Numerous law enforcement officials were at a location in Nice, Calif., on Monday, February 5, 2018, to investigate an officer-involved shooting. Photo by John Jensen/Lake County News. NICE, Calif. – The Lake County Sheriff’s Office and California Highway Patrol are on the scene of an officer-involved shooting that occurred in Nice on Monday.
Sheriff Brian Martin confirmed on social media Monday afternoon that the officer-involved shooting incident occurred on Lakeview Drive. He said the situation is contained.
On Monday afternoon, numerous law enforcement officer were at the location, with the roadway at Burpee and Lakeview closed.
The California Highway Patrol had an aircraft that had been involved in a search for an individual earlier in the incident, according to Officer Kory Reynolds.
Martin said investigators are at the location.
A deputy on scene said the incident had occurred over a large area. A crime investigation unit was part of the response.
Martin said additional information will be released as details develop.
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.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors this week will discuss the response to a series of community visioning forums held last month and also consider whether to direct that a request for proposals go out for the preparation of an employee compensation study.
The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 6, 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 item timed for 9:30 a.m., administrative staff will give the board a report on the community visioning forums held in each supervisorial district in January 2018 and seek possible direction from the board.
County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson’s report to the board explains that staff “has been focused on solutions to the County's very serious and worsening financial situation including redesign of business practices and exploration of new revenue sources. As part of this process, we embarked upon a series of CV [community visioning] forums to educate our citizenry on the significant financial challenges and to engage them in developing solutions and establishing service priorities.”
Huchingson said that the forums have “been very positive experiences,” with community members sharing ideas about most valued services along with suggestions for greater efficiencies and possible new revenue sources.
“As was conveyed by staff to the public during each forum, given our long history of ‘doing more with less,’ there is little doubt that finding new revenues will be an essential part of the solution. Both the Cities of Clearlake and Lakeport successfully passed sales tax measures enabling both jurisdictions to address financial challenges,” she said in her memo to the board.
Based on community sentiment in the community visioning forum process, Huchingson said “there may be support for a similar measure in the County.”
As such, she’s asking the board to consider directing staff to initiate the procedure to prepare an ordinance to establish a general purpose sales tax.
In other business, in an untimed item Huchingson is asking the board to consider the Classification, Compensation, Recruitment and Retention Committee’s plans for the coming year and its recommendation that the board direct staff to issue a request for proposals for a consultant to conduct a comprehensive classification and compensation study.
Huchingson said the county last conducted such a study in 2003, and since then its challenges with recruitment and retention have grown, as it has been unable to keep with with the pay offered by other counties.
“The study is needed, after a 15 year hiatus, to review classifications and salary relationships, and gather important data on compensation in comparable jurisdictions, as we prepare to address impending issues including minimum wage and the need for periodic cost of living adjustments,” Huchingson wrote in her memo to the board.
She said the committee also is recommending the board consider adopting a compensation philosophy statement, and the board is being asked to direct staff to finalize such a statement for future consideration.
The full agenda follows.
CONTRACT CHANGE ORDERS
6.1: Consideration of Contract Change Order No. 3 for the Valley Fire Water Meter Replacement Project, Bid No. 16-07.
6.2: Consideration of Contract Change Order No. 3 for the CSA-7 & CSA-18 Water System Repair Project, Bid No. 16-11.
6.3: Consideration of Contract Change Order No. 1 for the CSA-7 Bonanza Springs Ridge Road Mainline project, Bid No. SD17-05.
CONSENT AGENDA
7.1: Adopt proclamation designating the month of February 2018 as Black History Month and celebrating Martin Luther King's Birthday.
7.2: Approve minutes of the Board of Supervisors meeting held Nov. 7, 2017
7.3: Adopt resolution expressing support for Lower Lake Parade and Barbecue (May 27, 2018).
7.4: Approve the Brooks Trust dated Feb. 2, 1996, nomination for appointment of successor trustee, and authorize the Animal Care and Control director to sign.
7.5: Approve Amendment 2 to the agreement between the county of Lake and Davis Guest Home for adult residential support services and specialty mental health specialty services for fiscal Year 2017-18 for an increase of $50,000 for a new contract maximum of $130,000 and authorize the chair to sign.
7.6: Approve Butler-Keys Community Services District’s Resolution No. 2018-1 calling a special election to place a special tax measure on the ballot and requesting approval of the Lake County Board of Supervisors to consolidate the district’s special election with the June 5, 2018 Statewide Direct Primary Election.
7.7: Authorize waiver of County Policy and Procedure, Section 15 - Travel Policy Section 1.4F, claiming requirements for the reimbursement to Saul Sanabria in the amount of $68; and authorize the chair to sign.
7.8: Sitting as the Lake County Watershed Protection District Board of Directors, adopt resolution for the Lake County Watershed Protection District Quagga/Zebra Mussel Infestation Prevention fee grant program application and funding agreement.
