Lake County News,California

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: Lake County News reports; Posted On Saturday, 19 August 2017 02:29; 19 August 2017

Lake County officials work to address school truancy

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Over the summer a team comprised of staff from school districts throughout Lake County, the Lake County Office of Education and Lake County District Attorney’s Office have been working to resolve the ongoing issue of truancy in our county schools.

The mission of the team was to create an attendance and truancy framework of current best practices in prevention, intervention and – if needed – legal protocols to improve school attendance and reduce truancy.

These best practices are arranged in a tiered structure that meets the student and parent/caregiver at their level of need.

Tier 1 includes teaching clear expectations, schools acknowledging good and improved attendance for all students/families; Tier 2 includes individualized interventions for students/families needing extra support; Tier 3 includes support services, case management, possible SARB Hearing, and in the worst case scenario, a referral to the District Attorney’s Office.

“Our goal is to work with school districts and the county office of education to get these kids back into school,” said Lake County District Attorney Don Anderson. “The law requires students attend school regularly. We have a duty to do what we can to ensure a successful future for our students and an education is critical to their success.”

School districts don’t take making a referral to the DA’s office lightly.

The school districts and Lake County Student Attendance Review Board, or SARB – composed of representatives from various youth/family-serving and law enforcement agencies – meet with each family to examine the factors contributing to the student’s truancy.

The panel, with input from the student and family, develops a legally-binding contract that clearly outlines the attendance expectations and identifies available school and community resources to assist the family in overcoming the barriers that led to truancy.

“The Student Attendance Review Board is really the last option the school districts, the county office and families have to improve their student’s attendance before a referral for prosecution is made to the District Attorney’s Office,” said Rob Young, current Lake County Office of Education SARB chair.

In the few cases where families disregard the terms of the contract and attendance does not improve, the county or district level SARBs have the authority to refer the case to the District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.

If the family is found guilty, the consequences can be community service, parent education classes, suspension/delay in students getting their driver’s license, and or fines up to $2,000.

“We aren’t in the business of getting families involved in the legal system, actually quite the opposite,” said Lake County Superintendent of Schools Brock Falkenberg. “What we want as educators, community members and even future employers is for students to gain the academic and social skills they will need to succeed, now and in their future.”

Falkenberg added, “Reducing absenteeism is a simple, cost-effective strategy for improving academic performance. Starting as early as preschool and kindergarten, chronic absence – missing 10 percent or more school days – during the school year can leave a third grader unable to read proficiently, a sixth grader struggling with coursework, a high schooler off track for graduation, and adults without the skills needed to compete in a 21st century workforce.”

The group thanked numerous individuals for their contribution to the content of the County Attendance and SARB framework.

They included District Attorney Don Anderson and Deputy District Attorney Chanel Crawford; Konocti Unified staffers, Superintendent Donna Becnel, Manager of Student and Family Services Debi Malley and Lower Lake Elementary Principal Tarin Benson; Middletown Unified Superintendent Catherine Stone; Upper Lake Elementary Principal Stephanie Wayment; and Lake County Office of Education staff, Lake County Superintendent of Schools Brock Falkenberg and Truancy Officer Jon Dudding.

: Lake County News reports; Posted On Friday, 18 August 2017 03:02; 18 August 2017

West Nile virus detected in Lake County sentinel chicken, more mosquitoes

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Vector Control District confirmed that a sentinel chicken and three mosquito samples tested positive for West Nile virus this week.

The sentinel chicken was from a flock in Upper Lake. Two of the positive mosquito samples were from Anderson March and one was from the city of Clearlake, officials reported.

Last month, five mosquito samples from Lower Lake and Anderson Marsh were positive for West Nile virus. In June, a black-headed grosbeak from Clearlake tested positive for West Nile virus.

No human cases of West Nile virus have been reported in Lake County this year, officials said.

Since 2007, the first year that WNV was detected in Lake County, nine residents have become ill from West Nile virus.

In total, West Nile virus has been detected in eight mosquito samples, one dead bird, and one sentinel chicken in Lake County this year, according to the Lake County Vector Control District.

“We’re in the peak of the West Nile virus season,” said Jamesina Scott, Ph.D., district manager and research director for the Lake County Vector Control District. “Our trained and certified vector control technicians are inspecting and treating mosquito sources to protect our community.”

Officials urge people to protect themselves and their families from mosquito bites and West Nile virus by using mosquito repellent and dumping out any standing water on your property.

Lake County Health Officer Dr. Karen Tait recommends avoidance of mosquito bites as the best protection against WNV.

“‘An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure’ has never been more true,” said Tait. “Since there is no specific treatment for the virus, the best approach is to avoid exposure to mosquito bites.”

