LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Labor Day weekend is approaching, and many Californians are preparing to close out the summer with a road trip.
In anticipation of the increased traffic that often accompanies a holiday weekend, the California Highway Patrol will implement a maximum enforcement period, or MEP.
The holiday enforcement effort begins Friday, Sept. 3, at 6:01 p.m., and continues through 11:59 p.m. Monday, Sept. 6.
To help keep motorists safe, officers will focus on removing impaired drivers from the road.
Impairment can be caused by more than just alcohol — it also comes from cannabis, illicit drugs, and prescription drugs, or a combination of any of these.
Traffic safety efforts by the CHP during the 2020 Labor Day MEP resulted in more than 900 arrests for driving under the influence.
The CHP said 46 people died in crashes throughout California that weekend — many of whom were not wearing a seat belt.
“Our officers are dedicated to making the roadways safe for all who use them,” said CHP Commissioner Amanda Ray. “Driving sober or designating a sober driver is the responsible choice to keep you, your passengers and other motorists safe.”
All CHP officers and sergeants have received additional training on detecting impaired drivers.
California also has the nation’s highest number of Drug Recognition Experts, or DREs, who are officers specifically trained to identify drug impairment.
During the upcoming holiday weekend, DREs will be on duty throughout the state.
If you suspect that a driver is impaired, keep your distance and call 911. Be prepared to provide the dispatcher with a complete description of the vehicle, license plate number, location and direction of travel. The CHP said that such telephone calls may save someone’s life.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Lake County’s jobless rate saw a minor improvement during the month of July, while national numbers also were down and state unemployment was unchanged.
The Employment Development Department, or EDD, said Lake County’s July unemployment rate was 7.4%, down from 7.5% in June and 11% in July 2020.
Leading the county’s job categories was total farm with a 6% growth over the month and 29.5% over the year. Leisure and hospitality was up by 2.5% over June and 17.5% over July 2020.
Nationwide, the jobless rate was down. The Bureau of Labor Statistics said July’s national unemployment rate was 5.4%, down from 5.9% in June and 10.2% in July 2020.
California’s unemployment rate was 7.6% in July, the same as June but down from 13.2% from July 2020.
California payroll jobs totaled 16,529,000 in July 2021, up 114,400 from June 2021 and up from 15,644,600 from July 2020.
Of the 2,714,800 jobs lost in March and April 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, California has now regained 1,582,900 jobs, or 58.3%.
The state said the number of Californians employed in July was 17,493,600, an increase of 56,000 persons from June’s total of 17,437,600 and up 1,225,600 from the employment total in July of last year.
The number of unemployed Californians was 1,433,800 in July, a decrease of 5,800 over the month and down 1,029,700 in comparison to July of last year, the EDD reported.
Lake County’s jobless rate earned it a statewide rank of No. 36.
Neighboring county jobless rates and ranks for July are: Colusa, 10.6%, No. 55; Glenn, 7%, No. 31; Mendocino, 6.3%, No. 19; Napa, 5.8%, No. 11; Sonoma, 5.6%, No. 7; and Yolo, 5.9%, No. 15.
Marin continued to have the lowest unemployment of the state’s 58 counties, 4.5%, while Imperial County had the highest rate, 18.9%.
In related data, the EDD said there were 834,513 people certifying for Unemployment Insurance benefits during the July 2021 sample week. That compares to 592,867 people in June and 3,144,098 people in July 2020.
At the same time, 64,642 initial claims were processed in the July 2021 sample week, which was a month-over increase of 519 claims from June, but a year-over decrease of 179,864 claims from July 2020, the EDD 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.
Thirty percent of unvaccinated American adults say they’re waiting for the COVID-19 vaccines currently authorized for emergency use to be officially approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The FDA has since granted that approval for those age 16 and older for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine on Aug. 23, 2021. What had to happen for the FDA to advance from emergency use authorization, or EUA, to full approval?
I’m a pharmacist who trains other pharmacists, health care providers and students on why, when and how to administer vaccines. Emergency use authorization, while streamlining the regulatory process so the vaccine is more quickly available to the public, still follows a rigorous process the FDA requires to ensure vaccine safety and effectiveness. The difference is that more time has passed and more data is available for review when a company applies for full approval.
