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- Written by: John Jensen
MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Amidst a conversational throng of scientists and experts in geothermal power production, Calpine reopened The Geysers Geothermal Visitors Center on Thursday, Aug. 30.
Approximately 40 people attended the grand reopening, including geothermal representatives, local officials and business leaders.
During the event geothermal experts spoke on geothermal production and gave a walk through of the newly remodeled facility in Middletown.
The Geysers is the world’s largest geothermal production facility.
Mike Rogers, Calpine’s senior vice president of the geothermal region, described the geothermal fields below the area straddling the Lake and Sonoma County line as “a phenomenal resource.”
The new exhibition room is filled with interactive learning tools to help demystify the science of geothermal power production and give visitors a greater understanding of Lake County’s role in energy production.
The visitor’s center, located at 15500 Central Park Road in Middletown, is open Wednesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – More kittens and cats have arrived at Lake County Animal Care and Control and are awaiting the chance at new homes.
This week’s cats range in age, size and color, with all ready to go home with you if you have the space.
Cats that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are either neutered or spayed and microchipped 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 there, hoping you'll choose them.
The following cats at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption (other cats pictured on the animal control Web site that are not listed here are still “on hold”).
Domestic short hair kitten
This domestic short hair kitten is 8 months old.
He has gold eyes and a black coat. He is not yet neutered.
He’s in cat room kennel No. 1a, ID No. 34174.
Female tortie
This female kitten is 4 months old.
She has “tortie” coloring, a short coat and gold eyes. She has not yet been spayed.
Fine her in cat room kennel No. 1b, ID No. 34173.
Male orange tabby
This orange tabby of undetermined age is a male.
He is not yet altered, and has a short coat.
He’s in cat room kennel 15b, ID No. 34146.
Domestic short hair mix
This female domestic short hair mix is of undetermined age.
She has a short coat and is not yet spayed.
Find her in cat room kennel No. 15c, ID No. 34147.
Male domestic short hair mix
This male domestic short hair mix is of undetermined age.
He has a gray coat and is not yet neutered.
He’s in cat room kennel No. 15d, ID No. 34148.
Male gray tabby
This male gray tabby is of undetermined age.
He has a short coat and is not yet neutered.
Find him in cat room kennel No. 15e, ID No. 34149.
Short-haired calico
This female domestic short hair mix is 2 years old.
She has a calico coat and has not been spayed.
She is in cat room kennel No. 27, ID No. 34139.
Female Siamese mix
This female Siamese mix kitten is 14 weeks old.
She has blue eyes and a short coat.
She’s in cat room kennel No. 55, ID No. 34114.
Orange and white tabby kitten
This male orange and white tabby kitten is 9 weeks old.
He has a short coat and is not yet altered.
He’s in cat room kennel No. 84a, ID No. 34179.
Male orange and white tabby kitten
This male orange and white tabby kitten is 9 weeks old.
Like his littermate he has a short coat and has not yet been neutered.
Find him in cat room kennel No. 84b, ID No. ID: 34180.
Adoptable cats also can be seen at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Cats_and_Kittens.htm or at www.petfinder.com .
Please note: Cats listed at the shelter's Web page that are said to be “on hold” are not yet cleared for adoption.
To fill out an adoption application online visit http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Dog___Cat_Adoption_Application.htm .
Lake County Animal Care and Control is located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport, next to the Hill Road Correctional Facility.
Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Visit the shelter online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control.htm .
For more information call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LAKEPORT, Calif. – With nearby residents advised to be ready to evacuate, a wildland fire continued to burn up vegetation in a rugged area northwest of Lakeport on Sunday.
The Scotts Fire had reached 4,100 acres by Sunday evening, with firefighters containing 15 percent of the blaze, burning on Cow Mountain west of Scotts Valley Road and east of Ukiah since Friday afternoon.
Cal Fire spokesman Mike Carr said firefighters had made good progress and built a lot of containment line throughout Saturday and Sunday, with the fire expected to be fully contained on Saturday, Sept. 15.
Officials had issued an evacuation warning for Scotts Valley Road, between Highway 20 south and the northern intersection with Hendricks Road late Sunday morning. Hendricks Road was not included.
Lake County Deputy Administrative Officer Debra Sommerfield said Sunday evening that it was still a warning and not yet an order to evacuate.
Red Cross set up an evacuation shelter in preparation for a full order at the Lakeport Senior Center, 527 Konocti Ave. On Friday evening Red Cross had briefly opened a shelter at Upper Lake High School after Blue Lakes area residents had been ordered to evacuate; they were allowed to return home later that night.