Residents are urged to help reduce their risk of contracting West Nile virus and other mosquito-borne diseases by following these guidelines:

– Dump or drain standing water. Mosquitoes grow in standing water.
– Defend yourself with mosquito repellents containing Picaridin, DEET, IR 3535, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus, or PMD. Need help finding a repellent to meet your needs? The Environmental Protection Agency has a search tool to help you choose the repellent that is right for you at https://www.epa.gov/insect-repellents/find-insect-repellent-right-you#search tool.
– Avoid being outdoors when mosquitoes are biting, typically dawn and dusk.
– Maintain swimming pools. Just one neglected swimming pool can produce more than 1 million mosquitoes and affect people up to five miles away.
– Report dead birds to the state hotline: 1-877-968-2473 or online at http://www.westnile.ca.gov/report_wnv.php. All reports are crucial.

Residents with questions about West Nile virus or who would like help with a mosquito problem can contact the Lake County Vector Control District at 707-263-4770, Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., or visit the district’s Web site at www.lcvcd.org .

: Lakeport Police Department; Posted On Thursday, 17 August 2017 22:00; 15 August 2017

Lakeport Police logs: Tuesday, Aug. 8

Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017

00:37 TRAFFIC STOP 1708080004
Officer initiated activity at S Main/Lakeport Blvd, Lakeport. BLK P/U. Disposition: WARNING.

02:09 SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES 1708080017
Occurred on Martin, Lakeport. RP CAN HEAR A MALE SINGING IN THE AREA. HER K9S HAVE BEEN PARKING RP REQ PERSONAL CONTACT. Cellular E911 Call: Lat: 38.989491 Lon:-122.76957. Service Class: W911. Disposition: CHECKS OK.

03:07 PEDESTRIAN CHECK 1708080022
Officer initiated activity at S State Highway 29/HIGHWAY 175, Lakeport. Disposition: WARNING.

07:39 FOOT PATROL 1708080040
Officer initiated activity at Lakeport Elementary School, Lange, Lakeport. Disposition: GENERAL SERVICES RENDERED.

12:21 CIVIL COMPLAINT 1708080093
Occurred at Fairgrounds Village Mobile Home on Martin, Lakeport. **10-21 FIRST** HAS RPS ITEMS AT HIS RESID AND RP HAS AN R.O. AGAINST THE RP AND NEEDS TO PICK UP ITEMS. Disposition: GONE ON ARRIVAL.

12:34 PUBLIC DISTURBANCE 1708080094
Occurred at N MAIN/3D, Lakeport. MALE YELLING AT A FEMALE NEAR A TREE BY THE BUS STOP, WMA HEAVY SET, BLOND HAIR, BLACK SHIRT, BLACK PANTS. SMOKING A CIG, RP CAN'T SEE THE FEMALE. FEMALE IS TRYING WALK AWAY, LSW: GRAY SHIRT, GRAY LEGGINGS, W/ A PURSE, GOING TOWARDS THE GAME SHOP. Cellular E911 Call:
Lat:39.043189 Lon:-122.91735. Service Class: W911. Disposition: WARNING.

13:11 PETTY THEFT UP TO $950 1708080100
Occurred at Library Park on Park. , Lakeport. **10-21 DETAIL**THEFT OF PHONE AT THE CONCERT IN THE PARK ON FRIDAY. Disposition: GONE ON ARRIVAL.

13:23 TRAFFIC STOP 1708080101
Officer initiated activity at N FORBES/6TH, Lakeport. Disposition: MOVING VIOLATION CITATION.

15:10 MISSING PERSON ADULT 1708080137
Occurred at Lakeport Police Department on S Main. , Lakeport. COUNTER REPORT FOR MISSING ADULT. Disposition: CHECKS OK.

15:30 MISSING PERSON ADULT 1708080141
Occurred at Courthouse on N Forbes. , Lakeport. **10-21 DETAIL**RPS IS AT 1ST LOCATION.. IN ROOM 1. PER RP SHE IS MISSING FROM FREMONT. Disposition: GENERAL SERVICES RENDERED.

15:43 WIRELESS 911 HANG UP 1708080146
Occurred on N Forbes, Lakeport. TXF TO CHP. Cellular E911 Call: Lat:39.043189 Lon:-122.91735. Service Class: W911. Disposition: REFERRED TO ANOTHER AGENCY.

16:01 TRAFFIC STOP 1708080151
Officer initiated activity at N MAIN/2D, Lakeport. Disposition: CHECKS OK.

16:53 FAMILY DISTURBANCE 1708080165
Occurred on Hartley Rd, Lakeport. RP SPRAYED HIS IN FACE W/PEPPER SPRAY..BOTH PARTIES ON SCENE. RP ADV RESP CAME AT HIM W/A KNIFE. Disposition: OUTSIDE AGENCY ASSIST.

17:26 WIRELESS 911 HANG UP 1708080171
Occurred on N Forbes, Lakeport. ACCIDENTAL DIAL. Cellular E911 Call: Lat: 39.0435 Lon:-122.91692. Service Class: W911. Disposition: WIRELESS HANGUP .

17:33 BE ON THE LOOKOUT 1708080174
Occurred at N MAIN/6TH, Lakeport. LIMO DRIVING AROUND W/BACK DOOR OPEN..JUST STOPPED ON 5TH/N FORBES. Disposition: GENERAL SERVICES RENDERED.