EUA and full approval share similar first steps
For both emergency authorization and full approval, for COVID-19 vaccines, the FDA first requires initial safety studies on a small number of people. Here, researchers document potential adverse events, or side effects, that the vaccine may cause. Researchers also determine the safest and most effective dose of the vaccine.
Once the vaccine is determined to be safe and an optimal dose identified, researchers will create larger studies to ascertain how well it works in a controlled setting where some people are given the vaccine while others are given a placebo.
It is important to note that the number of people who participated in the initial COVID-19 safety studies was similar to that in the safety studies of other commonly used vaccines, including vaccines for tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough and meningitis. Over 43,000 adults participated in the early phases of the Pfizer-BioNTech clinical trial, over 30,400 in Moderna’s and over 44,000 in Johnson and Johnson’s. Half the participants in each study were given a vaccine, while the other half were given a placebo.
Where EUA and full approval differ
From this point on, emergency use authorization and full FDA approval for COVID-19 vaccines follow different clinical study requirements.
For the emergency use authorization, the FDA requires at least half of the participants of the original studies to be followed for at least two months post-vaccination. This is because the vast majority of vaccine-related side effects occur right after vaccination.
Full FDA approval, on the other hand, requires participants in the original studies to be followed for at least six months. Reviewers look at data from the same study participants but collected over a longer period of time. All adverse events are examined. The manufacturer must also provide more detailed manufacturing plans and processes, as well as a higher level of oversight and inspections. All of this adds significantly more time to the review process.
Both Pfizer and Moderna began their rolling submission for approval in the FDA’s “Fast Track” process, designed to speed up review. This allows the companies to submit portions of their approval application to the FDA for review as they’re completed.
Full FDA approval will initially apply to only the same age groups that were tested in the original emergency use authorization. This means that the vaccine has been approved first for people ages 16 and up for Pfizer, and will likely be approved for those 18 and up for Moderna. Rolling submission will allow approval of the vaccine for younger groups as more data becomes available.
Different timelines, same rigorous requirements
Full FDA approval is a milestone that may help build confidence among the vaccine hesitant about the safety of the vaccines. But the true test of the vaccine came when it first gained emergency use authorization. Then, researchers identified the majority of its potential side effects and proved its ability to protect against severe disease.
Article updated on Aug. 23, 2021 to reflect FDA approval of Pfizer BioNTech vaccine for those ages 16 and older.
Gov. Gavin Newsom visited a vaccination clinic in Oakland on Tuesday to promote vaccinations as more than 80% of eligible Californians 12 and older have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Underscoring the FDA’s full approval last week of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for those 16 and older last week, Newsom encouraged unvaccinated Californians to take action to protect themselves and their communities from the Delta variant and do their part to help bring an end to the pandemic by getting vaccinated.
“Getting vaccinated is the key to protecting against COVID-19 and the faster-spreading Delta variant — it’s how we end this thing.” said Newsom. “California has put more shots in arms than any other state. We’ve made incredible progress vaccinating our population in a remarkably short amount of time, and our work continues to close the gap in our most impacted communities.”
California has implemented first-in-the-nation vaccine verification or testing requirements for state workers and school staff, and vaccination requirements for workers in health care settings.
Since first implementing these measures, the state has seen significant progress, with five straight weeks of more than 500,000 vaccines administered.
Last week, California administered over 643,000 vaccinations, marking a 44.7% increase compared to mid-July.
The state continues to lead the nation with 48 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine administered.
California is also encouraging private businesses and local governments across the state to follow the state’s lead and adopt vaccine verification systems for their employees, a move that has been followed by some of the state’s largest public and private employers.
State officials said the vaccination push will allow business owners to worry less about closing their doors due to a COVID-19 outbreak and promote the state’s ongoing economic recovery.
Gov. Newsom on Tuesday also released his latest "On the Record" ethnic media column emphasizing the urgent imperative for unvaccinated individuals to step up and get the shot amid an increase in infections and hospitalizations driven by the Delta variant.
The column, which has been translated into eight additional languages and will be published online and in print by various ethnic media outlets, underscores the safety and efficacy of the lifesaving vaccines and highlights the state’s efforts to address vaccine hesitancy and increase access.
“Unfortunately, many of our most vulnerable communities where we are seeing low vaccination rates are targets of disinformation campaigns, which continue to put lives at risk, including our youngest children who are not yet eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine,” Newsom wrote in the column. “Working with ethnic media, faith-based and community-based organizations, and many unique partners who are trusted messengers has been crucial to dispelling some of the most prevalent myths out there. It’s time to fully embrace the facts that prove vaccines work, are safe, and are free — regardless of immigration status.”
