How to resolve AdBlock issue? 
Barbecue blamed for early Saturday home fire
CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – The cause of a fire that damaged a Clearlake Oaks home early Saturday morning has been traced to a barbecue.
The fire was first dispatched shortly after 2:30 a.m. in the 12000 block of The Plaza, as Lake County News has reported.
Northshore Fire Deputy Chief Pat Brown said firefighters found that a barbecue had overturned, igniting the rear porch area of the doublewide mobile home.
He said the fire did damage underneath the home and then ran the attic area and the laundry room.
Brown and Battalion Chief Steve Hart were the responding chief officers.
When Brown and the first Northshore Fire engine from the Clearlake Oaks station arrived, they found the home's occupants safely outside.
He said the first engine in made entry to the home, knocked down the interior fire and did a primary search, rescuing four kittens from the home.
The second engine from the Clearlake Oaks engine, along with a Cal Fire, arrived, with personnel tearing into the rear exterior of the home to extinguish the fire, Brown said.
An engine also came from Lucerne, with that team of firefighters placing salvage covers and pulling ceilings to stop the fire running the attack, according to Brown.
Brown estimated the damage the fire did to the home at $40,000.
He said the fire was checked throughout the day by personnel from Northshore Fire's Clearlake Oaks station.
With the Clearlake Oaks station serving as headquarters for this weekend's Catfish Derby, firefighters instead took the hose used to put out the fire to the Cal Fire station to be cleaned, Brown said.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
Sunday marks 151st anniversary of Lake County's creation
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Sunday marks the 151st anniversary of the creation of Lake County, and brings the yearlong sesquicentennial celebration to an official end.
On May 20, 1861, California Governor John D. Downey signed an Act of Incorporation into law that formed Lake County, which had been carved from Napa County's northern section.
When the county was created, Abraham Lincoln was president and the Civil War was about to begin.
The first county election to organize the local government was held on the first Monday in June 1861, according to county histories.
On May 20, 2011, a celebration kicking off the sesquicentennial was held in downtown Lakeport, featuring a number of local dignitaries.
Video of that event can be found at http://www.youtube.com/user/velocityvideo .
For a great assortment of stories and videos about Lake County's history, visit www.LC150.org or www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Lake-County-Sesquicentennial/171845856177015 .
Helping Paws: Terriers, pointers, labs and shepherds
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The county's animal shelter has a group of new dogs of all different breeds available to join your family.
If you like small dogs, you can find them; there are Chihuahua, Boston Terrier and miniature pinscher mixes. There also are larger canine friends with Labrador Retriever, shepherd and husky heritage.
Thanks to Lake County Animal Care and Control’s new veterinary clinic, many of the animals offered for adoption already are spayed or neutered and ready to go home with their new families.
Dogs that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are either neutered or spayed, microchipped and, if old enough, given a rabies shot and county license before being released to their new owner. License fees do not apply to residents of the cities of Lakeport or Clearlake.
If you're looking for a new companion, visit the shelter. There are many great pets hoping you'll choose them.
The following dogs at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption (additional dogs on the animal control Web site not listed are still “on hold”).
Male Jack Russell mix
This male Jack Russell terrier mix is 6 years old.
He has tricolor markings and a short coat, weighs 19 pounds and has not yet been neutered.
He is in kennel No. 24, ID No. 32483.
Female Jack Russell mix
This female Jack Russell terrier mix is 3 years old.
She has a short tan and white coat, weighs nearly 26 pounds and has not yet been spayed.
Find her in kennel No. 22, ID No. 32482.
Male Chihuahua mix
This male Chihuahua mix is 10 months old.
He weighs 11 pounds, has been neutered and has a short coat.
He is in kennel No. 28, ID No. 32746.
Male husky mix
This male husky mix is 4 years old.
He has red and tan coloring, weighs 56 pounds and has been neutered.
Find him in kennel No. 30, ID No. 32738.
Male miniature pinscher mix
This male miniature pinscher mix is 2 years old.
He weighs 11 pounds, has a short black coat with brindle markings, and a docked tail. He has been neutered.
Find him in kennel No. 32, ID No. 32744.
Pointer-pit bull terrier mix
This male pointer-pit bull terrier is 11 months old.