18:04 TRAFFIC ACCIDENT NON INJURY 1708080182
Occurred at Cvs Pharmacy on 11TH. , Lakeport. RP IS IN A RED INFINITY OTHER VEH IS A WHITE TRUCK. Disposition: GENERAL SERVICES RENDERED.

19:54 TRAFFIC STOP 1708080202
Officer initiated activity at S State Highway 29/LAKEPORT Blvd, Lakeport. JSO. Disposition: WARNING.

20:06 TRAFFIC STOP 1708080205
Officer initiated activity at Tower Mart, S Main, Lakeport. Disposition: WARNING.

20:20 TRAFFIC STOP 1708080207
Officer initiated activity at Royale Av/S Main, Lakeport. Disposition: WARNING.

20:32 TRAFFIC STOP 1708080208
Officer initiated activity at Tower Mart, Lakeport Blvd, Lakeport. No plate. Disposition: WARNING.

21:07 TRAFFIC STOP 1708080215
Officer initiated activity at N High/Via Del Lago, Lakeport. Disposition: WARNING.

21:13 ARMED ROBBERY 1708080216
Occurred at Safeway on 11TH, Lakeport. MALE SUBJ WEARING ALL BLACK AND A BLACK HAT CAME UP TO THE RPS WIFE AND TRIED TO TAKE HER CART WITH HER PURSE IN IT..SHE WAS ABLE TO GET AWAY FROM THE RESP AND SHE GOT IN HER VEH AND THEN THE MALE WAS BANGING ON HER WINDOWS TRYING TO GET INTO THE VEH DOORS..FEMALE LEFT THE AREA AND IS C4. Disposition: GONE ON ARRIVAL.

21:33 PEDESTRIAN CHECK 1708080219
Officer initiated activity at N FORBES/6TH, Lakeport. Disposition: CHECKS OK.

21:42 SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES 1708080222
Occurred on 1ST, Lakeport.JUST KNOCKED ON HER DOOR AND SAID TO CALL 911 BECAUSE SOMEONE IS FOLLOWING HIM. Cellular E911 Call: Lat:39.137775 Lon:-122.85965
Service Class: W911. Disposition: CHECKS OK.

21:53 TRAFFIC STOP 1708080224
Officer initiated activity at S State Highway 29/11TH, Lakeport. Disposition: WARNING.

22:14 WIRELESS 911 HANG UP 1708080232
Occurred at Courthouse on N Forbes. , Lakeport. NEVER CONNECTED..ON CALL BACK LEFT MESSAGE. Disposition: WIRELESS HANGUP .

22:41 TRAFFIC STOP 1708080239
Officer initiated activity at S State Highway 29/LAKEPORT Blvd, Lakeport. Disposition: MOVING VIOLATION CITATION.

23:01 TRAFFIC STOP 1708080247
Officer initiated activity at Parallel Dr/Craig Ave, Lakeport. Disposition: WARNING.

23:58 TRAFFIC STOP 1708080258
Officer initiated activity at Lakeside Lanes, Lakeport Blvd, Lakeport. BHD. Disposition: CHECKS OK.

: DENNIS FORDHAM; Posted On Saturday, 19 August 2017 02:12; 19 August 2017

Estate Planning: Is it time to update one’s estate planning documents?

Life is dynamic and not static. That said, keeping one’s estate planning documents relevant and on point as life changes require periodic updates.

A person should always redo their estate planning documents when they either get married or get divorced in order both to avoid possible unintended consequences and to properly provide for their new situation in life.

California’s Probate Code presumes that anyone who does not update their will or trust after getting married did so unintentionally, and not because they intentionally omitted the spouse.

The law provides an “omitted spouse share” of their deceased spouse’s estate in such circumstances; the same as the surviving spouse would have received if the deceased spouse died without any will or trust.

Had the deceased spouse while alive updated their estate plan – after getting married – and acknowledge their marriage, then the deceased spouse could have left all the deceased spouse’s separate property and one-half of any community property to whomever he or she wanted.

On the other hand, California’s Probate Code invalidates any gifts to a former spouse made under a will or trust that executed prior to divorce: the former spouse is treated as having predeceased the deceased spouse.

The law presumes that the decedent would not have wanted to continue with any gifts to the ex-spouse, unless such gifts to the now former spouse are restated after the divorce.

A person should also revisit their estate planning when the life circumstances of the beneficiaries materially change.

That includes when family members die or are born or a beneficiary’s life circumstances have changed to such an extent that to proceed with the gift “as is” no longer makes sense.

For example, if a beneficiary got into creditor problems or went on to receive Medi-Cal or other needs based government benefits, then an outright gift usually would not make sense. Instead, an asset protection or special needs trust, as the case may be, should be considered.

Naturally, anytime a person’s estate planning intentions materially change estate planning documents should be updated in order to be consistent with present intentions.

For example, a parent who reconciles with a formerly estranged child may want to include that child as a beneficiary under their will or trust.

