How to resolve AdBlock issue? 
News
CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – A local couple who received nationwide attention last month after they were arrested in Nebraska with a large amount of marijuana they said they were taking to the East Coast for Christmas presents have been arrested again and also are facing marijuana-related charges in Lake County.
Patrick Gordon Jiron, 80, and Barbara Jean Jiron, 70, of Clearlake Oaks were arrested on Dec. 19 following a traffic stop on Interstate 80 in York County, Neb.
During the December stop they were found with 60 pounds of marijuana with an estimated street value of more than $300,000, and multiple containers of concentrated THC, as Lake County News has reported.
Authorities said the Jirons told deputies that they were traveling from California, making stops in Boston and Vermont to distribute the marijuana to family and friends as Christmas gifts.
The couple’s son is a top Vermont prosecutor whose supervisors have since said was not connected to their activities, according to press accounts.
An initial charging document filed in the case indicated the Jirons were facing felonies including possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute as well as failing to have a drug stamp tax.
Lt. Corey Paulich of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office said the agency became aware of the Jirons’ arrests in late December.
Then, on Tuesday, Paulich said the sheriff’s office learned that that the Jirons had again been arrested in Lincoln, Neb.
This latest arrest also took place on Interstate 80, with the Jirons in a vehicle driven by their daughter, according to the Kansas City Star.
Paulich said the Jirons were found to be in possession of $18,000 in US currency, raw marijuana and evidence indicating marijuana sales.
Using that information, on Tuesday the Lake County Sheriff’s Narcotics Unit authored a search warrant for the Jirons’ residence and property located in the 16000 of Pueblo Trail in Clearlake Oaks, Paulich said.
Paulich said when detectives served the warrant, they located no subjects on the scene.
However, they found a 75-plant harvested grow site and determined that it actually was encroaching on federal public land overseen by the Bureau of Land Management, Paulich said.
Also at the property, detectives located a total of 152 pounds of loose processed marijuana and approximately 8 pounds of packaged processed marijuana, according to Paulich.
Paulich said both of the Jirons posted bail early on Tuesday in Nebraska.
The Lincoln Journal Star reported that the couple appeared in court in Nebraska on Wednesday and have separate hearings scheduled for next week.
The Jirons are now believed to be traveling back to California, Paulich said.
In addition to the case in Nebraska, Paulich said that when they arrive home the Jirons are facing charges including transportation of marijuana out of state for purpose of sale, cultivation of marijuana causing damage to public lands and cultivation of marijuana for sale.
Paulich said the investigation has been forwarded to the Lake County District Attorney’s Office for filing.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Police Department has recovered a pickup truck stolen from a local business and is seeking leads on activity the stolen vehicle may have been involved in late last month.
On Wednesday, the agency issued a Nixle alert regarding its felony investigation involving the reported theft of a 2015 white Chevrolet 3500 work pickup with a Cramer Enterprises logo.
The truck was believed to have been taken from the 900 Block of 20th Street between 6:30 a.m. Dec. 21 and 7:50 a.m. Dec. 22.
Also between Dec. 21 and 25, the pickup may have been hauling two large gun safes in the Lakeport and Kelseyville area, police said.
Police said that on Wednesday evening a Nixle tip helped them locate and recover the stolen truck in a rural forested area of the county southwest of Lakeport.
They said they are still seeking leads on any activity the stolen pickup may have been associated with between Dec. 21 and 25.
People can send private messages to the Lakeport Police Facebook page, send an anonymous text from your cell phone to 888777 and texting TIP LAKEPORT followed by your message or contact Det. Dale Stoebe at 707-263-5491, Extension 102, or by email at
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Yuba Community College District has completed the refinancing of bonds that will save taxpayers in the district more than $13.5 million.
Dale Scott & Co. served as the financial advisor to help the district refinance the bonds and take advantage of lower interest rates.
YCCD refinanced $27,051,506 of Measure J general obligation bonds (series A and C) approved by district voters in 2006, saving local taxpayers $13,547,215.
YCCD slashed the interest rate of the new bonds to 3.88 percent from an average of 5.23 percent.
“We work every day to carefully and methodically steward resources to meet the diverse needs of our students and the communities we serve,” said Dr. Douglas Houston, Chancellor of the Yuba Community College District. “As we foster a world-class learning environment, we will continue to ensure every taxpayer dollar is invested wisely – in our future.”
YCCD has saved local taxpayers approximately $100 million over the last two years.
The district refinanced general obligation bonds in July 2015, saving taxpayers $14.2 million, and in June 2016, saving taxpayers $72.3 million.
“It is with a great sense of pride and accomplishment that the YCCD Board has taken the actions of refinancing bonds in order to save its taxpayers millions,” said Michael Pasquale, president of the Yuba Community College Board of Trustees. “Our stewardship and fiduciary responsibility of assets of the communities we serve is at the forefront of our decision making process when governing the district.”
“Yuba Community College District has shown time and again that it will take advantage of lower interest rates to return savings to local taxpayers,” said Dale Scott, president of Dale Scott & Co. “This is truly a win-win for the district and its taxpayers.”
