MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – A well-loved Middletown fire survivor recently was honored at a home dedication ceremony after losing everything more than one year ago in the Valley fire.

Together Hope City, North Coast Opportunities and AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps celebrated their partnership and presented the new home to fire survivor Orville Young on Feb. 28.

The Valley fire began on Sept. 12, 2015, and was not fully contained until Oct. 6. Altogether, the fire burned 76,076 acres and nearly 2,000 structures, and claimed four lives, making it the third most destructive fire in California history.

Young, who was born and raised in Middletown, lost a home that was not only historically significant – it was reported to be one of the first settled homes of the town in 1890 – but rich in sentimental feelings and nostalgic connections.

In the fire’s aftermath many organizations and municipalities came to the aid of recovery to rebuild fire survivors’ lives.

North Coast Opportunities, a nonprofit community action agency, played a vital role in emergency and long-term fire relief, as they organized strategic networking with other agencies to provide proper recovery efforts to the community.

One such organization called Hope City, an Indiana nonprofit helping underinsured individuals recover from country-wide natural and manmade disasters, reached out to help assist in rebuilding homes for those underinsured before the fire.

In effort to help rebuild Lake County, NCO partnered with Hope City and wrote a grant for a year of volunteer labor from the AmeriCorps NCCC organization.

As a result, the grant was accepted and four Pacific Region AmeriCorps NCCC teams consisting each of about 12 individuals 18 to 24 year olds, will be hosted this year from Sacramento to rebuild 15 to 20 homes in the area.

Two teams of AmeriCorps NCCC Pacific Region contributed to the process of rebuilding Young’s home from the ground up.

At the home dedication ceremony NCO, Hope City and the AmeriCorps NCCC team "Green Four" commemorated the tasks completed over several months to rebuild this home, including foundation prepping, electrical, dry walling, painting, roofing and flooring.

LUCERNE, Calif. – Prospective students and community members are invited to visit the campus of Marymount California University Lakeside in Lucerne.

During the month of March, four open house events will be held.

People interested in a tour, information on MCU Lakeside bachelor’s degree completion programs, or meeting with the enrollment coordinator are encouraged to drop in.

The open house events take place from 4 to 6 pm. Tuesday, March 14; Thursday, March 16; Tuesday, March 28; and Thursday, March 30. Reservations are not necessary.

MCU Lakeside Campus is housed in the very large and imposing multi-story building which was originally built as a hotel in the late 1920s.

Prospective students are highly encouraged to stop by to tour and learn more about the degree programs and educational opportunities available.

The campus is located at 3700 Country Club Drive in Lucerne.

For more information, call Kathy Windrem at 310-303-7670 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County’s unemployment rate rose in January, as did nationwide jobless numbers, while California’s unemployment rate went down.

The latest report from the California Employment Development Department said Lake County’s unemployment rate in January was 7.1 percent, up from 6.7 percent in December but down from the 7.9 percent reported in January 2016.

California’s jobless rate fell slightly to 5.1 percent in January, down from 5.2 percent in December and 5.7 percent the previous January.

The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics said unemployment nationwide rose from 4.7 percent in December to to 4.8 percent in January. The January 2016 nationwide jobless rate was 4.9 percent.

The California Employment Development Department said the state’s employers added 9,700 nonfarm payroll jobs in January, and 330,500 jobs from January 2016 to January 2017. With those gains, California has gained a total of 2,465,100 jobs since the economic expansion began in February 2010.

A statewide survey of 58,000 California businesses found that nonfarm jobs in California totaled 16,647,600 in January. At the same time, a federal survey of 5,500 households estimated the number of Californians holding jobs in January was 18,176,000, an increase of 11,000 from December, and up 267,000 from the employment total in January of last year.

The number of unemployed Californians was 986,000 in January – down by 13,000 over the month, and down by 90,000 compared with January of last year, the state said.

Lake County’s civilian workforce in January numbered 29,520, compared to 27,330 in December and 28,790 in January 2016. The number of unemployed Lake County residents totaled 2,100 in January, 1,970 in December and 2,270 in January 2016, according to state data.

For the month, most industries in Lake County showed losses, but on a year-over comparison, all industries showed a 5.4-percent increase.

Top industry subcategories showing gains over the year included total farm, 30.8 percent; and goods producing, 20.5 percent, with significant gains in that industry’s subcategories of mining, logging and construction, 23.1 percent, and durable goods, 62.5 percent.

