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- Written by: Lake County News reports
On Sunday the complex – burning for a month on the Mendocino, Shasta-Trinity and Six Rivers National Forests – reached 836,871 acres and 34-percent containment, the US Forest Service said.
The number of structures it has destroyed remained at 35 on Sunday, with 1,595 structures still threatened, officials said.
The Forest Service said steady progress continues on the South Zone of the August Complex. The east side of the complex is now contained, and resources are being shifted to other areas of the fire.
On Saturday, crews continued to improve lines near Pillsbury Ranch and conducted additional burning when weather and other conditions were favorable. The strategically applied burning will increase the protection of structures in Lake Pillsbury by removing vegetation between control lines and the main fire perimeter, officials said.
Officials said the 14th Brigade Engineer Battalion from Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington has 233 soldiers deployed on the complex, and they continue to support the August Complex.
These firefighting soldiers have been engaged in fireline construction, mop up and patrol, and many are now assisting with structure protection and holding lines as firing operations continue in the Lake Pillsbury area, officials said.
An updated Forest Order No. 08-20-13 was issued for the August Complex on Sept. 19. This Forest Order adjusted the southern boundary of the previous closure to encompass more of the area around Lake Pillsbury due to firefighting activities and to protect the public from potential injury caused by hazards within the fire area.
Residents and property owners may return to their properties within the Mendocino National Forest in Glenn County, but should use extreme caution when entering the burn area, as hazards may be present.
Properties accessed by a Forest Service road will require a permit from the US Forest Service. Access to the Forest Service closure area for other purposes, including hunting and recreation, is prohibited.
In the August Complex South Zone, evacuation orders are in effect for Mendocino and Lake counties. In Lake, the orders are for Pillsbury Ranch and the entire Lake Pillsbury basin.
Evacuation information can also be found at Inciweb.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The discussion is scheduled for 11:15 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22.
At its Sept. 1 meeting, the board was due to consider a vote of no confidence and asking for the resignation of Barbara Ringen, who has served as treasurer-tax collector since 2013.
Supervisor Bruno Sabatier had asked for the board to consider the action against Ringen, whose performance has been under scrutiny due to a list of concerns, from a lack of tax-defaulted property sales to issues with check deposits for property tax payments, inability to implement new taxes or enhance collection of current taxes such as those for cannabis and vacation rentals, and a host of other matters.
However, after Ringen said she was unprepared to respond to all of Sabatier’s concerns, the board agreed to give her until Sept. 22 to return with a response.
Ringen’s performance has been a source of discussion for the board and the County Administrative Office going back to September of 2018. Issues previously cited have run the gamut from lack of consistent tax default sales, collection of taxes, lack of transparency regarding the county’s investment practices and status, and customer service.
That led to the board in early 2019 creating an ad hoc committee to work with Ringen’s office. In June 2019, Ringen emailed the ad hoc committee to offer her resignation effective January 2020.
However, during an August 2019 board meeting, Ringen appeared to make an about-face, refusing to give a firm resignation date.
Ultimately, Ringen – who was reelected in November 2018 – didn’t go through with leaving her job. Her term continues until January 2023.
Also last year, the state Legislature approved and the governor signed AB 632, legislation requested by the Board of Supervisors and carried by Assemblywoman Cecilia Aguiar-Curry and State Sen. Mike McGuire, that will allow the county government to combine the elected positions of auditor-controller and treasurer-tax collector into a single elected office.
However, county officials said no movement has been taken on that department combination yet.
Sabatier outlines concerns
At the Sept. 1 meeting, Sabatier read through a portion of his nine-page report raising concerns with Ringen’s performance, which can be seen below.
Sabatier raised five key topics: Delayed deposits which impact our partner agencies as well as individuals; inability to implement new taxes or enhance the collection of current taxes; inability to problem solve the issues of the department whether through creative staffing strategies or the addition of technology; inability to follow through and make the necessary changes to make progress in mitigating the problems of the department; and inability to trust that change will occur in a meaningful way or that the answers the board is given are honest or truthful.
After Sabatier gave his review, Supervisor Tina Scott asked if Ringen was attending the meeting virtually. At that point, she was not, and Sabatier said he’d had a short conversation with her the previous Thursday to let her know it was on the agenda.
While they waited for Ringen to join the meeting, Supervisor Rob Brown saidt, “We always think that we can do better, including our office.”
He added, “We just keep getting stuff thrown at us, one thing after another.”
Brown said he wasn’t trying to make excuses, but was pointing out that more things were getting stacked on, and noted that adding on cannabis taxation was “a huge thing, over and above” everything else.
Brown asked about staffing levels. Sabatier said Ringen is budgeted for close to 12 staff, and is only down by one, and also is using extra help staffers.
When COVID-19 appeared, Brown said the board was working on a classification and compensation study that would result in $91,000 to increase salaries in Ringen’s office, which he said would help with turnover and get the department caught up.
Ringen joined the meeting a short time later, saying she wanted time for a fair chance to respond because she didn’t have all of the necessary information at hand.
In a brief prepared response, Ringen said she wasn’t aware of delayed deposits burdening partner agencies and individuals, and acknowledged a slight delay in processing tax payment during tax season.
She said cannabis taxes are paid in two annual installments and transient occupancy tax, or bed tax, is billed quarterly. Her department recently added a TOT billing module.
