How to resolve AdBlock issue? 
News
- Details
- Written by: Lake County News Reports
State Sen. Patricia Wiggins (D-Santa Rosa) sharply criticized the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) on Jan. 29 for failing to take emergency steps to prevent salmon fisheries from collapsing. Her critique was issued after the DFG failed to place new restrictions on a gold mining practice that threatens the state's imperiled salmon populations.
Wiggins, who chairs the legislature's Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture, also said she is considering new legislation to limit the use of "suction dredge" gold mining, which involves the use of large dredges to vacuum rock and sand from rivers and creek beds, killing fish. Coho salmon, in particular, are at great risk from this practice, according to Wiggins' office.
Wiggins led a group of legislators in writing a letter to DFG officials in support of a petition from environmental organizations and the Karuk Indian Tribe, whose lands include portions of the Klamath River, asking DFG to restrict suction dredge mining along the Klamath. Her office said the department has thus far refused, and officials there have yet to begin a court-ordered review of the situation.
“California's once-thriving salmon populations have plummeted to the point that they face extinction unless we take immediate action,” Wiggins said. She added that it will take courage and bold action on all our parts to bring the fisheries back to healthy levels.
Jordan Traverso, a DFG spokesperson, said the agency had no comment in response to Wiggins' statements.
However, DFG sent a letter on Feb. 2 to the leaders of the Karuk Tribe and several environmental groups, in which the agency explained that the petition for emergency action failed to provide
“substantial evidence that the magnitude of the potential harm caused by suction dredge mining to the state's fisheries is so great that an emergency exists” under the Administrative Procedure Act.
Last year, commercial fishermen were told to stop fishing for ocean salmon, and it is expected they will be told to do so again this year, according to Wiggins' office.
“Even though this puts tremendous pressure on them, their families and their local economies, they understand the need to regenerate the stock,” she said. “However, a small group of recreational miners are allowed to continue suction dredge mining on the streams that serve as nurseries for spawning salmon. It is more than unfair to ask an entire industry to make sacrifices while these other activities continue.”
Wiggins said the lack of appropriate action is one factor contributing to high rates of unemployment in the fishing industry, and that "it's time for our government to step up. If the Department of Fish and Game is unwilling to place the burden of rebuilding fisheries fairly upon all users, I will continue to take legislative action to get government to do its job."
Accordingly, Wiggins says she is considering re-introducing a measure that would put a temporary halt on suction dredge mining until DFG completes its court-ordered mandate to fix long-term regulations.
{mos_sb_discuss:3}
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
Just this week, residents around Lake County began receiving letters from a company going by the name “Property Tax Reassessment.”
“We just got our first indication of that thing this afternoon when the phone started ringing,” Jim Campbell, Lake County's chief deputy assessor, said on Friday.
Property Tax Reassessment, which the letter says is based in Los Angeles, is not a government agency or even a recognized company, said Campbell.
“It's just strictly a scam,” he said.
Campbell said the letters began spreading around Southern California recently and have since spread north.
Press reports from around the state are warning communities to ignore the letters. In San Luis Obispo County the county assessor reportedly is planning to forward the letters to the county counsel and district attorney.
Online consumer watchdog groups also are warning that the letter is a scam.
The letters look real enough, listing the property owners' specific assessment values – which Campbell said to have been drawn from county records, which are public.
An example letter Lake County News obtained estimated how much property tax savings the property owner could realize if they paid $179 for reassessment services before Feb. 26. After that date, a $30 late fee is added.
“Upon receipt of your service fee, Property Tax Reassessment will thoroughly review your individual property value. If, after our review, it is determined you do not qualify for a reduction, your service fee will be immediately refunded,” the letter states.
Campbell said the services which the letter offers to property owners are done by the Lake County Assessor's Office – for free.
He said the letter has incorrect dates for the reassessment process, which already has passed for this fiscal year.
“It's just strictly a scam,” said Campbell, who called the effort to take funds from property owners through this kind of misinformation “totally immoral.”
Property Tax Reassessment has no listed physical address; in the letter it directors property owners to send checks to P.O. Box 25519 in Los Angeles, an address which at one time was reported to have belonged to ISU Insurance Services, whose Web site lists no connection with Property Tax Reassessment.
