LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Kitten season is here, and Lake County Animal Care and Control has some new young cats available along with several adults.

The available cats include tabbies and cats with Siamese-type markings.

In addition to spaying or neutering, cats that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are microchipped before being released to their new owner. License fees do not apply to residents of the cities of Lakeport or Clearlake.

If you're looking for a new companion, visit the shelter. There are many great pets there, hoping you'll choose them.

In addition to the animals featured here, all adoptable animals in Lake County can be seen here: http://bit.ly/Z6xHMb .

The following cats at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption (other cats pictured on the animal control Web site that are not listed here are still “on hold”).

Domestic medium hair mix

This female domestic medium hair mix has a gray and white coat.

She's in cat room kennel No. 55, ID No. 5036.

Domestic medium hair cat

This female domestic medium hair cat has an orange tabby coat.

She's in cat room kennel No. 80, ID No. 4986.

Domestic short hair mix

This female domestic short hair mix has a calico coat.

She's in cat room kennel No. 95, ID No. 4839.

'Mom'

“Mom” is a female domestic short hair mix with Siamese markings and blue eyes.

She's in cat room kennel No. 115, ID No. 5090.

'Sammy'

“Sammy” is a female gray tabby kitten with a short coat.

She's in cat room kennel No. 136a, ID No. 5021.

Gray tabby kitten

This male gray tabby kitten has a short coat.

He's in cat room kennel No. 136b, ID No. 5034.

Adoptable cats also can be seen at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Cats_and_Kittens.htm .

To fill out an adoption application online visit http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Dog___Cat_Adoption_Application.htm .

Lake County Animal Care and Control is located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport, next to the Hill Road Correctional Facility.

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Visit the shelter online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control.htm .

For more information call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.

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 Animal Care and Control has a mix of young dogs – including several Labrador Retriever mixes – plus some adults waiting for new homes this week.

This week's dogs include mixes of Chihuahua, Doberman Pinscher, German Shepherd, Labrador Retriever and pit bull.

Dogs that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are either neutered or spayed, microchipped and, if old enough, given a rabies shot and county license before being released to their new owner. License fees do not apply to residents of the cities of Lakeport or Clearlake.

If you're looking for a new companion, visit the shelter. There are many great pets hoping you'll choose them.

In addition to the animals featured here, all adoptable animals in Lake County can be seen here: http://bit.ly/Z6xHMb .

The following dogs at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption (additional dogs on the animal control Web site not listed are still “on hold”).

Labrador Retriever mix

This female Labrador Retriever mix has a short black coat with white markings.

She's in kennel No. 2, ID No. 4969.

Pit bull terrier mix

This male pit bull terrier mix has a short brown coat.

Shelter staff said he does not jump and is very friendly, walking well on a leash, showing no food aggression, and allowing handling of his mouth, ears, paws and tail with no problems. He also enjoys a good tummy rub.

He would do great in a home with no cats.

He's in kennel No. 4, ID No. 4850.

Pit bull terrier

This female pit bull terrier has a short dark coat.

She's in kennel No. 5, ID No. 5029.

Pit bull terrier

This female pit bull terrier has a short tan brindle coat.

She's in kennel No. 6, ID No. 5028.

'Razor'

“Razor” is a female Chihuahua mix.

She has a short tan coat with white markings.

She's in kennel No. 8, ID No. 5017.

German Shepherd mix

This female German Shepherd mix has a short black and tan coat.

She's in kennel No. 10, ID No. 5065.

Yellow Labrador Retriever

This male Labrador Retriever mix has a short yellow coat.

He's in kennel No. 14a, ID No. 4925.

'Goliath'

“Goliath” is a male pit bull terrier mix.

He has a short white coat with a nifty brown eye patch.

He's in kennel No. 17, ID No. 5012.

Chihuahua mix

This female Chihuahua mix has a short tan and white coat.

She's in kennel No. 20, ID No. 5068.