7.9: Approve the Sun Ridge Systems software support services agreement for the FY 2017/18 in the amount of $37,282 for the support of its Law Enforcement Software Suite, and authorize the chair to sign.
7.10: Approve amendment to lease agreement between the county of Lake and Sam Polo for the annual amount of $38,042.40 through June 30, 2021, and authorize the chair to sign.
7.11: Adopt Resolution amending Resolution No. 2008-168 authorizing access to state and local summary criminal history information by the Department of Social Services.
7.12: Approve acceptance of easement deeds on multiple parcels in Anderson Springs for the Anderson Springs Septic to Sewer Project and authorize clerk of the board to sign.
7.13: Adopt resolution accepting the CSA-2 Spring Valley Water Distribution System Upgrade project as complete and authorize the CSA-2 administrator to sign the notice of completion.
7.14: Adopt resolution accepting the CSA-7 Bonanza Springs Ridge Road Water Main project as complete and authorize the CSA-7 administrator to sign the notice of completion.
7.15: Adopt resolution accepting the CSA-7 & CSA-18 Water System Repair Project as complete and authorize the CSA-7 & CSA-18 administrator to sign the notice of completion.
7.16: Adopt resolution accepting the CSA-7 & CSA-18 Valley Fire Water Meter Replacement project as complete and authorize the CSA-7 & CSA-18 administrator to sign the notice of completion.
TIMED ITEMS
8.2, 9:10 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation designating the month of February 2018 as Black History Month and Celebrating Martin Luther King's birthday.
8.3, 9:15 a.m.: Provide update on status of CSA #16 Consolidation Project and seek direction from Board of Supervisors.
8.4, 9:30 a.m.: Report on community visioning forums held in each supervisorial district during January 2018 and possible direction to staff.
UNTIMED ITEMS
9.2: Consideration of the following appointments: Child Care Planning and Development, Glenbrook Cemetery District.
9.3: Consideration of Classification, Compensation, Recruitment and Retention Committee plans for 2018, and direction regarding RFP for classification and compensation study, and development of compensation philosophy statement.
CLOSED SESSION
10.1: Conference with legal counsel: Existing Litigation Pursuant to Gov. Code sec. 54956.9(d)(1): Shikman v. County of Lake, et al.
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 honor an outgoing planning commissioner and appoint his successor, discuss changes to the ordinance for the Parks and Recreation Commission and consider seeking proposals for a City Hall remodel project.
The council will meet at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb 6, for a closed session to discuss property negotiations related to 800 N. Main St., 810 N. Main St. and 910 Bevins St. before the public portion of the meeting begins at 6 p.m. in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.
The council on Tuesday will present a proclamation honoring Harold Taylor for his 14 years of service on the Lakeport Planning Commission.
That will be followed by the proposed appointment of Kipp Knorr to the Lakeport Planning Commission, to fill Taylor’s term, which expires Dec. 31 2018.
The council also will appoint Pamela Harpster, Dan Peterson and Andy Lucas, to the Lakeport Economic Development Committee effective immediately, with those terms expiring Dec. 31, 2019.
In other business, staff will introduce an ordinance to amend the Lakeport Municipal Code regarding the Parks and Recreation Commission.
“During the most recent recruitment for positions to the Parks and Recreation Commission, staff received feedback from interested applicants that the number of meetings was creating a bigger commitment than these volunteers were willing to make given the types of matters under discussion,” City Clerk Kelly Buendia wrote in her report to the council. “This spurred conversations about the necessity of once per month meetings and also about making meetings later in the day or in the evening which would open this opportunity to more residents who might be interested in participating. While the staff assigned to the Park and Recreation Commission could accommodate evening meetings for members, the frequency of meetings would require changes to the ordinance.
“Additionally, since the parks are enjoyed by non-residents, the proposed ordinance would allow one (1) non-resident on the board, as the Council has done with other committees,” Buendia said.
Buendia said staff is requesting that the council set the commission’s regular meetings to quarterly meetings with the ability to cancel if needed. “Special meetings can also be called when needed, to conduct more urgent business. This would create a more reliable schedule for both staff and Commission, as well as, give staff needed time to follow up on discussion items.”
In other business, Community Development Director Kevin Ingram will present a request for staff direction pertaining to the request for proposals for a remodel of a portion of City Hall to create a “one-stop customer service center” to assist in providing greater customer service to the public.
Proposed changes are meant to make the space more user-friendly for customers of the various departments – including the Finance Department and Community Development Department. The council chamber doors also are proposed to be relocated beyond the entry to the conference room to reduce conflicts between the users of those space, according to Ingram’s report.
Ingram said the city’s capital improvement projects listing includes some additional identified improvements to City Hall, “that although not budgeted, should be at a minimum considered as part of the RFP as there will likely be significant cost savings if they are made a part of this project.”
He said those improvements include upgrading City Hall’s security system, constructing a fur wall along the north building concrete wall in order to achieve greater energy efficiency within the entire building, and repairing the exterior building coating to prohibit water seepage through concrete exterior walls currently creating efflorescence in the council chambers.
