LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – For the people who have suffered the heartache and horrors of the Lake County wildland fires of this past year, it's an experience they're not likely to forget, and a project is now under way to capture those memories for the sake of history.

The Lake County Fire Oral History Project aims to record and preserve the oral histories of community members who have survived the county's notable wildland fires.

The project is administered by the Lower Lake Historic Schoolhouse Museum and funded by the Lake Area Rotary Club Association and the Lower Lake Historical School Preservation Committee.

Lake County Museum Curator Tony Pierucci and his staff are participating in collecting the histories.

“It started earlier this year,” he said of the project, which has its roots in a discussion he and Lake County Library Director Christopher Veach began in December about an oral history project.

That led in April to the library and museum collaborating to produce a Book-to-Action series on oral histories, which grew out of the realization – following last year's “summer of fire – that survivors had stories to tell about the incidents.

That Book-to-Action series was funded by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian, as well as the California State Library in partnership with the California Center for the Book.

During the April series there were discussions, workshops and training sessions on collecting oral histories and a five-hour recording session of histories at the Lower Lake Schoolhouse Museum, as Lake County News has reported.

Pierucci said at that point there were volunteers eager to collect the stories, with he and his staff also wanting to be involved. He said the library also met with organizations involved in recovery to engage them in helping collect the oral histories.

While the project largely focused on the Valley fire originally, Pierucci said it has since been expanded to include the Clayton fire.

“So far we've collected about 30 oral histories from various different perspectives,” Pierucci said, with six more interviews scheduled.

Those histories are all audio recordings done by museum staff. Pierucci anticipates creating an index of what is discussed in the histories, which are not currently being transcribed.

He said the shortest of the interviews is about 20 minutes, while the longest is about two and a half hours.

Those whose personal experiences are documented so far include everyday people, along with county employees and volunteers who helped during and after the fire, Pierucci said.

“We're trying to get the whole perspective on the fire, not just the fire itself but the recovery effort as well,” he said.

“Overall, we just want to create a significant body of information,” Pierucci said. “An oral history collection is going to be very significant in the years to come.”

Especially, he noted, after people settle into new lives. “We really don't know what the aftermath is.”

Museum staff are aware that they're dealing with some very painful experiences and are using care as a result, Pierucci said. “This is a very personal thing. We're recording people's memories.”

The oral history collection will be a significant source for future research, according to Pierucci.

That audio collection is the first part of the project, which Pierucci said has been developed and expanded beyond its original scope thanks to the funding from Lake Area Rotary Club Association and the Lower Lake Historical School Preservation Committee.

Pierucci said the second part of the project is the creation of a 15-minute documentary on the fires. Bill Groody and his production company were hired to do the documentary.

As part of the video aspect, Pierucci said six proposed standalone videos will be compiled into a 15- to 20-minute mini-documentary on people's experiences of the fires.

Pierucci said two of those videos have been completed so far. They are shot on-scene in most cases and have a level of production that goes beyond a video of a one-on-one interview. “The closest comparison I can make is that they're like distinct mini-documentaries unto themselves.”

All of the videos will be available on the county's recovery Web site and the museum's Facebook page for free. Copies of the histories also will be stored at both museums in Lakeport and Lower Lake and also at the Lake County Library, said Pierucci.

“Our hope is that they will serve to highlight the county's resilience and uplift people's spirits – but also to underscore the bare fact that the county is still recovering and we have a long road ahead of us,” Pierucci said.

Ultimately, he said he wants to see the oral histories included in the oral history archives at the University of California, Berkeley, although he hasn't yet started outreach on that goal. The university doesn't accept raw audio, and usually wants it fully transcribed or indexed.

In addition to the oral and video recordings, Pierucci said the museum is collecting other fire-related items, including individual collections of photos and video people took during the incident that they are giving to the museum. “We're taking all of that.”

He said the oral history project will be continued through the end of the year.

For those who would like to participate and have their oral histories recorded, Pierucci encouraged them to contact the Lake County Museum at 707-263-4555 or at 707-995-3565.

The process includes a basic phone interview and preliminary discussion to help the interviewers tailor the questions to the person's experience. Pierucci said a sit-down interview for the recording session will then be scheduled.

Volunteers also are needed for the project. Anyone interested should call the museum at the numbers above. Pierucci said the museum will train and work with the volunteers in the oral history collection process.

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.

LOWER LAKE, Calif. – Thanks to a disaster declaration issued earlier this month, the United States Small Business Administration is making available to Clayton fire survivors – individuals, businesses and organizations – low-interest loans to help with the rebuilding process.

The agency's Disaster Loan Outreach Center is operating out of the first floor parlor at the Lower Lake Historic Schoolhouse Museum, 16435 Main St., from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Tuesdays through Saturdays.

“We're offering the same thing we offered last year during the Valley fire,” said SBA spokesman William Koontz.

Koontz visited Lower Lake on Monday, as he and SBA staff fanned out across the state, responding to incidents in Lake, Monterey, San Bernardino and San Luis Obispo counties, and a flood in Ohio.