'Mom'

“Mom” is a female Labrador Retriever-Doberman Pinscher mix.

She has a pretty black and tan coat, and a sweet personality.

She's in kennel No. 22, ID No. 4917.

Labrador Retriever mix

This young male Labrador Retriever mix has a short black coat.

He's in kennel No. 25a, ID No. 5061.

Labrador Retriever mix

This young male Labrador Retriever mix has a short black coat.

He's in kennel No. 25b, ID No. 5062.

Male pit bull mix

This male pit bull mix has a short black coat with white markings on his chest and toes.

He's in kennel No. 29, ID No. 5004.

Labrador Retriever mix puppy

This female Labrador Retriever mix puppy has a short black coat with white markings.

She's in kennel No. 32, ID No. 5066.

To fill out an adoption application online visit http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Dog___Cat_Adoption_Application.htm .

Lake County Animal Care and Control is located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport, next to the Hill Road Correctional Facility.

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Visit the shelter online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control.htm .

For more information call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.

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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NORTH COAST, Calif. – A single-vehicle crash on Highway 101 south of Hopland on Sunday afternoon killed a child and seriously injured an adult.

The California Highway Patrol's Ukiah Area office said the crash occurred at 1:30 p.m. on Highway 101 near Pieta Creek and Frog Woman Rock, between Hopland and Cloverdale.

A 7-year-old girl died of her injuries and the 30-year-old woman who was driving suffered major injuries, the report said.

The CHP did not release the names of either of the two crash victims, who are from Stockton.

CHP officers who arrived at the scene found a black 2007 Honda had gone off the embankment and had come to rest on its wheels in the Russian River.

According to witnesses at the scene, the Honda was traveling southbound when the driver suddenly lost control and veered off the highway, the CHP reported.

The Honda went over an embankment and overturned before coming to rest in the river, according to the CHP.

Cal Fire and Hopland Fire Department arrived on scene to care for the patients, and were joined by a Calstar air ambulance out of Ukiah and the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office's Henry-1 helicopter, the CHP said.

The CHP said that, due to the steep terrain, the two crash victims had to be brought up from the river bottom to the highway's shoulder via helicopter. Reports from the scene had stated that the vehicle was 300 feet down the embankment.

Highway 101 was closed for a short period of time while the crash victims were removed from the river, according to reports from the scene.

The girl died at the scene of her injuries, the CHP said.

Calstar took the driver to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital for treatment of injuries including a fractured right arm and pelvis, according to the report.

The CHP said both crash victims were wearing their seat belts, and intoxication does not appear to be a factor.

The crash remains under investigation, the CHP said.

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. – A portion of Northern California that includes Lake County remains under a red flag warning through Sunday evening due to fire weather conditions.

The National Weather Service issued the warning, which ends at 5 p.m. Sunday.

A red flag warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or will shortly, the agency said.

While the county has seen slightly cooler temperatures over the last few days following a short hot spell, forecasters are concerned due to a combination of strong winds, low relative humidity and warm temperatures across the region that can contribute to extreme fire behavior.

Lake County's specific forecast calls for daytime temperatures into the high 80s on Sunday, dropping into the high 50s at night.

Winds of up to 10 miles per hour are forecast around the county on Sunday, with gustier winds anticipated on Monday.

Cooler daytime temperatures – into the high 70s – are anticipated for the rest of the week, according to the forecast.

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.

Astronomers using the upgraded Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array in New Mexico have produced the most detailed radio map yet of the atmosphere of Jupiter, revealing the massive movement of ammonia gas that underlies the colorful bands, spots and whirling clouds visible to the naked eye.

The University of California, Berkeley researchers measured radio emissions from Jupiter’s atmosphere in wavelength bands where clouds are transparent. The observers were able to see as deep as 100 kilometers (60 miles) below the cloud tops, a largely unexplored region where clouds form.

The planet’s thermal radio emissions are partially absorbed by ammonia gas. Based on the amount of absorption, the researchers could determine how much ammonia is present and at what depth.