Altogether, a total of 340 structures remained threatened Sunday, with the fire one mile from both Scotts Valley Road and Blue Lakes, according to Cal Fire.
Carr said there were two flanks – the east and the west – which were moving laterally.
The part of the fire that had been moving north toward Blue Lakes “had been reduced considerably” by Sunday, he said.
He said the concern had shifted toward the part of the fire burning toward Scotts Valley Road to the east and the one moving toward Cow Mountain to the west.
Base camp for the incident is at the Lake County Fairgrounds on Martin Street in Lakeport, where Cal Fire had based its operations for the Wye Fires in August.
The Cal Fire Incident Management Team in charge of the incident is led by Cal Fire Division Chief Eric Hoffman, who also was incident commander for the Wye Fire.
Cal Fire and cooperating agencies – including local fire districts from Lake, Mendocino and Sonoma counties – continued to bulk up the number of personnel on scene, which totaled 1,340 on Sunday night. Radio traffic indicated calls for additional out-of-area strike teams to respond to the incident.
Resources on scene included 131 engines, 39 fire crews, 11 helicopters, 26 bulldozers and 20 water tenders, according to Cal Fire.
Due to the difficulty in accessing the fire from the ground, air resources continued to be heavily utilized in the firefighting effort, with a DC-10 and helicopters conducting numerous drops.
Since the fire started, a low supply of retardant at the Ukiah airbase had forced tankers to go to Sonoma to be refilled. Reports from the scene indicated a new shipment of retardant was set to arrive in Ukiah Sunday afternoon, with Ukiah reopened for reloading tankers shortly after 5 p.m.
Lampson Field in Lakeport was being used as a base of operations for Cal Fire air resources. Effective at 7 a.m. Sunday the airport had been closed to general aviation traffic, based on an order issued by the Lake County Department of Public Works on Saturday, as Lake County News has reported.
Another challenge for firefighters on Sunday were gusting winds which, along with low humidity, was the focus of a red flag warning the National Weather Service issued for Lake County.
The winds were pushing the western flank over Lyons Creek to Scotts Creek Sunday evening, according to fire officials.
Radio traffic shortly after 7 p.m. indicated dozer lines had been built into the Scotts Creek area, with plans for the dozers to work throughout the night to make it to the next ridge in order to cut off further advance of the fire.
Retardant lines also had reportedly been set down along the western side of the fire, according to radio reports.
The smoke from the Scotts Fire hung thickly in the air Sunday, and turned the evening sky red.
Lake County Air Quality Management issued an alert warning of “unhealthy” air quality conditions on Monday, with the possibility of “hazardous” conditions if winds continued in the area.
On Sunday evening Highway 20 remained open between Upper Lake and Ukiah.
There was controlled traffic on Scotts Valley Road, which was to be open to residents only.
In addition, Cal Fire said the Cow Mountain Recreation Area has been closed at both the Scotts Creek and Mill Creek entrances, the Mendo Rock Road access to North Cow Mountain Road was closed at Mill Creek, and Mill Creek Road was closed, as were Glen Eden and Valley View trails.
Cooperating agencies on the fire Sunday included Cal Fire; Lake, Mendocino and Sonoma County fire agencies; Bureau of Land Management; Mendocino and Lake County Sheriff’s offices; California National Guard; Red Cross; California Emergency Management Agency; Pacific Gas & Electric Co; California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation; California Department of Fish and Game; Caltrans; and Lake County Department of Public Works.
McKenzie Paine of Velocity Video contributed to this report.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Firefighters continued moving toward full containment on two wildland fires burning in the Rumsey Canyon area on Sunday.
The 16 Complex, two fires four miles apart off of Highway 16 in Colusa and Yolo counties, burned 17,944 acres by the end of Sunday, with containment at 85 percent, according to Cal Fire.
Cal Fire said firefighters were successful with their efforts on Sunday to improve control lines and further contain the fire. Smoke continues to rise from hot spots located primarily within the interior sections, with further spread expected to be minimal.
Personnel and equipment were being released to other incidents, including the Scotts Fire, Cal Fire said.
On Sunday there were 1,176 firefighting personnel still assigned, along with 55 engines, 40 fire crews, four helicopters, seven bulldozers and nine water tenders, according to Cal Fire’s report.
Officials said Highway 16 has been reopened. Due to decreased visibility, a smoke advisory is in effect for both Highway 16 and Highway 20 in the fire fire area.
Motorists are advised to use extra caution and to be alert for fire vehicles and the possibility of debris on the roadway, Cal Fire said.
Email Elizabeth Larson at