This is the second installment of a special series on highway safety and its impact on Lake County residents’ health.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Last year, county health officials and partner agencies, groups and hospitals completed the 2010 Lake County Health Needs Assessment.

That document looked at a number of significant health topics in an effort to help policymakers address areas of concern.

Among its findings: Based on county and state public health statistics, between 2006 to 2008 Lake County’s motor vehicle crash death rate was more than twice the state level, nearly twice the national level and close to three times the national health objective.

The Lake County Health Needs Assessment also found Lake County’s average rate of alcohol-involved motor vehicle fatalities for 2001 to 2003 was three times higher than the state average.

Those rates concerned public health officials like Dr. Karen Tait, the county's health officer, who pointed out that Lake County's roadways already are challenging due to the area's unique geography.

Those roads, combined with drivers under the influence, has led to an increasingly deadly situation on county roadways.

A man from Lakeport, Calif., died on Sunday, January 2, 2011, after his vehicle slammed into a fence near Upper Lake, Calif. A fence cross member hit the man in the face and killed him, but his passenger was unhurt. The California Highway Patrol concluded the driver was under the influence. Photo by Gary McAuley.

Local crash rates higher than state, national averages

A California Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs report, “Indicators of Alcohol and Other Drug Risk and Consequences for CA Counties – 2010,” found that Lake County's rate of alcohol-involved vehicle collisions was “significantly higher” than the state's annual average.

Between 2000 and 2008, Lake County's number of alcohol-involved motor vehicle fatalities showed significant variations, but in 2007 it was ranked fifth-highest in the state, with a per capita ranking of 13.80, compared to a statewide per capita crash rating of 3.94.

While the report considers alcohol-involved motor vehicle collisions, it doesn't look at the rate of drug-involved collisions.

A Lake County News analysis of DUI- and drug-related crashes from 2006 to 2010 shows that drug use amongst people involved in fatal collisions was equal to – and, in some cases, slightly greater than – alcohol use.

The California Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs report showed that deaths due to drug and alcohol abuse have gained Lake County an average statewide ranking as second-highest in California.

In 2006 Lake was the county with the highest rate of death related to alcohol and drug use in California, the report showed.

The University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute's county health rankings, completed earlier this year, found that Lake County's motor vehicle crash fatality rate was ranked among the worst in the state between 2001 and 2007.

The study suggested that a major contributing factor to that high crash rate was alcohol use, with “excessive drinking” another serious health factor in the county – a conclusion similar to those reached in the county needs health assessment.

The University of Wisconsin study defined excessive drinking as consuming more than four drinks for women or five drinks for men on a single occasion in the previous 30 days, or heavy drinking, defined as drinking more than one drink for women or two drinks for men per day on average.

The California Department of Public Health's County Health Status Profiles for 2011, which looked at the years 2007 through 2009, showed that Lake County had an age-adjusted death rate from motor vehicle crashes of 20.9 per 100,000 population.

That rate is more than twice the statewide average of 9.2, and well above the Healthy People 2010 national health objective of 8. The 2011 figures gained Lake County a statewide rank of 54th worst out of 58 counties.

Looking at a wider set of data, a review of California County Health Status Profiles from 1999 to 2011 showed a dynamic change in the vehicle crash and death rate during that time period, with the number of deaths and the county's ranking climbing dramatically beginning in the 2000-01 timeframe.

The news on county crashes isn't all negative. One study, the Lake County Maternal, Child and Adolescent Needs Assessment: 2010-2014, showed that progress had been made in reducing motor vehicle injuries for children and youth.

Mirroring national trends

Not all research shows Lake County's numbers topping national trends. In fact, based on a recent federal report, when it comes to the number of fatal crashes involving driving under the influence, Lake County's numbers appeared just slightly below the national average in 2010.

An October report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Vital Signs: Alcohol-Impaired Driving Among Adults – United States, 2010” reports that nearly 11,000 crash fatalities, or about one third of all crash fatalities in the United States in 2010, were attributed to DUI.

According to the data Lake County News gathered from local law enforcement, 16 fatalities occurred on local roadways in 2010; of those, four – or 25 percent – were concluded to be DUI-related.

Looking at a larger statistical sample provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show, the information showed that Lake County had 78 highway fatalities – 10 involving motorcycles – from 2005 through 2009.

Twenty-one of those fatalities – or nearly 27 percent – involved alcohol-impaired driving, 19 involved speeding, 10 occurred at intersections, 21 involved rollovers and 59 were related to going off the roadway.

What can communities do? The CDC report suggests sobriety checkpoints and additional enforcement to counter the high rates of alcohol-impaired crashes.

Here in Lake County, the California Highway Patrol's Clear Lake Office did just that, using a “Five Alive” grant that ran from Oct. 1, 2010, through this past Sept. 30, and was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The grant's purpose, according to the CHP, was “to reduce the number of people killed and injured in alcohol- and motorcycle-involved collisions on local highways.”