Likewise, the letter lists a phone number, 888-879-4259, which does not show up in any phone listings or reverse searches.
When Lake County News called the number, a female answered and said it was not the number for the company.
You can, however, pick up the phone and call the assessor's office at 263-2302, which Campbell urges property owners to do if they have any questions.
The bottom line, said Campbell, is that the services offered in the letter are “totally unnecessary,” and no one should pay the fees.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
{mos_sb_discuss:2}
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LAKEPORT – Lake County Animal Care and Control officials are investigating the case of an older horse found emaciated and suffering from various health problems earlier this week.
Bill Davidson, Animal Care and Control's deputy director, said the agency received an anonymous complaint on Wednesday about the 25-year-old white Arabian gelding.
He said officers responded to the property where the horse was being kept near Lower Lake and found him significantly underweight. Other horses also were on the property but weren't in similar shape.
An examination by veterinarian Dr. Jeff Smith of Middletown confirmed that the horse was about 150 pounds under normal weight, was borderline anemic and suffering from dental disease, said Davidson.
The horse, which is being kept at the shelter on Helbush, is now on medications to address his various health problems, said Davidson. “We're basically doing everything we can.”
Davidson said they have high hopes for the horse, whose prognosis appears positive. “He's feisty. He's alive, he's good.”
For an elderly fellow, the horse has a lot of kick left in him, said Davidson, which is why they think he'll make it.
“We're going to monitor it for a minimum of several weeks,” said Davidson.
The horse isn't out of the woods yet, said Davidson. “We certainly have high hopes for it, though.”
The case is being investigated as a neglect case, he said. Davidson added that he anticipates the case being forwarded to the District Attorney's Office for prosecution.
Davidson said his office always has horse cases. “They don't always end up in impoundment.”
They're also not yet seeing the spike in horse surrenders due to the economy that have been noted in other areas, said Davidson.
“We are anticipating it for spring and summer,” he said.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
{mos_sb_discuss:2}
- Details
- Written by: Lake County News Reports
JE Dunn Construction Co. of Sacramento said the construction officially was completed on Thursday.
Soon to be completed is the construction of an adjacent four-star luxury hotel, slated to be finished this month.
JE Dunn served as construction manager for the $30 million casino and hotel project, which the company reported was brought in ahead of schedule and under budget.
The groundbreaking for the project was held in October 2007, as Lake County News has reported.
Twin Pine Hotel and Casino is owned by the Middletown Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians. The Architect is Group West Companies PLLC of Seattle. KPFF Consulting Engineers served as the structural and civil engineering firm.
The 52,220 square foot casino is fabricated from structural steel with an exterior of cedar shake siding and log timbers. Casino construction was completed within a 10-month time frame.
The casino has expanded areas for gaming, including slot machines and table games; it also contains a restaurant, kitchen, bar, shops, a wine tasting room and administrative areas.
The casino’s rustic high-end interiors and finishes have the ambiance of a vintage winery. The bar area features brick walls and brick barrel vaulted ceilings. Other amenities include hand-blown chandeliers with grape bunch clusters, large wood timbers and a water wheel.
The three-story wood and cedar shake hotel houses 60 rooms, including several large suites. The 43,000 square foot hotel features luxury finishes, with hand-crafted cherry millwork throughout, as well as granite counters for all the tabletops and cabinets. The rooms have coffered ceilings and wood beams.
JE Dunn was selected for the project because of its extensive experience in building hotels and casinos, including Bear River Casino in Humboldt County, as well as numerous gaming facilities throughout the US.
“It has been an exciting project,” said Sarah Dohmeyer, senior project manager for JE Dunn. “The Tribe was wonderful to work with. They are pleased because we completed the casino within a 10-month time frame and several weeks ahead of schedule.”
Middletown Rancheria, which established Twin Pine Casino in November 1994, entered into an alliance with the Mohegan Tribe and Nation of Connecticut to build the new casino and hotel, according to an October 2007 report from the tribe.
The Mohegan Tribe owns and operates Mohegan Sun in Connecticut, said to be the world's largest and most successful casino destination, and Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs in Pennsylvania.
{mos_sb_discuss:2}