Updating estate planning documents also is necessary when major changes in the law affect the basis for the original estate plan.

For example, since 2002 the federal estate tax threshold at which the estate tax is imposed has steadily increased from decedent’s estates whose net worth exceeds $1 million now only to estates which exceed some $5.5 million.

Nevertheless, there are many married couples who continue to have so-called A-B trusts for federal Estate Tax minimization purposes.

Not all events require updating one’s estate planning documents. Buying and selling trust assets does not usually require updating one’s will or trust. If the estate plan divides the estate based on percentage distributions then buying and selling assets does not affect the percentage distribution scheme.

However, if a specifically gifted asset is sold which is important (value or sentiment) then that may require an update to avoid unintended consequences.

As a simple rule of thumb, people may choose to revisit their estate planning every five years, but sooner if major changes occur.

Naturally, the extent of any updates can vary from simple amendments (such as who serves as trustee or executor) to completely new documents, as needed.

Lastly, if the existing estate planning documents were inadequately drafted then starting anew is often best.

Dennis A. Fordham, attorney, is a State Bar-Certified Specialist in estate planning, probate and trust law. His office is at 870 S. Main St., Lakeport, Calif. He can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and 707-263-3235. His Web site is www.DennisFordhamLaw.com.

: Elizabeth Larson; Posted On Friday, 18 August 2017 02:53; 18 August 2017

Northern fires continue to send smoke into Lake County

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Fires to the north continue to send large amounts of smoke into Lake County’s summer skies.

This week regional fires and well as fires out of state have contributed to a thick haze over many parts of Lake County.

Doug Gearhart, air pollution control officer at the Lake County Air Quality Management District, said most of the smoke appears to be coming from fires in Northern California, and possibly from Southern Oregon.

Gearhart explained that smoke from the large fires in Northern California and Southern Oregon are pushed over the ocean, with that smoke then traveling down to the Bay Area and circulating back up over Lake County and the North Coast.

Fires burning in Northern California include the Clear fire, just over 6,700 acres near Happy Camp; the 6,943-acre Orleans complex in Siskiyou County; the Island fire, at 1,470 acres in the Marble Mountain Wilderness west of Etna; and the Ruth complex, at 4,600 acres south of Ruth Lake.

All of those fires are reported to have been caused by lightning.

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.

: Elizabeth Larson; Posted On Thursday, 17 August 2017 02:31; 17 August 2017

Supervisors discuss challenges in rebuilding effort, hire outside contractor to help planning staff

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday hosted a lengthy discussion with staff, contractors and fire survivors regarding county building department staffing issues that are causing delays in the rebuilding effort, with the board voting to contract with an outside firm to help address the problem.

The discussion ultimately would lead to the board voting unanimously to waive the formal bidding process and contract with Bureau Veritas of Sacramento, for an amount not to exceed $250,000, for plan check and building official services.

While the concerns were framed primarily in light of the Valley and Clayton fire rebuilding efforts, board members would agree that the Community Development Department’s struggles are impacting the county as a whole.

During the meeting, Community Development’s building division delays were primarily attributed to a staffing shortage.

On Wednesday, the county of Lake provided Lake County News with a detail of the Community Development Department’s openings.

Out of 29 total budgeted positions, 11 are vacant, including three of four building inspectors, two assistant planners, the single chief building official position, the only plan examiner, a senior planner, a community development technician, an accountant and a secretary.

The county reported that all but the two assistant planners and the secretary position are in the recruitment process.

Supervisor Rob Brown asked to have the matter placed on Tuesday’s agenda. “This has gotten to a point that’s really serious.”

Brown explained that he and Supervisor Moke Simon are getting barraged with calls over building department delays.

Solving the issues in order to move the rebuild forward is key, said Brown. “I think this is a higher priority, probably, than anything else at this point.”

“I think we do really need to make some hard decisions today,” said Simon, noting that the rebuild would be at least a five-year project.

He agreed that the most important thing was to get people back into their homes.

Community Development Director Bob Massarelli said that in the 14 months he’s been with the county, he’s had to deal with several issues that have impacted his ability to respond to the fire rebuild, including sprinkler requirements, zoning clearances, three staff resignations and one staffer being out for two months.

Over the past six weeks, he said an associate planner has been working to clear up a backlog.

He’s now beginning a third recruitment for a chief building official after holding two unsuccessful efforts. That job has been open for a year; additionally, the plans examiner resigned in July. He’s also making offers to building inspector candidates.

Massarelli said he sent out a request for proposals to five firms seeking assistance and received two responses, one of them from Bureau Veritas.

He said he is exploring other ways of improving the process, including potentially establishing a reroofing self-certification program. “We’re being very careful about how we proceed ahead,” and making sure it follows building code and county building code, he said.

Bureau Veritas has a chief building official ready to start on Monday, and Community Development already has sent plans over to the firm and asked them to look at them as soon as possible. Massarelli said he and his staff will be on regular calls with the company.

“We understand the pain that this is causing and we’re trying very hard to address it as thoroughly as we can,” he said.

