CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Clearlake Animal Control’s shelter population is on the rise again, with more dogs needing new families.
The kennels also have many dogs that need to be reunited with their owners. To find the lost/found pet section, click here.
The following dogs are ready for adoption.
“Bailey.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Bailey’
“Bailey” is a male terrier mix with a white coat.
He is No. 2273.
“Cadbury.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Cadbury’
“Cadbury” is a female Staffordshire Bull Terrier mix with a smooth medium-length beige coat.
She is No. 1215.
“Chopper.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Chopper’
“Chopper” is a male Chihuahua mix with a short red coat.
He is No. 257.
“Jason.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Jason’
“Jason” is a male pit bull mix with a short blond and white coat.
He is No. 1663.
“Hamilton.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Hamilton’
“Hamilton” is a male German Shepherd with a medium-length brown and black coat.
He is No. 2177.
“Mitsy.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Mitsy’
“Mitsy” is a female pit bull terrier mix with a medium-length red coat.
She is No. 2084.
“Pickles.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Pickles’
“Pickles” is a male Rottweiler mix with a short black and brown coat.
He is No. 2255.
“Snowflake.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Snowflake’
“Snowflake” is a male Chihuahua with a white coat.
He is No. 1864.
“Tyson.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Tyson’
“Tyson” is a male American Staffordshire terrier mix with a medium-length gray and white coat.
He is No. 1863.
“Wynn.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Wynn’
“Wynn” is a male American Staffordshire Terrier with a short brindle coat.
Staff said he has been at the shelter for a few months. He loves affection and is available for adoption or through the foster to adopt program.
He’s believed to be about 6 to 7 years old.
He is No. 969.
Clearlake Animal Control’s shelter is located at 6820 Old Highway 53, off Airport Road.
Hours of operation area noon to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. The shelter is closed Sundays, Mondays and major holidays.
Call Clearlake Animal Control at 707-994-8251, Extension 1, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to inquire about adoptions.
Visit Clearlake Animal Control on Facebook or at the city’s Web site.
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, Calif. – With the summer season arriving this month, health and water resource officials are reminding the public to be mindful of harmful algal blooms in lakes, streams and reservoirs.
Harmful algal blooms, or HABs, occur in water bodies throughout the world. They can be recognized by several features, such as an oily or paint-like sheen on the water’s surface, benthic or floating mats, or a “pea soup” appearance of the water.
Although HABs can occur anywhere in a body of water, in lakes they tend to be more concentrated in areas where water movement is limited and are downstream of wind and water currents and in rivers they can be found attached to the sediment on the bottom or floating along the shoreline or in backwater eddies.
HABs are the result of a type of bacterium, known as cyanobacteria. These microscopic organisms are an essential part of the environment and have existed for millions of years. Typically, they live in balance with other living creatures. When environmental conditions favor their growth, they can proliferate and accumulate in numbers that are sometimes visible to the naked eye, creating what is referred to as a HAB.
Some cyanobacteria are capable of producing toxins that can harm pets or people that come into contact with them. Exposure can occur through direct skin contact, ingestion (eating or drinking), or breathing an aerosol of affected water.
It is important to distinguish cyanobacteria (often referred to as “blue-green algae”) from green algae and water plants that are not thought to pose potential hazards to health. The State has created a visual guide with photos to help users recognize HABs and differentiate them from green algae or water plant growth.
Direct exposure to a HAB, if it is toxin-producing, can result in eye irritation, skin rash, mouth ulcers, vomiting, diarrhea, or cold and flu-like symptoms. Pets can be especially susceptible, because they tend to drink while in the water and lick their fur after, increasing their risk of exposure and illness.
This year, monitoring of water from shoreline sites around Clear Lake continues to be conducted by the Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians and Elem Indian Colony. No toxins have been detected this season to date.
The California Water Boards have collaborated with the BloomWatch App, which allows anyone observing a potential HAB to document it and send information to water managers. In using the app, each user will be asked to answer a few basic questions and provide pictures of the potential HAB.
The public can also report the bloom directly to the California Water Boards by calling their free HAB Hotline, 1-844-729-6466, or through their online HAB Portal.
The Statewide Guidance on Cyanobacteria and Harmful Algal Blooms recommends the following for waters impacted by harmful cyanobacteria:
· Keep pets and other animals out of the HAB-affected water. Do not allow them to drink the water or eat algal material (scum) on shore. If they do get in the water, do not let them drink the water, swim through algal material, scums or mats, or lick their fur after going in. Rinse pets in clean water to remove algal material and potential toxins from fur.
