The main break-ins occurred late June 18 or early June 19, and impacted the Mystic Barrel gift store and Nice Pet Care next door in the 3700 block of Highway 20, according to Capt. James Bauman of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

The Nice Pet Care break-in was discovered at about 5:30 a.m. June 19, Bauman said. The store owner had seen the store intact at 10 p.m. the night before.

A deputy responded and found a window next to Nice Pet Care's entrance door shattered, and while she was looking over the scene she noticed that a similar break-in had occurred at Mystic Barrel, Bauman said.

Bauman said the deputy called Tina Dawn-Rubin, Mystic Barrel's owner, who met with the deputy to look the place over.

Dawn-Rubin said the large windows on both her shop and Nice Pet Care were shattered, and the male suspect came in under a foot-high shelf in her store.

“He could not get our cash register open, so he just took the whole register and product,” she told Lake County News.

A survey of the shop after the burglary revealed a knife display in disarray with knives stolen, and pieces of the cash register were found later that morning by Dawn-Rubin near the lake, according to the sheriff's report.

Bauman said investigators believe the same suspect is responsible for the break-ins.

Dawn-Rubin said the losses through the theft of the cash register and the merchandise – including knives and BB guns – were significant, totaling more than $600.

She said her store was the victim of a minor break-in previously that involved young people who bailed out a back window before doing much damage.

Nice Pet Care reported grooming clippers, a dog pen, clipper attachments, petty cash and 10 sets of dog clothing stolen, Bauman said.

Anita Smith, Nice Pet Care's owner, said the suspect “just tore up the place, took half my equipment – down to my towels.”

In addition to the clipper blades, dog clothing and towels, Smith said dryers were stolen and the store was ransacked.

Smith said that in the six years she's worked at the shop – which she's owned the last three years – she's never had a break-in.

“This would have been the last place that I would have thought anyone would break into,” she said.

Smith said she's using the equipment she has left and she's keeping open because she has to keep paying her bills, but she's having issues with her insurance and her landlord is wanting her to pay for a new window to replace the one broken in the burglary.

She said she's having to put the store back together but hasn't been able to replace her equipment.

Smith said the equipment would only be useful to a person who does the kind of work she does or knows someone who does. “These people must have been really hard up.”

“There's just been a rash of burglaries,” Dawn-Rubin said, reporting that a week after her break-in a home behind the post office was hit, and two cars were stolen off of Plumas.

Dawn-Rubin reported that a break-in attempt was made on the Nice Market the same morning as the burglary of her business. The Nice Market confirmed that several weeks ago a break-in attempt was made on that business but the alarm went off and no entry was made.

The Nice Frostie was burglarized the night of May 22, Bauman said. Lake County News was unable to confirm reported break-ins to other businesses before press time.

Bauman said anyone with information on the break-ins is encouraged to call the sheriff's Major Crimes Unit at 707-262-4200.

E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf .

Nickolas Leone, 47, was arrested on a felony charge of discharging a firearm in a negligent manner, according to Capt. James Bauman of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

On Saturday shortly before 1 p.m. deputies responded to a residence on Highway 175 in Kelseyville to investigate a reported shooting. Bauman said a neighboring property owner called 911 and reported that Leone had shot an alleged trespasser.

When deputies arrived at the scene, Leone told them that 32-year-old John Allen Kniss, also of Kelseyville, had been harassing and threatening him over a woman Kniss had reportedly dated for several years, Bauman said. Kniss apparently believed Leone was now having a relationship with the woman.

Leone told deputies that at about noon on Saturday Kniss came driving up his driveway at a high rate of speed and after stopping just short of the gate to Leone’s property, began trying to force his way through the gate, according to Bauman's reported.

Leone retrieved a shotgun and exited his home, telling Kniss to leave. Bauman said Kniss reportedly ignored Leone’s demands and Leone allegedly fired a warning shot in the air.

Kniss continued to force his way through the gate and when he stepped onto the property, Leone shot him in the arm and shoulder from a distance of about 80 to 100 feet. Bauman said Kniss was apparently able to return to his pickup truck and leave.

Deputies were able to locate some blood and other evidence of the shooting at the scene, but after a search for Kniss, including checks with both area hospitals, deputies couldn't find him, Bauman said.

Bauman said Kniss had reportedly told other witnesses to the incident not to call the police before leaving the scene. Kniss was reportedly driving an older blue pickup truck and his condition is unknown.