The program used a combination of public education, 252 individual DUI saturation patrols, four motorcycle safety operations conducted during motorcycle rallies and eight DUI motorcycle enforcement task force operations. CHP said it partnered with other local law enforcement agencies to carry out the operations.

Based on the CHP's statistical tracking of the grant's program, Lt. Greg Baarts, commander of the Clear Lake Area office, said the preliminary figures show a decrease both in DUI-related fatalities and motorcycle-involved collisions.

In the next installment, agencies partner to reduce highway fatalities.

This Lake County News special series was produced as a project for the California Endowment Health Journalism Fellowships, a program of the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism.

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, on Tumblr at www.lakeconews.tumblr.com, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf and on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/LakeCoNews .

2010 Lake County Alcohol and Drug Risk Report

The work includes roadway trenching and underground piping installation, the agency reported.

This project is currently under way near Shady Acres extending up and through the former Pierce Airfield.

The project addresses the ability to provide capacity within the sewer collection system and reduce sewer spills.

Normal hours of construction are from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, and traffic control will be provided when necessary.

There may be disruptions caused to residents’ normal day-to-day activities during construction.

Every effort is being made to minimize impacts to all residents within the construction area.

The Lake County Sanitation District said it appreciates everyone’s patience as the important improvements are completed.

For more information, contact Lake County Special Districts at 707-263-0119.

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The male suspect in an attempted robbery on Saturday, October 22, 2011, in Hidden Valley Lake, Calif., was believed to have been driving this late model white SUV, possibly a Honda, pictured on a clip from a surveillance video. Photo courtesy of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE, Calif. – The Lake County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the suspect of an attempted robbery at a south county pharmacy this past Saturday.

On Saturday, Oct. 22, at approximately 1:45 p.m., sheriff’s deputies responded to a reported robbery attempt at the Hidden Valley Pharmacy on Hartmann Road in Hidden Valley Lake, according to a report from Capt. James Bauman.

Bauman said staff at the pharmacy reported that shortly after opening for business at 1 p.m. a white male adult walked into the business, handed the pharmacist a note stating it was a “robbery,” and exposed what appeared to be a handgun in his left front pants pocket.

The suspect demanded the narcotic medication Oxycontin, but the pharmacist told him he had none in stock, Bauman said.

The suspect then demanded any other similar medication and the pharmacist told him he was not licensed to dispense narcotic medications. Bauman said the suspect then retrieved his note and left the pharmacy in an unknown direction, empty-handed.

The suspect was described as a white male adult, unshaven with light brown hair, approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall with a “stocky” build, wearing sunglasses, blue denim pants and a blue and white plaid shirt, Bauman said.

While checking the area for any other witnesses or information, deputies reviewed the surveillance system at the neighboring Hardester's Market and discovered the suspect had been caught on video, walking behind a building in the business center and getting into a vehicle. Bauman said that vehicle is described as a late model white SUV, possibly a Honda product.

Anyone with information on the possible identity of the suspect in Saturday’s attempted robbery is encouraged to call the Sheriff’s Major Crimes Unit at 707-262-4200 or the sheriff's anonymous crime tip line at 707-262-4099.

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The event will take place from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the clinic, located at 15145 Lakeshore Drive in Clearlake.

The open house will provide an opportunity for veterans and the community to meet clinic staff and learn more about services offered to Lake County veterans. There will be light refreshments for all who attend.

The Clearlake VA Clinic opened on Nov. 1, 2010.

Since its opening, it has served about 1,200 veterans, according to Judi Cheary of the San Francisco VA Medical Center, which operates the Clearlake clinic as well as outpatient clinics in San Bruno, Ukiah, Eureka, Santa Rosa and downtown San Francisco.

The Clearlake clinic offers expanded services to veterans including primary care, outpatient mental health, immunizations, nutrition counseling, laboratory, podiatry, physical examinations, medication refills from the VA pharmacy, social work services, medical advice nurse, enrollment in VA health care and referrals for specialty services.

For veterans who need help with transportation to appointments, the VA operates a free shuttle service between the clinic and various locations in Lake County on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

An estimated 8,000 veterans live in Lake County. Those not already taking advantage of the clinic's services can call 707-995-7200 for more information, or visit the clinic online at www.sanfrancisco.va.gov/cboc/clearlake.asp.

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The fire was reported at a home on Dry Creek Road near Highway 29 at about 5:45 p.m., according to radio reports.

Neighbors and friends identified the homeowners as Joe and Clarine Lewkowitz.

A large column of black smoke and flames shooting 40 to 50 feet in the air were seen by neighbors as helicopters and ground units fought the blaze.

The fire was reportedly contained at approximately 6:43 p.m., according to radio traffic. Resources were committed for several more hours for mop up.

