WILLITS, Calif.— In an effort to help prevent wildfires and protect communities, Pacific Gas and Electric Company is joining forces with local fire safe councils to enhance the safety and preparedness of local communities.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – National Recovery Month is an observance held every year in September.
It is sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, or CSAT.
The national observance is designed to educate Americans on how addiction treatment and mental health services can be effective tools for people with substance abuse and/or mental disorder(s) to live a healthy and rewarding life.
The national observance is also for celebrating the gains made by people in recovery, just as health improvements are celebrated by those who have health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, etc.
National Recovery Month spotlights reinforcing the positive message that behavioral health is critical to overall health, that prevention is effective, and that treatment is successful. People can and do recover with the right treatment.
There are millions of lives that have been changed through recovery. For those who are suffering from alcohol and/or drug addiction, the message is that there are recovery programs that can help.
Prevention is also crucial and important for relevant groups and organizations to promote alcohol and drug addiction prevention, especially among youth.
Everyone needs to work together to increase awareness and improve understanding about diseases of substance use and mental disorders.
Prevention works and there are effective treatments that can help people recover from alcohol and drug addiction.
Each individual can help and become a supporter to help expand and improve the availability of recovery services that are effective.
During September and throughout the year, everyone is encouraged to help raise awareness of the fact that effective recovery services are available.
For more information, please contact Lake County Behavioral Health at 707-274-9101 or 707-994-7090.
Todd Metcalf is the administrator of Lake County Behavioral Health Services.
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The Lake County Literacy Coalition invites individuals, friends, and families who enjoy walking and running to participate in the 29th Vineyard Run for Literacy.
The event, which benefits the Coalition’s efforts promoting literacy throughout Lake County, is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 14, with start and finish of the walk and runs at Steele Wines.
Sponsored by the Coalition, the 5K walk/run and 10K run will start at 9 a.m. from the winery located on Thomas Drive at Highway 29.
The coalition plans to give awards to top finishers in the runs, gifts to the first 200 people who register, and raffle prizes to participants.
Registration is available online and via forms available from members of the Coalition and at each of Lake County’s library branches. Early registration fees, through Sept. 30, are $25 per adult (age 19 and over) and $10 per child (ages 7 through 18). There is no fee for children through age 6. After the early registration deadline, the fee per adult increase to $35 and per child to $15.
Participants are also encouraged to get sponsors, but it is not required. Each individual who brings $100 in sponsor contributions on race day will participate for free. Sponsor sheets may be downloaded at http://lclcoalition.wixsite.com/lclc. They may also be obtained by calling 707-263-7633.
“We are looking forward to another fantastic Vineyard Run this year,” said Deb Ehrhardt, coalition president. “It takes place, rain or shine, in the beautiful scenic area near the winery. It’s a fun community event in conjunction with Steele Wines’ annual Harvest Festival, and it supports our coalition and its work helping Lake County residents gain reading and writing skills they need.”
“We look forward to this event every year,” adds Chereese Sills, the coalition’s race director. “We typically have wonderful weather, and the atmosphere and scenery can’t be beat. The event is perfect for everyone from the serious runner to the walkers and families enjoying a Sunday outing.”
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – From Dec. 5 to 7, Kelseyville High School seniors Vanessa Gonzalez and Sayra Cacho will address hundreds of teachers attending the AVID Australia Summer Institute at Victoria University in Melbourne, Victoria.
Gonzalez and Cacho were recently named Questbridge finalists, becoming part of a highly select group of high school students across the country who have overcome many challenges to become high-achieving scholars.
“Vanessa and Sayra are outstanding students with 4.0 GPAs, ranking them in the top ten percent of their class,” said Kelseyville Unified School District Director of Student Support Services Tim Gill. “They qualify as migrant education students and were initially designated as English Learner students until they were re-designated as fluent English proficient. They are actively involved in their school and community and are well-respected by both students and staff.”
Gonzalez and Cacho credit their success to a blend of strong work ethics, supportive families and encouraging teachers.
Gonzalez was born in the United States to immigrant parents who did not finish elementary school.
Cacho came to the U.S. in second grade with almost no English language skills and parents who did not finish high school.
In both cases, the families continually encouraged their daughters to work hard in school, not to give up in the face of hardship, and to pursue their dreams.
Gonzalez and Cacho are enrolled in AVID at Kelseyville High School, a nationwide college readiness program that helps students reach their academic and personal potential.