Board Chair Jeff Smith agreed about the urgency of finding solutions. “We need to do whatever we need to do, that’s all there is to it. At this point, this is an emergency item, as far as I’m concerned, and we need to get things done.”

County Counsel Anita Grant pointed out that recently the board had approved a temporary loan of Agricultural Commissioner Steve Hajik to do seals and measures work for Mendocino County. She suggested county officials reach out to Mendocino or other counties to see if they have building inspectors whose services they would be willing to share.

“Lake County’s a really good neighbor, so it might be worth it to try that,” she said.

Builders, fire survivors share frustrations, offer suggestions

During public comment, the board heard a range of frustrations – from plan checks and inspections taking weeks longer than in the past, to contractors having to stop work or lay off employees because of excessive delays.

Mark Borghesani, whose family owns Kelseyville Lumber, said during his career he’s seen peak activity where 200 to 400 homes were being built in a year in Lake County. More recently, he said the pace was between 25 to 30 homes.

He said that because the industry had gotten into that groove, he knew there would be problems during the rebuild, so he and others reached out to the county, but got no return calls.

He said members of the local building industry also tried to get a meeting with Massarelli in December. “We were just flat blown off.”

Middletown resident Fletcher Thornton, a former builder who lost his home in the Valley fire, said he had been told by planning to get his plans in for the fall so they could be reviewed in the winter and building could start in the spring.

Thornton said he pushed forward with starting his home rebuild in November, and was red-tagged three times, with an inspector noting that it didn’t appear that he was slowing Thornton down.

Lisa Kaplan, another Middletown resident who lost her home in the Valley fire, said she’s still trying to rebuild, with her insurance coverage for her rental having run out. So she’s now paying both a mortgage and rent.

She encouraged the board to look at the department’s systemic problems, and not make long-term decisions like a contract they can’t get out of. “Let’s slow down just a little bit.”

Mark Mitchell of Lake County Contractors said he had many ideas that could solve the problems immediately if someone would listen.

He said he had sent a two-page email to the board and the Community Development director – then Rick Coel, before Massarelli’s arrival – on Sept. 23, 2015, but never received a return email. Brown replied that they had talked, and also pointed out during the discussion that the Valley fire was still under way when the email was sent.

Mitchell said that back in 2005, it took 15 minutes to get plans approved in Community Development. Recently, he’s had plans sit in the office for seven weeks. Plan checks have gone from five minutes to 10 days.

He asked the board to find ways to speed up the process by offering exemptions and streamlining how the county’s agencies work together. He said he’s pulled 31 permits for the Valley fire, so he knows how all of the parts intertwine

Brown asked if people could hire inspectors to sign off on work. Massarelli said there are issues with that, saying it should be an “arm’s-length” transaction that doesn’t involve a paid arrangement between the parties.

During the discussion Massarelli also noted, “We’re having serious problems with foundations with a lot of contractors.”

Lake County Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Officer Melissa Fulton said Massarelli walked into a hornet’s nest after the fires. She said he then got hit with the situation involving marijuana-related planning, which she said has taken up to much of his time and taken away from what needs to be done to get people back in their homes.

She said the board needed to listen to the building professionals in the room, adding that the suggestions they made to improve the planning process should have come from Community Development’s management and been acted upon a long time ago.

Fulton said there are other important projects in the department’s pipeline – which aren’t fire-related – that will make a difference in Lake County. She said the county can’t afford to lose them because of the department’s problems.

“I think we need to have a sincere review of the attitude from the top down,” she said, adding that there is an atmosphere in the department that makes staff afraid to make decisions and want to leave. “It needs to be fixed.”

Kevin Cox of Hope City, which is working to rebuild homes in the fire area, told the board, “I’ve experienced meetings like this all over this country during disaster response.”

Cox said he was in awe of the passion in the room, and said there was good dialog taking place. That passion, he added, was what has kept Hope City in Lake County.

He was complimentary of Community Development employees, calling them “phenomenal staff.”

Cox added, “I’ve never seen a community get built back up so quickly after a disaster as I’ve seen Lake County.”

The board ultimately voted unanimously to waive the formal bidding process on the basis that it was not in the best interest of the county in this circumstance so it could approve the contract with Bureau Veritas, and also directed staff to take immediate action in order to alleviate the building inspection backlog.

Brown also announced that he would host a workshop for builders in the board chambers at the Lakeport Courthouse at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 22.

At Tuesday’s board meeting, a number of individuals had stated their willingness to volunteer.

County Human Resources Director Kathy Ferguson was asked to join the meeting, and told the group that the county could take applications for jobs or volunteer applications that day. Human Resources staff also were on hand to offer applications to anyone willing to help.

Applications also can be submitted on the county’s Web site at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Human_Resources/Job_Opportunities/openjobs.htm. Click on the job title and then hit “apply” in the right-hand corner.

As of Wednesday night, Brown said no applications had been received.

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.

: NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION; Posted On Saturday, 19 August 2017 02:03; 19 August 2017

Space News: The 2017 total solar eclipse

On Monday, Aug. 21, the shadow of the Moon will sweep across the U.S. landscape, transforming day to twilight.

