It’s time for Middletown Days!

Saturday & Sunday June 20th & 21st

SATURDAY:
South Lake County Fire Protection Districts’ Pancake Breakfast starts at 7am and they serve until 11 at Station 60 on Highway 175.
Parade has an earlier start and goes a different direction. It starts at 10am from the south end of town.
After the parade the action is all at Central Park

SUNDAY
The Middletown Lioness Club serves Father’s Day Breakfast at Central Park from 8 to 11
And the fun continues.

Middletown Days is the annual fundraiser for Central Park. They need your support.

Guenoc gets their land back and Middletown gets the shaft

Here we go again. New Supervisor same story, same results.

Let me see, if the article in the Record Bee titled “Guenoc giveback” 6/30/2009, is factually correct, then members of both the BOS and Magoon Estate knew that the land donation was worthless for a college without the 185 acre flat parcel. That means that all hoopla the fund raising etc was done under false premises.

So what is that called, I think there is a legal name for what has been perpetrated against the Lake County taxpayers. Do you care? Maybe you should if you don’t.

Read “NO TRESPASSING” The saga of Guenoc Valley College

Cowpoke Café 21118 Calistoga St.

Cowpoke Café has added a new dimension to their dining experience, now you can be served outside on their new patio.

The new patio area behind the Café, located at 21118 Calistoga Street in Middletown, is a wonderful addition to our community.

The owners have gone the extra mile to offer a beautiful setting for their patrons. The natural rock patio is surrounded with rock walls and redwood lattice with lawn and flowers to help keep things cool in the summer. Colorful umbrellas tables and chairs finish the setting for a pleasant experience.

The Cowpoke Café serves breakfast and lunch daily from 6am until 2pm always offering daily specials and homemade desserts.

After dining at the Cowpoke be sure to check out Sylvies women's apparel, Bunk House country gifts and Socrates Mining Company old west antiques.

Annual Rainfall

During my twenty years living at Sugar Loaf Creek Ranch, a minimum of 30 inches of annual rainfall has provided adequate ground water to keep the spring running and the well with water.

Things were looking bleak in the rainfall department this year until February. Now I’m happy to say the rainfall at the Ranch will pass the 30 inch mark. (It reached that point sometime last night March 2, 2009).

The run-off from Cobb Mountain should re-charge all the aquifers and everyone should breathe a little easier. However, there are more straws in the pond sucking out water than ever before.

Did you know, St Helena Creek used to flow all year long, however, with all the development along the Creek sucking water from the underflow the surface water quits flowing early in the summer and that means some folks run low or out of water before the rainy season starts again. (This last fact makes me wonder just how good a neighbor Calistoga Water is to those downstream from their pumping station at the base of Mt. St. Helena.)

Is the issue of folks running out of water downstream from Calistoga Water another case of corporate America’s current disease; greed without compassion?

Scientist Engage In Hate Speech

First science and those with an agenda created so much hatred against smokers Americans forgot freedom is for everyone, not just non-smokers. And even though our legislators never outlawed smoking they manipulated the public into doing something the government wouldn’t do.

Now scientists are blaming fat people for ruining the world by being a source of global warming. How pathetic. This is an example of just how low those with an agenda will go to bully folks into seeing the world the way they want it viewed.

First of all, global warming is an invented crisis made to manipulate you into accepting an agenda that you would not normally accept because it is anti freedom and liberty. It is called Agenda 21, the blue print for the 21st century. (If you think I’m off base, just go to Google and search for “Agenda 21”.)

In 1992, Maurice Strong, the architect of Agenda 21, addressed the Rio Conference (Earth Summit II) where he stated that industrialized countries have:

“…developed and benefited from the unsustainable patterns of production and consumption which have produced our present dilemma. It is clear that current lifestyles and consumption patterns of the affluent middle class -- involving high meat intake, consumption of large amounts of frozen and convenience foods, use of fossil fuels, appliances, home and work-place air-conditioning, and suburban housing -- are not sustainable. A shift is necessary toward lifestyles less geared to environmentally damaging consumption patterns."

And you are their target and folks like Clare Brady are their tool.

California wants to control your thermostat, Clare Brady doesn’t want you to burn wood, and skinny people want you to look like them. It is a type of class warfare.

It won’t get better it will only get worse until all of you stand up for freedom and liberty for everyone.

Who’s next, you?

AT&T BUNDLING

Is not for the weak at heart.

In the past couple weeks, AT&T has shown that there was a reason for dismantling the corporation last time and in my mind they are dangerously close to that point again.

Imagine a corporation that is so arrogant they think they don’t make mistakes and therefore don’t need a customer relations department. That’s AT&T.

Oh they have a customer service department that will gladly direct you to one of the five or so choices they offer in the voice recognition system if you say the correct word, but if you have a complaint, forget it, no department exists at AT&T for unsatisfied customers.

