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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The company said that changes in the weather forecast resulted in it reducing the number of customers expected to be impacted by 31 percent.
The PSPS event will now affect approximately 37,000 customers in targeted portions of 15 counties including Alameda, Butte, Colusa, Contra Costa, Glenn, Humboldt, Lake, Napa, Plumas, Santa Clara, Shasta, Sonoma, Tehama, Trinity and Yolo.
Lassen, Solano, Stanislaus and Yuba counties were removed from the shutoff’s scope, PG&E said.
In Lake County, previously PG&E had estimated that nearly 1,000 customers would be impacted in the Cobb, Clearlake Oaks, Lower Lake and Middletown areas.
In its late Wednesday afternoon report, PG&E said 127 Lake County customers – including six Medical Baseline customers – would be impacted.
Mapping of the outage area in Lake County shows that it continues to include some customers in Cobb, Lower Lake and Middletown, with Clearlake Oaks removed from the scope.
The PG&E website indicates that the customers in Lake County to be included in this new shutoff will have their power turned off between 4 and 6 a.m. Thursday.
With the reduced scope for Lake County, a community resource center is not planned to be opened, based on the PG&E website.
Portions of nearly all of Lake’s neighboring counties will be included in the shutoff, including Colusa, with four impacted customers; Glenn, 162 customers; Napa, 3,296 customers; Sonoma, 135 customers; and Yolo, 10 customers.
Once the weather all-clear is called on Friday, PG&E will begin power equipment inspections to find possible damage from the winds before reenergizing lines.
The company is maintaining a goal of restoring power to all impacted customers within 12 daylight hours after severe weather has passed.
More information can be found at PG&E’s website.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Although Election Day is two weeks away, voting is well underway as Lake County residents return vote-by-mail – or absentee – ballots early.
Ballots, which were mailed out at the start of this month, are now being returned by US Mail, in person to the Elections Office or in secure drop boxes on county properties.
Voters should only use official county drop boxes. Official ballot drop boxes are clearly recognizable, designed to meet standards for security, and bear the official Lake County Official Ballot Drop Box logo, elections officials said.
The Lake County Registrar of Voters Office said there are drop boxes located in five locations: at the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport; at the Lakeport Library, 1425 N. High St.; the Redbud Library, 14785 Burns Valley Road, Clearlake; Middletown Library, 21256 Washington St.; and Upper Lake Library, 310 Second St.
The boxes are available for dropoff around the clock, seven days a week, until 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3, Election Day.
While there have been reports in some areas of the state about unofficial drop boxes for ballots, Registrar of Voters Maria Valadez said she’s received no reports of any such boxes in Lake County.
Those using the US Mail to return their ballot are urged to mail them back no later than Oct. 27 to ensure they arrive in time to be counted.
Ballots also can be dropped off at the Registrar of Voters Office, Room 209, second floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday.
Valadez also will open her office on Friday, Oct. 30, Saturday, Oct. 31, and Sunday, Nov. 1, to allow for voters to come in and cast or deliver their ballots.
For those who want to vote at the polls, Valadez said there will be 22 polling places on Nov. 3, the same number that the county had for the primary as well as for previous elections for quite some time.
A list of those polling places can be found here or seen below.
If a voter who received a vote-by-mail ballot decides they want to vote in person, Valadez said they must go to their assigned polling place and surrender their unopened and unvoted ballot. Valadez said she included information in the sample ballot booklet that explains the process; it can be found on the inside cover.
The Lake County Registrar of Voters Office will test the equipment to be used for the November presidential election on Thursday, Oct. 22, beginning at 11 a.m. The public is invited to observe the testing.
Tips for voters
The Registrar of Voter Office offers the following tips for voters.
– Make a plan to vote. You can return your vote-by-mail ballot using the prepaid postage return envelope or by bringing it to any official drop box, voting location, or county elections office.
– Voters can also choose someone to return their ballot. Only choose someone you trust to return your ballot. You and the authorized person must sign the authorization statement on the return envelope. Never give your ballot to someone else unless you have completed, signed and sealed the return envelope.
– Sign up for ballot tracking. You can sign-up at wheresmyballot.sos.ca.gov to receive automatic notifications by text message, email or voice message about the status of your vote-by-mail ballot. You’ll be notified once your county has received your ballot, once it is counted, and if there are any issues with the ballot.