California’s targeted outreach in hard-to-reach communities has included multimedia and multicultural public education campaigns, “Get Out the Vaccine” door-knocking efforts and supporting community and business partnerships for direct outreach and assistance.
The column also notes programs and resources available to Californians struggling with pandemic impacts, including rent relief and the Golden State Stimulus, with a second round of payments being distributed for direct relief to Californians.
Recent measures by California to encourage vaccination and slow the spread of COVID-19 include:
— Vaccine verification for state workers. Requires that all state workers either show proof of full vaccination or be tested at least once per week, and encourages local governments and other employers to adopt a similar protocol. Following California’s announcement, some of the largest California businesses and local governments followed suit, as did the federal government.
— Vaccinations for health care workers. Requires workers in health care settings to be fully vaccinated or receive their second dose by Sept. 30, 2021.
— Vaccine verification for all school staff. Requires that all school staff either show proof of full vaccination or be tested at least once per week. California is the first state in the nation to require all school staff, including at public and private schools, to verify vaccination status or get tested. Education and labor leaders across the state welcomed the announcement.
— Universal masking in K-12 settings. Aligned with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and American Academy of Pediatrics, California was the first state to implement universal masking in school settings to keep students and staff safer while optimizing fully in-person instruction.
— Medi-Cal vaccination incentives. $350 million in incentive payments to help close the vaccination gap between Medi-Cal beneficiaries and Californians as a whole, significantly stepping up outreach in underserved communities.
— Statewide mask recommendation. In response to the spike in COVID-19 hospitalizations and new CDC guidance calling for masking, the state recommended mask use for indoor public settings regardless of vaccination status.
Forty-four percent of children experienced poverty for at least two consecutive months, also known as episodic poverty, between 2013 and 2016, according to a recently released U.S. Census Bureau report.
This rate was nearly triple the episodic poverty rate for individuals ages 65 and over.
The new report, Dynamics of Economic Well-being: Poverty, 2013-2016, includes longitudinal statistics like episodic and chronic poverty and the median length of poverty spells.
It shows the episodic poverty rate was higher (44%) for children (under age 18).
Seniors (ages 65 and over) had the lowest episodic poverty rate among all age groups with a rate of 15.8%. Working-age adults (ages 18-64) had a higher rate of 33.6% but still lower than the rate for children.
Chronic poverty
Across age groups, shorter poverty spells were much more common than multi-year poverty spells between 2013 and 2016.
Chronic poverty describes individuals in poverty for all months of the 2013-2016 period studied. As a result, the chronically poor are also captured within the episodically poor, as they have more than two consecutive months in poverty.
As with episodic poverty, children also had the highest chronic poverty rate (4.6%) among all three age groups from 2013 to 2016. The chronic poverty rate for seniors was 1.5%, the lowest among all age groups, and 2.4% for working-age adults.
Lifting out of poverty
The length of a poverty spell represents the number of consecutive months an individual was in poverty. A group’s median poverty spell length can provide information on its ability to exit poverty.
Seniors and children typically remained in poverty longer than working-age adults, based on the median length of poverty spells by age group.
While seniors notably had the lowest episodic poverty rate among all age groups, those in poverty appeared to have difficulty exiting poverty.
Seniors’ median poverty spell length (12.4 months) was longer than it was for working-age adults (10.1 months) and was not statistically different than for children (11.8 months) from 2013 to 2016.
Abinash Mohanty is a statistician in the Census Bureau’s Social, Economic and Housing Statistics Division.
This female domestic short hair kitten has a black coat.
She is in cat room kennel No. 53, ID No. LCAC-A-1503.
Domestic medium hair cat
This 3-year-old female domestic medium hair cat has a brown tabby coat.
She is in cat room kennel No. 58, ID No. LCAC-A-1029.
‘Marmalade’
“Marmalade” is a 5-year-old female domestic short hair cat with a calico and white coat.
She is in cat room kennel No. 68, ID No. LCAC-A-1444.
Female domestic short hair kitten
This female domestic short hair kitten has a black coat.
She is in cat room kennel No. 101, ID No. LCAC-A-1504.
Domestic short hair kitten
This male domestic short hair kitten has all-black coat.
