CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – As hot, dry conditions continue around Lake County, on Friday firefighters continued to gain ground on the Pawnee fire east of Clearlake Oaks.
The growth of the fire has been stopped at 13,700 acres for several days, with containment up by nearly 10 percent to 65 percent during the course of the Friday, Cal Fire said.
Officials are now estimating the fire will be fully contained by July 3.
On Friday, Cal Fire reported the first injury of the incident so far to a firefighter. The extent of the injury was not reported.
Thousands of firefighters remain assigned to the incident, although resources have been scaled back in recent days.
Cal Fire said 2,667 firefighting personnel are part of the effort, along with 159 fire engines, 28 water tenders, 16 helicopters, 64 hand crews and 29 dozers.
A base camp is located at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Lakeport, and heavy equipment and fire trucks were visible around town on Friday, with firefighters stopping in to do some shopping at nearby stores while on break from the fire lines.
Control lines continue to be built and strengthened while, at the same time, firefighters are trying to restore the landscape that’s been altered through the firefighting work.
With no structures threatened any longer, all evacuations have been lifted. On Friday, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office lifted the final evacuation order for the Walker Ridge area.
Cal Fire said Walker Ridge Road is closed at Highway 20, which affects the Indian Valley boat launch and campground.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
A nonprofit organization is proposing to locate a new college and conference center at the historic Lucerne Hotel in Lucerne, Calif. Photo by Elizabeth Larson/Lake County News.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – After reviewing two proposals submitted for future uses of the Lucerne Hotel, the Lake County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted on Tuesday to select a plan to reopen it as a new college and conference center and to begin the process of preparing to sell the building.
The building, purchased by the county in 2010, previously had been home to the third campus of Marymount California University.
However, after Marymount’s abrupt departure last June, the board began considering what to do with the building.
On Dec. 19 the board directed staff to issue a request for proposals, or RFP, for the purchase, lease to purchase or long-term lease of the hotel property, as Lake County News has reported.
The county issued the RFP on Feb. 7, with proposals due back to the county on April 25. A panel convened to evaluate the responses to the RFP and it was that group’s recommendation that Deputy County Administrative Officer Michelle Scully brought to the supervisor on Tuesday.
“It’s been a long time coming,” Scully said.
The county received two proposals for the hotel, one from The Romero Institute - New Paradigm College, which wants to purchase the historic Lucerne Hotel from the county and reopen it as a College and conference center and the other from a newly incorporating nonprofit, the Lucerne Area Revitalization Association, or LARA.
The founders of LARA, Elizabeth Larson and John Jensen, who also are the owners of Larson New Media/Lake County News, formed the nonprofit “dedicated to the revitalization of Lucerne and the greater Northshore community in Lake County” and submitted a proposal for a long-term lease of the hotel.
LARA proposed an event and conference center for community gatherings, special events and educational trainings, a restaurant, hotel, office space and festival venue, all with the intention of creating a new economic engine and commercial corridor in the Lucerne community.
“The panel unanimously recommends the Romero Institute proposal,” Scully reported, “and recommends collaboration between both proposers.”
Scully then noted that she found that conversations between the two proposers – The Romero Institute and LARA – had already been under way.
Romero Institute shares vision
The Romero Institute, an interfaith, nonprofit law and public policy center based in Santa Cruz, is chaired by Daniel Sheehan, president of the New Paradigm College of the Romero Institute and a famed constitutional lawyer.
The institute’s team also includes other notable professionals and scholars, among them, William Stranger, publisher of DharmaCafe Books; Seth Watchel, chair of the Department of Architecture and Art at the University of San Francisco; former Lake County District 3 supervisor Denise Rushing; and Celia Rabinovitch, Ph.D., an artist and writer who is professor and director of the School of Art at the University of Manitoba.
Proposing to purchase the building, the cornerstone of the Romero Institute proposal includes the creation of associate and bachelor of arts degree conferring programs in integrative global studies, as well as wide-ranging extension classes and educational intensives for the general public in architecture, sustainable agriculture, computer graphics, social entrepreneurship, and religious studies.
Rushing, who helped the Romero Institute develop its proposal and was on the board when the hotel was purchased, offered some historical background.
When the county was working on the purchase of the building, the county developed a relationship with the Department of Architecture and Art at the University of San Francisco – chaired by Wachtel, a founding member on this new project. At the time, the department and students began working on public projects along the Northshore.