Statewide, seven of 11 industry sectors added a total of 42,700 jobs in January. Educational and health services posted the largest jobs increase, with a gain of 19,800 jobs, followed by professional and business services, with a gain of 12,500 jobs. Other sectors adding jobs over the month were manufacturing; information; financial activities; other services; and government.

Four industry sectors – mining and logging; construction; trade, transportation and utilities; and leisure and hospitality – reported job declines over the month, down a total of 33,000 jobs. Trade, transportation and utilities posted the largest decrease over the month, down by 21,100 jobs, the state said.

In a year-over-year comparison – January 2016 to January 2017 – nonfarm payroll employment in California increased by 330,500 jobs, a 2-percent increase, the Employment Development Department said.

Nine of California’s 11 industry sectors added a total of 338,200 jobs year-over. The largest job gains on a numerical basis were in educational and health services, up 92,600 jobs, a 3.7-percent increase, and government, up 59,700 jobs, a 2.4-percent increase, the state reported.

Other sectors the state said added jobs over the year were construction; trade, transportation and utilities; information; financial activities; professional and business services; leisure and hospitality; and other services.

The Employment Development Department said two industry sectors – mining and logging, and manufacturing – posted job declines over the year, down a total of 7,700 jobs. Manufacturing employment fell by 4,800 jobs (down 0.4 percent), while mining and logging was down by 2,900 jobs (an 11.0 percent decrease).

Lake County’s January unemployment numbers ranked it No. 31 statewide, with San Mateo County registering the lowest, 2.9 percent, and the highest, 23.6 percent, was in Colusa County.

The Employment Development Department reported that there were 386,875 people receiving regular Unemployment Insurance benefits during the January survey week, compared with 367,944 in December and 410,293 in January of last year.

At the same time, new claims for Unemployment Insurance were 62,201 in January, compared with 52,953 in December and 53,682 in January of last year, the agency reported.

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

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Animal Care and Control has six adult cats waiting for adoption this week.

The cats available this week include three males and three females, from tabbies to gray cats to a Siamese.

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

For those looking for a barn cat to keep the rodents at bay, be sure to ask about the barn cat adoption program. Feral barn cats are adopted out for $1 each, which includes altering, ear notching and vaccines.

In addition to the animals featured here, all adoptable animals in Lake County can be seen at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Shelter_Animal_Search.htm .

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

Female domestic long hair

This female domestic long hair has an orange tabby coat with white markings.

She already has been spayed.

She’s in kennel No. 4, ID No. 7094.

Female domestic short hair

This female domestic short hair has a gray tabby coat.

She’s in kennel No. 26, ID No. 7089.

Female domestic short hair

This female domestic short hair has a gray coat.

She’s in cat room No. 47, ID No. 7088.

Male domestic long hair

This male domestic long hair has a gray and white coat.

He already has been neutered.

He’s in kennel No. 60, ID No. 7092.

Male domestic long hair

This male domestic long hair has a gray coat.

He already has been neutered.

He’s in kennel No. 92, ID No. 7087.

Siamese mix

This male Siamese mix has a long coat with seal point and sable markings.

He already has been neutered.

He’s in kennel No. 149, ID No. 7091.

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

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

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

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

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

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

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – On the same day that the Congressional Budget Office released its report on the possible impacts of a new law to replace the Affordable Care Act, the California Senate and Congressman Mike Thompson, whose district represents a portion of Lake County, both separately demanded Congress abandon the new plan.

The Congressional Budget Office’s report, released Monday, estimated that 14 million people would lose their health coverage in the next year under the GOP’s repeal. That number would rise to 21 million in 2020 and 24 million by  2026.

The report showed that the legislation would reduce federal deficits by $337 billion over the 2017 to 2026 period. Outlays would be reduced by a $1.2 trillion decrease in direct spending over the period, and revenues would be reduced by $883 billion.

On Monday afternoon, the California State Senate passed Senate Resolution 26, calling on Congress to reject the ACA repeal unless it’s replaced with a plan that ensures that not one American will lose coverage and that coverage will be more affordable and of higher quality for all Americans.

