LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Law Library has new operating hours.
The library is now open from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
The law library will be closed Thanksgiving week, Nov. 21 to 25, and Christmas/New Year week, Dec. 26 to 30.
The Lake County Law Library is located at 175 Third St., across from the Lake County Courthouse.
Visit the library online for information and resources.
California has released a new surveillance, prevention and care plan designed to dramatically reduce new HIV infections in the state, with the goal of eventually getting that number to zero.
The “Getting to Zero” plan is a blueprint for state and local health departments and community organizations working to achieve a more coordinated statewide response to HIV.
“Thanks to better treatment and prevention options, new testing technology and better access to health care, California has reached a point where we can begin to envision the possibility of zero new HIV infections,” said California Department of Public Health Director State Public Health Officer Dr. Karen Smith. “In a state as large as ours, it will take an incredible amount of coordination, innovation and work to make this vision a reality. This report lays the foundation for achieving our goals.”
The “Getting to Zero” plan was developed by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) in coordination with local health officials, other state departments, medical and non-medical providers, and HIV community organizations and planning bodies.
The report set four goals to be achieved by 2021. The four goals are to reduce new HIV infections, increase access to care, reduce disparities in underserved communities and achieve a more coordinated statewide response to the HIV epidemic.
To achieve those goals, the report outlines 15 strategies and 12 key objectives that will be monitored on an annual basis by CDPH’s Office of AIDS. Some of the strategies include improving HIV testing and HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) utilization, enhancing availability of HIV care and increasing community collaboration and involvement.
“This comprehensive plan reinforces the state’s ongoing commitment to address the HIV epidemic,” said Dr. Karen Mark, Chief of the Office of AIDS at CDPH. “This commitment includes supporting people living with HIV, reducing the rate of new infections, and recognizing that not all communities have been equally impacted by this epidemic, and making those most at risk a high priority.”
The full Laying a Foundation for Getting to Zero: California’s Integrated HIV Surveillance, Prevention and Care Plan report and Executive Summary are available on CDPH’s Web site at www.cdph.ca.gov .
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Lake County Habitat for Humanity has received a contribution from AT&T to help the organization with its new office space and with the rebuilding homes destroyed in the fires during the past two years.
Preston Dickinson, representative for AT&T, presented the $5,000 contribution to the Lake County Habitat for Humanity on Nov. 3 at the organization's new office in Clearlake.
Lake County Habitat for Humanity suffered the loss of its Lower Lake office during the Clayton fire in August.
Despite the loss, Lake County Habitat for Humanity continues to aid the community by assisting fire victims and helping those in need of repairs to their homes.
“Our mission has always been to help those in need and we are grateful to AT&T for helping us rebuild after this devastating fire,” said Richard Birk, president of Habitat for Humanity Lake County. “Our residents rely on our support and having an office to conduct our community efforts is vital to the rebuilding process for us and our Lower Lake residents.”
“AT&T is proud to support Habitat for Humanity in Lake County,” said Dickinson. “Lower Lake has suffered two devastating fires in the last two years and organizations like Habitat for Humanity need support to continue their great work in helping residents and those affected by the fires.”
Lake County Habitat for Humanity will continue efforts to aid the Lake County community, to assist fire victims and help those in need of repairs.
NORTH COAST, Calif. – Caltrans reports that the following road projects will be taking place around Lake County and the North Coast during the coming week.
Included are Mendocino County projects that may impact Lake County commuters.
LAKE COUNTY
Highway 29
– Pavement marker replacement from 0.3 miles north of the Siegler Canyon Bridge to just north of Cruikshank Road will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect overnight from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., or from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
Highway 53
– Rocky fire cleanup from Crawford Avenue to 40th Avenue will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
MENDOCINO COUNTY
Highway 1
– Bridge deck repairs at the Brush Creek will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
– Bridge deck repairs at the Albion River Bridge will begin Monday, Nov. 7. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.