The fire's cause and details about the firefighting effort weren't immediately available Tuesday night.

The Lewkowitz family reportedly lost their dog and all of their belongings to the fire, according to their friends.

Community members discussing the fire on Lake County News' Facebook page Tuesday evening were rallying to offer help and support to the couple, known for their generosity and community involvement. Red Cross was reported to be meeting with them on Wednesday to give them assistance.

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Army officials said they are investigating the death of Army Private First Class Steven Francis Shapiro, 29, of Hidden Valley Lake, who died on Friday, Oct. 21, 2011, in Tallil, Iraq. Photo courtesy of Fort Hood.

HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE, Calif. – The death of a Hidden Valley Lake man who died last week while serving in Iraq is under investigation, according to Army officials.

Army Private First Class Steven Francis Shapiro, 29, of Hidden Valley Lake, died on Friday, Oct. 21, in Tallil, Iraq, according to the Department of Defense and officials at Fort Hood, where Shapiro was assigned.

Tyler Broadway, a media spokesman for Three Corps Fort Hood, said the cause of Shapiro's death is under investigation.

Broadway said Shapiro died as the result of a “noncombat related incident” in Tallil. He did not offer more specifics about where the incident occurred.

Once the inquiry is complete, more information likely will be available, but Shapiro added, “It takes a long time for these investigations to be concluded.”

Tallil is located in southern Iraq, about 160 miles southeast of Baghdad. It's also the location of a US air base.

Shapiro, who was supporting Operation New Dawn in Iraq, was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, the Department of Defense reported.

Shapiro entered active duty service in March 2010 as an M1 armor crewman, according to a report from Fort Hood. He deployed in support of Operation New Dawn earlier this year.

Fort Hood reported that Shapiro's awards and decorations include an Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon and Overseas Service Ribbon.

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, on Tumblr at www.lakeconews.tumblr.com, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf and on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/LakeCoNews .

THIS STORY HAS BEEN UPDATED.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – With Halloween just around the corner, a full weekend of fall events is planned around the county for community members of all ages.

Halloween this year is on Monday, Oct. 31, but the fun will kick off on Friday in Lakeport and move around the lake through to Monday, when the city of Clearlake's annual festivities for children will take place.

Below is a listing of local Halloween events. If we've missed something, e-mail us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we'll update the listing, the Lake County News calendar and also post it on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Tumblr.

Friday, Oct. 28

Renker Farms corn maze

Renker Farms, 2297 Argonaut Road in Kelseyville, hosts a fall corn maze, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., through November. They also offer a produce stand with fruits, vegetables and flowers. Information: 707-279-4409.

Lakeport Halloween Parade

The annual Halloween parade for first through third graders from Lakeport Elementary School will take place from noon to 1:15 p.m. through downtown. Street closures will take place on Second and Main streets, Ninth and Main streets, and Second to Ninth streets along Main Street. Information: Lakeport Public Works Department, 707-263-0751.

Jellystone Park Halloween celebration

Celebrate Halloween with Yogi, Boo Boo, Cindy and Ranger Smith, at Jellystone RV Park and Camp Resort, 14117 Bottle Rock Road in Cobb. From 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. there will be a pumpkin patch and haunted house, pumpkins and haunted house, pumpkins and tasty treats available for purchase, as well as games, prizes, candy, face painting and more for the young and young at heart. Haunted house admission is free. The haunted house gets scarier from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Information: 707-928-4322, www.jellystonecobbmtn.com.

Lakeport Speedway Haunted House

The Lakeport Speedway, 401 Martin St. in Lakeport, will host a haunted house from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Information: 707-279-9577, www.lakeportspeedway.com.

Haunted barn, graveyard, corn maze, pumpkin patch

Rancho De La Fuente, 2290 Soda Bay Road in Lakeport, will host a haunted barn and graveyard for adults and a not-so-scary kids corn maze and pumpkin patch from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., daytime by appointment through the weekend. The cost is $3 for children ages 6 to 12 in costume ($5 without). Information: 707-263-3160, www.ranchweddingevents.com.

'Scary Night Under the Stars'

The Taylor Observatory-Norton Planetarium, 5725 Oak Hills Lane in Kelseyville, will host a “Scary Night Under the Stars” from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Find out what's up in the night sky. Amateur astronomers will be on hand to share their telescopes and knowledge with the general public. Planetarium show tickets cost $5 for adults and $3 for children under age 12. Information: 707-262-4121, www.lake-coe.k12.ca.us/apps/comm.asp?Q=96. A map to the observatory can be found at http://lakecoe.org/apps/comm.asp?%241=126.

Saturday, Oct. 29

Renker Farms corn maze

Renker Farms, 2297 Argonaut Road in Kelseyville, hosts a fall corn maze, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., through November. They also offer a produce stand with fruits, vegetables and flowers. Information: 707-279-4409.