Koontz said the SBA acted under its own authority to declare the Clayton fire disaster on Sept. 6 in response to a request it received on Sept. 1 from Mark Ghilarducci, director of the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, acting on behalf of Gov. Jerry Brown.

The disaster declaration makes SBA assistance available in Colusa, Glenn, Lake, Mendocino, Napa, Sonoma and Yolo counties, the agency reported.

The process this time around differed from that employed during the Valley fire in that last year the state asked both the SBA and and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to do a damage assessment. President Barack Obama subsequently declared a disaster, which authorized the agencies to offer assistance, Koontz said.

This time, with no presidential disaster proclamation expected, the state asked the SBA to respond and consider the disaster declaration, Koontz said.

Koontz said the SBA has a very simple criteria for making that declaration: If there are 25 homes or businesses damaged in one county, and they have at least 40 percent damage – which is considered major – it's an automatic approval.

The declaration activates the exact same SBA program as was in place during the Valley fire, said Koontz.

The difference is that last year fire survivors first had to apply to FEMA – which is not involved in the Clayton fire response – and then seek out additional help in the form of loans from SBA. If they didn't qualify, they would then be sent back to FEMA for consideration of a grant, Koontz explained.

What's also different for Clayton fire survivors is if they don't qualify for SBA assistance, they won't have FEMA to fall back on but will have to seek assistance from other agencies and organizations, he said.

SBA said businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets.

The agency said it also can lend additional funds to businesses and homeowners to help with the cost of improvements to protect, prevent or minimize the same type of disaster damage from occurring in the future.

Disaster loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property, the SBA said.

Koontz said the interest rates on the loans change from quarter to quarter.

Interest rates can be as low as 4 percent for businesses, 2.625 percent for private nonprofit organizations and 1.563 percent for homeowners and renters with terms up to 30 years. Koontz said that rate for homeowners is a little lower than it was for the Valley fire, and the lowest he's seen that rate go in some time.

Loan amounts and terms are set by SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition. Koontz said every case is considered individually.

“We do our darnedest to try to get their loan through the system, but there will be some people who don't qualify,” he said.

Koontz said it's free to apply, and no appointment is necessary.

He said the SBA has staff who are expert at helping disaster victims, and can quickly lead them through the application process. He said that process can be completed within 30 minutes. “It's very streamlined,” he said, and not unlike getting a bank loan.

Disaster loan information and application forms also are available from SBA’s Customer Service Center by calling 800-659-2955 or emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Individuals who are deaf or hard‑of‑hearing may call 800-877-8339.

Applications can be downloaded at https://www.sba.gov/disaster . Completed applications should be mailed to U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX  76155.

The deadline to apply is Nov. 7, and he encourages fire survivors to turn in applications, explaining they always can turn the loans down later if they don't need them. He pointed out that many people find out later that the recovery process costs more than expected.

“Our program can lend someone who has insurance for the gap that may occur,” he said.

As of Monday, SBA had gotten 11 applications from business and homeowners impacted by the Clayton fire, he said.

Last year, for the Valley fire in Lake County and the Butte fire in Calaveras County, the SBA received a total of 897 applications – 719 for homeowners, 178 for businesses – and issued 287 loans, totaling $25,935,700. That number included 55 business loans totaling $4,499,500 and 232 loans for homeowners amounting to $21,436,200, according to a summary Koontz shared with Lake County News.

Koontz said the SBA does not have a deadline at this point for how long its Lower Lake center will stay open.

“We'll stay as long as there's an interest,” he 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.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – All kinds of dogs and a lot of little kittens are waiting for homes at Clearlake Animal Control this week.

This week's featured dogs include mixes of beagle, border collie, cairn terrier, Chihuahua, dachshund, Doberman Pinscher, Labrador Retriever and wirehaired terrier.

To meet the animals, contact Marcia Taylor, the animal control outreach technician, at 707-994-8201, Extension 103, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday, or contact Animal Control Officer Jenna Tuller at Extension 115 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. those same days or leave a message on Fridays or weekends.

Also follow Clearlake Animal Control on Facebook for the latest updates.

Below are this week's available pets.

'Nicki'

“Nicki” is a female dachshund and beagle mix with a short read coat.

Shelter staff said she needs a new home as soon as possible, as she has been at the shelter a long time. Her former owners never came for her after she was seized from a relative's property.

Nicki deserves a second chance in life with a stable environment. Shelter staff said she gets along well with others, had a set of shots and is potty trained.

'Butterfinger'

“Butterfinger” is a sweet young male Chihuahua mix.

He has a short brown coat with white markings.

'Cooper'

“Cooper” is a young border collie and Labrador Retriever mix. He's estimated to be less than a year old.

Shelter staff said he is a crack up, goofy and cautious all at the same time. He wants to be having fun but is a little scared he may get in trouble.

He will be very easy to train, as he cares what people think and doesn't want to step out of bounds.

Cooper comes with first set of shots and free wellness exam.

'Happy'

“Happy” is a young male wirehaired terrier and cairn terrier mix.

He has a white coat and a big grin.

'Latte'

“Latte” is a young male Chihuahua mix.

