CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Clearlake Animal Control has two new dogs and many more waiting for adoption this week.
The kennels also have many dogs that need to be reunited with their owners. To find the lost/found pet section, click here.
The following dogs are ready for adoption.
“Bernard.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Bernard’
“Bernard” is a male Staffordshire Bull Terrier mix with a short brindle and white coat.
He already has been neutered.
He is No. 280.
“Cadbury.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Cadbury’
“Cadbury” is a female Staffordshire Bull Terrier mix with a smooth medium-length beige coat.
She is No. 1215.
“Chase.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Chase’
“Chase” is a male shepherd mix with a medium-length brindle coat.
He is dog No. 2618.
“Frank.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Frank’
“Frank” is a male American Staffordshire Terrier mix with a short black and white coat.
He is No. 2345.
“Goldie.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Goldie’
“Goldie” is a senior female pit bull terrier mix with a blonde and white coat.
She is No. 2173.
“Hamilton.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Hamilton’
“Hamilton” is a male German Shepherd with a medium-length brown and black coat.
He is No. 2177.
“Lana.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Lana’
“Lana” is a female shepherd mix puppy with a smooth black and brown coat and one blue and one brown eye.
She has been spayed.
She is No. 2659.
“Melonie.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Melonie’
“Melonie” is a female American Pit Bull Terrier mix with a short red and white coat.
She is No. 2428.
“Sturgill.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Sturgill’
“Sturgill” is a male Labrador Retriever mix with a medium-length yellow coat.
He is No. 2460.
“Tyson.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Tyson’
“Tyson” is a male American Staffordshire terrier mix with a medium-length gray and white coat.
He is No. 1863.
“Wiley.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Wiley’
“Wiley” is a male German Shepherd mix with a medium-length black and brindle coat.
He is dog No. 2451.
“Zack.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Zack’
“Zack” (also known as Dexter) is a male pit bull terrier mix wit a short red coat.
He is No. 2592.
Clearlake Animal Control’s shelter is located at 6820 Old Highway 53, off Airport Road.
Hours of operation area noon to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. The shelter is closed Sundays, Mondays and major holidays; the shelter offers appointments on the days it’s closed to accommodate people.
Call the Clearlake Animal Control shelter at 707-273-9440, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to inquire about adoptions.
Visit Clearlake Animal Control on Facebook or at the city’s Web site.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
The 2018 Lake County Fair midway. Photo by Elizabeth Larson/Lake County News. LAKEPORT, Calif. – Livestock shows, the Ferris wheel, baking and arts competitions, and much more are in store as the Lake County Fair prepares to open its doors on Thursday.
This year’s fair theme is “Make a Splash!”
The fair runs from Thursday through Sunday night.
The fair is getting started with a variety of competitions on Thursday morning, to be followed by the fair parade early Thursday evening and the official fair opening ceremonies afterward.
Dr. Brian L. Grey, this year’s fair grand marshal, will lead the opening night parade, which begins at 5:30 p.m. at Natural High School on Main Street and then continues down Martin Street to the fairgrounds, where the opening ceremonies will take place.
Thousands of competition entries will be featured in the exhibit halls, with daily demonstrations. Home arts are located in Lewis Hall, fine arts in Fritch Hall, floral and agriculture in the Garden Building and clothing and textiles in the Little Theater.
Daily fair fun will include draft horse wagon rides, a climbing wall, Fill-Up the Strolling Balloon Sculptor, Skip Banks the Balloon Man, Magician Ken Garr and Tanna Banana.
Fair hours are 6 to 11 p.m. Thursday, 4 to 11 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Regular admission prices apply each day of the fair with the exception of Kids Day on Thursday. Prices are $12 for adults, $8 for seniors 60 and older, $8 for children ages 6 to 11, and children age 5 and under attend for free.
For Kids Day on Thursday, the cost is $4 for ages 11 and under.
Tickets can be purchased at the gate or online here.
The full schedule is published below.
THURSDAY, AUG. 29
Special features
Special $4 admission for children age 11 and under.
Lake County CAN! takes place from 6 to 8 p.m.; free admission when you bring four canned food items.
Carnival Pay-One Price Day; the cost is $35. Purchase tickets in the carnival area.
Buildings close at 10 p.m.; the fair closes at 11 p.m.
Family Oasis in Fiesta Park: A great place for parents to relax with youngsters.
