m.: (a) Consideration of a protest by Unity Adjustments of California Inc., to the consultant selection panel’s recommendation of top respondent to RFP No. 19-06, request for proposals for Sulphur, Pawnee and Mendocino Complex wildfires structural burn debris removal insurance cost recovery and invoicing; and (b) approve agreement with Tetra Tech Inc., for Sulphur, Pawnee and Mendocino Complex wildfire structural burn debris removal insurance cost recovery and invoicing, in the amount of $328,050.

UNTIMED ITEMS

7.2: Consideration of the addition of a special meeting to the board’s annual meeting calendar for 2019.

7.3: (a) Consideration of a side letter to the Lake County Deputy District Attorney Association Memorandum of Understanding; (b) side letter to the Lake County to the Lake County Deputy Sheriff Association MOU for May 7, 2019, to Dec. 31, 2019; (c) side letter to the Lake County Correctional Officers Association MOU for July 9, 2019 to Dec. 31, 2019; (d) side letter to the Lake County Employee Association Units #3, #4 and #5 MOU for July 23, 2019 through Dec. 31, 2019; (e) side letter to the Lake County Safety Employee Association MOU for July 23, 2019 to Dec. 31, 2019; (f) side letter to the Lake County Sheriff Management Association 2019 MOU; (g) resolution amending Resolution No. 2018-125 establishing salaries and benefits for management employees for the period from July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019; (h) resolution amending Resolution No. 2018-126 establishing salaries and benefits for employees assigned to the Confidential Unit, Section A, for July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019; and (i) resolution amending Resolution No. 2018-127 establishing salaries and benefits for employees assigned to the Confidential Unit, Section B, for July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019.

7.4: (a) Discussion/Consideration of recruitment for the registrar of voters position; and/or, (b) discussion/consideration of restructuring of the elections function; and/or, (c) consideration of appointment of interim registrar of voters.

7.5: Consideration of appointments of a director and alternate to the California State Association of Counties Board of Directors for 2020.

CLOSED SESSION

8.1: Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code sec. 54956.9 (d)(1) – Existing Litigation: Werner v. Knudsen, et al.

8.2: Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code sec. 45956.9 (d)(1) – Existing Litigation: Heart Consciousness Church v. County of Lake, et al.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The California Highway Patrol will offer a free “Start Smart” traffic safety class for soon to-be-licensed, newly licensed, and teenage drivers and their parents or guardians on Wednesday, Dec. 11.

The class will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Clear Lake Area CHP office, located at 5700 Live Oak Drive in Kelseyville.

The CHP said a teenager is killed in a traffic collision every four hours nationwide. That equates to more than 1,870 teenagers killed each year. Another 184,000 teenagers are injured in traffic collisions.

These deaths and injuries can be substantially reduced or prevented by eliminating high-risk driving behaviors through education, and the CHP said its “Start Smart” program can help prevent these tragedies.

The Start Smart program focuses on providing comprehensive traffic safety education classes for teenagers and their parents.

Start Smart employs innovative techniques to capture the attention of teenagers and parents, providing a lasting experience.

The curriculum includes information on collision statistics, teen driver and passenger behaviors, graduated driver’s license laws, cultural changes in today’s society and the need for stronger parental involvement in a teenager’s driving experience.

Space is limited for this class. For more information or reservations, call Officer Joel Skeen at the CHP office, 707-279-0103, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Animal Care and Control has five cats ready to find their new families.

The following cats and kittens at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption.

Male domestic short hair kitten

This male domestic short hair kitten has a brown tabby coat with white markings and green eyes.

He is in cat room kennel No. 39, ID No. 13198.

Male domestic short hair kitten

This male domestic short hair kitten has a buff and white coat.

He is in cat room kennel No. 88, ID No. 13244.

‘Bones’

“Bones” is a male domestic long hair kitten with a gray tabby and white coat and green eyes.

He is in cat room kennel No. 115c, ID No. 13045.

Female domestic short hair kitten

This female domestic short hair kitten has an all-black coat and gold eyes.

She is in cat room kennel No. 141, ID No 13235.

Female domestic short hair

This female domestic short hair has a gray tabby coat and green eyes.

She is in cat room kennel No. 144, ID No. 13245.

Lake County Animal Care and Control is located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport, next to the Hill Road Correctional Facility.

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Visit the shelter online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control.htm.

