The California Department of Public Health reported that there have been three confirmed deaths in California due to West Nile virus so far this year.
The three individuals who died were residents of Kern, Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties.
CDPH is unable to provide additional patient details including demographic information and name of hospital providing care to protect confidentiality.
“West Nile virus can cause a deadly infection in humans, and the elderly are particularly susceptible,” said CDPH Director and State Health Officer Dr. Karen Smith. “August and September are peak periods of West Nile virus transmission in the state so we urge everyone to take every possible precaution to protect themselves against mosquito bites.”
As of Sept. 1, CDPH has reported 87 human cases of WNV from 13 California counties this year.
No cases have been reported so far in Lake County.
Additionally, 239 dead birds from 30 counties have tested positive for WNV in 2017, and 2,284 mosquito samples from 24 counties have also tested positive for WNV this year.
Lake County Vector Control reported this week that 11 mosquito samples and one chicken tested positive for West Nile virus in Lake County so far this year.
The numbers of WNV positive dead birds and mosquito samples statewide are below those at this same time last year, but the number of positive mosquito samples exceeds the state’s most recent five-year average.
West Nile virus is influenced by many factors, including climate, the number and types of birds and mosquitoes in an area, and the level of WNV immunity in birds.
West Nile virus is transmitted to humans and animals by the bite of an infected mosquito.
The risk of serious illness to most people is low. However, some individuals – less than one percent – can develop serious neurologic illnesses such as encephalitis or meningitis.
People 50 years of age and older and individuals with diabetes or hypertension have a higher chance of getting sick, and are more likely to develop complications.
CDPH recommends that individuals protect against mosquito bites and WNV by practicing the “Three Ds”:
DEET – Apply insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR3535 according to label instructions. Repellents keep the mosquitoes from biting you. Insect repellents should not be used on children under two months of age.
DAWN AND DUSK – Mosquitoes that transmit West Nile Virus usually bite in the early morning and evening so it is important to wear proper clothing and repellent if outside during these times. Make sure your doors and windows have tight-fitting screens to keep out mosquitoes. Repair or replace screens that have tears or holes.
DRAIN – Mosquitoes lay their eggs on standing water. Eliminate all sources of standing water on your property by emptying flower pots, old car tires, buckets, and other containers. If you know of a swimming pool that is not being properly maintained, please contact your local mosquito and vector control agency.
California’s West Nile virus Web site includes the latest information on WNV activity in the state. Californians are encouraged to report dead birds on the website or by calling toll-free 1-877-WNV-BIRD (968-2473).
Breakthrough Listen, an initiative to find signs of intelligent life in the universe, has detected 15 brief but powerful radio pulses emanating from a mysterious and repeating source - FRB 121102 - far across the universe.
Fast radio bursts are brief, bright pulses of radio emission from distant but largely unknown sources, and FRB 121102 is the only one known to repeat: more than 150 high-energy bursts have been observed coming from the object, which was identified last year as a dwarf galaxy about 3 billion light years from Earth.
Possible explanations for the repeating bursts range from outbursts from rotating neutron stars with extremely strong magnetic fields – so-called magnetars – to a more speculative idea: They are directed energy sources, powerful laser bursts used by extraterrestrial civilizations to power spacecraft, akin to Breakthrough Starshot's plan to use powerful laser pulses to propel nano-spacecraft to Earth's nearest star, Proxima Centauri.
"Bursts from this source have never been seen at this high a frequency," said Andrew Siemion, director of the Berkeley SETI Research Center and of the Breakthrough Listen program.
As astronomers around the globe try to understand the mechanism generating fast radio bursts, they have repeatedly turned their radio telescopes on FRB 121102. Siemion and his team alerted the astronomical community to the high-frequency activity via an Astronomer's Telegram on Monday evening, Aug. 28.
"As well as confirming that the source is in a newly active state, the high resolution of the data obtained by the Listen instrument will allow measurement of the properties of these mysterious bursts at a higher precision than ever possible before," said Breakthrough Listen postdoctoral researcher Vishal Gajjar, who discovered the increased activity.
First detected with the Parkes Telescope in Australia, fast radio bursts have now been seen by several radio telescopes around the world. FRB 121102 was discovered on Nov. 2, 2012, (hence its name) and in 2015 it was the first fast radio burst seen to repeat, ruling out theories of bursts' origins that involved the catastrophic destruction of the progenitor, at least in this instance.
