KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The SPCA of Lake County reported that its Kelseyville facility has has serious damage due to a water pipe that burst earlier this week.

The group reported that on Tuesday afternoon, SPCA Board member Tee Stacy decided to do a quick check of the building as she was in the area.

The building is no longer staffed full-time – it closed as a shelter Jan. 30 – but is used on a regular basis for the monthly vaccination clinics, as well as providing spay and neuter surgeries in partnership with Animal Refugee Response through the Clearlake Pet Project.

The Clearlake Pet Project performed 800 free spays and neuters to Lake County pets in 2016 due to generous grants provided through Pets Mart Charities and Jameson Animal Rescue Ranch.

But on Tuesday, Stacy discovered that no surgeries would be performed anytime soon. A water pipe had burst in the main surgery room, and as she approached the building she observed water running from under the front door, through the parking lot and into the street.

Upon opening the door, she found water on the floor and condensation on the walls in every room, soaking through boxes, paperwork, computer towers and anything not in plastic bins.

The ceiling within the surgery room, as well as insulation, had fallen onto the counters, floors and expensive surgery equipment.

After the water was quickly shut off, the other SPCA Board members were contacted regarding clean up, as well as damage assessment and putting things back in order. SERVPRO was called and they responded to further assist in assessing the damages and cleanup needed.

While the SPCA of Lake County does have insurance coverage through Liberty Mutual, it is not known at this time how much of the damages will be covered. The surgery room is filled with expensive equipment used during surgery to provide anesthesia and sterilize equipment.

Scheduling of the third phase of the Clearlake Pet Project has started for January 2017. However, the SPCA said it is not known at this time if repairs can be made quickly enough for this to continue on schedule.

Ceiling panels, insulation, portions of drywall and floor will have to be replaced in order to mitigate mold concerns not to mention, repairs to pipes and electrical system. 

Despite these setbacks, the SPCA of Lake County said it is committed to continuing in its service of providing a low-cost vaccination clinic each month, as well as its spay and neuter services to Lake County residents.

The SPCA is asking for the community's help in the form of financial assistance as it sets about repairing the damage and replacing equipment.

Donations may be sent to P.O. Box 784, Clearlake CA 95422.

For those who would like to volunteer time and skills, please call 707-279-1400 and leave a message.

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Gov. Edmund G. Brown Jr. on Wednesday announced the appointment of Martha Guzman Aceves and Clifford Rechtschaffen to the California Public Utilities Commission, replacing Michael Florio and Catherine Sandoval whose six-year terms expire on Jan. 1.
 
"Martha has the experience, know-how and insight to well serve the people of California at the Public Utilities Commission,” said Gov. Brown. “Cliff’s experience as a lawyer, teacher and specialist in environmental and energy matters equips him to do an outstanding job on the commission. Both have sound judgment and a commitment to protecting ratepayers and ensuring safe, reliable and climate-friendly energy in California."
 
Guzman Aceves, 39, of Sacramento, has been a deputy legislative affairs secretary in the Office of the Governor since 2011, focusing on natural resources, environmental protection, energy and food and agriculture.

She was sustainable communities program director for the California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation from 2005 to 2016. From 2006 to 2008, she worked with Swanton Berry Farm on human resources issues including a new employee-stock ownership program.

She was legislative coordinator for United Farm Workers from 1999 to 2005, working on labor and environmental issues. In 2010 she co-founded Communities for a New California, a charitable organization promoting increased civic engagement of underrepresented communities.

Guzman Aceves earned a Master of Science degree in agricultural and resource economics from the University of California, Davis. Guzman Aceves is a Democrat.
 
Rechtschaffen, 59, of Oakland, has served as a senior advisor in the Office of the Governor since 2011, where he has worked on climate, energy and environmental issues. In 2011, he also served as acting director of the California Department of Conservation.

Rechtschaffen served as special assistant attorney general in the California Department of Justice, Attorney General's Office from 2007 to 2010.

From 1993 to 2007, he taught environmental law, directed the environmental law program and co-founded the Environmental Law and Justice Clinic at Golden Gate University School of Law. In 2005 he was a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Ljubljana in Slovenia.

He is the author of several books and numerous articles on environmental law and policy. He was a deputy attorney general in the Environment Section of the California Department of Justice, Attorney General's Office from 1986 to 1993, Reginald Heber Smith Community Lawyer Fellow at the Marin County Legal Aid Foundation from 1985 to 1986 and a law clerk for the Honorable Thelton Henderson at the U.S. District Court, Northern District of California from 1984 to 1985.

