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MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The Middletown Area Town Hall will get updates this week on geothermal waste site cleanup and proposed bylaws changes.
MATH will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 11, at the Middletown Community Center, 21256 Washington St.
Meetings are open to the community, and offer the opportunity for additional public input on items not included on the agenda.
On the agenda is a presentation and update from the state water board and Pacific Gas and Electric regarding the former geothermal waste collection site on Butts Canyon Road.
Also on the agenda is an update on area projects and developments, correspondence regarding an AgVenture candidates and Proposition 68 park project concept plans, and an update from the MATH Bylaws Committee and proposed revisions to the bylaws, and the creation of a Firewise Community committee.
The MATH Board includes Chair Sally Peterson, Vice Chair Claude Brown, Secretary Paul Baker, and at-large members Tom Darms and Marlene Elder.
MATH – established by resolution of the Lake County Board of Supervisors on Dec. 12, 2006 – is a municipal advisory council serving the residents of Anderson Springs, Cobb, Coyote Valley (including Hidden Valley Lake), Long Valley and Middletown.
Meetings are subject to videotaping.
For more information emailThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Email Elizabeth Larson atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
MATH will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 11, at the Middletown Community Center, 21256 Washington St.
Meetings are open to the community, and offer the opportunity for additional public input on items not included on the agenda.
On the agenda is a presentation and update from the state water board and Pacific Gas and Electric regarding the former geothermal waste collection site on Butts Canyon Road.
Also on the agenda is an update on area projects and developments, correspondence regarding an AgVenture candidates and Proposition 68 park project concept plans, and an update from the MATH Bylaws Committee and proposed revisions to the bylaws, and the creation of a Firewise Community committee.
The MATH Board includes Chair Sally Peterson, Vice Chair Claude Brown, Secretary Paul Baker, and at-large members Tom Darms and Marlene Elder.
MATH – established by resolution of the Lake County Board of Supervisors on Dec. 12, 2006 – is a municipal advisory council serving the residents of Anderson Springs, Cobb, Coyote Valley (including Hidden Valley Lake), Long Valley and Middletown.
Meetings are subject to videotaping.
For more information email
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – State officials are reporting that a 14-month-long virulent Newcastle disease outbreak in Southern California – concerns for which led to the cancellation of this year’s Lake County Fair poultry show – appears to be slowing, with no new detections.
Virulent Newcastle disease is a contagious and fatal viral disease affecting the respiratory, nervous and digestive systems of birds and poultry.
The first detections of it were made in Southern California in May 2018, leading to the euthanization of 1.2 million birds – of which 1.1 million were in commercial operations – in 448 infected premises, according to the California Department of Food and Agriculture.
One case was confirmed as far north as in Alameda County in March, when a backyard chicken in Redwood City was found to have it.
The last Newcastle disease outbreak in the U.S. occurred in Southern California in 2002, resulting in the death of 3.2 million birds and a response cost of over $160 million, officials reported.
Concerns for the disease spreading and reaching Lake County led to the Lake County Fair’s Junior Livestock Committee choosing to cancel the poultry show at this year’s fair, as Lake County News has reported.
That development has raised concerns for 4-H members, many of whom start showing with birds thanks to the lower cost.
Now, an update from State Veterinarian Dr. Annette Jones reported that there have been no new detections of Newcastle disease since June 4.
In her July 2 update, Jones noted, “While this potentially moves us closer to eradication, we must emphasize that any subsequent detections would represent a significant setback.”
Jones continued, “This is an extremely critical time. It is imperative that bird owners continue to work together to ensure that previously-infected areas remain free from disease, and it is vital that all bird owners within the regional quarantine area of Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties continue practicing enhanced biosecurity and do not move birds.”
She said the state’s virulent Newcastle disease project team will now survey and test in areas where the disease has previously existed to make sure there are no remaining residual pockets of virus in poultry.
“”However, it is important to recognize that the virus will remain in the environment for several more months, and that the risk of infection remains. If additional birds test positive, those birds and any exposed birds on adjacent properties will be euthanized,” she said.
Also on July 2, Jones issued a poultry disease update and biosecurity advisory to all California poultry producers, urging enhanced biosecurity not just for Newcastle disease but due to low pathogenic avian influenza being confirmed in Monterey County in April and Merced County in late June.
