How to resolve AdBlock issue? News
- Details
- Written by: LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — New drone technology the Lake County Sheriff’s Office is rolling out has helped its Search and Rescue team locate a lost hiker.
On Tuesday night at 7:20 p.m., Lake County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the 1400 block of Big Canyon Road in Lower Lake after receiving a report of a lost hiker, the agency reported. The individual was tired and unable to make it out of the rugged terrain on their own.
When deputies arrived, they were unable to locate the hiker or determine which path they had taken. The hiker had been in the wilderness for approximately nine hours, temperatures were beginning to drop and rain was a possibility, said Lauren Berlinn, the sheriff’s spokesperson.
Berlinn said the Lake County Search and Rescue, or SAR, Team was called in to help, along with a member of the newly established Lake County Sheriff’s Office Drone Response Team.
“This search was the kind of real-world scenario the Sheriff’s Office’s new drone program was created to support,” Berlinn said in her report.
Although the program is still in its early stages, Berlinn said the operation showed just how valuable this technology can be for improving search efficiency and keeping both rescuers and community members safe.
The drone was launched in the area of the hiker’s last known location, and within a short time, the operator spotted the missing individual, Berlinn said.
With real-time guidance from the drone operator, Berlinn said two SAR members, Deputy Kaylene Strugnell and her K9 Sadie reached the hiker and safely led them out of the steep, rocky area.
“This successful rescue highlights the important role the Sheriff’s Office Drone Program will play in future operations,” Berlinn said.
She said the drone program “not only improves response capabilities and resource coordination but also increases the likelihood of saving lives.”
The program reflects the Sheriff’s Office’s ongoing commitment to leveraging modern technology in service to the Lake County community, Berlinn said.
“The Lake County Sheriff’s Office is proud of our deputies, dispatchers, search and rescue volunteers, and everyone who worked together to ensure a safe and successful outcome,” she said in her report.
- Details
- Written by: LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
COBB, Calif. – The Cal Fire Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit announced that the Boggs Mountain Demonstration State Forest entered its annual process of winter season management at the forest starting on Nov. 1.
During this period, the forest will remain open for day use only from sunrise to sunset.
Some recreational facilities will be winterized and closed for the season.
Forest roads will be subject to temporary closure pending wet weather conditions. Off highway vehicles and off-roading are prohibited.
Staff will be committed to unit tasks including prescribed burning on the forest near roads and trails. Do not approach fires and avoid the area if sensitive to smoke.
Cal Fire reminds forest visitors to plan ahead before arriving and respect signage for public safety.
For more information, call the forest office at 707-928-4378 or visit us online at www.fire.ca.gov.
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Despite federal court opinions handed down on Friday ruling that billions of dollars in food benefits must be released as the government shutdown continues, Lake County Social Services said the food assistance remains delayed.
Two separate lawsuits resulted in the Friday decisionshttps://lakeconews.com/news/82991-federal-courts-rule-that-snap-benefits-must-be-released-delay-in-food-assistance-still-anticipatedthat found the funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, should be released, and that the government was statutorily required to do so.
That’s because Congress appropriated $6 billion in SNAP contingency funds for the U.S. Department of Agriculture through September 2026.
In addition, one of the decisions — resulting from a lawsuit filed by 25 states including California — found that the USDA also has discretion to use $23 billion in Section 32 funds — from an account set up 90 years ago — for SNAP.
Section 32 funds are in a permanent account, the Funds for Strengthening Markets, Income, and Supply, that’s part of a mandatory appropriation Congress created in August of 1935 to support certain agricultural commodities programs.
One of the established allocations is for domestic food assistance programs like SNAP, as well as child nutrition programs. More information is here.
Despite the orders to release the funds, on Monday the Trump administration indicated it will only pay half of the SNAP benefits for November.
Lake County Social Services Director Rachael Dillman Parsons on Monday released an update on the local situation, explaining that the benefits for CalFresh, which is California’s version of SNAP, are still delayed.
That delay will impact 24% of Lake County’s residents, or 16,320 people, who use SNAP/CalFresh, according to Social Services.
