How to resolve AdBlock issue? 
News
MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – A head-on crash near Middletown on Sunday morning led to a fatality, officials confirmed.
The crash was first reported just after 11:35 a.m. Sunday on Highway 29 at Grange Road near the Bar X Ranch, according to reports from the scene.
Firefighters who arrived at the scene found two vehicles were involved and both lanes of Highway 29 were blocked, based on radio reports.
Cal Fire Battalion Chief Mike Wink told Lake County News that South Lake Fire and Cal Fire, the California Highway Patrol and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office responded to the incident.
Wink said the two fire agencies sent a total of two ground ambulances, one rescue unit, a chief and volunteers.
He said two people were flown to out-of-county hospitals for further evaluation and treatment.
Both vehicles suffered major damage and extended extrication to remove the patients was required, he said.
Wink said the highway was temporarily closed due to the wreck, with firefighters staying on the scene to help with site cleanup and traffic control while the CHP conducted its investigation.
The CHP confirmed to Lake County News that the crash resulted in a death, but additional details on the causes of the wreck and the persons involved were still pending late Sunday night.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
With warmer weather on the way, motorcycle riders will be gearing up and taking to California’s roadways.
The month of May is recognized as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month.
The California Highway Patrol and the California Office of Traffic Safety will work together all month long to help reduce the number of motorcycle fatal and injury collisions and to promote roadway safety through education and awareness.
California Department of Motor Vehicles data reports there are over 884,000 registered motorcycles and more than 1.4 million licensed riders.
Throughout the spring and summer, the number of motorcyclists on the road will increase. Creating a safer highway environment is the shared responsibility of drivers and motorcyclists alike. This is achieved by staying alert and using common sense and courtesy while on the road.
“No matter how you travel on California’s roadways, safety should always come first. Motorcyclists and drivers both share equal responsibility for roadway safety,” said CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow. “Motorcyclists are sometimes hard to see and are more vulnerable to collisions than other drivers. Be alert, share the road, and look twice for riders.”
According to preliminary data from the CHP’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System, last year 476 motorcyclists were killed in traffic collisions and more than 14,000 others were injured.
In 2015, there were 494 motorcyclists killed and more than 13,500 injured, the CHP said.
Riders can help protect themselves by always using turn signals, avoiding riding in a vehicle’s blind spot, following the rules of the road, and always riding sober.
Wearing an approved U.S. Department of Transportation compliant motorcycle safety helmet and proper protective gear can mean the difference between life and death.
Motorists can also do their part by sharing the road. The majority of multi-vehicle motorcycle collisions are caused when other drivers simply did not see the motorcyclist.
It is important for motorists to understand the safety challenges faced by motorcyclists such as size and visibility. Look twice for motorcyclists and leave plenty of space between your vehicle and the rider.
“With great weather and scenery, California has always been a state where motorcycling for recreation and commuting takes place virtually year-round,” said Office of Traffic Safety Director Rhonda Craft. “But both riders and drivers must be constantly aware of the dangers. We all have to be mindful of every vehicle around us and share the roadways with safety in mind.”
The CHP realizes that traffic collisions can happen to anyone, regardless of their skill level, which is why the CHP strongly encourages all riders, new and experienced, to enroll in the California Motorcyclist Safety Program, or CMSP.
The CMSP was developed in July 1987 and has 120 training sites throughout the state. The CMSP trains approximately 66,000 motorcyclists per year, and as of 2016, the CMSP has trained more than one million motorcycle riders.
For more information or to find a training site near you, visit www.californiamotorcyclist.com .
“The CMSP’s mission is to make motorcycling safer by reducing the number of riders killed or injured every year through continued training and education,” said Commissioner Farrow.
As part of Motorcycle Awareness Safety Month, the CMSP and the CHP unveiled a new media campaign, which includes public service announcements that will be broadcasted on radio, television, social media and billboards throughout California.
The mission of the California Highway Patrol is to provide the highest level of safety, service, and security to the people of California.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Animal Care and Control has three cats that are prepared to join forever families this week.
