News

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The new week is getting off to a wet start, with more rain forecast throughout the week.

The National Weather Service said a Pacific storm moved over the Coastal Range and the rest of the region overnight.

That weather system is expected to continue from Monday into early Tuesday, followed by a stronger storm set to arrive over the region later this week.

Rain started in parts of the county late Sunday night, with the National Weather Service reporting that there is up to an 80-percent chance of precipitation throughout Monday around Lake County.

The Lake County forecast calls for between a tenth and a quarter of an inch of rain on Monday, along with winds with gusts into the 20s.

Chances of rain are expected to taper off on Monday night and clear on Tuesday morning. The forecast then calls for rain to return from Tuesday night through Thursday.

Friday is expected to be sunny and clear, with more chances of showers forecast on Saturday and Sunday, the National Weather Forecast reported.

Updates on conditions will be posted as they become available.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors this week will reconsider its previous decision to not take out-of-county wildland fire debris at the Eastlake Landfill, discuss the use of a fire radio frequency and get updates on the Sulphur fire recovery.

The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 14, 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.

In an untimed item, the board will once again discuss whether to take debris at the Eastlake Landfill from the Redwood fire in Mendocino County.

At a meeting last month, the board chose to refuse to accept the debris at the landfill, which has limited space. The county is working on a landfill expansion project.

However, last week Supervisor Rob Brown asked that the matter be brought back for reconsideration.

In other business, at 9:10 a.m., the board will consider continuing a local health emergency declared by Lake County Health Officer Karen Tait and get an update on the Sulphur fire recovery.

At 9:15 a.m., the board will consider and discuss the Red Net fire response frequency in Lake County.

That will be followed at 9:30 a.m. by a report from staff on efforts to develop a one-year lease agreement between the county of Lake and the Lake County Fire Chiefs’ Association for use of the Lake Red Net radio frequency, along with consideration of the first amendment to agreement between the county of Lake and the Fire Protection Districts for dispatch services.

In another untimed item, the board will consider an agreement between Cobb Area Water and Lake County Special Districts, which will allow the remaining geothermal mitigation funds to be used for the engineering and design of phase No. 1 of the Cobb Water consolidation.

The full agenda follows.

CONSENT AGENDA

7.1: Approve letter of support for AB 550 (Reyes), long-term care ombudsman funding.

7.2: (a) Approve agreement between the county of lake and the city of Clearlake for public health and environmental health assistance provided for state or presidentially declared disasters and authorize the chair to sign; and (b) approve agreement between the county of Lake and the city of Clearlake for reimbursement of cost share for public health and environmental health assistance provided for state or presidentially declared disasters and authorize the chair to sign.

7.3: Adopt resolution establishing salaries and benefits for employees assigned to the management unit for the period from July 1, 2017, through June 30, 2018. Not

7.4: Adopt resolution establishing salaries and benefits for employees assigned to confidential unit “A” for the period from July 1, 2017, through June 30, 2018.

7.5: Adopt resolution establishing salaries and benefits for employees assigned to confidential unit “B” for the period from July 1, 2017, through June 30, 2018.

7.6: Approve second amendment to memorandum of understanding by and between the county of Mendocino and the county of Lake for sealer of weights and measures service (Mendocino County Agreement No. 17-048), and authorize the department head to sign.

7.7: Approve Amendment No. 2 to the agreement between county of Lake and Charis Youth Center for fiscal year 2017-18 for a new contract maximum of $50,000 and authorize the board chair to sign the amendment.

7.8: Approve request to close the child support office for training/team building on Wednesday, Nov. 15.

7.9: Sitting as Lake County Sanitation District Board of Directors, adopt resolution to cancel Lake County Sanitation District Southeast (LACOSAN SE) O&M Reserve Designations in the amount of $20,000 and appropriate the funds to 254.8354.783.62-74 - Equipment - Other.

7.10: Approve the Department of Boating and Waterways 2018/19 application for financial aid in the amount of $501,332.89; and authorize the sheriff to sign.

