The Employment Development Department's latest report on California's employment numbers showed that Lake County had a 16.6 percent unemployment rate in August, down 0.9 percentage points over the month and 0.6 percentage points over the year.

California's unemployment rate in August was 12.1 percent, up from 12 percent in July but down from 12.4 percent in August 2010. The unemployment rate is derived from a federal survey of 5,500 California households.

The number of people unemployed in California was 2,175,000 – up by 8,000 over the month, but down by 83,000 compared with August of last year, the state reported.

The U.S. unemployment rate was unchanged in August at 9.1 percent, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. The August 2010 national unemployment rate was 9.6 percent.

In August, Marin had a 7.8 percent unemployment rate, the state's lowest, and Imperial County had the highest statewide rate, 32.4 percent, according to the report.

Lake County's August rate ranked it No. 54 of the state's 58 counties, the Employment Development Department reported.

Lake's neighboring counties registered the following unemployment rates and statewide ranks: Glenn, 16.3 percent, No. 53; Colusa, 16 percent, No. 50; Yolo, 11.2 percent, No. 23; Mendocino, 10.7 percent, No. 16; Sonoma, 10 percent, No. 10; and Napa, 8.8 percent, No. 3.

Dennis Mullins of the Employment Development Department's North Coast Region Labor Market Information Division reported that Lake County industry employment increased 250 jobs between July and August.

Mullins said that increase is part of a usual trend as seasonal farm employment increased and schools begin rehiring for the new term.

He said that nine industry sectors gained jobs or were unchanged over the month, and two declined.

Job growth was noted in farm (+130); manufacturing (+10); trade, transportation and utilities (+10); private educational and health services (+10); and government (+100), according to Mullins.

He said industries with no change over the month included mining, logging and construction; information; financial activities; professional and business services.

Leisure and hospitality was down 20 jobs for August, and the “other services” category was down by 10 jobs, according to Mullins' report.

Mullins said government (-70), construction (-50) and financial activities (-20 and includes real estate) continue to lag over the year, accounting for over three-fourths of the county’s year-over job decline (-180).

Amongst Lake County's cities and Census designated places, in August Clearlake Oaks once again had the highest unemployment, 24.6 percent, followed by Nice, 24 percent; the city of Clearlake, 23.7 percent; Lucerne, 17.5 percent; Kelseyville, 16.9 percent; Middletown, 16.9 percent; city of Lakeport, 16 percent; Cobb, 14.8 percent; Lower Lake, 13.9 percent; Hidden Valley Lake, 13.7 percent; north Lakeport, 13.1 percent; and Upper Lake, 8.6 percent.

Lake County had a labor force of 25,120 people in August, with 4,170 of them jobless, based on the most recent state report. In July, records showed there were 24,980 people in the work force, with 4,360 of them out of work.

The Employment Development Department reported that there were 543,089 people in California receiving regular unemployment insurance benefits during the August survey week, compared with 566,380 last month and 620,844 last year.

New claims for unemployment insurance were 54,463 in August 2011, compared with 57,897 in July

and 65,261 in August of last year, the state reported.

State shows slight decrease in job numbers

Nonfarm jobs in California totaled 14,057,200 in August, a decrease of 8,400 jobs over the month, according to a survey of businesses that is larger and less variable statistically.

The Employment Development Department said the survey of 42,000 California businesses measures jobs in the economy. The year-over-year change – August 2010 to August 2011 – showed an increase of 171,100 jobs, up 1.2 percent.

The federal survey of households, done with a smaller sample than the survey of employers, showed a decrease in the number of employed people.

The state said that survey estimated the number of Californians holding jobs in August was 15,830,000, a decrease of 18,000 from July, and down 58,000 from the employment total in August of last year.

Five categories – mining and logging; manufacturing; trade, transportation and utilities; professional and business services; and leisure and hospitality – added jobs over the month, gaining 9,100 jobs, according to the Employment Development Department. Trade, transportation and utilities posted the largest increase over the month, adding 5,700 jobs.

Six categories – construction; information; financial activities; educational and health services; other services; and government – reported job declines over the month, down 17,500 jobs, the state said. Construction posted the largest decrease over the month, down 7,200 jobs.

In a year-over-year comparison, from August 2010 to August 2011, nonfarm payroll employment in California increased by 171,100 jobs, up 1.2 percent, according to the report.

The August report said that eight categories – mining and logging; construction; manufacturing; trade, transportation and utilities; information; professional and business services; educational and health services; and leisure and hospitality – posted job gains over the year, adding 209,200 jobs. Professional and business services posted the largest gain on a numerical basis, adding 57,700 jobs, up 2.8 percent.

Information posted the largest gain on a percentage basis, up by 5.6 percent, an increase of 24,100 jobs, according to the report.

Three categories – financial activities; other services; and government – posted job declines over the year, down 38,100 jobs, the state said.

The report showed that government posted the largest decline on both a numerical and percentage basis, down by 27,400 jobs, a decrease of 1.1 percent.

E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews, on Tumblr at www.lakeconews.tumblr.com, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf and on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/LakeCoNews .

