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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Animal Care and Control has six adult cats waiting for adoption this week.
The cats available this week include three males and three females, from tabbies to gray cats to a Siamese.
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”).
Female domestic long hair
This female domestic long hair has an orange tabby coat with white markings.
She already has been spayed.
She’s in kennel No. 4, ID No. 7094.
Female domestic short hair
This female domestic short hair has a gray tabby coat.
She’s in kennel No. 26, ID No. 7089.
Female domestic short hair
This female domestic short hair has a gray coat.
She’s in cat room No. 47, ID No. 7088.
Male domestic long hair
This male domestic long hair has a gray and white coat.
He already has been neutered.
He’s in kennel No. 60, ID No. 7092.
Male domestic long hair
This male domestic long hair has a gray coat.
He already has been neutered.
He’s in kennel No. 92, ID No. 7087.
Siamese mix
This male Siamese mix has a long coat with seal point and sable markings.
He already has been neutered.
He’s in kennel No. 149, ID No. 7091.
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
It’s tax season, and you’ve probably been subjected to a barrage of tax-related messaging. Some of it may be from the IRS and legitimate tax preparers, but some of it certainly isn’t. It can be hard to sort out what to believe and who to trust.
Maybe you’ve been called by the IRS, and they claim you owe money and need to pay promptly to avoid arrest. Or perhaps you’ve been promised a huge tax refund or considerable tax relief by a tax preparer.
If it sounds too good to be true or deceiving, it probably is. Tax scams were the Better Business Bureau’s No. 1 scam of both 2015 and 2016, and they typically peak during tax season.
During tax season, fraudsters are out to get your personal and financial information. Follow these tips from your BBB to avoid tax scams
The IRS won’t call you demanding immediate payment
· In 2016, consumers nationwide reported nearly 8,000 tax scams to BBB Scam Tracker.
· Sophisticated scammers call taxpayers claiming to be from the IRS. Often, they’ll spoof the caller ID to seem more convincing. They’ll demand payment, usually through a prepaid debit card or wire transfer, or claim you have a refund waiting and need your personal information.
· The IRS won’t ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone, and there’s no such thing as a “Federal Student Tax”. If you receive one of these calls, just hang up!
The IRS also won’t initiate taxpayer communications through email
· Another popular tax scam involves email phishing – the IRS saw a 400-percent increase in these incidents in the 2016 season. Additionally, consumers reported more than 1,200 phishing scams to BBB Scam Tracker in 2016.
· Scammers may try to access your personal and financial information by sending you emails from the “IRS.” The emails may contain attachments that carry malware or spyware, so be careful. They may also encourage you to click on links taking you to bogus Web sites imitating www.IRS.gov that ask for personal information, Social Security Numbers, and financial information.
· If you receive one of these emails, just delete it! Don’t open any attachments or click on any links, and report it to the IRS by forwarding it to
Be wary of tax ID theft
· Tax ID theft usually occurs when your identity has already been compromised and is used to file false tax returns. This could happen if your workplace’s payroll or Human Resources department falls victim to a W-2 email phishing scam.
· You could find out when trying to file tax returns – the IRS rejects your return because another return using your SSN has been filed. You may also receive an IRS notice stating that you’ve received wages from somewhere you never worked, or receive other notices that don’t actually apply to you.
· If you’re a victim of tax ID theft, continue to pay your taxes and file your return, even if you must do so by paper. Visit www.identitytheft.gov to file a complaint and learn what to do next.
Don’t believe ‘too-good-to-be-true’ propositions
· Watch out for official-looking communications claiming to be able to greatly reduce your tax liability or get you a larger-than-life refund. Not all "tax preparers” are created equal, and some are outright fraudsters.
· Be wary of any tax preparer who claims they can get you a larger return than other preparers, who bases their fees on a percentage of your refund, who asks you to sign a blank tax form or who refuses to provide you a copy of your completed return. Always do your research when finding a tax preparer and be cautious of who you deal with, who’s receiving your personal or financial information and what’s being done on your behalf.
· Your tax preparer should be a certified public accountant, a tax attorney, an enrolled agent or a certified E-file provider, and they should have a Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN). You can find a list of trustworthy Accredited Businesses that can prepare your taxes on bbb.org.
Practice smart cybersecurity
· Ensure that any Web site you’re using is legitimate and secure. Look for the “https:”, other trust marks and a privacy policy. Make sure your computer’s anti-virus, anti-spyware and anti-malware software is up-to-date and running. If you’re filing online, only file from secure computers. Never use public Wi-Fi to file your return.
· Additionally, look up every tax Web site you use at www.bbb.org to see its BBB Business Profile, which includes a rating, complaint history and reviews from past customers.
If you’ve been affected by a tax scam, make sure to report it to BBB Scam Tracker at www.bbb.org/scamtracker to help warn others. For more tax resources, check out www.IRS.gov .
Rebecca Harpster is public relations specialist for the Better Business Bureau serving the San Francisco Bay Area and Northern Coastal California
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The county of Lake is reminding property owners of the need to get permits for repair work on damaged docks and piers.
Any repair, replacement of improvements of existing piers or dock facilities on Clear Lake damaged as a consequence of the high water and winds will require a permit from the Lake County Water Resources Department.
New construction will likewise require a permit as well.
For more information contact the Water Resources Department at 707-263-2344.
CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – Clearlake Oaks Moose Lodge 2284 has wimpy burgers and music every Wednesday.
Join them for the best burgers in Lake County from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
From 5 to 8 p.m. there will be music. Featured bans are the High Notes on March 15, Root Rot on March 22 and Ear Relevant on March 29.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Public Works Department plans to do road repair work along a portion of Lakeshore Boulevard this week.
Lakeshore Boulevard between Giselman and Lange streets will be closed to all traffic next Monday, March 13, through Friday, March 17, from 8:30 a.m. to as late as 4:30 p.m. due to roadway repair activities.
The repair work is in response to the roadway damage caused by the recent flooding.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Imagination is powerful, and reading is its fuel.
That’s why every baby born at Sutter Lakeside Hospital is signed up to receive one free book a month for five years from the Imagination Library.
So far, more than 24,308 books have been distributed to families throughout Lake County.
The Family Birth Center, which averages more than 300 births a year, gives every family a chance to sign up for the Imagination Library, a nonprofit organization that encourages literacy at home by sending age-appropriate books to the child once a month.
The program is funded by the Sutter Lakeside Hospital Auxiliary and the Lake County Office of Education, at no cost to the families who receive the books.
Childhood literacy develops within the first five years of life, according to research on early childhood development.
Access to age-appropriate books is essential to literacy, yet low-income areas have access to only one book per 300 children, according to literacy research.
Reading at home not only improves academic performance later on, it also strengthens family bonds.
“Healthy living is about more than just medicine,” said Dan Peterson, chief administrative officer, Sutter Lakeside Hospital. “Families spending time together, encouraging literacy, supports emotional health. We’re proud to partner with the Auxiliary and the Lake County Office of Education to bring this service to Lake County.”
The Imagination Library, founded by Dolly Parton in 1995, has provided more than 80 million books to children internationally.
Lake County is one of 1,600 communities to participate in the Imagination Library, which reaches more than one million children in a month.
Other benefits of the Family Birth Center include four private suites for labor and delivery, in-room sleeping accommodations for family members, private bathrooms with showers or shower-tubs, and in-room dining service.
For more information or to schedule a tour of the Family Birth Center, please call 707-262-5087. To schedule a prenatal appointment with a care provider, please call 707-263-6885.
Morgen Wells is community relations and fund development coordinator for Sutter Lakeside Hospital.