Regardless of FRB 121102's ultimate source, when the recently detected pulses left their host galaxy, our solar system was less than 2 billion years old, noted Steve Croft, a Breakthrough Listen astronomer at UC Berkeley. Life on Earth consisted only of single-celled organisms; it would be another billion years before even the simplest multi-cellular life began to evolve.
As part of Breakthrough Listen's program to observe nearby stars and galaxies for signatures of extraterrestrial technology, the project science team at UC Berkeley added FRB 121102 to its list of targets. In the early hours of Saturday, Aug. 26, Gajjar observed that area of the sky using the Breakthrough Listen backend instrument at the Green Bank Telescope in West Virginia.
The instrument accumulated 400 terabytes (a million million bytes) of data over a five-hour period, observing across the entire 4 to 8 GHz frequency band.
This large dataset was searched for signatures of short pulses from the source over a broad range of frequencies, with a characteristic dispersion, or delay as a function of frequency, caused by the presence of gas in space between Earth and the source.
The distinctive shape that the dispersion imposes on the initial pulse is an indicator of the amount of material between us and the source, and hence an indicator of the distance to the host galaxy.
Analysis by Gajjar and the Breakthrough Listen team revealed 15 new pulses from FRB 121102. The observations show for the first time that fast radio bursts emit at higher frequencies than previously observed, with the brightest emission occurring at around 7 GHz.
"The extraordinary capabilities of the backend receiver, which is able to record several gigahertz of bandwidth at a time, split into billions of individual channels, enable a new view of the frequency spectrum of FRBs, and should shed additional light on the processes giving rise to FRB emission." Gajjar said.
"Whether or not fast radio bursts turn out to be signatures of extraterrestrial technology, Breakthrough Listen is helping to push the frontiers of a new and rapidly growing area of our understanding of the universe around us," Siemion said.
Robert Sanders writes for the UC Berkeley News Center.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Air Quality Management District said Friday that the smoke intrusions into the county’s air basin – as the result of wildland fires around the region – have pushed air quality ratings into the “moderate” to “unhealthy for sensitive individuals” range.
The smoke and haze currently visible throughout Lake County are primarily the result of transport smoke from numerous fires in Northern California and Southern Oregon, including the Chetco Bar fire currently burning 131,197 acres in the Rogue River- Siskiyou National Forest and the Eclipse Complex burning 76,100 acres in the Klamath National Forest.
Friday’s degraded air quality is the result of ultra fine particulates and other air pollutants contained in the smoke combined with the high temperatures and humidity.
The district is actively monitoring the transport smoke impacts, and reported that the air quality forecast for the weekend is for “moderate to unhealthy” conditions likely throughout the county.
Localized areas of the Lake County may experience short duration smoke impacts in the “unhealthy to hazardous” range as smoke drifts through the County.
The moderate to unhealthy air quality forecast for the remainder of the day and through the holiday weekend results from high levels of ultra fine particulates from the California and Oregon fires and the increased ground-level ozone.
Ozone is generated when combustion products in the smoke are combined with the high temperatures, sunlight, and humidity.
When smoke is present in the Lake County Air Basin, 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. They should limit outdoor activity and unnecessary physical exertion.
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.
Dust masks are not protective against fine particulate, which is the pollutant most detrimental to health caused by wildfire smoke. Such masks are only useful in filtering out the ash and larger particles that are encountered in burn areas.
Air purifying respirators, such as N-95 filtering face pieces, may be effective in reducing harmful particulate matter, but also increase the work of breathing, which can lead to physiologic stress, and are not recommended as a general protective measure.
With air quality forecast in the moderate to unhealthy range, people are recommended to use caution and be prepared for rapidly changing conditions.
The potential for localized areas of unhealthy air, regional haze, and particulate from these fires are expected to continue throughout Lake County through the weekend until the weather pattern changes.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A Lake County game warden has received a statewide award for excellence in the line of duty.
On Wednesday night, the California Rifle & Pistol Association awarded Michael Pascoe the title of Wildlife Officer of the Year.
Pascoe is a California Department of Fish and Wildlife officer, serving Lake County.
The association reported that Pascoe has been a dedicated supporter of the Second Amendment since childhood, and an avid hunter for most of his life.