Scientists think that a giant asteroid, which broke up long ago in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, eventually made its way to Earth and led to the extinction of the dinosaurs. Data from NASA's WISE mission likely rules out the leading suspect, a member of a family of asteroids called Baptistina, so the search for the origins of the dinosaur-killing asteroid goes on. This artist's concept shows a broken-up asteroid. Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech.

Observations from NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) mission indicate the family of asteroids some believed was responsible for the demise of the dinosaurs is not likely the culprit, keeping open the case on one of Earth's greatest mysteries.

While scientists are confident a large asteroid crashed into Earth approximately 65 million years ago, leading to the extinction of dinosaurs and some other life forms on our planet, they do not know exactly where the asteroid came from or how it made its way to Earth.

A 2007 study using visible-light data from ground-based telescopes first suggested the remnant of a huge asteroid, known as Baptistina, as a possible suspect.

According to that theory, Baptistina crashed into another asteroid in the main belt between Mars and Jupiter about 160 million years ago. The collision sent shattered pieces as big as mountains flying. One of those pieces was believed to have impacted Earth, causing the dinosaurs' extinction.

Since this scenario was first proposed, evidence developed that the so-called Baptistina family of asteroids was not the responsible party. With the new infrared observations from WISE, astronomers say Baptistina may finally be ruled out.

“As a result of the WISE science team's investigation, the demise of the dinosaurs remains in the cold case files,” said Lindley Johnson, program executive for the Near Earth Object (NEO) Observation Program at NASA Headquarters in Washington.

“The original calculations with visible light estimated the size and reflectivity of the Baptistina family members, leading to estimates of their age, but we now know those estimates were off,” said Johnson. “With infrared light, WISE was able to get a more accurate estimate, which throws the timing of the Baptistina theory into question.”

WISE surveyed the entire celestial sky twice in infrared light from January 2010 to February 2011. The asteroid-hunting portion of the mission, called NEOWISE, used the data to catalog more than 157,000 asteroids in the main belt and discovered more than 33,000 new ones.

Visible light reflects off an asteroid. Without knowing how reflective the surface of the asteroid is, it's hard to accurately establish size. Infrared observations allow a more accurate size estimate. They detect infrared light coming from the asteroid itself, which is related to the body's temperature and size.

Once the size is known, the object's reflectivity can be re-calculated by combining infrared with visible-light data.

The NEOWISE team measured the reflectivity and the size of about 120,000 asteroids in the main belt, including 1,056 members of the Baptistina family.

The scientists calculated the original parent Baptistina asteroid actually broke up closer to 80 million years ago, half as long as originally proposed.

This calculation was possible because the size and reflectivity of the asteroid family members indicate how much time would have been required to reach their current locations – larger asteroids would not disperse in their orbits as fast as smaller ones.

The results revealed a chunk of the original Baptistina asteroid needed to hit Earth in less time than previously believed, in just about 15 million years, to cause the extinction of the dinosaurs.

“This doesn't give the remnants from the collision very much time to move into a resonance spot, and get flung down to Earth 65 million years ago,” said Amy Mainzer, a co-author of a new study appearing in the Astrophysical Journal and the principal investigator of NEOWISE at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena. Calif. “This process is thought to normally take many tens of millions of years.”

Resonances are areas in the main belt where gravity nudges from Jupiter and Saturn can act like a pinball machine to fling asteroids out of the main belt and into the region near Earth.

The asteroid family that produced the dinosaur-killing asteroid remains at large. Evidence that a 10-kilometer (about 6.2-mile) asteroid impacted Earth 65 million years ago includes a huge, crater-shaped structure in the Gulf of Mexico and rare minerals in the fossil record, which are common in meteorites but seldom found in Earth's crust.

In addition to the Baptistina results, the NEOWISE study shows various main belt asteroid families have similar reflective properties. The team hopes to use NEOWISE data to disentangle families that overlap and trace their histories.

“We are working on creating an asteroid family tree of sorts,” said Joseph Masiero, the lead author of the study. “We are starting to refine our picture of how the asteroids in the main belt smashed together and mixed up.”

JPL manages and operated WISE for NASA's Science Mission Directorate. The spacecraft was put into hibernation mode after it scanned the entire sky twice, completing its main objectives. The principal investigator, astronomer Edward Wright, is at UCLA.

The mission was selected competitively under NASA's Explorers Program managed by the agency's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. The science instrument was built by the Space Dynamics Laboratory in Logan.

The spacecraft was built by Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. in Boulder, Colo. Science operations and data processing take place at the Infrared Processing and Analysis Center at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. Caltech manages JPL for NASA.

Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews, on Tumblr at www.lakeconews.tumblr.com, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf and on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/LakeCoNews.

Sutter Lakeside Hospital nurses represented by the California Nurses Association took part in a one-day strike on Thursday, September 22, 2011, across the street from the hospital in Lakeport, Calif. Photo by Elizabeth Larson.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Several dozen local nurses holding picket signs lined Hill Road East across from Sutter Lakeside Hospital on Thursday, taking part in a one-day strike to oppose what they say are unfair takeaways the hospital is proposing in contract negotiations with nursing staff.