“We had expected back then that USF would have bid on that college but they were in the midst of a major expansion at the time and their administration didn’t have the bandwidth to consider a location in Lake County, even though we had a great deal of faculty support at that time,” she said.
Marymount California University then came in and bid and got the college, Rushing said.
In the meantime, the Romero Institute and New Paradigm College tried to work with Marymount to get some space in the building to begin the founding of their college. “They were unable to get the traction with Marymount,” and Marymount abruptly pulled out, leaving the building vacant, she said.
The consortium putting forward the bid is predominantly the Romero Institute, University of San Francisco faculty with administration support, and the Earthways Foundation, the funder of the bid, Rushing said.
“We had a vision at the time as a board, and so much has happened between then and now,” she said. “It’s almost like Lake County is on the hero’s journey, right? We started out in this ordinary world with some vision of the future, we had a vision for a four-year educational institution and all kinds of redevelopment along the Northshore.”
Then the governor disbanded redevelopment, and several fires later, “We’re in a very different situation at this moment than we were when we began.”
However, just like the hero in the hero’s journey, “If you don’t give up, you can create that vision for the future,” she said.
Rushing said she believed the Romero Institute’s proposal presented the county with an opportunity to still have higher education, a conference center, an extension program with college certificates and potentially college credit, as well as community events.
“We’re pleased to have been in conversation with the other bidder on this proposal,” she said of LARA. “We love many of the things they’ve proposed and look forward to incorporating some of those items into the facility.”
She said it’s the intention of New Paradigm College to be fully integrated in the community for the betterment of the county.
Stranger, currently acting as New Paradigm College’s academic dean and the conference center program director, said he also was speaking on behalf of three other core team members who couldn’t be there, including Sheehan, Wachtel and Rabinovitch.
Sheehan, he noted, is finishing a trial now but intends to end his trial career to more fully participate in more fully in the college’s development.
He said Wachtel is a beloved figure at the University of San Francisco who has done remarkable architectural and community works at the community level around the world that have led to revitalization, and Rabinovitch, who has extensive experience in creating college extension programs, having created the art extension program for the University of California, Berkeley.
Stranger said he was excited to tell them about something that the group wants to bring to Lake County.
The idea for the college came out of a State of the World forum convened by former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, with Sheehan having been a key organizer.
“In order for our planet to move forward together, we had to be able to speak to everybody of every point of view, and we certainly needed young adults well-trained in understanding all the world views, all the dispositions, and trained in the processes of civility and service that would make that possible,” he said, explaining that was the original idea for the college.
A core principle of the college, he said, was that it be embedded in the community, which also gave rise to the extension program.
In sharing the vision with other like-minded colleges around the country, “It’s just excited everybody,” he said.
“The resources that I see this bringing to Lake County are extraordinary,” he said.
Stranger said he believed the college would become “a portal from the world and onto the world for all of us.”
Retired Supervisor Ed Robey, a longtime advocate of a four-year college who had worked on an effort at Guenoc for many years, said he supported it and saw it as a wonderful opportunity.
Upper Lake resident Carol Cole-Lewis said she was excited by the college proposal, explaining that it’s important for communities to have a centerpiece. She referred to Ashland, Oregon’s Shakespeare festival, and said she believed New Paradigm College could be as significant.
She also noted the strength and reputation of the team members here and through the world. “So I think this is a fantastic opportunity,” and she hoped the board would do its best to help it happen.
LARA offers its support
When the board asked to hear from LARA, Larson explained that they had looked back at what the county initially intended for the building when it was purchased. Over a year ago, Larson explained that they had begun looking for additional uses for the building, then Marymount left.
“We’re also here,” Larson said, “to offer our full support to the Romero Institute. It’s a wonderful proposal that they’ve put forward.”
Larson noted that Rushing had reached out to LARA early in the process and they began talking. In the last couple of weeks they have had meetings on how they can help and collaborate.
She further explained that the Romero Institute has an incredible vision and they have the right intention behind it, have a practical understanding of the situation, and a “serious professional and intellectual heft to do it, and they have the funding. … We do encourage you to take their proposal.”
Board Chair Jim Steele praised both proposals and the work that went into it.
Larson also thanked the board for letting the RFP process go forward. “That wasn’t the easiest path to take but we appreciate you doing it, because we love that building and we love the community, and the community is excited, I think, about what’s going to happen.”
Public input on the recommendations included Peter Hess of Cobb Valley, who supports both proposals, said Lake County is replete with many talented musicians, artists and more. Hess himself is an Oxford-educated academic, writer and chainsawing enthusiast.
