CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Clearlake Animal Control has six dogs waiting for their forever families.

The available dogs are Brewster, Evander, Harry, Kira, Poppy and Robbie.

To meet the animals, call Clearlake Animal Control at 707-994-8201 and speak to Marcia at Extension 103 or call Extension 118, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday, or leave a message at any other time.

‘Brewster’

“Brewster” is a 2-year-old shepherd mix who is a staff and volunteer favorite.

He’s very smart, knows how to sit and shake, and staff said he would be perfect with someone who works from home or could take him with them when they leave, as he suffers from separation anxiety.

He loves to sunbathe, get tucked in, is happy as long as he can see you and has been known to escape the kennels in order to find the nearest person.

Brewster is 45 pounds, and good with adults and older respectful children.

He’s a work in progress who appears to be tolerant of other dogs but he is still being evaluated.

‘Evander’

“Evander” is a 1-year-old male Labrador Retriever mix who has an all-black coat and weighs about 45 pounds.

He is good with both children and adults, and shelter staff said they are currently working on his socializing skills.

Evander is healing nicely from wounds “inflicted by a female dog in heat when she denied his unwanted advances,” shelter staff reported.

‘Harry’

“Harry” is as 2-year-old male pit bull mix. He weighs about 50 pounds and has a gray and white coat.

Staff said Harry is a big sweetheart. He came to the shelter a little beat up and has a crooked tail from an old injury.

They currently are working on socializing him.

He will be neutered upon adoption.

‘Kira’

“Kira” is a 2-year-old female Husky mix, weighing about 45 pounds.

Shelter staff said a dominating and assertive female, which is true to her breed. She responds well to other dogs and made appropriate corrections when necessary. She would be stable with other stable dogs.

Kira is very smart, sweet and vocal, and shelter staff suggested she would do best with an experienced husky household.

‘Poppy’

“Poppy” is a calm, lovable year-and-a-half-old shepherd mix, weighing 40 pounds.

She is good with other dogs; shelter staff said she is a dominant female and has taken corrections appropriately when introduced to or playing with other dogs.

They said she also is a little insecure and needs some confidence building; practicing skills will make her a good solid dog.

She is recommended for a home without small livestock.

‘Robbie’

“Robbie” is a young and happy-go-lucky mix – possibly Labrador Retriever and Rottweiler.

Shelter staff said is he around a year and a half old and weighs 50 pounds.

He walks well on a leash, makes friends with other dogs, and is playful but not super active.

Robbie is vaccinated, was neutered and had a full dental cleaning.

He recently was diagnosed with heartworm, so he is undergoing treatment. If adopted or taken to rescue, he will need a quiet place to recover.

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.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – A Tuesday morning bomb threat led to the temporary closure and evacuation of Twin Pine Casino in Middletown, with no device found following an extensive search of the facility.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office said the facility received a single telephone call at 9:30 a.m. claiming that there were explosive devices in the hotel and casino.

Kyle Lewis, the casino’s director of marketing and guest services who was reached by phone on the first day of his family vacation, said the casino has a notification system in place that was implemented following the Valley fire. It allows the casino to communicate with employees quickly.

“Unfortunately we've had to put it to use quite a bit in the last few years,” he said.

Supervisor Moke Simon, tribal chair for the Middletown Rancheria, which owns the casino, added, “Obviously we learned a lot after the Valley fire and really tightened up our response."

After the casino received the bomb threat, it notified employees, casino security evacuated the casino and the facility notified the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, according to the agency and Lewis. The casino sent all nonessential personnel home at that point

Sheriff Brian Martin said his agency responded to the scene with several units to begin searching the interior and exterior of all of the casino’s buildings.

Martin was at the Board of Supervisors meeting preparing to talk about deputy hiring incentives when he was informed of the situation. After he spoke on the item he left to respond to the casino.

Simon said he also was alerted about the incident during the board meeting and left during the last item to respond to the casino.

After sheriff’s deputies and casino staff conducted a thorough search of the buildings, “We found nothing suspicious,” said Martin.