The action at Sutter Lakeside was in concert with a one-day strike called at 33 other hospitals around Northern and Central California – mostly Sutter and Kaiser Permanente facilities – involving an estimated 23,000 nurses represented by the California Nurses Association.

At Sutter Lakeside, an estimated 125 nurses are part of the union. It was not clear on Thursday how many nurses were taking part in the strike, although numbers ranged between 50 and 75.

Sutter Lakeside spokesperson Angie Lagle said that 94 percent of the day shift nurses, or two-thirds of the total nursing staff, crossed the picket lines.

“There have been no issues today regarding the strike. Those that have showed up to picket have been very peaceful and respectful, which we are grateful for,” Lagle said.

As they walked along the road shoulder in the hot sun Thursday, the nurses carried signs that read “Some cuts don't heal,” “Not cuts in patient services” and “Community care not corporate profits.”

The majority of the feedback the striking nurses received from people coming and going from the hospital included friendly waves and the honking of car horns.

Jody Dawson, a 19-year veteran of the hospital who works in Sutter Lakeside's birthing center, said the largely supportive response was because nurses are there for patients at birth, death and whenever they're needed in between.

However, the reception they had wasn't completely positive. At one point, a man in a large silver SUV paused to yell that they were greedy.

“We're not going in asking for more money,” said Dawson. “It's all about the takeaways with them.”

The proposed takeaways include cuts in health care to part-time nursing staff and cuts in benefits, according to the union.

Nurses on strike Thursday also emphasized that they make well below the $136,000 “average” salary that the hospital said nurses made in the Sutter system.

Steve Kostove, a 19-year Sutter Lakeside nurse who said he recently was fired in retaliation for his union activities, took part in the strike, which he said began early in the morning on Thursday and ended at 8 p.m.

Nurses taking part in the strike noted low morale and more tension in their work atmosphere, which they're blaming on the hospital's administration, including hospital Chief Administrative Officer Siri Nelson and Human Resources Director Richard Abbate.

There have been recent firings, with nurses also placed on administrative leave while complaints against them are investigated, according to Kostove and other nurses on the picket line.

Lagle said that, because of employee privacy laws, the hospital cannot comment on those allegations.

Dawson said nurses were repeatedly questioned on Wednesday about whether or not they were going to strike.

“My experience in the hospital yesterday was atrocious,” is how Dawson described the day before the strike.

Lagle said that, in preparing for the strike, the department directors were asked to find out how many replacement nurses they might need in order to continue to provide proper care for patients.

“We apologize if some nurses found this intimidating, but we needed to find out this information for the safety and care of our patients,” said Lagle.

She added, “Sutter Lakeside administration in no way intended to make any nurse feel intimidated or retaliated against. We feel that it is the right of every nurse to strike if they would like to and we have no reprimand for those who decide to do so. Our goal with the questioning was to ensure the proper care of our patients.”

Dawson said her boss personally warned her that she was worried for Dawson's job if she participated in the one-day strike.

Lagle said employees are aware of the policies and procedures that are outlined in the nursing contract with regards to union activities, and they are aware if they have acted in a way that would cause them to be in violation of those policies and procedures.

“I am not aware of a particular case where someone was directly warned about losing their job, so I have no specific comment,” Lagle said.

The hospital had said earlier this week that it was hiring contract nurses, and that nurses who took part in the strike would not be able to return to work for an additional seven days.

It wasn't clear on Thursday if that was going to hold, as nurses were receiving word that they would be able to return to work on their next scheduled shift, unless they worked in the emergency room or intensive care unit.

Union members also said they understood that the hospital had been able to cover the striking nurses with current staff, not contract nurses.

Kostove said the union was telling nurses to show up for their scheduled shifts, prepared to work.

Kristin Snyder, who has worked at the hospital for 30 years, splits her time between the birthing center and the intensive care unit. She wasn't sure if she was going to be allowed to return to work on Sunday or not.

“I think they're really out to destroy the union,” said Snyder.

She said the union offers nurses “a measure of safety” in their jobs, adding that without CNA the nurses are essentially powerless.

Kostove said the next negotiation sessions on the new nurses' contract is set to take place next week, but he said if the nurses are locked out they won't appear at the negotiating table.

At the hospital's request, a small police presence was at the scene of the Thursday strike.

The Lakeport Police Department reported that Sutter Lakeside had contacted the agency on Tuesday seeking assistance due to security concerns over the strike, which Lagle confirmed.

“Some strikes in the past have resulted in employees fearing for their safety arriving to and leaving the hospital building and we did not want that to occur this time,” Lagle said. “We did not expect to have major issues during this strike yet we wanted to show the non-striking employees that administration hears their concerns and cares for their safety. Our desire is to always provide a safe working environment for our employees, no matter the circumstances.”

Sgt. Kevin Odom reported that the hospital asked to contract for two officers to be at the main entrance from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., with the hospital agreeing to pay for all overtime costs. Odom said the department agreed to a contract with the hospital after consulting with the Lake County Sheriff's Office about the event.

Odom reported that the officers' job was to maintain everyones' safety and remain impartial.

