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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Next week, Lake County will be among several hundred locations around California participating in cleanup efforts to improve lakes, creeks, streams, shorelines and the ocean itself.
The California Coastal Commission’s 28th annual California Coastal Cleanup Day – the state’s largest volunteer event – will take place from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 15.
The commission said the event will take place at more than 850 locations around the California, comprising the largest single effort to remove the debris that has accumulated on California’s beaches and inland shorelines over the past year.
This year’s cleanup also will provide one of the first opportunities for organizers to measure a baseline of debris on California’s shores that may have washed up as a result of last year’s devastating tsunami in Japan, the commission reported.
Carolyn Ruttan of the Lake County Department of Water Resources is coordinating the local event.
“I want everybody in Lake County to go to their closest waterway and clean it, basically,” she said. “That’s what I would love to happen.”
Ruttan said the focus doesn’t have to be Clear Lake – working to improve creeks, streams and other waterways also is important.
For many years the cleanup had a large local presence, but more recently it has fallen off, with Ruttan estimating that the trash problem near local waterways became worse in the interim.
Now, Ruttan is trying to build public participation in waterways cleanup back up again. “We need to get back on the map,” she said.
She’s coordinating with local waste disposal companies to pick up trash that is recovered from the shoreline and local creeks. Those companies are donating free trash pickup, dumpsters and trash bags.
“It’s amazing how people want to help,” Ruttan said.
She said there will be a dumpster at the Northshore Fire Protection District’s Clearlake Oaks station, 12655 Highway 20, and another at the Lake County Fire Protection District station at 14815 Olympic Drive, Clearlake.
There also will be a dumpster at Natural High School on N. Main Street in Lakeport and others in different parts of the county if Ruttan is able to arrange them them.
Ruttan said if every person picked up a bag of trash or recyclables it would add up.
Anything that can help the county get back on track with the cleanup effort is “going to ripple through everything we do,” she said, adding that agencies that give grants also will look at such creek and watershed cleanup efforts.
Ruttan is also considering starting an “adopt a shoreline” – Clear Lake has 120 miles of shoreline – or an “adopt a watershed” program to place more focus on the importance of keeping local waterways clean.
For Lake County residents wanting to take part in a local cleanup, call Ruttan at 707-263-2256 or email her at
For those who cannot attend Coastal Cleanup Day, the Coastal Commission maintains a calendar of events taking place during the three weeks following the cleanup, known as “Coastweeks.”
For more information about the Coastal Cleanup Day and ongoing events, including Coastweeks, visit www.coastalcleanupday.org .
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: Rich Mellott
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Here’s a rundown of prep football games involving Lake County teams and other teams of interest this weekend.
Middletown (0-1) at Upper Lake (1-0), Saturday, noon/2 p.m.: Upper Lake, a 52-6 winner over Kelseyville last week, faces a Mustang team that gave up plenty of yards to Salesian (including 252 from running back Micahel Page) but only one touchdown in a 7-3 loss. The Pride gave away three fumbles, which helped Middletown stay close.
On Saturday that diminutive Mustang defense tries to contain the Cougars’ formidable running game, which features halfback Ward Beecher (11 carries, 123 yards, 3 TDs against Kelseyville), fullback Joey Valdez (10 carries, 91 yards, 2 TDs) and quarterback Travis Coleman (7 carries, 65 yards, TD), who rely on their big offensive line anchored by two-way all-leaguer John Karlsson.
Senior Jeremy Martin, who last played football on the Pop Warner level, made his high school debut last week by returning the opening kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown and also returned punts and played in the defensive secondary.
Middletown, which has some quickness, has more balance on offense than run-happy Upper Lake, and quarterback Ben Pike (13 for 23, 88 yards, 1 interception) could shoulder more responsibility if the Mustangs can’t get their running game going.
Tyler Drew led MHS rushers against Salesian with 59 yards in 9 carries. He also kicked the 22-yard field that gave Middletown a 3-0 lead at the half.
Prediction: Upper Lake 33, Middletown 24.