Moody’s Investor’s Service has assigned a rating of Aa2 to the YCCD general obligation bonds. This strong rating reflects the expansion of the district’s underlying tax base and an expectation of continuing improvement in its financial position.
Dale Scott & Co. served as the financial advisor to help the district refinance the bonds and take advantage of lower interest rates.
YCCD refinanced $27,051,506 of Measure J general obligation bonds (series A and C) approved by district voters in 2006, saving local taxpayers $13,547,215.
YCCD slashed the interest rate of the new bonds to 3.88 percent from an average of 5.23 percent.
“We work every day to carefully and methodically steward resources to meet the diverse needs of our students and the communities we serve,” said Dr. Douglas Houston, Chancellor of the Yuba Community College District. “As we foster a world-class learning environment, we will continue to ensure every taxpayer dollar is invested wisely – in our future.”
YCCD has saved local taxpayers approximately $100 million over the last two years.
The district refinanced general obligation bonds in July 2015, saving taxpayers $14.2 million, and in June 2016, saving taxpayers $72.3 million.
“It is with a great sense of pride and accomplishment that the YCCD Board has taken the actions of refinancing bonds in order to save its taxpayers millions,” said Michael Pasquale, president of the Yuba Community College Board of Trustees. “Our stewardship and fiduciary responsibility of assets of the communities we serve is at the forefront of our decision making process when governing the district.”
“Yuba Community College District has shown time and again that it will take advantage of lower interest rates to return savings to local taxpayers,” said Dale Scott, president of Dale Scott & Co. “This is truly a win-win for the district and its taxpayers.”
Moody’s Investor’s Service has assigned a rating of Aa2 to the YCCD general obligation bonds. This strong rating reflects the expansion of the district’s underlying tax base and an expectation of continuing improvement in its financial position.
In an effort to keep the state on a path to long-term fiscal stability, Gov. Jerry Brown on Wednesday proposed a $131.7 billion General Fund budget plan for 2018-19 that fills the state’s Rainy Day Fund to its constitutional target, fully implements the state’s K-12 school funding formula two years ahead of schedule and provides $4.6 billion for the first year of a 10-year transportation improvement plan.
The budget also includes $23.7 million in the General Fund to backfill the property tax revenue losses that cities, counties and special districts will incur in 2017-18 and 2018-19 due to the October 2017 wildfires in Northern California, which is important help for Lake, Mendocino, Napa and Sonoma counties.
“California has faced 10 recessions since World War II and we must prepare for the 11th. Yes, we have had some very good years and program spending has increased steadily,” said Gov. Brown in his budget letter to the Legislature. “Let’s not blow it now.”
In stark contrast to the $27 billion budget gap of 2011, the 2018 fiscal plan reflects a healthy one-time surplus and increases funding for education, health care and other core priorities.
But with growing uncertainty about the impacts of new federal policies, combined with a longer-than-average economic expansion, the budget continues to bank higher revenues into reserves and pay down debts and liabilities.
Significant details of the Governor’s 2018-19 State Budget include the following.
Filling the Rainy Day Fund
Proposition 2, approved by California voters in 2014, established a constitutional goal of reserving 10 percent of tax revenues in a Rainy Day Fund.
By the end of the current (2017-18) fiscal year, the state’s Rainy Day Fund will have a total balance of $8.4 billion, or 65 percent of the constitutional target.
The budget proposes a $3.5 billion supplemental payment in addition to the constitutionally required transfer to the Rainy Day Fund for 2018-19. The two payments would bring the total Rainy Day Fund to $13.5 billion.
More funds – and more equitable funding – for education
In 2013, the state enacted the K-12 Local Control Funding Formula to increase support for the state’s neediest students and restore local district flexibility over how money is spent in schools.
With $3 billion in new proposed funding for the formula in 2018-19, the budget will achieve full implementation of the formula two years ahead of schedule.
To improve student achievement and transparency, the budget proposes requiring school districts to create a link between their local accountability plans and their budgets to show how this increased funding is being spent.
The minimum guarantee of funding for K-14 schools in 2007-08 was $56.6 billion and dropped to $47.3 billion in 2011-12 at the peak of the state budget crisis.
From this recent low, funding has grown substantially, and is projected to grow to $78.3 billion in 2018-19 – an increase of $31 billion (66 percent) in seven years. For K-12 schools, 2018-19 funding levels will increase by about $4,600 per student above 2011-12 levels.
Increased higher education spending
The budget proposes the creation of the first wholly online community college in California. The online college would provide a new affordable pathway to higher wages through credentials for those who don’t currently access the California community college system.
The budget proposes a total increase of $570 million (4 percent) for community colleges, including a new funding formula that encourages colleges to enroll underrepresented students and rewards colleges for improving students’ success in obtaining degrees and certificates.
As the new formula is implemented, no district will receive less funding than currently provided. Included in the community colleges budget increase is $46 million for the first year of implementation for Assembly Bill 19, which allows colleges to waive tuition for first-time, full-time students.
Additionally, the budget again increases state support for the University of California and the California State University by 3 percent.