Also on Tuesday, Police Chief Brad Rasmussen will take to the council a proposed resolution authorizing the conducting of criminal background checks for commercial cannabis licensing purposes.
Rasmussen notes in his report that his agency is tasked with conducting those background checks as part of the ordinance the council recently enacted to govern the licensing of commercial cannabis activities in the city.
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 Jan. 16; the Jan. 23 warrant register; approval of Application 2018-003, with staff recommendations, for Cinco de Mayo event to be held in Library Park on May 6; authorization for the city manager to sign Contract Change Orders No. 8 and 9, as well as sign and file the Notice of Completion with Granite Construction Co. on the Lakeshore Blvd ER Project; approval of the Resolution accepting Exhibit 13-A, stating the Lakeshore Boulevard Roadway Repair project has no acquisition of right of way associated with it; and receipt and filing of the draft minutes of the Jan. 17 Measure Z Advisory Committee.
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. – Five community visioning forums the county of Lake held in January are available for viewing online.
The videos, shot by Lake County News, are below, In order of occurrence. They also can be found at Lake County News’ YouTube channel, https://www.youtube.com/user/LakeCoNews/videos .
The Kelseyville forum took place on Jan. 8, with about 120 people in attendance. The Clearlake forum, attended by about 70 people, took place Jan. 10 and the Northshore forum was hosted on Jan. 11 with about 110 community members attending.
The Jan. 17 forum, held in Lakeport, had about 150 people in attendance, with the last forum, which crew about 160 people, taking place in Middletown on Jan. 29.
A review of suggestions and community members’ concerns that were submitted at the forums will be presented at the Board of Supervisors meeting at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday.
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake City Council will hold a special meeting this week to go through the annual midyear budget review process.
The meeting will take place at 5 p.m., ahead of the regular meeting at 6 p.m., on Thursday, Feb. 8, in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.
City Finance Director Chris Becnel’s report for the meeting, which can be seen below, goes over the budget details and a variety of proposed changes.
Most of the significant changes come in the budgets for police and Public Works, Becnel said.
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.
Upper Lake High School’s Academic Decathlon team won its third competition in a row on its home turf in Upper Lake, Calif., on Saturday, February 3, 2018. Photo by Elizabeth Larson/Lake County News. UPPER LAKE, Calif. – Upper Lake High School on Saturday clinched the Lake County Academic Decathlon title for the third year in a row, earning a trip to the state competition along with Willits High.
In an event which focused this year on the subject of Africa, Upper Lake edged out Clear Lake High Team A.
Also competing were Clear Lake High Team B and Middletown High.
Willits High School, the only team in Mendocino County, once again made the trip in order to compete so it could be eligible to participate in the California Academic Decathlon March 23 and 24.
“Lake County students are thriving,” said Lake County Superintendent of Schools Brock Falkenberg in remarks ahead of the Super Quiz.
Community members looked at posters created by Academic Decathlon students at the Academic Decathlon at Upper Lake High School in Upper Lake, Calif., on Saturday, February 3, 2018. Photo by Elizabeth Larson/Lake County News. In addition to the Academic Decathlon, Falkenberg pointed to the many other events highlighting local students’ academic excellence, including the Mock Trial competition coming up later this month, along with SkillsUSA and music competitions.
He noted at that point that there was not yet a clear winner among the competing Academic Decathlon teams.
“It is all coming down to this Super Quiz,” he said.
After the Super Quiz, Clear Lake High School Team A and Upper Lake High were tied, but once the judges were finished with all of the day’s scoring, Upper Lake once again won, and got to keep the county competition trophy.
Upper Lake High Head Coach Anna Sabalone said she was surprised by the outcome because of the fierceness of the competition.
At right, Anisha Kalan, Upper Lake High Academic Decathlon team captain, and Head Coach Anna Sabalone following the competition in Upper Lake, Calif., on Saturday, February 3, 2018. Photo by Elizabeth Larson/Lake County News. She said that every competing team wants to represent Lake County at the state competition. “We have to stay on our toes to be able to keep the honor.”
Upper Lake’s team captain and top scorer, Anisha Kalan, 17, won the speech contest among other subjects, and gave her speech on the development of racism to the audience of about 100 people.
This is Kalan’s fourth year in the Academic Decathlon. “Every year is different. It’s a different team.”
At Upper Lake, the Academic Decathlon is a class, so the team works to prepare over time, as well as putting more intense study in before the contest.
Kalan is now in the midst of applying for colleges, among them, Yale, Stanford, Harvard, Berkeley and Davis. She plans to study political science.
Music students from Upper Lake High performed during an intermission in the Academic Decathlon at Upper Lake High School in Upper Lake, Calif., on Saturday, February 3, 2018. Photo by Elizabeth Larson/Lake County News. Dr. Giovanni Annous, who became Upper Lake Unified School District’s superintendent in May, was delighted with the event.