Jones urged producers to continue to house poultry indoors and separate from wild birds, particularly migrating waterfowl, in order to protect their flocks.
She said the state will provide another updated risk evaluation in October.
Email Elizabeth Larson atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
Virulent Newcastle disease is a contagious and fatal viral disease affecting the respiratory, nervous and digestive systems of birds and poultry.
The first detections of it were made in Southern California in May 2018, leading to the euthanization of 1.2 million birds – of which 1.1 million were in commercial operations – in 448 infected premises, according to the California Department of Food and Agriculture.
One case was confirmed as far north as in Alameda County in March, when a backyard chicken in Redwood City was found to have it.
The last Newcastle disease outbreak in the U.S. occurred in Southern California in 2002, resulting in the death of 3.2 million birds and a response cost of over $160 million, officials reported.
Concerns for the disease spreading and reaching Lake County led to the Lake County Fair’s Junior Livestock Committee choosing to cancel the poultry show at this year’s fair, as Lake County News has reported.
That development has raised concerns for 4-H members, many of whom start showing with birds thanks to the lower cost.
Now, an update from State Veterinarian Dr. Annette Jones reported that there have been no new detections of Newcastle disease since June 4.
In her July 2 update, Jones noted, “While this potentially moves us closer to eradication, we must emphasize that any subsequent detections would represent a significant setback.”
Jones continued, “This is an extremely critical time. It is imperative that bird owners continue to work together to ensure that previously-infected areas remain free from disease, and it is vital that all bird owners within the regional quarantine area of Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties continue practicing enhanced biosecurity and do not move birds.”
She said the state’s virulent Newcastle disease project team will now survey and test in areas where the disease has previously existed to make sure there are no remaining residual pockets of virus in poultry.
“”However, it is important to recognize that the virus will remain in the environment for several more months, and that the risk of infection remains. If additional birds test positive, those birds and any exposed birds on adjacent properties will be euthanized,” she said.
Also on July 2, Jones issued a poultry disease update and biosecurity advisory to all California poultry producers, urging enhanced biosecurity not just for Newcastle disease but due to low pathogenic avian influenza being confirmed in Monterey County in April and Merced County in late June.
Jones urged producers to continue to house poultry indoors and separate from wild birds, particularly migrating waterfowl, in order to protect their flocks.
She said the state will provide another updated risk evaluation in October.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Sooner or later, many people living in Lake County discover that they need to travel outside the county for specialized medical care.
For those with their own car this may be nothing more than an inconvenience. But for those without a car, receiving an out-of-county referral can present a huge problem.
Lake Transit Authority, in partnership with Lake Links, announced that on July 16 a regular Medi Links service to Santa Rosa will begin.
To start, service will be provided one day per week, on Tuesdays.
Two trips to Santa Rosa will run per day. One will run early in the day, and return early in the afternoon. The second trip will run later in the morning and return late afternoon. This will minimize the amount of wait-time for people who have completed their appointments.
It will also provide a ride home later in the day for those who need to schedule longer appointments, as well as those whose morning appointments run late. With a 2.5-hour “appointment window” in Santa Rosa, each round trip will be approximately eight hours for passengers who begin and end in Lakeport; less for those from places closer to Santa Rosa.
Medi Links will stop at various medical facilities in Santa Rosa as requested.
Trips will originate in Lakeport and proceed to Lucerne, continue along the Northshore and then through Lower Lake and Middletown to Santa Rosa, with a brief break in Calistoga.
Senior centers will be used as familiar and readily-accessible collection points. Passengers will need to make arrangements to get to and from the pickup sites in Lake County.
The exact route may vary depending on the trip requests on any given day.
Lake Transit Authority has been studying this issue for several years, in partnership with Lake Links. This new service is funded by a grant from the Federal Transportation Administration.
Surveys of Lake County medical providers, as well as reports from Lake County residents have identified Santa Rosa and Ukiah as the places to which Lake County residents are most frequently referred for specialized care.
Expanded service to Santa Rosa and service to Ukiah will begin in a few months.
Advance reservations are required and preference is given to riders with verified medical appointments. The fare will be $10 one-way for elderly and disabled people, and $20 one-way for general public if space is available.