Halloween at Six Sigma Ranch

Celebrate Halloween at Six Sigma Ranch and Winery, 13372 Spruce Grove Road in Lower Lake, from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. No tricks or costumes necessary but there will be treats for all to enjoy. Weekend activities will include complimentary Pinzgauer tours (regularly $25 per person) to the Diamond Mine Vineyard, elevation 1,700 feet. Along the way guests will enjoy spectacular views, observe different microclimates, and if it’s an especially clear day, Lake Berryessa may be visible in the distance. The tour takes about 45 minutes round trip. The Pinzgauer, a 1973 Austrian-made all-terrain vehicle, can seat up to 10 people. Advance reservations are required. The Six Sigma Ranch pumpkin patch produced some lovely pumpkins this year as did the apple trees adjacent to the tasting room. The Ahlmann family will be sharing the bounty of their small harvest with Halloween weekend guests, while supply lasts. A complementary tasting of current release wines, available to guests 21 and older, also will be served at the picnic tables under the oak trees. Information: 707-994-4068, www.sixsigmaranch.com.

Lakeside Family Fun & Event Center Halloween

Bowl in costume in the Singles 9 Pin “Under the Sheets” No Tap Tournament at the Lakeside Family Fun & Event Center, 872 Lakeport Blvd. in Lakeport. The tournament starts at 2 p.m. Win prizes, win best in costume and much more. Entries close Saturday, Oct. 29, at 11 a.m.; check-in at 1 p.m., tournament starts at 2 p.m. The cost is $15. Come in to register or call 707-263-4828 for a faxed sign-up form. Information: www.lakesidefamilyfun.com.

Jellystone Park Halloween celebration

Celebrate Halloween with Yogi, Boo Boo, Cindy and Ranger Smith, at Jellystone RV Park and Camp Resort, 14117 Bottle Rock Road in Cobb. From 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. there will be a pumpkin patch and haunted house, pumpkins and haunted house, pumpkins , costume contest and tasty treats available for purchase, as well as games, prizes, candy, face painting and more for the young and young at heart. Haunted house admission is free. The haunted house gets scarier from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Information: 707-928-4322, www.jellystonecobbmtn.com.

Sons of Italy Halloween dinner, dance

Enjoy a Halloween party dinner and dance at the Sons of Italy club hall, 2817 E. Highway 20 in Nice. The bar is open for socializing at 5 p.m. then dinner will be served at 6 p.m. Enjoy dancing to music of the High Notes right after the meal. Dress up for the costume contest and win a prize. All tickets cost $15 at the door. Everyone is welcome. Information: 707-263-1606.

Zino's Ristorante Halloween Party

Zino's Ristorante, 6330 Soda Bay Road in Kelseyville, will host a Halloween Party from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., featuring a special menu with prime rib and other specials. Lake County's piano man, David Neft, will entertain. Come in costume or just come down and watch the fun. Prizes will be offered for the best costume. Information: 707-279-1620.

Lakeport Speedway Haunted House

The Lakeport Speedway, 401 Martin St. in Lakeport, will host a haunted house from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Information: 707-279-9577, www.lakeportspeedway.com.

NCRA Races with Halloween Smash Boat Race and Truck Derby

The Lakeport Speedway, located at the Lake County Fairgrounds at 401 Martin St. in Lakeport, will host the Halloween Smash Boat Race and Truck Derby from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Admission fee. Information: 707-279-9577, www.lakeportspeedway.com.

Haunted barn, graveyard, corn maze, pumpkin patch

Rancho De La Fuente, 2290 Soda Bay Road in Lakeport, will host a haunted barn and graveyard for adults and a not-so-scary kids corn maze and pumpkin patch from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., daytime by appointment through the weekend. The cost is $3 for children ages 6 to 12 in costume ($5 without). Information: 707-263-3160, www.ranchweddingevents.com.

Halloween Metal Mosh 2011

The Clearlake Oaks Moose Lodge, 15900 E. Highway 20, will host the Halloween Metal Mosh from 7 p.m. to midnight. The concern will feature Live the Day, Hexafiend, Blitzenhamer and more. Doors open at 6 p.m. The cost is $10 at the door. Live bands, full bar and food, and Halloween costume contest.

Sunday, Oct. 30

Renker Farms corn maze

Renker Farms, 2297 Argonaut Road in Kelseyville, hosts a fall corn maze, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., through November. They also offer a produce stand with fruits, vegetables and flowers. Information: 707-279-4409.

Jellystone Park Halloween celebration

Celebrate Halloween with Yogi, Boo Boo, Cindy and Ranger Smith, at Jellystone RV Park and Camp Resort, 14117 Bottle Rock Road in Cobb. From 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. there will be a pumpkin patch and haunted house, pumpkins and haunted house, pumpkins , costume contest and tasty treats available for purchase, as well as games, prizes, candy, face painting and more for the young and young at heart. Haunted house admission is free. The haunted house gets scarier from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Information: 707-928-4322, www.jellystonecobbmtn.com.

