“Doc.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. CLEARLAKE, Calif. — Clearlake Animal Control is featuring new dogs and others that continue to wait to be adopted this week.
The shelter’s website lists 48 dogs waiting for adoption.
The dogs that are available for adoption include “Doc,” a male Rottweiler-pit bull mix.
“Sosa.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control.
Another adoptable dog is “Sosa,” a 4-year-old female American Staffordshire terrier mix.
Also up for adoption is “Roman,” a 5-year-old border collie-German shepherd mix with a long black coat and white markings.
He was the featured dog at Thursday’s Clearlake City Council meeting, where it was reported he is a favorite of shelter staff.
Roman is well-mannered and gentle, enjoys long walks and has very good leash skills.
Shelter staff said he is good with other dogs but that they are not sure if he gets along with cats.
He is neutered and up to date on all vaccinations.
“Roman.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. The shelter is located at 6820 Old Highway 53. It’s open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
For more information, call the shelter at 707-762-6227, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., visit Clearlake Animal Control on Facebook or on the city’s website.
This week’s adoptable dogs are featured below.
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.
Fast boats will take to the water this weekend at the Buckingham Test and Tune. Courtesy photo. KELSEYVILLE, Calif. — Classic cars, custom boats and fun are planned for this weekend at the Buckingham Golf Club and Community Center in Kelseyville as the Buckingham Test and Tune returns.
With a hiatus due to low water and COVID concerns, the spectacle is roaring back.
The show is filled to capacity, ensuring spectators and participants a fun-filled weekend.
On Saturday, custom cars, street rods and muscle cars will be on display beginning at 9 am.
Vintage and historic speedboats will run on the water from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, weather and water conditions permitting.
Some of the boats registered to participate include Madam Blue, Tiger, Hot to Trot, The Specialist, Shady Lady, Thrill Me, Chuck Wagon, Hombre and Thunder Chicken.
The event is hosted by the California Speedboat Association, with the help of many volunteers.
“I am so proud of Lake County for their support of this event,” said volunteer Rich Scogin. “I am so thankful to the business community for their support.”
He added, “Our local volunteers have worked tirelessly for months. Rick and Peggy Bonds’ ‘never give up’ attitudes are an inspiration.”
Event organizer Joe Bullock is credited with ensuring the event is a treat for participants and spectators.
He has also secured custom awards, including several handcrafted trophies.
Vendors will include Konocti Bicycles, Lady Luck Garage, Hillside Honda, Red Beard Wraps and Operation Tango Mike. Food will be available for purchase.
There is no fee for spectator admission.
Buckingham Golf Club and Community Center is located at 2855 Westlake Drive.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Avenue of Flags, which each year honors the memories of Lake County’s veterans on Memorial Day, is looking for volunteers for this year’s event.
William Asher, president of the Avenue of Flags, is preparing for the Memorial Day commemoration, which takes place on Monday, May 29.
Flags will be put up at the Lower Lake Cemetery as well as in Kelseyville and Lakeport, Asher said.
Asher said volunteers are needed to meet at 7 a.m. at the Lower Lake Cemetery on Memorial Day to put up flags as well as to transport them to Kelseyville and Lakeport and then back to Lower Lake.
The flags will be taken down at 3 p.m. that day.
For more information or to volunteer, call Asher at 707-900-1652 and leave a message.
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 YMCA Camp Jones Gulch. Photo courtesy of the Governor’s Office. Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday announced major progress in the state’s efforts to conserve 30% of state lands and coastal waters by 2030.
Since April 2022, California has added approximately 631,000 acres of conserved land — nearly 1,000 square miles — bringing the statewide total to 24.4% of lands and 16.2% of coastal waters. Watch the Governor's video announcing this milestone here.
Known as the 30x30 initiative, Gov. Newsom’s October 2020 Executive Order launched what his office called “a once-in-a-generation opportunity to lead the world protecting and restoring nature as a climate solution.”
It calls for additional protection of 6 million acres of land and 500,000 acres of coastal waters in the next seven years to achieve 30x30.
In 2021, President Biden launched the same initiative at the federal level, putting the U.S. on track to conserve 30% of lands and waters nationally. And last year, world leaders came together to agree to protect 30 percent of land and waters in 190 countries across the world.
“California is setting the bar for conservation for other states and nations around the world,” said Newsom. “Preserving species in peril, breaking down barriers to the outdoors for underserved communities, working alongside native peoples who have stewarded these lands and waters since time immemorial — our 30x30 initiative is restoring and protecting California’s unparalleled natural beauty for generations to come.”
