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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LAKEPORT, Calif. – An inaugural food drive held at the Lake County Fair on Friday brought in nearly two tons of food.
The drive, undertaken by the fair and Lake County CAN, will benefit the county’s seven food pantries.
The food was gathered during a three-hour period late Friday afternoon and into the evening. Every person who brought four cans of food or four nonperishable food items gained free entry to the fair.
Fair Chief Executive Officer Richard Persons said approximately 1,949 people donated 7,796 cans or other nonperishable items.
They filled all 10 of the pear bins that had been set aside for the drive, plus enough for about half of another bin, Persons said.
At an average weight of 8 ounces per food item, Persons estimated that they received donations totaling 3,898 pounds, just under the two-ton goal.
However, he said he hadn’t been able to decide if the 8-ounce weight per can is a valid average; it might be low, in which case Persons said the tonnage could be a lot higher.
Lake County CAN will distribute the donations to food pantries at Methodist churches in Clearlake, Clearlake Oaks, Kelseyville, Lakeport, Lower Lake, Middletown and Upper Lake.
The fair continues through Sunday. Visit www.lakecountyfair.com for more information.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
NORTH COAST, Calif. – Two wildland fires sparked by lightning two weeks ago in northern Mendocino County continued to burn aggressively on Friday, increasing in size by more than 5,100 acres, causing more injuries and destroying another structure.
The North Pass Fires – two fires burning in the Williams Valley area 10 miles northeast of Covelo since Saturday, Aug. 18 – had burned 39,493 acres by Friday night, up from the morning size estimate given by Cal Fire and the US Forest Service by approximately 5,185 acres. Containment was reported to have increased by 48 percent.
Two more injuries occurred, bringing the total to seven, and another residence was burned, with the fires having destroyed five homes and seven outbuildings so far, officials reported.
More than 60 structures remain threatened, but officials have lifted evacuations for the majority of the Bauer Ranch Subdivision.
Evacuations are still in effect for all areas of Indian Dick Road (Forest Road M-1) north of the Forest Service gate at Boardman Ridge Campground, and Mendocino Pass Road (Forest Highway 7) in all areas east of Benchmark 2444 to Forest Road M-4.
The Mendocino National Forest has issued a closure order that continues to cover all areas of the Covelo Ranger District north of Mendocino Pass Road to the Six Rivers and Shasta-Trinity National Forest boundaries.
Cal Fire and the Forest Service’s Friday evening report said the fires are continuing to spread north within the Yolla Bolly Middle Eel Wilderness toward the Middle Eel River, Hammerhorn Lake, Foster Glade and Asa Bean.
Fire personnel assigned to the incident had decreased by about 300 to 1,832 by Friday night, with 154 engines, 23 fire crews, two air tankers, 11 helicopters, 18 bulldozers and 31 water tenders working the fires.
The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office reported that a Cal Fire firefighter was threatened by a Santa Rosa man in the fire area on Thursday afternoon.
Veda Bennett-Swank, 21, was arrested for brandishing a firearm in a rude, angry or threatening manner; interfering with emergency personnel or a firefighter at a fire; and criminal threats, according to Capt. Kurt Smallcomb.
Smallcomb said the firefighter had been working on a vacant lot in the Blands Cove area – which has remained under mandatory evacuation – when he came across a small marijuana garden. A vehicle pulled up to him and Bennett-Swank allegedly told the firefighter he needed to leave the area.
When the firefighter attempted to explain to the Bennett-Swank that he was involved in fighting the fires, Bennett-Swank again told him that he needed to leave immediately and then looked down at an object that was between his legs on the floor board of the vehicle, according to Smallcomb.
Smallcomb said that as the firefighter looked into the vehicle he could see that a shotgun was between Bennett-Swank’s legs, and that the barrel was pointed directly at him. In fear for his life, the firefighter left the area immediately.
Responding Mendocino County Sheriff’s deputies located a residence and the vehicle, Smallcomb said, and when they contacted Bennett-Swank he allegedly admitted to confronting the firefighter, growing marijuana and remaining in an mandatory fire evacuation area.