Livestock area
8 a.m.: Junior Rabbit and Cavy Show, Alexander Barn
8 a.m.: Junior Swine Show, Baldwin Pavilion
1 p.m.: Junior Sheep Show, Baldwin Pavilion
3 p.m.: Junior Meat Goat Show, Baldwin Pavilion
Opening ceremonies
5:30 p.m.: Parade begins on Main Street
6 p.m.: Opening ceremonies, front entrance gate
Blue Ribbon Awards
6 p.m.: Blue Ribbon Dinner, Academy Park (KCA Park)
Around the grounds
7 and 9 p.m.: Sea Lion Splash, Fiesta Park
Live music
6:30 p.m.: Michael Barrish, Country Soul, Gazebo Stage
7 and 8:30 p.m.: The Fargo Brothers, Americana and Rock n’ Roll, Main Stage
8 p.m.: Clear Lake Clikkers, clogging, Gazebo Stage
FRIDAY, AUG. 30
Carnival Pay-One Price Day; the cost is $35. Purchase tickets in the carnival area.
Buildings close at 10 p.m.; the fair closes at 11 p.m.
Family Oasis in Fiesta Park: A great place for parents to relax with youngsters.
Grandstand entertainment
7 p.m.: Mud Boggs, sponsored by Twin Pine Casino
Around the grounds
5, 7 and 9 p.m.: Sea Lion Splash, Fiesta Park
Free contests
5:30 p.m.: Make A Floral Splash Contest, Flower Hall. Participants bring a flower arrangement that best represents the contest theme. Must deliver prior to 5 p.m. Aug. 30. Prizes and ribbons for first through third places.
Rules: 1. All participants bringing their Make A Splash arrangement to the contest will receive free entry into the fair until 5 p.m. on the day of delivery. 2. Arrangement must be of portable size. 3. Judging will be based on arrangement that best meets theme of contest. 4. Pick up entries on Monday, Sept. 2, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. 5. Entries that are not picked up will be disposed of after Sept. 5.
Live music
6:30 and 8:30 p.m.: Matt Rothstein w/Dorian May Trio, jazz trio plus vocals and sax, Gazebo Stage
6, 7:45 and 9 p.m.: Hip Replacements, blues, rock and R&B, Main Stage
SATURDAY, AUG. 31
Carnival Pay-One Price Day; the cost is $35. Purchase tickets in the carnival area.
Buildings close at 10 p.m.; the fair closes at 11 p.m.
Family Oasis in Fiesta Park: A great place for parents to relax with youngsters.
Grandstand entertainment
7 p.m.: Destruction Derby, sponsored by Sutter Lakeside Hospital
Junior Livestock Auction
10:30 a.m.: Buyers Registration Brunch
Noon: Junior Livestock Auction, Baldwin Pavilion; major auction sponsor, American AgCredit
Livestock area
6 to 8 p.m.: Goat milking, Mather Barn
Around the grounds
1, 3, 5 and 7 p.m.: Sea Lion Splash, Fiesta Park
Free contests
1 p.m.: Create a Splash-Themed Watercolor, Fritch Hall. No preregistration; just come to Fritch Hall. All materials provided. Ribbon awards for first, second and third place winners.
Live music
11:30 a.m. and 12:45 p.m.: Michael Barrish, country soul, Gazebo Stage
Noon, 2 and 4 p.m.: Clean Sweep, R&B, funk, blues, and rock and jazz, Main Stage
2:30 and 3:45 p.m.: 2 Diamonds, 60s to 90s pop and rock, Gazebo Stage
5:15, 7 and 8:30 p.m.: American Lore, classic rock, Gazebo Stage
7 p.m.: Ranch House, country dance, Main Stage
SUNDAY, SEPT. 1
Carnival Pay-One Price Day; the cost is $35. Purchase tickets in the carnival area.
Buildings close at 10 p.m.; the fair closes at 11 p.m.
Family Oasis in Fiesta Park: A great place for parents to relax with youngsters.
Grandstand entertainment
7 p.m.: Boat races, sponsored by Lake County Tribal Health TANF
Special attractions
Fiesta Latina Day, sponsored by Lake County Tribal Health Consortium
Livestock area
5 p.m.: 4-H and FFA Award ceremony, Baldwin Pavilion
Around the grounds
1, 3 and 7 p.m.: Sea Lion Splash, Fiesta Park
Free contests
1:00 pm – Decorate a Splashingly Delicious Cookie, Lewis Hall. No preregistration; just come to Lewis Hall. Participants are provided with all materials. Ribbon awards for first, second and third place winners.