Haunted barn, graveyard, corn maze, pumpkin patch

Rancho De La Fuente, 2290 Soda Bay Road in Lakeport, will host a haunted barn and graveyard for adults and a not-so-scary kids corn maze and pumpkin patch from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., daytime by appointment through the weekend. The cost is $3 for children ages 6 to 12 in costume ($5 without). Information: 707-263-3160, www.ranchweddingevents.com.

Monday, Oct. 31

Renker Farms corn maze

Renker Farms, 2297 Argonaut Road in Kelseyville, hosts a fall corn maze, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., through November. They also offer a produce stand with fruits, vegetables and flowers. Information: 707-279-4409.

Downtown Lakeport Trick-or-Treat

Thirty-six Lakeport stores will open their doors to trick-or-treating youngsters in costume from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Families are invited to enjoy a safe and fun Halloween on Main Street concluding at 4 p.m. with a costume contest on Museum Square. The event is free of charge. Maps indicating trick or treat locations are available at participating businesses or at the Lakeport Main Street Association desk in the lobby of City Hall at Second and Park Streets. Information: Carol Hays, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 707-263-8843.

City of Clearlake Trick-or-Treat Party

The city of Clearlake will host its annual Trick-Or-Treat party from 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive. City staff and police officers will volunteer their time to dress up and hand out goodies and reflective treat bags to community children as a safe alternative to trick-or treating in unknown neighborhoods. Refreshments also will be available for children and parents to enjoy. Cameras are welcome. Trick or treating at Clearlake City Hall is now in its fifth year of festive community tradition. Information: 707-994-8201, Extension 106.

Jellystone Park Halloween celebration

Celebrate Halloween with Yogi, Boo Boo, Cindy and Ranger Smith, at Jellystone RV Park and Camp Resort, 14117 Bottle Rock Road in Cobb. From 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. there will be a pumpkin patch and haunted house, pumpkins and haunted house, pumpkins , costume contest and tasty treats available for purchase, as well as games, prizes, candy, face painting and more for the young and young at heart. Haunted house admission is free. The haunted house gets scarier from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Information: 707-928-4322, www.jellystonecobbmtn.com.

McBoo Costume Contest

The Lakeport McDonald's, 1400 Todd Road, will host the McBoo Costume Contest. Sign ups begin at 5:15 p.m. with the costume parade at 6:15 pm. There are three age divisions: 0 to 4 years; 5 to 8 years; and 9 to 12 years. Prizes will be awarded to the first, second and third place winners in each division. First place will win a $100 savings bond. Fun and candy for all.

Halloween Festival

Tatonka Trading and Mini Golf and Burger Time will host a free Halloween festival from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Tatonka Trading, 14240 Lakeshore Drive in Clearlake. There will be games and prizes, candy, free sweatshirts and more. Volunteers are needed to run games and fill candy bags; call Barbara Greer at Burger Time, 707-995-1004.

Lakeport Kiwanis Club Halloween Party

The Lakeport Kiwanis Club presents its annual Halloween Party from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Clear Lake High School gym, 350 Lange St. A safe, free and fun evening featuring game booths, candy prizes and a costume contest to amuse and delight children of all ages.

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Juan Estrada Gomez, 30, of Redwood City; Eduardo Yepis Casillas, 34, of San Mateo; Jose Manuel Hernandez, 21, of Redwood City; Jose Hernandez Bustos, 55, of Redwood City; and Cesar Vidal Martinez, 38, of Hayward were convicted of poaching, according to a report from Chief Deputy District Attorney Richard Hinchcliff.

On Sept. 17, Department of Fish and Game Warden Patrick Freeling was patrolling in the area of the State Game Refuge north of Lake Pillsbury when he noticed two vehicles parked at the boundary of the Refuge near Broadman Ridge, Hinchcliff reported.

The refuge has signs posted at all entrances warning that it is illegal to possess firearms or hunt in the refuge, according to the report.

Upon further investigation Freeling found five individuals walking out of the refuge with hunting rifles, Hinchcliff said. When Freeling contacted them, all five men admitted they were deer hunting.

The case was referred to Hinchcliff for prosecution, and all five men were charged with illegal hunting and possession of firearms in a game refuge, in violation of Fish and Game Code section 10500.

Hinchcliff said that on Tuesday all five men pleaded no contest to possession of firearms in the refuge.

Judge Andrew Blum sentenced each of the men to three years' probation, revoked their hunting privileges for three years and ordered each to pay a fine of $1,915, Hinchcliff said.