“I believe that our president is wrong – the Affordable Care Act is not failing, in fact it is succeeding wildly in California,” said Sen. Mike McGuire, whose district includes Lake County. “I proudly represent a rural part of California, and repealing the ACA will put the lives of rural California residents at risk. For example, a senior resident in a small, rural California county will have to pay several thousand dollars more per year out of her own pocket under ‘President Trump Care.’ This is unacceptable.”

California has experienced the largest percentage point decline in the uninsured rate of any state – a significant drop from 17.2 percent in 2013 to 7.1 percent in 2016, McGuire’s office reported.

On Monday, Congressman Thompson called the repeal effort “reckless” and demanded that his colleagues in Congress abandon the plan.

“The president and Republican leadership would rip health care away from hardworking families and seniors in order to give tax cuts to billionaires and big corporations,” Thompson said. “It’s extremely telling that the very first section in their bill does not address rising out-of-pocket costs, access to doctors, or any of the challenges real Americans face. Instead, it gives a big tax cut to insurance companies that pay their executives multimillion dollar salaries.”

Thompson added, “The CBO’s report makes it clear that gutting our health care system will not bring prices down or help more Americans afford insurance. Instead, it will snatch coverage away from those who need it the most.”

He said more Americans will be forced to go without health care – or rely on emergency services in a time of crisis. “If they can’t afford the bills, American taxpayers will have to pick up the costs – all so big businesses can get tax cuts on their bonuses. This isn’t health care. It’s wealth care.”

Thompson told reporters last week, on the day the new American Health Care Act was released, that he was concerned about the potential threats to the three million jobs created under the Affordable Care Act – 350,000 of them in California alone.

He said the new bill also weakens Medicare, and takes two years off the Medicare Trust Fund, which the Affordable Care Act extended.

The tax provisions in the American Health Care Act will be a windfall to some corporations and billionaires, while middle-income and lower-income Americans will be hit, Thompson said.

He also was worried about how quickly the bill could get through the House of Representatives, with Republican leadership wanting to have it voted out of the House by April. “The House looks like it’s going to blow this thing right through.”

Thompson said he doesn’t expect the bill will get the same open and transparent hearing process that the Affordable Care Act had. There are expected to be very few hearings on the bill, compared to the 79 held on the Affordable Care Act.

“That’s kind of a sad way to do business,” and deprives the American people of knowing what’s in the bill, Thompson said.

Thompson held four town hall meetings around his district on the bill. “There’s a lot of interest in this out in the communities,” he said, adding that he had to turn away hundreds of people due to space.

In Santa Rosa, he got a larger venue – the gym at Piner High School – and had 2,000 people show up.

“This is something that the American people care about,” he said.

On Wednesday, Thompson introduced an amendment at the Committee on Ways and Means to allow states to keep their existing health care system rather than repeal it, and provide states the option to retain their existing marketplaces, benefit protections, and cost sharing and premium subsidies under the Affordable Care Act. However, Republicans rejected the proposal.

In his written testimony to the Committee, Peter V. Lee, executive director of Covered California, said, “The Affordable Care Act is working and we at Covered California have built a sustainable and competitive marketplace. In addition to our 1.4 million consumers, approximately 900,000 Californians who do not get subsidies benefit from the lower rates, protections and the more consumer-centric competitive marketplace that we foster.”

On Monday, California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones also weighed in the proposed legislation, which he called “Trumpcare.”
 
“The Congressional Budget Office analysis is further proof that the House GOP proposal to repeal the ACA and Trumpcare bill is bad for Californians and Americans. The CBO's independent, nonpartisan and objective analysis shows that the House GOP proposal will not even come close to delivering on their promises,” Jones said.
 
“The Affordable Care Act successfully provided 20 million previously uninsured Americans with health coverage. Because of the ACA, today more Americans have health insurance than at any time in our nation's history. However, under the House GOP proposal, that progress will be abandoned, and reversed,” he added.
 
Jones said the House GOP proposal caps federal Medicaid assistance to states and the tax credits available to working families and eliminates the cost-sharing assistance enjoyed by half of those getting a premium subsidy through Covered California.

He said it also raises the price of insurance for seniors and eliminates essential benefits requirements.

“This flawed proposal puts coverage out of reach for many who are currently insured, failing to deliver on President Trump's promise of 'insurance for everybody,’” Jones 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.

c Bo American Healthcare Act by LakeCoNews on Scribd

AmericanHealthCareAct Budget by LakeCoNews on Scribd