Live music
Noon and 1:15 p.m.: Sara and Cory Cunningham w/Dorian May Trio, jazz trio plus vocals and trombone, Main Stage
12:15 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.: Majide!, trio – standard jazz classics from the Great American Songbook, Gazebo Stage
5:00, 7 and 9 p.m.: Austin & Owens, The NeoFlamenco Duo, Gazebo Stage
Fair closes at 11 p.m. The 2020 Fair takes place Sept. 3 to 6.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Three years after the Board of Supervisors voted to create a separate Water Resources Department it has decided to reconsolidate the department with Public Works, a decision that county leaders said is meant to improve oversight and leadership.
The board’s decision on Tuesday followed a recommendation from an ad hoc committee – formed at the direction of Board Chair Tina Scott – that included Supervisor Rob Brown, Supervisor EJ Crandell, interim Water Resources Director Scott De Leon and County Administrative Office staff.
County Administrative Office Carol Huchingson told the board on Tuesday that the group reviewed past research conducted by the Public Works Department, surveyed the functions aligned under public works agencies in neighboring and comparable California counties.
She said more than half of the neighboring counties reviewed aligned water resources and/or Flood Control functions under their public works department.
The ad hoc committee’s report said the board acted on July 19, 2016, to separate the Public Works and Water Resources departments. The board also approved revisions to the Water Resources director classification description, “emphasizing the technical demands of the role, in recognition of the unique nature of Clear Lake as a large, species-dense and biologically diverse body of water.”
Huchingson said that move was encouraged by a former board member who had a vision of there being more scientific research. However, she said the former Water Resource director said there is less science and more compliance involved.
The ad hoc committee’s report said that, since 2016, “it has become clear that a stronger administrative and personnel and project management focus is needed to support the diverse demands of the Water Resources function in Lake County.”
In June, the board approved classification changes for the department, and the committee credited De Leon with offering “insight that many of the scientific functions are conducted by partner entities, such as the Blue Ribbon Committee for the Rehabilitation of Clear Lake, local Tribal Nations, State agencies, and contractors.”
The report continued, “With Clear Lake as our defining feature, it is essential Lake County appropriately attends to scientific and other discipline-specific responsibilities when managing our Water Resources. Because this work is actually performed by numerous entities, administrative functions must be efficiently completed to ensure this important work can be appropriately prioritized and undertaken. Consolidation of Public Works and Water Resources historically brought efficiencies and opportunities for cross-training. Given the import of the functions of both departments, continuity and the capacity to respond to normal events, such as staff vacancies, is essential.”
As a result, the group recommended reconsolidating Water Resources and Public Works, but leaving the position structure as it is now, with Huchingson adding that Public Works will work on the candidate pool for a new deputy director to oversee Water Resources.
Crandell credited De Leon with guiding the two Water Resources directors that have served since 2016 – Phil Moy and David Cowan – and mentoring them.
“I really think you have the skills to take this on and the abilities to take this on,” Supervisor Bruno Sabatier told De Leon.
However, Sabatier questioned if De Leon had a succession plan in which deputy directors would be cross-trained to handle the department’s different functions.
De Leon said succession planning is on the forefront of his mind. His assistant Public Works director position has been vacant for a few years and it’s been difficult to recruit people.
“I’m hoping that as we move forward with class and compensation studies that our positions will be more attractive and we’ll be able to recruit some qualified folks,” De Leon said.
He said he wants to see the assistant Public Works director position filled as part of the succession planning.
That position also will oversee Water Resources, which de Leon said will continue to be its own department, not a division, as he said there is a lot of pride in the department’s staff and organization. “I don’t intend to change that.”
De Leon said bringing Water Resources into the Public Works Department is meant to help with fiscal and administrative functions, and to provide additional oversight and leadership.
Crandell moved to approve the consolidation of the Water Resources Department and Public Works, with Supervisor Moke Simon seconding and the board approving the motion 5-0.
De Leon told Lake County News on Wednesday that the process to proceed with the reconsolidation isn’t too involved, since he’s been the interim Water Resources director for a month.
“We’ll continue with the recruitment for a director for Water Resources using the candidates we have from the recent advertisement and hopefully we can find a good person to handle the day to day operations of the staff and programs,” he said.