“It brought tears to my eyes,” Annous said after joining the team for a picture.
He noted his students’ excitement, and also lauded the other teams and their students for their cordial and professional behavior toward each other in the course of the competition.
Annous said it’s also exciting to know that hard work pays off. He said students’ jingling medals was a great sound.
He and the coaches were preparing at that point to take the team out for a celebratory dinner in Lakeport. “They deserve every celebration possible.”
Sabalone, an Upper Lake High alumna who was herself an Academic Decathlon competitor, has coached the team for 10 years. She’s assisted by Angel Hayenga and Christal Coatney.
She said her team this year has 13 members – down slightly from past years – with four of them seniors.
From left, Upper Lake Academic Decathlon Head Coach Anna Sabalone, and assistant coaches Christal Coatney and Angel Hayenga following the competition in Upper Lake, Calif., on Saturday, February 3, 2018. Photo by Elizabeth Larson/Lake County News. “They’re very excited,” about the competition outcome, she said.
However, they won’t jump immediately into the preparation for the state event, as many of them have to prepare for other activities – such as the Mock Trial, a music competition in Chico next weekend as well as basketball.
After the Mock Trial concludes on Feb. 12 – Sabalone also is helping to coach that team – they’ll get down to work on prepping for the state finals, she said.
Upper Lake’s coaches gave a big shout out to fellow staffers and parents – “Especially the parents,” said Hayenga – for their unwavering support.
Part of the process of getting ready will be fundraising. Sabalone said the trip to Sacramento for the state finals is estimated to cost around $6,000, half of which goes for hotel rooms, as well as $500 for registration.
For information on making a donations, call Upper Lake High at 707-275-2338.
The full results of the competition are below.
Clear Lake High School Superintendent April Leiferman, Principal Jill Falconer, Coach Kristi Tripp Team members: Brenden Allen, Kaity Avila, Carlos Bernardino, Michael Camacho, Nicabec Casido, Adrian Ceja, Luis Cortez, Zoe Cramer, Anna Del Bosco, Sereno Dominguez, Camille Donald, Anahit Govorgyan, Brent Hinchcliff, Trinitee Hoaglen, Blake Jensen, Brody Jensen, Kyle Jensen, Julia Lyon, Isabella Mattina, Courtney McIntosh, Nathan Porter, Oscar Quilala, Jessica Romero, Felix Salinas, Quintin Scott, Alexa Shepherd, Connor Simons, Kally Vinson, Shawnee Weed, Ethan Wynacht
Middletown High School Superintendent Catherine Stone, Principal Bill Roderick, Coach Jeff Mielke Team members: Makenna Brown, Taylor Harris, Steven Harvey, Austin Lapic, Colleen Schimansky, Amy Trapani, Amida Verhey
Upper Lake High School Superintendent Giovanni Annous, Principal Sandy Coatney, Coaches Anna Sabalone, Angel Hayenga and Christal Coatney Team members: Alan Balderas, William Cromwell, Daniela Estrada-Flores, Jeff Fannon, Anisha Kalan, Deeya Kalan, Jessica Lee, Kehlani McKelvey, Katlyn Minnis, Robert Porterfield, Brenna Sanchez, Seneca Snow, Maria Tinoco, Sarah Williams
Willits High School Superintendent Mark Westerburg, Principal Michael Colvig, Coach Mary Colvig Team members: Jacob Arms, Brieana Evans, Isabelle Grieve, Nicholas Hebel, Elizabeth Henning, Savanna Hofmaister, Mychaela Nowlin, Ariel Reyes, Micah Stamps, Naomi Strickland, Byron Torres, Ian Watson, Alisabeth Wilcox
TEAM PLACEMENT
Lake County
First place: Upper Lake High School, 36,838 points Second place: Clear Lake High School, 32,575 points
Mendocino County
First place: Willits High School, 33,848 points
AWARDS
Poetry contest
First place: Anahit Govorgyan, Clear Lake High Second place: Alexa Shepherd, Clear Lake High Third place: Nicabec Casido, Clear Lake High
The Lake County Arts Council provided awards of $25, $15 and $10, respectively, for the three top finishers.
Poster contest
First place: Kaity Avila, Clear Lake High Second place: Trinitee Hoaglen, Clear Lake High Third place: Camille Donald, Clear Lake High
The Lake County Arts Council provided awards of $25, $15 and $10, respectively, for the three top finishers.
