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KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Redbud Audubon has lined up seven outstanding speakers for this coming year.
They will kick off their 42nd year in Lake County on Thursday, Sept. 15, with a program presented by Lake County’s Dr. Harry Lyons as he presents "Lessons from Green Waters.”
The program will be held at the Glebe Social Hall, St. Peter’s Catholic Church, 4085 Main St., Kelseyville.
Refreshments will be served at 7 p.m. followed by the program at 7:15 p.m. It is open to everyone.
Dr. Lyons, Yuba College Professor emeritus, weaves the stories of two nutrient-rich aquatic ecosystems, the Hudson River and Clear Lake, in addressing the problems and promises of such rich biological communities.
Although differing in their geological and hydrologic histories, the two systems face similar problems with over-enrichment and point-source pollution.
Most feel the biological condition of the Hudson has improved; some feel the biological condition of Clear Lake has not.
Can the political action taken on behalf of the Hudson River serve as a model for pushing improvement of water quality in Clear Lake? How is the chance of success through political action dependent on the type of pollution and its causes?
Dr. Lyons grew up swimming and fishing in the Hudson. His life-long interest in water led him to pursue his PhD in oceanography from the Scripps Institution of the University of California after academic work at Rutgers and Stanford. He has lived by, sampled from, and swum in Clear Lake for more than 35 years. His talks are always peppered with the spirit of relevant songs.
If you are interested in more information about Redbud Audubon, its speakers for the year, scheduled bird walks, membership and other activities, visit www.redbudaudubon.org .
LOWER LAKE, Calif. – Thanks to a disaster declaration issued earlier this month, the United States Small Business Administration is making available to Clayton fire survivors – individuals, businesses and organizations – low-interest loans to help with the rebuilding process.
The agency's Disaster Loan Outreach Center is operating out of the first floor parlor at the Lower Lake Historic Schoolhouse Museum, 16435 Main St., from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Tuesdays through Saturdays.
“We're offering the same thing we offered last year during the Valley fire,” said SBA spokesman William Koontz.
Koontz visited Lower Lake on Monday, as he and SBA staff fanned out across the state, responding to incidents in Lake, Monterey, San Bernardino and San Luis Obispo counties, and a flood in Ohio.
Koontz said the SBA acted under its own authority to declare the Clayton fire disaster on Sept. 6 in response to a request it received on Sept. 1 from Mark Ghilarducci, director of the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, acting on behalf of Gov. Jerry Brown.
The disaster declaration makes SBA assistance available in Colusa, Glenn, Lake, Mendocino, Napa, Sonoma and Yolo counties, the agency reported.
The process this time around differed from that employed during the Valley fire in that last year the state asked both the SBA and and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to do a damage assessment. President Barack Obama subsequently declared a disaster, which authorized the agencies to offer assistance, Koontz said.
This time, with no presidential disaster proclamation expected, the state asked the SBA to respond and consider the disaster declaration, Koontz said.
Koontz said the SBA has a very simple criteria for making that declaration: If there are 25 homes or businesses damaged in one county, and they have at least 40 percent damage – which is considered major – it's an automatic approval.
The declaration activates the exact same SBA program as was in place during the Valley fire, said Koontz.
The difference is that last year fire survivors first had to apply to FEMA – which is not involved in the Clayton fire response – and then seek out additional help in the form of loans from SBA. If they didn't qualify, they would then be sent back to FEMA for consideration of a grant, Koontz explained.
What's also different for Clayton fire survivors is if they don't qualify for SBA assistance, they won't have FEMA to fall back on but will have to seek assistance from other agencies and organizations, he said.
SBA said businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets.
The agency said it also can lend additional funds to businesses and homeowners to help with the cost of improvements to protect, prevent or minimize the same type of disaster damage from occurring in the future.
Disaster loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property, the SBA said.
Koontz said the interest rates on the loans change from quarter to quarter.
Interest rates can be as low as 4 percent for businesses, 2.625 percent for private nonprofit organizations and 1.563 percent for homeowners and renters with terms up to 30 years. Koontz said that rate for homeowners is a little lower than it was for the Valley fire, and the lowest he's seen that rate go in some time.
Loan amounts and terms are set by SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition. Koontz said every case is considered individually.