TIMED ITEMS

8.2, 9:10 a.m.: (a) Consideration of continuation of a proclamation of a local health emergency by the Lake County health officer; and (b) update and discussion on Sulphur fire recovery.

8.3, 9:15 a.m.: Consideration and discussion of the Red Net fire response frequency in Lake County.

8.4, 9:30 a.m.: (a) Report on the efforts of staff to develop a one year lease agreement between the county of Lake and the Lake County Fire Chiefs’ Association for use of the Lake Red Net radio frequency; and (b) consideration of first amendment to agreement between the county of Lake and the Fire Protection Districts for dispatch services.

UNTIMED ITEMS

9.2: Consideration of proposed findings of fact and decision in the appeal of Joan Sturges (AB 17-04).

9.3: Sitting as the Lake County Sanitation District, Board of Directors, consideration of (a) waiving the consultant selection process as it will not provide an additional benefit to the county or district; and (b) approval of engineering services agreement for construction management and inspection in the amount of $357,000 with Brelje & Race for the Anderson Springs Sewer Project and authorize the chair to sign.

9.4: Consideration of potential use of Eastlake Landfill as a final disposal location for debris generated from the 2017 wildfires located outside of Lake County.

9.5: Consideration of (a) waiving the consultant selection process as it will not provide any benefit to the county or the district; and (b) approval of the MOU between Cobb Area Water and Special Districts, allowing the remaining geothermal mitigation funds to be used for the engineering and design of phase No. 1 of the Cobb Water consolidation and authorize the chair to sign.

CLOSED SESSION

10.1: Conference with legal counsel: Existing Litigation pursuant to Gov. Code sec. 54956.9(d)(1): Loberg v. County of Lake, et al.

10.2: Sitting as the Lake County IHSS Public Authority Board of Directors, conference with labor negotiator: (a) agency negotiator: Crystal Markytan and F. Buchanan (b) Employee Organization: California United Homecare Workers Union AFSCME/SEIU Local 4034.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Lake County Animal Care and Control has new kittens this week and is expected to begin offering cats rescued from the Sulphur fire area for adoption to the general public.

The Sulphur fire cats this week are coming off a 30-day holding period to allow them to be reclaimed before being made available for adoption.

Lake County Animal Care and Control is located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport, next to the Hill Road Correctional Facility.

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

For more information call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.

Female domestic short hair

This adult female domestic short hair was found in Clearlake Oaks on Oct. 13 in the Sulphur fire area.

She has a brown tabby coat and gold eyes.

She is in kennel No. 88, ID No. 8742.

Male domestic short hair

This male domestic short hair cat was found on Mira Vista Lane in Clearlake on Oct. 12 in the Sulphur fire area.

He has a black coat and gold eyes.

He’s in kennel No. 94, ID No. 8728.

Female domestic short hair

This young female domestic short hair cat was found in Clearlake on Oct. 13 in the Sulphur fire area.

She has a torbie coat and gold eyes. She has not been altered.

She’s in kennel No. 99, ID No. 8739.

Gray tabby kitten

This male gray tabby kitten has a short coat and green eyes.

He’s in kennel No. 133a, ID No. 8770.

Gray tabby kitten

This female gray tabby kitten has a short coat and blue eyes.

She’s in kennel No. 133b, ID No. 8771.

Female domestic short hair

This young female domestic short hair cat was found in Clearlake on Oct. 12 in the Sulphur fire area.

She has a gray coat and green eyes. She has not been spayed.

She’s in kennel No. 147, ID No. 8732.

Male domestic short hair

This male domestic short hair cat was found on Mira Vista Lane in Clearlake in the Sulphur fire area on Oct. 12.

He has a black coat and gold eyes.

He’s in kennel No. 153, ID No. 8727.

Male domestic short hair

This male domestic short hair cat was found on Mira Vista Lane in Clearlake in the Sulphur fire area on Oct. 12.