Super Quiz
First place: (tie) Clear Lake High Team A, Upper Lake High Second place: Clear Lake High Team B Third place: Willits High
SUBJECTS
Science
First place: Isabella Mattina, Clear Lake High Second place: Sereno Dominguez, Clear Lake High Third place: (five-way tie) Mychaela Nowlin, Willits High; Savanna Hofmaister, Willits High; Jessica Romero, Clear Lake High; Brenna Sanchez, Upper Lake High; Sarah Williams, Upper Lake High
Economics
First place: Anisha Kalan, Upper Lake High Second place: Daniela Estrada-Flores, Upper Lake High Third place: Nicholas Hebel, Willits High; Ian Watson, Willits High
Music
First place: Brenna Sanchez, Upper Lake High Second place: Sarah Williams, Upper Lake High Third place: Ian Watson, Willits High
Mathematics
First place: Amida Verhey, Middletown High Second place: Jacob Arms, Willits High Third place: Michael Camacho, Clear Lake High
Social Sciences
First place: Zoe Cramer, Clear Lake High Second place: Sarah Williams, Upper Lake High Third place: Anisha Kalan, Upper Lake High
Art
First place: Zoe Cramer, Clear Lake High Second place: Maria Tinoco, Upper Lake High Third place: Kehlani McKelvey, Upper Lake High
Language and Literature
First place: (four-way tie) Savanna Hofmaister, Willits High; Ian Watson, Willits High; Jessica Romero, Clear Lake High; Michael Camacho, Clear Lake High Second place: (three-way tie) Kaity Avila, Clear Lake High; Zoe Cramer, Clear Lake High; Anisha Kalan, Upper Lake High Third place: (tie) Sarah Williams, Upper Lake High; Brent Hinchcliff, Clear Lake High
Essay
First place: Amida Verhey, Middletown High Second place: Maria Tinoco, Upper Lake High Third place: Nicholas Hebel, Willits High
Interview
First place: (tie) Brieana Evans, Willits High; Brent Hinchcliff, Clear Lake High Second place: (tie) Amida Verhey, Middletown High; Isabella Mattina, Clear Lake High Third place: Michael Camacho, Clear Lake High
Speech
First place: Anisha Kalan, Upper Lake High Second place: Daniela Estrada-Flores, Upper Lake High Third place: Isabella Mattina, Clear Lake High
TOP FINISHERS FOR EACH ACADEMIC LEVEL
Honors category (3.75-4.00 grade point average)
First place: Anisha Kalan, Upper Lake High Second place: Zoe Cramer, Clear Lake High Third place: Michael Camacho, Clear Lake High
Scholastic category (3.00-3.74 GPA)
First place: Ian Watson, Willits High Second place: Brenna Sanchez, Upper Lake High Third place: Elizabeth Henning, Willits High
Varsity category (2.99 GPA or below)
First place: Sarah Williams, Upper Lake High Second place: Alisabeth Wilcox, Willits High Third place: Jeff Fannon, Upper Lake High
HIGHEST SCORING STUDENTS, PER SCHOOL
Clear Lake High School: Zoe Cramer Middletown High School: Amida Verhey Upper Lake High School: Anisha Kalan Willits High School: Savanna Hofmaister
The Lodge at Blue Lakes provided $100 scholarships for each of the schools' top-scoring students, along with additional gift certificates to the lodge.
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 Planning Commission will meet this week to discuss the city’s zoning interpretation manual.
The commission will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 6, in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.
Planning consultant Gary Price, who wrote the manual will be in attendance for the discussion.
The manual’s introduction explains that the city is in the process of conducting a comprehensive update to its zoning code.
“This Manual was developed to provide on-going definitions of how certain regulations in the current Zoning Code are to be interpreted between now and when the Zoning Code takes effect,” the document states.
The manual also is meant to establish consistent procedures for staff to use in administering the code, and has been designed to evolve over time.
Commission members are Chair Dirk Slooten and Vice Chair Russ Cremer, and commissioners Nathalie Antus, Richard Bean and Carl Webb.
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. – Lake County Animal Care and Control has more news dogs that are now available for adoption.
The dogs offered adoption this week include mixes of Akita, German Shepherd, golden retriever, Labrador Retriever, Maltese, mastiff, pit bull, shepherd, Rottweiler and terrier.
Dogs that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are either neutered or spayed, microchipped and, if old enough, given a rabies shot and county license before being released to their new owner. License fees do not apply to residents of the cities of Lakeport or Clearlake.
If you're looking for a new companion, visit the shelter. There are many great pets hoping you'll choose them.
The following dogs at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption (additional dogs on the animal control Web site not listed are still “on hold”).
This male terrier has is in quarantine kennel No. 2a, ID No. 9396. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Male terrier
This male terrier has a short tricolor coat.
He’s in quarantine kennel No. 2a, ID No. 9396.
This female Maltese-terrier mix is in quarantine kennel No. 2d, ID No. 9394. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Female Maltese-terrier mix
This female Maltese-terrier mix has a short brown and black coat.
She is in quarantine kennel No. 2d, ID No. 9394.
This female terrier is in quarantine kennel No. 8, ID No. 9395. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Female terrier
This female terrier has a short tricolor coat.
She’s in quarantine kennel No. 8, ID No. 9395.
This female German Shepherd-Akita mix in kennel No. 14, ID No. 9219. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. German Shepherd-Akita mix
This female German Shepherd-Akita mix has a short black and tan coat.
She’s in kennel No. 14, ID No. 9219.