"The vast majority of these are hoaxes but we treat everyone as if they are real,” Martin said.

He said he was impressed with the quick response, notification and evacuation of the casino. "Their notification system seemed to be very effective."

“We concentrated on making this property as safe as possible for our employees and guests,” said Simon.

Simon added that he’s pretty sure it wasn’t a real threat, but like the sheriff’s office, “We take everything seriously.”

Simon also praised the casino’s executive team, naming Casino Manager Donna Ross, for their handling of the event.

Martin said the investigation into the incident is continuing.

"We're following up some leads to identify a suspect,” he said.

Officials said the casino and hotel are set to reopen at 4 p.m. Tuesday.

“Hopefully this was just a one off and won't happen again, but if it does happen again we're ready,” Lewis said.

John Jensen contributed to this report.

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.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The latest version of an annual report that ranks counties on health has rated Lake the last among California’s counties.

The ninth annual County Health Rankings, released by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute, said the five healthiest counties in California, starting with most healthy, are Marin County, followed by San Mateo County, Santa Clara County, Placer County and Napa County.

The five counties in the poorest health, starting with least healthy, are Lake County, Siskiyou County, Plumas County, Trinity County and Modoc County, the report said.

The rankings are available at www.countyhealthrankings.org.

The study’s authors said that the local-level data make it clear that good health is influenced by many factors beyond medical care including housing, education and jobs, and that meaningful gaps in health persist not only by place, but also by race and ethnicity.

This newest analysis, the authors said, also shows that lack of opportunity – such as education, jobs and affordable housing – disproportionately affects people of color across the nation and within California.

A key driver of health cited in the report is children in poverty. The study’s authors said children in poverty are less likely to have access to well-resourced and quality schools, and have fewer chances to be prepared for living wage jobs.

The California State Report reveals that in California, 20 percent of children live in poverty, which is the same as the U.S. rate. Among racial and ethnic groups in California, rates of children in poverty range from 11 percent to 39 percent with American Indian/Alaskan Native children faring the worst and White children faring the best, the report said.

The report found that 30 percent of the children in Lake County live in poverty.

Lake also gets low rankings for categories including length of life due to its high incidence of premature death, a rate of injury deaths that is about three times the state average, and a variety of health behaviors, including an adult smoking rate of 15 percent, excessive drinking of 17 percent, alcohol-impaired deaths of 40 percent and a 26-percent adult obesity rate, despite 75 percent of the population having access to exercise opportunities. All of those factors are above the state average.

Teen births are above the state average but sexually transmitted disease cases are fewer than the California average overall, the report found.

The report found that Lake County ranks No. 31 statewide for its physical environment, with a low air pollution level that puts it among the best in the nation.

Lake County has a 10-percent uninsured rate, with primary care physicians and dentists in short supply: the physician to patient ratio is 1,960 to one, while dentists are 2,210 to one. Mental health providers are 300 to one, which is a better ratio that the state and makes Lake County a top performer nationwide.

Preventable hospital stays are above the state average, as is the incidence of mammography screening, which is 49 percent versus 60 percent statewide, Diabetes monitoring, at 82 percent, ties the state average.

Lake County has an 86-percent high school graduation rate compared to the statewide rate of 82 percent, with a 6.6-percent unemployment rate for 2017 compared to California’s overall 5.4 percent. Its income inequality rate, 5.2, is the same as the state’s.

In recent years, Lake has hovered near the bottom of the rankings, but this year was designated No. 57. Alpine County is not ranked.

Lake’s neighboring counties showed a mix of results: Colusa, No. 29; Glenn, No. 42; Mendocino, No. 44; Napa, No. 5; Sonoma, No. 7; and Yolo, No. 20.

The report does not make clear if the drop in Lake’s ranking has anything to do with the impacts of wildland fires over the past several years.

However, one factor that has been impacted by the fires is severe housing problems, with 27 percent of Lake County having that challenge. California overall ranks higher in that respect (28 percent).