This collaborative class provides students with academic support as well as assistance and instruction related to other college prep activities, such as signing up for standardized tests like the SAT or ACT.
Cacho explained, “AVID helps us stay on track. We help each other out.”
AVID stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination. The program was originally developed in San Diego in 1980 by English teacher Mary Catherine Swanson, who challenged the belief that the low-income students being bussed to her school couldn’t achieve at similar levels to the other students.
The simple philosophy of raising expectations and giving students the support they need has proven extremely effective.
Today, AVID impacts almost 2 million students – 75 percent of whom are low-income, and 80 percent of whom are underrepresented students. Yet, they outperform their peers in crucial metrics nationwide.
Kelseyville Unified introduced AVID in 2015 for grades seventh through 10th and has since expanded the program. It is now a K-12 AVID district.
At Kelseyville High, AVID teacher Katie Daitoku inspires her students and is also inspired by them, and she names Gonzalez and Cacho among the best and brightest.
“I just love them. They are some of the hardest working students I have ever had,” Daitoku said. “Their work ethic, positive attitude and enthusiasm are amazing. It doesn’t matter what I throw at them; they can handle it. They have intrinsic motivation and incredible support from their families. They are the future of our country, which means our future is bright.”
Daitoku will accompany Gonzalez and Cacho on their trip to Australia, where the students will be featured at the general session, speaking to more than 300 Australian teachers and administrators about how AVID helped them overcome challenges to succeed in high school and prepare for college.
After the general session, they will join with AVID students from Australian schools in a student panel that meets with smaller groups of attendees where they will participate in Q & A sessions.
Gonzalez said she hopes to remind the teachers present that they are “teachers, friends, and guides” for their students.
She continued, “I’ll let them know that even though we [teens] can be difficult, to be patient with us. We count on them to motivate us to do better.”
The students will arrive in Australia Nov. 30 and return home Dec. 8. In addition to speaking at the AVID conference, the students will enjoy three days of sightseeing during which they hope to see kangaroos and penguins.
NORTH COAST, Calif. – State Sen. Mike McGuire’s legislation that cuts through red tape and expedites quagga mussel inspection programs at Lake Mendocino and Lake Sonoma has been signed by the governor.
This new law will provide public agencies, like Sonoma Water, the authority to obtain funding from the state of California to implement inspection programs for invasive mussel species at local lakes controlled by the US Army Corps of Engineers.
The reason McGuire advanced this legislation with Assemblymembers Levine and Wood: The US Army Corps of Engineers never spent $600,000 in state grant funds that would have created a robust inspection program at both Lake Sonoma and Lake Mendocino. The funds were awarded four years ago.
Sen. McGuire’s SB 790 will now allow a partner agency – and not necessarily the Army Corps – to apply directly for and obtain equivalent funding in order to implement a full-time mussel prevention program at each of the reservoirs.
The bill will ensure that entities who play a critical role in co-managing reservoirs – and partner with the Army Corps of Engineers – can qualify for funding associated with mandatory mussel inspection programs, installing decontamination stations and educational initiatives preventing the spread of invasive mussels.
Prior to this legislation being signed, the Army Corps of Engineers, as the lead manager for both reservoirs, was the only agency that could apply for state grant funds.
Quagga and zebra mussels are some of the most invasive species on the planet and can lay one million eggs every year causing irreparable harm to critical water management infrastructure.
Quagga and zebra mussels have now taken hold in some of California’s most important freshwater lakes and they are heading to some of the largest lakes on the North Coast – Lake Sonoma and Lake Mendocino. These two lakes are managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers.
“We need permanent protection of our lakes from these invasive little buggers. Stakes couldn’t be higher and this new law will expedite protective measures that will stop the spread of mussels into these heavily visited reservoirs and their water conveyance systems,” McGuire said. “SB 790 will now allow partner agencies – such as Sonoma Water – to receive funding to launch a permanent mussel inspection and prevention program in partnership with the Army Corps.”
In June, Fish and Wildlife personnel avoided a potential massive crisis when a boat with invasive mussels was intercepted at Lake Mendocino utilizing trained mussel-sniffing dogs.
“Sonoma Water can now apply for critical mussel prevention dollars to bolster our prevention efforts and keep our waterways mussel-free,” said Sonoma Water Board of Directors Chairman James Gore. “We appreciate the support of Senator McGuire and our local representatives who worked tirelessly to develop and pass SB 790. Gov. Brown’s signature sends a strong message that protecting our water resources from invasive species remains a top statewide priority.”