My horror story with AT&T started when I called and asked for some basic services. I was moving and wanted to move my phone service. Now mind you I wasn’t moving out of the area, just to a new address. So no new phone numbers, just change a couple wires and bam, simple huh.

Well, nothing could be farther from the truth, ask for one simple change and AT&T went into complete chaos. Nobody in one department knows what the other department is doing (good reason to tear it down).

On or about March 28, 2009 I was “bundled”. I agreed to combine all my telephone needs with AT&T and at the same time requested my service be relocated to my new address. This included a new cell phone too. And included in the “bundle” was High Speed Internet, or DSL service at my new address.

So which department knew what to do?

Well, I received my new cell phone immediately and activating it was simple. My landline phone service and DSL were scheduled to be active on April 2, 2009. Soon I received an automated phone call from AT&T telling me my phone service had been relocated to my new address. On Saturday, April 4th I received an automated voice message saying AT&T had successfully added DSL to my phone service bundle.

Monday the 6th I tried hooking up my computer to my DSL.

Now this is not new to me as I had AT&T DSL at my old residence but on a different phone line so I have a modem and my computer has been on-line with this modem through AT&T previously. But I soon find I don’t have DSL coming into my house no matter what the automated message told me. Except now the plot thickens. I too have received a letter from AT&T saying I now have AT&T DSL and I am being charged for it since April 2nd.

I make my first phone call and step into the abyss. AT&T tells me they will send a technician and he may have to come in the house. I say no to him coming in the house because I just want to insure DSL has been brought to my house and that can be determined from the outside. Plus, I know from experience that if you don’t have a maintenance contract with AT&T and a technician sets one foot in your house it costs you big time.

By mid-morning the next day the technician has discovered I don’t have DSL Internet service. That it had been provided as stated by WO#T24475-- and then had been disconnected by an AT&T technician Saturday April 4th by WO#C12670--- .

At this point I am becoming concerned because if someone else can just randomly have my services changed without my permission how do you know you are getting what you are paying for unless you are checking every minute to insure you are receiving the services you requested.
So where in the Bermuda Triangle of AT&T am I right now?

I have spent two days talking to folks at AT&T who have their responses down pat. Their training on how to deal with a frustrated customer is obvious. They all blow smoke in your ear. I had one tell me I had asked to have my DSL turned off and then I was told I never ordered DSL. I’ve been told that managers will call me that have not called. I was told my account would be credited that has not been.

I have repeatedly asked to speak to someone who could fix my problem to only be put on the merry-go-round of different departments that hand me to someone else while never accomplishing a thing. I was told to re-order DSL service that some departments say I already have and others say I never requested.

It is painfully obvious that at AT&T the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing. It appears no one is capable of finding their own rear end using both hands and a flashlight. Plus management could not pour sand out of a boot if the instructions were on the bottom of the heel.

When I had AT&T DSL Internet service before, it was great. But getting it back is worse than having a root canal without novacaine.

I would never buy AT&T stock because customer service is so far removed from their mission they don’t even have a customer relations department and in a downturn, customer care will make a difference.

So before you “bundle” with AT&T I recommend you research other avenues first. This is a nightmare.

Garbage Cans in Downtown Middletown!

I feel so dumb. So unobservant. So misinformed.

We’ve had a store front on Calistoga Street for over 20 years and I never saw garbage as a problem. I saw inadequate parking as a problem. I saw excessive rent which caused vacant store fronts as a problem. I saw lack of support for local business as a problem. I saw unfair business practices as a problem. And I see unattended street banners as a problem.

But MABA and Lake County Government saw garbage on Calistoga Street as a problem.

Well no more because they placed some very attractive garbage cans on Calistoga Street and now garbage will never be a problem again. Thank you GOD and congratulations to the intelligencia, the observant and the informed.

South Lake County Alert

It has been reported that Stoney Prior, a high-risk sex offender, disappeared Friday in Lake County, a day after his release from prison.

State law officials are searching for Prior who was released from prison Thursday but who disappeared Friday after removing his electronic ankle bracelet in the area of Main Street in Lower Lake,.

Megan’s Law Web site states he was convicted of assault with intent to commit rape, sodomy or oral copulation.

He is described as being 31, 5 feet 6 inches tall, weighing 150 pounds and has long black hair and brown eyes and is an American Indian.

Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to call law enforcement immediately.

Just in time for Christmas

A new retail store will open in the Corner Store Building at 21108 Calistoga Street in Middletown.

Adding to the shopping experience now available at Sylvies and the Bunk House will be Socrates Mining Company, an “old west trading company”. “Old west trading company”, means they buy and sell antiques, collectibles and other memorabilia related to the American Old West.

“Old west" treasures you will find at SMC will be items related to the cowboy, Native American Indian, fishing, hunting, gambling, folk art, primitives from the era, local historical items, some coins and other related items.

Socrates Mining Company has had an active on-line business for several years but will now offer a physical location in suite 4 for those interested.