Dr. Sara Goldgraben – who became Lake County’s new health officer two months ago, succeeding Dr. Karen Tait who retired late last year – reviewed these new rankings.

“Lake County has been through extreme challenges from 2015 to 2017 with wildfires and floods. This contributes to many things such as loss of housing where people have now been displaced and left the county permanently. Loss of jobs creates economic challenges, and a population which has to restart from scratch,” she said.

“We need to support the efforts in progress to rebuild and get the housing to be secure and safe. We recently obtained a transportation grant which will increase access to care. Adventist Health has a Project Restoration program, which provides intensive case management to help people with complex social and health issues,” she added. “This more effectively helps people to get access to the resources that they need. People need the social supports to get back on their feet.”

Goldgraben also addressed the challenges the study found that Lake County has regarding its health outcomes. “We need to improve our trends in obesity, sexually transmitted diseases, mammography screening, and children in poverty. Partnering with schools and healthcare providers to educate would be extremely valuable. Prevention is really the key.”

She also offered solutions. “Here is what our residents can do to improve their health outcomes: Eat a healthy diet with fruits and vegetables, practice safe sex, be involved in your health care, limit alcohol and do not smoke.”

Goldgraben said a newly created deputy health officer position is allowing the county to expand the Maternal Child and Adolescent Health program, which is developing a standardized home visitation program which will bring education and resources to the community.

“These are complex issues and as a public health government agency we need the involvement of the entire community to help with solutions and come up with different strategies,” Goldgraben said.

She added, “Being a small rural county can have its challenges as we don’t have many resources and staff. However, being a small county has its benefits as well. We are easily able to work together and engage with community members, healthcare facilities, including our tribal partners. We need them all!”

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.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – An atmospheric river headed toward California is expected to bring large amounts of rain to some areas, with Lake County forecast to get less than the storm’s full impact.

The National Weather Service said the atmospheric river – which is a “deep moisture plume” moving in over the region – is forecast to bring large amounts of rain to Central and Southern California.

Northern California will be on the northern fringe and will get more moderate precipitation, the agency reported.

Eric Kurth of the National Weather Service’s Sacramento office said during a Monday Webcast that the atmospheric river is expected to bring heavier rain on Wednesday, continuing into Thursday.

Late Thursday and Friday, snow should come down to about 4,000 feet in the region’s higher elevations, with 1 to 2 feet of snow expected in Northern California’s mountain passes, Kurth said.

Lake County’s specific forecast calls for rain Tuesday through Thursday, with a chance of snow showers on Thursday night in some higher elevations.

Chances of showers also are in the forecast Friday and Saturday, and Sunday night, the National Weather Service reported.

Winds also are in the forecast, with gusts of more than 25 miles per hour predicted.

Daytime temperatures will range from the high 40s to high 50s, with nighttime temperature ranging from the high 40s earlier in the week to the low 30s closer to the weekend, based on the forecast.

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 Lake County Campus of Woodland College will host a Native American Empowerment Day on Friday, March 23.

The event aims to inspire American Indian students to persist through completion of high school and pursue secondary level education, as well as promote leadership within their communities and tribes.

This one-day event is designed to promote a collaborative and informative environment where students can meet fellow American Indian students, connect and network. There will be motivational speakers and workshops aimed to help develop students into strong advocates for their communities.

American Indian students grades sixth through 12th and American Indian adults are invited to this event from 8:30 a.m. until 2 p.m.

This event will provide motivation and support for students to succeed in school, enroll in higher education, and enter guided career pathways.

At this free event, the college will provide morning snacks, lunch and educational materials.

Local nonprofit Kno’Qoti Native Wellness Inc. is partnering with the college and will provide all registered participants with T-shirts.

College staff will provide campus tours and information on careers, certificates and degrees.

The day will open with a traditional blessing and prayer offered by local tribal leaders and conclude with traditional dancing.

Lake County tribal members will present keynote presentations. The keynote speaker for this year’s event will be community leader Robert Geary. He will present on protecting sacred landscapes and cultural resources.