There will be no additional charge for personal care attendants. Transport will be provided via lift-equipped vehicles which can accommodate wheelchairs and electric scooters.
For those with their own car this may be nothing more than an inconvenience. But for those without a car, receiving an out-of-county referral can present a huge problem.
Lake Transit Authority, in partnership with Lake Links, announced that on July 16 a regular Medi Links service to Santa Rosa will begin.
To start, service will be provided one day per week, on Tuesdays.
Two trips to Santa Rosa will run per day. One will run early in the day, and return early in the afternoon. The second trip will run later in the morning and return late afternoon. This will minimize the amount of wait-time for people who have completed their appointments.
It will also provide a ride home later in the day for those who need to schedule longer appointments, as well as those whose morning appointments run late. With a 2.5-hour “appointment window” in Santa Rosa, each round trip will be approximately eight hours for passengers who begin and end in Lakeport; less for those from places closer to Santa Rosa.
Medi Links will stop at various medical facilities in Santa Rosa as requested.
Trips will originate in Lakeport and proceed to Lucerne, continue along the Northshore and then through Lower Lake and Middletown to Santa Rosa, with a brief break in Calistoga.
Senior centers will be used as familiar and readily-accessible collection points. Passengers will need to make arrangements to get to and from the pickup sites in Lake County.
The exact route may vary depending on the trip requests on any given day.
Lake Transit Authority has been studying this issue for several years, in partnership with Lake Links. This new service is funded by a grant from the Federal Transportation Administration.
Surveys of Lake County medical providers, as well as reports from Lake County residents have identified Santa Rosa and Ukiah as the places to which Lake County residents are most frequently referred for specialized care.
Expanded service to Santa Rosa and service to Ukiah will begin in a few months.
Advance reservations are required and preference is given to riders with verified medical appointments. The fare will be $10 one-way for elderly and disabled people, and $20 one-way for general public if space is available.
There will be no additional charge for personal care attendants. Transport will be provided via lift-equipped vehicles which can accommodate wheelchairs and electric scooters.
NORTH COAST, Calif. – A 75-year-old Glen Ellen man was found safe by the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue team after spending Saturday night in the Russian River.
The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office said Bill Hoeffer had been spending the weekend with friends at a rented home in Monte Rio and at about 10:30 a.m. on Saturday they decided to float down the Russian River in float tubes.
They put in at Johnson’s Beach in Guerneville and floated down the river until it got dark, officials said.
Authorities said Hoeffer fell behind the group and got separated from his friends as they hiked up the bank in the dark near the Northwood Golf Course. When the parties reconvened at the top of the bank they were unable to locate Hoeffer.
The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office said it was called shortly after 10 p.m. to help search for Hoeffer by foot and helicopter.
When they couldn’t locate Hoeffer the Sheriff’s Search and Rescue team was summoned and arrived on scene at about 3:30 a.m. Authorities said the volunteer team searched the Russian River area and were unable to locate the man, who was reported to be in a fairly healthy condition at the time he went missing.
At about 7:30 a.m. a Search and Rescue team member spotted Hoeffer clinging to a tree in the river about 3 feet from the water’s edge on the opposite side of the river from where the group had exited, officials said.
Monte Rio Fire personnel was able to go around to the south side of the river and get to Hoeffer from the 20800 block of River Blvd and walked him to shore safely in about waist high water, according to the report.
Hoeffer was in good spirits but cold and disoriented. Officials said it wasn’t clear if he spent the night actually in the water or on the bank. He was wearing only board shorts and sandals. His float tube was nowhere to be found.
The sheriff’s office said Hoeffer ultimately was transported to a local hospital with hypothermic symptoms.
The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office said Bill Hoeffer had been spending the weekend with friends at a rented home in Monte Rio and at about 10:30 a.m. on Saturday they decided to float down the Russian River in float tubes.
They put in at Johnson’s Beach in Guerneville and floated down the river until it got dark, officials said.
Authorities said Hoeffer fell behind the group and got separated from his friends as they hiked up the bank in the dark near the Northwood Golf Course. When the parties reconvened at the top of the bank they were unable to locate Hoeffer.
The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office said it was called shortly after 10 p.m. to help search for Hoeffer by foot and helicopter.