“I think this is a very exciting project, to see not only what we can bring, but what we can bring out of Lake County, what will come out of the woodwork, all of the people who will be fascinated with this project and who will add their own energy and ideas to what we’re planning here,” Hess said.
Finley resident Phil Murphy stated he didn’t back either proposal. “We don’t know what’s on the table here because of the redactions.” It was explained that financials were not a part of the proposal, so that financial information was redacted.
He said the board would be making a mistake to make a decision that day. He didn’t think it’s a good deal, calling it “even shakier” than the deal with Marymount California University.
County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson clarified, “We’re not asking your board to approve the sale of the property today; this is not about the sale. This is about the panel’s recommendation from the RFP process,” as the county has an entirely separate process for selling properties, which must first be declared surplus.
If the board directs staff to prepare for the sale of the hotel, Huchingson explained, there will be another public bidding process – and that is what the board later unanimously decided to do. It also was explained that the board would not have to accept the highest bidder, but the purpose that fit best with their expectations for the use.
Northshore resident Larry Troutman didn’t support the process. “I read the proposals,” calling them “very ethereal.”
Troutman suggested than the RFP be reissued, and only allow private entities to make bids, not nonprofits, questioning how a nonprofit would benefit county coffers.
He said the RFP should be reissued for private entities to make bids. “You’re talking about putting county resources to follow up with panel recommendations; that costs county dollars,” Troutman said. “You already have an animal control that’s on its knees with money.”
Upper Lake resident Clovice Lewis said he was all for the ethereal approach, noting that many public and private educational systems are not really for-profit.
“I think, and I think it’s really bourne out, that the quality of a community has to do with the education of its citizens,” he said.
Entrepreneurism also is important, and he said when the county has an educated citizenry with entrepreneurs, they will see an improved community “not at this moment but in the future. And that the perspective that I think we all need to be looking at.”
Stranger spoke again about the benefits of a college, noting they bring vast sums of money to their communities, and they offer cultural benefits. The struggle of nonprofits is that they have to go out and bring in donations.
“That’s a burden that we are willingly assuming in order to bring this to Lake County,” said Stranger, noting they would be bringing both educational and financial resources to the county.
Jensen, on behalf of LARA, also praised the Romero Institute’s proposal, calling it culturally and economically a “no brainer.”
“It has the potential to transform not just the Northshore but the entirety of Lake County, and I strongly encourage the board to move forward with that proposal,” he said, noting he and his wife would give their full support to it.
In response to questions from Supervisor Tina Scott, Huchingson said the board does not need to choose the highest bid in a county sales process.
Scully explained that the building would need to be declared surplus with probably one-month process of having it listed for sale. There also will be a public noticing process.
“This has been a very positive process. It took a long time to do, it’s been open for a long time, and these are very good proposals that finally came forward from my point of view,” said Steele.
Supervisor Rob Brown said the county’s purchase of the building had not been for the purpose to fix it up and sell it, and that he had supported it with the caveat that it be used for education.
“We didn’t have a clue what Marymount was going to do. We had very high hopes. It was for that community, it wasn’t necessarily for Marymount,” he said.
Brown noted that he heard from Larson directly on June 13, 2017, on the day that it was discovered Marymount California University had left unannounced, and that she and Jensen immediately sprang into action to protect the building.
He acknowledged the amount of work Larson and Jensen had put into the effort, long before the RFP was released, and that collaboration had been going on long before the county recommended it. “Denise and their group can probably attest to the fact that a lot of their ideas and all that came from much of the work that Elizabeth and John did.”
Brown added, “There was no profit-driven interest by them to be involved in this, it is absolutely a pure labor of love for them on the part of this building and their community,” Brown said.
He said the purchase was for the purpose of an economic engine, and they hope that it can still happen in Lucerne. He said education offers that type of economic engine for communities.
“A higher education opportunity in an area like Lucerne, is really – unless somebody has some other ideas out there that are realistic – I think that’s the only opportunity that we really have on the Northshore for a true economic engine that can benefit the entire county,” he said, adding he wanted to move forward with the plan.
District 1 Supervisor Moke Simon said he appreciated the proposals and is, “in complete support of the education portion in the proposal here that’s being submitted,” but said it comes down to how they will do to generate tax revenue coming into the county and opportunities for a developer.
“I guess I’m the odd man out on this one,” Simon stated. “I’m hoping that we do some more opportunity for a sale of this property to benefit everybody in the county when we do put this thing up for sale.”