By studying these regions of the planet's atmosphere, astronomers hope to learn how global circulation and cloud formation are driven by Jupiter's powerful internal heat source. These studies also will shed light on similar processes occurring on other giant planets in our solar system and on newly discovered giant exoplanets around distant stars.

“We in essence created a three-dimensional picture of ammonia gas in Jupiter’s atmosphere, which reveals upward and downward motions within the turbulent atmosphere,” said principal author Imke de Pater, a UC Berkeley professor of astronomy.

The map bears a striking resemblance to visible-light images taken by amateur astronomers and the Hubble Space Telescope, she said.

The radio map shows ammonia-rich gases rising into and forming the upper cloud layers: an ammonium hydrosulfide cloud at a temperature near 200 Kelvin (minus 100 degrees Fahrenheit) and an ammonia-ice cloud in the approximately 160 Kelvin cold air (minus 170degrees Fahrenheit). These clouds are easily seen from Earth by optical telescopes.

Conversely, the radio maps show ammonia-poor air sinking into the planet, similar to how dry air descends from above the cloud layers on Earth.

The map also shows that hotspots – so-called because they appear bright in radio and thermal infrared images – are ammonia-poor regions that encircle the planet like a belt just north of the equator. Between these hotspots are ammonia-rich upwellings that bring ammonia from deeper in the planet.

“With radio, we can peer through the clouds and see that those hotspots are interleaved with plumes of ammonia rising from deep in the planet, tracing the vertical undulations of an equatorial wave system,” said UC Berkeley research astronomer Michael Wong.

The final maps have the best spatial resolution ever achieved in a radio map: 1,300 kilometers.

“We now see high ammonia levels like those detected by Galileo from over 100 kilometers deep, where the pressure is about eight times Earth’s atmospheric pressure, all the way up to the cloud condensation levels,” de Pater said.

De Pater, Wong and their colleagues will report their findings and highly detailed maps in the June 3 issue of the journal Science.

Prelude to Juno’s arrival

The observations are being reported just one month before the July 4 arrival at Jupiter of NASA’s Juno spacecraft, which plans, in part, to measure the amount of water in the deep atmosphere where the Very Large Array looked for ammonia.

“Maps like ours can help put their data into the bigger picture of what’s happening in Jupiter’s atmosphere,” de Pater said, noting that her team will observe Jupiter with the VLA at the same time as Juno’s microwave instruments are probing for water.

Key to the new observations was an upgrade to the VLA that improved sensitivity by a factor of 10, said Bryan Butler, a co-author and staff astronomer at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Socorro, New Mexico, which operates the VLA. “These Jupiter maps really show the power of the upgrades to the VLA.”

The team observed over the entire frequency range between 4 and 18 gigahertz (1.7 – 7 centimeter wavelength), which enabled them to carefully model the atmosphere, said David DeBoer, a research astronomer with UC Berkeley’s Radio Astronomy Laboratory.

“We now see fine structure in the 12 to 18 gigahertz band, much like we see in the visible, especially near the Great Red Spot, where we see a lot of little curly features,” Wong said. “Those trace really complex upwelling and downwelling motions there.”

The observations also resolve a puzzling discrepancy between the ammonia concentration detected by the Galileo probe when it plunged through the atmosphere in 1995 – 4.5 times the abundance observed in the sun – and VLA measurements from before 2004, which showed much less ammonia gas than measured by the probe.

“Jupiter’s rotation once every 10 hours usually blurs radio maps, because these maps take many hours to observe,” said co-author Robert Sault, of the University of Melbourne in Australia. “But we have developed a technique to prevent this and so avoid confusing together the upwelling and downwelling ammonia flows, which had led to the earlier underestimate.”

This research was supported by Planetary Astronomy and Outer Planets Research Program awards from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. NRAO is a National Science Foundation facility operated under cooperative agreement by Associated Universities Inc.

Robert Sanders writes for the UC Berkeley News Center.