This male pit bull is in kennel No. 15, ID No. 9383. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Male pit bull
This male pit bull has a short white and brindle coat.
He’s in kennel No. 15, ID No. 9383.
This female German Shepherd Dog is in kennel No. 16, ID No. 9275. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Male German Shepherd
This female German Shepherd Dog has a black and tan coat.
She is in kennel No. 16, ID No. 9275.
“Bella” is a female Labrador Retriever-Rottweiler mix in kennel No. 17, ID No. 9375. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. ‘Bella’
“Bella” is a female Labrador Retriever-Rottweiler mix with a short black and brown coat.
She is in kennel No. 17, ID No. 9375.
This male pit bull terrier is in kennel No. 18, ID No. 9371. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Male pit bull terrier
This male pit bull terrier has a short tricolor coat.
He already has been spayed.
He’s in kennel No. 18, ID No. 9371.
This male pit bull terrier is in kennel No. 19, ID No. 9372. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Male pit bull terrier
This male pit bull terrier has a short brindle and white coat.
He’s in kennel No. 19, ID No. 9372.
This male Labrador Retriever is in kennel No. 23, ID No. 9410. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Male Labrador Retriever
This male Labrador Retriever has a short black coat with white markings.
He already has been neutered.
He’s in kennel No. 23, ID No. 9410.
This male terrier in kennel No. 27, ID No. 9398. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Male terrier
This male terrier has a short tricolor coat.
He is in kennel No. 27, ID No. 9398.
This female terrier is in kennel No. 28a, ID No. 9399. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Female terrier
This female terrier has a short tricolor coat.
She’s in kennel No. 28a, ID No. 9399.
This female terrier is in kennel No. 28b, ID No. 9400. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Female terrier
This female terrier has a short tricolor coat.
She’s in kennel No. 28b, ID No. 9400.
This male pit bull is in kennel No. 32, ID No. 9369. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Male pit bull
This male pit bull has a short buff-colored coat.
Shelter staff said he is a lovely boy who will sit on command and give you a handshake.
He’s in kennel No. 32, ID No. 9369.
This male golden retriever is in kennel No. 34, ID No. 9302. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Golden retriever
This male golden retriever
Has a medium-length golden coat.
He already has been neutered.
He’s in kennel No. 34, ID No. 9302.
Lake County Animal Care and Control is located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport, next to the Hill Road Correctional Facility.
Office hours are Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
For more information call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.
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.
This early schematic of the Van Allen Belts' structure was created after the first American satellite discovered their existence in 1958. Credits: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/Historic image of Van Allen Belts courtesy of NASA’s Langley Research Center. Tick, tick, tick. The device – a Geiger counter strapped to a miniature tape recorder – was registering radiation levels a thousand times greater than anyone expected.
As the instrument moved higher, more than 900 miles above the surface, the counts ceased. Scientists were baffled. It was early 1958, the United States had just launched its first spacecraft, and a new discipline of physics was about to be born.
Sixty years ago today, the United States launched its first satellite into space. Dubbed Explorer 1, the spacecraft followed just months after the Soviet Union’s Sputnik 1 and 2 spacecraft commenced the Space Age.
Data captured by the Geiger counter aboard Explorer 1 heralded the emergence of space physics and ushered in a new era of technology and communications.
Far above Earth’s atmosphere, the radiation picked up by the instrument aboard Explorer 1 wasn’t of Earthly origin. In fact, it was from a region scientists previously considered largely void of particles.
Prior to launch, scientists expected to measure cosmic rays – high-energy particles primarily originating beyond the solar system – which they had previously studied with ground- and balloon-based instruments. But what they found far outpaced the levels of radiation that would be expected from cosmic rays alone.
The radiation recorded by Explorer 1 was humanity’s first glimpse of Earth’s radiation belts, two concentric rings of energetic particles surrounding the planet.
The inner belt, composed predominantly of protons, and the outer belt, mostly electrons, would come to be named the Van Allen Belts, after James Van Allen, the scientist who led the charge designing the instruments and studying the radiation data from Explorer 1.
The outer belt is made up of billions of high-energy particles that originate from the Sun and become trapped in Earth’s magnetic field, an area known as the magnetosphere. The inner belt results from interactions of cosmic rays with Earth’s atmosphere.
Satellites that unwittingly or intentionally venture into the belts can be damaged by the radiation, which could have an impact on unprotected astronauts as well. Understanding the dynamics of this region is essential for protecting technological assets and planning crewed space missions.
“Our current technology is ever more susceptible to these accelerated particles because even a single hit from a particle can upset our ever smaller instruments and electronics,” said David Sibeck, Van Allen Probes mission scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. “As technology advances, it’s actually becoming even more pressing to understand and predict our space environment.”
Sixty years later, scientists are still working to understand the peculiar and puzzling nature of the Van Allen Belts. In 2012, NASA launched the twin Van Allen Probes to study particle behavior in the dynamic region.