He is in cat room kennel No. 101, ID No. LCAC-A-1502.
Male domestic short hair
This male domestic short hair has a gray and white coat.
He is 1-year-old and weighs nearly 6 pounds.
He is in cat room kennel No. 120, ID No. LCAC-A-874.
Female domestic short hair
This 2-year-old female domestic short hair cat has a white coat and blue eyes.
She is in cat room kennel No. 123, ID No. LCAC-A-1152.
Domestic short hair kitten
A male kitten from this litter remains available for adoption.
He is in cat room kennel No. 125B, ID No. LCAC-A-1139.
Female domestic short hair
This 1-year-old female domestic short hair cat has a black coat.
She is in cat room kennel No. 135, ID No. LCAC-A-1133.
‘Goldie’
“Goldie” is a male domestic short hair kitten with a yellow tabby and white coat.
He is in cat room kennel No. 142, ID No. LCAC-A-1442.
‘Ophir’
“Ophir” is a male domestic short hair kitten with a red and white coat.
He is in cat room kennel No. 142, ID No. LCAC-A-1443.
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.
Comments and questions can be submitted in writing for City Council consideration by sending them to City Clerk Melissa Swanson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
To give the council adequate time to review your questions and comments, please submit your written comments before 4 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 2.
Each public comment emailed to the city clerk will be read aloud by the mayor or a member of staff for up to three minutes or will be displayed on a screen. Public comment emails and town hall public comment submissions that are received after the beginning of the meeting will not be included in the record.
On the agenda is a discussion on the city’s response to the Cache fire.
City Manager Alan Flora’s report said staff will update the council and community on the current status of various aspects of the Cache fire recovery effort.
The fire, which began in the city on the afternoon of Aug. 18, destroyed 57 homes and 81 outbuildings.
On Aug. 19, the City Council ratified a state of emergency issued the night of the fire by Flora in his capacity as city emergency services director.
Then, on Aug. 24, the Lake County Board of Supervisors ratified the public health emergency and declared a county state of emergency as a result of the Cache fire.
“While no state or federal declarations or significant aid have yet been approved, we are working with various state agencies and our legislative representatives to respond to the immediate need for housing, and cleanup as we prepare for rebuilding,” Flora wrote in his report to the council.
In other business, the council and staff will discuss California's redistricting process.
“As a result of the 2020 Census most political boundaries must be redrawn to adjust districts based on population. This process has been significantly slowed due to the Census being conducted during the global COVID pandemic,” Flora explained in his report to the council.
He said the state’s citizens redistricting commission is currently gathering public input on boundaries.
“The City’s political support (or lack thereof) in the state and federal legislature is critically important to our plans for the future. It is important for the City to provide input on any redistricting that provides the best footing for ensuring support for issues that are important to Clearlake residents,” Flora wrote.
In April the Lake County Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution asking the commission to continue to include Lake County with Napa and Sonoma in representation due to similar issues such as the wine industry.
Flora said the council should consider seeking specific goals in its representation, and may want to request the Board of Supervisors’ support and submit its own letter to the commission.
Also on Thursday, the council will present a proclamation declaring September 2021 as Senior Center Month.
On the meeting's consent agenda — items that are not considered controversial and are usually adopted on a single vote — are warrants; consideration of Resolution No. 2021-43, a resolution approving a temporary road closure for the Soap Box Derby; award of a contract for inspection and materials testing for the Sulphur Fire Roadway Disaster with Green Valley Consulting Engineers for the total amount of $227,360 and authorize the city manager to approve up to 10% for additional unforeseen contract amendments; continuation of declaration of local emergency issued on Oct. 9, 2017, and ratified by council action on Oct. 12, 2017; and continuation of declaration of local emergency issued on March 14, 2020, and ratified by council action on March 19, 2020.
Following the meeting, the council will have a closed session to discuss properties located at 6452 Francisco and 6461 Manzanita with Edwin Jinks.
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. — The Board of Supervisors will hold a special meeting this week to discuss extending an urgency ordinance that implements a moratorium on early activation permits, hear about COVID-19 and local schools and hold a public hearing on the supervisorial redistricting process.
The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 31, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.
The meeting ID is 935 3617 1596, pass code 598091. The meeting also can be accessed via one tap mobile at +16699006833,,93536171596#,,,,*598091# US.
All interested members of the public that do not have internet access or a Mediacom cable subscription are encouraged to call 669-900-6833, and enter the Zoom meeting ID and pass code information above.