The progress is detailed in an inaugural annual report, “Pathways to 30x30 California,” which highlights significant progress over the last year toward achieving three key objectives: 1) Protecting and restoring biodiversity; 2) Expanding access to nature; and 3) Mitigating and building resistance to climate change.
The report provides specific examples of projects that expanded conserved lands throughout the state, including:
Banning Ranch: This $97 million acquisition consists of 387 acres of lowlands and coastal bluffs in Newport Beach and now connects nearly 1,000 acres of conserved coastal lands and waters. Over the next several years, former oil fields on the property will be converted to a public coastal park.
Banning Ranch. Photo courtesy of the Governor’s Office. YMCA Camp Jones Gulch: This voluntary conservation easement conserves 920 forested acres that will continue to host youth development opportunities, environmental education, recreation and community service.
Wildlife Crossings: These crossings enable wildlife to safely traverse busy roadways, as well as find food sources and increase genetic diversity. Two notable crossings include one under construction at over Highway 17 in Santa Cruz County, which will also serve to connect more than 50 miles of previously fragmented regional trails, and the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing, which is expected to help preserve the mountain lion population in the Santa Monica Mountains (which could become extinct within 50 years without an influx of genetic diversity).
The state’s commitment to equity, tribal partnerships and economic prosperity — pillars of the 30x30 initiative — is backed by more than $100 million in grants for local communities and tribes to implement conservation planning projects.
The funding is part of $1.4 billion the state has directed to nature-based solutions to combat climate change and protect the state’s world-renowned biodiversity.
Gov. Gavin Newsom joins the groundbreaking of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing in April 2022. Photo courtesy of the Governor’s Office.
The South Cow Mountain Off Highway Vehicle Management Area in the Ukiah Field Office in Northern California. Photo by Eric Coulter/Bureau of Land Management. LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Bureau of Land Management Ukiah Field Office is taking measures to protect habitat for the imperiled Clear Lake hitch by temporarily limiting vehicle access to the South Cow Mountain Off Highway Vehicle Management Area in Lake County.
The temporary closure of the Scott’s Creek gate entrance near Lakeport became effective starting on Friday, May 12, and continues until Thursday, June 1.
The South Cow Mountain OHV Management Area will remain open to vehicle access on the west side via the Westside Staging Area near Ukiah in Mendocino County.
In addition, the Indian Valley/Walker Ridge and Knoxville Management areas in Lake County will remain open to vehicle access as an alternate location for OHV recreation while the Scott’s Creek gate remains closed.
Recreationists can continue to access the Scott’s Creek entrance by hiking.
“This temporary gate closure at the Scott’s Creek entrance is required to protect water quality and juvenile fish as they migrate back to Clear Lake from Scott’s Creek and prevent destruction of riparian habitat necessary for juvenile Clear Lake hitch survival,” said Ukiah Field Manager Nicholas Lavrov. “This temporary gate closure is an added measure to ensure survival of the Clear Lake hitch as this species has shown rapid decline over the last several years.”
The state-threatened Clear Lake hitch, found only in the Clear Lake Basin, has been in rapid decline since 2017.
Presently, the Clear Lake hitch is under review for listing under the Endangered Species Act.
In recent years, due to drought, the fish have not been able to reach the spawning grounds on BLM lands.
With the recent wet winter and spring, Scott’s Creek has become a productive breeding ground and rearing habitat for the fish.
Scientists determined that 2017 was the last successful reproductive year and hitch live an average of six years; 2023 is potentially the last year for that age class of fish to successfully reproduce.
The BLM intends to partner with local tribes, governments, and agencies to promote the protection of the species and prevent the imminent danger of extinction. This endeavor to close the Scott’s Creek entrance, while juvenile hitch remain in the creek is a key step to ensuring the prolonged survival of the species.
Scott’s Creek is the largest tributary to Clear Lake. Much of the land within the South Cow Mountain OHV Management Area is within the Scott’s Creek watershed.
Soils in the region are naturally high in nutrients like phosphorous and the BLM is mandated by the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board to reduce nutrient inputs into Scott’s Creek to protect the Clear Lake watershed.
Temporary closure of the Scott’s Creek entrance will help to prevent unauthorized vehicle access into the creek to prevent degradation of water quality and the sensitive riparian area while water remains in the creek.
Although the BLM operates on a multiple-use mission that includes grazing, recreational access, and minerals extraction, protecting identified significant resources within streams and riparian areas is a priority use of those lands.