Equipped with superior, radiation-hardened technology, the Van Allen Probes’ instruments go far beyond Explorer 1’s Geiger counter to observe particles, waves and fields in the radiation belts.
“We study the Van Allen radiation belts both for scientific reasons – to understand particle acceleration, which occurs through the universe – and practical reasons – because particles accelerated to high energies are a hazard to both astronauts and spacecraft,” Sibeck said. “At Earth, we can study these details and apply that knowledge both to our journey to Mars and to better protect astronauts at the Moon.”
From the beginning, the Van Allen Probes set a pace of rapid discovery. Within days of their launch, the probes found the void between the inner and outer belts – which was thought to be empty – was occupied by a third, temporary belt. The third belt lasted just a month, but appeared again later in the mission with major solar activity.
Explorer 1’s discoveries six decades ago paved the way for new generations of spacecraft to explore the radiation belts.
Today, with the help of other missions, like the Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms, or THEMIS, and Magnetospheric Multiscale, or MMS, missions, NASA scientists are continually unveiling new secrets in our magnetic space neighborhood.
Multipoint observations are essential to understanding the belts’ dynamics and in 2016, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, launched the satellite Arase to cooperate with the Van Allen Probes mission in studying the radiation belts.
A new CubeSat mission, the Compact Radiation Belt Explorer or CERES, is scheduled to launch in April 2018 to work in conjunction with the Van Allen Probes, studying the interactions between plasma waves and electrons in Earth’s upper atmosphere.
“We don’t know what other discoveries are hidden in the radiation belts,” said Shrikanth Kanekal, Van Allen Probes deputy mission scientist and CERES principal investigator at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. “As technology improves, who knows what we’ll be able to find.”
Mara Johnson-Groh works for NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md.
Shortly after launch on Aug. 30, 2012, particle detection instruments aboard NASA's twin Van Allen Probes revealed to scientists the existence of a new, transient, third radiation belt around Earth, shown in this image. Credits: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/Johns Hopkins University, Applied Physics Laboratory.
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake City Council has approved the purchase of an apartment building with redevelopment bonds and directed staff to form an ad hoc committee to address animal control-related issues.
At its Jan. 25 meeting the council gave the go-ahead to purchase the eight-unit apartment complex, along with a single-family residence, located at 14141 Lakeshore Drive. The asking price is $850,000, with $5,000 in closing costs.
City Manager Greg Folsom took the proposal to the council, explaining that the city has $3 million in 2006 Series B bond redevelopment funds that it must use for housing-related projects.
He said city staff looked at several options, including student housing at the community college, purchasing existing housing and converting it to low- or moderate-income rentals, buying fixer uppers, purchasing new modular homes and putting them on vacant land, and purchasing existing low-moderate income apartments. The last option was the one they concluded was best.
Folsom said the property would provide monthly cash flow, with a total of $70,000 annually in gross rent, an 8-percent annual return on investment. He said the funds would go into the enterprise fund, not the general fund, which was a mistake in the staff report.
He said they have a staffer with experience in property management so they would not need to hire a project manager. They also don’t need to renovate or rebuild the complex, as the seller has already made significant upgrades and had agreed to do some other fixes – including installing a new roof – prior to the close of escrow.
Folsom said the current owner is in escrow to purchase the Jules Resort property in order to fix it up for corporate housing.
Joan Mingori, who owns nearby property, criticized the city for considering the purchase, saying that they want to build a stronger resort and business community yet were supporting low-income housing on Lakeshore Drive.
Other comments from community members led Folsom to clarify that the city isn’t converting it from a resort to apartments. “We’re not making any changes. It’s not currently a resort.”
Councilwoman Joyce Overton pointed out that if the city owns it, it can make sure it’s cleaned up.
Based on Overton’s questions of the ability for the city to sell the property in the future to a developer, City Attorney Ryan Jones said that, over a period of time, the city could sell the property to someone else who could convert it to another use.
Overton also asked about a loan program for property owners to make improvements, but city Finance Director Chris Becnel said that the cost of administering small loans exceeds the cost of the loans themselves.
Councilman Phil Harris said the community is faced with rising rent costs and limited housing. He said they need to take steps to keep affordable housing available in the city.
Councilman Russ Perdock pointed out that the complex already is fully occupied, and the seller has put in significant investment, including new kitchen facilities and paint.
Mayor Bruno Sabatier said the purchase is a great way for the city to benefit and pursue its goals.
Overton moved to approve the purchase, which the council supported 5-0.
Another key item on the agenda was the council’s support for the creation of an ad hoc committee to support Clearlake Animal Control.
Folsom said the city has done ad hoc committees for other topics – including the cannabis ordinance and the Measure V road sales tax – and suggested it as way to make outreach to the community on animal control-related issues.
“Animal control is an issue that has been receiving a large number of complaints in the city,” he said.
Folsom suggested that the committee can help disseminate information regarding animal control-related challenges and planned improvements to its shelter facilities, and would encourage citizen interaction.