In an item timed for 11 a.m., the board will hold a public hearing to consider extending an interim urgency ordinance establishing a moratorium on the issuance of early activation permits on all land use projects in the unincorporated county.
In other business on Tuesday, at 9:06 a.m. the board will get a Lake County schools COVID-19 update from Superintendent of Schools Brock Falkenberg.
At 10 a.m., the board will hold its first public hearing to introduce the redistricting process for supervisorial districts.
At 10:30 a.m., the board will consider its response to the 2020-21 Grand Jury Final Report.
Other timed items include the agreement for an operational analysis of indigent defense services set for 11:30 a.m. and presentation of the Roadmap Task Force Pilot Project at noon.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
5.1: Appoint temporary representatives to meet for unrepresented Confidential A and B employees regarding salary and benefits.
5.2: Adopt resolution amending Resolution No. 2021-68 Establishing Position Allocations for Recommended Fiscal Year 2021-2022 Budget, Budget Unit No. 2702, Planning.
5.3: Approve Amendment No. 1 to agreement for recruitment services for the Lake County Public Health officer.
5.4: Adopt resolution approving Agreement No.21-0341-000-SA with California Department of Food and Agriculture for Compliance with the Nursery Inspection Program for Period July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2022, in the amount of $990.
5.5: Sitting as Lake County Air Quality Management District Board of Directors, authorize the air pollution control officer to sign and submit the grant agreement between the district and ARB for AB617 Implementation Funds for the Community Air Protection Program, and sign all other program documents.
5.6: Approve Board of Supervisors meeting minutes for July 20, 2021.
5.7: Adopt resolution (a) authorizing entering into a funding agreement with the State Water Resources Control Board and (b) authorizing and designating Lake County Special Districts administrator to sign, on the behalf of CSA-21, North Lakeport Water, all grant related documents for the Drought Resiliency Project.
TIMED ITEMS
6.2, 9:06 a.m.: Lake County schools COVID-19 update.
6.3, 10 a.m.: Redistricting public hearing No. 1 — Introduction to the redistricting process.
6.4, 10:30 a.m.: Consideration of response to the 2020-21 Grand Jury Final Report.
6.5, 11 a.m.: Public hearing, consideration of an ordinance extending interim Urgency Ordinance No. 3107 10 months and 15 days which establishes a moratorium on the issuance of early activation permits for land use projects within the unincorporated area of Lake County and authorize chair to sign .
6.6, 11:30 a.m.: Consideration of agreement for operational analysis of indigent defense services.
6.7, noon: Presentation of Roadmap Task Force Pilot Project.
UNTIMED ITEMS
7.2: (a) Consideration of a Presentation on PG&E’s Better Together Resilient Communities Grant Program; (b) consideration of a resolution of support for Trane Technologies to submit an application on behalf of the county of Lake to PG&E’s “Better Together Resilient Communities” Grant Program, in pursuit of funds for additional engineering and due diligence in the evaluation of potential advanced energy projects.
CLOSED SESSION
8.1: Public employee evaluation: Public Works Director Scott De Leon.
8.2: Public employee evaluation: Behavioral Health Director Todd Metcalf.
8.3: Public employee appointment pursuant to Gov. Code Section 54957(b)(1): (a) Appointment of Community Development director.
8.4: Conference with temporary representatives designated to meet with county department heads regarding salary and benefits of unrepresented management employees.
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 Lake County resident now studying at Mendocino College has been elected to a state board that will give him the opportunity to advocate for community college students.
Leonardo Rodriguez of Kelseyville, who turned 20 in June, was elected on Aug. 12 to the California Community College Trustees Board as its student member for the 2021-22 academic year.
Born in Mexico, Rodriguez’s family came to the United States when he was 5 years old.
He refers to himself as a “Dreamer” — a reference to the DREAM Act that was proposed, but not passed, in Congress to assist young people with immigration status.
He’s lived in Lake County since he was in fifth grade. He’s a 2019 graduate of Kelseyville High School and a first-generation college student.
Rodriguez also is the student trustee for the Mendocino-Lake College District Board of Trustees, a role he was selected to fill last semester by fellow students.
Student trustees have the same general responsibilities as all trustees to represent the interests of the entire community, while also providing a student perspective on the issues facing the board.