He earned a Juris Doctor degree from Yale Law School. Rechtschaffen is a Democrat.

Guzman Aceves and Rechtschaffen will join Michael Picker, Carla J. Peterman and Liane M. Rudolph on the commission.
 
Public utilities commissioners serve six-year terms, require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $142,095 by statute.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – A classic airplane will make a stop in Lakeport in January as part of a California tour.

The Ford Tri-Motor will be at Lampson Field from 2 to 5 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 19; and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 20, through Sunday, Jan. 22.

The tour is presented by the Experimental Aircraft Association, or EAA, based in Oshkosh, Wis.

Known as the “Tin Goose,” the Ford Tri-Motor was first built by the Ford Motor Co. in the late 1920s.

EAA’s Ford Tri-Motor was constructed in 1929 and has a colorful history, with roles ranging from service as a Cuban airliner to fighting forest fires and transporting smoke jumpers.

After a thunderstorm flipped and nearly destroyed the airplane in 1973, EAA founder Paul Poberezny purchased the aircraft. It then underwent a 12-year restoration to return to flying status with many of the same features it had in the late 1920s.

Since then, it has been hangared at the EAA AirVenture Museum’s historic Pioneer Airport when it is not on its national tours or making special appearances.

The airplane also has a Hollywood pedigree, as it made cameo appearances in two major
motion pictures – 1965’s “The Family Jewels” starring Jerry Lewis and 2009’s “Public Enemies”
starring Johnny Depp.

Community members will have a chance to purchase a 15-minute ride on the plane, the world's first mass-produced airline and a piece of American aviation history.

EAA’s Tri-Motor can carry up to 10 passengers at a time, with every seat a window seat that offers the chance to see Lake County's scenery from a new vantage point. Passengers are encouraged to bring a camera to record and share this experience.

Tickets are $75 per person adult for adults (or $70 if booked online prior to Jan. 19) and $50 for children under 18. Rides are sold on a first-come, first-served basis.

People also are welcome to come and view the plane for free.

For more information or to purchase tickets visit www.flytheford.org .

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The Friends of Middletown Library group is extending its fundraising effort to replace thousands of dollars' worth of children's books lost in the Valley fire last year.
         
Jacquie Bogue, the group's treasurer, said the fundraiser is part of the south county's ongoing rebuilding effort.

She said they are attempting to raise $10,000, with the Friends to match up to $4,500 in donations.

Due to the Valley fire, “We had so many books to replace,” said Bogue.

The Middletown Library has a very vibrant community of children who participate in programs and are avid readers, Bogue said.

While the library itself had only minor roof damage in the fire, many books had been checked out to children across the south county and were destroyed when homes burned, Bogue said.

Bogue said the $10,000 the Friends group is raising will put $6,000 toward new picture books, $3,000 for young adult books and $1,000 for audio visual materials.

She said that the fundraiser was launched Sept. 30, with the group sending out to local businesses and organizations a letter requesting donations.

“We got a pretty good response,” she said.

The letter brought in sizable donations, including $500 from the Hardesters, $300 from South Lake County's volunteer firefighters association, and $200 each from the Middletown Rotary club and the Middletown Luncheon Club, Bogue said.

The Friends also held an October open house as part of the fundraiser, Bogue said.

To date, the fundraiser has brought in $2,200. Counting in the Friends' planned match, they're almost halfway to their goal, Bogue said.

However, with the fundraiser's original deadline set for Dec. 31, Bogue said the group made the decision to extend the effort for up to six more months.

“This is the first time we've tried a fundraiser like this, so we're all interested to see how it turns out,” she said.

Bogue said donations of any amount are welcome.

Donations – which are tax-deductible thanks to the group's nonprofit status – can be sent to Friends of Middletown Library, P.O. Box 57, Middletown, CA 95461, or dropped off at library on Washington Street.

Besides the fundraiser for replacing the books, Bogue said the Friends of Middletown Library – which has about 60 members – has ongoing projects, including monthly mini book sales and the annual membership signup at the start of the year.

Through their efforts, they provide additional funding for the Lake County Library system – as much as $2,000 to $3,000 annually – as well as volunteer assistance for daily tasks at the Middletown Library, she said.

“As an organization, we really do quite a bit for the library. We have strong feelings for it,” Bogue said.

They also financially supported the Lake County Library's Big Read event in October, said Bogue.

Separately, Bogue said she just sent a $1,000 annual donation from the Friends to the Lake County Office of Education's Imagination Library.

A single $25 annual donation to the Imagination Library supports sending a book a month to a child. The $1,000 donation from the Friends covers “a lot of kids,” Bogue said.