Officials ask the public to please remain respectful and stay on designated routes to avoid crushing juvenile fish and to protect a valuable water resource critical to the Lake County community and Clear Lake hitch survival.
Pack It In — Pack It Out: The Bureau of Land Management encourages all recreationists to practice Leave No Trace ethics while recreating on public lands. Help the BLM be good stewards and preserve public lands for future generations.
For more information, please visit the South Cow Mountain webpage. For specific questions, contact the Ukiah Field Office at 707-468-4000 or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Senate Majority Leader Mike McGuire, Chair of the Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture, or JCFA, as well as Lake County’s representative in the state Senate, is gearing up for Wednesday’s hearing in the State Capitol focused on California’s burgeoning offshore wind industry.
This hearing will explore how to expedite the deployment of green energy while protecting the interests of California’s fishing fleet and ensuring coastal environmental safeguards remain in place.
For the first time, the hearing will bring all sides of the issue together for a groundbreaking discussion that will feature representatives from federal and state agencies, tribal leaders, offshore wind industry representatives, representatives from the fishing fleet, labor leaders and environmental organizations.
Presenters will focus on why offshore wind energy is essential to the State's green energy future and energy supply, the need to incorporate fish and wildlife in the development process, and how wind energy can be compatible with the protection of California’s fisheries.
“This first-of-its-kind hearing will bring all sides of the offshore wind discussion together, ensuring the State can expedite the deployment of this valuable energy resource while protecting the interests of California’s storied fishing fleet and guaranteeing coastal environmental safeguards,” said Sen. McGuire. “It’s critical to have these voices at the same table as we develop the road map for offshore energy, healthy oceans and a thriving fishing fleet to coexist here in the Golden State.”
The hearing begins at 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 17 in the State Capitol Swing Space, 1021 O Street, Room 2100. The public is welcome to attend the hearing.
The hearing will be livestreamed via the Senate website.
For more information about the hearing, visit the committee website.
Jakub Hlávka, University of Southern California and Adam Rose, University of Southern California
Putting a price tag on all the pain, suffering and upheaval Americans and people around the world have experienced because of COVID-19 is, of course, hard to do. More than 1.1 million people have died as a result of COVID-19 in the U.S., and many more have been hospitalized or lostloved ones. Based on data from the first 30 months of the pandemic, we forecast the scale of total economic losses over a four-year period, from January 2020 to December 2023.
To come up with our estimates, our team used economic modeling to approximate the revenue lost due to mandatory business closures at the beginning of the pandemic. We also used modeling to assess the economic blows from the many changes in personal behavior that continued long after the lockdown orders were lifted – such as avoiding restaurants, theaters and other crowded places.
Workplace absences, and sales lost due to the cessation of brick-and-mortar retail shopping, air travel and public gatherings, contributed the most. At the height of the pandemic, in the second quarter of 2020, our survey indicates that international and domestic airline travel fell by nearly 60%, indoor dining by 65% and in-store shopping by 43%.
We found that the three sectors that lost the most ground during the first 30 months of the pandemic were air travel, dining, and health and social services, which contracted by 57.5%, 26.5% and 29.16%, respectively.
From 2020 to 2023, the cumulative net economic output of the United States will amount to about $103 trillion. Without the pandemic, the total of GDP over those four years would have been $117 trillion – nearly 14% higher in inflation-adjusted 2020 dollars, according to our analysis.
We also simulated four different possible economic outcomes had the number of COVID-19 deaths been different because of either more or less successful public health strategies in the first 30 months of the pandemic.
The direct health expenses, driven mostly by hospitalization costs in these scenarios, would have totaled $20 billion in a best-case scenario in which 65,000 Americans would have died from January 2020 to June 2022. In the worst-case scenario, about 2 million would have died during that period, with $365 billion in direct health-related expenses.
Based on our findings, most economic losses were not due to these health care expenditures.
Why it matters
The COVID-19 pandemic’s economic consequences are unprecedented for the U.S. by any measure. The toll we estimate that it took on the nation’s gross domestic product is twice the size of that of the Great Recession of 2007-2009. It’s 20 times greater than the economic costs of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and 40 times greater than the toll of any other disaster to befall the U.S. in the 21st century to date.
We modeled only the pandemic’s standard economic effects. We didn’t estimate the vast array of economic costs tied to COVID-19, such as lost years of work after an early death or a severe case of long-COVID-19.
We also didn’t assess the costs due to the many ways that the disease has affected the physical and mental health of the U.S. population or the learning loss experienced by students.