Mendocino College Superintendent/President Tim Karas said Rodriguez’s selection to the California Community College Trustee, or CCCT, Board is a first for the Mendocino-Lake College District.
“This is transformational for us. Student Trustee Rodriguez will provide a voice for 2.1 million California community college students. His voice will inform and shape statewide strategic directions. Having an advocate for rural colleges with an equity mindset is critical to deliver higher education to all,” Karas said.
The CCCT Board consists of 21 members elected statewide by the 73 district California Community College governing boards and a student-member elected by the student trustees.
The board takes positions on and formulates education policy issues that come before the California Community Colleges Board of Governors, the State Legislature, and other relevant state-level boards and commissions.
This policy board provides input to the League Board to advance the mission and effectively serve the organization's member colleges.
Rodriguez told Lake County News that he ran for the CCCT Board on a platform of implementing anti-racist and equitable policies, expanding dual enrollment in urban and rural communities, and establishing student retention initiatives.
He wants to see policies instituted that are race conscious and which look at impacts on all student demographics. Making sure classes are culturally relevant and ensuring student success are part of implementing anti-racist policies, he said.
Rodriguez was endorsed by District 5 Supervisor Jessica Pyska and community organizer Luisa Acosta.
An introduction to service
Before he was elected to the college and state boards, Rodriguez served on the Lake County Latinx COVID-19 advocacy group, which started last year when there was an outbreak in the agricultural sector.
The group had urged officials to give out masks and do on-site testing, and it was there he worked with Acosta. He said he also felt then-Public Health Officer Dr. Gary Pace had valued his voice and ideas as he advocated for the Hispanic community.
Rodriguez felt that if his voice was valued there, he wondered if it would also be welcomed at the college board level.
“Really, it was about representation,” he said, explaining his entry into running for the college boards.
In July, Rodriguez also spoke to the Lake County Board of Supervisors to raise his concerns about the impact of COVID-19 on students, suggesting that with the surge and the fact that only about half of the county was vaccinated, that schools should probably not yet reopen.
Rodriguez told Lake County News that COVID-19 hasn’t revealed new problems in education, but rather has highlighted existing issues, including academic failure, financial insecurity, mental health and inequities when it comes to access to technology.
“Community colleges are often almost a home for a lot of students,” he said. “It really does become their space.”
Having their space taken away by COVID-19 has impacted students both in the short-term and the long-term as they struggled to make the transition from in-person to online courses, he said.
He said some students also are having to give up their dreams of college to help their families stay afloat, an issue he’s been hearing a lot about.
Students are missing the in-person dynamics, discussion and interaction that are part of the full package of what higher education is, Rodriguez said.
This is Rodriguez’s second year in college and he’ll be graduating from Mendocino College soon. He is on track to graduate with associates degrees in three majors — political science, history and liberal arts with a focus on social sciences.
He plans to transfer to Sacramento State University to pursue his bachelor's degree in political science and will then go on to obtain his master’s degree.
Rodriguez plans to do internships in Sacramento so he can meet legislators and continue working with the community to learn about the problems people in society face.
Advocacy for the Hispanic community is a key concern for Rodriguez, noting he looks forward to seeing immigration reform passed.
He said he wants to serve California and its people “in any capacity that will allow me to complete my life dream of being a voice for those who are unheard.”
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. — The Lake County Fair is just around the corner, returning after a year off due to the pandemic.
“Race to the Lake County Fair” is the theme for this year’s fair, which takes place from Thursday, Sept. 2, through Sunday, Sept. 5.
This year’s fair will feature local musicians, a carnival — with kiddie rides in the main area — along with great food and wares, and community exhibits at their finest.
The gate opens on Thursday at 6 p.m., starting with the Blue Ribbon Dinner and the 8 p.m. grand opening with Grand Marshal Calpine at the Geysers and Volunteers of the Year the Kane family.
Kicking off events in the grandstand will be “Guns N Hoses,” which will see law enforcement squaring off against firefighters in some fantastic fun events coordinated by Lt. Mike Pascoe of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and Superman Coach Aaron Jameson.
Friday’s headliner will be the Mud Boggs, sponsored by Twin Pine Casino at 7 p.m.
Starting the Labor Day Weekend on Saturday will be the Junior Livestock Auction, with brunch at 10 a.m. and the auction at noon.
The grandstand Power Wheels Derby will take place at 1 p.m. Saturday; there is still time to get your children entered.