Dillman Parsons’ update explained that benefits will not be issued until USDA releases funds and instructions to states.
“If USDA releases partial funds, state systems will need to be reprogrammed,” she explained.
As a result, she said any partial CalFresh benefits released by USDA may not be issued until Mid-November.
“Your local county welfare department cannot change this,” Dillman Parsons said. “We realize these are difficult times.”
Those who need food now are urged to see the food resource list pinned to the top of the Lake County Social Services Facebook page. That list is also published below.
The Board of Supervisors will hold a discussion with Dillman Parsons, other county staff and community members about the situation during Tuesday’s board meeting.
At that time, Dillman Parsons is expected to offer some potential options to mitigating the impact on the county’s most vulnerable residents.
She also is meeting this week with local food pantries and food banks to discuss opportunities for collaboration.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Rain, fog, flooding concerns and high winds — this week’s forecast contains the fall season's first storms of note.
The National Weather Service said Monday a “significant” weather system is expected to arrive over the North Coast this week.
Rain began overnight and is expected to continue on Tuesday and Wednesday, bringing with it the potential for moderate to heavy rain, as well as the potential for some minor flooding.
At the same time, the agency has issued for Lake County a wind advisory that’s in effect from 7 p.m. Tuesday, Election Day, until noon on Wednesday, with south winds of between 20 and 30 miles per hour with gusts of up to 60 miles per hour expected. Forecasters said the highest winds will take place over higher terrain, such as ridgetops.
A flood watch also is in effect from 12 a.m. Wednesday until 10 a.m. that same day.
The Lake County forecast calls for as much as 2.25 inches of rain from Tuesday through Wednesday, with up to 3 inches in mountainous areas. Early Wednesday, there is a chance of a thunderstorm.
The forecast anticipates a break in the rain during the day on Thursday and again on Friday night, and on Saturday. Chances of rain are expected to continue through Monday.
Forecasters said there are chances of patchy fog on Thursday and Saturday mornings.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
- Details
- Written by: LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
LAKEPORT, Calif. — The city of Lakeport will conduct two public meetings this month to discuss possible applications for funding under the State Community Development Block Grant, or CDBG, Program.
The meetings will take place at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 19, and Thursday, Nov. 20, in the council chambers at 225 Park St.
The purpose of these meetings is to review CDBG-eligible activities and gather public input on local housing and community development needs, including services, facilities and infrastructure improvements that support community livability.
The city of Lakeport anticipates submitting an application during the upcoming CDBG program year and has received or anticipates receiving approximately $400,000 in CDBG program income.
Information will be provided regarding the range of eligible activities, estimated funding allocations, plans for minimizing displacement, and past uses of CDBG funds.
Residents are encouraged to attend and share ideas for potential projects or community priorities.
Those unable to attend may submit written comments to
The city of Lakeport said it does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, religion or disability. Individuals requiring special accommodations to participate should contact Joey Hejnowicz at least three business days prior to the scheduled meeting.
- Details
- Written by: Little Hoover Commission
California should redesign its electricity rate structure to increase a newly adopted fixed charge, ease burdens in hotter regions and distribute costs more equitably, the Little Hoover Commission recommends in a new report.
The report, “The High Cost of Electricity in California,” also recommends regulatory reform including streamlining utility rate cases and an audit to determine if the state has enough capacity to provide rigorous oversight.
“Electricity bills are just one challenge of many for California families struggling to make ends meet,” said Commission Chair Pedro Nava. “We are offering practical solutions that can help reduce the stress they face.”
The report includes recommendations to improve equity and access, including redirecting climate credits to low-income households and those in hot regions of the state, and expanding support for low-middle income households.
Lastly, the report recommends that rooftop solar investors recover their costs before any benefits are reduced.
Commission Vice-Chair Anthony Cannella, who served on the subcommittee that oversaw the study, noted that several of the commission’s recommendations address electricity costs in areas of the state plagued by summer heat, which can push up air conditioning costs.
“Like so many things in California, utility bills vary widely based on where you live in the state,” Cannella said. “I’m proud that our recommendations can help people living in the inland sections of the state, where costs are especially high.”