For more information call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – After having taken two suspects into custody the previous night, authorities on Sunday continued to investigate the murder of a Lucerne man and said they are trying to locate a woman who they think may have information about the case.

Authorities said they want to speak to Darlene Geneva Anderson, 53, in connection with the Saturday murder of 70-year-old Nicky Smith.

Lt. Corey Paulich said detectives believe Anderson may have relevant information related to the investigation. She may be living in the Nice or Lucerne area.

On Saturday morning, Smith’s body was found on the side of the road in the 4550 block of Scotts Valley Road near Lakeport, as Lake County News has reported.

Hours later, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office said it had identified Daniel Wayne Ford, 49, of Lakeport and Michael Sean Shaffer, 35, of Upper Lake as the suspects in Smith’s killing.

At 8 p.m. Saturday, Shaffer was contacted and arrested during a traffic stop in Nice. Paulich said detectives questioned Shaffer, who denied any knowledge or involvement with Smith’s death.

Then, at approximately 10 p.m., Ford was contacted and arrested at Running Creek Casino in Upper Lake. Paulich said Ford did not wish to speak to detectives about this investigation.

Shaffer and Ford were both booked into the Lake County Jail on charges of murder, kidnapping, robbery and carjacking. Ford had an additional parole violation and Shaffer had an additional probation violation, Paulich said.

Paulich said both men remain in custody on their respective parole and probation violations as well as $1 million dollar bail.

Based on a review of local crime records, both men appear to have extensive criminal histories.

“We have had considerable contact with both suspects,” Paulich told Lake County News.

As for why the men killed Smith, Paulich said detectives are still interviewing people to determine the motive.

During the initial investigation, authorities located a separate but related crime scene in the intersection of Eickhoff and Scotts Valley Roads, Paulich said.

There, they found blood which Paulich said they are confident is related to the crime based on the location and information from witnesses. However, he said they are waiting for testing to confirm it.

So far authorities have not reported locating Smith’s truck, a 2012 dark green Toyota Tundra with the license number NASTOSR, which they believe was stolen after his death.

Anyone with information on Anderson’s location or this investigation is asked to contact Sheriff’s Central Dispatch at 707-263-2690.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Two men who authorities were seeking for the murder of a Lucerne man on Saturday morning are now in custody.

Sheriff’s Lt. Corey Paulich said Daniel Wayne Ford, 49, of Lakeport and Michael Sean Shaffer, 35, of Upper Lake were arrested Saturday night.

The news came within hours of the sheriff’s office asking the community for leads as to the whereabouts of the two men, who detectives believe killed 70-year-old Nicky Smith on Saturday morning.

Smith’s body was found on the side of the road in the 4550 block of Scotts Valley Road in Lakeport shortly before 7:30 a.m. Saturday, as Lake County News has reported.

The discovery of Smith’s body launched an investigation during which Paulich said investigators identified Ford and Shaffer as the suspects and also located a separate but related crime scene in the area of Eickhoff Road and Scotts Valley Road.

Paulich told Lake County News late Saturday that he didn’t yet have details about where Ford and Shaffer were found.

Detectives were still out following up on leads, Paulich said at about 10:30 p.m. Saturday.

Smith’s truck, a 2012 dark green Toyota Tundra with the license number NASTOSR, remains missing, Paulich said.

Paulich said the truck is believed to have been stolen after Smith’s death.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact Sheriff’s Central Dispatch at 707-263-2690.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The sun was warm and bright on a recent fall day when my granddaughter and I visited the community garden on the campus of the Lake County Tribal Health Consortium in Lakeport.

The well-designed garden was lush with end-of-season greenery. Wooden benches, picnic tables and a centerpiece gazebo for tribal elders provided lots of seating for events and classes that are held there on a seasonal basis. It was obvious that the space was well-tended and well-used.

We were there that day to learn about the traditional preparation of local acorns for culinary use.

While my granddaughter hunted for strawberries among the raised beds, I listened with rapt attention as Patty Franklin of the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians demonstrated acorn processing step by step with her daughter and son assisting.

Franklin has been instrumental in attempts to revive the tradition of gathering and processing acorns for food. She pointed out that this free resource provides 6 grams of protein and other key nutrients for every ounce of flour.

While edible acorns come from a variety of oak tree species in Lake County, Franklin prefers gathering acorns from valley oaks for a practical reason: the nuts are bigger (long and bullet-shaped, in contrast to shorter, rounder types), thus providing more food for less effort.