Without any clear evidence at the scene that Leone’s actions were justifiable, he was arrested, Bauman said.

Bauman said Leone was booked at the Lake County Jail and posted a $10,000 bail later that same evening.

Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf .

Carmen Sanchez Delgado, 25, was arrested following the incident, which occurred just after 7 p.m., according to Glenn County Sheriff Larry Jones.

The California Highway Patrol received a 911 cell phone call reporting than a subject had driven their pickup into the Stony Gorge Reservoir, Jones said. The caller reported that the driver and only known occupant had been able to escape and swim to shore prior to the pickup submerging beneath the surface.

Glenn County Sheriff's Deputy Ronelle Knouse was dispatched to assist the CHP, Jones said. As the deputy and CHP were responding, Elk Creek Fire Department personnel, who had arrived on scene, were reporting the female, later identified as Delgado, was combative towards them.

Sheriff’s Sgt. Loren Bouldin and County Service Officer Barry Corbin of the Sheriff’s Marine Enforcement Unit were dispatched. Jones said the vehicle was located by Sgt. Bouldin in about 7 feet of water and marked with a floating buoy.

Delgado, with the assistance of Deputy Knouse, was taken into custody by the CHP, and transported and booked into the Glenn County Jail in Willows for investigation of driving under the influence of alcohol and resisting arrest, Jones said.

The Glenn County Sheriff’s Office followed protocols for contaminants in a navigable waterway, notifying Fish & Game, the Bureau of Reclamation, Cal-EMA and the State Water Resources Control Board. Jones said officials at Black Butte Reservoir assisted by providing contaminant containment boom material.

The following day, assisted by the Glenn-Cordora Fire Department Dive Team and the Glenn County Sheriff’s Office Marine Enforcement Unit, the pickup was removed from the reservoir, Jones said.

Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf .

THE US GEOLOGICAL SURVEY HAS DOWNGRADED THIS QUAKE FROM 3.4 TO 3.2 IN MAGNITUDE.

THE GEYSERS – A 3.4-magnitude earthquake occurred Monday evening near The Geysers geothermal steamfield, shaking the Cobb area for several seconds, according to one area resident.

The quake was recorded by the US Geological Survey at 8:03 p.m.

Its epicenter was three miles east of The Geysers, four miles south southwest of Cobb and four miles west northwest of Anderson Springs at a depth of 1.4 miles, according to the US Geological Survey.

Cobb resident Roger Kinney said he was standing on his deck when he felt the earthquake, which he said lasted five to six seconds and felt bigger than the reported magnitude.

The US Geological Survey received shake reports from Healdsburg, Calistoga, Union City, San Ramon, El Cerrito and from faraway Poway, located 826 miles from the epicenter.

A 3.0-magnitude earthquake was reported two miles south southwest of Anderson Springs early Friday morning, as Lake County News has reported.

E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf .

Casey Meroshnekoff of Red Bluff, Calif., comes out of the gate during the bareback bronc riding competition on Saturday, July 10, 2010, during the 81st annual Lake County Rodeo in Lakeport, Calif. Meroshnekoff won the event with a score of 63. Photo by Nick Moranda.

LAKEPORT – The county's rodeo tradition continued this past weekend with the 81^st annual Lake County Rodeo, which drew cowboys and cowgirls from around California.

“Rodeo takes all of us back to simpler times, less hectic and filled with down-to-earth family values,” said Lake County Rodeo Association President John Fulton in his message in the rodeo magazine.

The events included in rodeo today come from experiences on the ranch or the range. Rodeo officials explained that one event in particular – steer wrestling – came about after one man got frustrated with a testy steer and decided to pounce on the animal’s back.

This year's rodeo included the Rodeo, Tractor and Pet Parade, which peacefully trotted down Main Street in Lakeport at 11 a.m. Saturday, featuring grand marshal Monte Montana Jr.

Brad McGilchrist of Marysville, Calif., competes in steer wrestling at the Lake County Rodeo in Lakeport, Calif., on Saturday, July 10, 2010. McGilchrist would place second in the competition. Photo by Nick Moranda.

A new event was “Come learn about the rodeo,” where event-goers had the opportunity to meet the new barrel man, Charlie “Too Tall” West as well as Ted Dwyer, the California Cowboys Pro Rodeo Association announcer, an hour before the event began.