Since the end of the Great Recession, the University of California has received $1.2 billion in new funding and the California State University (CSU) has received $1.6 billion.
Over the same time period, funding for state financial aid that primarily supports low-income and first-generation students has increased by $623 million to a total of $2.3 billion.
Given these funding increases, the budget reflects flat tuition and expects the universities and community colleges to continue to improve their students’ success. With no tuition increases this year, university tuition, adjusted for inflation, will be below 2011-12 levels.
Continuing health care expansion
Amidst growing uncertainty at the federal level, the budget again provides funding to increase health care coverage to low-income Californians under the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA). California continues to be the national leader among states in implementing the optional expansion of ACA with nearly 3.9 million Californians covered in 2018-19.
Strengthening transportation infrastructure
The budget reflects the first full year of funding under the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017 (Senate Bill 1), which provides stable, long-term funding for both state and local transportation infrastructure.
This act provides $55 billion in new funding over the next decade, split evenly between state and local projects.
For 2018-19, the budget includes $4.6 billion in new transportation funding, which includes:
– A focus on “fix-it-first” investments to repair neighborhood roads, state highways and bridges ($2.8 billion).
– Making key investments in trade and commute corridors to support continued economic growth and implement a sustainable freight strategy ($556 million).
– Matching locally generated funds for high-priority transportation projects ($200 million).
– Investing in local passenger rail and public transit modernization and improvement ($721 million).
Paying down debts and liabilities
In May 2011, Gov. Brown identified a $35 billion Wall of Debt – an unprecedented level of debts, deferrals and budgetary obligations accumulated over the prior decade. That debt has been substantially reduced, and now stands at less than $6 billion.
Combating climate change
California continues to work towards a state goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030.
In July, Gov. Brown signed legislation to extend California’s landmark cap-and-trade program through 2030.
Since then, auction proceeds have stabilized and revenues have increased, resulting in $1.25 billion in cap-and-trade funds available for appropriation in 2018-19.
The plan for these funds will be announced in conjunction with the Governor’s State of the State Address.
The full summary of the Governor’s budget proposal can be found at www.ebudget.ca.gov.
State Sen. Mike McGuire, who represents Lake County, said, “Gov. Brown’s cautious budget reflects both the need for California to continue to advance strategic investments in our shared priorities – education, healthcare and climate protection – while also increasing the state’s reserves by bolstering our rainy day fund.”
“We have witnessed the worst fire season in history and we have been working hand-in-hand with local leaders and the Governor’s Office to secure desperately needed relief funding. While there is a lot more work ahead – and more funds needed – today’s budget reflects $23.7 million in tax backfill for the four counties,” he said, referring to Lake, Mendocino, Napa and Sonoma counties, which were hard hit by the October fires. “These funds will help communities, who are struggling to recover, continue with desperately needed services that will benefit residents in their greatest time of need.”
State Sen. Bill Dodd, who previously represented Lake County in the State Assembly and now represents the Third Senate District – which includes all or portions of Napa, Sonoma, Solano, Yolo, Sacramento, and Contra Costa counties – said of the budget, ““Supporting wildfire recovery and reducing fire risk must be top priorities in the budget. I believe Gov. Brown’s budget reflects a thoughtful starting point for this year’s budget negotiations. I will be working with the Administration and my colleagues in the Legislature to expand our efforts on disaster recovery and preparedness.”
Dodd added, “This will be Gov. Brown’s final budget, and he has continued his record of proposing thoughtful spending. It’s absolutely critical that the state pay down debts and building our rainy day fund, while investing in critical services. Education is one of those critical services. We know that expanding preschool access will improve student success and lifetime incomes, and I will be pushing for real progress towards the goal of universal preschool.”
The budget also includes $23.7 million in the General Fund to backfill the property tax revenue losses that cities, counties and special districts will incur in 2017-18 and 2018-19 due to the October 2017 wildfires in Northern California, which is important help for Lake, Mendocino, Napa and Sonoma counties.
“California has faced 10 recessions since World War II and we must prepare for the 11th. Yes, we have had some very good years and program spending has increased steadily,” said Gov. Brown in his budget letter to the Legislature. “Let’s not blow it now.”
In stark contrast to the $27 billion budget gap of 2011, the 2018 fiscal plan reflects a healthy one-time surplus and increases funding for education, health care and other core priorities.
But with growing uncertainty about the impacts of new federal policies, combined with a longer-than-average economic expansion, the budget continues to bank higher revenues into reserves and pay down debts and liabilities.
Significant details of the Governor’s 2018-19 State Budget include the following.
Filling the Rainy Day Fund
Proposition 2, approved by California voters in 2014, established a constitutional goal of reserving 10 percent of tax revenues in a Rainy Day Fund.
By the end of the current (2017-18) fiscal year, the state’s Rainy Day Fund will have a total balance of $8.4 billion, or 65 percent of the constitutional target.
The budget proposes a $3.5 billion supplemental payment in addition to the constitutionally required transfer to the Rainy Day Fund for 2018-19. The two payments would bring the total Rainy Day Fund to $13.5 billion.
