CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A group of four dogs is prepped and ready for new homes at Clearlake Animal Control this week.
This week's available dogs include mixes of Australian Cattle Dog, Australian Shepherd, boxer, Labrador Retriever, shepherd and Rottweiler.
To meet the dogs, 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.
Also follow Clearlake Animal Control on Facebook for the latest updates.
Below are this week's available dogs.
'Blue'
Blue is a male Australian Cattle Dog (blue heeler) and Australian Shepherd mix.
He had been hanging out at an elementary school every day until Clearlake Animal Control picked him up. It appeared that Blue thought his owner was at school. He loved hanging out with all the kids and everyone wanted to take him home.
He loves cocking his head sideways when he hears a funny noise and is an inquisitive boy.
Shelter staff said he is loads of fun. He can dance in place on his back two legs and he gets along great with other dogs.
Blue's adoption fee is only $40, as he already is neutered and vaccinated.
'Chip'
“Chip” is a young male chocolate Labrador Retriever and shepherd mix.
Shelter staff said he is a highly intelligent dog who needs a firm handler.
He is a happy dog and loves to go for long walks, walking well on leash.
Chip would thrive in a home where he will receive training, time and love.
'Mona'
“Mona” is a young female Rottweiler-boxer mix with a low-key personality.
She is already spayed.
Shelter staff said she walks well on a leash, and is good with children, cats and other dogs.
'Walter'
“Walter” is a young male yellow Labrador Retriever and shepherd mix.
Shelter staff said he is a very loving boy.
They said he will make a wonderful family addition or be a best friend for someone, whether you are going for a walk, jogging and just for a drive.
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. – A new end-of-life option law will take effect in California on June 9, 2016.
Hospice Services of Lake County is holding community forums to update Lake County residents, health care professionals and local leaders on the requirements of the new law which authorizes medical aid in dying as an end-of-life care for terminally ill adults.
Forums are free and open to the public.
Experts from Compassion and Choices, an organization committed to expanding choice at the end-of-life, will be presenting information at the forums.
Hospice Services of Lake County representatives will be available to answer questions about their services and clarify differences in end-of-life options.
Community partners assisting with the effort to inform Lake County residents about the implementation of the new law are Lake County Tribal Health, Sutter Lakeside Hospital and St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake.
Forums will be held as follows:
– Monday, April 25, 6:30 p.m., Room 209, Woodland Community College, 15880 Dam Road Extension, Clearlake.
– Tuesday, April 26, 6:30 p.m., Lakeport Senior Center, 527 Konocti Ave., Lakeport.
For more information phone 707-263-6222 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
LOWER LAKE, Calif. – The Lower Lake Historical School Preservation Committee will hold its annual Treasures and Trash Sale on Saturday, May 7, from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.
Small appliances, tools, books, live plants and gently used household and kitchen goods will be available for purchase on this one-day, rain or shine event.
Donations are welcome for the sale. To donate items, please contact the museum during regular business hours, 11 a.m. until 4 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday, 707-995-3565.
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The popular Living History Day series continues at the Ely Stage Stop & Country Museum on Saturday, April 23.
On the fourth Saturday of each month local historians come to the main house to visit with guests and answer questions regarding different aspects of Lake County history.
As these visits are recorded, the stories of Lake County’s history are being preserved for future generations.
This month Charlotte Baker and her daughter Shari James, former residents of the Ely Stage Stop and S-Bar-S Ranch, return to share stories of ranch life in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
Ernest and Polly Kettenhofen owned the S-Bar-S Ranch from 1960 to 2000. Baker and James will be available at Ely from noon till 2 p.m. to recount what it was like to manage the ranch doing their years in the house.
The Ely Stage Stop & Country Museum welcomes more docents to greet visitors and share information on history, current displays and planned events. Volunteers for maintenance and construction projects also are needed.
Come join the Lake County Historical Society and become a volunteer at Ely or its sister museum, the Gibson Museum & Cultural Center in Middletown. Applications will be available during the day.