At the scene on Thursday were Sgt. Dale Stoebe and Officer Destry Henderson, who said there were no incidents during the day.

E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews, on Tumblr at www.lakeconews.tumblr.com, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf and on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/LakeCoNews.

Nurses were on the picket line for much of the day on Thursday, September 22, 2011, across the street from Sutter Lakeside Hospital in Lakeport, Calif. Photo by Elizabeth Larson.

The same plan would protect current members from retirement changes but would form a powerful commission to modernize military retirement for future generations.

Like base closing commissions, final recommendations would have to be wholly rejected or accepted. The president and the Congress could not make select changes.

The White House debt cutting plan, delivered to the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, confirms what advocates for TRICARE beneficiaries had feared: that they are expected to share in the fiscal sacrifices to be asked of millions of Americans drawing federal entitlements.

Military associations sound equally alarmed by the rhetoric in the White House recommendations suggesting that key military benefits are just too generous and must be brought nearer to what civilians receive.

“Military service is unlike any other occupations, whether in government or the civilian sector,” said Joe Barnes, national executive director of the Fleet Reserve Association. Yet the White House now puts “a tremendous focus on trying to benchmark benefits associated with that service to what’s going on in the corporate world.”

“We were shocked at the tone of it,” said Steve Strobridge, director of government relations for Military Officers Association of America. “It talks about, basically, civilianizing the military benefits package. I mean it expresses that as a goal, which to us is absolutely anathema. The whole point of the benefit package is to provide an offset for unique conditions of military service. You can’t civilianize the package without civilianizing service conditions. If the last 10 years show us anything it’s that military conditions are getting worse than when these programs were designed.”

Two TRICARE features are targeted. Users of TRICARE for Life (TFL), the prized supplement to Medicare for beneficiaries 65 and older, would pay an annual fee, starting at $200 in 2013, with adjustments for inflation.

The White House notes that TFL users now pay only the Medicare Part B premium, $110 a month for most, and pharmacy co-pays. Otherwise they face no out of pocket health costs. By contrast, private sector elderly, in 2009, paid on average $2100 a year for their “Medigap” policy.

The annual TFL fee would save a $6.7 billion over 10 years.

Obama’s would save another $20 billion across a decade by raising pharmacy co-pays in the TRICARE retail network, sparing only active duty members. Current co-pays “have lagged” behind other plans, it says.

Family and retiree drug costs at retail outlets would move “closer to parity with the most popular federal employee health plan, BlueCross BlueShield Standard, and closer to the health plans that most Americans have from their employers,” the White House report explains.

Federal civilians now pay about $45 to get a brand name drug at retail. Military beneficiaries pay $9 and it rises next month to $12. Obama also wants military drug co-pays to rise automatically with costs to the government, thus shifting from a set dollar co-pay to a percentage formula. So co-pays for generic drugs at retail would be set at 10 percent of the Defense Department’s cost for the medicine.

Sometime after 2013 this would climb to 20 percent. Co-pays for brand names would start at 15 percent of cost and be raised to 30 percent over some yet unspecified period.

In proposing a commission to “reform” retirement, with authority similar to that of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission, the White House said the current system “is now out of line with most other government or private retirement plans.”

Even as associations like MOAA and FRA alerted members to details of Obama’s plan, and urged that e-mails and letters of protest flood Congress, the outcome of this fight to protect benefits appeared more uncertain than in battles past, with the real chance changes could become law by year’s end.

The unusual structure adopted in August to reach a debt deal – with the president and Congress conceding to the joint or “super” committee of 12 lawmakers responsibility to shape a take-it-or-leave-it legislative package by November 23 – almost certainly handcuffs the influence of lobbyists to derail whatever package of cost curbs the committee’s majority embraces.

“It changes the dynamic considerably,” said a key congressional staff member. “The changes get rolled into a package and all of a sudden it looks like just your fair share. And we shouldn’t take our fair share?”

The super committee’s power to cut a final deal leaves TRICARE advocates “automatically at a disadvantage” that they didn’t face defeating the Bush administration’s call for hefty TRICARE fee hikes starting in 2006. Those ideas had to clear familiar ground, the armed services committees.

“They can influence those committees very dramatically,” the staffer said.

Only two super committee members also serve on armed services, though all standing committees are invited to share views on cuts they favor and oppose. Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.), who chairs the Senate military personnel panel, said he views lifetime health care as “part of a moral contract between our government and those who have stepped forward to serve. For this reason, I oppose the president’s proposals to impose new TRICARE fees on military retirees and other beneficiaries.”

But Arnold Punaro, a retired Marine major general, strongly supports initiatives to slow TRICARE cost growth as well as retirement reforms for new entrants. He applauds the planned retirement commission, urging that a prominent military leader, like retired Gen. Colin Powell, serve as chairman.

Punaro is an influential member on the Defense Business Board, which has recommended to the defense secretary broad changes in retirement and new initiatives to curb “out-of-control” health costs.

“The path advocated by the Praise-the-Lord-and-Pass-the-Benefits outfits are pushing this nation either to a hollow military or to a military way too small to deal with the threats we face,” Punaro said.