Saturday’s grandstands headliner event starts at 7 p.m. with the Destruction Derby.
Sunday is Fiesta Day, with the wild and crazy Boat Races at 7 p.m., sponsored by Lake County Tribal Health.
There will be extra parking during the fair at Lake County Tribal Health with an afternoon shuttle by Angela’s Rides.
Presale tickets are on sale now at businesses or at the fair office this week. Call the fair at 707-263-6181 for more information.
The full schedule follows.
THURSDAY, SEPT. 2
All days free petting zoo and bounce house for the kids. Building hours: 6 to 10 p.m. Fair hours: 6 to 11 p.m.
8 p.m.: Opening ceremonies, with Grand Marshal Calpine at the Geysers and 2021 Volunteer of the Year, the Kane family; national anthem sung by Joy Tackett
Grandstand entertainment 10 a.m.: Horse Show 8 p.m.: Inaugural Guns and Hoses competition, law enforcement versus firefighters
Livestock Market Show 8 a.m.: Junior Chicken Meat Pens and Junior Market Turkeys, Alexander Barn 8 a.m.: Junior Swine Show, Junior Sheep Show and Junior Meat Goat Show, Baldwin Pavilion; Junior Ag Mechanics 1 p.m.: Junior Market Rabbits, Alexander Barn
Family oasis in Fiesta Park A great place for parents to find free fun for youngsters, including a bounce house and petting zoo.
Blue Ribbon invite event 6 p.m.: Blue Ribbon Dinner, Academy Park (KCA Park)
Live music and entertainment 6:30 p.m.: Michael Barrish, country soul, Gazebo Stage 7 p.m.: Time Travelers, classic rock, Main Stage 8 p.m.: Clear Lake Clikkers, clogging, Gazebo Stage 8:30 p.m.: Time Travelers, classic rock, Main Stage
FRIDAY, SEPT. 3
All days free petting zoo and bounce house for the kids. Building hours: 4 to 10 p.m. Fair hours: 4 to 11 p.m.
Grandstand entertainment 7 p.m.: Mudd Boggs
Livestock area 9 a.m.: Junior Market Steer
Family oasis in Fiesta Park A great place for parents to find free fun for youngsters, including a bounce house and petting zoo.
Free contests 5 p.m.: Tricycle race, Fiesta Lawn (behind Fritch Hall). Walk on contest for kids up to age 8; prizes and ribbons. 5:30 p.m.: Race theme floral arrangement contest, Flower Hall. Participants bring a flower arrangement that best represents the contest theme. Must deliver prior to 5 p.m. Sept. 3. Prizes and ribbons for first to third place.
Live music and entertainment 6 p.m.: The Fargo Brothers, Americana and rock n’ roll, Main Stage 6:30 p.m.: Stevie & The Shufflenuts, blues with a different twist, Main Stage 7:45 p.m.: The Fargo Brothers, Americana and rock n’ roll, Main Stage 8:30 p.m.: Stevie & The Shufflenuts, blues with a different twist, Main Stage 9 p.m.: The Fargo Brothers, Americana and rock n’ roll, Main Stage
SATURDAY, SEPT. 4
Building hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fair hours: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Grandstand entertainment 1 p.m.: Power Wheels Derby. Free contest; pre-registration required. Prizes and ribbons. 7 p.m.: Destruction Derby
Family oasis in Fiesta Park A great place for parents to find free fun for youngsters, including a bounce house and petting zoo.
Live music and entertainment Noon: Beatz Werkin, classic rock, Main Stage 2 p.m.: Beatz Werkin, classic rock, Main Stage 2:30 p.m.: Uncorked, Irish and more, Gazebo Stage 3:45 p.m.: Uncorked, Irish and more, Gazebo Stage 4 p.m.: Beatz Werkin, classic rock, Main Stage 5:15 p.m.: Piano Man David Neft, Gazebo Stage 7 p.m.: Piano Man David Neft, Gazebo Stage 7 p.m.: Hip Replacements, blues, rock and R&B, Main Stage 8:30 p.m.: Piano Man David Neft, Gazebo Stage 10:30 p.m.: Hip Replacements, blues, rock and R&B, Main Stage
Fiesta Music, Main Stage 3 p.m.: Irma Lopez 7 to 9 p.m.: Los Nuevos Imparables
SUNDAY, SEPT. 5
Building hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fair hours: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Livestock area 9 a.m.: Primary Member Showmanship Workshop Signup at 8:30 a.m. Free, come and join
Special attraction Fiesta Latina Day, sponsored by Lake County Tribal Health Consortium
Fiesta Music, Main Stage 3 p.m.: Irma Lopez 7 to 9 p.m.: Los Nuevos Imparables
Grandstand entertainment 7 p.m.: Boat races
Family oasis in Fiesta Park A great place for parents to find free fun for youngsters, including a bounce house and petting zoo.