Highway 20
– Pavement repairs from the North Calpella Overcrossing to Cold Creek Bridge No. 3 will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect overnight from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 20-minute delays.
Highway 101
– Routine maintenance near Frog Woman Rock will continue. A northbound lane restriction will be in place. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.
– Bridge rail upgrades at the South Willits Overhead will continue. Northbound traffic will be restricted to one lane 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.
– Emergency culvert repairs just north of the north Willits railroad crossing will continue Wednesday, Nov. 9. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.
– Emergency slide repairs just south of Standish-Hickey State Park will continue. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
Highway 253
– AT&T has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility repairs near Robinson Creek Road beginning Monday, Nov. 7. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
The Caltrans Traffic Operations Office has reviewed each project and determined that individual project delays are expected to be less than the statewide policy maximum of 30 minutes, unless noted otherwise above.
For information pertaining to emergency roadwork or for updates to scheduled roadwork, please contact the California Highway Information Network (CHIN) at 1-800-GAS-ROAD (1-800-427-7623).
CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – A Thursday afternoon fire destroyed a Spring Valley residence, but no one was hurt.
The fire at 3755 Spring Valley Road was dispatched at around 3:30 p.m. Thursday, according to radio reports.
Firefighters arriving at the fire found that there was no one in the home, with the blaze at that point active at the back of the structure, reports from the scene indicated.
Northshore Fire Chief Jay Beristianos said the structure was a mobile home with a roof built over the top of it.
“That's what made it so difficult,” said Beristianos, explaining that the fire went through the mobile home's original metal roofing and was under the additional roof.
A deputy at the scene reported hearing an explosion in the structure, but Beristianos said nothing of significance was found, and such explosions are common in residential structure fires.
Firefighters quickly gained ground on the fire. “We had a pretty good handle on it. It wasn't going anywhere,” said Beristianos.
He said the fire took about an hour to get under control.
The structure was a total loss, said Beristianos, adding that firefighters were able to keep the fire from spreading to a nearby travel trailer.
Beristianos said Northshore Fire had two engines, the support team and a total of about 16 firefighters and support crew, with two engines and a battalion chief from Cal Fire and an engine from Lake County Fire.
He said crews cleared the scene at around 7 p.m.
The fire's cause is under investigation. “It appears to be accidental, though,” Beristianos 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.
NORTH COAST, Calif. – Caltrans celebrated the completion of the Willits Bypass Project on U. S. Highway 101 on Thursday in Mendocino County.
The celebration included the dedication of the 1.1-mile-long viaduct as the Jesse D. Pittman S01 Navy SEAL Memorial Bridge, in honor of a fallen local hero.
On Aug. 6, 2011, U.S. Navy SEAL and Willits local Jesse Pittman was aboard a military helicopter participating in a night raid over Afghanistan to root out Taliban fighters.
The helicopter was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade and crashed, claiming the lives of those aboard.
Pittman also served his community as a Cal Fire firefighter in Mendocino County shortly before enlisting in the Navy.
Crews constructed approximately six miles of roadway and 14 bridges on U.S. Highway 101 in Mendocino County for the $300 million two-lane bypass project to improve safety for traffic and pedestrians traveling through the city of Willits.
The project also eliminated the only stoplights on U.S. 101 between San Francisco and Eureka, relieving congestion and reducing delays for motorists.
“It’s a great day for motorists traveling both north and south on U.S. 101,” said Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty. “I’d like to thank the Willits residents for their patience and support throughout the life of this project. Driving, riding a bike, or walking through downtown Willits will finally be safer and easier, with significantly less traffic through the center of town.”
Local classic cars were among the first to cross the viaduct and carried honored guests including Reps. Jared Huffman and Mike Thompson, Assemblyman Jim Wood, Willits Mayor Bruce Burton, and the family of and those who served with Pittman.
Cal Fire provided a color guard for the bridge dedication ceremony, and Caltrans Honor Guard members were present to honor the fallen Navy SEAL.