According to Franklin, peak acorn gathering season is from the end of September through November, though they can be gathered into winter and through much of spring.

Once gathered, acorns should be sorted, casting aside any not suitable for use, such as those that have holes caused by the larvae of long-snouted acorn weevils or other pests.

The acorns should then be cracked open to retrieve the nut meat within. This can be done by laying acorns on a hard surface and using a hammer or mallet to crack them. In earlier times, a stone hammer on a flat rock was used.

The acorn meat should then be dried, either spread out in the sun or in an oven set on a low temperature. It typically takes a few days in the sun to achieve the appropriate level dryness. Of course, if the air is humid or pests are a problem, this wouldn’t be a good method. If using an oven, a close watch should be kept on them to avoid burning.

Once dried, the acorn meat can be ground into flour. The traditional method for this is with a stone mortar and pestle, though a nut grinder, blender or food processor can be used. Franklin prefers the more time-consuming method of mortar and pestle, as it helps one to slow down and appreciate the effort that goes into food preparation.

At this point, the flour should be sifted to remove any large pieces that might remain. They can be tossed back into the mortar for further grinding. An open-weave basket was traditionally used for the sifting process; however, today a metal sieve may be used.

Because acorns contain a bitter-tasting tannin, the flour must go through a process of leaching with water prior to using it. There are several methods for this, and Franklin recommends using one of two, either drip leaching or leaching in a jar.

Her favorite method is drip leaching, as it’s faster and less labor-intensive. Flour should be put in a colander well-lined with fine cheesecloth and allowed to stand for 24 hours under a faucet turned to a slow drip. The water will collect in the colander and slowly drain out throughout the period, allowing tannins to be leached out of the flour.

To use the jar method, put the flour in a jar with a tight-fitting lid, cover the flour with plenty of water, and store the jar in the refrigerator for ten days. The water should be changed twice a day. The water will change color as the tannins release.

Once leaching is complete, the flour may be frozen and stored, dried and stored, or used immediately.

Weeks earlier I had had the privilege of sitting with Millie Simon of the Middletown Rancheria of Pomo Indians as she graciously shared with me her memories of traditional foods she ate while growing up.

In those days, there were only a handful of families living on the rancheria, most of them Simons.

Her father provided meat for the family by hunting, and they regularly ate deer and rabbit, as well as fish from local creeks, mostly steelhead trout.

Her parents ate a traditional native diet, and she recalls meals that included foods gathered from the wild, such as watercress, clover, blackberries and wild strawberries.

Pine nuts from the cones of native trees were also collected. Simon had a hand in this and remembers competing with the squirrels for them.

Seaweed was also a staple in their home, usually during May and June, and was cooked on the woodstove in flavorful fat.

Gathering and processing acorns was a regular activity in her family. They collected the short, stubby nuts from tanoak trees, which, from what I understand from other sources, is the acorn considered the tastiest.

Their method of processing acorns included a one-year drying time in their shells. In Simon’s family, the season’s haul was stored near the fireplace until ready for use the following year.

Once the acorns were cracked and ground, Simon’s family leached the flour by soaking it in water, which typically took three to four days. The flour was put in a wire mesh strainer lined with cloth. Water was added to cover the flour, allowing it to soak as the water slowly drained out. This was repeated until the flour was free of bitterness, at times taking up to five days.

A traditional way to use acorn flour is to make acorn mush, done originally by adding red-hot rocks to flour and water in a watertight basket. The rocks were stirred with a stick to avoid burning the basket until the mixture thickened.

Sometimes dried elderberries or dried fish were added to the mush while cooking.

The flour and water mixture could also be baked in an oven, making a kind of bread.

Today’s recipe is for acorn bread, courtesy of Patty Franklin. She brought samples from a freshly baked loaf to her presentation, and it was delicious, with a pleasant nutty flavor. My granddaughter liked it, too; she asked for seconds, and that’s an honest compliment.

I wish to extend my thanks to Patty Franklin of the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians, Millie Simon of the Middletown Rancheria of Pomo Indians, Sonia Chamberlain of the Lake County Tribal Health Consortium, and personal friend Kathy Roberts for their invaluable assistance on this column.

Acorn bread

Ingredients

1 cup acorn meal (leached)
1 cup all-purpose flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons sugar
1 egg, beaten
1 cup milk
3 tablespoons oil

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Grease a square baking pan (8 inches by 8 inches).