Kyle Bill, the youth services coordinator at California Tribal TANF will speak on native youth leadership. Tony Steele will speak on trauma and healing. Dino Beltran will share about the recent gains in protecting ancestral items.

All participants will attend hands-on workshops regarding traditional practices and the value of higher education.

College staff will provide assistance for anyone wishing to enroll in GED classes, certificates, associate degrees or transfer to a university.

Financial aid staff will provide information on financial aid, grants and scholarships.

The Lake County Museum staff will provide and display native cultural materials.

Local groups are invited to provide resource tables and resources at this event.

The college requests that all participants pre-register in order to prepare the right amount of food and provide T-shirts and other materials.

To register for the Native American Empowerment Day, call the college at 707-995-7900.

The Lake County Campus is located at 15880 Dam Road Extension in Clearlake.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Office of Education has announced that applications for Operation Recognition must be received by April 30.

Completed applications and supporting documentation must be delivered to LCOE, 1152 S. Main Street, Lakeport, CA 95453.

Operation Recognition is a program through LCOE and the Lake County Department of Veteran Affairs that awards high school diplomas to qualified veterans or World War II relocation center internees, who may have otherwise not received them due to wartime activities.

Qualified veterans include those who participated in the following conflicts:

– World War II (Dec. 7, 1941 – Dec. 31, 1946).
– The Korean War (June 25, 1950 - Jan. 31, 1955).
– The Vietnam War (Feb. 28, 1961 - May 7, 1975).

Veterans must provide a copy of their DD214 from the armed services with their application. For assistance in locating discharge papers, contact the Lake County Veterans Service Office at 707-263-2384, 285 N. Main St., Lakeport.

Any Japanese American who was interned during World War II will need to provide documentation of their internment.

Family members may apply for diplomas on behalf of qualifying persons who are deceased. The diploma recipient or the surviving family member must be a current or former resident of Lake County.

“We are thrilled to be able to offer the Operation Recognition program to honor those who sacrificed for our country. This program is entirely free, and we hope many individuals and families will take advantage of this opportunity,” said Lake County Superintendent of Schools Brock Falkenberg.

The Operation Recognition application must be received by April 30 to quality for the 2018 Diploma awards ceremony held in June, which will include a reception for honorees and family members.

For an application, please contact LCOE Human Resources at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 707-262-4151. Applications can also be downloaded from www.lakecoe.org.

NORTH COAST, Calif. – Detectives from the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office have made an eighth arrest in last week’s home invasion robberies in Petaluma.

Jade Lafay Johnson, a 19-year-old woman from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, was arrested for her part in the robberies on Thursday, according to Sgt. Spencer Crum.

Authorities said three residences in the 100 and 200 block of Eugenia Drive in Petaluma were robbed at gunpoint on March 12, as Lake County News has reported.

Crum said the suspects – who tied up residents and pistol-whipped one of them – were looking for marijuana but got the wrong homes.

All eight suspects are from the East Coast, primarily Richmond, Va., and Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Crum said.

Four men were arrested on March 12 after a pursuit to Novato: Chrisshawn Denardray Beal, 20, and Jaray Day-Shawn Simmons, 28, both of Winston-Salem; and Melvin Corbin, 19, of Richmond, Va., officials reported.

The sheriff’s office said it took three other men into custody later that evening at San Francisco Airport as they were trying to board a plane to the East Coast. The men arrested at that time are 22-year-old Nakia Robert Lydell Jones, 20-year-old Romello Shamar Jones and 21-year-old Siddiq Jafar Abdullah, all from Richmond, Va.

At the time of those arrests, authorities said they were still looking for two more suspects, a black woman and a black man.

Once Jones was identified as a suspect in the case, Crum said detectives secured a $1 million arrest warrant and worked closely with detectives from the Winston-Salem Police Department.

Johnson was arrested on Thursday during a traffic stop in Winston-Salem. She was taken into custody without incident, Crum said.

CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – The service of a search warrant in Clearlake Oaks last week led to one arrest on charges including drug manufacturing and possession.

Willie Travis Pardee Jr., 61, was arrested on Friday morning, according to a report from Lt. Norm Taylor of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.