Condor Ridge at sunset. Photo by Bob Wick. On Wednesday, the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources favorably reported the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument Expansion Act (S. 683) with unanimous and bipartisan support.
The bill, introduced by Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) with Sen. Dianne Feinstein as co-sponsor (D-CA), is a companion to H.R. 1396, introduced by Representatives John Garamendi (D-CA) and Mike Thompson (D-CA).
The Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation and legislative co-sponsors have also called for President Joe Biden to expand the national monument using his authority under the Antiquities Act.
The Antiquities Act is a 1906 law that grants presidents the ability to designate federal public lands, waters, and cultural and historical sites as national monuments to permanently conserve them.
The legislation would expand Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument to include additional public lands on the monument’s eastern edge.
In addition, S.683 would establish tribal co-management of the monument and change the name of the expansion area from “Walker Ridge” to Molok Luyuk (the Patwin name for Condor Ridge).
This name was provided by the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, which has a long and significant connection to the area that stretches back thousands of years.
The tribe has actively supported this legislation and the calls for President Biden to protect Molok Luyuk with the Antiquities Act.
“Molok Luyuk is a rare treasure of rich cultural heritage and sacred history, diverse wildlife and rare plants, and stunning natural beauty and accessible recreational activities,” said Sandra Schubert, executive director of Tuleyome, a regional conservation organization. “We are deeply grateful to our Congressional champions Reps. Garamendi and Thompson and Sens. Padilla and Feinstein for shepherding this effort. We encourage President Biden to expand the existing monument and permanently protect Molok Luyuk.”
The expansion of Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument to include Molok Luyuk will protect the cultural, wildlife, climate and outdoor recreation values this region holds.
“Molok Luyuk is a special and sacred place for area tribes and for many local residents who enjoy recreation activities like hiking and mountain biking,” added Lake County Supervisor E.J. Crandell, a member of the Robinson Rancheria Tribe. “The natural beauty of our home also drives tourism, which is key to the economic vitality of the region. Protecting these beautiful lands would be a gift to future generations.”
Advocates and local tribes hope that incorporating the adjacent federally owned land into the existing national monument would improve land management, help expand public access, and protect sensitive wildlife, habitat areas, and cultural resources.
"I grew up in this area and lived here on these lands for the last 20 years. I think that Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument has been positive for the area and I support expanding the monument to include this beautiful ridge. My property is right next to the expansion area - just slightly east of the ridge,” added David Lucientes, a Colusa County landowner. “Having these public lands be part of the monument would be a good thing. It's all one landscape and should be managed together."
Molok Luyuk boasts rich biodiversity including over 30 species of rare plants, ancient blue oak woodlands, rugged rock outcrops, wildflower meadows, and extensive stands of McNab cypress. The area also provides wildlife connectivity for many species including deer, mountain lions, and black bear.
Popular recreation activities on these lands include hiking, mountain biking, photography, camping, horseback riding, and off highway vehicle, or OHV, use on designated routes.
“As an avid OHV recreationist, I strongly support expanding Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument to include Molok Luyuk,” said Don Amador, Government Affairs, American Motorcyclist Association District 36. “The permanent protection of Molok Luyuk will improve the management of these lands and increase public access to recreation opportunities. This is a win-win for our community and I add my voice in support of expanding the monument.”
The proposed national monument expansion would help the state of California under Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Biden Administration meet their shared goals to protect 30% of lands and waters by 2030 and improve outdoor access for historically marginalized communities.
“Nature can be such a valuable reprieve for so many, yet there continue to be deep inequities in access to the outdoors,” said Shanna Edberg, conservation program director for the Hispanic Access Foundation. “In fact, our research found that in California, Latinos and other people of color are two times more likely to be deprived of nearby nature than white people. Protecting Molok Luyuk will help to ensure equitable access to the outdoors in a county where 22% of residents identify as Hispanic or Latino.”
In March, President Biden protected over 500,000 acres of public land by designating Avi Kwa Ame in Southern Nevada and Castner Range in Texas as national monuments through use of the Antiquities Act.
“Our national monuments are a part of our country’s outdoor heritage and must be passed down to future generations,” said Janessa Goldbeck, Chief Executive Officer of Vet Voice Foundation. “Veterans advocated for the designation of Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument and we’re proud to support the expansion of the monument to include Molok Luyuk."
To learn more about this effort and to sign a petition in support of the expansion of the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument, visit www.expandberryessa.org.