More funds – and more equitable funding – for education
In 2013, the state enacted the K-12 Local Control Funding Formula to increase support for the state’s neediest students and restore local district flexibility over how money is spent in schools.
With $3 billion in new proposed funding for the formula in 2018-19, the budget will achieve full implementation of the formula two years ahead of schedule.
To improve student achievement and transparency, the budget proposes requiring school districts to create a link between their local accountability plans and their budgets to show how this increased funding is being spent.
The minimum guarantee of funding for K-14 schools in 2007-08 was $56.6 billion and dropped to $47.3 billion in 2011-12 at the peak of the state budget crisis.
From this recent low, funding has grown substantially, and is projected to grow to $78.3 billion in 2018-19 – an increase of $31 billion (66 percent) in seven years. For K-12 schools, 2018-19 funding levels will increase by about $4,600 per student above 2011-12 levels.
Increased higher education spending
The budget proposes the creation of the first wholly online community college in California. The online college would provide a new affordable pathway to higher wages through credentials for those who don’t currently access the California community college system.
The budget proposes a total increase of $570 million (4 percent) for community colleges, including a new funding formula that encourages colleges to enroll underrepresented students and rewards colleges for improving students’ success in obtaining degrees and certificates.
As the new formula is implemented, no district will receive less funding than currently provided. Included in the community colleges budget increase is $46 million for the first year of implementation for Assembly Bill 19, which allows colleges to waive tuition for first-time, full-time students.
Additionally, the budget again increases state support for the University of California and the California State University by 3 percent.
Since the end of the Great Recession, the University of California has received $1.2 billion in new funding and the California State University (CSU) has received $1.6 billion.
Over the same time period, funding for state financial aid that primarily supports low-income and first-generation students has increased by $623 million to a total of $2.3 billion.
Given these funding increases, the budget reflects flat tuition and expects the universities and community colleges to continue to improve their students’ success. With no tuition increases this year, university tuition, adjusted for inflation, will be below 2011-12 levels.
Continuing health care expansion
Amidst growing uncertainty at the federal level, the budget again provides funding to increase health care coverage to low-income Californians under the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA). California continues to be the national leader among states in implementing the optional expansion of ACA with nearly 3.9 million Californians covered in 2018-19.
Strengthening transportation infrastructure
The budget reflects the first full year of funding under the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017 (Senate Bill 1), which provides stable, long-term funding for both state and local transportation infrastructure.
This act provides $55 billion in new funding over the next decade, split evenly between state and local projects.
For 2018-19, the budget includes $4.6 billion in new transportation funding, which includes:
– A focus on “fix-it-first” investments to repair neighborhood roads, state highways and bridges ($2.8 billion).
– Making key investments in trade and commute corridors to support continued economic growth and implement a sustainable freight strategy ($556 million).
– Matching locally generated funds for high-priority transportation projects ($200 million).
– Investing in local passenger rail and public transit modernization and improvement ($721 million).
Paying down debts and liabilities
In May 2011, Gov. Brown identified a $35 billion Wall of Debt – an unprecedented level of debts, deferrals and budgetary obligations accumulated over the prior decade. That debt has been substantially reduced, and now stands at less than $6 billion.
Combating climate change
California continues to work towards a state goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030.
In July, Gov. Brown signed legislation to extend California’s landmark cap-and-trade program through 2030.
Since then, auction proceeds have stabilized and revenues have increased, resulting in $1.25 billion in cap-and-trade funds available for appropriation in 2018-19.
The plan for these funds will be announced in conjunction with the Governor’s State of the State Address.
The full summary of the Governor’s budget proposal can be found at www.ebudget.ca.gov.
State Sen. Mike McGuire, who represents Lake County, said, “Gov. Brown’s cautious budget reflects both the need for California to continue to advance strategic investments in our shared priorities – education, healthcare and climate protection – while also increasing the state’s reserves by bolstering our rainy day fund.”
“We have witnessed the worst fire season in history and we have been working hand-in-hand with local leaders and the Governor’s Office to secure desperately needed relief funding. While there is a lot more work ahead – and more funds needed – today’s budget reflects $23.7 million in tax backfill for the four counties,” he said, referring to Lake, Mendocino, Napa and Sonoma counties, which were hard hit by the October fires. “These funds will help communities, who are struggling to recover, continue with desperately needed services that will benefit residents in their greatest time of need.”
State Sen. Bill Dodd, who previously represented Lake County in the State Assembly and now represents the Third Senate District – which includes all or portions of Napa, Sonoma, Solano, Yolo, Sacramento, and Contra Costa counties – said of the budget, ““Supporting wildfire recovery and reducing fire risk must be top priorities in the budget. I believe Gov. Brown’s budget reflects a thoughtful starting point for this year’s budget negotiations. I will be working with the Administration and my colleagues in the Legislature to expand our efforts on disaster recovery and preparedness.”
Dodd added, “This will be Gov. Brown’s final budget, and he has continued his record of proposing thoughtful spending. It’s absolutely critical that the state pay down debts and building our rainy day fund, while investing in critical services. Education is one of those critical services. We know that expanding preschool access will improve student success and lifetime incomes, and I will be pushing for real progress towards the goal of universal preschool.”
