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These and other pets will be available to new homes at Lake County Animal Care and Control during a special free adoption event on Saturday, June 7, 2025, in Lakeport, California. Courtesy photos.
LAKEPORT, Calif. — Lake County Animal Care and Control is inviting the public to adopt a pet from its shelter during its annual free adoption event this Saturday.
“Last year we sent 21 animals to loving homes,” an animal control’s Facebook post wrote. “Can we beat that number this year?
The event will take place on Saturday June 7, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the shelter, located at 4949 Helbush Drive in Lakeport.
According to the post, the event is put on by the American Society for Prevention and Cruelty of Animals — or the ASPCA, San Francisco SPCA and Cal-Animals.
Adoptions will include spay and neuter, microchip, rabies vaccination, a heartworm test and a license.
“Whether you're looking to adopt a new pet, reunite with a lost one, or just learn more about what we do - you're in the right place,” the shelter’s website wrote.
To preview some of the adoptable dogs and cats, visit the shelter’s animal search page here.
Email staff reporter Lingzi Chen at
CLEARLAKE, Calif. — The Clearlake City Council on Thursday approved a new agreement with the Konocti Unified School District that will provide two school resource officers.
Until now, the Clearlake Police Department has provided just one school resource officer to the district.
However, the new memorandum of understanding, which will cover the 2025-26 school year, adds a second officer.
Police Chief Tim Hobbs told the council that Konocti Unified has paid to cover the school resource officer, and the district will cover the second officer as well.
Hobbs said the program has been successful for the school district, and that it relieves patrol staff while allowing a dedicated and trained school resource officer to work at the schools.
He said it allows broader coverage across the district’s nine schools — located in Clearlake, Clearlake Oaks and Lower Lake, with improved response times.
The program offers increased officer visibility and deterrence against threats and other criminal activity, Hobbs said.
With the addition of the second officer, Hobbs said it allows for continuity of services if one of the officers is out.
He said student resource officers built trust and relationships with students, and early intervention helps reduce suspensions, expulsions and criminal conduct, and allows educational initiatives such as drug resistance and anti-bullying.
Hobbs said the one school resource officer is stretched very thin, and the addition of the second will allow far more proactive engagement.
The Clearlake Police Department’s staffing allows for the two officers to be assigned full-time to the school district, Hobbs said.
There also is no financial impact to the police department, as Konocti Unified is willing to pay $160,992.62 to fund each of the two full-time school resource officers. That amount includes salary, benefits, overtime, training and vehicle usage costs, according to Hobbs’ written report.
He told the council the city also can recover additional overtime costs for other officers used at school events.
In a letter to the council read by City Manager Alan Flora, Konocti Unified Superintendent Dr. Becky Salato — who was unable to attend the council meeting because she was at the district’s Alternative Education graduation event — expressed the district’s strong support for the MOU with the city and the placement of a second school resource officer.
“Our shared commitment to providing a safe, supportive and welcoming learning environment for all students is critical.The presence of a School Resource Officer on campus has proven to be a valuable asset in promoting school safety, building positive relationships between students and law enforcement, and fostering a culture of trust and collaboration,” Salato said.
Salato said that, over the past two years, the school resource officer program has enhanced the district’s ability to respond proactively to safety concerns, supported efforts to help students in crisis intervention, and provided educational outreach opportunities on issues such as drug prevention, internet safety and responsible citizenship.
She said the officer also has served as a mentor and role model for students, “helping to build meaningful connections that support both academic success and personal development.”
Salato offered thanks to Hobb for his leadership and support, noting that he and his department “are always supportive of our district and most importantly our students. This continued partnership is priceless.”
“I love this. I love the addition to it,” said Supervisor Bruno Sabatier during public comment.
Sabatier said he wanted the city to have a discussion about which law enforcement agency — Clearlake Police or the Lake County Sheriff’s Office — is responsible for the Lower Lake area, noting that Clearlake Police has been responding even when it’s not on school grounds, even though the agreement is only for supporting schools during school hours.