“California has an unprecedented demand for electricity — an inelastic commodity necessary for the health, safety, welfare, and now economic well-being of the state,” said Commissioner José Atilio Hernández, who served on the subcommittee with Cannella. “This report provides clear recommendations to ensure ratepayers have a path towards rate relief, and for California to create a better vision to minimize volatility in infrastructure costs.”
The commission began to study the cost of electricity at the request of members of the Legislature, and held four hearings to study the topic.
More recently, the commission launched a new study on the impact of data centers on the state’s electricity rates, with hearings expected later this year.
- Details
- Written by: Lingzi Chen
LAKE COUNTY, Calif — The Board of Supervisors will discuss federal delays on food benefits that impact a quarter of Lake County population, consider updates on cannabis regulations and a $50,000 funding request for local nonprofit One Team One Dream.
The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5, 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, online at https://countyoflake.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx and on the county’s Facebook page. Accompanying board documents, the agenda and archived board meeting videos also are available at that link.
To participate in real-time, join the Zoom meeting by clicking this link.
The meeting ID is 865 3354 4962, pass code 726865. The meeting also can be accessed via one tap mobile at +16694449171,,86533544962#,,,,*726865#. The meeting can also be accessed via phone at 669 900 6833.
At 1:15 p.m., the board will hear a presentation updating the county’s cannabis regulations.
According to the staff report, key proposed changes include: increasing the distance cannabis grows must be from homes to 500 feet, limiting commercial grows to 20 acres, and clarifying setbacks from scenic areas, water, and hemp farms. The rules also tighten the application process by rejecting incomplete or abandoned applications, requiring background checks, and checking for active warrants.
Other changes set limits on construction, operating, and delivery hours, clarify when businesses can pause or stop operations, remove the 10-year permit limit, require a $5,000 restoration bond, recommend safer greenhouse foundations, and make sure tracking tags are properly destroyed. Certain public lands are also off-limits for cultivation.
Staff also recommends a programmatic environmental impact report be conducted to establish thresholds of odor and water impacts from cannabis cultivation and processing.
At 2:15 p.m., the board will recognize Lake County veterans for the upcoming Veterans Day. It will also consider joining Operation Green Light and lighting the county courthouse from Nov. 4 to 11.
At 2:30 p.m., the board will hold a proclamation designating November as National Native American Heritage Month in Lake County.
In the untimed items, the board will discuss the status of SNAP/CalFresh benefit delay amid ongoing federal shutdown. The staff memo indicates that such benefits delay impacts about 24%, or 16,320 individuals of Lake County residents.
As the federal government continues to be shut down into the second month, essential SNAP benefits to supplement low-income families with food remain unavailable by the time of publication of this article, although federal judges ruled on Friday that those benefits must be released.
Social Services Director Rachael Dillman Parsons will provide an update and potential options to mitigate the impact on Lake County’s most vulnerable populations.
The board also will discuss whether the county can legally provide $50,000 in funding to One Team One Dream — a Lake County nonprofit supporting small businesses and local economic development — without violating state law prohibiting gifts of public funds.
Earlier in the June budget hearings, the board pulled this budget item to review whether the amount would qualify as a gift or a legitimate public purpose expenditure. The staff report indicated that the board may consider approving the funding request as long as the terms of the expenditure “expressly outlines the public purpose.”
In closed session, at 9:03 a.m., the board will interview and potentially appoint an interim chief public defender, as the former chief, Raymond Buenaventura, was hired by Monterey County on Oct. 14, and resigned from his Lake County job on Oct. 28.
At 3 p.m., the board will interview and potentially appoint the Animal Care and Control director. Former director Gregory Wilkins, hired in October 2024, turned in his resignation in February of this year and left late May.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
5.1, Approve continuation of proclamation declaring a Clear Lake Hitch emergency.
5.2, Approve continuation of proclamation of the existence of a local emergency due to pervasive tree mortality.
5.3, Approve continuation of emergency proclamation declaring a shelter crisis in the County of Lake.
5.4, Adopt proclamation recognizing our veterans on Veterans Day.
5.5, Adopt proclamation designating November 2025 as National Native American Heritage Month in Lake County.