Additional voter resources
For more information, to report unofficial ballot drop boxes or to ask about other election-related matters, contact the Lake County Registrar of Voters Office at 707-263-2372 or
A full rundown of information for Lake County voters regarding the Nov. 3 general election is here: http://www.lakecountyca.gov/Government/Directory/ROV/Upcoming/110320.htm .http://www.lakecountyca.gov/Government/Directory/ROV/Upcoming/110320.htm
Locations of official Lake County drop boxes can be found on at https://caearlyvoting.sos.ca.gov/ .
To find your polling place: http://www.lakecountyca.gov/Government/Directory/ROV/Upcoming/110320.htm .
The Secretary of State also has resources for California voters at www.vote.ca.gov .
Email Elizabeth Larson at
List of Polling Places in Lake County by LakeCoNews on Scribd
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
New California Highway Patrol Commissioner Amanda Ray. Courtesy photo.
On Tuesday Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed the first woman commissioner of the California Highway Patrol.
Amanda L. Ray, 54, of Sacramento, has been deputy commissioner of the California Highway Patrol since 2020.
Her appointment as commissioner is effective Nov. 17.
She will be the first woman and the second African American ever to lead the agency.
“I would like to thank Gov. Newsom for the outstanding opportunity to lead this great Department and to continue to work each day with the women and men of the California Highway Patrol. I couldn’t be more honored and proud to accept this appointment and further the CHP’s mission of providing the highest level of Safety, Service and Security, and ensuring California is a safe place to live, work and travel,” said Ray.
Commissioner Ray served in several positions in the California Highway Patrol from 1990 to 2020, including cadet, officer, sergeant, lieutenant, captain, assistant chief, chief and assistant commissioner.
Ray was Special Response Team Tactical Commander at the California Highway Patrol for Superbowl 50 in 2016. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $282,528. Ray is a Democrat.
She will succeed Commissioner Warren Stanley, who Newsom announced is retiring following nearly four decades of service to the people of California. Stanley was the first African American to lead the CHP.
“I thank Commissioner Stanley for his distinguished service at the head of the California Highway Patrol,” said Gov. Newsom. “As the leader of the fifth-largest law enforcement agency in the country, Commissioner Stanley championed causes to enhance public safety for everyone who travels on California’s roads and freeways. We are grateful for his forward-looking vision and pursuit of innovative strategies to prevent injuries and save lives. I am confident that Deputy Commissioner Ray will be a crucial partner as we continue the important work ahead to strengthen community engagement in public safety and advance reforms to our criminal justice system that will help foster a more just and inclusive future for all Californians.”
Commissioner Stanley has served the people of California within the CHP since 1982 and has held every uniformed rank within the department, including Lieutenant of the Border Division Investigative Services Unit and Commander of the California Highway Patrol Academy.
“I’m very proud of my career, but what I’m most proud of is the current and past CHP employees who I have had the privilege and honor to work with,” said CHP Commissioner Stanley. “All of you are the primary reason I believe the CHP is one of the finest law enforcement agencies in the world. I also want to thank Governor Newsom for his support of me, the 11,000 women and men of the CHP and for selecting Deputy Commissioner Amanda Ray as the next CHP Commissioner.”
During his tenure, Commissioner Stanley spearheaded a number of innovative highway and traffic safety initiatives. Under his leadership, CHP created the Impaired Driving Section, which is responsible for revising current enforcement policies to ensure they are consistent with a new law that approved the adult use of cannabis and facilitate new research into how cannabis affects driving behaviors.
Commissioner Stanley also worked to bolster the Highway Safety Corridor Program, which has promoted education, enforcement and coordination on California’s roadways with high crash rates.
He also helped the CHP establish a national leadership role in addressing the special needs and concerns of elderly drivers and collaborated on initiatives to promote responsible driving among teens.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
In collaboration with the county of Lake, Lake County Economic Development Corp., or Lake County EDC, has launched the Small Business Grant Program, funded by the CARES Act, the grant program will provide.
On Wednesday, Oct. 21, Lake County EDC will launch an online grant application portal on its website.
Grants will be funded in amounts up to $20,000 per business on a first-come, first-served basis until Dec. 9.
For businesses looking for grant application details, information can be found on the Lake EDC website.
Staff will host a webinar at 9:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 23, to review eligibility and the application process.
Registration for the webinar can be found on Lake EDC’s website and Facebook page.
If you are unable to attend the webinar, a recording will be published on the website.
The Lake County EDC may be contacted at 707-263-6217.