“If you’re a developer, you really see some opportunity there, he said.
Simon added, “I’m also hoping we have more to look at when this thing comes back to the board.”
Supervisor Jeff Smith moved to accept the panel’s recommendation of the Romero Institute proposal and directed staff to prepare the property for sale and return to the board for the necessary approvals, which was approved 5-0.
CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – Officials said containment continues to slowly rise on the Pawnee fire as firefighters work their way into the fire’s remote interior in the rugged backcountry.
The fire’s size continues to hold at 13,700 acres, with containment on Friday morning at 56 percent, Cal Fire said.
Approximately 658 acres were burned on the Mendocino National Forest, according to spokeswoman Punky Moore.
The number of firefighters, which earlier this week topped 3,400 personnel, has now begun to be rolled back.
Early Friday, personnel assigned totaled 3,036, along with 203 engines, 34 water tenders, 17 helicopters, 72 hand crews and 47 dozers, Cal Fire said.
Cal Fire has not yet given a date estimate for full containment.
Firefighters continued to construct and reinforce control lines in anticipation of a red flag warning that will be in effect from 11 a.m. Friday through 5 a.m Sunday, Cal Fire said.
Crews are being flown into remote regions of the fire to strengthen containment lines. Cal Fire said firefighters also are patrolling and mopping up.
Mandatory evacuation orders remain in effect for Walker Ridge, with the remaining road closure on Walker Ridge Road at Highway 20.
Cal Fire said suppression repair has begun in an effort to restore the landscape to as near a pre-fire condition as possible.
Other repairs also are under way in the fire area.
Pacific Gas and Electric spokeswoman Deanna Contreras said that the company has restored power to 600 customers.
The power to the fire area was interrupted early Sunday morning due to the fire impacting PG&E facilities and the company shutting off power to the lines at the request of Cal Fire for the safety of the first responders. “This was not a public safety power shutoff situation,” Contreras said.
She said PG&E has identified 30 poles, six crossarms and 39 spans of wire that need to be replaced in or near the Double Eagle Ranch subdivision, where residents were allowed to return on Thursday. The Spring Valley Lakes evacuation order was lifted on Wednesday.
PG&E has customer care experts available at a PG&E mobile command vehicle in Spring Valley at the Spring Valley Pantry Market, located on New Long Valley Road.
Crews working for PG&E’s vegetation management department started clearing a fuel break on Monday, at the request of Cal Fire, near Clearlake, Contreras said.
She said the crews are clearing a 100-foot-wide swath of brush and trees alongside and under an electric transmission line that runs through Clearlake Oaks. The work to create an approximately six-mile fuel break will continue for the next few days.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
Fireworks will once again dazzle over Clear Lake this weekend. Photo from the 2017 Clearlake, Calif., fireworks show by Elizabeth Larson/Lake County News. LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Fireworks, cardboard and duct tape boats, music and barbecues will be fixtures of Independence Day celebrations around Lake County in the coming days.
A roundup of events is featured below.
FRIDAY, JUNE 29
CLEARLAKE
Clearlake carnival
The city of Clearlake’s carnival will take place from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at Austin Park’s beach, 14077 Lakeshore Drive. There is a cost for the carnival.
SATURDAY, JUNE 30
CLEARLAKE
Redbud Parade & Festival
The Lakeshore Lions Club’s 61st annual Redbud Parade & Festival will take place on June 30, at Austin Park.
The parade starts at 11 a.m. at Redbud Park and finishes at Austin Park. There will be a carnival, a car show, and food and craft vendors set up around Austin Park for a full day of entertainment for families.
The event will also feature the 51st annual International Worm Races, hosted by the Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce, and a grand fireworks finale over Clear Lake that is always a highlight.
This year the carnival will run from Friday, June 29, through Saturday, July 7.
“We are pleased to host this annual event in downtown Clearlake,” said Clearlake City Manager Greg Folsom. “The parade, festival, and fireworks are always incredible and this year the carnival will extend throughout the week and we invite everyone to come down and enjoy our beautiful lakeside location. Much appreciation to the Lakeshore Lions for their continued support for this community and once again sponsoring this fantastic event.”
The carnival in Clearlake, Calif., getting set up for the Independence Day holiday. Photo courtesy of the city of Clearlake.
HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE
Independence Day celebration
The Hidden Valley Lake community’s Independence Day celebration will take place beginning at 10 a.m. at the Big Beach and Little Beach.
Tony Neves will perform from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
A fleet parade will take place for all watercraft at 3 p.m. at the center of the lake. Decorated boats can win category prizes.
