UPDATE PER LAKE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE: Evacuation advisories for local residents have been lifted at this time.
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Firefighters are working at the scene of a fire at the intersection of Highway 29 and Highway 175/Cobb in the Kelseyville area.
The fire, called the Bottle incident, was first reported shortly after 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to reports from the scene.
Initial reports indicated it could have been in connection to a traffic collision, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Sheriff Brian Martin confirmed that it appeared that the fire had been caused by a vehicle crash, but added that the cause has not yet been determined.
The Lake County Sheriff's Office issued an alert shortly after 5 p.m. reporting that firefighters were at work on the fire.
At that point, the sheriff's office said no homes were threatened, but residents in the area were advised to monitor their surroundings and be prepared to evacuate. Power lines also were reported down in the area.
The CHP and the sheriff's office said Highway 29 will be closed down between Highway 175 and Kits Corner.
Traffic is being diverted onto Bottle Rock Road from Highway 29 and onto Red Hills Road from Kit's Corner, the CHP said.
Just before 5:45 p.m., Cal Fire reported that the fire was between 40 and 50 acres, based on aerial mapping.
The Mount Konocti lookout tower also was reported to be evacuated a short time later.
Additional equipment has been requested to respond from South Lake County Fire, according to radio reports.
Just before 6:15 p.m., the fire was reported to be 75 acres, according to Cal Fire air attack.
On Tuesday evening Sheriff Brian Martin was near the fire area and reporting via Facebook that residents near the area should be prepared to evacuate "at a moment's notice."
Due to weak signal he continued his report by phone with Lake County News to say that it appears that the fire is largely in sparsely populated wildland area.
As to progress made on the fire, Sheriff Martin reported from his vantage that it was "hard to tell from the road” but that it looked like firefighters are making progress.
Shortly after 7 p.m., the fire's forward progress was reported to be contained and evacuation advisories for nearby residents had been lifted.
At about 7:30 p.m., the CHP said Highway 29 at Kit's Corner and at Highway 175/Cobb was remaining closed for an undetermined amount of time.
This story is being updated as the situation develops. More information will be posted as it becomes 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.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – An effort to create a park project on the border of Lake and Napa counties is seeking input from the community.
The Trust for Public Land and Land Trust of Napa County recently purchased a conservation easement for 7,286 acres of land on the Montesol Ranch, owned by the Livermore family and located in Lake and Napa counties.
Montesol Ranch is the largest private property in Napa County, the protection of which will tie together a 22,200-acre contiguous conservation area, including eight miles of shared boundary with Robert Louis Stevenson State Park.
The property has extremely high biodiversity and abundant water resources.
The recently-purchased easement will restrict much of the property from residential and vineyard development, and protect very high-priority biodiversity and watershed values.
The two organizations also have obtained an option to purchase in fee title the 1,254 acres of the Montesol Ranch located west of Highway 29. About 1,000 acres of the Phase II area is located in Lake County.
The Napa County Regional Park and Open Space District is proposed to be the owner of the Phase II area, with the goal of operating a new regional park that could potentially include hiking, bicycling, horseback riding, camping and more.
The lands are adjacent to Robert Louis Stevenson State Park, which the Open Space District expects to soon be operating under a pending agreement with California State Parks.
Currently the district is applying for a grant from the Habitat Conservation Fund to purchase the remaining acreage for about $200,000; that purchase needs to be completed by the end of 2018.
As part of its outreach, the district is requesting public input – ideas, hopes and concerns – to help develop plans for future park usage.
The Middletown Area Town Hall will host a presentation on the project at its meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 10, at the Middletown Senior and Community Center, 21256 Washington St.
A public presentation also will be held during the Middletown Area Merchants Association meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 15, at 9 a.m., also at the Middletown Senior and Community Center. During the meeting they will give a project overview, take suggestions and answer questions. The meeting is open to the public.
Feedback and letters of support can be submitted to John Woodbury at the Napa Open Space District via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or call 707-259-5933 for more information.