“We do our darnedest to try to get their loan through the system, but there will be some people who don't qualify,” he said.
Koontz said it's free to apply, and no appointment is necessary.
He said the SBA has staff who are expert at helping disaster victims, and can quickly lead them through the application process. He said that process can be completed within 30 minutes. “It's very streamlined,” he said, and not unlike getting a bank loan.
Disaster loan information and application forms also are available from SBA’s Customer Service Center by calling 800-659-2955 or emailing
Applications can be downloaded at https://www.sba.gov/disaster . Completed applications should be mailed to U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.
The deadline to apply is Nov. 7, and he encourages fire survivors to turn in applications, explaining they always can turn the loans down later if they don't need them. He pointed out that many people find out later that the recovery process costs more than expected.
“Our program can lend someone who has insurance for the gap that may occur,” he said.
As of Monday, SBA had gotten 11 applications from business and homeowners impacted by the Clayton fire, he said.
Last year, for the Valley fire in Lake County and the Butte fire in Calaveras County, the SBA received a total of 897 applications – 719 for homeowners, 178 for businesses – and issued 287 loans, totaling $25,935,700. That number included 55 business loans totaling $4,499,500 and 232 loans for homeowners amounting to $21,436,200, according to a summary Koontz shared with Lake County News.
Koontz said the SBA does not have a deadline at this point for how long its Lower Lake center will stay open.
“We'll stay as long as there's an interest,” he said.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A man who was reported to have threatened to shoot another man during an argument later was arrested and found with a shotgun, meth and drug paraphernalia.
Clearlake resident Carl Ernest Duval, 42, was taken into custody on numerous charges on the afternoon of Saturday, Sept. 10, according to a report from Sgt. Tim Hobbs of the Clearlake Police Department.
Shortly after 4:30 p.m. Saturday Sgt. Travis Lenz was dispatched to the 3100 block of Eighth Street for a report of a male subject hiding in the bushes behind the reporting parties’ residence, loading a shotgun, Hobbs said.
Hobbs said Sgt. Lenz arrived on scene and contacted the reporting party in the roadway of Eighth Street.
The reporting party advised he was located on the roof of his residence conducting repairs when he overheard two subjects in a verbal argument on Seventh Street, Hobbs said.
The suspect, later identified as Duval, could be heard saying, “I’m going to shoot you.” After the argument, Hobbs said the neighbor who reported the incident observed Duval walk from the roadway and conceal himself in the bushes on a vacant lot behind his residence.
Hobbs said Duval then began loading a 12-gauge shotgun with shotgun shells. At that time, the reporting party called the Clearlake Police Department.
Officer Mark Harden arrived on scene, accompanied by his canine partner “Zip.” Hobbs said Officer Harden and Zip went to the east side of the vacant lot which is located on Seventh Street to establish a perimeter.
Sgt. Lenz approached the lot, which was heavily covered by brush, which restricted his view from seeing Duval concealed in the bushes, Hobbs said.
Hobbs said Sgt. Lenz gave verbal commands for Duval to exit the bushes with his hands in the air, and Duval complied. After Duval exited the bushes, he was detained in handcuffs.
Sgt. Lenz searched the bushes which Duval had previously exited and located a loaded 12-gauge shotgun, Hobbs said. Duval is a convicted felon, which prohibits him from possessing firearms and ammunition.
Duval was placed under arrest at that time, and transported to the Clearlake Police Department. Hobbs said Officer Harden checked the area for the second subject who had been involved in the argument with Duval yet he was not able to be located. It was determined they were uninjured though based on witness statements.
During the booking process at the Clearlake Police Department, Duval admitted to possessing methamphetamine which he had concealed inside of his underwear. Hobbs said The methamphetamine was recovered and determined to be of a large enough quantity that is was believed to be possessed for the purpose of sales.
Duval was later booked into the Lake County Jail on felony charges of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, convicted felon in possession of ammunition, possession of a controlled substance while armed with a firearm, armed during the commission of a felony, possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of sales, and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.
Jail booking records showed that his bail had been set at $180,000. He remained in custody late Tuesday.