In the surreal gloaming of an eclipse, the temperature drops, birds go silent, crickets begin to chirp, and blossoms start to close.

As this scene plays out across a 70-mile wide path of totality from coast to coast, a continent-spanning wave of instruments – ranging from home-made pinhole cameras and certified eclipse safety glasses to the most sophisticated telescopes in operation today – will be trained on the Eclipse Across America.

Just before totality, a point of glistening sunlight is visible making the moon look like a diamond ring.

Then as that drop of sunlight shines through rugged valleys on the Moon’s limb, tiny points of light called "Baily's Beads" appear like a string of beads around the vanishing edge of the sun. But best of all are the pearly white streamers that emanate all around the dark disk at totality.

Scientists eagerly anticipate this eclipse for the unique science opportunities it provides.

Alex Young, NASA’s Associate Director for Heliophysics at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, says, “This will be the first total eclipse to span the U.S. since 1918, and scientific instruments have come a long way.”

The event presents a perfect opportunity to shed light on phenomena such as solar flares and coronal mass ejections, or CMEs – billion-ton clouds of magnetized plasma ejected from the sun.

To learn about their dynamics, researchers must study a region of the sun that reveals itself during an eclipse – the corona.

“Solar telescopes can create artificial eclipses using disks called coronagraphs,” explains Young. “Unfortunately, man-made coronagraphs also block the sun’s inner corona where CME eruptions originate.”

Fortunately, during a total eclipse of the sun, the Moon makes a better coronagraph. At totality, the sun’s inner corona appears in clear detail.

Totality lasts mere minutes at any one location, but the Citizen Citizen CATE Experiment will be positioning 68 identical telescopes across the country in the path of totality. The combined network will capture 93 minutes of images and will show changes in the solar atmosphere.

Matt Penn, Astronomer at the National Solar Observatory in Tucson, Arizona says, “The telescopes will be operated by a variety of volunteers, ranging from middle school students to retired scientists, and everyone in between.”

Meanwhile, NASA planes will photograph the Sun, and a cadre of balloons will be floating near the edge of space to observe the eclipse. You can watch too – live from the balloons on August 21 at eclipse.stream.live.

“The terrain and weather are quite varied across the U.S., and the Moon’s shadow will briefly change the climate in each locale, sometimes with drastic drops in temperature within seconds to minutes.”

Young reminds everyone to be safe. Solar filters such as eclipse glasses are necessary to look at the sun directly. If you’re in the narrow path of totality, you can safely remove your solar filter when the moon completely covers the sun.

However when the Moon moves off the center of the solar disk – even a little – the sun’s blinding surface reappears and you should once again use your solar filter. NASA has a whole web page devoted to safety tips at http://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/safety.

Many people don’t know that the Moon’s orbit is slowly spiraling outward due to tidal forces. In about 600 million years the Moon will appear too small in the sky to fully cover the sun. Every solar eclipse is counting down to the last one.

Young says, “We live in a fortunate time.”

For NASA’s live coverage of the eclipse go to www.nasa.gov/eclipselive.

: Lake County News reports; Posted On Friday, 18 August 2017 02:20; 18 August 2017

County to hold job fair for immediate openings within building department

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – County officials reported that they are working on ways to address the issues that have led to major slowdowns in the planning processes vital to Lake County’s rebuilding effort.

During Tuesday’s meeting of the Board of Supervisors, the board heard from many members of the public including contractors, as well as staff with regard to staffing issues and concerns in the Building Division of Community Development.

Human Resources handed out more than 20 extra help employment applications at the end of the open discussion.

Although there was a positive outcome with several options presented by county representatives and contractors, supervisors Rob Brown and Moke Simon still felt it necessary to dig deeper with county staff, officials said.

Immediately following the public meeting, Brown and Simon met with staff for nearly three hours.

Those at the table included Community Development, Environmental Health as well as Administration, County Counsel and Human Resources.

Environmental Health reported the lead time on septic inspections was roughly 10 days.

During the meeting with staff, there was discussion of community concerns regarding build/rebuild efforts surrounding lead times on inspections and plans review.

Staff spoke to backlogged work and how they are handling it, as well as the possibility of trainee programs, contracting with surrounding cities and counties, reaching out to retirees, hiring extra help and even bringing on volunteers as possible solutions for staffing shortages.

The immediate goal is to get inspections done while Community Development explores additional program efficiencies, including the possibility of Class K permits enabling owner built homes to be inspected when finaled.

Offers are pending to fill open permanent positions.

Supervisor Brown also announced a special town hall meeting will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 22, from 6 to 8 p.m., in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., in Lakeport. The event is specific to Lake County build/rebuilding and other construction related issues throughout the county.

Supervisor Brown also announced a special town hall meeting will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 22, from 6 to 8 p.m. specific to Lake County build/rebuilding and other construction related issues throughout the county.

“Contractors, engineers, architects and suppliers, and anyone else related to the construction industry are encouraged to attend,” said Brown.