Overton said she had concerns about ad hoc committees, stating that the marijuana ad hoc committee had gotten out of control.
The council received positive public feedback on the proposal.
Retired veterinarian Dr. Debi Sally, who has been volunteering with animal control for the last few months to help them with animal health issues, said she can see that there has been a tremendous amount of improvement.
Sally said the ad hoc committee would have more transparency, and people would appreciate the difficulties animal control has.
Harris said forming the ad hoc committee is a way of inviting the community to help, and he said he was very excited about it. He said he already has had interest expressed from a number of community members.
Sabatier suggested the Animal Coalition and possibly Orphan Dog rescue be included on the committee, along with him and Harris, Sally, a representative from the police department – which oversees animal control – and two public members at-large.
Overton said she didn’t want to limit it to city residents due to concerns of missing out on expertise and experience, a sentiment with which Sabatier agreed.
The meeting also included what Folsom anticipated would be the final update on the Sulphur fire cleanup.
Folsom said 155 rights-of-entry had been submitted for debris removal, 114 sites were signed off as cleaned, there were 13 owner cleanups and two summary abatements. Contractors through the US Army Corps of Engineers are done pending final testing of cleaned sites.
He said that 22,583 tons of debris were removed from the Sulphur fire area as of Jan. 24.
The council also confirmed assessments of administrative penalties totaling $55,000 for failure to abate public nuisances at 4054 Lansing Ave., 14170 Konocti St., 14541 Lakeshore Drive, 3634 Redwood St., 6352 James St., 3786 Oak Ave., 15890 20th Ave. and 16216 34th Ave.
In other business, the council reviewed and considered the submittal of the recognized obligation payments schedule for fiscal year 2018-19, and decided against a citizen’s request to refunding assessments collected by the city from a county held tax defaulted sale of property.
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.
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Special Olympics Northern California is encouraging local residents to “Feel the Thrill of the Chill” and take an icy dive for charity at the Lake County Polar Plunge, beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 24, at Lakeside County Park.
The Polar Plunge is a national movement to raise funds and awareness for Special Olympics and its athletes.
Plungers are asked to raise a minimum of $125 each to participate and take the chilly dive in support of children and adults with intellectual disabilities.
Registration includes a Polar Plunge long-sleeve shirt and festivities such as contests, games, refreshments, and awards for top fundraisers and best costumes.
Supporters not up to the plunge itself may also raise money as a “chicken” and receive the shirt but stay nice and dry. Additional fundraising is encouraged and will be rewarded with exclusive incentives.
Registration and more information for the Lake County Polar Plunge is available at www.ipolarplunge.com .
All proceeds benefit Special Olympics Northern California to continue to showcase the capabilities and achievements of individuals with intellectual disabilities.
Along with providing free year-round sports and competition programs for more than 20,000 athletes, Special Olympics Northern California encourages education through Unified Sports and the Schools Partnership Program; and is committed to improving the health and well-being of athletes through a variety of screenings and programs.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The state, federal and local community partners conducting the Consolidated Debris Removal Program have reached a major milestone with the removal of more than one million tons of fire-related debris from properties affected by the October 2017 Northern California Wildfires in Lake, Mendocino, Napa and Sonoma counties.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, or USACE, is managing debris removal operations under the direction of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services.
Currently, Lake County is 100 percent complete with debris removal. In Lake County, USACE contractors have removed more than 22,655 tons of debris from the 155 approved parcels in the program.
"One hundred percent debris removal for Lake County is a huge milestone," said Col. Eric McFadden, Commander of the USACE Recovery Field Office. "Some work continues on the remainder of those properties – soil sampling and the review of those results; re-scrapes and retesting, if needed; and installation of erosion control measures and other punch list items."
Another notable milestone is the completion of debris removal in the severely damaged Coffey Park neighborhood in Santa Rosa.
Some 1,200 properties were cleared of debris there as part of the program, but like other areas, there is additional work to do on some lots in Coffey Park before the county will be notified that the parcel is cleared.
"We have made significant progress on debris removal since the devastating wildfires back in October," said Cal OES Director Mark Ghilarducci. "While this achievement is a major milestone, there is still a lot of work to be done. We will be here to ensure the project is complete and continue assisting with the overall community recovery in these counties."
With major debris removal operations wrapping up in Coffey Park, crews will mobilize to other focus areas to make further progress.
As of Feb. 2, contractors have cleared 63 percent of all approved parcels across the four counties, with 3,087 parcels cleared of debris.
The Consolidated Debris Removal mission is a two-phase process.
Phase I is the removal of household hazardous waste by the Environmental Protection Agency in Sonoma and Napa counties and by the California Department of Toxic Substance Control in Lake and Mendocino counties.
Phase II is the removal of other fire-related debris from structures destroyed or damaged by the fire including concrete foundations.
"The achievement of these debris removal milestones reflects the ongoing collective efforts to rebuild and recover from the October fires," said FEMA Regional Administrator Bob Fenton.
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