This highway improvement project is partially funded by $136 million in Proposition 1B funds from the 2006 voter-approved transportation bond. To date, more than $19 billion in Proposition 1B funds have been put to work statewide for transportation purposes.
Emery Curtice Jr.
March 12, 1935 - Oct. 23, 2016
Emery Curtice Jr. was born on March 12, 1935, in Westwood, Calif. (Lassen County). His parents were educators and they moved to Berkeley, Calif., when he was a young child. His father was the principal at Berkeley High School and his mother was a teacher at Garfield Elementary. He was the younger of two children.
Emery was active in school activities and athletics and played football, basketball and baseball. He graduated from Berkeley High School in 1952.
Emery enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in the summer of 1952 and served in the Korean War, reaching the rank of sergeant.
Upon the conclusion of the Korean War, Emery returned to Northern California and enrolled at Santa Rosa Junior College. He also played on the football team at SRJC and was the center on offense and nose tackle on defense.
Emery began his career in San Rafael, Calif., in the late 1950s and worked as a car salesman as well as a boat salesman. For many years his automobile and boat lot was on Third Street in San Rafael. He was an active part of the Marin County business community for 30+ years.
Emery met the love of his life, Betty Ann Nicolari, in 1976, and their love grew and flourished. They were married in July of 1978. During those formative years of family life, they enjoyed boating and camping. In 1982 Emery and Betty relocated to Kenwood, Calif., in Sonoma County and began raising Arabian horses.
In 1989 Emery and Betty decided to move to Lake County, Calif., and purchased a five acre ranch on Bell Hill Road outside of Kelseyville where they raised walnuts and animals.
They began playing golf together on Cobb Mountain and initially met Hobergs Golf Course professional Les Russo and his wife Michelle. The Curtices became hooked on golf, were impressed with the Cobb Mountain golf scene, and decided to relocate to Cobb to be closer to the golf courses and their golfing friends.
They purchased a house alongside the third fairway at Adams Springs Golf Course in 1994 and became a very active part of the very lively Cobb Mountain golf scene.
Emery and Betty enjoyed retirement on Cobb Mountain and coordinated their free time with a handful of memorable trips to Hawaii as well as many concert weekends in Lake Tahoe and Reno. They even attended the 63rd birthday party of Frank Sinatra in Tahoe.
Emery was the pro shop manager at Adams Springs Golf Course for close to 10 years through the autumn of 2015. He was a very popular fixture at Adams Springs and during his time there he earned the nickname as the “Godfather of Adams Springs.”
Emery passed away quietly in his sleep during the early morning hours of Sunday, Oct. 23, 2016.
He is best remembered as a friend to many who always had a great smile. He always seemed to find time to offer advice and encouragement to the many and varied people he crossed paths with.
He was one of the all-time great storytellers. His stories were a combination of some of the more interesting aspects of human behavior mixed with humor and charm.
Once you initially met Emery, he was your friend for a lifetime. He had a heart of gold, would go out of his way to help a friend or stranger, and was one of those people who everyone knew and loved. He was an impact person who touched many people.
Emery is survived by his loving wife, Betty; six children, Debbie, John (Donna), Guy (Barbara), Daryl (Cindy), Al (Kathryn) and Toni Ann; 11 grandchildren, Kelli, Ryan, Chris, Sarah, Dana, Lexi, Sean, Linsay, John, Al and Evan; six great-grandchildren, Drew, Ethan, Garland, Owen, Haisley and Jobie; sister, Lou (Roger); and his first wife, Lynne who did an awesome job with their children.
A celebration of life will be held at the Masonic Hall in Clearlake on Saturday, Dec. 3, at noon. If you plan to attend, please contact Adams Springs Golf Course at 707-928-9992 for further information and to RSVP.
Arrangements by Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary, 707-263-0357 or 707-994-5611, or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com .
NORTH COAST, Calif. – Authorities said human remains found Wednesday on the Sonoma State University campus belong to a missing Cotati man who is believed to have been the victim of foul play.