Sift the dry ingredients together.

Add the liquids, stirring just enough to moisten.

Pour into greased pan and bake 30 minutes.

Cool on rack.

Recipe courtesy of Patty Franklin, Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians.

Esther Oertel is a writer and passionate home cook from a family of chefs. She grew up in a restaurant, where she began creating recipes from a young age. She’s taught culinary classes in a variety of venues in Lake County and previously wrote “The Veggie Girl” column for Lake County News. Most recently she’s taught culinary classes at Sur La Table in Santa Rosa, Calif. She lives in Middletown, Calif.

LOWER LAKE, Calif. – As it has for the past 30 years, the Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association will again host its annual Victorian “Christmas at the Ranch” open house at the historic ranch house at Anderson Marsh State Historic Park.

The event will take place on Saturday, Dec. 14, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is free to the public.

The ranch house will be warmed by cheery wood fires. Coffee, hot cider, tea, cookies and other refreshments will be served.

AMIA Board Members and volunteers will be available at the Christmas event to answer questions about the ranch House and how Christmas was celebrated in Victorian days.

The Christmas tree set up in the ranch house parlor will have Victorian-style decorations and Santa Claus will be present at the event for visiting with children of all ages.

Singing along is encouraged as local musicians volunteer their time, performing Christmas carols throughout the day.

For more information about the event, contact AMIA at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 707-995-2658.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Animal Care and Control has many types of terriers waiting for new homes for Thanksgiving.

Dogs available for adoption this week include mixes of Australian Shepherd, Chihuahua, Patterdale terrier/Fell terrier, pit bull, shepherd and wirehaired terrier.

Dogs that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are either neutered or spayed, microchipped and, if old enough, given a rabies shot and county license before being released to their new owner. License fees do not apply to residents of the cities of Lakeport or Clearlake.

If you're looking for a new companion, visit the shelter. There are many great pets hoping you'll choose them.

The following dogs at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption (additional dogs on the animal control Web site not listed are still “on hold”).

Female terrier

This female terrier has a short brindle and gray coat.

She is in kennel No. 11, ID No. 13262.

‘Pessie May’

“Pessie May” ia a female Chihuahua with a short white and tan coat.

She has been spayed.

She is in kennel No. 17a, ID No. 13225.

Male wirehaired terrier

This male wirehaired terrier has a short black coat.

He is in kennel No. 22, ID No. 13251.

Patterdale terrier/Fell terrier

This male Patteradle or Fell terrier has a short brown and white coat.

He is in kennel No. 23, ID No. 13194.

‘Scrappy’

“Scrappy” is a female wirehaired terrier with a coarse tan coat.

She is in kennel No. 27a, ID No. 13174.

Male Australian Shepherd

This male Australian Shepherd has a long black and white coat.

He is in kennel No. 28, ID No. 13250.

‘Max’

“Max” is a male pit bull terrier with a short tan and white coat.

He has been neutered.

He’s in kennel No. 31, ID No. 13173.

Lake County Animal Care and Control is located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport, next to the Hill Road Correctional Facility.

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Visit the shelter online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control.htm.

For more information call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

One of the largest human-made permanent magnets in space resides on the International Space Station (ISS), and it’s helping scientists better understand the origins of our universe.

The Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS-02) is an observatory that is collecting data from measurements of cosmic rays, nuclei from hydrogen up to iron, as well as electrons and positrons that pervade all of our universe.

The original AMS was launched on the Space Shuttle in 1998 to test the concept of using a powerful magnet to conduct in-depth studies of sub atomic particles coming from millions of light years from the Milky Way.

AMS-02 was installed on the space station in 2011, with a projected lifespan of three years. Eight years later, it’s still working, having already measured and categorized almost 140 billion cosmic rays.

Studying these particles can help researchers understand their origin in ways not possible on Earth, whose atmosphere affects them.

Data has been captured from sources of positrons at high energies that could be evidence of dark matter, an invisible form of matter that makes up most of the mass content of the universe.

More data is needed before scientists can better explain these results. This space-based observatory is essential to helping scientists answer many fundamental physics questions.

But, with AMS-02 now five years beyond the lifetime it was designed for, will it last long enough to give scientists the information they seek?