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Stellar Prep (1-1) at Clear Lake (0-1), Friday, 5:30/7:30 p.m. In the 27-21 loss at Durham last week, the Cardinals gained some redemption by demonstrating the ability to play with a solid Div. III team.
Running back Luke Punzalan broke loose for 163 yards in 19 carries and the CL defense showed promise, shutting down Durham’s offense except for a couple of busted plays.
Josh Larsen shines on the Cardinal line. The mostly sophomore Stellar Prep club has some good athletes, including a QB with a strong arm and two big linemen who will try to inflict their will on the smaller Cards.
Prediction: Clear Lake 33, Stellar Prep 27.
Kelseyville (0-1) at Swett (1-1), 5:30 p.m.: The Knights can win this one if they show up ready to play and avoid those costly turnovers. A good showing will help them forget last week’s sloppy opener against Upper Lake.
Prediction: Kelseyville 20, John Swett 13.
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Arcata (1-1) at Lower Lake (0-1), 5:30/7:30 p.m. The Trojans played with Hoopa Valley for nearly a half, thanks mostly to Jared Thompson, who had a 50-yard kick return and finished with 85 yards in 11 carries. Arcata isn’t as good as Hoopa, which beat the Trojans, 41-14, but they’re still 10 points better than Lower Lake.
Prediction: Arcata 24, Lower Lake 14.
Willits (1-0) at Ukiah (0-1): Willits wins a defensive battle.
Prediction: Willits 13, Ukiah 6.
Prediction record: Last week: 6-0. Season: 6-0.
Email Rich Mellott at
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – A Colusa County wildland fire complex burned more than 2,500 acres on Thursday, with firing operations planned for Friday.
The 16 Complex’s two fires have scorched a total of 9,754 acres, with firefighters achieving 20 percent containment, Cal Fire said Thursday night.
The fires – located four miles apart off of Highway 16 in the Rumsey Canyon – are burning grass, brush and oak woodland in the area’s steep, rugged terrain, according to Cal Fire.
Cal Fire and cooperating agencies had 1,268 fire personnel, 63 engines, 48 fire crews, four airtankers, seven helicopters, 22 bulldozers and 12 water tenders assigned to the incident on Thursday.
So far, three injuries have been reported, said Cal Fire.
On Thursday Cal Fire said the fires continued burning toward the junction of Highway 20 and Highway 16. As a result, Highway 16 remains closed from Highway 20 to the town of Rumsey.
The Cortina Rancheria is in the fires’ path, and is under an evacuation order. Cal Fire said efforts are under way to protect structures and cultural values in the rancheria and fire area.
Approximately 31 buildings – 23 of them residences – are threatened by the fire, Cal Fire said.
Firefighters made progress on Thursday in constructing fire line and determining strategic locations to access the fire, according to Cal Fire.
On Friday officials plan to burn out areas of unburned fuel within control lines, which will lead to more smoke being visible.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
NORTH COAST, Calif. – Firefighters on Thursday continued to build fire line and increase containment on two wildland fires burning in northern Mendocino County, while more resources were released from the incident.
The North Pass Fires continued to hold at a total of 41,983 acres on Thursday, with containment now at 70 percent, according to Cal Fire and the US Forest Service.
The fires, located in the Williams Valley 10 miles northeast of Covelo, were sparked by lightning on Saturday, Aug. 18.
A total of 16 structures have been destroyed to date, with nine injuries reported, according to the latest report.
Some evacuations remain in effect along Indian Dick Road (Forest Road M-1) and Mendocino Pass Road (Forest Highway 7), Cal Fire and the US Forest Service reported.
The Covelo Ranger District north of Mendocino Pass Road to the Six Rivers and Shasta-Trinity National Forest boundaries also remains under closure order, although the closure area is being reevaluated each afternoon, officials reported.
Personnel and resources continued to be rolled back on Thursday. Approximately 901 personnel were on scene, along with 34 engines, 15 fire crews, one air tanker, five helicopters, five bulldozers and 24 water tenders.
Email Elizabeth Larson at