The Lake County Historical Society’s Ely Stage Stop & Country Museum is located at 9921 State Highway 281 (Soda Bay Road) in Kelseyville, near Clear Lake Riviera, just north of Highway 29 - Kit’s Corner.
Current hours of operation are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday. Private tours can be arranged by appointment.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Konocti Senior Support Inc. is currently seeking volunteers and will have a recruitment day meeting on Wednesday, April 20.
The event will be held from noon to 1 p.m. at 845 Bevins St., Lakeport.
Come find out more about being a peer counselor. Alternately, contact the organization's office for an application or more details on the use of the free peer counseling services for seniors or the Friendly Visitors program for isolated and home bound seniors.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Smokey, Tanner, Chip, Frankie, Misty and Penny are waiting to meet their new families at Lake County Animal Care and Control this week.
The cats – five females and a male – all are domestic short hair mixes, in a variety of age ranges and coat colors.
In addition to spaying or neutering, cats that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are microchipped before being released to their new owner. License fees do not apply to residents of the cities of Lakeport or Clearlake.
If you're looking for a new companion, visit the shelter. There are many great pets there, hoping you'll choose them.
In addition to the animals featured here, all adoptable animals in Lake County can be seen here: http://bit.ly/Z6xHMb .
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”).
'Smokey'
“Smokey” is a young female domestic short hair mix with a gray coat.
She's in cat room kennel No. 12, ID No. 4725.
'Tanner'
“Tanner” is a young male domestic short hair mix with a buff-colored tabby coat.
He's in cat room kennel No. 24, ID No. 4671.
'Chip'
“Chip” is a female domestic short hair mix cat with gray tabby and white coat.
She's in cat room kennel No. 28, ID No. 4669.
'Frankie'
“Frankie” is a young female domestic short hair mix with an all-black coat.
She's in cat room kennel No. 31, ID No. 4724.
'Misty'
“Misty” is an adult female domestic short hair mix with a gray and white coat.
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.
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.
AMERICAN CANYON, Calif. – Saturday, April 16, was the 19th annual United States Girls Wrestling Association (USGWA) and United States Boys Wrestling Association (USBWA) National Championship Tournament.
This year’s event was also attended by international team members from the Philippines.
Both the USGWA / USBWA are each separated into three divisions – elementary, middle and high school – with medals awarded to the top six placers in each division’s weight classes.
Brother Jacob Pyorre (120 pounds, Boys High School Division) and sister Mavis Pyorre (103 pounds, Girls Middle School Division) from Lakeport began the day recognized by the tournament director in the opening ceremonies as siblings getting a chance to compete together in this national wrestling family community.
Then, after some tough battles Jacob won a third place USBWA medal and Mavis won a fourth place USGWA medal.
Jacob’s first match was against the eventual champion Anthony Arcilla Jr. of Safehouse Wrestling from Manila, Philippines and was beating him 2 to 1 at the end of the second period.
Jacob took down in the third period, almost had a switch, then tried again, but forced too much and got sucked back losing near fall points; he fought to the end, but ran out of time. Jacob gave the champ his toughest match of the day, but lost 2-4.
Next up Jacob pinned an opponent from Vallejo, with a nice double leg lift to a half. In another match Jacob was up 6-2 in the second period against an opponent from American Canyon, got a little tired and lost a quick escape and takedown.
Up 6-5 starting the third period, Jacob then fell behind 6-10, but fought back with a switch and turned his opponent to his back. Jacob was only able to get 2 near fall points, sending the match into over time, tied at 10 -10.
The battle for the winning takedown was on. Each wrestler was exhausted, but continued to shoot, block and spin. Jacob’s arm ended an awkward position losing the takedown, the match 10-12 in OT and unfortunately reinjuring his elbow, leaving him in quite a bit of pain. Jacob finished the tournament winning the 3rd Place USBWA Medal.
Mavis’s first match was against Colts wrestler Emma Lopez, this year’s Girls State 103 pound silver medalist from Fairfield.
Mavis was beating her 2-0 going into second period, driving her around the mat, but got a little too high, held on too long, got caught and pinned.
