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State insurance commissioner reports insured losses from November 2018 wildfires up to $11.4 billion
Just two months ago, California experienced the most devastating wildfires in the last 100 years, destroying nearly an entire town and leaving 89 people dead and thousands homeless.
Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara today announced that to date more than $11.4 billion in insured losses have been reported from the November 2018 fires.
That number is up more than $2.3 billion from losses the Department of Insurance reported in December – a 25 percent increase.
More than 13,000 insured homes and businesses suffered a total loss out of more than 46,000 claims reported by insurers.
“Today, we have a clearer picture of the loss from the devastating Camp and Woolsey fires,” said Commissioner Lara. “The Department of Insurance is here to help. To date we have assisted more than 5,000 survivors of the November fires. To the residents of Paradise, Butte, Malibu, Los Angeles and the other communities who have lost so much—we stand with you on the long road to recovery.”
Department of Insurance staff have been onsite in all affected areas providing expertise and counsel to wildfire survivors and at Local Assistance and Disaster Recovery Centers in Northern and Southern California.
The department also has intensive workshops planned in the coming weeks to help the survivors of the November fires with their insurance needs.
The department deployed its law enforcement personnel to devastated communities in the aftermath of the fires to deter scam artists who might otherwise prey on vulnerable wildfire survivors.
The Department of Insurance’s enforcement team escorted homeowners and insurance claims adjusters through blocked roads and hazards to allow them to inspect more than 1,200 properties and expedite claims for property and auto losses—so people can get paid faster.
“We have a lot to do to get ready for the next fire season,” said Commissioner Lara. “The Department of Insurance is committed to working tirelessly with our fellow agencies to ensure that we have a system in place that protects wildfire survivors, prevents wildfires, and preserves our state.”
The news Thursday that state investigators found Pacific Gas & Electric Co. is not responsible for the 2017 Tubbs fire in Santa Rosa shows why the beleaguered utility shouldn’t rush into bankruptcy protection, says Steven Weissman, a lecturer at UC Berkeley’s Goldman School of Public Policy.
Weissman, who served for 15 years as an administrative law judge for California’s top utility regulator and also was an adviser to both the regulators and the state legislature, said it was too soon to say that PG&E is truly insolvent.
“PG&E needs to take a step back, take a deep breath and put off its efforts to file in bankruptcy court,” he said, referring to PG&E’s announcement last week that it intended to seek bankruptcy protection by the end of January. “The concern comes from the threat of wildfire and potential future wildfire liabilities. But why not let that process play out?”
A bankrupt PG&E would leave regulators distracted and company executives focused on financial and legal maneuvers when they should instead be focused on preparing the company – and California – for the threat of wildfires made more destructive by a warming climate.
“PG&E is maybe one of the most dramatic examples of a company that has not adapted adequately to the new realities that are brought on by climate change,” he said.
Berkeley News spoke with Weissman about his experience with the state’s Public Utilities Commission, the threat of wildfire and what he’d do if he were in Gov. Gavin Newsom’s shoes.
Berkeley News: CalFire said Thursday that PG&E wasn’t responsible for the Tubbs fire. I think many thought they were and that, as a result, they’d have to pay out millions of dollars in penalties. Are they still going to declare bankruptcy?
Steven Weissman: This doesn’t let PG&E off the hook for Tubbs. Undoubtedly, some litigators will offer private investigations that might reach different conclusions. And even if it cannot be proven with clarity that PG&E triggered the fire, plaintiffs could try to make a case that negligence on PG&E’s part contributed to the initial blaze or contributed to the intensity of the fire. But this does put in doubt PG&E’s liability for the biggest 2017 fire, and there has been no finding yet related to the Camp fire in 2018.
So they might continue with the bankruptcy process. What does that mean for the state of California?
There are a number of issues. One is, will the lights go out? The short answer is no. It won’t change the rates in the short run, and it won’t make the service less reliable.
But you asked about the state. One thing that it’s going to do, unfortunately, is capture a tremendous amount of the attention of the state legislature and the governor’s office. They are going to be very concerned about the implications of having the biggest utility in the state in bankruptcy. They’re going to do everything in their power to soften the blow or convince PG&E to avoid bankruptcy.