Anyone with information in regard to this investigation is asked to contact Sgt. Lenz at the Clearlake Police Department at 707-994-8251, Extension 311.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Linda Smalley passed away at home on Sept. 6, 2016, at the age of 62.
She was born Linda Karen Weinhart in Torrance, Calif., on Oct. 30, 1953.
Linda made her home in Lake County for more than 38 years. She was a truck driver and bartended at Richmond Park, Landmark and Kathi’s Inn for many years.
Linda loved gardening, camping and traveling with her husband. Her home was always open to entertaining friends and family.
She is survived by her loving husband of 20 years, Dana Smalley; daughter, Jamie Gorny; two sons, Richard and Mathias Caine; stepdaughter, Leah Smalley; stepson, Jason (Katrina) Smalley; and seven grandchildren. She was predeceased by her parents, a sister and two brothers.
A celebration of life will be planned at a later date. Linda was dearly loved and she will be missed.
Arrangements under the care of Jones & Lewis Clear Lake Memorial Chapel.
Please share your loving thoughts about Linda by signing her online guestbook at www.jonesandlewis.com and www.legacy.com .
LOWER LAKE, Calif. – Local archaeologist Dr. John Parker will speak on the prehistory of Anderson Marsh at the Lake County Historical Society meeting on Sunday, Sept. 18.
The free meeting, to be held in the picnic area under the trees at the Anderson Marsh State Historic Park on Highway 53 in Lower Lake, is open to the general public and begins at 1:30 p.m.
Parker has studied and excavated the history of the area for 40 years and was a major force in the creation of the Anderson Marsh State Historic Park.
Archaeological sites in the area date back 10,000 to 12,000 years, making it one of the oldest known locations of continuous human habitation in California.
For more information about Anderson Marsh, visit the website https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=483 .
The meeting program will also feature updates on the planned transfer of the Gibson Museum and Cultural Center from the Lake County Historical Society to the county of Lake and the expansion plans for the Ely Stage Stop and Country Museum. Refreshments will be served.
Guests are asked to carpool to the meeting, bring guests and to park along the parkway if they are able to walk a short distance.
Persons with limitations may park inside the gates and the historical society will cover the $4 parking fee for those people. The group suggests guests bring their own comfortable folding chairs.
Anderson Marsh State Historic Park is located on Highway 53 about five eighths of a mile north of the Highway 29/Highway 53 intersection in Lower Lake. Turn off of Highway 53 onto Anderson Ranch Road to approach the park. If you are traveling south on Highway 53 from Clearlake, the park is just south of Cache Creek.
For more information contact Bonnie Skee at 707-262-1432 or Jackie Ridgel at 707-279-4062.
The Lake County Historical Society presents history programs at its meetings, publishes a magazine on Lake County history and operates the Ely Stage Stop and Country Museum in Kelseyville and the Gibson Museum and Cultural Center in Middletown.
The society's Web site at http://www.lakecountyhistory.org/ has information about its programs and activities.
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Helping seniors by joining the Konocti Senior Support Board, you’ll find you get more from your efforts than the folks you serve.
You’ll make new friends, plus, there’s holiday parties, volunteer appreciation events, gas incentives and more.
Presently there are two openings on the Konocti Senior Support Inc. board to help oversee two outstanding programs: Senior Peer Counseling and the Friendly Visitor Program.
The board will review the applicants and select persons with a keen desire to help seniors. Some background in business or finance would be helpful but not necessary.
With the numerous cuts in government programs, the organization's programs are even more vital to the safety and well being of Lake County seniors.
Konocti Senior Support has the full support of the county as they oversee the group's use of grant money for seniors in need.
By attending the board of director’s meeting the second Tuesday of each month at 12:15 p.m., you will help make decisions and suggestions regarding the staffing, finances, marketing and oversight of operations.
Board members will get to know the staff and volunteers as well as the other board members and be allowed to attend any of the seminars that interest you.
Konocti Senior Support provides a gas incentive for travel time to and from meetings and provide lunch while the meeting is in session. They will have a retreat in June, a fun pizza fundraiser in February and numerous other projects that may interest you.
If you want to give back to the community simply by offering your talents two to three hours each month, consider Konocti Senior Support.
To receive an application or learn more about Senior Peer Counseling and The Friendly Visitors programs, call 707-995-1417, email