To comment, e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., write to Military Update, P.O. Box 231111, Centreville, VA, 20120-1111 or visit: www.militaryupdate.com.

Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews, on Tumblr at www.lakeconews.tumblr.com, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf and on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/LakeCoNews.

Scott De Leon, director of the County’s Public Works Department and Water Resources, reported that Water Resources staff has been on the lake throughout the summer performing regular water monitoring activities and the presence of a different species at this time is not surprising.

The species is identified as Microcystis, a species that tends to appear in spring and fall, whereas summer algal blooms in recent years have consisted mostly of a species called Lyngbya.

“Similar to other species of blue-green algae that we’ve seen, Microcystis also has the potential to release toxins, so it’s important for people to avoid areas with heavy algae accumulation or surface matting, regardless of the type,” De Leon said.

When viewed in the water, the Lyngbya species appears to be fibrous with hair-like filaments and creates floating mats that turn turquoise, purple, orange, and yellow.

In contrast, the Microcystis species appears to be more granular and its presence makes the affected water look like bright-green pea soup.

Both species can produce nuisance odors and may release toxins into the water, county officials reported.

Although the species are different, the advice remains the same, that is, common sense.

Lake County Health Officer Dr. Karen Tait agreed, recommending that it is best to avoid areas near dense patches of algae.

“If you see signs of algae accumulation, it’s best to keep away from that area,” Dr. Tait said.

Dr. Tait and officials from Lake County’s Environmental Health Division continue their recommendations that people and pets stay out of impacted areas, that untreated lake water never be used for drinking water, and that anyone experiencing symptoms after exposure should contact their physician.

“Clear Lake is one of many recreational water bodies around the world that are experiencing a similar increase in the presence of algae blooms,” De Leon said.

He noted that since algae mats move with the currents, the expanse of Clear Lake combined with changing winds can make mitigation efforts a challenge.

De Leon also said, “That also means that at any given time, there are generally many areas on Clear Lake that are not affected.”

The algae monitoring and mitigation efforts are part of the county’s focused approach to protect Clear Lake’s ecosystem and to enable residents and visitors to enjoy the lake to the fullest extent possible.

Lake County’s Water Resources staff has been trying a variety of techniques to mitigate the nuisance algae all summer, including harvesting, aeration and circulation, and chemical treatments.

It is expected the algae will subside significantly with the forecasted cooler temperatures.

For information on blue-green algae, visit the California Department of Public Health Web site at www.cdph.ca.gov/healthinfo/environhealth/water/pages/bluegreenalgae.aspx.

For information on the County’s algae mitigation efforts, contact the Lake County Water Resources office at 707-263-2344.

For health-related questions, contact the Lake County Health Services office at 707-263-1164.

Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews, on Tumblr at www.lakeconews.tumblr.com, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf and on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/LakeCoNews.

The positive sample consisted of 10 Culex tarsalis – the Western encephalitis mosquito – collected east of Middletown on Thursday, Sept. 15, according to the Lake County Vector Control District.

The district said the previous two West Nile Virus-positive mosquito samples were collected earlier in September near Kelseyville. No other West Nile Virus activity – in humans or animals – has been reported in Lake County this year.

“The mosquitoes that are testing positive for West Nile Virus in Lake County develop in still water,” said Jamesina J. Scott, Ph.D., the district manager and research director of the Lake County Vector Control District. “They will develop in wading pools, neglected swimming pools and spas, ponds, fountains, and other water sources. You can protect your family – and your neighbors – by dumping out small water sources like wading pools, or calling the district for help with larger sources like pools and ponds.”

One unmaintained – or “green” – pool can produce hundreds of thousands mosquitoes per week, and those mosquitoes can fly up to five miles away.

The district recommends that residents avoid being outside when mosquitoes are active, especially near dusk and dawn.

Wear long sleeves and pants and use a mosquito repellent – always read and follow label directions – if they are outside when mosquitoes are active, the district suggested. Dump out buckets, wading pools, and other sources of water where mosquitoes develop.

West Nile Virus has been detected in Lake County every year since its arrival in 2004, but only three residents have become ill from WNV infection in that time.

Dr. Scott attributed the low incidence of West Nile Virus disease in Lake County residents to the District’s vigorous efforts to control mosquitoes.

The Vector Control District regularly traps and tests mosquitoes throughout the county to identify the areas that are at highest risk, and target those areas for source reduction and treatment.

The district reports that mosquito activity – particularly for the Culex mosquitoes that transmit West Nile Virus – has been very high in some localized areas of the county.

While mosquitoes are an important part of the environment and cannot be eliminated completely, the district works to reduce mosquito populations near places where people live and recreate to prevent disease.

The Lake County Vector Control provides free mosquito-eating fish to Lake County residents for use in animal water troughs, ornamental ponds and out-of-service (“green”) swimming pools.

Residents with questions, or who would like help with a mosquito problem should contact the Lake County Vector Control District at 707-263-4770 or visit the district's Web site at www.lcvcd.org.

For more information about West Nile virus, visit www.westnile.ca.gov/.

Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews, on Tumblr at www.lakeconews.tumblr.com, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf and on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/LakeCoNews.

From left, PIT Volunteer Desiree Scott from San Rafael and Forest Service Archaeologist Christa Westphal pick through screens looking for cultural artifacts during the PIT project on the Forest. Courtesy photo.

MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. – For a week, 32 volunteers, 11 archaeologists and two tribal representatives from Round Valley lived on the Mendocino National Forest to work on a Passport in Time (PIT) archaeology project.

The work took place in the forest from Aug. 22 to Aug. 26.

The project participants were working on sample excavations across a site believed to be a prehistoric hunting base camp.

Findings included stone flakes from making and maintaining projectile points, partial and nearly whole projectile points, as well as other stone tools.

Projectile points are mostly large specimens used on spears, rather than associated with bow and arrow, a technology that came later in time.

“It’s kind of unusual at this elevation to find a lot of ground stone – we’re at 6,200 plus feet,” said Forest Archaeologist Mike Dugas. “There are quite a few pieces including a small pestle, an anvil stone and various milling stone fragments typically used for processing plant foods. These implements suggest families were at the site, as plant processing was typically done by women.”

Most projectile points found at the site appear to be 3,000 to 5,000 years old, according to the archaeologists.

“The early component is most likely representative of the Yuki tribal territory,” Dugas said. “The presence of artifacts which appear to be made from northeast obsidian sources suggest the Nomlaki were here at some point also. Obsidian analysis will tell us more about who and when the site was occupied. The bulk of tools we’re finding here are from the early period.”

PIT participants started 15 excavation units to sample across the site. Working in teams of three, they excavated square holes, digging across each layer a centimeter at a time and collecting the dirt in 5 gallon buckets which were poured through screens to filter out cultural artifacts. Each layer was carefully documented, including what items were found.

The unit concludes when sterile soil is reached, with no cultural evidence. On average, this was approximately 16 inches deep.

A chert broadstem projectile point found in one of the excavation units by Christa Westphal, an archaeologist from the Feather River Ranger District on the Plumas National Forest. The point is approximately 3,000 years old and drew attention from PIT participants based on its size, age and that it was intact. Courtesy photo.

“I’ve gotten to do every job,” said PIT Volunteer Desiree Scott, who came to the project from San Rafael. “I can screen, I can dig, I can help out with paperwork.”

This is Scott’s second PIT project. Her first was a survey done on the Pike National Forest in Colorado, which was different from the hands-on experience she has had working on an excavation project.

Among her favorite experiences with this PIT project was learning new skills, as well as the diverse group of people working on the project and camping out all week.

“At night we talk about what everybody found,” Scott added.

Each morning, the group goes over safety and the plan for the day before travelling from the Masterson Group Campground to the project site, which Scott said was helpful.

Christa Westphal, an archaeologist from the Plumas National Forest Feather River Ranger District and Chico State University student, said her favorite part was “learning more about prehistoric archaeology.”

Wesley Thomas of Paradise came to the Mendocino National Forest for his first PIT project. He joined his son Lowell Thomas, an archaeologist from the Mendocino National Forest Grindstone Ranger District.

“I love it. It’s wonderful to be around all these intelligent, nice people who love what they’re doing with a lot of patience and a lot of knowledge that they share,” Wesley Thomas said. “If they had these going on for a month at a time I would do them all summer.”

This is Lowell Thomas’ third PIT Project working as an employee. He said his favorite part of the experience is, “seeing how much the volunteers enjoy the experience for the first time and seeing the cultural material that they didn’t know was on the Forest.”

The PIT project on the Mendocino National Forest was the fourth this season for Jim Blaes from Atascadero. He is scheduled to participate in another project next month in Markleeville, south of Lake Tahoe.

“I’ve enjoyed all of it … all I’ve been privileged to do,” Blaes said.

“I like working with these two guys, too,” Blaes laughed, nodding to Wesley and Lowell Thomas, who were working in the same unit.

The PIT Project site this year was first identified during the Keeran Timber Sale in 1976. Artifacts have been found at the site for decades and the site is in an area where there is a lot of disturbance that has brought items to the surface.

“We look around more (here) and find more and more each time,” Dugas said.

At the conclusion of the project, the units were filled in and forest archaeologists will process the information gathered.

The units loop down towards a watering hole, which Dugas speculated was the draw to the site as a base camp.

The diverse group of PIT volunteers included students, professors, retirees, and working professionals who wanted to learn more about archaeology and prehistoric cultures.

“We appreciate all the help from the PIT volunteers,” Dugas added. “It’s been a great week and we are glad we were able to share the experience and have a safe and successful project.”

PIT is a volunteer program with the Forest Service that provides an opportunity for the public to learn more about archaeology and historic preservation working side-by-side with Forest Service archaeologists and historians at sites across the United States.

For more information on the PIT program, or to apply to participate on a PIT project, please visit www.passportintime.com.

Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews, on Tumblr at www.lakeconews.tumblr.com, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf and on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/LakeCoNews.