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Pfc. Steven F. Shapiro, 29, of Hidden Valley Lake, died on Friday, Oct. 21, in Tallil, Iraq, according to a Tuesday report from the Department of Defense.

Shapiro was supporting Operation New Dawn in Iraq, the Department of Defense said.

According to the Tuesday statement, Shapiro was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

Details about the circumstances leading to Shapiro's death were not immediately available on Tuesday morning from Fort Hood.

However, a Fort Hood official said more information would be available later in the day.

Shapiro's death occurred on the same day that President Obama announced that the remaining US troops in Iraq would be coming home by year's end.

Lake County News will post additional information as soon as it becomes available.

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Winding roadways, infrastructure, speed and weather conditions are among the factors that affect travel along county roadways. This vehicle went into the Rodman Slough in Lake County, Calif., on Tuesday, March 2, 2011. The crash, which resulted in no injuries for the car's occupants, was one of many during the year so far involving vehicles going into Clear Lake. Photo by Gary McAuley.

This is the first installment of a special series on highway safety and its impact on Lake County residents’ health.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Sweeping vistas, clear blue skies, colorful countryside – all define Lake County's geography.

Traversing the landscape are numerous roadways, winding between lakes and mountains, dotted by wildlife and, at times, busier thanks to the tourist season.

Highways 20, 29 and 53 link Interstate 5 with Interstate 101, establishing Lake County as a primary traffic thoroughfare for travelers.

For motorists, the roads are both beautiful and harrowing, with the number of vehicle crashes in recent years showing a marked increase.

The 2010 Lake County Health Needs Assessment identified vehicle crashes as a significant health concern for county residents, pointing to evidence that the rate of fatal vehicle collisions in Lake County was well above state and national averages.

Lake County Health Officer Dr. Karen Tait said many of Lake County's health challenges, even simple tasks like driving to the store, result from the nature of rural living.

“Rural areas just have more accidents of all types,” said Tait.

In addition, Lake County's road infrastructure has been identified as needing significant improvement, and numerous health studies have pointed to higher-than-average rates of drug and alcohol abuse.

Then, there is the changing nature of society, where greater access to technology can sometimes translate into increased distractions when behind the wheel.

Lt. Mark Loveless, former commander of the California Highway Patrol’s Clear Lake area office – who earlier this year took a new assignment in Trinity County – said he's seen more collisions resulting from drivers using their cell phones to send texts and place calls, despite the fact the practice is illegal.

“That's not specific to Lake County,” he said, adding that people forget how important it is to stay focused when driving.

Early this year, Lake County News was selected for a California Endowment Health Journalism Fellowships from the University of Southern California Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism.

The purpose of the fellowship is to study a significant health issue affecting our readership.

The result is a series of articles focusing on Lake County's high number of vehicle crashes, listed among nine causes of death for Lake County residents that surpass state and national rates, according to figures included in the 2010 Lake County Health Needs Assessment.

In addition to this assessment, other sources for this special series include the Lake County Health Department, California Highway Patrol, the California Department of Transportation, Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System, Clearlake Police Department, Lakeport Police Department, Lake County/City Area Planning Council, the California Department of Public Health, the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute's county health rankings and the 2010 U.S. Census.

As part of the project, Lake County News has created a first-of-its-kind map for the community – to be introduced later in the series – which documents crash statistics from Jan. 1, 2006 to today.

The map, created with the assistance of the California Highway Patrol, Lakeport Police and Clearlake Police, will become a permanent, regularly updated feature of Lake County News' Web site.

In addition to the map, the assessment of county roads that will be presented in the series will include an evaluation of contributing factors and what steps officials are taking to address the problems, including grant projects.

Another part of the series will consider whether measures taken to improve safety actually succeed, and how state and local officials determine where safety projects should be completed.

By the numbers

The 2010 Lake County Health Needs Assessment reported that over a three-year period – 2006 to 2008 – Lake County’s motor vehicle crash age-adjusted death rate was 22. That’s compared to the state rate of 10 and the national rate of 14, and well above the national health objective of eight, established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Healthy People 2010, which sets goals and objectives for health.

Historically, Lake County's highways have been challenging. Residents’ accounts of county roads and highways describe narrow and treacherous byways which predate the arrival of the automobile at the turn of the 20th century.

Today's highways are safer, but still pose their challenges, as they move through narrow mountain passes and along the lake's curving shores.

The county's tourism trade and a growth in population over the past decade – 20 percent, based on state population estimates – appear to be contributing factors to rising crash rates.

Most factors affecting Lake County's high crash rate are fairly basic in nature, Tait said.

For one, road quality is a part of the equation, according to the Lake County 2030 Blueprint, a planning document completed in October 2010 by the Lake County/City Area Planning Council.

The document, funded through Caltrans grants, provides county governments a coordinated regional framework to help guide planning decisions.