The process, he said, is “basically immediate, and since we’ve already functioned with this structure, it doesn’t require any major changes in Public Works.”
Prior to taking on Water Resources, De Leon said his annual salary was $120,600. The board has since given him a 25-percent increase. “As far as I know, the increase will continue,” he said.
De Leon’s updated salary makes him one of the county’s highest-paid department heads.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – A woman arrested earlier this month for chaining her dog outside in the heat with no shelter or water is facing trial.
Champagne Delsie Leubner, 24, was held to answer to a charge of felony animal abuse at her Aug. 19 preliminary hearing, according to Chief Deputy District Attorney Richard Hinchcliff.
On Tuesday, Leubner appeared in Lake County Superior Court for arraignment. Hinchcliff said she will return to court on Sept. 16, at which time it’s expected that her trial date will be set.
On July 23, Clearlake Animal Control Officer John Moretz responded to a call regarding a dog that was tied outside in direct sun with no water.
He arrived at the scene to find the dog chained to a stationary object in a backyard, entangled in cable, with no water to drink and unable to get into shade, authorities said.
Moretz took the dog, which was suffering from heatstroke, to a veterinarian. The dog was unresponsive and its body temperature was so high that it was unreadable by a thermometer. It was subsequently euthanized, authorities said.
Police obtained a warrant for Leubner’s arrest and she was taken into custody at the Mobil gas station on Lakeshore Drive in Clearlake.
Leubner initially had been booked into the Lake County Jail with bail set at $35,000. She later posted the required percentage of bail and was released.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County health officials are offering guidelines for keeping pets and people safe while enjoying water recreation as the investigation into the cause of death of a dog playing in a county creek continues.
Accumulations of blue-green algae are a common and familiar sight in freshwater lakes, ponds and streams throughout the country, including Clear Lake.
Most frequently visible as green, soup-like water, oily-appearing surface scum or foamy mats, cyanobacteria tend to flourish or collect in sunny areas where water is shallow and undisturbed, or in locations where wind and currents cause surface blooms to collect.
Some blue-green algae produce toxins that can pose a range of health risks to people and animals when they are exposed to them in large enough quantities.
Water monitoring for cyanotoxins is regularly done by the Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians and Elem Indian Colony. This valuable service helps facilitate safe lake use.
The most recent water testing results of Clearlake of 22 sites throughout the lake on Aug. 20 were all below the caution level, county officials reported.
Pets, such as dogs, are particularly at risk because they are not deterred by the disagreeable odors of decaying algal mats, they are prone to swallowing water while swimming, and they can ingest cyanobacteria while self-cleaning their coat following contact with the lake.
While a pet illness from cyanotoxins has not been confirmed, the recent death of a dog earlier this week has prompted local officials to remind residents and visitors to take precautions for the safe enjoyment of Clear Lake and other nearby water bodies.
The dog died earlier this week following a brief severe illness that began immediately after swimming in the Putah Creek area.
Although the cause of the illness is still being evaluated, Lake County Water Resources has obtained samples for testing of the water in the area where the dog and its owners were recreating.
Lake County Public Health has arranged for specialized testing at the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory in Davis in order to determine if the illness was caused by cyanotoxins.
Symptoms in the pet are consistent with possible cyanotoxin exposure, including difficulty breathing, unresponsiveness, and tongue and gums turning a bluish color. Humans recreating nearby have not reported illness.
There was a laboratory documented case of a cyanotoxin-related death of a dog in Lake County in 2013, and this case is an indication that caution might be needed even when algal accumulations do not appear as severe as in previous years.
County officials urge the community to use appropriate precautions while this scientific testing is completed to determine if any potential health risks associated with cyanobacteria exist.
Regardless of any eventual findings in this case, Scott De Leon, interim director of Lake County Water Resources, and Erin Gustafson, MD, MPH, Lake County public health officer, urge the public to observe important safeguards to avoid harmful effects of cyanobacteria.
These safeguards include:
• Avoid contact with water in areas with surface foam, scum, or a pea soup appearance. This is particularly important for small children and pets. • Avoid generating aerosols (water skiing, jet skiing, etc.) in areas of the lake where there are signs of blue-green algae. • After swimming, towel off properly. Even better, shower with fresh water. After pets swim, rinse with fresh water and towel them dry to prevent them from ingesting the blue-green algae while self-cleaning. • Never drink untreated lake or other surface water. Boiling water does not guarantee that it is safe to drink. • If unexplained illness develops following direct exposure to water in a lake, pond, or stream, see a doctor (or bring your pet to a veterinarian) promptly and be sure to mention the exposure that occurred.