Desiree Scott (far right) from San Rafael investigates the chert broadstem projectile point found by Christa Westphal, an archaeologist from the Feather River Ranger District on the Plumas National Forest as Deanna Commons (far left) an archaeologist from the Mendocino National Forest and Grindstone District Archaeologist Curt Fair look on. Courtesy photo.

Four Caltrans workers have died in traffic-related incidents in the last year. Three of them were killed within 48 days, during May and June.

Those deaths reversed a steady trend of reduced fatalities, which is partially attributed to the Slow for the Cone Zone public awareness campaign established in 1999. A total of 178 Caltrans workers have died on the job since 1924.

“Motorists often automatically slow down when they see police or CHP officers,” said Caltrans Interim Director Malcolm Dougherty. “We also want them to slow down for Caltrans vehicles and equipment.”

The CHP officers will park their patrol vehicles within work zones.

Caltrans hopes that the presence of the officers will help to slow traffic or encourage vehicles to move over at least one lane from a highway work zone, as required by the Move Over law.

“Adhering to this law can mean the difference between life and death,” said CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow. “The only way to prevent tragedies from occurring on the side of the road is by giving emergency personnel, highway workers and the public some space.”

The CHP will also employ one or more additional enforcement vehicles at some work zones.

Officers will be on hand to ensure safety, and will ticket violators that are traveling too fast in work zones.

The need is significant. Caltrans currently has some 800 ongoing construction contracts valued at more than $10 billion.

The Move Over law, which took effect in 2007, requires drivers to move over a lane when emergency vehicles displaying flashing lights are present. It was amended in 2009 to add Caltrans vehicles with flashing amber lights.

Caltrans, the CHP, the California Office of Traffic Safety, and the Department of Motor Vehicles are working as partners to increase awareness of the law – through the Internet, public service announcements, billboards and the media.

Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews, on Tumblr at www.lakeconews.tumblr.com, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf and on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/LakeCoNews.

Billie Jo Sevey, 33, of Clearlake, Calif., was arrested on Wednesday, September 21, 2011, after she allegedly shot a rifle at her husband. Lake County Jail photo.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Clearlake Police arrested a woman early Wednesday morning after she allegedly shot a rifle at her husband inside their home.

Billie Jo Sevey, 33, was arrested for assault with a firearm on a person, shooting at an inhabited dwelling, negligent discharge of a firearm and domestic violence, according to a report from Sgt. Rodd Joseph.

Joseph said that at 1:15 a.m. Wednesday Clearlake Police officers were dispatched to a reported domestic disturbance in the 15800 block of 27th Avenue.

A man called 911 to report that his wife was armed with a rifle and was shooting at him inside their home. Joseph said that while officers were en route to the scene, the dispatcher overheard a single gunshot over the 911 call.

Officers arrived on scene within minutes and located the adult male victim out in front of the residence. He was uninjured, Joseph said.

Billie Jo Sevey soon exited the house with her children and surrendered to police, Joseph said.

A loaded 45/70 rifle was located in the backyard of the home along with three expended cartridges. Several bullet holes were located inside the home as well, Joseph said.

From the investigation it is believed that Sevey had been in an argument and physical altercation with her husband. Sevey then obtained the firearm and began shooting at her husband as he tried to retreat to another room in the home, Joseph said.

Joseph said no one was injured in the incident.

Sevey – who was booked under the last name of Thompson – is being held in the Lake County Jail on $100,000 bail. She remained in custody on Thursday night, according to jail records.

Joseph said Clearlake Police referred the case to the Lake County District Attorney’s Office for filing of charges.

Anyone with information about this call or any other crime occurring in the city of Clearlake is asked to call police at 707-994-8251. Callers may remain anonymous.

Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews, on Tumblr at www.lakeconews.tumblr.com, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf and on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/LakeCoNews.

SNTs help people with special needs to remain eligible for needs based government benefits (e.g., SSI/Medi-Cal) who might otherwise lose such benefits due to an inheritance, personal injury award, or a lucky wind-fall.

Many people who know about the first two types of SNT generally do not know about pooled SNTs.

A pooled SNT is so-named because multiple beneficiaries participate in a single trust, but with separate accounts.

The pooled SNT is not drafted by a private attorney, nor is it established either “by or for” any one individual beneficiary. Instead, it is established by a nonprofit organization, which is also the trustee, for the benefit of many participants.

That organization manages and invests the assets for the benefit of all beneficiaries. Thus small accounts receive better investment opportunities.

Pooled SNTs are often attractive when small amounts are involved that would otherwise not justify a separate trust.

Currently there are around six pooled SNTs serving California. Each provides a different benefits package. Each charges a one-time “enrollment/joinder fee” and recurring “annual fees.”

These fees vary. For example, the Proxy Parent Foundation Plan of California charges a one-time enrollment fee of 1.5 percent of the trust balance (not to exceed $1,800 or less than $500) and a 1.25 percent annual fee. The Center for Special Needs Trust Administration charges $2,500 for enrollment and a 2% annual fee. These fees can change.

Pooled SNTs are not for everyone. They will not accept to own and/or manage real property (such as the house where the beneficiary lives); any real property must first be sold and the cash proceeds deposited with the trust.