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – California is undergoing a flu season that appears to be one of its worst in the past decade, with the flu starting early and already resulting in the confirmed deaths of more than two dozen people, including one death in Lake County.
The California Department of Public Health, or CDPH, said influenza cases are widespread and increasing across the state, with flu activity currently at levels usually seen at the peak of the influenza season.
“Based on where we are today at this point in time, this appears to be one of the worst seasons we’ve had in the last 10 years,” said Gil Chavez, M.D., the state epidemiologist and deputy director of CDPH’s Center for Infectious Diseases.
At the same time, the Centers for Disease Control reported that influenza activity is widespread across 46 states, with only Hawaii, Maine, New Hampshire and New Jersey reporting regional activity.
CDPH closely tracks influenza, with that information forming the basis of its regular reports, posted on its Web site at www.cdph.ca.gov.
As of the most recent report, for the week ending Dec. 30, 27 influenza-associated deaths in persons under 65 years of age were reported to CDPH.
Only influenza deaths in persons less than 65 years are reported to CDPH so the total number of deaths due to influenza is higher.
Lake County Public Health told Lake County News that one county resident has died so far this flu season, with the Mendocino County Health and Human Services Agency reporting that four people have died from influenza-related illness since Oct. 1.
James Watt, M.D, chief of the Division of Communicable Disease Control at the California Department of Public Health’s Center for Infectious Diseases, said this flu season began earlier than usual, with case numbers ramping up in November.
Even so, “We are still early in the season,’ he said, noting that flu activity can continue as late as May.
The most common flu type circulating this season in California is Influenza A’s H3N2 strain, Watt said.
Watt said H3N2 is a more virulent strain of flu based on its characteristics and how it interacts with the immune system.
Similarly, the Centers for Disease Control reported that, as of Dec. 30, of the nearly 7,800 flu specimens tested nationwide, 87 percent were Influenza A, and of those, 90 percent were H3N2.
Watt said that, usually at this time of year, three to four flu deaths in people under age 65 are reported in California, far below the 27 confirmed by state officials on Tuesday. And the number state officials gave Tuesday may be low, as there is a delay between local public health departments confirming flu-related deaths and CDPH’s updates.
Several factors CDPH monitors such as doctors’ office visit and hospitalization are already at levels seen at the peak of more severe flu seasons, Watt said. “Both of those measures are above what we usually see this time of year.”
He said CDPH measures the percentage of visits. Based on the most recent report, almost 6 percent of people going to the doctor were going in with flu-like symptoms.
Watt said 10.6 percent of hospitalizations were due to pneumonia and influenza, numbers usually seen at a flu season’s peak.
“One thing that is consistent about influenza is that it is very unpredictable,” said Chavez.
As such, he said it’s challenging to predict which flu virus will dominate, and when flu activity will end or peak.
Each year the flu follows a different pattern, Watt explained.
This year, flu season started in Southern California, in San Diego in particular, then spread north throughout the entire state, said Watt.
Added Chavez, “We are early and we are trending up so we might end up having one of the worst seasons in some time.”
So far, however, this flu season hasn’t risen to the level of activity seen in 2009 when the H1N1 pandemic occurred, Chavez said.
He said the term “pandemic” is used by the World Health Organization to signify when flu is a worldwide problem. Health officials don’t feel they’re getting close to such a scenario in California this flu season.
The flu situation in Lake County
Lake County Public Health Nursing Director Carolyn Holladay told Lake County News that Lake County has had one reportable death from flu in a person under age 65 and two positive cases of flu in intensive care units. All three of those cases were reported in the time frame from Dec. 28 to Jan. 2.
Holladay said those three cases were all attributed to Influenza A; however, she did not have information available on the subtypes.
During the 2016-17 flu season, Lake County had one flu death, Holladay said.
At the local hospitals, officials are reporting a spike in activity.
At Sutter Lakeside in Lakeport, 27 percent of patients tested for flu last month came back positive, said spokeswoman Morgen Wells.
At Adventist Health Clear Lake, Colleen Assavapisitkul, RN, the vice president of patient care, noted, “During flu season, we always expect an increase of visits to the emergency department and admissions to the hospital. This year is no exception, and we are seeing many patients suffering from flu symptoms. Thankfully, we are staffed to meet this increased need for our services and our team is ready to serve our community members who are suffering from the flu.”
In neighboring Mendocino County, where four flu deaths have been reported this season, Adventist Health Howard Memorial in Willits has implemented temporary visitor restrictions and is asking young or sick visitors to stay away from the hospital unless necessary. Those restrictions are in effect until further notice.
Wells and Assavapisitkul said there are no plans to implement similar restrictions at Lake County’s two hospitals.
However, Assavapisitkul added, “We do ask that those with colds or those who may have been exposed to the flu virus stay home as to not endanger the health of their hospitalized loved ones and our other patients."
Officials urge vaccination
Health officials – including Chavez and Watt – are continuing to encourage Californians to get vaccinated for the flu if they haven’t already had a flu shot yet this season. It’s not too late, they emphasized; Watt said it takes about two weeks for the shot to take effect.