This forum is not intended for discussion of specific cases of complaints by homeowners.

Simultaneously, the county of Lake will hold a job fair on Tuesday, Aug. 22, between 4 to 7 p.m. in the lobby of the courthouse to accept extra help employment applications for plans examiners and building inspectors.

A quick screening process will be used given the immediate need to fill the positions within Community Development.

Interested persons should arrive prepared with resumes, to fill out applications, be pre-screened by Human Resources. Qualified applicants could be interviewed on the spot.

Applications can be downloaded/completed online prior to the job fair.

The extra help application can be found at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Human_Resources/Job_Opportunities/Extra_Help_Jobs.htm.

For more information about the application process, contact the Human Resources Department at 707-263-2213.

: Elizabeth Larson; Posted On Thursday, 17 August 2017 02:05; 17 August 2017

Kelseyville shooting suspect makes first court appearance

Joshua Caleb “Buck” Brown, 43, of Kelseyville, Calif., made an initial appearance in Lake County Superior Court on Wednesday, August 16, 2017, for an incident two days earlier in which authorities say he shot at law enforcement officers, Caltrans employees and a county supervisor in a confrontation near his home. A mugshot of Brown circulated by officials earlier in the week appears to have come from an April 2008 arrest. Lake County Jail photo.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – A Kelseyville man who was arrested Monday after authorities say he shot at a group of law enforcement officers and officials in a confrontation near his home made a court appearance on Wednesday.

Joshua Caleb “Buck” Brown, 43, was arraigned in Lake County Superior Court on Wednesday afternoon, according to Chief Deputy District Attorney Richard Hinchcliff.

Authorities said Brown shot at California Highway Patrol officers Rob Hearn and Glen Thomas, Supervisor Rob Brown and two Caltrans workers on Monday morning.

Rob Brown told Lake County News that the group was at the site of an illegal road easement Buck Brown had cut between Cruickshank Road and Cole Creek Road on Highway 29 as the result of a property dispute. Caltrans was there to place k-rail in front of the cut Buck Brown made.

Buck Brown first approached the group on foot with a handgun, then left and returned in a pickup, got out and began shooting at them with a rifle before retreating into nearby trees and brush, according to CHP and Lake County Sheriff’s Office reports.

After a six-and-a-half-hour-long search for Brown, SWAT teams located him while serving a search warrant on his property. He surrendered without incident, authorities said.

While Brown was arrested at about 5 p.m. Monday, he wasn’t booked into the Lake County Jail until shortly after 1 a.m. Wednesday, based on jail records.

Hinchcliff said Brown has so far been charged with two counts of assault with a firearm on a peace officer, two counts of felony threats for the two Caltrans workers and two counts of negligent discharge of a firearm.

Brown also is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, Hinchcliff said.

In 2003, Brown was convicted of felony drug possession, Hinchcliff said.

The court later reduced the charge from a felony to a misdemeanor because Brown attended drug court. However, Hinchcliff said the reduced conviction still prevents Brown from being able to possess a firearm.

When Brown was booked, the charges against him also included attempted murder. However, that so far has not been formally charged by the District Attorney’s Office, with Hinchcliff explaining that a great deal of investigative work remains to be done and the counts against him could change.

“We’ve just started, really,” he said of the District Attorney’s Office’s work on the case.

Brown’s bail has been set at $230,000, with attorney Mitchell Hauptman appointed as defense counsel, Hinchcliff said.

Hinchcliff said Brown is set to return to court on Tuesday, Aug. 22, for the appearance of counsel.

Because there were shots fired and officers were involved – although they didn’t return fire – the county’s officer-involved shooting protocol calls for an investigation, Hinchcliff said.

Hinchcliff said the District Attorney’s Office is handling that investigation, and on Wednesday was interviewing witnesses and people involved in the incident.

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 News reports; Posted On Friday, 18 August 2017 13:35; 18 August 2017

Emergency notification siren system test planned in Hidden Valley Lake Aug. 19

HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE, Calif. – The Hidden Valley Lake area will be part of an emergency notification siren system test planned for Saturday, Aug. 19.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office reported that the Hidden Valley Lake Association has installed six large emergency sirens that are intended to notify residents of the need for evacuations due to a catastrophic event, whether manmade or natural.

The emergency sirens have been strategically located throughout the Hidden Valley Lake area.

The Hidden Valley Lake Association will be testing the siren system on Saturday at 2 p.m.

There will be two separate activations of the sirens during the test.

Residents are asked not to call 911 or the sheriff's office if they hear the sirens as this is only a test.

The Lake County Sheriff's Office and the Hidden Valley Lake Association are finalizing the procedures for when the sirens will be activated during actual emergencies.

During an actual emergency, Hidden Valley Lake Association will not activate the siren system until they have received permission from the sheriff's office, the California Highway Patrol or another authorized law enforcement agency, according to the sheriff’s office report.