The blueprint quotes a projection from the California Department of Finance Research Unit that Lake County’s population is projected to grow to around 101,000 residents by 2030, roughly a 55-percent increase. The latest U.S. Census numbers put the population just under 65,000.

“Poor road conditions and lack of safe bicycle and pedestrian access,” are the county's No. 1 challenge, according to the document. Lack of access to shopping and services, lack of medical resources and transportation to health care, and drug use also were cited.

Average pavement conditions ranked as poor

June 2008 pavement studies for Lake County, Lakeport and Clearlake, completed by the Lake County City Area Planning Council, didn't offer a promising picture for county roadways.

The study’s pavement condition index includes five rankings: very poor, 0-25; poor, 26-50; fair, 51-70; good, 71-90; and excellent, 91-100.

The unincorporated county's overall ranking was 32, or “poor,” with only 12.1 percent of county pavement in the “good” or “excellent” condition category.

“There is very little good news to present in this report,” the report on county roads stated, adding that the county’s existing budget of $300,000 per year for road maintenance isn’t enough to maintain roads, and that the pavement condition index is likely to decrease to 12, in the “very poor/failed” category, over the next decade.

The report recommended the county increase its current funding level for road maintenance to at least $8.9 million per year – an unlikely outcome for the small rural county – and increase inspections for streets. Estimated total road replacement costs for the entire county are $468.3 million.

A similar report completed for Lakeport found the city had estimated road replacement costs of $58 million, an average pavement condition index score of 35, still in the “poor” category, and had 12.2 percent of its pavement in the “good” or “excellent” category. If the city isn’t able to increase its road maintenance budget, but 2017 the average road condition rating is anticipated to drop to 13, or the lowest level, “very poor/failed.”

Clearlake's pavement picture was slightly better. It also ranked in the poor category, with a pavement condition index of 39. Overall, 17.5 percent of the city's roads rated as good or excellent. Because of budget constraints, road conditions are expected to decline to a 19 rating in the next decade. Total road replacement for the city would cost $53.3 million.

City and county officials said pavement condition index updates now under way and expected to be released by early 2012 show improvements in those numbers thanks to the completion of a number of projects over the last few years.

Additional studies identify vehicle crash rate as health issue

The University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute's county health rankings, released this spring, concluded that Lake County's motor vehicle crash fatality rate placed it in the 90th percentile for California counties – among the worst in the state – for years 2001 to 2007.

Lake County received a crude death rate score of 28 deaths per 100,000 population, the same rate as Amador and Tuolumne counties.

Other rural areas like Glenn, Del Norte and Trinity – the latter two having mountainous and winding roads often traversed by tourists – had worse rankings than Lake, at 29, 31 and 47 per 100,000 population, respectively.

In assessing the impacts of motor vehicle crashes on public health, Lake County's geography and infrastructure can't be ignored, said Tait.

Along with having to travel longer for some services – and stay on the road longer for minor errands – Tait said some of Lake County's roadways are narrower, have less lightning and have wildlife crossing them as well.

“I'm really pretty convinced that that basic infrastructure is what really makes a difference,” she said.

Tait said on a recent drive to a local friend's house she realized that the roadway where she was driving wasn't really wide enough for two lanes.

“Some of our roads just aren't really what people expect,” she said, especially for visitors and tourists who may find themselves off the beaten path.

With Lake County's dark roadways, abrupt road edges and lack of engineering in some places, it can be a unique challenge, said Tait.

“People who live here, the prudent ones, learn to be cautious,” she said, adding that not everyone is.

But perhaps more significant still is the impact of alcohol use by drivers who take to the county's roads.

The 2010 Lake County Health Needs Assessment found Lake County’s average rate of alcohol-involved motor vehicle fatalities for 2001 to 2003 was three times higher than the state average.

In the next installment, assessing the impact of alcohol use on highway safety.

This Lake County News special series was produced as a project for the California Endowment Health Journalism Fellowships, a program of the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism.

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, on Tumblr at www.lakeconews.tumblr.com, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf and on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/LakeCoNews .

2010 Lake County Health Needs Assessment

John Mark Sharp had some minor injuries to his head and ankle at the end of his ordeal, but was otherwise unharmed, according to a Tuesday report from Capt. James Bauman of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

On Friday, Oct. 21, at approximately 7:15 p.m., sheriff’s deputies responded to the Harbin Hot Springs area of Middletown to investigate a report of a man yelling for help from somewhere in the surrounding wilderness northeast of the resort, Bauman said.

Bauman said a Harbin Hot Springs employee had reportedly searched for the man, but then aborted his search due to darkness and called the sheriff’s office.

While deputies began searching the area on foot, the Sheriff’s Search and Rescue coordinator began calling in resources for a Search and Rescue mission. Bauman said man trackers, K-Corps members, and four-wheel drive teams were summoned to the area and a California Highway Patrol helicopter with night vision equipment was requested to respond.