· Do not drink, cook or wash dishes with untreated surface water from HAB-affected areas under any circumstances; common water purification techniques such as camping filters, tablets and boiling do not remove toxins.
· People should not eat mussels or other bivalves collected from HAB-affected areas. Limit or avoid eating fish from these areas; if fish are consumed, remove the guts and liver, and rinse filets in clean drinking water.
· Get medical treatment immediately if you think that you, your pet, or livestock has gotten sick after going in the water. Be sure to alert the medical professional to the possible contact with blue-green algae. Also, make sure to contact Lake County Public Health, 707-263-1090.
Remember to always practice healthy water habits:
· Heed all instruction on posted advisory signs.
· Avoid body contact with cyanobacteria.
· Keep an eye on children and dogs, ensuring that they do not approach areas with cyanobacteria growth.
· Do not drink untreated lake or river water. Common water purification techniques such as camping filters, tablets and boiling do not remove toxins.
· Do not cook or wash dishes with lake or river water.
· Wash yourself, your family, and your pets with clean water after lake or river play.
· Consume fish only after the guts and liver have been removed and rinse filets.
For current monitoring data, please visit the Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians’ cyanotoxin monitoring Web site.
For more information, please visit the following online resources.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – After failing to approve either of the two candidates put forward to fill a vacancy on the Lakeport Planning Commission, the Lakeport City Council on Tuesday directed staff to readvertise the position.
Last month, citing health reasons, Planning Commissioner Jeri Driver submitted her resignation to the city, according to City Clerk Kelly Buendia.
At that time, an ad hoc advisory committee of two council members – Stacey Mattina and Mireya Turner – suggested Driver, Mitchell and Brandon Disney to fill three expiring terms on the commission.
Those three new candidates were proposed over existing commissioners Michael Froio and Kipp Knorr. After Froio and others argued in support of his reappointment, the council selected him over Disney.
With Driver’s resignation last month, Buendia reported that the city had contacted Disney and Knorr to see if either were still interested in serving. By the time the city released its agenda and supporting reports late last week, Disney had responded but Knorr had not, and staff recommended Disney be appointed to succeed Driver.
City Manager Margaret Silveira said Disney had planned to attend Tuesday night’s council meeting, but he wasn’t there.
However, Knorr was, and told the council that he hadn’t responded to the city’s inquiry about his continuing interest due to family issues out of state. Silveira said both Knorr and Disney had been notified late of the vacancy.
Knorr, who had served six months on the commission – succeeding longtime Commissioner Harold Taylor – before the ad hoc committee passed him over for reappointment in December, said he has spent more than 40 years as a general contractor. He also served two years on the city’s Parks and Recreation Commission.
He said planning commission decisions should be made based on experience, adding he believed he has great experience, and didn’t just rubber stamp projects that came along. Knorr added that he loves Lakeport and intends to live there for the rest of his life.
Froio also spoke in support of Knorr’s appointment. He invited Disney to come to planning commission meetings and participate as a member of the public.
Knorr, Froio said, always came prepared with construction knowledge and life experience. He performed well on the commission for more than six months, experience other candidates didn’t have.
Councilman Kenny Parlet said that, with Disney not in attendance, it put the council in a difficult position.
City Attorney David Ruderman said the council had options, and that the commission wouldn’t be deprived of a quorum – which is three members being present at a meeting – if the council didn’t take action.
Councilman George Spurr moved to appoint Knorr to the commission, but the motion died for lack of a second.
Mattina then moved to appoint Disney, which Turner seconded. However, while Mattina and Turner voted yes, Mayor Tim Barnes, Parlet and Spurr voted no, so the motion failed.
Barnes asked if the position had been advertised. Staff said it was.
Ruderman suggested that by advertising the planning commission vacancy once again, it wouldn’t stop Disney and Knorr from reapplying.
The council, after a few moments of silence and quizzical looks, reached consensus to direct staff to repost the planning commission decision.
In other business, the council began the evening with a half-hour budget workshop ahead of opening the regular meeting.
Finance Director Nick Walker gave the council a quick look at the 2019-20 fiscal year budget, the final version of which will be presented in two weeks.
The proposed budget has $12.7 million in revenue and $16.3 million in expenditures, with the difference explained due to funds the city already has received for projects, Walker said. He said the budget is structurally balanced, with about $1 million in one-time funds to be spent in the coming year.
The budget has been crafted based on goals determined by the council, with a strong focus on public safety, roads, human capital, project execution, cost control and economic development, Walker said.
In business conducted during the regular meeting, Silveira said city staff had gotten together and raised money for a scholarship for the child of an employee. The first $600 scholarship was awarded to Madison Ferguson, daughter of Lakeport Police Lt. Jason Ferguson.
Also on Tuesday, the council approved the purchase of Laserfiche software as part of its ongoing work to digitize and manage city records.
Council members also approved a new police lieutenant and captain classification series, with monthly salary changes for the lieutenant and the police chief positions, and salary range for the captain position, effective July 2, and a deputy city clerk III-records supervisor classification, effective July 1.
Buendia gave the council a report an a plan to establish a full-time assistant city manager position for the latter half of the upcoming budget year. That proposal will be brought back at a later time, with funding for it included in the budget.
In other business, the council unanimously approved a wastewater connection fees and water capacity fees deferral agreement/loan with AMG & Associates – Pacific West Communities for the 48-unit affordable family rental housing project it’s building on Martin Street.
Silveira’s report said the total for wastewater connection fees deferred is $706,041 and the total water capacity fees deferred is $188,310. Those deferrals, she said in her written report, will allow the project to proceed.
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.
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Lake County Economic Development Corp. and city of Clearlake, in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture, are holding a Clearlake area housing fair on Saturday, June 29.
The fair will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.
The fair is free and open to all.
USDA Rural Development Housing Programs give rural families and individuals the opportunity to buy, build, repair, own or rent safe and affordable homes.
Eligibility for these loans, loan guarantees, and grants is based on income and varies according to the average median income for each area.
While several USDA housing programs exist, the focus of this fair will be on single family housing direct home loans and single family housing home loan guarantees.
“The purpose of the fair is to increase homeownership in the city of Clearlake and surrounding areas by connecting potential homeowners with lenders, Realtors and builders, so that all parties may increase utilization of USDA housing assistance programs,” said Clearlake City Manager Alan Flora. “We are pleased to be sponsoring this important program in conjunction with the Lake County Economic Development Corp.”
For more information on USDA Rural Development’s programs visit www.rd.usda.gov/ca .
For more information on the housing fair, contact the Lake County Economic Development Corp. at 707-279-1540, Extension 101, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Tina Viramontes with the city of Clearlake, 707-994-8201, Extension 131.
The Lake County Outdoor Passion Play. Courtesy photo. LAKEPORT, Calif. – The producers of the Lake County Passion Play reported that they are staging a special encore performance this month after one of the presentations was rained out in May.
The two-hour encore performance will take place at 4 p.m. Sunday, June 23, at the Passion Play grounds, 7010 Westlake Road, Upper Lake.
The Passion Play went through extreme weather on the third weekend of May.
As a result, the producers said they had to cancel the performance that had been scheduled for Saturday, May 18.
Canceling a performance hadn’t hadn’t before in the Lake County Passion Play’s history, which began in 1981.
The cast persevered and went forward with the play on Sunday, May 19, which was reported to have gone well. However, conditions were so muddy that an ambulance got stuck in the mud.
Due to having missed one of the scheduled performances, the hard-working cast and crew decided to offer the enforce.
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The California Highway Patrol will offer a free “Start Smart” traffic safety class for soon to-be-licensed, newly licensed, and teenage drivers and their parents or guardians on Monday, June 24.
The class will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Clear Lake Area CHP office, located at 5700 Live Oak Drive in Kelseyville.
The CHP said a teenager is killed in a traffic collision every four hours nationwide. That equates to more than 1,870 teenagers killed each year. Another 184,000 teenagers are injured in traffic collisions.
These deaths and injuries can be substantially reduced or prevented by eliminating high-risk driving behaviors through education, and the CHP said its “Start Smart” program can help prevent these tragedies.
The Start Smart program focuses on providing comprehensive traffic safety education classes for teenagers and their parents.
Start Smart employs innovative techniques to capture the attention of teenagers and parents, providing a lasting experience.
The curriculum includes information on collision statistics, teen driver and passenger behaviors, graduated driver’s license laws, cultural changes in today’s society and the need for stronger parental involvement in a teenager’s driving experience.
Space is limited for this class. For more information or reservations, call Officer Joel Skeen at the CHP office, 707-279-0103, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
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