Ringen said her department can accomplish the tasks in a more effective manner.
She added that her office has received and processed more than 700 COVID-19-related penalty cancellation requests on property tax payments.
During public comment, Lakeport resident Michael Green argued action against Ringen isn’t warranted.
She said tax-default property sales are an unfunded state mandate. “Ultimately it’s really not up the Board of Supervisors to render judgment on her performance,” but it’s a matter for the public, said Green.
Sabatier maintained he was not making a personal attack against Ringen, who he said is a kind and sweet person. He added that he’s been trying to make positive changes with regard to her department for a year and a half and he’s seen nothing, so he wanted to spotlight the issue.
“This is about a specific role, not a specific person,” he said.
He added, “Our community is waiting for us to see change and we need to provide that to them.”
The board agreed to reschedule the discussion to its Sept. 22 meeting to give Ringen a chance to fully respond.
Also at the Sept. 1 meeting, the board held a closed session to discuss the suit filed by the city of Clearlake over issues including the tax sales. County Counsel Anita Grant said the board took no action.
In related news, at its meeting last week, the board approved an item on its consent agenda to approve a contract of up to $95,000 with Harmony Research for the new fiscal year for professional research services related to the tax default land sales.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The commission will meet virtually beginning at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22
The agenda can be found here.
Submit comments and questions in writing for commission consideration by sending them to
Community members also can participate via Zoom.
To give the planning commission adequate time to review your questions and comments, please submit written comments prior to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22.
The meet will be broadcast live on the Youtube channels for the city of Clearlake or Lake County PEG TV.
Commissioners on Tuesday will consider election of the chair and vice chair.
Also on the agenda are public hearings, including one continued from the July and August meeting, as well as to consider adopting a resolution with amendments to the zoning map, and design review procedures and that implement the new zoning ordinance.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A Lakeport woman credits faith, training and focus with helping her to save the life of a 3-year-old boy found unresponsive in the pool at a local resort over Labor Day weekend.
Lydia Meraz, a 20-year employee of WorldMark Clear Lake Resort in Nice, resuscitated 3-year-old Darius Apar after the child was pulled from the swimming pool by his mother.
At 10 a.m. Tuesday Meraz will receive a commendation from the Lake County Board of Supervisors in recognition of her heroic actions.
The story has a happy ending, but as resort General Manager Greg Bennett pointed out, “It was very, very close.”
Bennett said there were moments when they didn’t think the child was going to make it. “It was quite a battle to get him to breathe again.”
Meraz, who serves as the resort’s guest services manager, was in her office taking care of invoicing and some other duties on Sunday, Sept. 6, when she said she heard a woman screaming for help.
Getting up from her desk, Meraz told her team members to call 911 while she set out to find out what was happening.
She said she didn’t know if someone was having a seizure or heart attack, or being stabbed. “I didn’t know what I was getting myself into.”
Meraz, along with team members Diana Starkey and Ali Staub, arrived at the pool to find a hysterical Adelia Apar, who told her that her son Darius wasn’t breathing.
Adelia Apar had been swimming laps when she turned around and found the child face down in the pool, Meraz said.
When Meraz arrived, the child was lying next to the pool. He was unconscious and blue. “I’ve never been exposed to anything like that.”
Meraz told everyone to stand back and then got down on her knees next to the child. She said she prayed, asking Jesus to help her save the boy’s life.
At that point, Meraz said it was like she was in a bubble. “It got really quiet around me.”
She began cardiopulmonary resuscitation on Darius. At the second round of compressions, Meraz said she saw him starting to come back. On the third set of compressions, she prayed that he would pull through, and he started to cough.
Meraz quickly turned him over onto his side, he began throwing up water, opened his eyes and started to cry.
“I told him, ‘you’re going to be just fine,’” and then Meraz said she started to cry, too.
The child’s family immediately came to her side, calling her their guardian angel.
Bringing the child back “was an amazing feeling,” and it means a lot to her, Meraz said.
The rest of the WorldMark team set up roadblocks and guided the ambulance and first responders to the scene. Bennett said both Adelia Apar and her son were taken to the hospital for treatment.
The next day, the Apar family came back to see Meraz, bringing her flowers, and there were more hugs and tears. She said Darius gave her a kiss on the cheek.
Meraz said the Apars have told her she’s now an extended member of their family. Adelia Apar has even sent her Darius’ preschool picture.
Bennett said the day after the incident, Darius was back swimming, now with a brand new life jacket, and the whole family was able to have a good time. “That’s all you can ask for,” he said.
In a high-stress situation, how did Meraz remain calm?
Both Bennett and Meraz said the resort puts a strong emphasis on training for its staff. Bennett said CPR training is required for guest services, housekeeping, maintenance and management. “It paid off in this particular case, that’s for sure,” he said.
Meraz gave special credit to her trainer, Kimberly Miinch of Emergency Care Training and Supply in Middletown, for helping prepare her.
She said she remembered having told Miinch that she wasn’t sure she would be able to act to save someone if necessary. Meraz said Miinch reassured her that she could do it when the time came.
The day after she saved Darius, Meraz said Miinch called her. Miinch had heard scanner traffic about the incident and called to check in.
Meraz said she told Miinch that her training had made all of the difference.
Also important for Meraz is her faith in God, which she said was another key to saving the little boy.
“I give it all to the Lord,” she said.
Email Elizabeth Larson at