For more information and resources, visit the following county cyanobacteria pages.
Mavrick William Fisher, 21, of Elko, Nevada, was booked into the Lake County Jail in Lakeport, Calif., on Wednesday, August 28, 2019, for the murder of Grant David Whitaker, 25, of Mackinaw, Illinois. Lake County Jail photo. LAKEPORT, Calif. – The suspect in the murder of an Illinois man whose body was found near Upper Lake this week has been booked into the Lake County Jail.
Mavrick William Fisher, 21, who has connections to Elko, Nevada, and Riverside, was booked into the jail shortly after 2 p.m. Wednesday, about an hour after he was taken into custody by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, according to booking records.
Fisher is charged with the murder of 25-year-old Grant David Whitaker during an altercation that investigators believe occurred in Humboldt County, as Lake County News has reported.
The sheriff’s office said Fisher was found in Mexico this week and that authorities there assisted with arresting him.
Whitaker was reported missing in Illinois. On Saturday the sheriff’s office found a vehicle related to Whitaker at the Clearlake Oaks Dollar General store, and followed up on leads as they tried to locate Whitaker.
Authorities said Whitaker’s family had received information that he had been in an altercation at a Humboldt County campground with Fisher, with whom he had been traveling.
Over the weekend, authorities said they received information that Fisher had admitted to killing Whitaker, and also received leads as to where Whitaker’s body was located.
That led to the Monday service of a search warrant and the discovery of human remains in a remote area near the 7500 block of Scott’s Valley Road.
The remains, at that time, were believed to be those of Whitaker. On Wednesday, Sgt. John Gregore said an autopsy was performed on the remains and confirmed the body was indeed Whitaker’s.
The cause of Whitaker’s death has been determined to be blunt force trauma to the head, Gregore said.
Gregore said the investigation into the circumstances related to Whitaker’s death is continuing.
Fisher is being held without bail on a probable cause warrant, and is set to appear for arraignment in Lake County Superior Court on Friday, according to booking records.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact Det. Richard Kreutzer at 707-262-4233 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday voted to move forward with forming the Big Valley Groundwater Sustainability Agency, a move county leadership said is necessary to keep local control of the watershed.
The unanimous vote to adopt a resolution to form the new agency – in accordance with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, which went into effect as part of California Water Code in January 2015 – followed a brief public hearing Tuesday morning.
Public Works Director Scott De Leon – who has been serving as interim Water Resources Department director and was appointed by the board to permanently oversee the department later in the meeting – took the agency formation to the supervisors, who were sitting jointly as the Lake County Watershed Protection District Board of Directors.
The state has listed the Big Valley Watershed as a medium priority basin. As such, the 2014 Groundwater Sustainability Act requires the county to develop a groundwater sustainability plan or an alternative groundwater sustainability plan “in an effort to ensure that groundwater basins reach sustainability within 20 years of implementing a groundwater basin sustainability plan,” according to De Leon’s written report to the board.
De Leon’s report said the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act “provides local agencies a framework for managing groundwater basins in a sustainable manner and recognizes groundwater is most effectively managed at the local level.”
The Lake County Watershed Protection District submitted an alternative groundwater sustainability plan for the Big Valley groundwater basin to the state in December 2016, De Leon said. Because the county submitted the alternative plan, it also is required to submit annual reports, which it has done for 2017 and 2018.
In July, the California Department of Water Resources notified the Lake County Watershed Protection District that the Big Valley Groundwater Basin Alternative Sustainability Plan had not been accepted, as Lake County News has reported.
In the state’s notification letter to De Leon, it said the alternative plan wasn’t recommended for acceptance because it lacked sufficient information and data to assess if it would result in sustainable groundwater management as defined in state water code.
“In order to maintain local and sustainable management of the Big Valley groundwater basin, it is in the best interest for the County that the Board of Directors of the Lake County Watershed Protection District approve the resolution authorizing the District to form the Big Valley Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA). The formation of a GSA complies with State regulations and is necessary to obtain funding for the development of a Big Valley Groundwater Sustainability Plan,” De Leon wrote in his report.
In his report, De Leon suggested that the advisory group for the new agency include representation from the county, tribal governments, municipal water supplies, the Chi Council for the Clear Lake Hitch, domestic well owners and agricultural users.