Chavez added that there is plenty of flu vaccine available in California.
Based on data from previous flu seasons, even when the vaccine isn’t 100-percent effective, Chavez said it offers important protections, including lessening the symptoms and complications, and reducing the number of overall cases.
Watt added that a report done last year showed that the flu vaccine reduces deaths in children.
Of the flu-related deaths so far this year in California, Chavez said 70 percent of those who died were not vaccinated.
Watt said the rate of Californians who are vaccinated for the flu ranges between 40 and 50 percent. “We’d love to see those numbers be higher.”
Chavez said the CDC works with the World Health Organization to understand flu activity as it’s happening across the globe, and to pinpoint what flu strains that may be circulating.
They tend to look at flu patterns in the Southern Hemisphere, which experiences the flu season first because they are going through winter at the opposite time of year. “That’s how they inform what strains end up in the vaccine,” Chavez said.
In Australia and across the rest of the Southern Hemisphere, Chavez said health officials saw flu strains now occurring in California. Those strains were included in this year’s vaccine.
There are usually three to four strains included in the vaccines, which are reviewed annually and updated as needed to match circulating flu viruses, according to the CDC.
“The strains are constantly evolving,” said Watt. “We wouldn't be able to include all the strains because there are new strains coming up all the time.”
Watt said that in February there will be information available from the CDC about the effectiveness of the current vaccine.
For information on the flu vaccine in Lake County, call Lake County Public Health at 707-263-1090.
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 Department of Public Health, or CDPH, said influenza cases are widespread and increasing across the state, with flu activity currently at levels usually seen at the peak of the influenza season.
“Based on where we are today at this point in time, this appears to be one of the worst seasons we’ve had in the last 10 years,” said Gil Chavez, M.D., the state epidemiologist and deputy director of CDPH’s Center for Infectious Diseases.
At the same time, the Centers for Disease Control reported that influenza activity is widespread across 46 states, with only Hawaii, Maine, New Hampshire and New Jersey reporting regional activity.
CDPH closely tracks influenza, with that information forming the basis of its regular reports, posted on its Web site at www.cdph.ca.gov.
As of the most recent report, for the week ending Dec. 30, 27 influenza-associated deaths in persons under 65 years of age were reported to CDPH.
Only influenza deaths in persons less than 65 years are reported to CDPH so the total number of deaths due to influenza is higher.
Lake County Public Health told Lake County News that one county resident has died so far this flu season, with the Mendocino County Health and Human Services Agency reporting that four people have died from influenza-related illness since Oct. 1.
James Watt, M.D, chief of the Division of Communicable Disease Control at the California Department of Public Health’s Center for Infectious Diseases, said this flu season began earlier than usual, with case numbers ramping up in November.
Even so, “We are still early in the season,’ he said, noting that flu activity can continue as late as May.
The most common flu type circulating this season in California is Influenza A’s H3N2 strain, Watt said.
Watt said H3N2 is a more virulent strain of flu based on its characteristics and how it interacts with the immune system.
Similarly, the Centers for Disease Control reported that, as of Dec. 30, of the nearly 7,800 flu specimens tested nationwide, 87 percent were Influenza A, and of those, 90 percent were H3N2.
Watt said that, usually at this time of year, three to four flu deaths in people under age 65 are reported in California, far below the 27 confirmed by state officials on Tuesday. And the number state officials gave Tuesday may be low, as there is a delay between local public health departments confirming flu-related deaths and CDPH’s updates.
Several factors CDPH monitors such as doctors’ office visit and hospitalization are already at levels seen at the peak of more severe flu seasons, Watt said. “Both of those measures are above what we usually see this time of year.”
He said CDPH measures the percentage of visits. Based on the most recent report, almost 6 percent of people going to the doctor were going in with flu-like symptoms.
Watt said 10.6 percent of hospitalizations were due to pneumonia and influenza, numbers usually seen at a flu season’s peak.
“One thing that is consistent about influenza is that it is very unpredictable,” said Chavez.
As such, he said it’s challenging to predict which flu virus will dominate, and when flu activity will end or peak.
Each year the flu follows a different pattern, Watt explained.
This year, flu season started in Southern California, in San Diego in particular, then spread north throughout the entire state, said Watt.
Added Chavez, “We are early and we are trending up so we might end up having one of the worst seasons in some time.”
So far, however, this flu season hasn’t risen to the level of activity seen in 2009 when the H1N1 pandemic occurred, Chavez said.
He said the term “pandemic” is used by the World Health Organization to signify when flu is a worldwide problem. Health officials don’t feel they’re getting close to such a scenario in California this flu season.
The flu situation in Lake County
Lake County Public Health Nursing Director Carolyn Holladay told Lake County News that Lake County has had one reportable death from flu in a person under age 65 and two positive cases of flu in intensive care units. All three of those cases were reported in the time frame from Dec. 28 to Jan. 2.
Holladay said those three cases were all attributed to Influenza A; however, she did not have information available on the subtypes.
During the 2016-17 flu season, Lake County had one flu death, Holladay said.
At the local hospitals, officials are reporting a spike in activity.