Contributing to this tension are politically divisive issues that many school superintendents have had to navigate over the last three years, including the teaching of race, book bans and providing access to athletics and bathrooms for students who identify as transgender.
Within this tense environment, a recent study found that nearly 40% of superintendents reported being threatened or feeling threatened on the job. And, 63% of superintendents reported feeling worried about their mental health and well-being over the past two years.
But while superintendents are feeling the heat, policymakers are unable to accurately determine the impact of pressure on superintendent well-being, performance and willingness to stay on the job.
In fact, the U.S. Department of Education does not collect such data on superintendents, and a nationally comprehensive, annually updated superintendent database has never existed.
Since 2019, my research team has dedicated as many as 400 hours each year to collect the names of superintendents of nearly all traditional public school districts in the United States.
And for a newly published research study in the academic journal Educational Researcher, I conducted a comprehensive, national analysis of superintendent turnover in over 12,500 public school districts since 2019.
My analyses revealed an increase in turnover of nearly 3 percentage points – from 14.2% between 2019-20 and 2020-21 to 17.1% between 2021-22 and 2022-23. More than one out of every three states (37%) had a turnover rate greater than 20% between the last two school years.
A superintendent change occurred at least one time in 35% of districts nationwide, and 6% of districts experienced two or more turnover events.
Though we are unable to determine the exact cause, my research also shows that districts serving larger proportions of students of color were significantly more likely to experience superintendent turnover.
This finding is especially troubling given that frequent churn of leadership can disrupt a school district’s stability and culture, ultimately impacting students’ academic performance.
The role of gender
Superintendent turnover rates vary tremendously across states and districts.
Town and suburban districts were significantly more likely to experience superintendent turnover than urban and rural districts. New research suggests that contentious politics may contribute to superintendent fatigue.
Sixty-five percent of suburban superintendents, for instance, agreed or strongly agreed that school board meetings have become more contentious, compared to 55% of urban superintendents and 47% of rural superintendents.
My research also revealed that superintendent turnover rates for men increased at nearly twice the rate of that for women.
The turnover rate for men jumped 3.2 percentage points, from 13.8% to 17.0%, while the increase for women was 1.8 percentage points, from 15.3% to 17.1%.
Though the jump in turnover rate for men could have narrowed the superintendent gender gap, the gap barely budged. Among districts that experienced turnover, very few hired a new superintendent who was a different gender than their prior superintendent.
As it is currently, the ratio between male and female superintendents nationally is 3-to-1. In some states, that ratio is as large as 8-to-1.
There are also differences in the characteristics of districts where superintendent jobs turned over.
Among districts led by men, those that experienced turnover had significantly larger proportions of students receiving free or reduced price lunches, students of color and students classified as English language learners
Women-led districts that experienced turnover had significantly smaller proportions of students classified as English language learners and students receiving free or reduced-price lunches.
Shawn C. Petretti, superintendent of schools for the Mattituck-Cutchogue School District in New York, stands outside the district’s administration building.John Paraskevas/Newsday RM via Getty Images
Moreover, districts that experienced superintendent turnover involving either a man or woman with larger proportions of white students were consistently more likely to hire a man to be their next leader.
Why superintendent data matters
This research only begins to fill an expansive void in our basic understanding of American superintendency.
These sources do provide valuable insight into the superintendency.
For example, ILO Group’s analyses show that half of the nation’s largest 500 districts have experienced superintendent turnover since March 2020.
Based on a survey of 222 district leaders, the RAND Corporation found that 13% of superintendents planned to leave their position after the 2020-21 school year.
Yet, this source is quite restricted in what it can reveal about superintendent turnover due to low response rates, small samples and respondent anonymity that does not allow superintendents to be linked to districts.
Additionally, the RANDsurveys asked about superintendents’ intentions to leave their current position, a measure known to be largelyinaccurate for determining actual turnover.
Some states are making an effort to support the collection and analysis of data on superintendents. However, states often make it incredibly challenging for researchers, for example, by charging a substantial fee for data access – in some cases as much as $10,000 a year.
Having this data would provide a timely, comprehensive picture of the superintendency – not just a brief snapshot of a few superintendents at a point in time. Moreover, national, longitudinal superintendent data would allow for deeper examination of the contributors to and consequences of superintendent turnover.
If ensuring some teachers and students are not disproportionately at risk of undesirable superintendent churn, sustained support for and efforts to collect and analyze national longitudinal superintendent data must be prioritized.