On Friday the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit served a search warrant at 460 Schindler St. in Clearlake Oaks, Taylor said.

During the service of the search warrant, Pardee and several others were contacted and detained inside of a trailer located on the property, according to Taylor.

Taylor said that during a search of the trailer 39.43 grams of methamphetamine, 0.35 grams of heroin and 425 grams of processed marijuana was located with scales, packaging material and indicia of narcotics sales.

While searching a closet inside of the trailer, detectives located chemicals and glassware associated with the manufacturing of methamphetamine. Upon closer inspection, Taylor said detectives were able to determine the chemicals and glassware had been recently used to manufacture methamphetamine.

With the assistance of the Lake County Fire Protection District and the Lake County Community Development Department, detectives processed and removed the methamphetamine manufacturing material from the residence, Taylor said.

As a result of the investigation conducted by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Narcotic Unit, Taylor said Pardee was arrested for felony possession for sales of methamphetamine, keeping a place to sell controlled substances, manufacturing controlled substances and possessions of chemicals used to manufacture methamphetamine.

Jail booking records showed that Pardee remained in custody on Monday, with bail set at $50,000.

Pardee is tentatively scheduled to appear in Lake County Superior Court for arraignment on Tuesday, according to booking records.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors this week will take up the second reading of an updated cannabis cultivation ordinance and a request by the sheriff to offer incentives to new deputy hires.

The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, March 20, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.

The meeting can be watched live on Channel 8 and online at https://countyoflake.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx. Accompanying board documents, the agenda and archived board meeting videos also are available at that link.

In an untimed item, the board will consider the second reading of an ordinance governing commercial cannabis cultivation. The ordinance is not on the consent agenda, where there had been indications it would be placed during the discussion at last week’s meeting.

Also untimed is a resolution proposed by Sheriff Brian Martin that would authorize him to offer hiring incentives for the deputy sheriff I/II job classifications.

Martin’s report to the board explained that his budget has 66 full-time deputy sheriff classification positions allocated, with 47 of those positions filled and another deputy expecting to give his resignation soon because he has a conditional job offer at a local police department.

“In an effort to attract more candidates, I am proposing this resolution to offer hiring incentives to applicants who have already completed an academy, or are already currently certified and eligible to be hired as deputy sheriffs,” Martin wrote.

Citing hiring incentives offered by other agencies – including a $5,000 hiring bonus and a $20,000 college loan reimbursement given by the Napa County Sheriff’s Office, the Santa Cruz Police Department’s $10,000 hiring bonus and a $15,000 hiring bonus for laterals available at the city of Modesto – Martin is asking to offer $5,000 hiring bonuses for up to 10 deputy sheriff candidates.

“It is my recommendation that funds from Rural Sheriff’s Budget Unit 2206 be used to fund these hiring bonuses,” said Martin, explaining that, pursuant to state law, Lake County is allocated $500,000 each year for our Rural Sheriff’s Budget. “The funds are specifically earmarked to enhance law enforcement efforts and recruiting and retaining qualified Deputy Sheriff staffing will most certainly meet this goal.”

The full agenda follows.

CONSENT AGENDA

7.1: Adopt proclamation designating March 20, 2018 as National Agriculture Day in Lake County.

7.2: Approve minutes of the Board of Supervisors meeting held Feb. 6, 2018.

7.3: Adopt Resolution consolidating the Human Resources Department into a division of the Administrative Office and amending Resolution No. 2017-25 Establishing Position Allocations for Fiscal Year 2017-2018, Budget Unit No. 1012, Administrative Office.

7.4: Approve letter to Bruce Wilson, executive director of the Workforce Alliance of the North Bay, urging that the Lake County Employment Development Office remain open.

7.5: Approve request for advance step hiring of Mental Health Specialist II, Step 5 for Dr. Peter Galagar.

7.6: Adopt resolution authorizing access to state and local summary criminal history information by the Department of Child Support Services.