At Sutter Lakeside in Lakeport, 27 percent of patients tested for flu last month came back positive, said spokeswoman Morgen Wells.
At Adventist Health Clear Lake, Colleen Assavapisitkul, RN, the vice president of patient care, noted, “During flu season, we always expect an increase of visits to the emergency department and admissions to the hospital. This year is no exception, and we are seeing many patients suffering from flu symptoms. Thankfully, we are staffed to meet this increased need for our services and our team is ready to serve our community members who are suffering from the flu.”
In neighboring Mendocino County, where four flu deaths have been reported this season, Adventist Health Howard Memorial in Willits has implemented temporary visitor restrictions and is asking young or sick visitors to stay away from the hospital unless necessary. Those restrictions are in effect until further notice.
Wells and Assavapisitkul said there are no plans to implement similar restrictions at Lake County’s two hospitals.
However, Assavapisitkul added, “We do ask that those with colds or those who may have been exposed to the flu virus stay home as to not endanger the health of their hospitalized loved ones and our other patients."
Officials urge vaccination
Health officials – including Chavez and Watt – are continuing to encourage Californians to get vaccinated for the flu if they haven’t already had a flu shot yet this season. It’s not too late, they emphasized; Watt said it takes about two weeks for the shot to take effect.
Chavez added that there is plenty of flu vaccine available in California.
Based on data from previous flu seasons, even when the vaccine isn’t 100-percent effective, Chavez said it offers important protections, including lessening the symptoms and complications, and reducing the number of overall cases.
Watt added that a report done last year showed that the flu vaccine reduces deaths in children.
Of the flu-related deaths so far this year in California, Chavez said 70 percent of those who died were not vaccinated.
Watt said the rate of Californians who are vaccinated for the flu ranges between 40 and 50 percent. “We’d love to see those numbers be higher.”
Chavez said the CDC works with the World Health Organization to understand flu activity as it’s happening across the globe, and to pinpoint what flu strains that may be circulating.
They tend to look at flu patterns in the Southern Hemisphere, which experiences the flu season first because they are going through winter at the opposite time of year. “That’s how they inform what strains end up in the vaccine,” Chavez said.
In Australia and across the rest of the Southern Hemisphere, Chavez said health officials saw flu strains now occurring in California. Those strains were included in this year’s vaccine.
There are usually three to four strains included in the vaccines, which are reviewed annually and updated as needed to match circulating flu viruses, according to the CDC.
“The strains are constantly evolving,” said Watt. “We wouldn't be able to include all the strains because there are new strains coming up all the time.”
Watt said that in February there will be information available from the CDC about the effectiveness of the current vaccine.
For information on the flu vaccine in Lake County, call Lake County Public Health at 707-263-1090.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday heard the latest information on the Sulphur fire cleanup and got a report from the county’s treasurer-tax collector about the sale of tax-defaulted properties.
In his first appearance before the board, new Environmental Health Director Jesse Kang gave the update on the Sulphur fire cleanup process.
Kang told the board that 136 properties needed to be cleaned, and the process had been completed on 129 of them. Of those, 62 had been tested and cleared for toxic materials.
He said the debris is expected to be removed on all of the properties by Jan. 22.
Kang said five properties are in the city of Clearlake and are going through an abatement process.
Public Health staff also told the board that the cleanup operation had been shut down on Monday due to rain.
One of the main items on the Tuesday agenda was a report from Treasurer Tax-Collector Barbara Ringen on a tax sale she held in June and another one she intends to hold this upcoming June.
As of Tuesday, Ringen said she and her staff had a list of 174 tax-defaulted properties with a minimum bid – the minimum bids for all properties plus fees – of $2.1 million.
She said her staff spent December collecting property tax for the current year and getting that list of properties together. Ringen said she hopes to have a final list for the tax sale in February.
Supervisor Rob Brown said he thought June was a good time for a tax sale, as property sales already are up at that time of year.
Supervisor Moke Simon asked about getting outside help. Ringen said that can actually make for more work. Rather, she’s hoping that new software being developed for tax sales will help her with the work.
Brown noted that at a community visioning workshop the night before in Kelseyville that the effort to redeem unpaid property tax and sell tax-defaulted properties came through as a priority for citizens. He said it’s important to show the public and employees that the county is moving forward not just on cutting back but also on regaining revenues.
The issue of the paper subdivision lots on the Northshore also came up during the board’s Tuesday discussion. Brown referred to a paper subdivision plan the board approved in 2015 that called for the county taking them off the market when they are tax-defaulted, bundling them and selling them.
“Maybe we should still consider that,” he said. “That’s the only way to salvage that up there.”
County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson said the paper subdivision lots have been a workload issue for staff, but she planned to follow up on the matter.
Supervisor Tina Scott noted that along with collecting property tax, a concern that arose at the Monday night visioning workshop was that the paper lots aren’t maintained and create a fire hazard. She said community members want them maintained.
Huchingson thanked Ringen for her work, noting that the June tax sale “was just a tremendous boost to the budget,” and she hoped to see those sales continue.