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake City Council will hold a protest hearing this week on a proposal to raise garbage collection rates and consider authorizing staff to approve more potential change orders on a major paving project.
The council will meet beginning at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 10, in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.
On Thursday the council will hold a protest hearing, as it’s required to do under Proposition 218, for the proposed increase in garbage collection rates.
City Manager Greg Folsom’s report to the council explained that the new rates, which went into effect on July 1, raised the monthly cost for a 32-gallon garbage container from $15.46 to $19.99, among the lowest rates in the region.
Separately, Last month, the council approved the second final reading of an ordinance instituting universal garbage collection in the city, as Lake County News has reported.
That also triggered a requirement under Proposition 218 to notify property owners, a process which Folsom said the city has begun.
Also on Thursday, the council will consider authorizing staff to appropriate up to $50,000 for additional change orders and contingencies for the paving project on Phillips and 18th Avenue.
On the meeting's consent agenda – items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate on one vote – are warrant registers; minutes of the July 12 Lake County Vector Control District Board meeting; consideration of amendment to the contract with Raney Planning and Management Inc. for preparing an environmental impact report for the Walmart expansion project; and consideration of purchase of an equipment trailer for the Public Works Department.
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.
LOWER LAKE, Calif. – The Lake County Fire Protection District is planning a community open house on Sunday, Aug. 13.
The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Lower Lake Fire Station, located on Main Street.
The open house will be a 75th anniversary party for the district.
It also will mark the one-year anniversary of the Clayton fire, which burned 300 structures and nearly 4,000 acres in Lower Lake.
There will be a meet and greet with firefighters and the chance to check out ambulances and antique fire engines.
They also will offer hot dogs, hamburgers and goodie bags for children.
Other event features will include information on the Healthy Heart Program, concussion awareness, file of life, fire prevention handouts and child safety seat information.
Proceeds from t-shirt sales at the event will benefit the Lake County Fire Volunteer Association.
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A search warrant service last week in Clearlake led to two arrests and the confiscation of drugs and weapons.
Thomas Mark Nordahl, 32, and Candace Marie Conzet, 29, both of Clearlake, were arrested in the case, according to Sgt. Corey Paulich of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
On Friday Lake County Sheriff’s Narcotics Unit detectives and officers from the Clearlake Police Department served a search warrant that had been obtained by sheriff’s detectives at a residence in the 5500 block of Old Highway 53 in Clearlake, Paulich said.
Paulich said detectives searched the residence, locating approximately one-quarter pound of methamphetamine, half an ounce of heroin, four and a half pounds of processed marijuana, one-quarter pound of marijuana concentrate, two loaded handguns and body armor.
Detectives were able to determine the residence belonged to Nordahl and Conzet, and that they had the drugs for the purpose of sales, Paulich said.
Conzet and Nordahl were not located at the residence at the time of the search warrant. Paulich said both were found a short time later by Clearlake Police officers in front of a residence on Fresno Street in Clearlake and placed under arrest.
Nordahl was transported and booked at the Lake County Jail for possession of methamphetamine for sale, possession of heroin for sale, possession of methamphetamine and heroin while armed with a firearm, maintaining a place to sell/use controlled substances, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of body armor by a person convicted of a violent felony, possession of ammunition by a convicted felon and possession of marijuana for sale, according to Paulich.
Conzet was booked for possession of methamphetamine for sale, possession of heroin for sale, maintaining a place to sell/use controlled substances and being a person under the influence of methamphetamine while in possession of a loaded firearm, Paulich said.
Bail for both Nordahl and Conzet was set at $500,000, and they remained in custody on Monday, based on jail records.
The sheriff’s office is continuing its efforts to eradicate narcotics from the communities of Lake County and seize the suspected profits of drug trafficking for asset forfeiture whenever possible.
Anyone with information that can assist the Narcotics Unit with this effort is encouraged to call the anonymous tip line at 707-263-3663.