While Search and Rescue resources were responding to the area, a Cal Fire battalion chief who had been monitoring radio traffic responded to assist the deputies with a preliminary ground search, Bauman said.

For several hours, deputies and the Cal Fire battalion chief could hear the man yelling from the wilderness intermittently as they tried to pinpoint his location, Bauman said. At approximately 10:30 p.m., a CHP helicopter out of Napa arrived in the area and conducted a 40 minute aerial search but then had to return to base for fuel.

Shortly before midnight, a sheriff’s patrol sergeant encountered two men in a vehicle on Big Canyon Road who stated they were looking for their friend, according to Bauman's report.

Bauman said the two had reportedly ventured into the wilderness with Sharp earlier in the day, but had lost track of Sharp some time after 2 p.m. They left the area in the afternoon thinking Sharp had gotten a ride home, but after several hours had passed and Sharp had not returned home, they decided to return to the area and look for him.

Shortly before 11 p.m. Search and Rescue volunteers formed five search teams and a four-wheel drive unit and were deployed into the search area. Nearly two hours later, the Cal Fire battalion chief located Sharp, Bauman said.

Sharp was dehydrated and appeared to have sustained some head trauma due to a fall, Bauman said. While a Cal Fire engine crew and medic were able to reach the two, Sharp could not immediately be extricated from the area due to the terrain.

Air support to lift Sharp from the area was determined to be unavailable until daylight. Two fire crews from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Konocti Conservation Camp in Lower Lake were then dispatched to the area to clear an egress route for the missing man and his rescuers, according to Bauman.

At approximately 5:15 a.m., Sharp was successfully extricated from the wilderness by Cal Fire. Bauman said Sharp had sustained minor trauma to his head and ankle due to falling down an embankment, but was otherwise unharmed.

Sharp corroborated his friends’ earlier account for getting lost, telling officials he had gotten separated from his friends, and then became lost trying to find them. Bauman said Sharp was transported by ground ambulance to the St. Helena Hospital Clearlake for further treatment of his injuries.

Sheriff Frank Rivero commended his deputies, his Search and Rescue coordinator, and all Search and Rescue volunteers and K-Corps members for their response and successful conclusion of another search and rescue operation.

The sheriff also thanked the supporting agencies that responded to assist with the rescue, including Cal Fire, CHP and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews, on Tumblr at www.lakeconews.tumblr.com, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf and on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/LakeCoNews .

Caltrans converted the intersection of Hartmann Road and Highway 29 near Middletown, Calif., to a three-way stop on Monday, October 24, 2011, in an effort to reduce traffic collisions. Photo by Derek Pell.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Changes are under way for south Lake County roadways.

On Monday, Caltrans converted the intersection of Highway 29 and Hartmann Road to a three-way stop in an effort to reduce the high number of collisions seen there in recent years.

While some area residents have advocated for a stoplight rather than stop signs, Ralph Martinelli, chief of the traffic safety office for Caltrans' District 1, told Lake County News on Monday that Caltrans believe stop signs are the most effective tool for reducing collisions at the intersection.

He said the intersection's design – which includes a large curve – isn't ideal for a stoplight, which wouldn't necessarily reduce the kinds of broadside collisions that have occurred there.

The goal also is to make drivers slow down, he said, which the stop signs do. In some cases, lights can lead to drivers speeding up as they attempt to anticipate light changes.

The intersection changes also include flashing beacons and signage to draw drivers' attention to the new stops, Martinelli said.

When such changes are implemented, Martinelli said it usually takes a few weeks for the community to become adapted to the changes. He said Caltrans will have portable, changeable message boards in the area to help remind drivers of the new signage.

Readers posting on Lake County News' Facebook page Monday afternoon reported delays as the intersection was converted to the three-way stop.

The California Highway Patrol reported a noninjury collision took place at the intersection at about 9:20 p.m. Monday.

Also on Monday, Caltrans said a paving project on various sections of Highway 29 and Highway 175 in Lake and Mendocino counties is on schedule.

The agency said final striping and other minor work on Highway 29 from Spruce Grove Road to

the Lake-Napa County line will be completed on Friday, Oct. 28.

Work on Highway 175 is now taking place between Middletown and Kelseyville. The next phase will take place on Highway 175 between Hopland and Lakeport, Caltrans said.

The Highway 175 paving – which will be completed by next summer – is using rubberized asphalt concrete, which Caltrans said contains rubber from ground up tires, making it more flexible for a longer

life. The rubberized asphalt also is good for the environment, diverting approximately 120,000 tires from landfills.

Caltrans said the paving work is taking place from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. One-way traffic control will be in effect, and motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.

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, on Tumblr at www.lakeconews.tumblr.com, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf and on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/LakeCoNews .