At its Aug. 13 meeting, the board first considered forming the agency. Afterward, De Leon said the board reached consensus to move forward and over the past two weeks county staff did the required public noticing.
Supervisor Bruno Sabatier asked De Leon for clarification on the condition of the watershed, noting that at the meeting earlier this month there had been a lot of discussion about the basin having a plentiful supply at this time.
De Leon said the county has been monitoring the basin for 50 years at least. “The basin shows that it recovers.”
As the agricultural practices have changed in the basin from pears to other products, they are seeing a definite change in the availability and use of groundwater. “The basin is healthy,” De Leon said.
He added, “This really is an effort to maintain local control over the basin, as opposed to having the state come in and take it over, which I think we all agree is a good thing.”
De Leon said the county is working with constituents and stakeholders to submit more information to the state to reduce the basin from medium to low priority status. That, he added, is a parallel process to the required groundwater sustainability agency formation.
During the meeting De Leon also noted that the state mandates areas to have groundwater sustainability agencies in place in order to be eligible for different funding options.
During the brief public comment, Lake County Farm Bureau Executive Director Brenna Sullivan said the organization supported the resolution, and that it has submitted comments to the California Department of Water Resources to update agriculture-specific information that was wrong in the state’s files about the watershed.
She said the Farm Bureau similarly had given the state updated information about groundwater in Upper Lake that reduced that watershed to low priority.
Sullivan said they also wanted a strong agricultural voice on whatever advisory board is formed.
The final resolution the board approved unanimously included a seven-member advisory panel with two seats set aside for agriculture.
De Leon said that upon acceptance of the resolution, the county Water Resources Department will move forward in applying to the state to form the Big Valley Groundwater Sustainability Agency.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The midweek weather forecast calls for the possibility of thunderstorms, with temperatures in the 90s expected for the rest of the week and over the Labor Day weekend.
The National Weather Service forecast for Lake County predicted isolated thunderstorms overnight and before 11 a.m. Wednesday, combined with temperatures in the mid 90s and winds into the low double digits.
Little or no precipitation is expected on Wednesday, based on the forecast.
Daytime temperatures throughout most of the county are expected to hover in the low 90s from Thursday and into the new week, including Labor Day. Nighttime temperatures are forecast to be in the mid 50s.
The Cobb area is expected to have cooler temperatures, with daytime highs in the low 80s and nighttime temperatures in the low 60s.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
The data cover 159,337 positions and a total of more than $8.93 billion in 2018 wages and nearly $2.47 billion in health and retirement costs for 3,074 special districts.
Special districts are government entities created by a local community to meet a specific need. Data for 2018 show nearly half of the top 10 districts by total wages are in health care, with the remainder a mix of utility, transit, water, fire and sanitation districts.
In Lake County, the top 10 districts, with total employees, wages, and retirement and health contributions, are as follows:
– Lake County Fire Protection District: 50 employees; total wages, $1,788,343; retirement and health contributions, $840,605 – Kelseyville Fire Protection District: 45 employees; total wages, $1,706,758; retirement and health contributions, $413,539. – Northshore Fire Protection District Fire Protection : 56 employees; total wages, $1,557,823; retirement and health contributions, $483,319. – Lakeport Fire Protection District: 43 employees; total wages, $1,247,475; retirement and health contributions, $370,686. – Clearlake Oaks Water District: 24 employees; total wages, $934,828; retirement and health contributions, $264,625. – Hidden Valley Lake Community Services District: 19 employees; total wages, $873,019 ; retirement and health contributions, $408,576. – Lake County Vector Control District: 16 employees; total wages, $625,724; retirement and health contributions, $252,870. – Konocti County Water District: 15 employees; total wages, $480,033; retirement and health contributions, $129,621. – Cobb Area County Water District: 16 employees; total wages, $278,085; retirement and health contributions, $48,739. – Lower Lake County Waterworks District No. 1: 13 employees; total wages, $260,340; retirement and health contributions, $67,238.
The top 10 individual salaries reported statewide all are in health care districts. In Lake County, eight of the top 10 highest paid individuals are in the firefighting profession.
