The Center for Biological Diversity on Aug. 28 filed a formal notice of intent to sue the Department of the Interior over the species. A statement from the center said the notice “initiates the largest substantive legal action in the 34-year history of the Endangered Species Act.”

The suit comes in the wake of a scandal involving former Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Interior Julie MacDonald, who resigned this spring after an Inspector General investigation found she had interfered with science and violated the Endangered Species Acts.

But while MacDonald has been the one Interior Department official drawing most of the blame, the Center for Biological Diversity said she's not alone.

The suit notice alleges that, while MacDonald engineered many of the illegal decision, some decisions also were ordered by her boss, Assistant Secretary of the Interior Craig Manson, his special assistant Randal Bowman and Ruth Solomon in the White House Office of Management and Budget. Lower-level bureaucrats also reportedly were involved in some decisions.

Kieran Suckling, policy director of the Center for Biological Diversity, said the lawsuit “puts the Bush administration on trial at every level for systematically squelching government scientists and installing a cadre of political hatchet men in positions of power.”

Suckling added, “The Bush administration has tried to keep a lid on its growing endangered species scandal by scapegoating Julie MacDonald, but the corruption goes much deeper than one disgraced bureaucrat. It reaches into the White House itself through the Office of Management and Budget.”

The species at the heart of the suit include 24 in California, among them, the California red-legged frog, which is believed to have habitat in Lake County, as Lake County News reported during coverage of the MacDonald case earlier this summer.

Other species listed include the arroyo toad, California least tern, marbled murrelet and snowy plover.

The Center for Biological Diversity reported that the heart of the suit is the illegal removal of one animal from the endangered species list, the refusal to place three animals on the list and proposals to remove or downgrade protection for seven animals.

The group also alleges that 8.7 million acres of critical habitat across 28 states has been stripped from protection because of those Interior Department decisions.

Suckling said government and university scientists carefully documented the editing of scientific documents, overruling of scientific experts and falsification of economic analyses in many of the disputed decisions.

“By attacking the problem systematically through this national lawsuit, we will expose just how thoroughly the disdain for science and for wildlife pervades the Bush administration’s endangered species program,” Suckling said.

Valerie Fellows, a spokesperson for U.S. Fish and Wildlife, told Lake County News that the agency had announced at the end of July that they were going to review endangered decisions due to MacDonald's involvement in those decision making processes.

Some of those decisions went back to 2001, said Fellows, and involved MacDonald changing science “which ultimately changed the outcome.”

The agency's California-Nevada Operations office decided to review eight decisions, said Fellows, including the California red-legged frog, which already is under way.

California, noted Fellows, has many endangered species petitions currently in litigation.

Fellows said the agency had no formal response to the lawsuit.

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Chief Deputy Russ Perdock of the Lake County Coroner's Office said Thursday that the man was Frank Krush, 70, of Upper Lake.

As Lake County News previously reported, Lakeport Police responded Tuesday evening to a report of a; man down at the Mendo-Lake Credit Union, located in the Willow Tree Shopping Center on 11^th Street.

Lt. Brad Rasmussen of Lakeport Police said police found Krush's body in his passenger vehicle.

Lakeport Police conducted an investigation but found nothing suspicious, Rasmussen said.

Perdock confirmed that there was nothing suspicious about Krush's death, which they believe resulted from natural causes.

Krush has no next of kin locally, said Perdock, so finding family to notify has been a challenge for the Coroner's Office.

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A Cal Fire helicopter makes a water run while fighting a small fire along High Valley Road. Photo by Lenny Matthews.

HIGH VALLEY – A small fire along High Valley Road near Clearlake Oaks has been contained.

Cal Fire reported that the quarter-acre fire began in a slash pile on US Forest Service property around 6:15 p.m.

No specific time of containment was given, but containment had been reached by the time Lake County News contacted Cal Fire just after 7:30 p.m.

The Forest Service has subsequently taken over command of the site, Cal Fire's Incident Command Center reported.

Cal Fire sent sent two engines, a dozer and a battalion chief, along with a helicopter to drop water on the fire and an air attack. The helicopter picked up water along the Lucerne shoreline.

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A report issued Sunday night by Lt. Gary Basor of the Lake County Sheriff's Department explained that the agency received a call at 2:57 p.m. Saturday of a man missing in the lake.

Matthew Zanoni, 22, was riding on a pontoon boat with a group of friends when he either jumped or fell off the boat and into the lake, said Basor.

When Zanoni went into the water the boat was doing an arc around an area called Shag Rock near Buckingham, according to Basor.

Witnesses on the boat said Zanoni did not surface after the fall into the water, Basor reported.

Lake County Sheriff's Department Marine Patrol personnel responded to the area to try to find Zanoni, according to Basor.

Within minutes of arriving at the location where Zanoni was last seen – and being unable to find him – Basor said Marine Patrol officials called in the North Shore Dive Team.

Dive team members made several dives Saturday and were unable to locate Zanoni, said Basor.

On Sunday, the Lake County Search and Rescue Dive Team joined the North Shore Dive Team in searching for Zanoni, according to Basor's report.