SB 790 received overwhelming bipartisan support passing both the Senate and Assembly. The bill is co-authored by Assemblymembers Marc Levine and Jim Wood and Senator Bill Monning.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Association of Realtors, or LCAOR, reported that August sales of single family residences resumed a pattern seen throughout the majority of 2018, with median sales prices on the increase and the number of sales on the decrease.
As of the end of August 2017 the median price was $235,000 with 621 sales compared to a median of $267,950 and 584 sales through the end of August 2018.
The August 2018 median sales price was $262,500, up 5 percent over the July 2018 median and up 9.8 percent over the August 2017 median.
There were 88 sales of single family residences in August 2018 which was up 17.3 percent over July 2018 and down 7.4 percent from August 2017. July 2018 sales were affected by the evacuations as closings were delayed by business closures.
“The pattern that Lake County is seeing is similar to what is being experienced statewide,” commented Melissa Chapman, LCAOR’s 2018 president. “Inventory levels have been growing in Lake County since December of 2017 when there were 415 active listings. The number of active listings as of the end of August was 601.”
Conventional loans accounted for 48.9 percent of the sales, with FHA loans being used in 12.5 percent of the transactions and VA loans being utilized in 6.8 percent of the deals. Cash financing was used in 18.2 percent of the deals.
On a statewide level the California Association of Realtors reported that existing, single-family home sales totaled 399,600 in August on a seasonally adjusted annualized rate, down 1.8 percent from July and down 6.6 percent from August 2017.
August’s median home price for the state was $596,410, up 0.8 percent from July and up 5.5 percent from July 2017.
The 30-year, fixed-mortgage interest rates averaged 4.55 percent in August, up from 4.53 percent in July and up from 3.88 percent in August 2017, according to Freddie Mac. The five-year, adjustable mortgage interest rate edged higher in August to an average of 3.87 percent up from 3.84 percent in July and up from 3.15 percent in August 2017.
LAKE COUNTY NUMBERS AT A GLANCE
August 2018 Median price: $262,500 Units Sold: 88 Median days to sell: 40
July 2018 Median price: $249,900 Units Sold: 75 Median days to sell: 45
August 2017 Median price: $239,000 Units Sold: 95 Median days to sell: 24
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – To address this issue of staffing and response times, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office has partnered with LexisNexis Solutions to provide an online reporting system.
Officials said this new system will allow the public to file reports online and print copies without waiting hours or days for a deputy to respond.
In order to provide a timely response to pressing public safety demands, without sacrificing officer safety, the sheriff’s office said the following types of reports with no identifiable suspects will only be accepted through the online reporting system: misdemeanor thefts, forgeries, lost property, vandalisms, vehicle burglaries and civil complaints.
Computer access is also available in the lobby of the sheriff’s office, 1220 Martin St. in Lakeport.
The sheriff’s office reported that it is actively recruiting for deputy sheriff and correctional officer positions. The process has been slow due to pay and benefit disparities with neighboring counties, low applicant pools and the rigorous hiring process an applicant must go through prior to being selected.
“We ask the public’s patience and understanding if you call on us for service. We remain committed to serving and protecting our community to the best of our ability with the resources we have,” the sheriff’s office said in a written statement.
Officials said the public can help by staying connected for important news and information from the Sheriff’s Office and by being aware of community developments.
“As always, we ask that you take common sense precautions to avoid becoming a victim of criminal activity,” the sheriff’s office said.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – With a red flag warning issued by the National Weather Service in San Francisco in effect for Lake County through Thursday evening, Cal Fire said it has fire personnel and equipment at the ready.
The National Weather Service said a red flag warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or will shortly because of a combination of strong winds, low relative humidity and warm temperatures that can contribute to extreme fire behavior.
The red flag warning for Lake and several of its neighboring counties went into effect late Wednesday night and, overnight, there were no reports of wildland fire incidents in Lake County, based on radio reports.
The warning is set to remain in place until 7 p.m. Thursday.
Northerly winds are forecast to increase through Thursday afternoon, peaking early Thursday morning at about 25 miles per hour. Temperatures are expected to reach the low 90s.
In response to the red flag warning, Cal Fire reported that it has prepositioned a strike team of Cal Fire engines from outside the Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit and all hand crews and bulldozers will be staffed 24 hours a day.
