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Fire burns near county landfill Friday evening
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A vegetation fire broke out near the county landfill early Friday evening.
The fire, initially reported before 6 p.m., was located in the area of Davis Avenue near the Eastlake Landfill, according to reports from the scene.
Initial reports indicated that the fire had burned as much as seven acres.
Because the fire was located in the State Responsibility Area, Cal Fire took over incident command, with Lake County Fire Protection also working the fire.
Ground crews and Cal Fire air attacks and a helicopter worked on the fire, according to witnesses and radio traffic.
The fire was reported contained at 6:17 p.m., but mop up and overhaul were reported to be continuing.
Some Lake County Fire units remained on scene until after 11 p.m. and a Cal Fire engine was assigned to stay at the scene overnight, according to reports from the scene.
Information on the cause and the fire’s final acreage total were not immediately available from Cal Fire Friday evening.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
Fire burns vegetation, tires near Kelseyville
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Firefighters responded to a fire on Friday afternoon near Kelseyville that burned a small area of vegetation along with tires and debris.
The fire was reported at around 2:30 p.m. on Bell Hill Road near Adobe Creek Road.
Kelseyville Fire and Cal Fire responded to the incident, where grass and a large pile of tires and debris were reported to be burning next door to a vineyard, according to radio and witness reports.
Engines, water tenders and a Cal Fire helicopter that was used for water drops were among the resources sent to the scene, where about a half acre was reported to have burned, reports from the scene indicated.
Radio reports indicated “shaky containment” at 2:45 p.m., with the fire fully controlled shortly after 4 p.m.
Mop up was continuing on scene late Friday afternoon.
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Suspect in puppy dumping case arrested
LAKEPORT, Calif. – A Northshore man was arrested early Thursday for allegedly abandoning six puppies last week.
Joseph Christian Rapp, 29, a handyman from Nice, was arrested for cruelty to animals and for abandoning the puppies, both of which are felonies, according to Sgt. Steve Brooks of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff’s Deputy Mauricio Barreto arrested Rapp exactly one week after the six German Shorthaired Pointer mix puppies were found in the area of 4500 Hill Road by a Lake County Waste Solutions driver, according to sheriff’s and Animal Care and Control officials.
Brooks’ report said the driver had noticed the puppies inside a dog crate, sitting next to some residential garbage containers, on Thursday, June 28.
Barreto, who responded to the scene, found the puppies cold, emaciated and covered in feces, vomit and urine, as was the inside of the dog crate. Brooks said Barreto also noticed that one of the puppies appeared to be extremely sick and was unable to move.
The deputy took the puppies to Lake County Animal Care and Control, where Director Bill Davidson said they were tested for canine parvovirus, a disease that’s particularly deadly for puppies. Five of them tested positive for the disease.
Officials said the puppies – estimated to be about 3 months old – had been sick for an extended period of time and should have been taken to a veterinarian for treatment.
Davidson said one of the puppies died later on June 28, the healthy puppy was transferred to Lake County Animal Services for foster care and the other four remained at the shelter for treatment, under the supervision of the shelter’s director of veterinary services, Dr. Anthony Wong.
Wasson Memorial Veterinary Clinic donated fluids and other supplies to help the pups, and Lake County Animal Services provided funds to cover their care.
Davidson shared the story with Lake County News and other local media. After the articles appeared, “several very valuable tips were called in as to who the person that dumped the puppies might be,” he said Thursday.
That information was forwarded to Barreto, who had continued to pursue the case over the past week, Davidson said.
The leads Barreto received ultimately led him to Rapp, who several people had indicated was responsible for the crimes, Brooks said.
At 7 a.m. Thursday Barreto went to Rapp’s residence and contacted him, Brooks said.
During an interview with Barreto, Rapp allegedly admitted to dumping the puppies because they were sick, according to Brooks.
Brooks said Rapp told the deputy that he had planned on shooting the puppies, but he was unable to find anyone who would loan him a firearm.
Barreto arrested Rapp and took him to the Hill Road Correctional Facility, where Rapp was booked, with his bail set at $15,000. Jail records showed he remained in custody Thursday night.
A review of Lake County Superior Court records indicated Rapp had no previous local criminal cases.
Davidson said Kennel Coordinator Sara Schramm has diligently been watching the puppies every day, and on Tuesday they began eating and showing interest in food, which he said was “a very good sign.” They’ve also been moved in foster care.
However, Davidson said late Thursday afternoon one of the puppies took a turn for the worse and was taken to Wasson Memorial Veterinary Clinic for a blood transfusion.
“We’ll hope for the best,” he said.
Lake County Animal Services is holding an online fundraiser through ChipIn to help pay for the puppies’ expensive medical care.
The fundraiser is continuing until July 28 and can be found at http://lakecounty.chipin.com/parvo-pointer-pups .
As of Thursday evening, the fundraiser had brought in $755.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
Lake County receives funds from Caltrans for Safe Routes to School projects
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – On Thursday Caltrans awarded $48.5 million of state Safe Routes to School Program funds for 139 projects – including projects for four Lake County schools – to increase safety and help reduce injuries and fatalities among children in grades K-12 who walk and bicycle to school.
“Safety is Caltrans’ No. 1 priority,” said Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty. “We are committed to providing the highest safety possible for our children as they travel to and from school in California.”
Among the state-funded projects are new sidewalks, bicycle lanes and other safety improvements.
Caltrans chose each project based upon need, effectiveness and how quickly it could be delivered.
By improving safety, more kids are encouraged to walk and bicycle to school, resulting in healthier children while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and vehicle congestion.
More than $7 million of the funds were awarded to critical safety projects in rural counties. In addition, 82 projects totaling $28 million will create jobs and benefit at least one low-income school within each project.
In Lake County, $188,300 was awarded to construct sidewalks and curbs, and upgrade crosswalks from Austin Road between Olive Street and Locust Street for Burns Valley Elementary School students, and for Pomo Elementary School, where Arrowhead Road between Scenic Road and Vista Street will be upgraded. The total cost for both projects is $210,100.
Another $346,900 will be used to construct sidewalks and curb ramps, and install crosswalks near Kelseyville Elementary School and Mountain Vista Middle School. The Kelseyville improvements will take place on Konocti Road between Cold Creek Drive and Oak Hills Lane. Total project cost is $386,000.
In neighboring Mendocino County, $394,500 was awarded to construct sidewalks and curbs, and install bike lanes near Calpella Elementary School and The Waldorf School of Mendocino County.
Farther up the North Coast, Humboldt County received $300,000 to construct a raised crosswalk, raised medians, sidewalks and curbs near Grant Elementary School and McKinleyville High School, and $152,000 to construct sidewalks, and install crosswalks, in-pavement crosswalk lighting, LED signs, and pavement markings near Eagle Prairie Elementary School and Monument Middle School.
To date, the state and federal Safe Routes to School programs have awarded $472 million for safety projects around California’s schools.