: Lake County News reports; Posted On Friday, 18 August 2017 02:16; 18 August 2017

State Water Board to host Aug. 28 meeting on Clear Lake Nutrient TMDL Control Program

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Staff of the California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Central Valley Region will hold a public outreach meeting in Lake County this month to discuss the need and options for amending portions of the Clear Lake Nutrient Total Maximum Daily Load Control Program, including the compliance date.

The meeting will take place beginning at 1 p.m. Monday, Aug. 28, at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.

The public outreach meeting will provide a forum for interested parties to give input on potential amendment alternatives and their potential environmental impacts.

Water board staff will present an overview of the program’s regulatory performance to date and discuss several preliminary alternatives for an amendment that are being considered.

The Central Valley Water Board is considering amending the compliance date of 19 June 2017 for the total maximum daily load, or TMDL, and waste load allocations required by the Basin Plan’s Clear Lake Nutrient Control Program to reduce phosphorus contributions to Clear Lake.

The Clear Lake Nutrient Control Program was adopted in 2007 and implements the Clear Lake Nutrient TMDL to decrease the incidence of nuisance algal blooms in Clear Lake.

The Nutrient Control Program was based in part on modeling studies that predicted that a 40-percent reduction in average phosphorus loading will significantly reduce the incidence of algae blooms.

In September 2012, five years after TMDL adoption, the Clear Lake Nutrient Control Program was evaluated to determine if the TMDL was still appropriate based on new information. The Central Valley Water Board determined that the TMDL was still appropriate and phosphorus reductions should continue.

The Basin Plan states compliance with load and waste load allocations for phosphorus in Clear Lake is required by 19 June 2017. Many implementation activities have been completed and are in progress.

However, available information indicates it is not possible to attain all allocations by the compliance date primarily due to delays in acquiring funding to complete the Middle Creek Flood Damage Reduction and Ecosystem Restoration Project.

Approximately half of the properties needed for the restoration project have been acquired to date. Completion of the restoration project will restore a historical wetland where approximately 50 percent of the runoff from the Clear Lake watershed enters Clear Lake. The restoration project is expected to accomplish the majority of the Clear Lake’s nutrient load reduction goal.

As a result, Central Valley Water Board staff will evaluate the need and options for amending portions of the Nutrient Control Program including the compliance date.

Staff will consider several preliminary amendment alternatives, including extending the compliance date by 10 years for allocations not yet met; extending the compliance date by 20 years for allocations not yet met; developing milestones to track progress should the compliance date be extended; or no action, meaning the compliance date is not amended.

Other approaches may be considered as stakeholders and interested parties provide information during the public participation process.

Questions to consider during the public outreach meeting include:

– Can the TMDL load and waste load allocations be met within 10 years (by June 2027) or 20 years (by June 2037)?
– Is there justification to consider other reasonable time frames to achieve compliance with the allocations?
– Are there any feasible alternatives to revising the compliance date? What are the reasonably foreseeable options for complying with each alternative?
– Is there information in addition to that associated with compliance with the current Nutrient Control Program that the Board should consider in making their decision?
– What are the potential environmental impacts of revising the compliance date, or of any alternatives? How might those impacts be mitigated?

If you have further questions, need to access background documents, or wish to make a presentation at the workshop, please contact Holly Grover at 916-464-4747 or send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

: Elizabeth Larson; Posted On Thursday, 17 August 2017 01:51; 17 August 2017

Driver arrested for DUI in solo-vehicle crash in Lakeport

NORTH LAKEPORT, Calif. – A vehicle rollover early Saturday morning left two people seriously injured, with one of them arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol.

Michael Dale Bryant, 20, of Lakeport was arrested following the wreck, which occurred at 12:45 a.m. Saturday on Lakeshore Boulevard north of Deer Hill Lane in north Lakeport, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The CHP said Bryant was driving his 1997 Chevy 1500 pickup southbound on Lakeshore Boulevard with 17-year-old Shayla Munch, also of Lakeport, riding as his passenger.

For reasons the CHP said are yet to be determined, Bryant lost control of his pickup and exited a curve in the roadway.

Bryant’s pickup veered across the northbound lane of Lakeshore Boulevard, with the front of the truck hitting a post before exiting the shoulder and going into a ditch. The CHP said the pickup came to rest on its roof, east of Lakeshore Boulevard.

Bryant was not wearing his seatbelt and was partially ejected from the pickup, the CHP said.

The CHP said Bryant suffered major injuries to his right arm, shoulder and head, and was transported by REACH air ambulance to Kaiser Hospital in Vacaville.

Alcohol was determined to be a factor in the crash and the CHP said Bryant was placed under arrest prior to being transported to the hospital.

Munch, who was riding in the right front seat, was wearing a lap and safety belt at the time of the crash. The CHP said she sustained major injuries to her head and face.

The CHP said Munch was transported to Sutter Lakeside Hospital before she was flown by REACH air ambulance to UC Davis Medical Center.

CHP Officer Kory Reynolds said he did not have an update on the conditions of Bryant or Munch on Wednesday.

The cause of the collision is still under investigation, the CHP 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.