He has a black and white coat and gold eyes.

He’s in clinic kennel No. 295, ID No. 8729.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Sheriff’s Office is asking the community for assistance in locating two teenagers whose families reported them missing.

Olivia Baker, 15, and Jacob Young, 18, were last seen by their families on Oct. 31 and have been reported as missing persons, the sheriff’s office said.

The agency said the two teens are believed to be together, and both were last known to be in the Middletown area.

If you have any information regarding the whereabouts of Olivia Baker or Jacob Young please contact the Sheriff's Office at 707-263-2690.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Hundreds of people of all ages gathered on Saturday to take part in Lake County’s annual commemoration of Veterans Day.

Konocti Vista Casino in Lakeport once again hosted the event.

The “Friends of the Veteran Award” went to Jennifer Ingram, who directs the Clear Lake High School Band, and her band students for their contributions to the event every year.

“We’re really grateful to be a part of this ceremony to honor veterans,” Ingram said.

Receiving the “Veteran of the Year Award” were Navy veterans Peg and Don McCown for their many contributions to their fellow veterans, including involvement in the Military Funeral Honors Team, Operation Tango Mike and the construction of Veterans Circle at Hartley Cemetery in Lakeport.

In addition to plaques, the award winners received congressional commendations.

The full ceremony can be viewed above.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The organizers of Lake County’s annual Wreaths Across America commemoration are preparing for the December event and also seeking sponsorships from individuals and community groups.

This year’s ceremonies take place at 8:50 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 16, at participating Lake County cemeteries as will take place across the country.

The event this year will focus on the celebration of differences and the effort to build bridges.

Each December, Americans from all walks of life join together, in thanks on National Wreaths Across America Day to “Remember, Honor and Teach.”

In 2016, 1.2 million veteran wreaths were placed on headstones at more than 1,230 cemeteries around the country in honor of the service and sacrifices made for our freedoms, with each name said aloud.

“I’m an American. Yes, I am!” is National Wreaths Across America Day Theme for 2017.

The inspiration for the 2017 theme is a song by Maine’s own singer/songwriter Rick Charette who wrote it in 2002 to help children appreciate the sacrifices women and men have made in protecting the American freedoms that we all enjoy.

The inspiration for the song came from his own personal feelings on what it means to be American. The song, which entwines patriotism and acceptance of differences together, became a favorite of the 2016 Wreaths Across America escort which included many American Gold Star Mothers, Blue Star families, veterans and volunteers.

This will be Lake County’s 11th year participating in the Wreaths Across America program.

In its first year, seven ceremonial wreaths were placed for the seven divisions of the military during a ceremony at Hartley Cemetery in Lakeport.

Since that first year ceremonies are being held at five locations including Hartley, Kelseyville, Upper Lake, Lower Lake and St. Mary’s.

Youth organizations are reaching out for sponsorships to place as many wreaths as possible on veterans’ gravesites and anyone is invited to participate.

Boy Scout Troop 42 in Lakeport, youth organizations in Kelseyville, the Lake County 4-H Group and FFA will be accepting donations for wreaths until Nov. 27 at noon.

Individual sponsorships cost $15 for one wreath and the family option costs $60 for four wreaths, small businesses can fund 10 wreaths for $150 and corporations can sponsor 100 or more wreaths for $1,500 or any amount can be sponsored for $15 per wreath.

Toni Funderburg, coordinator of Wreaths Across America in Lake County, stated that sponsorship forms can be picked up at Lakeport Tire & Auto Service, 1901 S. Main St. Lakeport or you can call 707-263-5422 and they will fax or email you a sponsorship form.

You can also go to www.wreathsacrossamerica.org and sponsor a wreath and payment can be made with a credit card. Please make sure to designate the cemetery and sponsoring group.

To volunteer, visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.com, look for the volunteer button, set yourself up as a volunteer at one of the five cemeteries and then you will receive up-to-date information by email.