He said it feels like Lower Lake is part of Clearlake Police’s jurisdiction because of the memorandum of understanding, adding he wants the sheriff’s office to be more proactive.
“We would like for that as well,” said Mayor Russell Cremer.
Vice Mayor Dirk Slooten moved to approve the agreement, with Council member Mary Wilson offering the second and the council voting 4-0.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
The California Highway Patrol will launch a statewide maximum enforcement period, or MEP, this weekend, focusing on one of the most dangerous behaviors on California roadways — speeding.
Officers will be on the roads starting at 6 a.m. on Saturday, June 7, and will continue their enforcement efforts until 5:59 a.m. on Sunday, June 8.
As part of the speed prevention campaign, CHP officers will increase patrols and concentrate on drivers who endanger lives by exceeding speed limits or driving too fast for conditions.
The MEP aims to save lives by lowering unsafe speeds, a significant factor in nearly 30% of all crashes statewide.
“Speeding puts everyone on the road at risk,” said CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee. “Every additional mile per hour over the limit reduces a driver’s ability to react and increases the severity of a crash. Slowing down saves lives, it’s that simple.”
Last year, according to preliminary data from the CHP’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System, more than 116,000 crashes were the direct result of unsafe speed.
Those crashes resulted in nearly 500 victims killed and over 48,000 people injured.
So far this year, CHP officers issued nearly 243,000 citations for speed-related violations, including:
- More than 47,000 citations for speeds over 100 miles per hour.
• Nearly 183,000 citations for speeds exceeding 65 miles per hour.
• Over 12,000 for driving too fast for the current road or weather conditions.
The CHP said these numbers underscore the prevalence of dangerous speeding and underscore why the CHP continues to prioritize speed enforcement.
Last month, the CHP deployed 100 low-profile, specially marked patrol vehicles, or SMPVs, across the state to help combat reckless and aggressive drivers who are putting lives at risk on California’s highways.
These vehicles are designed to blend into traffic and detect these dangerous motorists before they realize they are being monitored. Officers operating this new generation of SMPVs have issued over 2,700 speeding citations to date.
By increasing patrol visibility with speed prevention campaigns and deploying new enforcement tools, the CHP is sending a clear message: Speeding will not be tolerated. Drivers who choose to ignore posted speed limits face real consequences — citations, crashes and lives lost.
The CHP reminds drivers that while making safe choices behind the wheel is especially important this weekend, it is a responsibility that matters every day.
“Obey the speed limit, drive responsibly and help keep California’s roads safe for everyone,” the CHP said.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta on Thursday secured a decision by the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland largely blocking the Trump Administration from dismantling AmeriCorps while multistate litigation proceeds.
AmeriCorps is an independent federal agency tasked with engaging Americans in meaningful community-based service that directly addresses the country’s educational, public safety, and environmental needs.
"Common sense has prevailed over cruelty. The court is rightly siding with volunteers and service workers. Today, we're doing right by John F. Kennedy and Sargent Shriver and all those who put others before themselves,” said Gov. Gavin Newsom.
In February 2025, the Trump Administration issued an executive order directing every federal agency to plan to reduce their workforce and scale back their functions.
AmeriCorps subsequently shuttered its National Civilian Community Corps program and placed at least 85% of its permanent workforce on administrative leave, notifying these employees that they would be terminated effective June 24.
And at the end of April, California received notice from the federal government that its AmeriCorps grant programs had been terminated.
Attorney General Bonta, along with the attorneys general of Maryland, Delaware, and Colorado, led a coalition of 23 attorneys general and two states in suing to stop the dismantling of the agency.
The district court’s order grants the states’ request to restore AmeriCorps programs, including the volunteer servicemembers who support them, in California and in the other plaintiff states and reverse the shuttering of the National Civilian Community Corps program, while denying preliminary relief to address the layoff of AmeriCorps’ permanent staff.