Socrates Mining Company plans to be open for Christmas in Middletown, December 13, 2008 and hopes you will stop in and see what they have and say hello.

Invasion and Assault results in day long HVL Manhunt

Public Information Release
November 14, 2008
Captain James Bauman, Public Information Officer
Lake County S.O.

On Thursday morning, November 13th at about 7:20 am, sheriff’s deputies responded to a reported home invasion at a residence on Noble Ranch Road in Lower Lake. A 30 year old transient identified by the victims as Charles William Burk and another unidentified man had barged into the home of Burk’s adopted parents and assaulted Burk’s father, 52 year old Donald Merrill and his brother, 22 year old Donald Merrill Jr. At one point during the assault, Burk acquired a rifle from the home and tried to shoot his father but Merrill Sr. was able to overpower Burk and recover the weapon while Merrill Jr. fought with the other suspect. After members of the Merrill family were able to ward off the physical attack of both suspects, the suspects fled the home in a white pick-up truck.

One of the sheriff’s deputies responding to the scene was traveling N/B on Spruce Grove Road when he encountered the suspects’ pick-up traveling S/B on Spruce Grove. In an apparent act of deadly force to obstruct the deputy’s response, the truck sped up, veered into the deputy’s path, and intentionally rammed the patrol vehicle. The suspects’ truck continued S/B on Spruce Grove Road. The deputy’s patrol car was disabled and although shaken, the deputy was uninjured.

About 5 minutes later, 34 year old Brian Moynihan reported that the suspects’ truck had rammed the gate leading to his property on Spruce Grove Road near Hidden Valley Lake and collided head-on with a tree in his yard. Upon arrival at Moynihan’s home, deputies found the suspects’ truck abandoned and still running. Moynihan reported that after hearing the truck crash into his tree, at least one of the suspects started pounding on his back door and tried to force the door open. Moynihan physically held the door from being opened and when the attempt to break in ceased, he opened the door and chased one of the suspects off of his property.

Additional law enforcement, including sheriff’s detectives and patrol units from the Clearlake Police Department and the California Highway Patrol responded to the area to assist. As additional units arrived, it was determined both suspects had fled on foot either into the brush north of Hidden Valley Lake, or, into the Hidden Valley Lake subdivision.

As a search perimeter was established, the sheriff’s SWAT team was called out and a helicopter from the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Department was requested to respond. A telephonic public safety notification was also issued to Hidden Valley Lake and Spruce Grove Road residents in a three mile area around the scene of the abandoned truck, alerting them of the suspects at large and the search activities.

The search for the two suspects lasted throughout the morning and into the afternoon. At about 1:30 pm, a man vaguely matching Burk’s description was spotted by one of the deputies on Greenridge Road but he was wearing different clothing. When the man was stopped, it was discovered he was wearing multiple pairs of pants and the identity he provided could not be verified.

When another deputy arrived to assist with the detention, the man took off running and was lost behind some houses on Stonegate Road. Additional deputies responded and during about a 10 minute search, several Stonegate residents reported sightings of the man.

Following up on one report, deputies were able to locate the man hiding beneath the exterior deck of a house on Stonegate. Despite no further means of escape, the man refused to come out and a taser was deployed to gain his compliance. He was then taken into custody and positively identified as Burk.

Telephonic public safety alerts to Hidden Valley Lake residents continued throughout the afternoon and at about 4:00 pm, deputies responded to several reports of another suspicious subject walking through properties on Foothill Court and Spyglass Road in Hidden Valley Lake. The Highway Patrol also responded to the area and after an approximate 20 minute search of the area, the Highway Patrol located and detained the man in a field near Highway 29 and Arabian Lane. When deputies arrived, the man was identified as 40 year old Malcolm Safa Brown of Graton and subsequently confirmed to be the second suspect at large.

Burk later divulged that after crashing his truck into the tree on Spruce Grove Road and fleeing into Hidden Valley as deputies surrounded the area, he had broken into a residence on Raven Hill Road. Once inside the house, he shaved his head to alter his appearance and changed into clothing taken from the residence before setting out on foot again to evade capture. Burk is also the one believed to be responsible for trying to break into Moynihan’s home on Spruce Grove Road as it was later determined he and Brown fled in different directions after abandoning the pick-up truck.

Both suspects were booked on felony charges of attempted murder, attempted robbery, burglary, and assault with intent to inflict great bodily injury. Burk faces additional felony charges of assault by use of a firearm against his father and felony assault on a peace officer for intentionally ramming the deputy’s patrol car. Both suspects are being held on $500,000 bail.

Donald Merrill Sr. and Donald Merrill Jr. both sustained minor to moderate injuries as a result of the puzzling attack. Both were treated and released from the St. Helena – Clearlake Hospital. Robbery was the apparent motive for the home invasion and both suspects appeared to be under the influence of methamphetamine at the time of their capture.