From left, Candace Marie Conzet, 29, and Thomas Mark Nordahl, 32, both of Clearlake, Calif., were arrested on Friday, August 4, 2017, on drugs and weapons charges. Lake County Jail photo.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors this week will receive a donation from a local group in support of the Middletown Library, consider an ordinance related to speeds on Clear Lake during high water and get an update on the Hoberg’s Resort cleanup.
The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 8, 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.
At 9:15 a.m., the board will consider accepting a $10,000 donation from the Friends of the Middletown Library.
A letter to the board from the Friends Vice President Tamsen Nash explained that the group held a challenge fundraiser in order to provide the gift, which it is asking be earmarked for the library’s children’s section.
Also on Tuesday, the board will consider an ordinance authorizing an extended idle speed zone near shore during high water on Clear Lake.
In another untimed item, the board will get a report on the Hoberg’s Resort cleanup of Valley fire debris and its erosion control measures.
The full agenda is below.
CONTRACT CHANGE ORDERS
6.1: Consideration of Contract Change Order No. 3 for Dry Creek Road at Dry Creek Bridge Replacement Project, Federal Project No. BRLO-5914 (080); Bid No. 16-04.
6.2: Consideration of Contract Change Order No. 4 for Foard Road at Anderson Creek Bridge Replacement Project, Federal Project No. BRLO-5914 (068); Bid No. 16-03.
CONSENT AGENDA
7.1: (a) Waive the formal bidding process, pursuant to Lake County Code Section 38.2, as it is not in the public interest due to the unique nature of goods or services; and (b) approve the agreement between the county of Lake and Willow Glen Care Center for adult residential support services and specialty mental health services for Fiscal Year 2017-18 for a contract maximum of $50,000 and authorize the Board Chair to sign the Agreement.
7.2: Adopt the resolution approving the 2016-2017 second annual update to the Mental Health Services Act Three-Year Program and Expenditure Plan for Fiscal Year 2014-2015 through Fiscal Year 2016-2017.
7.3: Adopt resolution approving the California Department of Public Health's (CDPH) Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP), Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP) and Pandemic Influenza (Pan Flu) Grant Contract for Fiscal Years 2017-2022 in the Amount of $1,544,700.00, and Authorize the Board Chair to Sign a Non-Supplantation Certification.
7.4: Sitting as Lake County Watershed Protection District Board of Directors, (a) adopt resolution approving the intent to participate in the deferred maintenance project to receive state funds under the Section 6.10 OF Senate Bill 826 (STATS. 2016, CH. 23) and (b) authorize the director of Water Resources to sign the project agreement and standard conditions statement.
7.5: Authorize the county librarian to close the Lake County Library - Lakeport Branch Aug. 8 through 12 due to carpet Installation, to reopen as soon as it’s safe for the public to enter the library lobby.
7.6: Adopt resolution authorizing the Public Works director to sign the notice of completion for the Soda Bay Road at Cole Creek Bridge Replacement Project; Bid No. 13-31.
7.7: Approve contract between the county of Lake and North Coast Opportunities/Rural Communities Childcare for the Provision of CalWORKs Stage One Child Care in the amount of $70,000.00, from July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2019; and authorize the chair to sign.
TIMED ITEMS
8.2, 9:15 a.m.: Consideration of acceptance of $10,000 donation from the Friends of the Middletown Library.
UNTIMED ITEMS
9.1: Consideration of and report/status update on Hoberg’s Valley fire clean-up of structural debris, soil and concrete sampling, and erosion control.
9.2: Consideration of agreement with AAA Business Solutions for the purchase and installation of cubicles in the amount of $84,949.36; and authorize the chair to sign.
9.3: Consideration of county employee benefit plans – EIA Health, Dental, Vision and Life Renewal for 2018.
9.4: Consideration of an ordinance authorizing an extended idle speed zone near shore during high water on Clear Lake.
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.
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