They are as follows, with job title, district, pay, and retirement and health contributions listed:
1. Salaried firefighter, Lakeport Fire Protection District; total wages, $154,124; retirement and health contributions, $39,514. 2. General manager, Hidden Valley Lake Community Services District: total wages, $150,873; retirement and health contributions, $43,664. 3. District manager, Lake County Vector Control District: total wages, $147,496; retirement and health contributions, $51,181. 4. Fire chief, Lake County Fire Protection District: total wages, $147,461; retirement and health contributions, $63,990. 5. Salaried firefighter, Lakeport Fire Protection District: total wages, $144,958; retirement and health contributions, $37,965. 6. Captain/paramedic, Kelseyville Fire Protection District: total wages, $135,124; retirement and health contributions, $32,052. 7. Fire chief, Kelseyville Fire Protection District: total wages, $116,682; retirement and health contributions, $39,330. 8. Engineer/paramedic, Kelseyville Fire Protection District: total wages, $112,179; retirement and health contributions, $30,194. 9. Deputy chief, Northshore Fire Protection District: total wages, $103,353; retirement and health contributions, $36,215. 10. Engineer/paramedic, Kelseyville Fire Protection District; total wages, $101,546; retirement and health contributions, $17,829.
California law requires cities, counties, and special districts to annually report compensation data to the state controller.
The state controller also maintains and publishes state and California State University salary data.
A list of districts that did not file or filed incomplete reports is available here. Among them is the Lower Lake Cemetery District.
Users of the site can:
· View compensation levels on maps and search by region;
· Narrow results by name of the district or by job title; and
· Export raw data or custom reports.
Since the Government Compensation in California Web site launched in 2010, it has registered more than 11 million pageviews.
The site contains pay and benefit information on more than two million government jobs in California, as reported annually by each entity.
Labor Day weekend is one of the busiest on the highways, which makes impaired driving even more dangerous.
To help keep the roadways safe, the California Highway Patrol is joining forces with five other Western states with the slogan “No safe place for impaired drivers” to crack down on drunk and drugged driving for the coming holiday weekend.
In partnership with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, the state patrols of Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon and Washington will work as a Western States Traffic Safety Coalition to place special emphasis on the enforcement of drug-impaired driving.
The states will jointly stress that driving under the influence means drugs as well as alcohol in their educational efforts.
“Whatever causes impairment makes you an unsafe driver,” CHP Commissioner Warren Stanley said. “High visibility enforcement in these six states will help create a general deterrence and promote safer driving.”
In California, roads will be patrolled by all available CHP officers for the Maximum Enforcement Period, or MEP, from 6:01 p.m. Friday, Aug. 30, to 11:59 p.m. Monday, Sept. 2.
During the 2018 Labor Day weekend MEP, 36 people were killed on California roads and 1,084 were arrested for DUI.
Since the legalization of recreational cannabis, the CHP has increased training efforts to detect impaired drivers. All CHP officers and sergeants have received additional impaired driving enforcement training.
California also has the highest number of drug recognition expert trained personnel in the nation. For the Labor Day MEP, DREs will be on duty throughout the state.
Many people think of Labor Day as the last weekend of summer and plan special trips. The CHP reminds all drivers: Do not drive if you are going to drink or use any other impairing substance. Always wear your seat belt. Avoid distractions behind the wheel. Be patient, especially when it comes to road congestion or construction.
The mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of safety, service and security.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Planning Commission will hold a special meeting this week, during which it will consider an updated project to renovate the Bel Aire Apartments.
The commission will meet at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 28, in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.
On Wednesday, the commission will consider Jonathan Bridges’ new architectural and design review to allow a redesign of the Bel Aire Apartments at 1125 N. Main St.
The 14-unit, 10,720-square-foot apartment complex, built in 1927, was damaged in a November fire, as Lake County News has reported.
The commission held an initial discussion on a previous version of Jonathan Bridges’ proposal on Aug. 14.
At that point, the project included replacing the two-story building’s flat roof with a pitched roof and removing or covering its art deco features – including its medallions and rosettes – and replacing them with modern trim.
Jonathan Bridges was not able to attend the Aug. 14 meeting but his father, Doug, was present for the discussion, explaining that they were offered the purchase of the building’s owners, who are underinsured and cannot afford to restore the building.
The commission members had questions about the lack of a landscaping plan for the project, the need to determine the building’s historical value and concerns about the loss of the art deco architecture, which city staff “does not reflect the time period or the historical appearance the City is working to preserve.”
Staff indicated they had worked to fast-track the project to both deal with a blighted structure and to restore the lost housing units.
Commissioner Michael Green said he considered the application incomplete and that there was a potential for historical status for the building, adding he loves art deco.