5.6, Sitting as the Lake County Air Quality Management District Board of Directors, authorize the APCO to sign the County of Lake South Main Street purchase agreement for a portion of district property at 2617 South Main Street, Lakeport, CA 95453.
5.7, Affirm authority of County Administrative Officer Susan Parker to manage the fiscal and budget responsibilities of the Public Defender’s Office.
5.8, a) Approve Agreement No. BSCC 1527-25 by and between the Board of State and Community Corrections and the County of Lake in the amount of $52,326 for law enforcement equipment and training;
b) Adopt the governing body resolution;
c) Adopt the resolution amending the adopted budget for FY 2025-26 by adjusting revenues and appropriations in Budget Unit 2201–Sheriff/Coroner;
d) Approve Appendix C, Certification of Compliance; and
e) Authorize the Sheriff/Coroner as the authorized payee to sign any additional documents.
5.9, a) Adopt resolution adopting the Lake County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan; and
b) Accept and adopt the Lake County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan (MJHMP).
5.10, Sitting in concurrence with the Kelseyville County Water Works Board of Directors and Lake County Sanitation District Board of Directors, approve agreement between the County of Lake, Kelseyville County Water Works, and Lake County Sanitation District on behalf of CSA #1 Lighting Districts, CSA #2 Spring Valley, CSA #6 Finley, CSA #13 Kono Tayee, CSA #20 Soda Bay, CSA #21 North Lakeport, Kelseyville County Water Works District #3, and Lake County Sanitation District, with Lechowicz & Tseng Municipal Consultants for rate and fee study services, award the identified task orders, and authorize the chair to sign.
TIMED ITEMS
6.1, 9:02 a.m.: Public input.
6.2, 1:00 p.m.: Hearing—consideration of transient occupancy tax appeal, 21469 Yankee Valley Rd, Hidden Valley Lake, CA 95467, APN 144-131-040-000.
6.3, 1:15 p.m.: Consideration of presentation on cannabis policy update process.
6.4, 1:45 p.m.: Consideration of 2026 cannabis cultivation and business tax rates.
6.5, 2:15 p.m.: a) Presentation of proclamation recognizing our veterans on Veterans Day; and b) Consideration of joining Operation Green Light and lighting the County Courthouse with green lights from Nov. 4 to 11, 2025.
6.6, 2:30 p.m.: Presentation of proclamation designating November 2025 as National Native American Heritage Month in Lake County.
NON-TIMED ITEMS
7.1, Supervisors’ weekly calendar, travel and reports.
7.2, Consideration of update and discussion on status of SNAP/CalFresh benefit delay.
7.3, Consideration of funding request for $50,000 under BU 1892 pursuant to board direction on September 23, 2025.
7.4, Consideration of proposed 2026 Board of Supervisors regular meeting calendar.
7.5, Consideration of the following advisory board appointments:
East Region Town Hall (ERTH)
Spring Valley County Service Area (CSA) #2 Advisory Board
7.6, Consideration of approval to accept $100,000 in funding from Partnership HealthPlan of California to be utilized over three years to support implementation of the Community Health Assessment and Community Health Improvement Plan process.
7.7, Consideration of resolution amending Resolution No. 2025-119 establishing position allocations for fiscal year 2025-26, Budget Unit 2301, Sheriff–Jail Facilities.
ASSESSMENT APPEAL HEARINGS (BOARD OF EQUALIZATION)
8.1, 10:00 a.m.: Consideration of continuation of assessment appeal applications No. 02-2024 through 09-2024, Donica LLC.
CLOSED SESSION
9.1, 9:03 a.m.: Public employee appointment pursuant to Gov. Code section 54957(b)(1): interviews for interim Chief Public Defender; appointment of interim Chief Public Defender.
9.2, 3:00 p.m.: Public employee appointment pursuant to Gov. Code section 54957(b)(1): interviews for Animal Care and Control Director; appointment of Animal Care and Control Director.
9.3, Conference with legal counsel: existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code sec. 54956.9(d)(1)—FERC Proceeding No. P-77, Potter Valley Hydroelectric Project.
Email staff reporter Lingzi Chen at