7.7: Sitting as the Kelseyville County Waterworks District No. 3 Board of Directors, (a) waive the normal sealed bid process under Ordinance No. 2406, Section 38.2 because there is no economic benefit to the county, for the purchase of a vehicle to be utilized within the Kelseyville County Waterworks District No. 3; and (b) authorize the Special Districts administrator/assistant purchasing agent to issue a purchase order through the statewide bid contract to Downtown Ford of Sacramento in the amount of $33,067.50.

7.8: Sitting as the Lake County Sanitation District Board of Directors, (a) waive the normal sealed bid process under Ordinance No. 2406, Section 38.2 because there is no economic benefit to the county, for the purchase of a vehicle within the Lake County Sanitation District Southeast division; and (b) authorize the Special Districts Administrator/assistant purchasing agent to issue a purchase order through the statewide bid contract to Downtown Ford of Sacramento in the amount of $33,067.50.

7.9: (a) Waive the normal sealed bid process under Ordinance No. 2406, Section 38.2 as it is not in the public interest due to the unique nature of the goods; and (b) approve to issue a purchase order in the amount of $30,700.31 to ProForce Law Enforcement for the purchase of 25 - X26P Taser units.

7.10: Approve waiver of the 900 hour limit for certain janitorial positions within the Department of Social Services.

7.11: Approve waiver of the 900 hour limit for certain facility maintenance positions within the Department of Social Services.

7.12: (a) Waive the normal sealed bid process under Ordinance No. 2406, Section 38.2 because there is no economic benefit to the county, for the purchase of a vehicle within the Special Districts administration division; and (b) authorize the Special Districts administrator/assistant purchasing agent to issue a purchase order through the statewide bid contract to Winner Chevrolet in the amount of $24,005.40.

TIMED ITEMS

8.2, 9:10 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation designating March 20, 2018, as National Agriculture Day in Lake County.

8.3, 9:15 a.m.: Public hearing, continued from March 6, consideration of a resolution imposing the county’s last, best, and final offer to Lake County Employees Association, Unit 4.

8.4, 9:30 a.m.: Public hearing, consideration of resolution approving resolutions and capital fire facility and equipment plans submitted by Lake County Fire Agencies and updating the Lake County Capital Fire Facility and Equipment Plan. (Staff requesting continuation of this item to March 27 at 9:30 a.m.)

8.5, 9:45 a.m.: (a) Consideration of waiving the normal sealed bid process under Ordinance No. 2406, Section 38.2 as it is not in the public interest due to the unique nature of goods; and (b) consideration of the Everbridge Mass Notification User agreement.

UNTIMED ITEMS

9.2: Consideration of staff recommendation to adjourn the April 19 cannabis workshop and reschedule the May 17 cannabis workshop.

9.3: Second reading, consideration of ordinance for proposed amendments to Chapter 21, Article 27 of the Lake County Code to regulate the cultivation of cannabis.

9.4: Consideration of a resolution expressing the intent of the Board of Supervisors in its adoption of Urgency Ordinance Number 3071.

9.5: Consideration of a resolution authorizing hiring incentives for deputy sheriff I/II Job classifications.

CLOSED SESSION

10.1: Employee disciplinary appeal (EDA 16-04) Pursuant to Gov. Code sec. 54957.

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.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport City Council this week will get an update on the work to repair the damage Library Park sustained from last year’s floods, consider a proposed ordinance regarding abating dry vegetation, and make appointments to a commission and committee.

The council will meet beginning at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 20, in the council chambers at 225 Park St.

On the agenda is an update to the council from Public Works Director Doug Grider, who will report on the projects to repair damage to Library Park due to the 2017 flood event.

Also on Tuesday, Community Development Director Kevin Ingram will introduce a proposed ordinance amending the Lakeport Municipal Code to change the date in which dry vegetation creating fire hazard conditions on private property must be abated from early July to June 1. At the same time the council will consider setting a public hearing on the proposed ordinance for April 3.