The divers made several more dives in the area where the boat's passengers described last seeing Zanoni, but Basor said they still were not able to find him.

Basor said the sheriff's office has requested help from surrounding agencies in continuing the search for Zanoni.

The search effort will continue Monday, Basor reported.

The Shag Rock area, a small rocky outcropping above the lake's surface that historian Henry K. Mauldin said was called “Sock-eye” by local Pomos, has been a dangerous place for boaters in recent years.

It was the scene of another drowning in December 2004, when fisherman Billy Ray Ingram went missing. His body was discovered months later, trapped in rocks under the surface.

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A helicopter can be seen surveying the site over a fire near Lakeport Thursday.

LAKEPORT – Firefighters quickly contained a small wildland fire along Highway 29 Thursday afternoon.

The fire was reported at about 2:30 p.m. less than a mile north of Juvenile Hall on the west side of Highway 29 near the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff.

A firefighter reported finding a red gas can in the burned area.

Agencies responding included Lakeport Fire Protection District and Cal Fire.

One helicopter, one fixed-wing aircraft and one dozer were among the equipment sent to the fire, although the fire was controlled so quickly the helicopter did not conduct a fire drop.

The fire was under control by 3:15 p.m. About three and a half acres were burned.

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California Water Service Co. employees delivered notices to town residents Tuesday afternoon explaining that water quality test results have confirmed that boiling water is no longer necessary before drinking or cooking.

The boil water notice, Cal Water reported, had been necessary due to increased turbidity, which the company had attributed to recent rains.

The current water treatment plant in Lucerne couldn't adequately treat the water, according to Cal Water, which led to the water not meeting quality standards.

The company said it has plans to construct a new plant, with completion expected in 2008. “We do not expect similar issues to arise once the new treatment plant is on-line,” the Monday notice states.

Cal Water's latest notice apologizes to customers for the inconvenience associated with the boil water notice. “Customer health and safety is our highest priority and we will continue to work diligently to provide water that meets or surpasses state and federal water quality standards.”

Water users who have questions are urged to call Cal Water's Local District Manager Gay Guidotti, 274-6624, or the California Department of Public Health, 576-2145.

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Supervisor Denise Rushing reported that many Clearlake Oaks residents have been devoting time and energy to help county officials to design Nylander Park. Rushing said the park will be a highly visible stop for visitors to the Oaks, which she said is becoming known as the “Gateway to Clear Lake.”

Now, officials are asking for the community's help to get the park properly outfitted.

Clearlake Oaks residents Holly Harris and Chuck Lamb, who have been involved in the Nylander Park effort, are helping the county's Public Services Department solicit park accessories, equipment and donations for the park.

Harris and Lamb said donations may be made anonymously, in the donor's name or in memory of someone else.

Nylander Park eventually will have a small playground, picnic tables, barbecue grills, benches, a visitor information gazebo, restrooms, rock wall and parking, which Harris and Lamb reported will become a reality with the community's help.

To complete the park, Harris and Lamb reported that the following items are needed:

• Acorn street lights – eight needed at $2,000 each.

• Metal picnic tables with benches – seven needed at $2,700 each.

• Six-foot park benches – 12 needed at $650 each.

• Trash receptacles – six needed at $400 each.

• Barbecue grills – seven needed at $300 each.

• Drinking fountains – two needed at $3,000 each.

• Bollard ground lights – eight needed at $1,000 each.

• Oak trees – 10 feet at $180 each; 20 feet at $500 each; larger at $1,000 each.

• Engraved 5 x 8-inch plaques are available at an additional $40.

Donations received to date include one bench, $3,500 in mature oak trees and $5,000 toward the rock wall, according to Harris and Lamb.

For those wanting to help, checks can be made out to "County of Lake" with Nylander Park in the memo line, according to Harris; be sure to specify if this is a general donation, or if you wish to purchase a specific item listed above.

Donations should be mailed to Lake County Department of Public Services, 333 Second St., Lakeport, CA 95453; Attn: Nylander Park Donation.

To see a flyer of park accessories officials plan to purchase, visit Rushing's Web site at www.drushing.com/blog/2007/09/nylander-park.html.

For more information on the park project, call Holly Harris and Chuck Lamb, 998-0135.

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The California Highway Patrol’s Incident Logs noted that the collision took place at 2:18 p.m. at Guenoc Winery on Butts Canyon Road at Oat Hill Road.

The vehicle went off the road and into a ditch, trapping two people, according to CHP.

The logs indicated that at least one of the people was lifeflighted to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, where an officer was responding to investigate.

No further information about the collision was available Wednesday evening.

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Once recovered, the 2006 convertible was inspected by CHP and Kelseyville Fire and safety officials. Photo by Harold LaBonte.

County employee Jennifer Lyon explained that she was setting sprinklers near the Lakeside County Park baseball field around 7:15 a.m. Monday when two people approached her seeking assistance.

The pair, later identified as Russell and Sandra Troxler of Redwood Valley, had apparently spent the night in the ballfield bathroom, located several hundred yards from the park's boat ramp.