The remains of 18-year-old Kirk Kimberly were discovered by a university employee, with the identity confirmed on Thursday, according to Sgt. Spencer Crum of the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office.
Just after noon on Wednesday, the Sonoma State University Police Department was informed by the campus employee that they had discovered what appeared to be human remains in a shallow grave, Crum said.
Crum said the body – covered by dirt and debris – was located on the outskirts of the Sonoma State University campus in a wooded area about 200 yards west of parking lot “M.”
At the request of Sonoma State University Police, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office assumed lead role in the investigation and deputies and detectives responded to the scene, Crum said.
Due to the lack of daylight, Crum said detectives decided to cordon off the area and post officers to secure the crime scene overnight.
On Thursday morning, Sheriff’s Crime Scene and Violent Crimes detectives responded back to the university and began the task of processing the crime scene, Crum said.
At about 3 p.m. Thursday, the body was unearthed and taken to the Central Morgue Facility, Crum said. At that time authorities determined that the decedent was a male.
Crum said a forensic pathologist conducted an external examination of the body. Through fingerprints, investigators confirmed the identity of the body to be that of Kimberly, who was reported missing on Oct. 17. His family has been notified.
The pathologist also was able to determine the preliminary manner of death to be at the hands of another. As a result, Crum said the sheriff's office is now considering this to be a homicide investigation.
If anyone has information about Kimberly’s disappearance or has knowledge of this incident, they are asked to call Det. Horsman of the Sheriff’s Violent Crimes Unit at 707-565-2185.
SACRAMENTO – The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is warning recreational anglers not to consume the viscera (internal organs) of Dungeness crab caught in coastal waters north of Point Reyes.
This warning is due to the sporadic detection of elevated levels of domoic acid in the viscera of Dungeness crabs caught off the Northern California coast.
This warning is effective for recreationally caught Dungeness crabs taken from state waters north of Latitude 38° 00' N. (near Point Reyes).
CDPH believes that Dungeness crab meat is safe to consume, however, as a precaution, consumers are advised not to eat the viscera (internal organs, also known as “butter” or “guts”) of crabs.
Consumers should follow these preparation practices to ensure that they avoid any inadvertent exposure to domoic acid that might be sporadically found in some crab’s viscera.
When whole crabs are cooked in liquid, domoic acid can leach from the viscera into the cooking liquid. Water or broth used to cook whole crabs should be discarded and not used to prepare dishes such as sauces, broths, soups or stews (for example, cioppino or gumbo), stocks, roux, dressings or dips.
The best ways to reduce risk are:
· Remove the crab viscera and rinse out the body cavity prior to cooking, or
· Boil or steam whole crabs, instead of frying or broiling, and discard cooking liquids.
Symptoms of domoic acid poisoning can occur within 30 minutes to 24 hours after eating toxic seafood. In mild cases, symptoms may include vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, headache and dizziness. These symptoms disappear within several days.
In severe cases, the victim may experience trouble breathing, confusion, disorientation, cardiovascular instability, seizures, excessive bronchial secretions, permanent loss of short-term memory (a condition known as Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning), coma or death. There have been no reported illnesses associated with this year’s domoic acid event.
Domoic acid accumulation in seafood is a natural occurrence that is related to a “bloom” of a particular single-celled plant. The conditions that support the growth of this plant are impossible to predict. CDPH routinely monitors phytoplankton levels in coastal waters and bi-valve shellfish, and will increase sampling of other species when monitoring indicates that an event may be occurring.
CDPH will continue to coordinate its efforts with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and the fishing community to collect Dungeness crab samples from the northern California coast until the domoic acid levels have dissipated. Please consult CDFW for information about the recreational Dungeness crab season, which is scheduled to open November 5th.