In other business, the council will consider the proposed appointments of Cindy Ustrud, Jen Hanson and Ben Moore to the Parks and Recreation Commission effective immediately, with terms expiring Dec. 31, 2019, and a request by Mayor Mireya Turner to appoint two council members to the Finance Committee.

Items on the consent agenda – items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate on one vote – are ordinances; minutes of the council’s regular meeting on March 6; the March 13 warrant register; approval of Application 2018-010, with staff recommendations, for the Home Wine and Beer Makers Festival event to be held in Library Park on June 16; approval of Application 2018-011, with staff recommendations, for the Lakeport Camp and Shine VW Car Show event to be held on Park Street on June 16; resolution rescinding Resolution 2649 (2018) and revising the master pay schedule in conformance with California Code of Regulations, Title 2, Section 570.5; and adoption of the proposed resolution supporting the Veterans and Affordable Housing Bond Act 2018.

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.

032018 Lakeport City Council agenda packet by LakeCoNews on Scribd

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake Planning Commission will meet this week to continue its consideration of permits for a proposed new cannabis business.

The commission will meet beginning at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 20, in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.

The meeting will see a continuation of a public hearing that began on March 6 regarding use permits for a commercial cannabis business that will include manufacturing and distribution.

Clearlake Growth Fund I LLC, Growth Fund II Inc. and Clearlake Growth Fund III Inc. are proposing the operation in a 2,825-square-foot portion of a warehouse at 2395 Ogulin Canyon Road.

City Manager Greg Folsom’s report to the commission explains that the applicant is proposing to establish a commercial cannabis business that includes manufacturing – extraction, production of cannabis lotions and edibles – along with wholesale distribution and a delivery-only dispensary.

At the March 6 meeting, the commission approved the distribution and direct delivery dispensary use permits but continued the use permit application for manufacturing with direction to provide more information on hazard materials management, including use and storage of ethanol, and to obtain some initial feedback from the Lake County Fire Protection District and other agencies, Folsom reported.

County and fire district staff have indicated to the city that they will not review and consider the project until it’s approved by the city. Folsom said fire district staff also reported that the new fire code for addressing cannabis manufacturing won’t be available for three months.

He said fire district staffers plan to be at the meeting to answer questions.

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.

032018 Clearlake Planning Commission meeting staff report by LakeCoNews on Scribd

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County District Attorney Don Anderson recently received the 2017 Prosecutor of the Year award presented by the California Narcotic Officers’ Association.

The 7,000-member law enforcement association is comprised of peace officers throughout the State of California.

CNOA, established in 1964, is recognized as the largest training association in California devoted to high quality training for law enforcement professionals.

Annually, CNOA presents the Prosecutor of the Year award to identify, recognize, and honor prosecutors throughout California who are committed to law enforcement.

The honoree is selected on basis on his life time achievements, contributions and efforts as a prosecutor.

The association reported that Anderson is only the third elected district attorney to receive the award since the inception of CNOA.

In the presentation, CNOA President Frank Hartig recognized Anderson for his achievements in increasing the county conviction rate to a state high 87 percent, implementing new and innovated programs such as establishing the first Perjury Intervention Unit in the country and other programs that have raised $250,000 for local charities.

The association recognized Anderson in his tenure as district attorney for personally, and successfully, prosecuting several high profile cases, including a three-defendant homicide in the shooting death of a 4-year-old child, a five-defendant home invasion and the attempted murder of a police officer.

Anderson also was recognized for his 15 years as a deputy sheriff for Lake County where he worked major crime investigations and narcotic enforcement. His representation and support of his peers caused him to be elected president of the deputy sheriffs association five times.

He also was commended for his participation in the case involving the murder of sheriff’s Sgt. Richard Helbush in 1981.

In that case, Anderson pursued the two suspects and, after a furious gun battle in which he was shot in the leg, he took the two suspects into custody.

The association also commended Anderson for saving the life of a young mother in 2013 by pulling her from a burning vehicle.

Anderson, who has acted as a judge pro tem and judicial arbitrator, was commended by his peers for authoring the book, “408 Lakeport,” which was used to assist law enforcement officers with PTSD issues.