At 4 p.m. there will be a barbecue grilled fresh by the Greenview Restaurant chefs.
This year’s fireworks display has been canceled.
Parking will be offered at Lakeridge Circle and the pool parking lot. There will be no shuttle service.
SUNDAY, JULY 1
CLEARLAKE
Clearlake carnival
The city of Clearlake’s carnival will take place from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at Austin Park’s beach, 14077 Lakeshore Drive. There is a cost for the carnival
CLEARLAKE OAKS
Clear Lake Keys boat parade
The Clear Lake Keys Property Owners Association’s annual boat parade will take place at the M&M Campground.
Line up takes place at 9:30 a.m., with the parade at 10 a.m.
The theme is “A Lake County Catch.”
Prizes are $100 for first place, $75 for second place and $50 for third place.
No water balloons or other hard objects are allowed, but squirt guns are OK.
Following the boat parade the Clearlake Oaks Keys Club hosts a picnic starting at noon for members and their guests.
For sign-ups and boat numbers, call Heidi Aragon at 707-998-9439.
KELSEYVILLE
Ely Stage Stop Fiddlers’ Jam
Kick off your July 4 holiday with a fun day at the Ely Stage Stop on Sunday, July 1, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The house and museum will be gaily decorated in red, white and blue. A barbecue of good old fashioned hot dogs, hamburgers and drinks will be available for sale this month, beginning at 11 a.m.
The fiddlers will add their toe tapping music to the magical mood of the day, playing from noon to 2 p.m.
Bring your family and friends. Ride the hay wagon and stroll the grounds and inspect the new antique farm equipment that has just arrived. Note the progress on the Richard Paddock Blacksmith Shop.
The Ely Stage Stop is located at 9921 State Highway 281(Soda Bay Road) in Kelseyville, near Clear Lake Riviera, just north of Highway 29-Kit's Corner.
The city of Clearlake’s carnival will take place from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at Austin Park’s beach, 14077 Lakeshore Drive. There is a cost for the carnival.
LAKEPORT
Konocti Vista fireworks display
Join Konocti Vista Casino and Twin Pine Casino for their annual fireworks display on Monday, July 2, just after dusk.
The display will take place at Konocti Vista Casino Hotel and Marina, 2755 Mission Rancheria Road, Lakeport.
The family friendly event is free.
TUESDAY, JULY 3
CLEARLAKE
Clearlake carnival
The city of Clearlake’s carnival will take place from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at Austin Park’s beach, 14077 Lakeshore Drive. There is a cost for the carnival.
CLEARLAKE OAKS
Annual Clearlake Oaks fireworks display
The 2018 Clearlake Oaks fireworks display will be launched from a barge near the Clearlake Oaks public boat launch.
The best (and most fun) viewing area is from a boat anchored near Rattlesnake Island. Next best is from Clark's island.
Donations to help cover the show can be made to the Clearlake Oaks-Glenhaven Business Association through its Web site.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 4
LAKEPORT
City of Lakeport July 4 celebration
Lakeport’s family friendly July 4 celebration, including fireworks and craft faire, will take place from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. in Library Park.
Join the fun as they celebrate our country’s birthday with vendor booths, good food, beverage and music.
The popular cardboard and duct tape regatta will take place from 10 to 11 a.m.
Top the day off with the city’s spectacular fireworks display after dark.
The street faire is full of great food, arts and crafts.
CLEARLAKE
Clearlake carnival
The city of Clearlake’s carnival will take place from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at Austin Park’s beach, 14077 Lakeshore Drive. There is a cost for the carnival.
THURSDAY, JULY 5
CLEARLAKE
Clearlake carnival
The city of Clearlake’s carnival will take place from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at Austin Park’s beach, 14077 Lakeshore Drive. There is a cost for the carnival.
FRIDAY, JULY 6
CLEARLAKE
Clearlake carnival
The city of Clearlake’s carnival will take place from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at Austin Park’s beach, 14077 Lakeshore Drive. There is a cost for the carnival.
SATURDAY, JULY 7
CLEARLAKE
Clearlake carnival
The city of Clearlake’s carnival will take place from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at Austin Park’s beach, 14077 Lakeshore Drive. There is a cost for the carnival.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning for Lake County and other parts of Northern California due to fire weather conditions forecast for the weekend.
The warning is in effect from Friday at 11 a.m. through 5 a.m. Sunday.
A red flag warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly, the agency said.