This week’s cute cats are two females and a male. All of them have been altered and are ready for new homes.
A donor has covered the adoption fees for one of the cats, Ariel, and she is available to the first approved adopter.
If you're looking for a new companion, visit the shelter. There are many great pets there, hoping you'll choose them.
For those looking for a barn cat to keep the rodents at bay, be sure to ask about the barn cat adoption program. Feral barn cats are adopted out for $1 each, which includes altering, ear notching and vaccines.
In addition to the animals featured here, all adoptable animals in Lake County can be seen at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Shelter_Animal_Search.htm .
The following cats at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption (other cats pictured on the animal control Web site that are not listed here are still “on hold”).
Domestic short hair
This male domestic short hair has a gray tabby coat and green eyes.
He already has been neutered.
He’s in cat room kennel No. 6, ID No. 7356.
‘Ariel’
“Ariel” is a female domestic short hair mix with a brown tabby and white coat. She is being offered for free thanks to the donor’s sponsorship.
She already has been spayed.
She’s in cat room kennel No. 26, ID No. 7127.
Domestic medium hair
This female domestic medium hair cat has an all-black coat and gold eyes.
She has already been spayed.
She’s in cat room kennel No. 78, ID No. 7350.
To fill out an adoption application online visit http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Dog___Cat_Adoption_Application.htm .
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.
Visit the shelter online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control.htm .
For more information call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
The possibility of my identity being stolen is something I worry about frequently, it’s a scary concept.
But what is it really, and how worried should I be?
Simply put, identity theft is the unauthorized use of another’s identity to commit crimes or for financial gain, like opening accounts, filing taxes or making purchases. Unfortunately, it can happen to anyone.
Consumers nationwide reported around 400,000 identity theft complaints to the Federal Trade Commission, or FTC in 2016, making identity theft the third largest category of complaints.
Thankfully, there are steps you can take to mitigate the risk of identity theft. According to the FTC, it’s important to “shred receipts, credit offers, credit applications, insurance forms, physician statements, checks, bank statements, expired charge cards, and similar documents when you don’t need them any longer.”
To further protect yourself against identity theft, keep the following BBB tips in mind.
Secure your information offline
– Limit what you carry. When out and about, only take what you need – leave your Social Security card at home. Lock up financial documents and records in a safe in your home, and lock up your purse or wallet while at work.
– Keep an eye on your mail. Use a secure, locked mailbox if possible. If you don’t have a locked mailbox, take sensitive outgoing mail to the post office or to a post office box and pick up incoming mail as soon as possible. Only order new checks to your home if you have a secure mailbox.
– Don’t overshare. The FTC recommends that “before you share information at your workplace, a business, your child's school, or a doctor's office, ask why they need it, how they will safeguard it, and the consequences of not sharing.” This is especially true for your Social Security Number (SSN). Ask if you can use a different kind of identification, although sometimes you will have to share your SSN. Also be careful sharing health plan information, and destroy the labels on prescriptions bottles before throwing them out.
Stay safe in the digital world
– Dispose of electronics carefully. Your computer, phone and tablet store immense amounts of personal information. Before disposing of or selling your computer, wipe the hard drive. For a mobile device you’ll need to check your owner’s manual, service provider’s Web site or manufacturer’s Web site to learn how to delete information permanently. Always remove the SIM card and delete your contacts, messages, photos, voicemails, folders and Web search history.
– Be proactive about passwords and security settings. Use different, strong passwords for all of your accounts, including your devices. Change passwords frequently and use multi-factor identification if possible. Learn more about password safety at www.bbb.org/passwords . Set the privacy and security settings on web services, devices and apps you use – make sure you aren’t sharing more information than necessary.
– Keep your devices secure and look for encryption when online. Run updated anti-virus, anti-spyware and anti-malware on all of your devices, including your phone and tablet. Before sending personal or financial information online, read the Web site’s privacy policy and make sure it’s encrypted. Look for the “https:”, where the “s” stands for “secure,” and the lock icon on the status bar. If you’re unsure about a Web site, look it up at www.bbb.org to see its rating, complaint history and reviews from past customers. Never transmit sensitive information when on public Wi-FI.
