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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
By Friday evening, Cal Fire said the fire’s acreage had reached 302,388 acres, which is a growth of more than 83,000 acres since morning. That follows the 84,000 acres the fire burned on Thursday.
The good news included that the fire’s containment rose from 7 to 15 percent during the course of the day.
More good news: Cal Fire said personnel and resources assigned to the fire increased on Friday, with nearly 400 firefighters and almost 100 engines arriving.
By evening, Cal Fire reported that 1,429 personnel were on the fire, along with 194 engines, 36 water tenders, 11 helicopters, 13 hand crews and 36 dozers.
The complex continues to threaten 30,500 structures. The number of those destroyed and damaged – 480 and 125, respectively – hasn’t changed since Thursday, according to Cal Fire’s Friday evening report.
The portion of the complex burning into Lake County is the Hennessey fire, which is sized at 256,102 acres, Cal Fire said. The fire began in Napa County on Monday before burning into Lake, Solano and Yolo counties.
Thousands of south Lake County residents remain under evacuation order or warning because of the approach of the Hennessey fire.
One prong of the Hennessey fire has entered southeastern Lake County along Morgan Valley Road, with the second portion coming over the county line south of Middletown.
The Hennessey fire has burned around much of Lake Berryessa in Napa County, according to fire mapping.
The other portion of the complex in Sonoma County includes the Walbridge fire, west of Healdsburg, now at 43,286 acres and the Meyers fire, north of Jenner, which has burned 3,000 acres, Cal Fire reported.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Firefighters held the LNU Lightning Complex to a small amount of growth overnight, but on Friday a new evacuation order was issued in Lake County in response to the incident.
As of Friday morning, the complex’s acreage stood at 219,067, up from 215,000 on Thursday night. Containment is now at 7 percent, up from zero, Cal Fire reported.
The fire is burning in southern Lake County as well as across Napa, Solano, Sonoma and Yolo counties, with 30,500 structures threatened. So far, 480 structures have been destroyed and 125 damaged.
Resources assigned on Friday included 1,059 personnel, 102 engines, 31 water tenders, 11 helicopters, 12 hand crews and 34 dozers.
Late Friday morning, officials issued a new evacuation order in Lake County for all areas and residents north and south of Morgan Valley Road – north of the evacuation line previously established on Wednesday – from Highway 29 and Hofacker Lane to Morgan Valley Road, east of Sky High Ridge Road (extending north to Highway), south of SR-20 and west of the Lake County line.
An evacuation warning was issued for all areas and residents along Morgan Valley Road between Rocky Creek Road and Reiff Road.
The portions of the complex burning within Lake County are the Aetna and Round fire, which have merged with the larger Hennessey fire, which also includes the Gamble, Green, Markley,
Spanish and Morgan fires.
Cal Fire said the Hennessey fire was 194,942 acres and 7-percent contained as of Friday morning.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
LOWER LAKE, Calif. – The Shannon Ridge Family of Wines announced it has acquired Steele Wines of Finley.
Shannon Ridge has purchased the Lake County winery facilities and their diverse portfolio of brands and trademarks, including Shooting Star, Stymie and Writer's Block.
"This merger represents the perfect solution for both parties," says Shannon Ridge founder and president, Clay Shannon. "Strategically, the increased production capacity and storage space allows us to continue our expansion goals while providing the Steele Wines family of brands a local partner to further their market distribution."
Shannon Ridge can now easily surpass its 310,000 annual case volume and continue to champion 21st-century winemaking methods for high-elevation varietals.
Shannon’s mission since 1996 has been to promote Lake County as a premier wine-producing region in California, combined with an unwavering commitment to sustainable operations.
To underscore this point: only 45 percent of the winery's 2,500 acres have been converted to vineyards, preserving the rest of the property for natural wildlife to pass through peacefully.
Shannon Ridge plans to use the newly acquired facilities not only for the increased winemaking capacity and storage – 2,500 tons and 6,000 barrels, respectively – but also for introducing a new on-site property experience, “Shannon Mercantile,” at the current Steele tasting room in Kelseyville.
In addition to the Shannon Ridge and Steele wine portfolios, the planned Lake County establishment will offer the ranch's grass-fed lamb, farm eggs, and other home goods and merchandise.
“We aim to make Shannon Mercantile a family-friendly destination where folks can enjoy their wine with a picnic lunch on the lawn, movie nights on warm summer evenings, and festivities to celebrate various holidays throughout the year,” Shannon said.
Shannon aims to make the mercantile a go-to destination in Lake County. It’s tentatively scheduled to open in spring 2021.
Steele Wines celebrated its 28th anniversary in 2020 and has spent nearly the last three decades specializing in producing high-quality, small-batch (under 1,000 cases), varietals sourced from the finest vineyards in Lake and Mendocino counties.
After 50 years of winemaking in California, founder Jed Steele will assume a supporting role in the winery, assisting in the production of Steele Wines and enjoying retirement at his properties in Lake County, Montana, and Florida.
Shannon ridge was advised in this transaction by former and now-retired Shannon Ridge chief financial officer, Don Chase of Don Chase Wine Industry Management Services.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The council had held an initial discussion on the topic at its Aug. 6 meeting and directed City Attorney Ryan Jones to return with a draft ordinance, as Lake County News has reported.
The current monthly salary for council members is $300, an amount that Jones said was set in 1989.
While, by state statute, that’s the maximum amount for cities with a population of under 35,000, Jones told the council at its Aug. 6 meeting that the law allows for 5-percent annual raises.
As such, the council faced the option of raising the current monthly amount by $465 – which is the amount of a 5-percent raise over the past 31 years – to a total of $765.
However, at its last meeting, the council settled on a smaller total figure, $500.
On Thursday, Jones presented a draft ordinance with the $500 monthly amount.
He also reported that the law does not allow the council to set up an automatic 5-percent raise each year. The council would have to take separate action to do that in the future.
The current annual cost for the council members’ salaries totals $18,000. By raising it to $500 per month, the total cost would rise to $30,000. Jones’ report said the additional funds would come from the city’s general fund.
That amount does not include the cost of health coverage for council members. A specific figure for that was not included in Jones’ report.
Following Jones’ brief presentation, there was no council discussion before Councilman Phil Harris – who had asked last month for the matter to be brought forward for discussion – moved to approve it, with Councilman Russ Perdock seconding.
The vote was 4-1, with Vice Mayor Dirk Slooten voting against it. Slooten had made clear at the Aug. 6 meeting that he thought it was a bad time to raise council members’ salaries.
If the council approves the ordinance’s second and final reading at its next meeting, the ordinance and the salary increase will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2021.
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