Pooled SNTs can be located far away from where the beneficiary lives. Pooled SNTs will usually keep what remains when the beneficiary dies for their own non-profit mission. And, some find the annual costs too expensive.

Nevertheless the pooled SNT can be very useful in situations where the other types of SNTs are not solutions.

Consider the “self-settled” SNT which requires that a parent, grandparent or a guardian establish the trust solely for a person with special needs who is under age 65. This SNT cannot be established by the beneficiary himself/herself; nor can it be established for a beneficiary over age 65.

In addition, it cannot be established for multiple beneficiaries of the same trust.

Next, consider the “third party” SNT. It only applies when someone other than the special needs person (often a family member) is gifting his/her own assets.

The third party SNT cannot receive assets directly from the beneficiary. Like the self-settled type, the third party SNT requires someone to act as trustee who must either understand public benefits law or work closely with someone who does. Otherwise, the trustee will likely make improper distributions that could cost the beneficiary his or her benefits.

By contrast, the pooled SNT can be joined by anyone, and can receive assets from anyone. Furthermore, the pooled SNT provides a competent trustee.

Thus, someone who is over 65 and receiving SSI or Medi-Cal can still join a pooled SNT and can contribute his or her excess resources directly to the pooled SNT.

And someone who cannot find a qualified person to act as trustee for a third party SNT can solve that problem by joining a pooled SNT.

In sum, pooled SNTs can be a savior when someone cannot otherwise qualify for another type of SNT; when the amount to be invested is too small for a separate SNT; and when a trustee cannot otherwise be found. The value of this type of SNT should not be overlooked.

Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews, on Tumblr at www.lakeconews.tumblr.com, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf and on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/LakeCoNews.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – With a wiener dog race, Oktoberfest costume contest, an authentic German band including strolling accordion players and a spectacular beer and wine garden, Lake County will celebrate the return of Oktoberfest on Saturday, Oct. 1.

The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. in downtown Lakeport.

Despite the already-exciting blend of local craftspeople and service clubs who have rushed to be vendors at this year’s event, some booth spaces are still available.

Planned festivities for this day-long event include a Dachshund Derby wiener dog race as well as a rubber duckie regatta and other live entertainment all day including two live bands, contests such as pretzel eating, Dirndl/Lederhosen outfit, beer stein running and others.

A contest for the best authentic beer stein will be held at the Lakeport Party Store on Third Street across from Museum Park.

There also will be a pretzel guessing contest and even live radio feed on FM 88.7 throughout the day within a mile of the event. The event will conclude with a street dance featuring the Jimi Z Band.

Downtown merchants will participate in Oktoberfest and you may see many of them in costume when the day comes as well as the vendors along Main Street.

One of last year’s biggest highlights was the Dachshund Derby, a running of the wiener dogs. This year’s Oktoberfest is going to kick off with these little longies making their costumed dashes.

Dachshunds come from all over to participate with many of their clever human companions outfitting them in costumes. Large and small dachshunds are welcome and, of course, costumes are highly encouraged with cash prizes for speed and outfits.

The music has been stepped-up this year with two bands highlighted. During the afternoon Showcase the Band will step to the stage with authentic German music, merriment and audience participation from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

From 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. The JimiZ Band will perform for a street dance with music of all sorts to delight the audience.

From 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. a new activity will join the parade as we introduce a Rubber Duckie Regatta. Rubber duckies are available for purchase from the Lake County Chamber office in Lakeport for $5 with participants encouraged to add flair to their quacker for inclusion in the race.

Participants will have a chance to race their duckies in rain gutters from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. using whatever means of propulsion they can muster, so long as they don’t touch their ducks. Costumed participants will be given a 1-foot advantage. Sea Scout Ship Konocti Phoenix is assisting with the Rubber Duckie Race and will be receiving funds from the sale of the Ducks.

Throughout the day there will be an ongoing opportunity to participate in a drawing for cash prizes of $500, $250 and $250 sponsored by the JimiZ band. The drawing will be held at 9 p.m. from the Mediacom Stage and winners do not have to be present.

Dozens of vendors will line the streets of Lakeport with incredible food, clothing, artistry and more.

Last year’s Oktoberfest Lakeport offered a huge variety of shopping items and this year will be no different, with downtown merchants, including a new dessert/ice cream parlor and Lake County vendors offering a wide selection.

Since this celebration takes a nod from the original in Germany, there will be beer of all sorts. More than a dozen micro brews will be available to celebrants from all over the area.

There will be a beer tasting event from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the shadow of the band stand and beer is available for purchase throughout the event.

Lake County’s incredible wineries also will be well represented for those who wish to partake of the grape.

Younger guests will have plenty of choices, too, with plans for a children’s activity area.

In addition to the Oktoberfest, the Lakeport Rotary club is holding its annual Konocti Challenge, a cycling event in which over 500 bicyclists participate in varying courses throughout Lake County, concluding at Oktoberfest.

For more information, visit www.Oktoberfest-Lakeport.com or contact the Lake County Chamber of Commerce at 707-263-5092.

Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews, on Tumblr at www.lakeconews.tumblr.com, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf and on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/LakeCoNews.