When they couldn’t locate Hoeffer the Sheriff’s Search and Rescue team was summoned and arrived on scene at about 3:30 a.m. Authorities said the volunteer team searched the Russian River area and were unable to locate the man, who was reported to be in a fairly healthy condition at the time he went missing.
At about 7:30 a.m. a Search and Rescue team member spotted Hoeffer clinging to a tree in the river about 3 feet from the water’s edge on the opposite side of the river from where the group had exited, officials said.
Monte Rio Fire personnel was able to go around to the south side of the river and get to Hoeffer from the 20800 block of River Blvd and walked him to shore safely in about waist high water, according to the report.
Hoeffer was in good spirits but cold and disoriented. Officials said it wasn’t clear if he spent the night actually in the water or on the bank. He was wearing only board shorts and sandals. His float tube was nowhere to be found.
The sheriff’s office said Hoeffer ultimately was transported to a local hospital with hypothermic symptoms.
CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – A Calpella man escaped injury on Sunday when the semi truck he was driving overturned on Highway 20, spilling lumber and diesel fuel into Clear Lake.
The California Highway Patrol’s Clear Lake Area office said the wreck occurred at approximately 1:18 p.m. Sunday on Highway 20, east of Hillside Lane, near Clearlake Oaks.
Robert Edwards, 73, was driving his 2007 Kenworth truck, towing a flatbed trailer loaded with approximately 47,000 pounds of redwood boards, according to the CHP.
Edwards was traveling eastbound at approximately 35 miles per hour when the truck veered onto the south shoulder of Highway 20, the CHP said.
The truck overturned and landed on the roof, causing its load and approximately 50 gallons of diesel fuel to spill onto the shoulder and into Clear Lake, according to the CHP.
The CHP said no injuries were reported from this incident, and neither drugs nor alcohol were determined to be a factor in this crash.
In addition to the CHP, Caltrans, Lake County Health Department and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife responded to the wreck.
The trucking company contracted a cleanup company to remove the debris, the CHP said.
Email Elizabeth Larson atThis 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 California Highway Patrol’s Clear Lake Area office said the wreck occurred at approximately 1:18 p.m. Sunday on Highway 20, east of Hillside Lane, near Clearlake Oaks.
Robert Edwards, 73, was driving his 2007 Kenworth truck, towing a flatbed trailer loaded with approximately 47,000 pounds of redwood boards, according to the CHP.
Edwards was traveling eastbound at approximately 35 miles per hour when the truck veered onto the south shoulder of Highway 20, the CHP said.
The truck overturned and landed on the roof, causing its load and approximately 50 gallons of diesel fuel to spill onto the shoulder and into Clear Lake, according to the CHP.
The CHP said no injuries were reported from this incident, and neither drugs nor alcohol were determined to be a factor in this crash.
In addition to the CHP, Caltrans, Lake County Health Department and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife responded to the wreck.
The trucking company contracted a cleanup company to remove the debris, the CHP said.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The company operating the carnival at this week’s Independence Day celebration in Clearlake has been cited after authorities said it discharged grey water into a creek.
The Clearlake Police Department reported that the citation was given to Midway of Fun - Brass Ring Amusements of Fair Oaks.
On Sunday, Clearlake Police officers were dispatched to the carnival, which this week has been held at Austin Park, for a report of sewage being discharged into Burns Valley Creek, the department reported.
The agency said officers arrived on scene and found evidence of improper discharge of grey water but no evidence of raw sewage discharge. One employee was arrested and released on a citation for improperly discharging grey water from a trailer near the creek.
Further investigation revealed additional grey water had been discharged into the creek from a portable shower unit used by employees of the carnival, police said.
Police said officers issued an administrative citation for $1,000 – the maximum fine level allowed for an administrative citation under state law – to Midway of Fun - Brass Ring Amusements for improper discharge.
At the conclusion of an ongoing criminal investigation, the company could also face criminal charges, police said.
The police report said a further inspection of the creek and ground near the creek did not reveal evidence of any raw sewage.
The department has been in contact with Lake County Environmental Health, Fish and Wildlife and the Lake County Fire Protection District regarding this incident.
The Clearlake Police Department said its findings will be forwarded to city officials for consideration in approving future operations by this carnival vendor in the city.
“We are thankful for the community member who initially reported this incident to us so we could take action,” the department said in its report.