To receive updated information about shellfish poisoning and quarantines, call CDPH’s toll-free Shellfish Information Line at (800) 553-4133. For additional information, visit CDPH’s Natural Marine Toxins: PSP and Domoic Acid Web page or CDPH’s Domoic Acid Web page, which includes additional information and domoic acid testing results.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Jerome passed away peacefully on Oct. 31, 2016, after a long illness.
He is survived by his wife Connie Eddings, and his mother and three sisters in North Carolina.
Graveside funeral service will be held at Kelseyville Cemetery on Wednesday, Nov. 9, at 11 a.m.
Arrangements by Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary, 707-263-0357 or 707-994-5611, or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com .
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Daylight Saving Time ends Sunday, Nov. 6, and the American Red Cross reminds everyone to “turn” their clocks back an hour and “test” the batteries in their smoke alarms.
The Red Cross recommends that all Northwestern California residents have working smoke alarms on every level of their home, including inside and outside bedrooms.
“Working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in a home fire in half,” said Jeffrey Baumgartner, CEO, American Red Cross of the California Northwest. “Turn and test is a reminder to set your clocks back and take a few minutes to push the test button to make sure all alarms are working.”
It’s also an opportunity to make sure all households are prepared for home fires and other emergencies:
Create and practice a fire escape plan.
Make sure everyone in the family knows how to get out of every room and how to get out of the home in less than two minutes. Select a location outside for everyone to meet.
The Red Cross responds to 66,000 disasters across the country every year and most of these are home fires. Tragically, some people lose their lives in these fires and countless others are injured.
The Red Cross has launched the Home Fire Campaign to reduce the number of deaths and injuries due to home fires by 25 percent over the next five years.
Since October of 2014, the Red Cross and partners have saved more than 110 lives as part of the Home Fire Campaign.
The Red Cross is committing to install 2.5 million free smoke alarms in neighborhoods at high risk for fires, and to educate those residents about fire prevention and preparedness during the multi-year campaign.
Since the Home Fire campaign began, more than 530,000 smoke alarms have been installed in all 50 states and four territories, and it has reached more than 597,000 children through campaign youth preparedness education programs, such as The Pillowcase Project.
The Red Cross also recommends keeping disaster supplies in an easy-to-carry bag to use at home or carry in case ordered to evacuate.
Download the Red Cross Emergency App which includes content on how to prevent home fires and what to do if one occurs. The Monster Guard: Prepare for Emergencies App is a game designed for kids. Both apps are available to download for free in app stores or at www.redcross.org/apps .
People can visit www.redcross.org/homefires to find out more about how to protect themselves and their loved ones from a fire. A variety of emergency preparedness kits and supplies are available at www.redcrossstore.org .
To help prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters big and small, visit www.redcross.org , call 1-800-RED CROSS or text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
I knew Monica Rosenthal before she started campaigning for District 1 supervisor so I wasn’t surprised when she was chosen as our 2015 Woman of the Year.
Monica has served our community in numerous ways including volunteering to assist those affected by the fires. She was our District 1 planning commissioner, and is a member of several community service groups. She has experience working within our local government.
Monica’s endorsements include a diverse mix of supporters. If you look at her campaign funding disclosure documents, you will see that her contributions come from a variety of friends, neighbors and people who know of her 20-plus years of service and commitment to our communities.
On the other hand, her opponent, Mr. Simon, has received campaign contributions totaling $27,500 from three sources – Robert Rosette, Attorney at Law, Ariz; Middletown Indian Rancheria, Twin Pines Pomo Indian Tribe, Middletown; and the CA Nations Indian Gaming Association, Sacramento.
Mr. Simon has stated he will not step down as the Middletown Rancheria tribal chair should he win this election. I see that as a conflict. I want our next supervisor to commit 100-percent to the duties he or she is elected to do.
Monica is ready to serve 100-percent as our District 1 Lake County supervisor. She has the experience and dedication to our district and our county. Her focus is fire recovery, economy, and the health and well being of our communities and our environment.
Please join me in voting for Monica Rosenthal.
Sandy Bayles lives in Hidden Valley Lake, Calif.
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