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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County District Attorney’s Victim Witness division is offering assistance to victims of the Clayton fire in filling out applications for the California Victim Compensation Program.
If approved, applicants will be eligible for funds to cover mental health counseling.
Victim Witness Advocates can also be reached for assistance or answering questions at the District Attorney’s Victim Witness Division at 707-262-4282.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – A single vehicle crash on Monday has temporarily closed a portion of Hartley Street.
The Lakeport Police Department said the crash occurred at Hartley and 19th streets.
It resulted in downed utility lines in the roadway, police said.
The roadway has been closed on Hartley from 17th to 20th streets until further notice. Drivers are asked to use alternate routes.
SOUTH LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A day ahead of the one-year anniversary of the beginning of the Valley fire, events around the south county gave area residents the chance to gather to remember and focus on the continuing recovery work.
The fire broke out on High Valley Road in Cobb on the afternoon of Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015.
By the following day, it had scorched more than 50,000 acres. Altogether, it burned 76,067 acres and more than 1,300 homes, and led to four confirmed fatalities.
At Twin Pine Casino, Middletown Rancheria – which has been a stalwart in offering assistance to the community throughout the wildland fires – hosted the Valley Fire Community Day from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.
While last year the casino's event center hosted an evacuation center – and did so again during the Clayton fire – this time it welcomed a steady stream of people who enjoyed music, free food, a bouncy house and slide for children, and information booths. The mood overall was upbeat.
Elsewhere around the Valley fire area, the South Lake County Fire Protection District and Cal Fire hosted open houses at the district's four fire stations – Cobb, Hidden Valley Lake, Loch Lomond and Middletown – from 1 to 4 p.m. The district contracts with Cal Fire for services.
“It's a day to remember” what Jim Comisky, president of the South Lake County Fire Protection District Board and himself a firefighter for 38 years, estimated was the most catastrophic day in the history of southern Lake County.
Comisky spoke during a brief and informal gathering during the open house at the Middletown Fire Station attended by Sheriff Brian Martin, Supervisor Rob Brown, several Cal Fire staff and a number of community members.
Comisky said that everyone in the community lost something to the Valley fire and at 1:30 p.m. – at about the time the fire initially was dispatched last Sept. 12 – he led the group in a moment of silence in recognition of that fact.
In a community where it's still unclear how many of the fire survivors ultimately will choose to stay and rebuild, hope was an underlying theme of Sunday's events.
Beyond loss is recovery, and Comisky said the event was about what's ahead as much as what is behind.
“It's a chance to look forward,” he said.
During an impromptu remembrance ceremony led by Kim Carr, attendees shared their memories and what they're grateful for in the wake of the fire.
Sheriff Martin, who was on the ground in the fire area beginning on the first day, said he remembered how the fire sounded like a jet engine.
He said the entire community shared the experience of the fire.
Cal Fire Battalion Chief Mike Wink said he was grateful for the new relationships as well as the existing ones that were strengthened in the fire response and recovery.
“It's my honor to work here and serve this community,” Wink said.
Comisky pointed to the courage he has witnessed in response to the fire. “The way this community came together, it's like I've never seen before,” he said.
Cal Fire Battalion Chief Linda Green, who also was on the ground during the fire that day, said she too has seen the community pull together.
Other firefighting staff noted their gratitude for the brotherhood of the profession.
Firefighter Don Lopez asked for another moment of silence in memory of the attack on Sept. 11, 2001, before sharing his experience of fighting the Valley fire.
His daughter lost her house on the first day of the incident, and as he was on the fire lines he heard come over the radio reports that homes were on fire in his neighborhood.
He wouldn't know for 24 hours that his home had been saved by the efforts of an out-of-area strike team. Despite the house nearly catching fire repeatedly, it was saved.
“How that happened I don't really know,” he said.
So many people lost homes, he noted, and it wasn't for a lack of trying to save them.
Later that afternoon, up Highway 175 at the Cobb firehouse, Cal Fire firefighters, fire district directors and a little group of Fire Sirens – the women whose devoted fundraising efforts pay for critical equipment – welcomed visitors throughout the afternoon.
“I think it was rewarding that we had the doors open,” said Rob Bostock, vice president of the South Lake County Fire Protection District's five-member board.
Wink stopped in at Cobb, where he said the station is staffed around the clock with two firefighter/paramedics per shift.