– Be social media savvy. Keep your social media accounts as private as possible. Make sure you’re only “friends” with people you know and trust in real life. Be careful about what you share, especially personal information – identity thieves can piece your life together based on seemingly-innocuous posts and use the information to answer account security questions.
If you’ve encountered a scammer, report it to BBB Scam Tracker at www.bbb.org/scamtracker . If you’ve been a victim of identity theft, find out about your options at www.identitytheft.gov .
Rebecca Harpster works for the serving the San Francisco Bay Area and Northern Coastal California.
LOWER LAKE, Calif. – The Lake County Democratic Central Committee will hold its regular monthly business meeting on Thursday, May 4.
The meeting takes place at 6:30 p.m. in the community room at the Lower Lake Methodist Church, 16255 Second St.
The agenda for the meeting includes reports from representatives for Congressmen Mike Thompson and John Garamendi, Assemblywoman Cecilia Aguiar-Curry and State Sen. Mike McGuire, as well as reports from the representative of the Lake County Democratic Club.
Meetings are open to the public and committee membership is open to all registered Democrats.
The Lake County Democratic Central Committee is the official governing body for the Democratic Party in Lake County.
For more information about the Democratic Party in Lake County visit www.lakecountydemocrats.org or www.facebook.com/LakeCountyDemocrats .
Contact the Democratic Party of Lake County at 707-533-4885 or by email at
Twenty Community Colleges were selected to participate in the California Guided Pathways Project, a venture designed to substantially increase the number of students who earn a certificate or degree at a California Community College by leveraging the significant investments California has made in student success.
The colleges, selected through a competitive application process, will design and implement structured academic and career pathways for all incoming students by 2019.
“I am confident that this project and the twenty participating colleges can positively impact the future of California,” said California Community Colleges Chancellor Eloy Ortiz Oakley, who serves on the project’s advisory committee. “I look forward to leading a series of systemwide efforts to implement the Guided Pathway model throughout the California Community Colleges.”
Guided Pathways provides a framework for colleges to help students who face barriers to completing a college education.
By creating structured educational experiences, pathways support each student from the point of entry to the attainment of high-quality postsecondary credentials and employment in a chosen field.
The colleges selected to participate in the California Guided Pathways Project are:
• American River College;
• Butte College;
• Cabrillo College;
• College of the Canyons;
• Cosumnes River College;
• Chaffey College;
• Cuyamaca College;
• Los Angeles Trade Tech College;
• Long Beach City College;
• MiraCosta College;
• Modesto Junior College;
• Norco College;
• Reedley College;
• Rio Hondo College;
• Riverside Community College;
• San Joaquin Delta College;
• Santa Ana College;
• Santa Barbara City College;
• Southwestern College;
• Yuba College.
Over the next three years, colleges will send teams to institutes where they will receive guidance and structured time to create clear pathways to high-quality credentials and develop the change management strategies needed to accomplish this goal.
College teams will be made up of five people including the president and a faculty leader. Each college will also receive support from a team of pathways coaches and information on complementary reform efforts in California that can help support specific facets of their work.
“We look forward to supporting the 20 colleges participating in the project,” said Dr. Rob Johnstone, project director. “We hope that by developing an expanded network of practitioners developing guided pathways, we can support other colleges and partners interested in adopting the student-centered approach to education planning.”
Institute materials will also be available to all California Community Colleges interested in implementing a Guided Pathways approach.
The project, which was launched in December of 2016, is funded by College Futures Foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, The James Irvine Foundation, the Teagle Foundation, and participating colleges.
The California Guided Pathways project was inspired by the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) Pathways Project to support increased certificate and degree completion within the California Community Colleges.
The Guided Pathways model helps colleges clarify paths to student end goals, helps students select a program and stay on the path, and ensures quality learning. Pathways include specific course sequences, progress milestones, and defined learning outcomes.
For more information visit www.CAGuidedPathways.org .