Smallcomb said Bennett-Swank was booked at the Mendocino County Jail, with bail set at $20,000.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
SACRAMENTO – On Thursday the state Senate approved AB 1478, a trailer bill on state park operations that will direct funding to parks previously slated for closure, provide a moratorium on park closures and strengthen the oversight of the department through the Parks and Recreation Commission.
The bill is co-authored by Sens. Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa), Mark Leno (D-San Francisco), Fran Pavley (D-Agoura Hills) and Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto), and Assemblymen Rich Gordon (D-Menlo Park) and Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) and goes next to the Assembly Floor for concurrence before being presented to the governor.
The bill passed the Senate 25-12.
Leno said Evans’ effort “led the drum beat” on protecting California State Parks.
“The public cherishes our state parks and wants a funding commitment and management structure that keeps them open,” said Evans. “This bill amounts to a renewed social contract with the people of California and the parks we are obligated and impassioned to protect.”
Evans’ Second District – which covers Lake as well as all or portions of Humboldt, Mendocino, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties – includes 20 parks that where slated for closure, including Anderson Marsh State Historic Park.
That park, located in Lower Lake, will stay open thanks to the Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association, which is finalizing negotiations with the state to operate the park, which just celebrated its 30th anniversary.
AB 1478 provides assurances that money intended for parks goes to keep parks open, that parks will not face closures for at least two years and that the citizen-led Parks and Recreation Commission will be empowered to provide needed oversight to guide parks decisions and regain public trust.
Through this bill, the commission, in an amendment sponsored by Evans, would be provided the authority to review all issues relating to parks, with specific authority to review the departments’ budget and infrastructure projects.
The bill provides for $30 million to keep all parks open and operating; $20 million of that amount comes from the more than $50 million “found” in the Parks and Recreation Fund, which will allocate $10 million to keeping parks open and $10 million to match private and nonprofit donations.
Another $10 million will come from the Proposition 84 fund to be allocated towards the $1.2 billion in differed maintenance projects that have stymied the operations of parks throughout the state for decades.
“This is a plan to ‘right’ a ‘wrong,’” said Evans. “As a representative of this government, it’s my job to find a solution to the problems that have plagued parks. The issues that have surrounded parks for the last few months have hurt a lot of people and broken a lot of promises. This is our opportunity to begin to rectify a bad situation and prevent any future reoccurrence.”
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As Labor Day weekend approaches, millions of people will visit outdoor recreation areas throughout California.
In anticipation of the increased outdoor activities, Cal Fire officials are urging everyone to exercise extra caution and be safe this holiday weekend.
Wildfires continue to burn in Northern California and much of the state remains at high risk for wildfires.
More than 500,000 acres have burned in California so far this year.
The potential for additional large, destructive fires only increases as we approach fall.
Residents and visitors to the recreational areas of California need to be extremely cautious and avoid starting any new fires while enjoying the last long weekend of summer with their friends and families. Due to existing or recent fires many areas are closed to visitors and campers.
If you are planning to visit one of the National Forests within California, please contact the forest area office directly to obtain current information on their closures and fire restrictions.
A statewide burn ban has been in effect since Aug. 15 for all statewide responsibility areas. All residential “dooryard” burning, forest management, hazard abatement, and other industrial-type burning is suspended until further notice. Campfires are only allowed in designated campgrounds.
Wildfires are not the only danger posed by the outdoors; drowning also dramatically increase during the Labor Day weekend.
Cal Fire responds to water rescues all across the state, many of which tragically claim the lives of both adults and children.
Cal Fire urges everyone to follow these important safety tips this holiday weekend:
Camping:
- Obtain necessary permits needed for campfires and adhere to any restrictions.
- Clear away grass, leaves and other debris within a 10-foot perimeter of any campfire.
- Have a responsible person in attendance at all times while campfire in use.
- Ensure all campfires are completely extinguished before leaving.
- When barbecuing, never leave the grill unattended.
In the water:
- Always wear a life jacket.
- Children should always be supervised by a responsible adult.
- Never swim alone
- Drinking and swimming is just as dangerous as drinking and driving.
For more ways to be safe during the Labor Day weekend visit the Cal Fire Web site at www.fire.ca.gov .