Ringen told Lake County News later on Tuesday that the June 2017 tax sale brought in just under $1 million.
Huchingson said at Tuesday’s meeting that she wanted to facilitate a meeting next week with Ringen to look at her staffing needs and consider staffing up the Treasurer-Tax Collector’s Office.
Huchingson said another tax sale this June would be a shot in the arm that “we can’t do without” considering the county’s current difficult financial straits.
Supervisor Jeff Smith agreed that giving Ringen’s office more staff was the right thing to do. “If we staff it, it will pay for itself.”
Lake County News will have an upcoming report to further explain the tax sale process.
The board also approved a joint letter from Lake, Mendocino, Napa and Sonoma to the governor and the director of the California Office of Emergency Services regarding state budget requests for those counties in the wake of the October North Bay fires.
In other business, the board held a brief public hearing on changes to the county’s Section 8 Administrative, approved Chairman Jim Steele’s committee appointments for board members, reappointed Iris Hudson to the Lower Lake Cemetery District Board and appointed Timothy Samuel Chiara to the Western Region Town Hall.
The board also held a closed session discussion, for the second week in a row, on the topic of whether or not to initiate litigation against Pacific Gas and Electric Co. County Counsel Anita Grant told Lake County News that there has been no reportable action out of Tuesday’s session or the previous week’s.
Video of the public portion of the meeting can be watched at https://countyoflake.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx. Accompanying board documents, the agenda and archived board meeting videos also are available at that link.
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.
In his first appearance before the board, new Environmental Health Director Jesse Kang gave the update on the Sulphur fire cleanup process.
Kang told the board that 136 properties needed to be cleaned, and the process had been completed on 129 of them. Of those, 62 had been tested and cleared for toxic materials.
He said the debris is expected to be removed on all of the properties by Jan. 22.
Kang said five properties are in the city of Clearlake and are going through an abatement process.
Public Health staff also told the board that the cleanup operation had been shut down on Monday due to rain.
One of the main items on the Tuesday agenda was a report from Treasurer Tax-Collector Barbara Ringen on a tax sale she held in June and another one she intends to hold this upcoming June.
As of Tuesday, Ringen said she and her staff had a list of 174 tax-defaulted properties with a minimum bid – the minimum bids for all properties plus fees – of $2.1 million.
She said her staff spent December collecting property tax for the current year and getting that list of properties together. Ringen said she hopes to have a final list for the tax sale in February.
Supervisor Rob Brown said he thought June was a good time for a tax sale, as property sales already are up at that time of year.
Supervisor Moke Simon asked about getting outside help. Ringen said that can actually make for more work. Rather, she’s hoping that new software being developed for tax sales will help her with the work.
Brown noted that at a community visioning workshop the night before in Kelseyville that the effort to redeem unpaid property tax and sell tax-defaulted properties came through as a priority for citizens. He said it’s important to show the public and employees that the county is moving forward not just on cutting back but also on regaining revenues.
The issue of the paper subdivision lots on the Northshore also came up during the board’s Tuesday discussion. Brown referred to a paper subdivision plan the board approved in 2015 that called for the county taking them off the market when they are tax-defaulted, bundling them and selling them.
“Maybe we should still consider that,” he said. “That’s the only way to salvage that up there.”
County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson said the paper subdivision lots have been a workload issue for staff, but she planned to follow up on the matter.
Supervisor Tina Scott noted that along with collecting property tax, a concern that arose at the Monday night visioning workshop was that the paper lots aren’t maintained and create a fire hazard. She said community members want them maintained.
Huchingson thanked Ringen for her work, noting that the June tax sale “was just a tremendous boost to the budget,” and she hoped to see those sales continue.
Ringen told Lake County News later on Tuesday that the June 2017 tax sale brought in just under $1 million.
Huchingson said at Tuesday’s meeting that she wanted to facilitate a meeting next week with Ringen to look at her staffing needs and consider staffing up the Treasurer-Tax Collector’s Office.
Huchingson said another tax sale this June would be a shot in the arm that “we can’t do without” considering the county’s current difficult financial straits.
Supervisor Jeff Smith agreed that giving Ringen’s office more staff was the right thing to do. “If we staff it, it will pay for itself.”
Lake County News will have an upcoming report to further explain the tax sale process.
The board also approved a joint letter from Lake, Mendocino, Napa and Sonoma to the governor and the director of the California Office of Emergency Services regarding state budget requests for those counties in the wake of the October North Bay fires.
In other business, the board held a brief public hearing on changes to the county’s Section 8 Administrative, approved Chairman Jim Steele’s committee appointments for board members, reappointed Iris Hudson to the Lower Lake Cemetery District Board and appointed Timothy Samuel Chiara to the Western Region Town Hall.
The board also held a closed session discussion, for the second week in a row, on the topic of whether or not to initiate litigation against Pacific Gas and Electric Co. County Counsel Anita Grant told Lake County News that there has been no reportable action out of Tuesday’s session or the previous week’s.
Video of the public portion of the meeting can be watched at https://countyoflake.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx. Accompanying board documents, the agenda and archived board meeting videos also are available at that link.
Email Elizabeth Larson at