Forecasters said temperatures are expected to increase as drying north winds develop across the region starting Friday.
That combination of gusty winds and low humidity will result in critical fire weather conditions from Friday into the weekend, the National Weather Service said.
The Lake County forecast calls for temperatures topping out over 100 degrees on Saturday and Sunday, with winds into the mid 20s on Saturday and wind speeds reducing the following day.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – There was no new growth overnight on the Pawnee fire, and with conditions improving another group of evacuees were allowed to return home on Thursday.
Cal Fire said Thursday morning that the fire remained at 13,700 acres, with containment climbing to 40 percent.
Approximately 3,234 firefighting personnel are assigned to the incident; other resources include 238 engines, 33 water tenders, 14 helicopters, 73 hand crews and 71 dozers, according to Cal Fire.
Cal Fire said firefighters continue to construct and reinforce control lines in anticipation of warmer, drier conditions and strong winds that are forecast throughout the weekend.
Burning since Saturday, the fire destroyed 22 structures, damaged 5 others, and threatened hundreds more, which had led to the mandatory evacuations of the Spring Valley Lakes and Double Eagle Ranch subdivisions, along with the areas of Walker Ridge and Indian Valley Reservoir.
On Wednesday, Spring Valley residents were allowed to return home, and on Thursday the evacuation order for the Double Eagle Ranch also was lifted, as were the remaining road closures in Double Eagle, officials said.
The Walker Ridge and Indian Valley Reservoir areas, however, remain under evacuation, with Walker Ridge Road at Highway 20 still closed, according to Lt. Corey Paulich of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
Paulich urged community members returning home to be aware of firefighters, utility company and media traffic, and to stay focused and avoid distractions as emergency personnel continue to operate in the area.
Once a wildfire has burned through an area, many dangers may remain, Paulich said.
Those who observe any hazardous conditions are urged to stay away and report the situation immediately to a local fire or law enforcement official in the area or call 911.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – A newly released damage assessment offers a picture of the destruction to homes and other structures resulting from the Pawnee fire.
The Pawnee fire began in the Spring Valley Lakes subdivision east of Clearlake Oaks on Saturday, triggering the evacuations of an estimated 1,500 people in Spring Valley as well as the Double Eagle Ranch subdivision.
On Tuesday, Cal Fire along with personnel from the county of Lake conducted an assessment and inspection of properties that were damaged or destroyed as a result of the fire.
The assessment found a total of 27 burned properties.
The breakdown is as follows:
– Total buildings destroyed: 22; 12 residences, 10 outbuildings. – Total buildings damaged: five; three homes, two outbuildings, all with minor or minimal damage.
The map above shows the impacted properties. Clicking on the sites will show the address, APN and extent of damage.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake City Council this week will consider updating a city purchasing ordinance and benefit plan, and view two new fire prevention videos.
The Clearlake City Council will meet beginning at 5:15 p.m. Thursday, June 28, for a closed session to discuss the police chief selection process before the public portion of the meeting begins at 6 p.m. in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.
At Thursday’s meeting the second and third joint project fire prevention videos by PEG TV, the Lake County Fire Protection District, the Clearlake Police Department and Code Enforcement, and produced by the Administrative Services Department, will be presented.
In council business, council members will consider the first reading of an ordinance amending the purchasing ordinance and set a second reading and adoption for July 12.
The council also will consider updates to the management/confidential employees classification and benefit plan, approval of a job description for Administrative Services director/city clerk and adoption of the city salary schedule.
Items on the consent agenda – items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate on one vote – are warrant registers; minutes of the meetings on June 8 and 14; consideration of Resolution No. 2018-20 approving a temporary street closure for the Lake Life and Car Show; and the second amendment to the agreement between the city of Clearlake, city of Lakeport and the county of Lake for operation of a local public, education and government channel.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – A one-stop local assistance center to help Pawnee fire survivors is set to open on Thursday, according to county officials.
The Lake County Department of Social Services is working with local nonprofit agencies, county and state organizations to provide the center for those impacted by the fire, which began on Saturday.
On Wednesday the mandatory evacuation for Spring Valley Lakes was lifted, as Lake County News has reported.
The local assistance center, or LAC, will be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Spring Valley Community Center, located at 3000 Wolf Creek Road.
A wide-ranging array of services and expertise will be available.
Some of the organizations that will be present include American Red Cross, North Coast Opportunities, United Methodist Church, Lake County Animal Care and Control, Behavioral Health, Social Security Administration, Social Services, Habitat for Humanity and Hope Animal Response, to name a few.