Cal Fire Unit Chief Shana Jones asked that community members not use outdoor power equipment until the red flag event has ended and, even then, she urged they be used as early in the day as possible to avoid the increased burning conditions during the heat of the day.
Officials said approximately 11 percent of the fires in the Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit are caused by individuals using equipment in and around dry vegetation.
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.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency, in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission, will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System and Wireless Emergency Alert on Oct. 3.
The Wireless Emergency Alert, or WEA, portion of the test commences at 11:18 a.m. Pacific Time and the Emergency Alert System, or EAS, portion follows at 11:20 a.m.
The test will assess the operational readiness of the infrastructure for distribution of a national message and determine whether technological improvements are needed.
Oct. 3 was the previously scheduled backup date for the test, which was originally set up for this Thursday, Sept. 20. A backup date is always planned in case of widespread severe weather or other significant events on the primary test date. FEMA and the nation’s emergency management community remain committed to the life-saving activities occurring through parts of North Carolina and South Carolina.
This is the fourth EAS nationwide test and the first national WEA test.
The WEA test message will be sent to cell phones. Previous EAS national tests were conducted in September 2011, 2016 and 2017 in collaboration with the FCC, broadcasters, and emergency management officials in recognition of FEMA’s National Preparedness Month.
The EAS test is scheduled to last approximately one minute and is made available to EAS participants including radio and television broadcasters, cable systems, satellite radio and television providers, and wireline video providers.
The test message will be similar to regular monthly EAS test messages with which the public is familiar.
The EAS message will include a reference to the WEA test: “THIS IS A TEST of the National Emergency Alert System. This system was developed by broadcast and cable operators in voluntary cooperation with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Federal Communications Commission, and local authorities to keep you informed in the event of an emergency. If this had been an actual emergency an official message would have followed the tone alert you heard at the start of this message. A similar wireless emergency alert test message has been sent to all cell phones nationwide. Some cell phones will receive the message; others will not. No action is required.”
The WEA test message will read “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.”
The WEA system is used to warn the public about dangerous weather, missing children, and other critical situations through alerts on cell phones. It allows customers whose wireless provider participates in WEA and who own a WEA compatible wireless phone to receive geo-targeted alerts of imminent threats to safety in their area through unique tones and vibration. The national WEA test will use the same special tone and vibration.
The WEA test will be sent through IPAWS, as part of the nation’s modern alert and warning infrastructure that automatically authenticates alerts. Cell towers will broadcast the WEA test for approximately 30 minutes. During this time, cell phones that are switched on and within range of an active cell tower should be capable of receiving the test message. Cell phones should receive the message once.
Significant coordination has been conducted with EAS Participants, wireless providers, and emergency managers in preparation for this EAS-WEA national test.
The test is intended to ensure public safety officials have the methods and systems that will deliver urgent alerts and warnings to the public in times of an emergency or disaster.
Periodic testing of public alert and warning systems is also a way to assess the operational readiness of the infrastructure required for the distribution of a national message and determine whether technological improvements are needed.
Receiving preparedness tips and timely information about weather conditions or other emergency events can make all the difference in knowing when to take action to be safe.
FEMA and other partners are working to ensure alerts and warnings are received quickly through several different technologies, no matter whether an individual is at home, at school, at work, or out in the community.
The FEMA App, which can be downloaded on both Android and Apple devices, is one way to ensure receiving both preparedness tips and weather alerts of your choice. Download the FEMA App today at https://www.fema.gov/mobile-app.
More information on the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System and Wireless Emergency Alerts is available at www.ready.gov/alerts.
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – On Monday, Sept. 24, contractors will begin work on a restriping project for major collectors and arterial roads throughout Clearlake.
City officials said motorists can expect intermittent delays due to the road work.
The restriping project will include centerlines, bike lanes, fog lines, left turn lanes and crosswalks, according to a city report.
The city said estimated completion date of the project is Friday, Oct. 12. . The re-striping work will impact portions of Acacia Street, Arrowhead Road, Burns Valley Road, Rumsey Road, Olympic Drive, Lakeshore Drive, Old Highway 53, Dam Road Extension, Dam Road and Pine Street.
The Clearlake Public Works Department will notify the public via Nixle about anticipated roadwork delays so that motorists can avoid those areas.
Restriping will also be done overnight in certain areas to minimize impacts to motorists.