The former Kmart building on South Main Street in Lakeport, California, is undergoing a major renovation in order to house new tenants. On Wednesday, May 17, 2023, workers were busy removing the facade to prepare it for a new Tractor Supply Co. store. Photo by Elizabeth Larson/Lake County News. LAKEPORT, Calif. — Work is underway to transform the building that previously housed Kmart into space to house new stores.
On Wednesday, construction workers were busily stripping the facade off the building, removing the Spanish-style tiles and other materials. By that point, the large red Kmart letters already had been removed.
The Kmart store was shuttered at the end of 2019 after more than 20 years in the 90,852-square-foot building, located at 2019 S. Main St.
The city of Lakeport’s consultant, The Retail Coach, has been working since the store closed to help bring new retailers to the site, and last year the company confirmed that new tenants were lined up.
At its Dec. 14 meeting, the Lakeport Planning Commission approved an application from Upward Architects, a Tempe, Arizona-based commercial architecture firm, for a use permit and an architectural and design review for a new commercial project at the building, as Lake County News has reported.
Upward Architects’ plan is to subdivide it into three lease spaces and to increase the building’s height from 29 feet to 32 feet.
So far, two tenants are confirmed — Marshalls, a department store, and Tractor Supply Co., which offers housewares, equipment, tools, food for pets and livestock.
The plans presented to the commission in December called for Tractor Supply to occupy the northern portion of the building and Marshalls the southern space, with a third tenant to occupy the central portion of the structure.
City Associate Planner Victor Fernandez told Lake County News that Tractor Supply has submitted their building permits and is currently working on interior demolition/remodeling, sewer and water line expansion, as well as sidewalk expansion.
“They have also made progress with their fire alarm permits and are expected to commence exterior facade improvements in the near future,” Fernandez said.
Fernandez said Tractor Supply also has submitted a permit for a 35-foot free-standing sign, as well as a smaller monument sign that will serve the shopping center and its tenants.
As of Wednesday, Marshalls had not submitted any plans. “Hopefully, they can get started soon,” Fernandez said.
Fernandez said the project is tentatively scheduled to be discussed at the June 14 Lakeport Planning Commission meeting.
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 OAKS, Calif. — A longtime local business has managed to stay open after being damaged in an early Saturday morning vehicle crash.
The Red and White Store, located at 12580 Highway 20 in Clearlake Oaks, was the scene of the wreck, which occurred at approximately 1:23 a.m. Saturday, said California HIghway Patrol Officer Efrain Cortez.
However, the store has been able to remain open in the crash’s aftermath, said Manager Christopher Hallsted.
The CHP’s online incident reports said a vehicle — a full-size SUV — hit the building and a subject was reported to be out of the vehicle and lying on the ground.
The damage was to the portion of the store at the intersection of Acorn Street and Highway 20.
Cortez told Lake County News that the driver suffered minor injuries.
He said the CHP did not yet know what led to the crash, but that driving under the influence had been ruled out as a cause.
Northshore Fire Protection District firefighters responded to the scene and were part of investigating the damage to the structure’s integrity after the crash, according to radio reports.
The district’s firefighters also posted pictures of the crash scene on their group Facebook page.
“We’re open. Luckily it didn’t do enough structural damage to get it red-tagged,” Hallsted said, explaining that they were able to put in a temporary wall.
He added that it’s not going to be cheap to fix the damage. However, “All is well.”
The store has been a community fixture since Cory and Eddie Nylander opened it in 1933.
Hallsted said the store is open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
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 Lake County Sheriff’s Office said it has arrested a woman for murder following a fatal stabbing early Tuesday morning.
Melinda Fred, 39, has been arrested in the case, according to a report from Lt. Luke Bingham.
Bingham identified the murder victim as Christopher Aaron Burrows.
At 4:40 a.m. Tuesday, the sheriff’s office received a 911 call reporting a person had been stabbed on Red Feather Lane in Lakeport, Bingham reported.
Bingham said sheriff’s deputies responded to the area and located Burrows lying on the ground with a stab wound.
Deputies immediately began lifesaving measures until the arrival of paramedics. However, Bingham said Burrows ultimately succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Bingham said deputies secured the scene and requested the assistance of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit, which responded and assumed the investigation.
After conducting a lengthy investigation, several interviews and review of surrounding video surveillance, Bingham said investigators questioned Fred and arrested her for murder, Bingham said.
Bingham said Fred was booked into the Lake County Correctional Facility for first-degree murder and assault with a deadly weapon that was not a firearm.
The Major Crimes Unit is asking anyone with additional information regarding this investigation to contact Det. Dean Preader at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 707-262-4231.