Dr. Kirt Costello, the ISS Program Chief Scientist at Johnson Space Center said, “That’s why astronauts are conducting a series of spacewalks, known as Extravehicular Activities (EVAs), in the Fall of 2019.”

AMS-02 uses four cooling systems that circulate liquid CO2. Three of those systems have failed. As Dr. Costello noted: “The EVA team here at Johnson has partnered with the AMS team to design equipment and tools that will allow us to safely replace those cooling pumps. If everything goes according to plan, we think we can extend the life of AMS-02 to deliver full-time science operations for the lifetime of the station.”

Additional time for data gathering and refinement will allow scientists to continue learning more about the origins of the universe.

For more on scientific studies being done on and from the space station, go to www.nasa.gov/iss-science.

For more information about the smallest and biggest ideas about our universe, visit http://science.nasa.gov.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s assistance in locating two local men who investigators believe murdered a Lucerne man on Saturday.

Sheriff’s Lt. Corey Paulich said authorities have identified Daniel Wayne Ford, 49, of Lakeport and Michael Sean Shaffer, 35, of Upper Lake as the suspects in the death of Nicky Smith, 70, of Lucerne.

Shortly before 7:30 a.m. Saturday, radio reports indicated the discovery of a man down on the side of the road in the 4550 block of Scotts Valley Road in Lakeport, as Lake County News has reported.

Minutes later, deputies were dispatched to the scene, where it was confirmed that the man had died.

Initial radio reports had indicated a large amount of blood was found at the scene, and Paulich said Smith’s injuries led deputies to believe his death was suspicious.

California Highway Patrol officers and detectives from the Sheriff’s Major Crimes Unit responded and took over the investigation, Paulich said.

The investigation led to a portion of Scotts Valley Road being closed for several hours, based on reports from the scene.

During the investigation, Paulich said detectives located a separate related crime scene in the area of Eickhoff Road and Scotts Valley Road.

Paulich said detectives would later identify Smith as the victim. His cause of death is pending an autopsy later this coming week.

Detectives interviewed several witnesses in the area and also discovered Smith’s truck, a 2012 dark green Toyota Tundra, license number NASTOSR, is missing and believed stolen, Paulich said.

Now, Paulich said authorities are trying to locate Ford and Shaffer for Smith’s killing.

He said both men are believed to be armed and dangerous.

If Ford or Shaffer are seen, Paulich said not to attempt to contact them but to notify law enforcement immediately.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact Sheriff’s Central Dispatch at 707-263-2690.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Authorities have shut down a portion of Scotts Valley Road and are investigating the discovery of a body on the roadside.

Radio reports at around 7:20 a.m. Saturday stated that the body of a male was found on the side of the road in the 4550 block of Scotts Valley Road near Lakeport.

At that point, the man appeared to be deceased, which was confirmed a short time later, according to scene reports.

Shortly after 9 a.m., radio reports indicated the roadway would be closed three to four hours.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office sent out a Nixle alert followed by a LakeCoAlerts phone call shortly after 9:20 a.m. announcing that it was conducting a joint investigation with the California Highway Patrol into the incident.

The sheriff’s office confirmed that Scott's Valley Road will be closed for several hours in the area.

Lake County Roads crews units were reportedly dispatched to close the roadway.

Anyone with information related to the investigation is asked to contact Sheriff's Dispatch at 707-263-2690.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Lake County Behavioral Health Services, teamed with Middletown High School, has been selected to participate in the country’s expanded teen Mental Health First Aid pilot program, beginning spring semester 2020.

The teen Mental Health First Aid pilot program is an in-person training designed for high school students to learn about mental illnesses and addictions to help them identify and respond to friends who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem.

This training empowers high school students to assist their friends when a mental health problem or crisis, such as suicidal thoughts, is apparent.

The course specifically teaches the important step of involving a responsible and trusted adult.

To meet this need, Lake County Behavioral Health Services has trained several staff members at Middletown High School in youth Mental Health First Aid, which is for adults working with young people.

The National Council for Behavioral Health and “Born This Way Foundation” are piloting the course in more than 75 high schools across the country.

Middletown High School is one of 40 sites participating in the second cohort of the pilot program during the 2019-2020 school year.

After the pilot program is complete, the training course will be available to the public.

Lake County Behavioral Health Services staffers said they are excited to support a path toward greater awareness about mental health and increased capacity to respond to students with mental health problems.

Learn more about Mental Health First Aid at www.MentalHealthFirstAid.org.