“AmeriCorps volunteers represent the best parts of America. They are selfless and eager to serve their country – but the reality is, many of them wouldn’t be able to do so without the programs supported by AmeriCorps,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Today’s decision ensures this vital service work that brings volunteers directly into California communities will continue while we make our case in court. We will not stop fighting until we secure a permanent decision protecting AmeriCorps and the thousands of hardworking volunteers who have dedicated themselves to public service.”
AmeriCorps supports national and state community service programs by providing opportunities for Americans to serve their communities and by awarding grants to local, state, and national organizations and agencies which use funding to address critical community needs.
These organizations and agencies use AmeriCorps funding to recruit, place, and supervise AmeriCorps members nationwide.
AmeriCorps members and volunteers have connected veterans to essential services, fought the opioid epidemic, helped older adults age with dignity, rebuilt communities after disasters, and improved the physical and mental well-being of millions of Americans.
In 2024, more than 6,150 California members served at least 1,200 locations, including schools, food banks, homeless shelters, health clinics, youth centers, veterans’ facilities, and other nonprofit and faith-based organizations.
AmeriCorps invested more than $133 million in federal funding to California that same year to support cost-effective community solutions, working with local partners on the ground to help communities tackle their toughest challenges.
In the 2023-24 service year, AmeriCorps members in California:
- Provided 4,397,674 hours of service.
• Tutored/mentored 73,833 students.
• Supported 17,000 foster youth with education and employment.
• Planted 39,288 trees.
• Members helped 26,000 households impacted by the LA fires and packed 21,000 food boxes.
LAKEPORT, Calif. — The Rotary Club of Lakeport invites the community to take a journey through time, straight to the year 2050.
As part of its 100th anniversary celebration, the club will bury a community time capsule at Xabatin Community Park in Lakeport, capturing a snapshot of life in 2025 and the spirit of Rotary today.
Founded on May 6, 1925, the Rotary Club of Lakeport has been a cornerstone of service in Lake County for a full century.
The club will celebrate this major milestone at its Centennial Gala on Aug. 9.
The community is invited to join the Rotary on June 25 at 5:30 p.m. in Xabatin Community Park for a special Rotary After Dark event as they inter the capsule.
The evening will commemorate the past 100 years while planting memories for the next generation.
The capsule will remain buried until 2050, offering future Rotarians and community members a rare glimpse into life as we know it today.
The capsule will include contributions from local Rotarians and Friends of Rotary, including:
• Letters to future Rotarians.
• Photos and printed materials from local events.
• Business memorabilia and keepsakes that reflect Rotary partnerships and community life.
• Rotary newsletters and memorabilia from projects and events.
• Letters from local students, sharing their experiences and dreams — to be read in 2050.
“This time capsule is more than a celebration of our history — it’s a gift to the future,” said Pam Harpster, president of the Rotary Club of Lakeport. “It’s a way to preserve our stories, community spirit and the voices of young people growing up in Lake County in 2025.”
In addition to the time capsule, plans are underway for special landscaping near the historic Curfew Bell — a project that will enhance the beauty and significance of the space for years to come. Watch as the project unfolds at Xabatin Community Park.
Chartered in 1925, the Rotary Club of Lakeport is part of Rotary International, a global service organization with over 1.4 million members. The club supports local service projects, scholarships, youth development, and international initiatives such as the eradication of polio through Rotary’s Polio Plus campaign.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Parks, Recreation and Trails Division of the Lake County Public Services Department is inviting the public to participate in workshops to help plan the design of a “pocket park.”
The park will be located on property in Middletown owned by Sutter Health and proposed to be leased to the county for park development.
An in-person open house to gather public input and ideas for the pocket park will be held on Wednesday, June 11, from 3 to 6 p.m.
Community members can stop by the Middletown Square gazebo, located in front of the library and senior center, to share their ideas.
A second meeting with a presentation by the County of Lake and GSM Landscape Architects Inc. will take place on Thursday, June 12, at 6 p.m. online via Zoom.
Public Services staff and representatives from GSM will be available to listen to your ideas and feedback at both workshops.
If you have any questions, please contact the Lake County Department of Public Services at 707-262-1618, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or email