He made his first foray into hunting in 1987; as a part of his high school curriculum, he took his first Hunters Education course. Interested in this essential part of our national heritage since childhood, he was thrilled to be a “real hunter” after receiving his Hunter Safety Card.
Pascoe also began to develop an interest in firearms and archery. He purchased his Life Membership to the NRA at 16, using earnings from his job.
He has fond memories of weekend shoots with his friends, where they practiced their marksmanship with the then-cheap, and readily available, 22LR ammunition. Always endeavoring to improve himself, he sought the wisdom of the great masters: Keith, O’Connor, Kelton, Cooper, Jordan and many more.
Pascoe will tell you that he wasn’t born a perfect shooter, but with hard work and dedication, his shooting and hunting skills rapidly improved.
Upon taking a job with the Department of Fish and Wildlife, Pascoe became a Hunter’s Education instructor. Since then, he has taught several classes every year in Lake County, and assists the California Department of Fish and Wildlife Hunter Education staff whenever, and wherever, he can.
He has more than 350 teaching hours and has instructed nearly 400 students. His dedication to Hunter’s Education and the Second Amendment reaches even further, as he regularly assists in youth hunts, helps with local law enforcement shoots and participates in his local NRA events.
His support for the Lake County community goes far beyond Hunter’s Education; Officer Pascoe continually gives back.
He annually participates in the “Shop with a Cop” event, where underprivileged children are provided with a $200 credit at the local Walmart and are escorted by local law enforcement officers to purchase a new coat, a pair of pants, new shoes, and any additional items they would like for Christmas gifts with the remaining balance.
With 21 years in law enforcement, Pascoe has a wealth of experience and knowledge. Throughout his career, he has been a firearms instructor and armorer for the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI, Glock, Remington, and the CADWF Academy.
His skill certifications are numerous, and as an instructor, he has taught everything from self-defense tactics, to terrorism and IED awareness and response.
“Warden Michael Pascoe is truly one of the most talented, and equally dedicated, training officers there is; Californians, especially those fortunate enough to learn from him, are lucky to have him,” the association said in its award announcement.
Officer Kaylene Strugnell was sworn in as the Lakeport Police Department’s newest police officer on Thursday, August 31, 2017. Photo courtesy of the Lakeport Police Department.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Police Department has welcomed a new addition to its ranks of sworn officers.
On Thursday morning, Officer Kaylene Strugnell took her oath as the agency’s newest officer at Lakeport City Hall.
Strugnell, 24, is a Kelseyville native, graduating from Kelseyville High School in 2012 before going on to study administrative justice at Mendocino College.
Both in high school and in college, she was a member of K-Corps and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue, and also worked as a California State Parks aide.
Strugnell, who is an emergency medical technician, worked for the Lakeport Fire Protection District before going on to work for a year with the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office.
She is the only female officer currently on the Lakeport Police Department team.
On her first day on the job, Strugnell drove the Lakeport Police patrol vehicle that led the Lake County Fair parade through town, accompanied by Lt. Jason Ferguson.
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.
Officer Kaylene Strugnell was at the wheel of the Lakeport Police vehicle that led the Lake County Fair Parade on the evening of Thursday, August 31, 2017, in Lakeport, Calif. Photo by Elizabeth Larson/Lake County News.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The 2017 Lake County Fair kicked off on Thursday evening with a parade through town, a ribbon cutting and a fairgrounds filled with activities and attractions.
The fair, the theme of which this year is “Boots N Bling,” runs through Sunday night.
Regular admission prices for the fair are $12 for adults and $8 for children ages 6 through 11. Children under 6 years old are admitted free each day.
Parking is $9 per car, which benefits local Boy Scouts.
Visit www.lakecountyfair.com or contact the fair office at 707-263-6181 for more information.
The full schedule is published below.
FRIDAY, SEPT. 1
- Gates open at 4 p.m. - Carnival Pay-One Price Day $25 - Purchase in Carnival Area - Buildings close: 10 p.m. - Fair closes: 11 p.m.
