Around the Empire

LAKE COUNTY Motorcyclist hit head-on

A Truckee man was in critical condition at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital on Wednesday after he was struck head-on on his motorcycle while traveling through Lake County, authorities said.

James Wilson, 47, was on his way to a meeting in Healdsburg when the driver of an oncoming 1994 Plymouth van crossed into his lane on Highway 29 near Konocti Bay late Tuesday afternoon, the CHP said.

Wilson had no time to react, struck the van head-on and was thrown onto the van's windshield, the CHP said.

The van driver, Jorge Guzman, 26, and a passenger were on their way home to Stockton after working in the area picking pears, Officer Kevin Domby said.

It was unclear why Guzman drifted into the oncoming lane. The CHP said he had been "inattentive to the roadway."

Guzman's passenger, whose name was not available, suffered a minor cut to his right hand, while Guzman was not injured, the CHP said.

He was taken into custody for driving without a license and was put on immigration hold when he was unable to produce valid documentation, the CHP said.

Wilson was flown by REACH helicopter to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital and was in the critical care unit Wednesday, a hospital spokesman said.

Family members had been in attendance throughout the day, spokesman Kevin Andrus said.

- Mary Callahan

Teachers, physical education instructors, nurses and parents are invited to a daylong workshop Friday to encourage prevention of childhood obesity through nutrition and exercise.

The 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. program at the Sonoma County Department of Health Services' downtown Santa Rosa office will focus on how walking and good nutrition promote students' ability to learn and succeed in school.

Speakers include Jeff Tobes, a sixth-grade teacher at Helen Lehman School who has incorporated walking into his curriculum; Caryl Burns, a health information specialist with the county health department; and Wanda Tapia, nutrition educator with UC Cooperative Extension.

Participants will receive lunch, handouts, a walking video and nutrition curricula guidelines. Registration fee is $20 at the door.

The workshop will be held at the Public Health Division's 625 5th St. location. To reserve a spot, contact Tobes at 284-3968 or jefftobes@hotmail.com.

- Katy Hillenmeyer

A 19-year-old black man who said he was called a racist name and beaten by three white men made up the story so he wouldn't be arrested for underage drinking, Petaluma police said Wednesday.

"The allegation was serious ... it didn't sound like the kind of thing that happens in Petaluma, and the community was upset," Lt. Danny Fish said.

Officers re-interviewed Eric Young a day later, he said.

They noted discrepancies and vagueness in his account and he had only a shoulder injury, which was inconsistent with a supposed beating administered by three men Sept.4.

Officers worked the case, Fish said, tracking down friends who had been with Young the evening of Sept 3.

They told police Young was intoxicated and hurt his shoulder while wrestling with a friend at Oak Hill Park.

Young was taken by friends to Petaluma Valley Hospital and conspired with them to concoct the story about the racist attack, Fish said.

When police confronted Young on Wednesday, Fish said, he confessed he had made up the story.

Young was issued a citation to appear in court on suspicion of conspiracy and making a false report of a crime.

- Jose L. Sanchez Jr.