He has an adorable little dog with a short red and white coat.

'Rambow'

“Rambow” is a male Doberman Pinscher with a short red and brown coat.

He's a big dog who needs a strong person who can work with his big size and curious nature.

Shelter staff said he looks to have been really well bred, absolutely loves people and is extremely friendly. He's one of the shelter favorites.

Rambow comes with a free bag of dog food and wellness exam.

'Rocky'

“Rocky” is a young male Labrador Retriever and border collie mix. He's estimated to be less than a year old.

Shelter staff said Rocky is gentle and sweet, and is ready to have a family to love.

He loves people and is good with other dogs. He is very smart and wants to please.

Rocky comes with his first set of shots and a free wellness exam.

'Steve'

“Steve” is a young male Chihuahua mix.

He's got a short tan and white coat.

All sorts of kittens

Numerous kittens with different coat types and colors – tuxedos, tabbies and calicoes – are ready and waiting for new homes.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A man who was reported to have threatened to shoot another man during an argument later was arrested and found with a shotgun, meth and drug paraphernalia.

Clearlake resident Carl Ernest Duval, 42, was taken into custody on numerous charges on the afternoon of Saturday, Sept. 10, according to a report from Sgt. Tim Hobbs of the Clearlake Police Department.

Shortly after 4:30 p.m. Saturday Sgt. Travis Lenz was dispatched to the 3100 block of Eighth Street for a report of a male subject hiding in the bushes behind the reporting parties’ residence, loading a shotgun, Hobbs said.

Hobbs said Sgt. Lenz arrived on scene and contacted the reporting party in the roadway of Eighth Street.

The reporting party advised he was located on the roof of his residence conducting repairs when he overheard two subjects in a verbal argument on Seventh Street, Hobbs said.

The suspect, later identified as Duval, could be heard saying, “I’m going to shoot you.” After the argument, Hobbs said the neighbor who reported the incident observed Duval walk from the roadway and conceal himself in the bushes on a vacant lot behind his residence.

Hobbs said Duval then began loading a 12-gauge shotgun with shotgun shells. At that time, the reporting party called the Clearlake Police Department.

Officer Mark Harden arrived on scene, accompanied by his canine partner “Zip.” Hobbs said Officer Harden and Zip went to the east side of the vacant lot which is located on Seventh Street to establish a perimeter.

Sgt. Lenz approached the lot, which was heavily covered by brush, which restricted his view from seeing Duval concealed in the bushes, Hobbs said.

Hobbs said Sgt. Lenz gave verbal commands for Duval to exit the bushes with his hands in the air, and Duval complied. After Duval exited the bushes, he was detained in handcuffs.

Sgt. Lenz searched the bushes which Duval had previously exited and located a loaded 12-gauge shotgun, Hobbs said. Duval is a convicted felon, which prohibits him from possessing firearms and ammunition.

Duval was placed under arrest at that time, and transported to the Clearlake Police Department. Hobbs said Officer Harden checked the area for the second subject who had been involved in the argument with Duval yet he was not able to be located. It was determined they were uninjured though based on witness statements.

During the booking process at the Clearlake Police Department, Duval admitted to possessing methamphetamine which he had concealed inside of his underwear. Hobbs said The methamphetamine was recovered and determined to be of a large enough quantity that is was believed to be possessed for the purpose of sales.

Duval was later booked into the Lake County Jail on felony charges of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, convicted felon in possession of ammunition, possession of a controlled substance while armed with a firearm, armed during the commission of a felony, possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of sales, and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.

Jail booking records showed that his bail had been set at $180,000. He remained in custody late Tuesday.

Anyone with information in regard to this investigation is asked to contact Sgt. Lenz at the Clearlake Police Department at 707-994-8251, Extension 311.

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LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Library’s free lecture series Know Lake County will feature local author and columnist Gene Paleno and his recently-published book “Lake County History: A Mystical Adventure on Saturday, Sept. 17.

The event will take place beginning at 2 p.m. at the Lakeport branch of the Lake County Library, located at 1425 N. High St.

Paleno is well-known around Lake County for his columns and serial fiction published locally.

His new book covers Lake County’s history from the most ancient prehistory to the present in its 450 pages with excursions into such diverse topics as American Indian history, geology, ghost stories, Lake County’s suffragists, rustlers, the Bear Flag Revolt, prohibition, murders, a gnat’s funeral, gunslingers, celebrities and the Civil War.

Paleno will be telling stories of Lake County history and selling his book.

Lake County PEG TV records the Know Lake County presentations for re-broadcast on PEG TV Channel 8 and on www.lakecountypegtv.org . The presentations are also available on DVD to check out from the Lake County Library.

Speakers from an array of disciplines and organizations deliver programs for Know Lake County. Still to come in 2016 are the Boggs Mountain State Demonstration Forest, the Lake County Symphony Association and the symphony association’s youth orchestra.

The Lake County Library is on the Internet at http://library.lakecountyca.gov and Facebook at www.Facebook.com/LakeCountyLibrary .

For more information about Know Lake County and other library programs call 707-263-8817.

Jan Cook works for the Lake County Library.