The two asked Lyon for a ride to town where they wanted to seek additional help in finding their missing vehicle, Lyon said.

Once downtown local California Highway Patrol and fire safety officials quickly determined that the two were confused and disorientated, said CHP Officer Craig Van Housen.

At about 10 a.m. authorities received a phone call from an individual launching a boat at the park, who saw a car antenna sticking up out of the water and an oxygen bottle floating in the area, according to the CHP Incident Logs. The car was found in what was estimated to be between 6 and 8 feet of water.

Emergency crews from Kelseyville Fire Department and divers from the North Shore Dive and Rescue Team advanced on the scene. It was quickly determined that the vehicle was a convertible with no apparent occupants.

Divers and fire and rescue personnel managed to remove the vehicle from the water by 11:15 a.m.

Upon closer inspection Van Housen speculated that the 2006 Sebring may have been running and the car appeared to have been in gear when it entered the water.

A number of the Troxler's personal belonging were found in the vehicle as well as a trunk full of fishing gear.

CHP Officer Adam Garcia said investigators believed the car went into the lake Sunday night or early Monday morning. Garcia said both of the Troxlers were very confused, and made statements about their car going into the “ocean.”

“We're still trying to figure it out,” Garcia said.

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Diver Stan Arrington secures recovery cables on the Troxlers' Sebring. Photo by Harold LaBonte.

World-class athletes will be competing on the water today. Photo courtesy of Rob Stimmel.

LAKEPORT – BoardStock XII began preliminary challenge rounds Friday as dozens of wakeboarders, wakesurfers, BMX riders and skydivers readied themselves for two days of competition.

The first for Konocti Vista Casino but the third overall for Lake County, BoardStock has grown exponentially since Rob Stimmel began the thrilling series 11 years ago.

Gates open at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, with competition beginning at 8 a.m. Athletes from around the globe will compete for thousands of dollars in prize money.

Local and regional and national sponsors will have products on display and ready for purchasing.

Tickets to the two-day event start at $10 per day for those 7 to 12 years old and $20 for adults. Two-day passes are available for $30 per person.

The activity will be nonstop from opening bell right up through late afternoon when gates close at 5:30 p.m. Saturday.

The overall competition and finals should conclude by 3 p.m. Sunday.

For more information check the Web site, www.boardstock.com.

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Extreme motorcycle events also will be featured. Photo courtesy of Rob Stimmel.

The lights will be flashing red and all vehicles are required to stop for flashing red lights and may only proceed when it is clear.

The CHP reported that a Caltrans construction project is under way in the area.

Motorists should leave early to avoid becoming late if they plan to use this route.

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As Lake County News first reported Monday, Farrington, 37, was injured in the collision in the Cow Mountain off-highway recreation area.

California Highway Patrol Officer Adam Garcia reported Monday that the collision occurred at about 5 p.m. when Farrington, riding a 2006 Yamaha YZ450 dirt bike, collided with a four-wheel-drive Ford pickup on a blind curve. Information on the pickup's driver was not available.

Garcia explained that Farrington tried to avoid the accident but slid into the front left of the pickup.

On Monday Farrington told Lake County News that he and his uncle decided to take their dirt bikes out for a few hours Sunday.

They decided to head home, with Farrington leading the way down the hill; he estimated he was traveling between 25 and 30 miles per hour. The ground, he said, was still wet following recent rains.

As they made their way around a blind curve, Farrington said he saw the Ford F-150 pickup – going between 10 and 15 miles per hour – coming around the corner in the middle of the road.

Farrington said he hit the brakes, which locked up on the wet ground and caused the bike to accelerate into the oncoming truck.

“I hit them head on,” said Farrington.

His body hit the truck's left front fender and, along with his bike, was thrown into the dirt embankment.

The pickup driver took Farrington down the hill, which he estimated took a half hour, as his uncle followed in another vehicle. From there, Farrington – nearly in shock – was driven to Sutter Lakeside's emergency room, arriving at about 5:30 p.m.

Farrington said he spent about five hours at the hospital, undergoing x-rays and examinations. He suffered a fractured and dislocated right shoulder, and also suffered injuries to his left wrist, left hip, pelvis, right femur and right hand.

X-rays showed that his hip and pelvis aren't broken but Farrington said he can barely walk and is in a lot of pain.

Fortunately, Farrington said he was wearing full riding gear, including a full face helmet and body protection. Without the helmet, Farrington said he's sure he would have died, as there was a large chunk taken out of the back of the helmet.

“The doctor and CHP officer said I was really lucky,” he said.

Farrington added that he feels he was blessed because he was not more critically hurt in the accident, which he said was the “wrong place, wrong time for both of us.”

Still in a lot of pain and bedridden, Farrington said he isn't going to be moving around much for a little while.

“I'm obviously not going to be at the board meeting,” he added, which is scheduled for today.

Farrington said he'll be seeing an orthopedic surgeon soon to get a sense of the extent of his other injuries.

Garcia reported that the investigation is still in progress, led by CHP Officer Dallas Richey.

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