“Too Tall” also treated the crowd to a bit of a comedy skit mixed in with a few tricks from his miniature show horse, Molly, who jumped over, and went under, several bars.

The competition itself saw competitors from around the state taking part in numerous competitions – from saddle and bareback bronc to bull riding, team roping to break-away roping, and barrel racing.

Competitors in the mutton bustin' event line up on Saturday, July 10, 2010, at the Lake County Rodeo in Lakeport, Calif. Photo by Tera DeVroede.

A big hit for people of all ages was the dance, which wrapped up the night of excitement with a concert by Lou Derr & Bootleg.”

Results for the competition are listed below. For online results as they are posted, visit http://ccpra.com/.

CCPRA Championship Point Standings Report – Saturday, July 10, 2010:

Calf roping

Name, city of residence, time (in seconds)

Blake Hirdes, Turlock, 8.7

Ethan Garcia, Bishop, 11.0

Adam Andreini, Red Bluff, 11.0

Dusty Bravos, Redding, 11.3

Steer wrestling

Name, city of residence, time (in seconds)

Shane Radelfinger, Ferndale, 4.4

Brad McGilchrist, Marysville, 4.8

Tyler Mitchell, Napa, 5.2

Break-away roping

Name, city of residence, time (in seconds)

Fallon Avery, Aromas, 2.9

Marla Zuber, Orick, 3.5

Jodie Coleman, Ferndale, 3.6

Christie Buckner, Lakeport, 3.7

Barrel racing

Name, city of residence, time (in seconds)

Natasha Haddad, Crescent City, 14.17

Nina Moore, Reno, 14.22

Jamie Cook, Willows, 14.28

Jenny Millsap, Willits, 14.42

Leslie Moore, Bridgeville, 14.47

Rainey Hatch, Ukiah, 14.49

Angie Hardin, Cottonwood, 14.51

Kaitlyn Wiggin, Williams, 14.52

Team roping

Name, city of residence, time (in seconds)

David Ramont, Hughson, and Wyatt Williams, Cottonwood, 6.1

Ryan Reed, Lodi, and James Ferrera, Lodi, 6.1

John Jones, Kelseyville and J. Cody Jones, Kelseyville, 6.7

Wade Bunn, Palo Cedro, and Sam Williams, Cottonwood, 8.8

Saddle bronc riding

Name, city of residence, score

Luke White, Lincoln, 66

Logan Nallon, Greenwood, 63

Ethan Lemon, 62

Tyler Thomson, Tehachapi, 58

Bareback bronc riding

Name, city of residence, score

Casey Meroshnekoff, Red Bluff, 63

Mark Thomson, Tehachapi, to be announced

Clint Lear, Anderson, to be announced

Bull riding

Name, city of residence, score

Joe Chamberlain, Newman, 78

Scott Williamson, 76

Tyler Stueve, Marysville, 67

Jordan Spears, Redding, to be announced

Chad Morlan, Kelseyville, to be announced

Jesse Aitken, Laytonville, to be announced

Ricky Wilson, San Jose, to be announced

Leif Ferri, Willits, to be announced

Dustin Haberman, Crescent City, to be announced

E-mail Tera deVroede at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf .

From left, 2010 Lake County Rodeo Queen Ashley Johnson of Kelseyville; Miss California Cowboys Pro Rodeo Association 2010 Jennifer Marinelli and 2010 Lake County Princess Kimberly Fischer of Kelseyville. Photo by Tera DeVroede.

Charlie

Surveillance photos from Wells Fargo Bank in Chico, Calif., show a white male suspect who is alleged to have robbed the bank shortly after 10 a.m. on Tuesday, July 13, 2010.

CHICO – Authorities are looking for a suspect who allegedly walked into a Chico bank Tuesday morning and demanded money before fleeing on a bicycle.

The incident occurred at 10:18 a.m. at the Wells Fargo Bank on 954 East Ave., according to Sgt. Rob Merrifield of the Chico Police Department's Special Operations Section.

Merrifield sad Chico Police responded to the alleged bank robbery, and when they arrived at the bank employees reported that a male suspect approached one of the tellers and presented a note demanding money and suggesting that he had a weapon.

The teller complied with the demand and the suspect then fled the business on a mountain bike. Merrifield said the suspect was last seen fleeing the area eastbound on East Avenue.