“This is the latest project to be funded through Measure V that will help to improve roads and road safety within the city of Clearlake,” said City Manager Greg Folsom. “In many areas of the city the fog lines and the center lines are worn out and barely visible. This project will define the roadway, bike lanes, and crosswalks and create a much safer roadway for our citizens.”
LAKEPORT, Calif. – North Coast Opportunities has established distribution centers in Lake and Mendocino counties to provide sustenance to those who were impacted by the Mendocino Complex fire.
Since August, NCO’s Lake County Distribution Center has distributed goods to more than 400 families by providing a variety of items, such as food, cleaning kits, clothing, diapers, wipes and masks. Available items change daily.
“One of the large issues facing Mendocino Complex fire survivors is that this fire has brought on its own set of circumstances. Thousands of families were evacuated for an extended period resulting in financial distress,” said NCO Executive Director Patty Bruder. “These distribution centers are intended to help those impacted by providing replacement items quickly.”
The Lake County distribution center is located on 785 Bevins St. in Lakeport and is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. After-hour appointments are available by contacting Tammy Alakszay at 707-972-0519.
The Mendocino County Distribution Center is open at 8465 East Road in Redwood Valley. The center is open daily, please call Danilla Sands for hours at 707-621-8817.
NCO disaster case managers are also available to provide information, resources, and support. Contact a Lake County disaster case manager at 707-994-2910 or a Mendocino County disaster case manager at 707-621-8817.
NCO’s 2018 Wildfire Relief Fund continues to support survivors by assisting those facing financial hardship by providing monetary aid. The application deadline was Sept. 14.
As of Friday, Sept. 14, 57 fire survivors suffering a total home loss received a $1,000 check whereas 22 fire survivors suffering a partial home loss received a $500 check.
NCO received over 1,000 applications for fire relief. NCO’s Disaster Response Team will continue prioritizing total and partial loss applications and if funds remain, NCO will aid those who suffered evacuation losses.
NCO serves as a critical link for fire survivors and was recognized as Nonprofit of the Year in 2018 by State Sen. Mike McGuire after their work in previous fire relief efforts.
NCO is now in its fifth year of responding to fires and remains devoted to supporting Lake and Mendocino counties rebuild. NCO advocates on the behalf of low-income and disadvantaged people by developing and providing services that strengthen our communities, one person at a time.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – After burning for more than a month and a half, California’s largest wildland fire is finally fully contained.
U.S. Forest Service officials said Wednesday that the Mendocino Complex was 100-percent contained at 459,123 acres.
The complex, made up of the Ranch and River fires, began on July 27 in Mendocino County before moving east into Lake County, and later Colusa and Glenn counties.
The River fire was fully contained Aug. 14 at 48,920 acres, but it took until Wednesday to finally contain the Ranch fire portion of the complex, which has burned 410,203 acres.
The complex claimed the life on Aug. 13 of Draper City Fire Battalion Chief Matt Burchett of Utah, who was killed while working the Ranch fire, and injured four other firefighters.
Altogether the complex has destroyed 157 homes and 123 other structures, and damaged 13 residences and 25 other buildings.
California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones announced earlier this month that, so far, these fires have resulted in more than $56 million in insured losses.
The Forest Service said 464 personnel, seven engines, nine hand crews, one helicopter and 45 dozers remain assigned to the incident.
Throughout the remainder of this week, the Forest Service said those crews will continue to monitor fire activity and repair firelines on the Ranch fire.
There are 22 miles of fireline to repair, and officials said the goal is to reduce erosion and other impacts from suppression activities.
The Forest Service said they’re doing “everything possible to reasonably reduce risks to the public” and reopen areas but there is still a lot of restoration work to do.
As such, the Ranch fire area in the forest remains closed due to hazards including burned standing trees or snags, exposed rebar stakes, logs and rocks that may become loose, and burned-out stump holes. Forest officials said the repair work has to be done before areas can be reopened to the public.
The closure area applies to all public use, including hunting, the use of firearms and off-highway vehicles. The northern half of the forest is open for outdoor activities, officials said.
Forest visitors are instructed to exercise extreme caution near the fire closure since heavy equipment and firefighting vehicles are utilizing area roads. Visitors can contact the ranger station nearest their destination for current information.
Additionally, officials said that, with the current warmer and drier weather, more smoke from well within the perimeter of the fire may still be visible at times.
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.