If you need food, assistance accessing medical care, come to the LAC. If you have concerns about your animals, debris removal or even insurance matters, there will be people on site at the LAC to help. If you need replacement copies of vital records, or a new driver’s license, come to the LAC.
All of these organizations will be there to help make profoundly complicated situations a little bit easier, and offer some of the first building blocks of successful long-term recovery.
For more information, contact the Department of Social Services at 707- 995-3260.
One of Lake County’s members of Congress said Wednesday that he and several of his colleagues went to see for themselves a facility housing minors separated from their families after crossing the US border.
Representatives Mike Thompson (CA-05), Doris Matsui (CA-06), Jimmy Panetta (CA-20) and Brad Sherman (CA-30) visited a private nonprofit facility in Virginia that houses children separated from their parents at the border as a result of the administration’s “zero tolerance” policy.
The group condemned the family separation policy and called for children to be reunited immediately.
They issued the following joint statement:
“The children we met today have faced unimaginable horrors coming to the United States, and the trauma of that journey is only perpetuated the longer they are separated from their families. Today’s visit only underscored the extreme urgency with which we must work to reunite families and the lasting trauma the Trump Administration’s inhumane policy has caused on thousands of children. While we appreciate that this experienced facility is providing necessary care, no standard of care can meet the needs of children desperate to see their families again and the Administration must present its policy for a swift reunification infrastructure immediately.”
Thompson also released the video above in which he discusses his visit to the facility.
“We need to figure out how to do this right. We can secure our borders. We can improve our immigration system and we can do it in a humane way, in a moral way,” he said. “The way the kids are being treated isn’t about immigration, it’s about morals. We need to get this right.”
He concluded by calling for comprehensive immigration reform and reuniting the children with their parents “as soon as we can.”
Thompson represents California’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties.
On Wednesday, seven and a half years after taking office and inheriting a $27 billion budget deficit, California Gov. Edmund G. Brown Jr. signed his final state budget, which his office said fills the Rainy Day Fund to the brim and sends record funding to California’s classrooms.
“When I took office back in 2011 with the state facing a $27 billion deficit, I pledged to work with the Legislature to fix California’s financial mess,” said Governor Brown. “Today, the final budget I sign delivers on that pledge and prepares us for the future.”
The governor was joined by Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins, Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon and budget chairs Senator Holly J. Mitchell and Assemblymember Phil Ting.
“This budget is the product of all of us working together to craft a fiscally responsible plan that serves the people of California while at the same time saves for the future,” said Senate President pro Tempore Atkins. “I especially want to thank Governor Brown’s leadership – in this, his last budget – for helping to bring back California from a historic recession and onto a solid economic footing.”
“Devastating budget cuts first compelled me to run for the Assembly. I thought we needed to do better, and this budget does better,” said Assembly Speaker Rendon. “There is more to do, but by investing in our people and saving for the future, this budget gives us the tools we need to keep doing better.”
“Gov. Brown has done an admirable job in leading our state out of budget deficits to financial stability. This is a spending plan we can be proud of because it makes the right investments and reflects many of California’s values,” said Assemblymember and Assembly Budget Committee Chair Ting. “I’m especially glad we were able to partner with cities and counties to help them address the homeless crisis with unprecedented funding for more shelters and services.”
“This budget strikes an appropriate balance that strengthens our state’s fiscal stability with an unprecedented level of reserves, while prioritizing investments that will address the pressing needs of this state,” said Senator and Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee Chair Mitchell. “We continue to work toward restoring programs that still have yet to be made whole from devastating cuts during the great recession and prioritize funding to confront the challenges associated with homelessness and disaster response.”
The Governor’s Office outlined the following details of the 2018-19 State Budget:
Saving for uncertain times
The state’s Rainy Day Fund, established by a vote of the people in 2014, saves money when the economy is strong for uncertain times ahead. By the end of 2018-19, the current economic expansion will have matched the longest in post-war history. The budget fully fills the fund, growing the balance to an unprecedented $13.8 billion.
Supporting our schools
The budget increases funding by more than $4,600 per student over 2011-12 levels and directs $78.4 billion in funding to K-14 schools – a 66 percent increase in annual funding from seven years ago. Additionally, the state will fully implement the Local Control Funding Formula, correcting historical inequities in school district funding.