Special attractions:
- Walk on contest – Boots and Bling Flower Arrangement at Flower Hall. Walk in your entry between 4 to 5 p.m. and join the competition. Details online at www.lakecountyfair.com . - Draft horse wagon rides, climbing wall, world’s largest aquarium all at Fiesta Park - All day and everyday events - Mickey the Clown, strolling balloon sculptor Fill-Up, Street Drum Corps and magician Ken Garr can be found performing throughout the grounds - Kerrie’s Handmakers – textile techniques by handmakers. - Free events in the grandstand - Look for the Family Oasis in Fiesta Park – a great place for parents to relax with youngsters. - Schedule subject to change
8 a.m.: Junior Poultry and Turkey Show – Baldwin Pavilion 9 a.m.: Open Dairy Goat Show – Alexander Barn Area Noon: Junior Dairy Goat Show – Baldwin Pavilion 4:30 p.m.: Gates open 4 to 7 p.m.: Don McCown, custom leather – Lewis Hall; Ben van Steenburgh and Martha Mincer, painting – Fritch Hall 4 to 8 p.m.: Jane Alameda, English paper piecing – Clothing & Textile Building 4:30 to 5:15 p.m.: Street Drum Corps – Gazebo Stage 5 to 5:45 p.m.: Hip Replacements, blues, rock, R&B – Main Stage 5:30 p.m: Boots and Bling Flower Arrangement Contest – Flower Hall 6 p.m.: Presentation at the fish aquarium in Fiesta Park 6:30 to 7:15 p.m.: Travis Rinker, fingerstyle acoustic guitar – Gazebo Stage 7 p.m.: Mendo Lake Mudd Bogg Nationals – Main Grandstands 7 to 10 p.m: Richard Schmidt and Diana Liebe, watercolor demonstrations – Fritch Hall 7:45 to 8:30 p.m.: Hip Replacements, blues, rock, R&B – Main Stage 8:30 to 9:15 p.m.: Travis Rinker, fingerstyle acoustic guitar – Gazebo Stage 9 to 9:45 p.m.: Hip Replacements, blues, rock, R&B – Main Stage 11 p.m.: Fair closes for the evening
“Cadillac Pat” Sperling and his flaming Cadillac during the Lake County Fair Parade on Thursday, August 31, 2017, in Lakeport, Calif. Photo by Elizabeth Larson/Lake County News.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 2
- Gates open at 11 a.m. - Carnival Pay-One Price Day $25 - Purchase in Carnival Area - Buildings close: 10 p.m. - Fair closes: 11 p.m.
Special attractions:
- Junior Livestock Auction and barbecue in Baldwin Pavilion. Registration starting at 10:30 a.m. and Auction at 1 p.m. plus round robin. - Draft horse wagon rides, climbing wall, world’s largest aquarium all at Fiesta Park - All day and everyday events - Mickey the Clown, strolling balloon sculptor Fill-Up, Street Drum Corps and magician Ken Garr can be found performing throughout the grounds - Kerrie’s Handmakers – textile techniques by handmakers. - Free events in the grandstand - Look for the Family Oasis in Fiesta Park – a great place for parents to relax with youngsters. - Schedule subject to change
10:30 a.m.: Junior Livestock Buyers Registration & Luncheon – Baldwin Pavilion 11 a.m.: Gates open 11 to 1 p.m.: Children’s Story Time: Llama Llama, Lakeport Library – Fiesta Park 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Kennie Winter and Linda Kelly, gourds – Fritch Hall 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.: TSW Trio, jazz and eclectic - Gazebo Stage Noon: Junior Livestock Auction – Baldwin Pavilion; presentation at the fish aquarium - in Fiesta Park Noon to 12:45 p.m.: Fargo Brothers, Americana, rock and roll, blues – Main Stage 12:45 to 1:30 p.m.: TSW Trio, jazz and eclectic - Gazebo Stage 1 p.m.: Walk on contest, “A Horseshoe With Bling” – Fritch Hall 1 to 4 p.m.: Desiree Todd, cheese demo – Lewis Hall 2 p.m.: Presentation at the fish aquarium – Fiesta Park 2:30 p.m.: Walk on contest, “Best Apple Pie Contest” – Lewis Hall 2 to 2:45 p.m.: Fargo Brothers, Americana, rock and roll, blues – Main Stage 2:30 to 3:15 p.m.: Michael Barrish, singer-songwriter, country soul – Gazebo Stage 3 to 7 p.m.: Don McCown, custom leather – Lewis Hall 3:45 to 4:30 p.m.: Michael Barrish, singer-songwriter, country soul – Gazebo Stage 4 to 4:45 p.m.: Fargo Brothers, Americana, rock and roll, blues – Main Stage 4:30 to 6 p.m.: Lee Massie, not your grandma’s pie – Lewis Hall 5 to 8 p.m.: Peter Macrae and Pat Macrae, writers – Fritch Hall 5:15 to 6 p.m.: Austin & Owens, Neo Flamenco and jazz guitar – Gazebo Stage 6 p.m.: Presentation at the fish aquarium in Fiesta Park 6 to 8 p.m.: Goat milking by hand and machine – Mather Barn 6 to 7:30 p.m.: Two Chicks, tasty treats – Lewis Hall 6:30 p.m.: Amateur talent contest - Lake County News Stage 7 p.m.: Motorcycle Flat Track & TT Racing – Main Grandstands 7 to 7:45 p.m.: Austin & Owens, Neo Flamenco and jazz guitar – Gazebo Stage 8 to 9 p.m.: Twice as Good, son and father ultimate blues – Main Stage 8:30 to 9:30 p.m.: Austin & Owens, Neo Flamenco and jazz guitar – Gazebo Stage 9:30 to 10:30 p.m.: Twice as Good, son and father ultimate blues – Main Stage 11 p.m.: Fair closes for the evening
SUNDAY, SEPT. 3
- Gates open at 11 a.m. - Carnival Pay-One Price Day $25 - Purchase in Carnival Area - Buildings close: 10 p.m. - Fair closes: 11 p.m.
Special attractions:
- Fiesta Latina Day - Draft horse wagon rides, climbing wall, pig racing, award winning chainsaw carving - All day and everyday events - Look for the Family Oasis in Fiesta Park – a great place for parents to relax with youngsters. - Schedule subject to change
11 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Richard Seisser, pastels – Fritch Hall 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.: Majide, standard jazz classics – Gazebo Stage Noon: Presentation at the fish aquarium in Fiesta Park Noon to 12:45 p.m.: Vintage Crush, classic rock – Main Stage 12:30 to 2 p.m.: Two Chicks, tasty treats – Lewis Hall 1 p.m: Walk on contest, “Bling a Boot” – Fritch Hall 1:30 to 2:15 p.m.: Majide, standard jazz classics – Gazebo Stage; Vintage Crush, classic rock – Main Stage 2 p.m.: Presentation at the fish aquarium in Fiesta Park 2 to 3 p.m.: Children’s Story Time: Llama Llama, Lakeport Library – Fiesta Park 2 to 5 p.m.: Sandy and David Stillwell, jewelry making – Fritch Hall 2:30 p.m.: Walk on contest, “Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookie Contest” – Lewis Hall 3 to 7 p.m.: Don McCown, custom leather – Lewis Hall 3 p.m.: Fiesta Latina – Main Stage 3 to 3:30 p.m.: Konocti Klogging Kids – Gazebo Stage 4 to 5 p.m.: Ballet Folklorico Jazmin, traditional regional Mexican music with dance performers – Main Stage 5 p.m.: Kiss My Clear Lake Bass, sponsored by Lake County Chamber of Commerce; 4H and FFA Award Ceremony – Baldwin Pavilion 6 p.m.: Presentation at the fish aquarium in Fiesta Park 5 to 8 p.m.: Suze Pahl, jewelry making – Fritch Hall 5 to 5:45 p.m.: Mark Weston Band, pop, rock and country – Gazebo Stage 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.: Clave Trébol, contemporary Mexican music – Main Stage 7 p.m.: Dirt track auto racing and boat races – Main Grandstands 7 to 7:45 p.m.: Mark Weston Band, pop, rock and country – Gazebo Stage 8 to 10 p.m.: Banda Sangre Azteca, big band and dance – Main Stage 8 to 10 p.m.: Terry and Rohnda Turnil, pastels and acrylics – Fritch Hall 9 to 9:45 p.m.: Mark Weston Band, pop, rock and country – Gazebo Stage 11 p.m.: Fair closes – see you in 2018!
The newly opened Lake County Fair Midway on the evening of Thursday, August 31, 2017, in Lakeport, Calif. Photo by Elizabeth Larson/Lake County News.
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