Responding officers were unable to locate the suspect, Merrifield said.

The suspect is described as a white male adult, approximately 40 to 49 years old, 6 feet 4 inches tall, wearing an apparent wig underneath a dark bicycle helmet and sunglasses, according to the police report.

Merrifield said the suspect had a full beard, which may have been false, and was wearing a blue jacket and blue pants.

Anyone with information about the crime or who may have seen the suspect fleeing the area is encouraged to contact the Chico Police Department at 530-897-5820.

Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf .

Fern G. Joaquin, 67, of Covelo, Calif., died on Friday, July 9, 2010, when the vehicle she was riding in collided with a tree and rolled down an embankment in the Mendocino National Forest. Photo courtesy of the Glenn County Sheriff's Office.

MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST – A Covelo woman was identified as the victim of a fatal vehicle crash that occurred in the Mendocino National Forest last Friday.

Fern Gertrude Joaquin, 67, was the victim of the crash, according to a report from the Willows California Highway Patrol office.

The collision took place at around 8:30 p.m. on Forest Road N04 west of Forest Highway 7 in the Mendocino National Forest, the CHP reported.

The CHP reported that Fern Joaquin was riding in a 1994 Isuzu driven by 84-year-old Sylvester Joaquin of Covelo, who was traveling eastbound on Forest Road 21N04. Also in the car were 47-year-old Frances Y. Hoaglen and Angie Lynn Joaquin, 36, both of Covelo.

For an unknown reason Sylvester Joaquin lost control of the vehicle and collided with a tree before the vehicle rolled several times across the roadway and down an embankment, becoming wedged against a tree, the CHP reported.

Sylvester Joaquin, Angie Joaquin and Hoaglen all managed to get out of the vehicle, according to the CHP.

Glenn County Sheriff Larry Jones said a Butte County man who was monitoring a citizen’s band radio reported there had been a traffic accident in the mountains off of Forest Highway 7 and occupants were trapped inside.

The CHP, Glenn County Sheriff’s Office and Fish & Game responded in an effort to locate the accident scene, and ground ambulances and medical helicopters were dispatched, Jones said.

Joaquin was pronounced deceased at the scene, according to the CHP.

Paramedics transported the three surviving occupants of the car to Enloe Hospital in Chico, where all three were treated for major injuries, the CHP said.

Jones said his office notified the US Forest Service Law Enforcement Branch of the fatality in the forest.

All of the vehicle's occupants were wearing their safety belts, the CHP said.

The CHP is investigating the crash.

Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf .

The markets will take place from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. every Thursday beginning this week and continuing through Aug. 19, according to Debbie Hablutzel, president of the Upper Lake Community Council, which is sponsoring the weekly events.

“It is not exactly a farmers' market,” said Hablutzel. “We welcome arts, crafts, produce, plants and more – it’s just a fun thing.”

Hablutzel says event-goers will have between 10 and 20 vendors to visit. Expect the same pleasant yet festive atmosphere that recently kicked off the summer spirit during Upper Lake's Wild West Day.

Like Wild West Day, Main Street will be blocked off so shoppers can browse safely, Hablutzel said. Admission is free.

Singers and songwriters from around Lake County will have a chance to perform at the market, Hablutzel said.

The lineup of performers begins with Dave Hendricks this week, to be followed on July 22 by Lonnie Caldwell, Angelina & Ian on July 29, Stephen Holland & Friends on Aug. 5, Michael Barrish on Aug. 12 and on Aug. 19 by Hilarie, Milton & Moe.

Those interested about vendor space are encouraged to call Hablutzel at 707-275-2000 or Byron Green, a member of the Upper Lake Community Council, at 707-275-9515.

E-mail Tera deVroede at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf .

Elden Hogan, 21, of Roseville, Francisco Apodaca, 19, of Fort Bragg, and two 16-year-old male juveniles from Fort Bragg were arrested on charges of robbery, false imprisonment and conspiracy, according to Capt. Kurt Smallcomb of the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office.

Last Saturday at 2 a.m. Mendocino County Sheriff's deputies were dispatched to 17900 North Highway 1 in Fort Bragg in regards to a residential robbery, Smallcomb said.

On arrival deputies contacted the victim, who Smallcomb said advised them that at 1:45 a.m. he was asleep inside his residence when three subjects wearing dark clothing forcibly entered into his residence and struck the victim with an iron pipe.