Commissioner Ken Wicks pointed out that a program in the general plan that refers to heritage sites requires that, prior to altering any structure with historical significant, the general plan is to be consulted. For structures that are more than 45 years old, they’re supposed to be reviewed with their historical value determined.
Wicks said art deco was an attempt to modernize Lakeport and bring in visitors from Cobb. As a result, various places around Lakeport became “art deco-ish.”
He said he did an informal survey of 26 people and found that 18 wanted to keep the building as art deco, three wanted to modernize it and three others had no opinion.
Later in the discussion, Wicks noted, “This is a good project and it’s got a lot of value.”
The Aug. 14 meeting ended with city staff planning to put the matter over for discussion in September, with requests for Bridges to have the building reviewed by a historical architect who would conduct archival and/or field research to determine the building’s structural value; to prepare a landscape plan for the site; and to review the structural integrity of the covered parking structures in the rear of the building.
Since then, Jonathan Bridges has submitted an updated version of his project that responds to the commission’s concerns. He also asked to be on the special meeting agenda because he cannot attend the regular commission meeting set for Sept. 11.
Bridges’ latest proposal for the building offers to raise the roofline of the new pitched roof so the art deco roofline can still be seen.
He also is planning to retain the art deco medallions – he suggests removing some of the medallions and rosettes from the side and rear of the building to replace those on the front of the building damaged or destroyed in the fire – and has submitted a landscaping plan.
In addition, staff said the city building official visited the site on Aug. 21 and determined that the covered parking areas have been maintained in a stable condition, with Bridges indicating he is willing to make any necessary improvement and paint the parking area to match the building.
According to the staff report, Bridges said he is reluctant to hire an architectural historian. “The applicant has stated the cost associated with repairing this building is close to being infeasible, and any additional costs could have the applicant abandon the reconstruction of this building.”
Staff is suggesting the commission support the revised project.
Also on the agenda for Wednesday’s special commission meeting is review of the initial study that includes a mitigated negative declaration for the Hartley Street Project.
Commissioners also will consider an application from O’Meara Brothers Brewery and Restaurant and Fossa’s Backhoe Service for a minor architectural and design review. The application seeks a 648-square-foot outdoor dining area and pergola along the east side of the building, with the zoning permit to allow outdoor dining and another application to grant a minor exception to the parking regulations for the restaurant, located at 901 Bevins St.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – On Thursday the Clearlake City Council gave unanimous support to a proposed ordinance that update rules regarding public areas where smoking is prohibited in the city.
Administrative Services Director/City Clerk Melissa Swanson presented the staff report to the council for Ordinance No. 233-2019.
The discussion begins at the 10:40 mark in the video above; the ordinance is on page 23 of the agenda packet published below.
Swanson explained that the council, at its July 25 meeting, directed staff to bring forward an ordinance for consideration that prohibits smoking within 25 feet of commercial building entrances and egresses, and public areas such as bus stops and shelters.
She said the Clearlake Municipal Code currently prohibits smoking in any city park.
The proposed ordinance amends the section of code relating to those smoking rules for parks in its entirety to add provisions to prohibit smoking – meaning inhaling or exhaling from any tobacco or cannabis product – within 25 feet of any outdoor dining areas, entrances and egress to places of employment, bus stops and shelters, ATMs, grocery stores, retail stores, bars and restaurants, Swanson said.
Based on council consensus at the July 25 meeting, Swanson said single family homes and multi-unit residences are exempted from this ordinance.
She said the proposed ordinance mandates posting of no smoking signs in areas where smoking is prohibited. Violations of the proposed ordinance are enforced under administrative penalties section of the municipal code.
Swanson said Mayor Russ Cremer met with staff and suggested a change to Item P of Section 5-22.2 on page four of the ordinance that relates to the definition of smoke.
Originally, that passages stated, ‘“Smoke” does not include the product of combustion of incense or similar products when used solely for olfactory purposes and does not contain tobacco or nicotine.” Swanson said Cremer asked to have “cannabis” added to the products that are not contained.
Swanson said the change was discussed with City Attorney Ryan Jones and there were no issues.
Following the brief presentation, there was no public or council comment, and Councilman Phil Harris moved to hold the first reading of the ordinance – as amended – and set a second reading and final adoption at the council’s regular meeting on Sept. 12.
Councilman Russ Perdock seconded Harris’ motion, which the council approved unanimously.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
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