Counteracting the effects of poverty and combatting homelessness
The budget invests $5 billion to help address challenges with affordable housing and homelessness, including providing $500 million to assist local governments in their immediate efforts to help homeless Californians. The state also continues to provide billions of dollars to: raise the state’s minimum wage; grow the state’s Earned Income Tax Credit program; expand health care coverage to millions more Californians; restore low-income health benefits eliminated during the recession; boost CalWORKs grants; and increase child care and early education provider rates and the number of children served.
Strengthening infrastructure
This budget delivers the first full year of funding under Senate Bill 1 – the state’s Road Repair and Accountability Act – with $4.6 billion in new transportation funding in 2018-19. The funding will repair neighborhood roads, state highways and bridges, fill potholes, ease congestion in busy trade and commute corridors and improve and modernize passenger rail and public transit.
Investing in higher education
The budget continues to increase funding for the state’s university and community colleges systems with no tuition or fees hikes and establishes the state’s first-ever online community college. Since 2012, the University of California has received $1.2 billion in new funding, with $1.7 billion for the California State University and $2.4 billion for community colleges over the same period.
Combating climate change
The budget includes a $1.4 billion Cap and Trade Expenditure Plan to invest in programs that further reduce carbon pollution and support climate resiliency efforts, including $210 million for forest improvement and fire prevention projects that protect the state’s forests from wildfires and $334.5 million for the California Energy Commission and the California Air Resources Board to begin the implementation of a multi-year initiative to accelerate sales of zero-emission vehicles through vehicle rebates and infrastructure investments.
Protecting hardworking immigrants
The budget provides $79 million to support hardworking immigrants through a number of legal services programs, including deportation defense, naturalization services and DACA assistance.
The budget and related acts signed by the governor today include the following.
AB 1808 by the Committee on Budget – Education finance: education omnibus trailer bill. AB 1809 by the Committee on Budget – Higher education trailer bill. AB 1810 by the Committee on Budget – Health. AB 1811 by the Committee on Budget – Human services omnibus. AB 1812 by the Committee on Budget – Public safety omnibus. AB 1817 by the Committee on Budget – State government. AB 1824 by the Committee on Budget – State government. AB 1825 by the Committee on Budget – Education finance: constitutional minimum funding obligation: local control funding formula. AB 1826 by the Committee on Budget – State Capitol Building Annex: state office building. AB 1827 by the Committee on Budget – No Place Like Home Act of 2018. AB 1830 by the Committee on Budget – Budget Deficit Savings Account: Safety Net Reserve Fund. AB 1831 by the Committee on Budget – State government: appointments: infrastructure. AB 1834 by the Committee on Budget – Corrections: omnibus. SB 840 by Senator Holly J. Mitchell (D-Los Angeles) – Budget Act of 2018. SB 841 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – Budget Act of 2017: augmentation. SB 847 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – Courts: omnibus. SB 848 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – Transportation. SB 849 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – Medi-Cal. SB 850 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – Housing. SB 852 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – State public employment: memorandum of understanding: State Bargaining Unit 6: approval. SB 853 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – Developmental services. SB 854 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – Public resources. SB 855 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – Taxation. SB 856 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – Budget Act of 2018. SB 866 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – Employment. SB 871 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – Income taxes: credits: motion pictures.
CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – Hundreds more firefighters joined the effort to fully contain the Pawnee fire on Wednesday, with acreage growing modestly and containment rising.
Cal Fire’s Wednesday evening report put the fire’s acreage at 13,700, up by 200 acres from the morning estimate, with 30 percent containment, a 5-percent gain during the day.
Approximately 3,066 firefighters were committed to the incident on Wednesday, along with 234 engines, 33 water tenders, 15 helicopters, 79 hand crews and 71 dozers.
A Cal Fire damage assessment released Wednesday put the total structures impacted at 27. Of those, 22 were destroyed, including 12 homes and 10 outbuildings, and five – three homes and two outbuildings – had minor damage.
Cal Fire said firefighters took advantage of favorable weather conditions to build direct control lines, but heat still continued to be a challenge on the incident.
Experts are developing a plan to repair damage to natural resources caused by fire suppression activities, Cal Fire said.
The improved conditions led to the lifting on Wednesday of the mandatory evacuation of the Spring Valley Lakes subdivision, but officials said evacuations remain in place for Double Eagle Ranch and the area of Walker Ridge.
The evacuation center at Lower Lake High School remains open, and those with animal-related needs can call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.
Road closures still in effect are New Long Valley Road at Highway 20, Old Long Valley Road at Highway 20, Walker Ridge at Highway 20 and Mule Skinner Road at Highway 20.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
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