He weighs nearly 50 pounds, has a short black and white coat, and has been neutered.
He is in kennel No. 20, ID No. 32696.
'Aramis'
“Aramis” is a 2-year-old shepherd-greyhound mix.
He has been neutered, weighs nearly 62 pounds, and has a short coat with brown brindle markings.
Find him in kennel No. 27, ID No. 32594.
Labrador Retriever mix
This female Labrador Retriever mix is 1 year old.
She has a short black coat, weighs 44 pounds and has been spayed.
She is in kennel No. 26, ID No. 32639.
Male Chihuahua mix
This male Chihuahua mix is 2 years old.
He has a short black and white spotted coat, weighs just under 10 pounds and has been neutered.
Find him in kennel No. 29, ID No. 32732.
Boston Terrier mix
This male Boston Terrier mix is 10 months old.
He has a short black and white coat, weighs nearly 18 pounds, and has been neutered.
He is in kennel No. 31, ID No. 32745.
'Boss'
Boss is a 10-month-old male boxer-shepherd mix.
He weighs 66 pounds, has a short tan and white coat, and has been neutered.
Find him in kennel No. 34, ID No. 32721.
Adoptable dogs also can be seen at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Dogs_and_Puppies.htm or at www.petfinder.com .
Please note: Dogs listed at the shelter's Web page that are said to be “on hold” are not yet cleared for adoption.
To fill out an adoption application online visit http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Dog___Cat_Adoption_Application.htm .
Lake County Animal Care and Control is located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport, next to the Hill Road Correctional Facility.
Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Visit the shelter online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control.htm .
For more information call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.
Judges announced for second annual 'Cattails & Tules' fundraiser June 16
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Greg Cole, Traci Dutton, Ken Frank, and Peggy King will judge the second annual Cattails & Tules Wine & Food Pairing Festival, a major fundraiser for the Konocti Regional Trails and Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association.
The event, which pairs food from local restaurants with award-winning wines from Lake County, will be held Saturday, June 16, at Gregory Graham Winery and Vigilance Winery & Vineyards in Lower Lake.
Greg Cole is the executive chef and owner of Celadon and Cole's Chop House, both located in historic downtown Napa.
A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America at Hyde Park, Greg and his wife and business partner, Beth Fairbairn, opened the award-winning Celadon in 1996, and Cole’s Chop House in 2000. In 1998 Greg was selected as one of the 24 "hottest young chefs" in America by the Wine Spectator magazine.
Traci Dutton is the sommelier and beverage manager for The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone, located in St. Helena.
Dutton is responsible for selecting and purchasing wine, creating wine lists, menus, and food and wine pairings, and staff training for all components of the CIA Greystone campus, including the Wine Spectator Greystone Restaurant, the Professional Wine Studies Program, and Special Events. Her imaginative wine lists at the Wine Spectator Greystone Restaurant have won numerous awards.
Ken Frank, the executive chef and owner of La Toque in Napa, is entirely self-taught. He began his career at age 16 with a dishwashing job in France, and quickly worked his way through the kitchen ranks to become a successful chef at a very young age.
In 1979 he opened the original La Toque on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood at age 23. In 1998 Ken decided to pursue his dream of moving to Napa Valley, where he opened a new La Toque in Rutherford. In 2008, La Toque moved to the new Westin Verasa in downtown Napa.
Cookbook author Peggie King joined the healthy food revolution with her first cookbook, entitled “Fit Food for Foodies.” Her simple recipes are gluten-free, dairy-free, and sugar-free. Peggie has prepared her unique recipes for local community winery events featuring healthy lifestyle foods paired with local wines. Peggie’s “day job” is in environmental consulting.
Cattails & Tules will be held on June 16th from noon to 3 p.m. and will showcase local restaurants and chefs as they pair Vigilance and Gregory Graham wines with their creative cuisines.
The panel of judges will evaluate the pairings in four different categories: best presentation, most creative, best of show and best use of local products. Guests will vote on a special fifth category, "Consumers’ Favorite Wine & Food Pairing."
Tickets may be purchased at Shannon Ridge, Vigilance, and Gregory Graham Tasting Rooms, online at www.cattailsandtules.com or by calling 707-998-9656.
The price for the event is $40 per person, and proceeds will go towards the Konocti Regional Trails and Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association.