Next match Mavis pinned her Vallejo HMS Springtowne Lady Wildcat opponent with a nice duck under to a modified barbed wire. Then (with the round order messed up) Mavis wrestled the eventual champion and this year’s Girls State fourth place medalist at 107 pounds, Miranda DiBenedetto from Double Dragon Wrestling in Sacramento.
Mavis had to fight out of a vicious head and arm a couple times, then in the second period Mavis scored a reversal, gave an escape, got a takedown with 3 near fall points and almost pinned her opponent. Mavis held her scoreless in the third period and won the match 9-4. Mavis was the only one to beat the champion DiBenedetto at the tournament.
The next match (the original round opponent) was against a hometown American Canyon wrestler and Mavis was called up just as she finished wrestling her previous match. At the end of the first period Mavis was up 4-2. In the second period Mavis rode her all over the mat, but just missed near fall by a count.
In the third period the opponent got an escape, but Mavis was still up 4-3. Then, Mavis received a penalty point because her opponent was grabbing her head gear and was up 5-3. The opponent came in fast and aggressive to the head again. Mavis a little tired and worn, tried to fight off the takedown, but similar to her first match, held on too long and was caught, losing the match by fall.
Mavis finished the tournament winning the fourth place USGWA medal.
“Both Jacob and Mavis had some close exciting matches throughout the day, while some did not go their way; I am extremely proud how hard they fought. A couple mistakes is all that kept them from the championship; all very fixable,” said their dad and coach, Rick Pyorre.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Authorities have released the name of the Middletown man who died of his injuries following a single-vehicle wreck last week near Lower Lake.
California Highway Patrol Officer Kory Reynolds identified the fatal crash victim as Jerry Verlin Cheesman, 68.
Cheesman was driving a 2005 Buick Le Sabre northbound on Highway 29 north of Diener Drive at an unknown speed shortly after 10 p.m. when he lost control of the car.
The Buick went off the road and hit a tree. The CHP said Cheesman was found outside of the car, but it wasn't clear if he had gotten out on his own or been ejected during the crash.
A REACH air ambulance transported Cheesman to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, where he died, the CHP said.
Reynolds said the CHP investigation into the fatal crash is continuing.
He said they don't yet know why Cheesman's vehicle went off the roadway, and are waiting for toxicology and autopsy results to rule out a medical condition.
Reynolds said drugs and alcohol are not suspected but have not yet been ruled out due to the pending test results.
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.
My father spent his life in the retail business, and loved almost every minute of it, so I was especially pleased to see this poem by David Huddle, from his new book, Dream Sender, from Louisiana State University Press. The poet lives in Vermont.
Stores
Fifteen I got a job at Leggett's, stock boy, fifty cents an hour. Moved up—I come from that kind of people—to toys at Christmas, then Menswear and finally Shoes.
Quit to go to college, never worked retail again, but I still really like stores, savor merchandise neatly stacked on tables, sweaters wanting my gliding palm as I walk by, mannequins weirdly sexy behind big glass windows, shoes shiny and just waiting for the right feet.
So why in my seventies do Target, Lowes, and Home Depot spin me dizzy and lost, wanting my mother to find me, wipe my eyes, hold my hand all the way out to the car?
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Tickets are still available for Redbud Audubon’s annual Heron Days event.
Pontoon boat tours lasting for 90 minutes are offered on two consecutive Saturdays, April 30, and May 7, from 8 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Bird guides accompany each tour.
This is Redbud Audubon's 21st year of offering these popular tours.
You will have the opportunity to see a variety of bird life on Clear Lake including great blue herons nesting, cormorants and blackbirds.
Other probabilities are various raptors, grebes, ducks, woodpeckers and much more.
On April 30, boats depart from Lakeside County Park which is just west of Clear Lake State Park.
On May 7, boats depart from Redbud Park in the city of Clearlake. The fee for the pontoon boat tour is $25.
Go to www.redbudaudubon.org and click on the Heron Days tab to learn more and to register.
MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Middletown residents who want to grow their own vegetables but lack the land are being offered the chance to participate in a new community garden project.
Calpine is proposing to host a community garden on a lot next to its visitor center, located on Central Park Road, according to a presentation made at the Middletown Area Town Hall meeting on Thursday evening.
Danielle Matthews Seperas, manager of Calpine's Government and Community Affairs division, briefly outlined the plan.
She said Calpine owns the empty lot next to the visitor center. “I've always envisioned some kind of community project there. There's been ideas but nothing's ever really come together.”
However, when North Coast Opportunities reached out and suggested the possibility of a community garden in that area, Seperas said she thought it was a great idea.
“It just seems like a really great fit,” said Seperas.
She added that it won't be the Calpine community garden, it will be the Middletown community garden. “So before we move forward we would want complete community buy-in from everyone.”
Seperas then introduced Ava Ryan, Lake County Garden Project coordinator for North Coast Opportunities.
Ryan explained that the gardens project is one of North Coast Opportunities' community wellness projects, focusing on food, nutrition and food access.
North Coast Opportunities launched The Gardens Project in Mendocino County in 2007, and since that time has established 38 community gardens in Lake's neighboring county to the west, with most of those gardens located in Ukiah, Ryan said.
She said some of those gardens are quite big – up to 40 family plots – and are producing many tons of food annually.
“We're feeding a lot of families and that's really our mission with these community gardens,” Ryan said, adding that the gardens create access for those people who don't have land.
Ryan said the program goal is to help provide access to food, and alleviate poverty and food insecurity.
In November, North Coast Opportunities received a three-year US Department of Agriculture Community Food Project grant to expand The Gardens Project into Lake County, she said.
With that grant in hand, Ryan said she has been actively looking for properties and communities that want the gardens, which she will help build and facilitate.
Ryan said a key and core philosophy of the program is community ownership. “They're not my gardens at the end of the day,” but rather belong to the community members.
North Coast Opportunities has money for infrastructure, including fencing, trenching, installing water lines for irrigation, and building raised beds, and they get donations of compost and seeds, she said.
She said a group has been started to support the garden at Calpine, they are doing outreach and have had two meetings so far, with interest from the community.
Ryan said the grant was written and awarded since last year's wildland fires that devastated parts of Lake County, including the Middletown area.
“Since the fires happened we really wanted to move into this area when Middletown residents are ready, because I think that gardens are healing spaces as well as food production spaces,” she said.
The gardens are places not just for physical and nutritional health but mental health, Ryan said, adding she felt it would be great to have a beautiful garden located along the highway.
On Thursday afternoon a 100-foot by 100-foot area was staked out for the garden in the middle of the lot, Ryan said. There are plans for a mix of raised and in-ground beds of different sizes.
She said the program likes to create leadership teams in the gardens so there is a resource in the community from which to draw. There also will be leadership training, contracts for use and the establishment of laws for the garden.
Those rules include opening hours and keeping gardens locked, as Ryan acknowledged that thefts have occurred.
She said the program charges a nominal fee of about $20 to $40 per year per plot, which goes into a pool fund for events, tools, waters or other needs.
“Ultimately, we want all the gardens to be self-sustaining,” and for the most part, they all are, said Ryan, explaining that it is wonderful to watch people working together.
Ryan noted during the discussion that she's also working to put a community garden in at Highlands Senior Center in Clearlake, where a work party took place on Saturday.
When asked how long Calpine has agreed to allow the community garden to be located on its property, Seperas said that detail hasn't yet been worked out, as they first wanted to make sure the garden was wanted.
Another key question related to water supply, with Ryan explaining that how water will be paid for and supplied is still being worked out.
When an audience member asked if Callayomi County Water District had been asked about helping with water supply, a water district board member who was in the audience replied that, following the Valley fire, the district had lost 40 percent of its income, so it would be difficult for the district to give away any water.
Anyone interested in participating in the garden program or wanting more information is encouraged to contact Ryan via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by phone at 707-994-4647, Extension 131.
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.
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