Why does the state want to do that?
One of the benefits of having strong, large, centralized energy utilities in the state is that they’re available to implement a number of environmental and social programs that we seem to care about.
For instance, there is a requirement that 60 percent of all electricity provided by the utility has to come from renewable sources by 2030, and then by 2045 it can only provide a combination of renewables or other sources that would qualify as ‘clean energy.’ They also run very ambitious programs to encourage people to use energy more efficiently.
If the utility is not able to focus its attention on implementing those programs, then the programs and the ability to meet California’s climate goals will suffer. This is a matter of great concern for the state. It might prompt the state to take over PG&E’s operations.
So, could it be harder to reach our goals when it comes to climate change or clean energy – the things that will make fires less present in the future?
PG&E has been a national leader in terms of its energy efficiency and renewable energy programs. We don’t want to lose that enthusiasm.
Remember, too, that this concern is being triggered by the catastrophic fires that we now seem to be having on an annual basis. The concern is that PG&E’s equipment may have sparked some or most of the fires.
If all the attention goes to making sure PG&E is financially viable, that distracts attention from the more fundamental question about how we go about reducing the intensity of these wildfires.
Some people have said that if PG&E goes bankrupt, it could be the first major company to fall victim to climate change. Do you think that’s the case? Is this a sign of what’s to come, in terms of economic instability in the energy sector?
I don’t know if you can say that it’s the first company to be a victim of climate change, but PG&E provides one of the most dramatic examples of a company that has not adapted adequately to the new realities that are brought on by climate change.
Based on your experience at the Public Utilities Commission, and watching PG&E’s 2001 bankruptcy, what’s the ideal outcome here?
PG&E needs to take a step back, take a deep breath and put off its efforts to file in bankruptcy court. I’m actually surprised that the company wants to go down that path. It seems premature. Bankruptcy usually is something that is used as a remedy when a company cannot pay its bills. PG&E is not in that position right now. It has plenty of cash and can plan to pay all its bills.
The concern comes from the threat of wildfire and potential future wildfire liabilities. But why not let that process play out? We can see with the results of the Tubbs Fire investigation that it might not turn out the way we expect.
What would you do if you were the governor?
I would want to do everything I could to focus the conversation on how we deal with the more fundamental challenge: reducing the intensity of fires. We’ve had devastating fires two years in a row, and there’s no reason to think they’re not going to happen again. Wildfires are inevitable. It is going to take an extraordinary effort to reduce the fuel load in areas of high fire risk to keep those fires from becoming catastrophic.
Will Kane writes for the UC Berkeley News Center.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors is set this week to discuss a proposed administrative reorganization at the sheriff’s office and consider establishing zones of benefit for wildland fire prevention in the Kelseyville area.
The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 29, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.
The meeting can be watched live on Channel 8 and online at https://countyoflake.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx. Accompanying board documents, the agenda and archived board meeting videos also are available at that link.
Tuesday’s meeting actually is a special meeting; the board usually has the fifth Tuesday of the month off, but is gathering after having not met last week due to the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday.
In an untimed item, Sheriff Brian Martin will ask the board to request for his agency “a management level reorganization as part of a restructuring and to significantly change its business practices due to a long history of vacancies in particular classifications and is requesting to reorganize in order to meet the demand in another way.”
Martin is proposing to eliminate two vacant sheriff’s lieutenant positions and one vacant captain’s spot and change the titles to chief deputy. He also wants to eliminate the vacant Central Dispatch manager and correctional captain positions, which have been held by civilian employees, and change them to chief deputy as well.
All of Martin’s proposed changes are estimated to cost $2,312 a month.
Also on Tuesday, in another untimed item, the board will discuss and consider resolutions of intention to create zones of benefit in Buckingham, Clear Lake Riviera and Riviera Heights ”to establish a proactive approach for enhanced road maintenance in the form of preventative measures to protect the roads from the ravages of wildfire damage, the consequent impacts of that damage, and the extraordinary costs associated with road replacement and disaster-related repairs,” according to a memo from Supervisor Rob Brown.
Brown said that, ultimately, forming the benefit zones will be up to voters in a Proposition 218 process.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
5.1: Approve agreement with the county of Lake and the Lake County Arts Council for the display of art in the county courthouse and authorize the chair to sign.
5.2: Adopt a resolution to “opt-in” to outreach agreement with the California Complete Count Census 2020.
5.3: Adopt Resolution approving Agreement No. 18-0250 with the State of California, Department of Food and Agriculture and authorizing execution of the contractor certification clause and signatures for insect trapping activities for the FY 2018-19.
5.4: Approve Amendment No. 1 to the agreement between the county of Lake and Paragons LLC for the coordination of activities involved with the No Place Like Home Grant for Fiscal Year 2018-19.
5.5: Approve Amendment No. 1 to the agreement between the county of Lake and North Valley Behavioral Health LLC for acute inpatient psychiatric hospital services and professional services associated with acute inpatient psychiatric hospital services for Fiscal Year 2018-19 for a new contract maximum of $250,000 and authorize the chair to sign.
5.6: Adopt resolution approving Amendment A01 to the standard agreement for the multi-year contract between the county of Lake and the Department of Health Care Services for Substance Abuse Block Grant for Fiscal Year 2017-18 through Fiscal Year 2019-20, and authorizing the Behavioral Health administrator to sign the amendment.
5.7: Approve Amendment No. 1 to the agreement between the county of Lake and Vista Pacifica Enterprises Inc. for adult residential support services and specialty mental health services for Fiscal Year 2018-19 in the amount of $105,700 and authorize the board chair to sign the amendment.
5.8: Approve Amendment No. 1 to the agreement between the county of Lake and Mountain Valley Child and Family Services for specialty mental health services for Fiscal Year 2018-19 in the amount of $75,000 and authorize the board chair to sign the amendment.
5.9: Adopt the resolution approving the sales order and services agreement between the county of Lake and Cerner Corporation for the purchase and maintenance of the Cerner Integrated Behavioral Health System known as Millennium for the term of Jan. 1, 2019, through June 30, 2026, and authorizing the Behavioral Health Services administrator to sign the sales order and services agreement.
5.10: Adopt resolution to amend the budget for FY 2018-2019 by appropriating unanticipated revenue for Public Health services.
5.11: Approve long distance travel for Program Coordinator Elise Jones to Philadelphia PA from March 26 through March 29, 2019 to attend the NNPHI Open Forum for Quality Improvement and Innovation in Public Health.
5.12: Sitting as Kelseyville County Waterworks District #3, Board of Directors, adopt resolution accepting the installation of solar energy facility at KCWWD#3 Waste Water Treatment Plant as complete and authorize the Special Districts administrator to sign the notice of completion.
5.13: Approve the plans and specifications for the Southshore Behavioral Health Roof Project, Bid No. 18-14, and authorize the Public Services director / assistant purchasing agent to advertise for bids.
5.14: Approve plans and specifications for the Upper Lake Pedestrian Improvements for Upper Lake High, Middle and Elementary Schools Project; Bid No. 18-11, State Project no.: ATPL-5914 (103) and authorize the Public Works director / assistant purchasing agent to advertise for bids once authorization to proceed with construction phase is received from Caltrans.
5.15: Approve Amendment No. 1 to agreement between the county of Lake and Hanford ARC for Oak Mitigation Services for the Cole Creek at Soda Bay Rd and the Highland Creek at Highland Springs Road Bridge Replacement Projects in Lake County for an increase of $8,587.26 and a revised amount not to exceed$351,034.23 and authorize the chair to sign.
TIMED ITEMS
6.2, 9:15 a.m.: Report and update of the Lake County Chamber of Commerce Certified Tourism Ambassador Program.
6.3, 9:30 a.m.: Hearing, nuisance abatement assessment confirmation and proposed recordation of notice of lien in the amount of $4,464.81, for 24980 Morgan Valley Road, Lower Lake, CA (APN 012-014-15 - Terry Alan Rucks, Frederick G. Hosier and Wolter Bijleveld.
6.4, 9:35 a.m.: Hearing, nuisance abatement assessment confirmation and proposed recordation of notice of lien in the amount of $1,749.85, for 16560 Rose Street, Lower Lake, CA (APN 024-342-16; previously APNs 024-342-12 & 13 - Steven M. Gerstmann).
6.5, 9:45 a.m.: Consideration of the future of Local Emergency Medical Services Agency for Lake County and status of North Coast Emergency Medical Services.
UNTIMED ITEMS
7.2: Discussion and consideration of resolutions of intention to create (a) Zone of Benefit Clearlake Riviera within CSA No. 23; (b) Zone of Benefit Buckingham within CSA No. 23; (c) Zone of Benefit Riviera West within CSA No. 23; and (d) Zone of Benefit Riviera Heights within CSA No. 23.
7.3: Consideration of the following appointments: Animal Control Advisory Board, First 5 Lake County, Fish and Wildlife Advisory Board, Lucerne Area Town Hall, Middletown Cemetery District Spring Valley CSA No. 2.
7.4: Consideration of proposed findings of fact and decision in the appeal of Linda Shields Appeal AB 18-02 - telecommunication tower and variance applicant: Verizon Wireless (c/o Epic Wireless) .
7.5: Consideration of proposed findings of fact and decision in the appeal of Liyu Shen Appeal AB 18-03 - variance for a use permit for indoor cannabis cultivation within 1000 Feet of a drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility.
7.6: Consideration of new policy entitled employee referral program, as a pilot for the period, Feb. 1 to June 30, 2019.
7.7: Consideration of (a) proposal to restructure the sheriff's department; and (b) resolution amending Resolution No. 2018-132 establishing position allocations for fiscal year 2018-2019.
7.8: Consideration of (a) purchase of seven 2019 Chevy Tahoe Police pursuit vehicles from Matt Mazzei Chevrolet in the amount of $289,662.87 from the Sheriff/Pursuit Replacement Budget Unit 2217, Object Code 62.72; and (b) purchase of four Chevy Malibu unmarked vehicles from Matt Mazzei Chevrolet in the amount of $81,978.76 from the Sheriff/Pool Replacement Budget Unit 2216, Object Code 62.72; and (c) waiving the County Purchasing Ordinance section 41.3(b) allowing the 10 percent local vendor preference to exceed $10,000; and (d) purchase of vehicle equipment from Precision Wireless in the amount of $58,631.81 from the Sheriff/Pursuit Replacement Budget Unit 2217, Object Code 28.30; and (e) authorizing the sheriff/coroner or his designee to issue purchase orders for said purchases.
CLOSED SESSION
8.1: Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code sec. 54956.9(d)(1): County of Lake, et al. v. PG&E, et al.
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 meeting will begin at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 29, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.
The meeting can be watched live on Channel 8 and online at https://countyoflake.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx. Accompanying board documents, the agenda and archived board meeting videos also are available at that link.
Tuesday’s meeting actually is a special meeting; the board usually has the fifth Tuesday of the month off, but is gathering after having not met last week due to the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday.
In an untimed item, Sheriff Brian Martin will ask the board to request for his agency “a management level reorganization as part of a restructuring and to significantly change its business practices due to a long history of vacancies in particular classifications and is requesting to reorganize in order to meet the demand in another way.”
Martin is proposing to eliminate two vacant sheriff’s lieutenant positions and one vacant captain’s spot and change the titles to chief deputy. He also wants to eliminate the vacant Central Dispatch manager and correctional captain positions, which have been held by civilian employees, and change them to chief deputy as well.
All of Martin’s proposed changes are estimated to cost $2,312 a month.
Also on Tuesday, in another untimed item, the board will discuss and consider resolutions of intention to create zones of benefit in Buckingham, Clear Lake Riviera and Riviera Heights ”to establish a proactive approach for enhanced road maintenance in the form of preventative measures to protect the roads from the ravages of wildfire damage, the consequent impacts of that damage, and the extraordinary costs associated with road replacement and disaster-related repairs,” according to a memo from Supervisor Rob Brown.
Brown said that, ultimately, forming the benefit zones will be up to voters in a Proposition 218 process.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
5.1: Approve agreement with the county of Lake and the Lake County Arts Council for the display of art in the county courthouse and authorize the chair to sign.
5.2: Adopt a resolution to “opt-in” to outreach agreement with the California Complete Count Census 2020.
5.3: Adopt Resolution approving Agreement No. 18-0250 with the State of California, Department of Food and Agriculture and authorizing execution of the contractor certification clause and signatures for insect trapping activities for the FY 2018-19.
5.4: Approve Amendment No. 1 to the agreement between the county of Lake and Paragons LLC for the coordination of activities involved with the No Place Like Home Grant for Fiscal Year 2018-19.
5.5: Approve Amendment No. 1 to the agreement between the county of Lake and North Valley Behavioral Health LLC for acute inpatient psychiatric hospital services and professional services associated with acute inpatient psychiatric hospital services for Fiscal Year 2018-19 for a new contract maximum of $250,000 and authorize the chair to sign.
5.6: Adopt resolution approving Amendment A01 to the standard agreement for the multi-year contract between the county of Lake and the Department of Health Care Services for Substance Abuse Block Grant for Fiscal Year 2017-18 through Fiscal Year 2019-20, and authorizing the Behavioral Health administrator to sign the amendment.
5.7: Approve Amendment No. 1 to the agreement between the county of Lake and Vista Pacifica Enterprises Inc. for adult residential support services and specialty mental health services for Fiscal Year 2018-19 in the amount of $105,700 and authorize the board chair to sign the amendment.
5.8: Approve Amendment No. 1 to the agreement between the county of Lake and Mountain Valley Child and Family Services for specialty mental health services for Fiscal Year 2018-19 in the amount of $75,000 and authorize the board chair to sign the amendment.
5.9: Adopt the resolution approving the sales order and services agreement between the county of Lake and Cerner Corporation for the purchase and maintenance of the Cerner Integrated Behavioral Health System known as Millennium for the term of Jan. 1, 2019, through June 30, 2026, and authorizing the Behavioral Health Services administrator to sign the sales order and services agreement.
5.10: Adopt resolution to amend the budget for FY 2018-2019 by appropriating unanticipated revenue for Public Health services.
5.11: Approve long distance travel for Program Coordinator Elise Jones to Philadelphia PA from March 26 through March 29, 2019 to attend the NNPHI Open Forum for Quality Improvement and Innovation in Public Health.
5.12: Sitting as Kelseyville County Waterworks District #3, Board of Directors, adopt resolution accepting the installation of solar energy facility at KCWWD#3 Waste Water Treatment Plant as complete and authorize the Special Districts administrator to sign the notice of completion.
5.13: Approve the plans and specifications for the Southshore Behavioral Health Roof Project, Bid No. 18-14, and authorize the Public Services director / assistant purchasing agent to advertise for bids.
5.14: Approve plans and specifications for the Upper Lake Pedestrian Improvements for Upper Lake High, Middle and Elementary Schools Project; Bid No. 18-11, State Project no.: ATPL-5914 (103) and authorize the Public Works director / assistant purchasing agent to advertise for bids once authorization to proceed with construction phase is received from Caltrans.
5.15: Approve Amendment No. 1 to agreement between the county of Lake and Hanford ARC for Oak Mitigation Services for the Cole Creek at Soda Bay Rd and the Highland Creek at Highland Springs Road Bridge Replacement Projects in Lake County for an increase of $8,587.26 and a revised amount not to exceed$351,034.23 and authorize the chair to sign.
TIMED ITEMS
6.2, 9:15 a.m.: Report and update of the Lake County Chamber of Commerce Certified Tourism Ambassador Program.
6.3, 9:30 a.m.: Hearing, nuisance abatement assessment confirmation and proposed recordation of notice of lien in the amount of $4,464.81, for 24980 Morgan Valley Road, Lower Lake, CA (APN 012-014-15 - Terry Alan Rucks, Frederick G. Hosier and Wolter Bijleveld.
6.4, 9:35 a.m.: Hearing, nuisance abatement assessment confirmation and proposed recordation of notice of lien in the amount of $1,749.85, for 16560 Rose Street, Lower Lake, CA (APN 024-342-16; previously APNs 024-342-12 & 13 - Steven M. Gerstmann).
6.5, 9:45 a.m.: Consideration of the future of Local Emergency Medical Services Agency for Lake County and status of North Coast Emergency Medical Services.
UNTIMED ITEMS
7.2: Discussion and consideration of resolutions of intention to create (a) Zone of Benefit Clearlake Riviera within CSA No. 23; (b) Zone of Benefit Buckingham within CSA No. 23; (c) Zone of Benefit Riviera West within CSA No. 23; and (d) Zone of Benefit Riviera Heights within CSA No. 23.
7.3: Consideration of the following appointments: Animal Control Advisory Board, First 5 Lake County, Fish and Wildlife Advisory Board, Lucerne Area Town Hall, Middletown Cemetery District Spring Valley CSA No. 2.
7.4: Consideration of proposed findings of fact and decision in the appeal of Linda Shields Appeal AB 18-02 - telecommunication tower and variance applicant: Verizon Wireless (c/o Epic Wireless) .
7.5: Consideration of proposed findings of fact and decision in the appeal of Liyu Shen Appeal AB 18-03 - variance for a use permit for indoor cannabis cultivation within 1000 Feet of a drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility.
7.6: Consideration of new policy entitled employee referral program, as a pilot for the period, Feb. 1 to June 30, 2019.
7.7: Consideration of (a) proposal to restructure the sheriff's department; and (b) resolution amending Resolution No. 2018-132 establishing position allocations for fiscal year 2018-2019.
7.8: Consideration of (a) purchase of seven 2019 Chevy Tahoe Police pursuit vehicles from Matt Mazzei Chevrolet in the amount of $289,662.87 from the Sheriff/Pursuit Replacement Budget Unit 2217, Object Code 62.72; and (b) purchase of four Chevy Malibu unmarked vehicles from Matt Mazzei Chevrolet in the amount of $81,978.76 from the Sheriff/Pool Replacement Budget Unit 2216, Object Code 62.72; and (c) waiving the County Purchasing Ordinance section 41.3(b) allowing the 10 percent local vendor preference to exceed $10,000; and (d) purchase of vehicle equipment from Precision Wireless in the amount of $58,631.81 from the Sheriff/Pursuit Replacement Budget Unit 2217, Object Code 28.30; and (e) authorizing the sheriff/coroner or his designee to issue purchase orders for said purchases.
CLOSED SESSION
8.1: Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code sec. 54956.9(d)(1): County of Lake, et al. v. PG&E, et al.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Several high schools are planning to face off this weekend in the Lake County Academic Decathlon competition.
The 38th annual California Academic Decathlon’s topic is “The 1960s: A Transformational Decade.”
Upper Lake High School, Clear Lake High School and Willits High School will compete this year, according to Erika Barrish of the Lake County Office of Education.
Students will compete in art, economics, music, language and literature, mathematics, science and social science, will give planned and impromptu speeches, participate in an interview and write an expository essay. The interview portion took place on Saturday.
The remainder of the competition, including the public portions of the event – the Super Quiz and awards – will take place beginning at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 2, at Upper Lake High School. The awards will take place from 4 to 5 p.m.
Upper Lake High School is the returning champion.
Lake County’s Academic Decathlon students also are invited to compete in a poster and poetry competition that’s conducted in partnership with the Lake County Arts Council. Students can win cash prizes and have their work displayed at the Lake County Office of Education.
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 38th annual California Academic Decathlon’s topic is “The 1960s: A Transformational Decade.”
Upper Lake High School, Clear Lake High School and Willits High School will compete this year, according to Erika Barrish of the Lake County Office of Education.
Students will compete in art, economics, music, language and literature, mathematics, science and social science, will give planned and impromptu speeches, participate in an interview and write an expository essay. The interview portion took place on Saturday.
The remainder of the competition, including the public portions of the event – the Super Quiz and awards – will take place beginning at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 2, at Upper Lake High School. The awards will take place from 4 to 5 p.m.
Upper Lake High School is the returning champion.
Lake County’s Academic Decathlon students also are invited to compete in a poster and poetry competition that’s conducted in partnership with the Lake County Arts Council. Students can win cash prizes and have their work displayed at the Lake County Office of Education.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The December Jaycees Eighth Grade Basketball Tournament has been compared to “March Madness” or the “NCAA tournament” for middle schoolers.
The tournament, which has grown from being a small 16-team competition into a massive 56-team tournament, is the highlight of the season for Northern California and Southern Oregon.
With 56 teams and 84 basketball games in the two-day tournament, the Jaycees Tournament is about twice as large as even the biggest middle school basketball tournaments.
Under the coaching of Terry McIntire, the Terrace Middle School Vikings eighth grade girls took the A-1 division Championship in a final game against Boulder Creek with an ending score of 13-36.
Three of the Lady Vikings players – Rubi Ford, Amber Smart and Sierra Yates-Bruch were selected for the “All Tourney” Team, which is made up of 10 girls chosen from the top eight teams.
Not only did the Lake Vikings make about a third of the All Tourney Team, but Sierra Yates-Bruch was named Most Valuable Player within the group.
The success of the team at the tournament was all the more gratifying knowing the Vikings were at a disadvantage: While the majority of the competing teams were at the tail end of their season, Terrace was really in the opening weeks of the season. Chemistry can make or break a team, and building chemistry takes time.
In the last 46 years of this annual competition, Terrace has had several of the girls teams make the tournament, but never had they won it. The girls were very excited to win this tournament and bring home a banner.
When asked about the team’s success, the coach and the team unanimously agreed that the team is well-rounded athletically. Instead of a few star players, the girls’ all really balance each other with their strength and athletic ability.
Coach McIntire said there is a lot of talent – and height – in this team. The teammates agreed that the team is well balanced and consistent, and that they have a great coach who matches their consistency and commitment.
“The girls took a commanding lead in every game because of the pressure they put on their opponents. They play hard all the time, and never give up. As far as one team being harder to play, I can’t answer that because I tell my girls to play every game like it’s the hardest team they have ever played, and don’t ever underestimate your opponent,” said McIntire.
Stasha Drolet works for the Lakeport Unified School District.
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – As the Lake County Sheriff’s Activities League marks its 22nd year of providing free activities to the youth of Lake County, the group is preparing to hold a February benefit breakfast.
The league was established in 1997. Currently its three core activities are kayaking, boxing, and Junior Giants Baseball and Softball.
Through these and other activities students are offered the opportunity to enjoy and learn a positive leisure time activity under the direction of positive adult role models.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Activities League is a nonprofit agency implemented by 100-percent volunteers. All volunteers receive background checks. Program funding is secured through donations, grant writing and fundraisers.
Each year approximately 200 students, ages 5 to 18, enjoy the activities provided by the Lake County Sheriff’s Activities League.
On Sunday, Feb. 10, the organization’s annual benefit breakfast will be held with the goal of partially funding the ever-increasing insurance policies costs required for program implementation.
This year’s breakfast will take place from 8 to 11 a.m. at the Kelseyville Lions Club on Sylar Lane in Kelseyville. A raffle will also be held.
The price is $8 per person, with all proceeds used for youth activities.
If you want to know more about the Lake County Sheriff’s Activities League, visit www.lakecountysal.com check out the organization’s Facebook page.
The league was established in 1997. Currently its three core activities are kayaking, boxing, and Junior Giants Baseball and Softball.
Through these and other activities students are offered the opportunity to enjoy and learn a positive leisure time activity under the direction of positive adult role models.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Activities League is a nonprofit agency implemented by 100-percent volunteers. All volunteers receive background checks. Program funding is secured through donations, grant writing and fundraisers.
Each year approximately 200 students, ages 5 to 18, enjoy the activities provided by the Lake County Sheriff’s Activities League.
On Sunday, Feb. 10, the organization’s annual benefit breakfast will be held with the goal of partially funding the ever-increasing insurance policies costs required for program implementation.
This year’s breakfast will take place from 8 to 11 a.m. at the Kelseyville Lions Club on Sylar Lane in Kelseyville. A raffle will also be held.
The price is $8 per person, with all proceeds used for youth activities.
If you want to know more about the Lake County Sheriff’s Activities League, visit www.lakecountysal.com check out the organization’s Facebook page.