Free contests Noon: Diaper Race, Fiesta Lawn; babies crawl to their parent 1 p.m.: Slot Car Race, Fiesta Lawn 3 p.m.: Slot Car Race, Fiesta Lawn
Live music and entertainment Noon: Rural Jazz Project, artistry of song and improvisation, Main Stage 12:15 p.m.: Majide!, trio, standard jazz classics from the Great American Songbook, Gazebo Stage 1:15 p.m.: Rural Jazz Project, artistry of song and improvisation, Main Stage 1:30 p.m.: Majide!, trio, standard jazz classics from the Great American Songbook, Gazebo Stage 5 p.m.: Austin & Owens, the Neo-Flamenco duo, Gazebo Stage 7 p.m.: Austin & Owens, the Neo-Flamenco duo, Gazebo Stage 9 p.m.: Austin & Owens, the Neo-Flamenco duo, Gazebo Stage
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Every 11 minutes, an American dies from opioid overdose; 91% of those overdoses are accidental.
Drug overdose is now the No. 1 cause of unintentional injury-related death in the United States.
In 2019, more than 70,000 people died from drug overdoses, over 6,000 of those here in California.
The leading driver of these deaths (greater than 70%) is opioid drugs, including fentanyl, heroin and prescription opioids.
Lake County's death rate due to drug use is more than four times higher than the state of California’s.
To help raise community awareness about drug overdose, Lake County Behavioral Health Services is shining a spotlight on it through International Overdose Awareness Day.
This is a global event which takes place annually on Aug. 31, to remember those gone too soon from drug overdose deaths.
A tribute event will take place on Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with speakers at 12:30 p.m. in Lakeport’s Library Park.
Individuals who consume prescription opioids, even when following the prescribed dose, may eventually develop a tolerance to the drug.
When pain has decreased or gone away, some folks find it easy to stop taking the drugs. Others find it difficult to quit. Those who find it harder to quit may continue to take opioids longer than necessary; worse, they may develop an opioid use disorder.
People prescribed opioid pain relievers are also at risk of developing an opioid use disorder. Many are unaware their opioid use has become problematic.
The United States Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reports over half of the people who have misused prescription drugs claimed they got the drugs from relatives or friends. Most people do not know sharing opioids is a felony.
People who take pain relieving drugs in doses too large or for an extended period of time are more at risk of developing an opioid use disorder, and face greater risk of death due to opioid overdose.
Nearly 10 million people over the age of 12 misused prescription drugs in 2019, with 2 million of those having opioid use disorder, per the National Safety Council.
The good news is opioid use disorders are treatable, and recovery can be achieved with effective treatment. Many people in recovery go on to live healthy, successful lives.
For more information, please contact Lake County Behavioral Health Services at 707-274-9101 or 707-994-7090.
If you or someone you know is in urgent need of help, please call the county’s 24-hour crisis line at 800-900-2075.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — A three-vehicle collision temporarily closed Highway 20 on Saturday night, with several people injured.
The head-on crash occurred at about 9:15 p.m. Saturday on Highway 20 east of Clearlake Oaks, in the area of mile post marker 39.5, according to radio traffic and California Highway Patrol reports.
Vehicles involved were described as a silver SUV and a white sedan, with a third vehicle reported to be 30 feet down an embankment.
First responders reported the vehicles were blocking the roadway when they arrived.
There were a total of six patients, with two seriously injured, according to radio reports.
Firefighters and deputies were reported to be looking for additional crash victims in the creek but radio traffic did not indicate any were found.
Ground ambulances transported several of the patients, with two air ambulances requested to respond to Adventist Health Clear Lake Hospital to transport two crash victims to out-of-county trauma centers, scanner traffic said.
The air ambulances were reported to have flown the two most seriously injured patients to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital.
Firefighters reported clearing the scene just after 11 p.m.
Additional information was not immediately available late Saturday night.
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.