The next mini book sale will be held at the library in February, Bogue said.

To join the Friends of Middletown Library, pick up a form at the Middletown Library or send a check for a one-year membership with your name, address and email address to the group's post office box above.

Follow the group on Facebook for updates on activities and events.

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.

Drivers encounter frequent distractions from their cellular telephones, interacting with passengers and much more, all of which affect their driving ability and pose a significant danger of car crashes.

Teens are at even greater risk of being involved in a collision caused by distracted driving because of peer pressure to stay connected via text and cellular telephones.

The California Highway Patrol has partnered with Impact Teen Drivers, or ITD, to assist in eliminating these preventable collisions.
 
“Teenage drivers are the most inexperienced motorists on the road, and with added distractions like using their cellular telephones, we have to work even harder to teach them how to drive safely,” CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow said. “Impact Teen Drivers and the CHP share the same goal; to raise awareness of the dangers of reckless and distracted driving.”
 
At schools and community events across the state, the CHP and ITD work to educate and change the behavior of teen drivers.

Ten percent of all drivers 15 to 19 years old involved in fatal collisions were reported as distracted at the time.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2013 this age group represented the largest proportion of drivers who were distracted at the time of a collision.
 
“We must remember that these crashes are not inevitable accidents, but are preventable tragedies,” said Dr. Kelly Browning, Executive Director of ITD. “Three-quarters of teen crashes are not caused by driving under the influence, but instead by the deadly combination of inexperience and reckless or distracted driving. By educating parents and teens, and enforcing highly effective graduated driver licensing laws, we can change the driving culture to one that is distraction-free and save hundreds of lives each year in California alone.”
 
The grant-funded Teen Distracted Drivers Education and Enforcement VI campaign consists of an education component, as well as teen distracted driver enforcement operations to be conducted throughout the state until Sept. 30, 2017.
 
Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – As the season of festivities continues, the California Highway Patrol is encouraging motorists to resolve to begin the new year with a safe celebration that includes a designated sober driver.

Together, motorists and law enforcement can help make this holiday and every day safe for traveling on California roadways.

The CHP will observe the new year with a maximum enforcement period, or MEP, from 6:01 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 30, to 11:59 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 2.

All available personnel will be on duty. The CHP will focus on impaired drivers, but officers will also watch for distracted driving, speeding and seat belt violations, as well as motorists in need of assistance.

During the New Year’s holiday in 2015, 27 people died in collisions on California roadways.

In addition, CHP officers made more than 920 arrests for driving under the influence during the 78-hour New Year’s MEP.

“Driving while impaired is a crime that seriously risks your safety and the safety of those around you,” CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow said. “If you drive while impaired, you could get arrested or worse – be involved in a traffic collision that causes serious injury or death.”

During the holidays, the number of travelers on the nation’s roadways peaks as friends and family come together to celebrate.

As a result of holiday parties and gatherings, more drivers are impaired. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism reports that 40 percent of traffic-related deaths during the December holidays involve drunk drivers – a 12-percent increase over the rest of the month.

The CHP urges everyone to plan a safe ride home before the parties start. There are numerous alternatives to driving impaired, including calling a taxi or a sober friend or family member, using public transportation or the increasingly popular ride-hailing services.

The mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of safety, service and security to the people of California.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County/City Area Planning Council is currently in the process of updating the Regional Transportation Plan for the Lake County region.

The primary purpose of the plan is to identify transportation needs and priority projects over the next 20 years in all modes of transportation including streets, highways, bicycle and pedestrian facilities, aviation and transit.

A series of public workshops is planned to provide interested community members an opportunity to express their concerns regarding transportation issues and to provide input into the updated plan.

The workshop schedule is as follows:

– Tuesday, Jan. 17, 5:30 to 7 p.m.: Circle of Native Minds Wellness Center, 845 Bevins St., Lakeport.
– Monday, Jan. 23, 5:30 to 7 p.m.: Middletown Community Room, 21256 Washington St.
– Tuesday, Jan. 24, 5:30 to 7 p.m.: Northshore Community Center, 3985 County Club Drive, Lucerne.
– Tuesday, Feb. 7, 5:30 to 7 p.m.: Highlands Senior Center, 3245 Bowers Ave., Clearlake.

For those unable to attend, written comments are welcome by either email, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or by mail to the Lake County/City Area Planning Council office, 367 North State St., Suite 206, Ukiah, CA 95482.

Also check the Lake County/City Area Planning Council Web site at www.lakeapc.org for an online survey or other chances to provide input, or call 707-263-7799 for more information.