Smallcomb said the victim reported that the suspects tied his hands behind his back at gunpoint and threatened to kill him if he yelled for help. The suspects then demanded his marijuana.

The victim reportedly told the suspects where his approximate 8 pounds of processed marijuana was at, Smallcomb said. The suspects retrieved the marijuana from inside the residence and then fled the location in a vehicle.

Deputies continued their investigation into the incident and received information that Apodaca may have had knowledge that the victim was in possession of large amounts of marijuana, Smallcomb said.

The deputies contacted Apodaca along with the two juvenile suspects from Fort Bragg. Smallcomb said the three were subsequently booked into the Mendocino County Jail and Juvenile Hall.

Deputies further learned that Hogan – who had family ties to Fort Bragg – fled to Roseville soon after the robbery. Smallcomb said the deputies, with the assistance of Roseville Police officers, were able to locate Hogan and he was subsequently arrested.

Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf .

Northshore Fire Protection District firefighters put out a vehicle fire on Country Club Drive in Lucerne, Calif., on Saturday, July 10, 2010. Photo by Elizabeth Larson.

LAKE COUNTY – Several fires were reported around the county late Friday and throughout the day Saturday, resulting in damages including burned vegetation, a destroyed shed and a charred car.

Following two vegetation fires earlier in the week, another similar fire was reported in Clearlake Oaks late Friday.

The fire, which was reported just after 9 p.m., occurred on the Elem Colony, according to Northshore Fire Protection District Battalion Chief Pat Brown.

The blazes that occurred earlier last week were attributed to fireworks, but Brown said they couldn't be certain of the cause of Friday's fire.

Brown said the Friday fire had three different start points spread about 75 feet apart, with about an acre of land being burned.

Three engines responded, Brown said, with the fire being quickly contained. Reports from the scene indicated engines were released at about 9:40 p.m.

Just before 4 p.m. Saturday a structure fire was reported on Lakeshore Boulevard in Nice, according to Northshore Fire Protection District Battalion Chief Steve Hart.

The structure in question was a shed attached to a residence, Hart said.

A witness reported three neighbors helped keep the flames down with hoses until the firefighters arrived on the scene.

Five engines – three from Northshore Fire, one from Lakeport Fire and one from Cal Fire – responded to the blaze, which consumed the shed, according to Hart.

Hart said the fire was contained in about seven minutes. The shed was destroyed, with damages estimated at $10,000. The residence was saved, he added.

The fire, according to Hart, was “suspicious in nature.”

In Lakeport at about 6:10 p.m. firefighters responded to a barbecue fire at the Driftwood Apartments at 975 Forbes St., according to Lakeport Fire Protection District Capt. Bob Ray.

Ray said the teenage daughter of the residents in one of the upstairs apartments lit a propane-fired barbecue, which was sitting against a metal railing about 8 feet from the building, and went back inside the apartment.

About a minute later the apartment's residents reported hearing what sounded like an explosion and, when they looked out they saw a fireball, with the barbecue throwing flames out over the railing, Ray said.

“Another neighbor showed up with a garden hose prior to us arriving and partially extinguished it,” said Ray.

An engine from Lakeport Fire responded, with a second engine from Kelseyville Fire canceled before arriving on scene. Ray said the fire was contained within about three to four minutes.

Nobody was injured, Ray said.

He said a 10 foot by 15 foot area of fiberglass roofing covering a storage area was damaged, as was about an 8 foot by 6 foot area of the deck under the barbecue, which was itself destroyed.

Ray said the building itself was not damaged, and that the people involved were “very fortunate.”

He said there appeared to have been a fuel leak between the propane tank and the barbecue itself.

In Lucerne, a vehicle fire was reported just after 7 p.m. at the corner of Country Club and 14^th Avenue.

Hart and two Northshore Fire engines responded to the fires, which destroyed the small blue Honda.

Firefighters pried open the trunk and pulled out what appeared to be a baby stroller and some cardboard.

Hart said the driver reported the car had started sputtering, so she pulled over and left the vehicle, returning a short time later to find it fully involved.

He said the fire appeared to have started in the Honda's power distribution system near the firewall.

Hart was concerned that the fire slightly damaged utility lines directly above where the car sat, parked partially on the sidewalk.

E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf .