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LAKEPORT, Calif. – Lake County’s Veterans Day celebration will be held at Konocti Vista Casino on Sunday, Nov. 11.
The event begins at 11 a.m. Doors open at 10 a.m.
Veterans, their families and all supporters in the community are invited to to celebrate those who have served our country.
Annual past participants have included 4-H members, Lake County veteran organizations and the Military Funeral Honors Team of Lake County.
The Veterans Day ceremony will include presentations of the County’s annual “Friend of the Veteran” and United Veterans Council’s “Veteran of the Year” awards.
Through the generosity of Konocti Vista Casino, a complimentary lunch and beverages will be provided to those in attendance.
Everyone is welcome to join in the celebration and honoring of America’s veterans.
Konocti Vista Casino is located at 2755 Mission Rancheria Road in Lakeport.
You may call 707-349-2838 for further information.
The event begins at 11 a.m. Doors open at 10 a.m.
Veterans, their families and all supporters in the community are invited to to celebrate those who have served our country.
Annual past participants have included 4-H members, Lake County veteran organizations and the Military Funeral Honors Team of Lake County.
The Veterans Day ceremony will include presentations of the County’s annual “Friend of the Veteran” and United Veterans Council’s “Veteran of the Year” awards.
Through the generosity of Konocti Vista Casino, a complimentary lunch and beverages will be provided to those in attendance.
Everyone is welcome to join in the celebration and honoring of America’s veterans.
Konocti Vista Casino is located at 2755 Mission Rancheria Road in Lakeport.
You may call 707-349-2838 for further information.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Pacific Gas and Electric Co. said Thursday afternoon that it will not proceed with plans for a public safety power shutoff in portions of eight Northern California counties – including Lake – as weather conditions did not warrant it.
On Tuesday, PG&E began notifying approximately 70,000 customers in portions of Northern California of the potential that the company would turn off power for safety given forecasts of extreme fire danger conditions.
PG&E said it will now notify customers directly via automated calls, texts and emails that the potential public safety power shutoff has been canceled.
“We want to thank our customers for their understanding and for their actions in preparation of a possible Public Safety Power Shutoff. We know how much our customers rely on electric service, and we will only consider temporarily turning off power in the interest of safety and as a last resort during extreme weather conditions to reduce the risk of wildfire,” said Pat Hogan, PG&E senior vice president of Electric Operations.
PG&E continues to remind customers who live in high-fire-danger areas to have a plan. Customers can learn whether their home or business is in or near a high fire-threat area by reviewing the California Public Utilities Commission’s High Fire-Threat District map. They can also visit www.pge.com/wildfiresafety to determine whether their home or business is served by an electric line that may be turned off for safety.
On Tuesday, PG&E began notifying approximately 70,000 customers in portions of Northern California of the potential that the company would turn off power for safety given forecasts of extreme fire danger conditions.
PG&E said it will now notify customers directly via automated calls, texts and emails that the potential public safety power shutoff has been canceled.
“We want to thank our customers for their understanding and for their actions in preparation of a possible Public Safety Power Shutoff. We know how much our customers rely on electric service, and we will only consider temporarily turning off power in the interest of safety and as a last resort during extreme weather conditions to reduce the risk of wildfire,” said Pat Hogan, PG&E senior vice president of Electric Operations.
PG&E continues to remind customers who live in high-fire-danger areas to have a plan. Customers can learn whether their home or business is in or near a high fire-threat area by reviewing the California Public Utilities Commission’s High Fire-Threat District map. They can also visit www.pge.com/wildfiresafety to determine whether their home or business is served by an electric line that may be turned off for safety.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The smoke that has poured into Lake County’s air basin, giving the sky an alarming sepia tone, is from a fire in Butte County, the Lake County Air Quality Management District reported Thursday morning.
Air Pollution Control Officer Douglas Gearhart said the smoke and haze currently impacting many areas of Lake County is primarily the result of the Camp fire in Butte County.
Cal Fire said the Camp fire began just after 6:30 a.m. Thursday on Pulga Road at Camp Creek Road near Jarbo Gap in Butte County. It was reported to have burned 5,000 acres by late Thursday morning and had led to the calls for evacuations in the area.
Mendocino County officials also issued an alert to residents about the smoke, which has continued to move west.
Gearhart said all areas of Lake County are forecast to have periods of “unhealthy” conditions depending on the wind. These conditions are expected to impact Lake County through tomorrow and intermittently until the fires are out.
The Lake County Air Quality Management District is actively monitoring the smoke impacts throughout the county, Gearhart said. Go to www.lcaqmd.net and follow the link to ‘Current Air Quality Index’ for current particulate levels.
Current particulate levels in Lake County are in the range from “good” to “unhealthy.” Gearhart said similar conditions are expected to continue depending on the weather pattern. When particulate levels reach “unhealthy” levels, everyone needs to take steps to protect themselves from exposure.
All areas of Lake County may experience “unhealthy” air quality as smoke settles into the basin, Gearhart said.
Conditions can change quickly. Smokey conditions can cause irritation of the eyes, nose and air passages. These conditions can be especially hazardous for sensitive individuals including children, teenagers, the elderly, individuals with heart conditions, and those with chronic lung disease such as asthma, bronchitis, and other respiratory conditions. Individuals with asthma, bronchitis, emphysema and other lung or heart diseases should carefully adhere to their medical treatment plans and maintain at least a five-day supply of prescribed medications, according to Gearhart’s report.
Gearhart said such individuals should limit outdoor activity and unnecessary physical exertion while smoke is present. Air conditioning that recirculates indoor air should be used, when available. Drinking plenty of water to avoid drying of the airways is recommended, unless restricted for medical reasons.
When conditions reach unhealthy levels, people are recommended to use caution, avoid strenuous activity, avoid outdoor activities, and reduce other sources of air pollution (such as smoking, use of aerosol products, frying or broiling meats, burning candles, vacuuming, etc.) and be prepared for rapidly changing conditions.
If you cannot leave the smoky area, good ways to protect your lungs from wildfire smoke include staying indoors, changing your indoor air filters, using a HEPA air filter, and reducing physical activity, according to Gearhart.
Gearhart said that wearing an air purifying respirator can also help protect your lungs from wildfire smoke. Air purifying respirators, such as N-95 or P100 filtering face pieces, may be effective in reducing some of the harmful particulate matter, but they also increase the work of breathing, can lead to physiologic stress, and are not recommended as a general protective measure.
Dust masks and medical masks are not protective against the ultra fine particulate, which is the pollutant most detrimental to health caused by wildfire smoke, Gearhart said.
Localized areas in the unhealthy air quality range can be expected into Friday, and intermittently until the fire is out. Gearhart advised taking appropriate measures until the smoke clears.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Tuesday’s preliminary election returns show that four of the five local ballot measures appear to have received the required number of votes to pass.
The results reported so far by the Lake County Registrar of Voters Office are preliminary until the official canvass is completed in one month, as thousands of ballots remain to be counted.
Measures on the ballot included school bonds H, for the Middletown Unified School District, and I and J, for the Upper Lake Unified School District; the county’s Measure K, which would institute a cannabis business tax in the unincorporated county; and Measure L, a special benefit tax for the South Lake County Fire District.
The school bond measures all require at least a 55-percent approval from voters, while Measure K needs a simple majority and Measure L needs a super majority of at least 66.7 percent to pass.
With the exception of Measure L, preliminary ballot tallies showed that all of the measures had gained the necessary number of votes to pass.
The following is a breakdown of each of the measures and the vote counts so far.
Measure H
According to the ballot analysis, Measure H is a $28 million bond that aims “to replace Middletown Unified’s outdated portables and construct permanent 21st century learning environments, modernize existing classrooms, enhance student safety and security, upgrade school grounds, and improve career technical and ag facilities.”
It will have an estimated annual average tax levy of $1,623,000 for 35 years and a projected tax rate of 6 cents per $100 of assessed valuation, with an independent citizens' oversight committee, annual audits, and no money for administrator salaries.
With early absentees and all 11 Middletown Unified voting precincts counted, the measure had received a yes vote of 57.9 percent, or 1,254 ballots cast in its favor, versus 912 no votes, which accounted for 42.1 percent.
Measure I
Measure I, also known as the “Upper Lake Unified School District High School Renovation and Modernization Measure,” is a $10 million bond that would raise an average of $527,000 annually to repay bonds through maturity from levies of approximately three cents per $100 of assessed
valuation.
The funding would be used “to construct and modernize classrooms, upgrade career
Technology education, enhance safety/security, provide 21st century learning environments at Upper Lake High School, and provide the local match for State grants,” according to the ballot analysis.
It also would require citizens oversight and audits, and no money for administrator salaries.
Preliminary voting results from 12 voting precincts and absentees showed Measure I receiving a yes vote of 62.6 percent, or 1,106 ballots cast in favor, compared to a no vote of 37.4 percent, or 607 ballots.
Measure J
Upper Lake Unified School District also asked voters to support Measure J, also known as the “Upper Lake Unified School District School Facilities Improvement District No. 1 (K-8 Area) Elementary and Middle School Renovation and Modernization Measure.”
It’s a $12 million ballot that would raise an average of $665,000 annually to repay bonds through
maturity from levies of approximately six cents per $100 of assessed valuation, also with a citizens oversight and audits, and no money used for administrator salaries.
The ballot analysis states it’s “to construct, modernize and rehabilitate K-8 classrooms,
improve access to modern technology, install shade structures, improve play areas, enhance safety/security, and provide the local match for State grants.”
So far, early absentees and voters in seven precincts appear to have approved it. Preliminary results show a yes vote of 62.2 percent, or 624 ballots, versus a 37.8 percent no vote, or 379 ballots count.
Measure K
The Lake County Board of Supervisors voted to put Measure K – or the Cannabis Business Tax
Ordinance – before voters.
The measure is a tax on commercial cannabis businesses that requires only a simple majority, and will go into effect in the unincorporated county on Jan. 1, 2021, if approved.
Measure K will impose an annual tax of $1 per square foot for nursery cultivation, 4 percent of gross receipts on a cannabis dispensary, microbusiness or delivery business, and 2.5 percent of
gross receipts on a cannabis manufacturing, processing, transportation, distribution or other type of cannabis business, based on the ballot language. The tax will not be applied to testing laboratories.
The measure also allows for an annual increase – but no decrease – based on the Consumer Price Index for the San Francisco County area.
The preliminary voting results show Measure K had 6,735 ballots, or 69.4 percent, cast in its favor, with no votes totaling 2,976 ballots, or 30.6 percent.
Measure L
Measure L seeks to impose a special tax on residents in the South Lake County Fire Protection District “in order to continue to provide sufficient funding for fire and emergency medical services,” according to the ballot language.
It would increase the district’s appropriations limit and assess a maximum rate of $10 per benefit unit.
The measure assigns different benefit unit values to particular properties, such as 16 units for vacant land of up to an acre and 20 units for vacant land of 10 acres or more. Orchards, vineyards and field crops are assessed at similar rates, with single family dwellings assessed at 20 benefit units, duplexes at 40 units, convalescent and rest homes at 70 units.
Commercial units of 999 square feet and below are 165 benefit units, with a range for larger buildings that tops out at 250 benefit units for buildings of 10,000 square feet or more.
The measure requires a supermajority vote of 66.7 percent.
The preliminary voting returns show that the measure is just below the threshold, with 66.2 percent, or 1,694 yes votes, cast, while 866 voters, or 33.8 percent, voted against 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.
The results reported so far by the Lake County Registrar of Voters Office are preliminary until the official canvass is completed in one month, as thousands of ballots remain to be counted.
Measures on the ballot included school bonds H, for the Middletown Unified School District, and I and J, for the Upper Lake Unified School District; the county’s Measure K, which would institute a cannabis business tax in the unincorporated county; and Measure L, a special benefit tax for the South Lake County Fire District.
The school bond measures all require at least a 55-percent approval from voters, while Measure K needs a simple majority and Measure L needs a super majority of at least 66.7 percent to pass.
With the exception of Measure L, preliminary ballot tallies showed that all of the measures had gained the necessary number of votes to pass.
The following is a breakdown of each of the measures and the vote counts so far.
Measure H
According to the ballot analysis, Measure H is a $28 million bond that aims “to replace Middletown Unified’s outdated portables and construct permanent 21st century learning environments, modernize existing classrooms, enhance student safety and security, upgrade school grounds, and improve career technical and ag facilities.”
It will have an estimated annual average tax levy of $1,623,000 for 35 years and a projected tax rate of 6 cents per $100 of assessed valuation, with an independent citizens' oversight committee, annual audits, and no money for administrator salaries.
With early absentees and all 11 Middletown Unified voting precincts counted, the measure had received a yes vote of 57.9 percent, or 1,254 ballots cast in its favor, versus 912 no votes, which accounted for 42.1 percent.
Measure I
Measure I, also known as the “Upper Lake Unified School District High School Renovation and Modernization Measure,” is a $10 million bond that would raise an average of $527,000 annually to repay bonds through maturity from levies of approximately three cents per $100 of assessed
valuation.
The funding would be used “to construct and modernize classrooms, upgrade career
Technology education, enhance safety/security, provide 21st century learning environments at Upper Lake High School, and provide the local match for State grants,” according to the ballot analysis.
It also would require citizens oversight and audits, and no money for administrator salaries.
Preliminary voting results from 12 voting precincts and absentees showed Measure I receiving a yes vote of 62.6 percent, or 1,106 ballots cast in favor, compared to a no vote of 37.4 percent, or 607 ballots.
Measure J
Upper Lake Unified School District also asked voters to support Measure J, also known as the “Upper Lake Unified School District School Facilities Improvement District No. 1 (K-8 Area) Elementary and Middle School Renovation and Modernization Measure.”
It’s a $12 million ballot that would raise an average of $665,000 annually to repay bonds through
maturity from levies of approximately six cents per $100 of assessed valuation, also with a citizens oversight and audits, and no money used for administrator salaries.
The ballot analysis states it’s “to construct, modernize and rehabilitate K-8 classrooms,
improve access to modern technology, install shade structures, improve play areas, enhance safety/security, and provide the local match for State grants.”
So far, early absentees and voters in seven precincts appear to have approved it. Preliminary results show a yes vote of 62.2 percent, or 624 ballots, versus a 37.8 percent no vote, or 379 ballots count.
Measure K
The Lake County Board of Supervisors voted to put Measure K – or the Cannabis Business Tax
Ordinance – before voters.
The measure is a tax on commercial cannabis businesses that requires only a simple majority, and will go into effect in the unincorporated county on Jan. 1, 2021, if approved.
Measure K will impose an annual tax of $1 per square foot for nursery cultivation, 4 percent of gross receipts on a cannabis dispensary, microbusiness or delivery business, and 2.5 percent of
gross receipts on a cannabis manufacturing, processing, transportation, distribution or other type of cannabis business, based on the ballot language. The tax will not be applied to testing laboratories.
The measure also allows for an annual increase – but no decrease – based on the Consumer Price Index for the San Francisco County area.
The preliminary voting results show Measure K had 6,735 ballots, or 69.4 percent, cast in its favor, with no votes totaling 2,976 ballots, or 30.6 percent.
Measure L
Measure L seeks to impose a special tax on residents in the South Lake County Fire Protection District “in order to continue to provide sufficient funding for fire and emergency medical services,” according to the ballot language.
It would increase the district’s appropriations limit and assess a maximum rate of $10 per benefit unit.
The measure assigns different benefit unit values to particular properties, such as 16 units for vacant land of up to an acre and 20 units for vacant land of 10 acres or more. Orchards, vineyards and field crops are assessed at similar rates, with single family dwellings assessed at 20 benefit units, duplexes at 40 units, convalescent and rest homes at 70 units.
Commercial units of 999 square feet and below are 165 benefit units, with a range for larger buildings that tops out at 250 benefit units for buildings of 10,000 square feet or more.
The measure requires a supermajority vote of 66.7 percent.
The preliminary voting returns show that the measure is just below the threshold, with 66.2 percent, or 1,694 yes votes, cast, while 866 voters, or 33.8 percent, voted against it.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Another red flag warning issued by the National Weather Service due to high winds and fire danger has caused Cal Fire to once again increase staffing, with Pacific Gas and Electric Co. warning that it could shut off power to thousands of Lake County customers.
The National Weather Service issued the red flag warning for Lake, Colusa, Napa, Sonoma, Solano and Yolo counties from 10 p.m. Wednesday through 7 a.m. Friday.
Overnight Wednesday and into early Thursday, winds are expected to reach 15 to 25 miles per hour with gusts of between 30 and 40 miles per hour across the highest peaks, forecasters said. Those gusty winds – combined with already critically low relative humidity and very dry fuels will create critical fire weather conditions.
The forecast calls for winds to decrease on Friday morning but very dry conditions will continue.
The Cal Fire Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit said that it has bolstered its firefighting resources in response to the red flag event.
The additional resources Cal Fire has at the ready includes two helicopters, round-the-clock staffing of all fire crews and bulldozers, and personnel to fulfill emergency command center and related functions in case a major fire should occur.
Because of the potential for high winds and fire danger, PG&E is notifying 63,000 customers in eight counties – including Lake – that power may be cut beginning on Thursday.
The company said the public safety power shutoff could impact areas of Lake County including Clearlake Oaks, Cobb, Hidden Valley Lake, Kelseyville and Middletown.
Other areas of Northern California that are being notified of the potential shutoff include:
• Butte County (including Berry Creek, Chico, Forest Ranch, Magalia, Oroville, Paradise);
• Napa County (including Angwin, Pope Valley, St. Helena);
• Nevada County (including Grass Valley, Nevada City, North San Juan);
• Placer County (including Colfax, Foresthill, Alta);
• Plumas County (including La Porte);
• Sierra County (including Downieville, Sierra City);
• Yuba County (including Brownsville, Dobbins, Camptonville).
Customers can learn whether their home or business could be impacted by visiting www.pge.com/wildfiresafety .
This story has been updated to remove Sonoma County and update the number of anticipated customers, based on new information from PG&E.
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 National Weather Service issued the red flag warning for Lake, Colusa, Napa, Sonoma, Solano and Yolo counties from 10 p.m. Wednesday through 7 a.m. Friday.
Overnight Wednesday and into early Thursday, winds are expected to reach 15 to 25 miles per hour with gusts of between 30 and 40 miles per hour across the highest peaks, forecasters said. Those gusty winds – combined with already critically low relative humidity and very dry fuels will create critical fire weather conditions.
The forecast calls for winds to decrease on Friday morning but very dry conditions will continue.
The Cal Fire Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit said that it has bolstered its firefighting resources in response to the red flag event.
The additional resources Cal Fire has at the ready includes two helicopters, round-the-clock staffing of all fire crews and bulldozers, and personnel to fulfill emergency command center and related functions in case a major fire should occur.
Because of the potential for high winds and fire danger, PG&E is notifying 63,000 customers in eight counties – including Lake – that power may be cut beginning on Thursday.
The company said the public safety power shutoff could impact areas of Lake County including Clearlake Oaks, Cobb, Hidden Valley Lake, Kelseyville and Middletown.
Other areas of Northern California that are being notified of the potential shutoff include:
• Butte County (including Berry Creek, Chico, Forest Ranch, Magalia, Oroville, Paradise);
• Napa County (including Angwin, Pope Valley, St. Helena);
• Nevada County (including Grass Valley, Nevada City, North San Juan);
• Placer County (including Colfax, Foresthill, Alta);
• Plumas County (including La Porte);
• Sierra County (including Downieville, Sierra City);
• Yuba County (including Brownsville, Dobbins, Camptonville).
Customers can learn whether their home or business could be impacted by visiting www.pge.com/wildfiresafety .
This story has been updated to remove Sonoma County and update the number of anticipated customers, based on new information from PG&E.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce and the city of Clearlake will host the 2018 Christmas Parade on Saturday, Dec. 1.
Lakeshore Drive in Clearlake will be decked out with Christmas magic as merry members of the community compete for the first-place parade entry.
The parade will end with the annual tree lighting ceremony at Austin Park.
The parade will take place on at 6 p.m. and will go from Redbud Park down Lakeshore Drive to Austin Park. There will be plenty of free parking around Austin Park but getting there early is always ensures a good spot.
“Judging by the amazing response, this year’s parade looks like it’s going to be a hit,” said Patrick Prather of the Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce.
Prather urged community members to register for the parade online, visit the chamber on Facebook or contact the Chamber for details.
“Also, please stick around after the parade for the tree lighting ceremony and pictures with Santa,” Prather said.
“We are taking it up a notch this year with more lights at City Hall and the Visitor’s Center. This is a great event every year and this year looks to be the best so far,” said Clearlake City Manager Greg Folsom.
For more information contact the Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce at 707-994-3600.
Lakeshore Drive in Clearlake will be decked out with Christmas magic as merry members of the community compete for the first-place parade entry.
The parade will end with the annual tree lighting ceremony at Austin Park.
The parade will take place on at 6 p.m. and will go from Redbud Park down Lakeshore Drive to Austin Park. There will be plenty of free parking around Austin Park but getting there early is always ensures a good spot.
“Judging by the amazing response, this year’s parade looks like it’s going to be a hit,” said Patrick Prather of the Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce.
Prather urged community members to register for the parade online, visit the chamber on Facebook or contact the Chamber for details.
“Also, please stick around after the parade for the tree lighting ceremony and pictures with Santa,” Prather said.
“We are taking it up a notch this year with more lights at City Hall and the Visitor’s Center. This is a great event every year and this year looks to be the best so far,” said Clearlake City Manager Greg Folsom.
For more information contact the Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce at 707-994-3600.