In addition to those Cal Fire personnel, Bostock said the district has a large volunteer base, with backup from the Kelsey Cobb station further down Highway 175. He said a more experienced firefighting team can't be found anywhere else.
Wink said the Hidden Valley Lake station also is staffed around the clock with Cal Fire personnel, while the Loch Lomond station is manned by volunteers, and the Middletown station by a mix of Cal Fire personnel and volunteers.
“None of us can do it alone,” said Wink.
The people who visited the fire house on Sunday “are glad we're here,” said Bostock.
Another board member, Devin Hoberg, said he wanted to be on hand to welcome community members.
“It's very relaxed and calm,” he said of Sunday afternoon's event, explaining that they were there to answer questions or to simply listen if people wanted to talk about their experiences.
Hoberg, a lifelong county resident and member of one of Cobb Mountain's most well-known families, lost his home near Boggs Forest in the fire.
He's watching rebuilding taking place in his neighborhood and is working to prepare his property for a new home. That work involves taking care of little trees that have naturally started to grow on his land, including about 25 pine seedlings plus some little oaks that have sprouted up.
Bostock started coming to the area as a child in 1944, has had a vacation cabin in Cobb since 1974 and moved to Cobb permanently in 1998.
He believes the community will recover, explaining that he could have chosen to live elsewhere but has made Cobb his home.
“We're here because it's a special place,” said Bostock.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – United Veterans Council of Lake County Inc. is sponsoring the third annual Lake-Mendocino Stand Down/Veterans Resource Fair this coming September.
The stand down, being organized by Lake County Vet Connect, will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 21, and Thursday, Sept. 22 at the Lake County Fairgrounds, 401 Martin St., Lakeport.
Vietnam Veterans of California in San Diego introduced the stand down concept in 1988 as a way to help veterans in need.
Since then, similar free stand down events have been held regularly in cities all over the nation to provide food, clothing, services and referrals to homeless and at-risk veterans.
The Lake-Mendocino Stand Down will also have resources available to veterans that are not homeless or at risk of homelessness.
The stand down/resource fair event held last year in Clearlake hosted 157 veterans and offered a variety of services, assistance and information provided by more than 30 agencies and organizations.
This year's stand down will offer access to on-site medical and dental services, enrollment in health care and supplemental nutrition programs, as well as other programs relating to educational, employment, and food resource issues that are important to our veterans.
Organizers are again seeking volunteers to assist with the event. Volunteers will assist in capacities including helping to set up and tear down the venue, staging and issuing materials and supplies to the veterans, and preparing food.
United Veterans Council of Lake County is still seeking financial assistance for the purchase of additional material and supplies.
If you would like to donate financial assistance or volunteer to assist with this event, please contact United Veterans Council of Lake County Vice President Frank Parker at 707-274-9512, email
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Two cats are cleared for adoption at Lake County Animal Care and Control this week.
The cats available are a calico and a young polydactyl.
There also are several strays picked up from the Clayton fire area that are being held for 30 days in order to reunite them with their families.
In addition to spaying or neutering, cats that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are microchipped before being released to their new owner. License fees do not apply to residents of the cities of Lakeport or Clearlake.
If you're looking for a new companion, visit the shelter. There are many great pets there, hoping you'll choose them.
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”).
'Mom'
“Mom” is a domestic short hair mix with a dilute tortie coat and gold eyes.
She's in cat room kennel No. 90, ID No. 5880.
Young polydactyl
This young female domestic medium hair mix has a fluffy long white coat with tricolor markings, plus gold eyes.
Plus, she is a polydactyl, meaning she has multiple toes. Her front paws look like mittens.
She already is spayed, which should lower her overall adoption cost.
She's in cat room kennel No. 146, ID No. 5615.
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
For the safety of everyone traveling on California roadways, the California Highway Patrol will focus on brake inspections and education for commercial vehicles during Brake Safety Week, which takes place this year Sept. 11 to 17.
The brakes and other safety equipment of commercial vehicles are inspected year-round throughout California.
However, during Brake Safety Week, the state’s 51 Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Facilities will operate at their maximum ability.
In addition to inspecting brake systems and other safety equipment on trucks and buses, they will check commercial driver licenses and registrations.
Many facilities will also hold educational events. Additional personnel will conduct mobile road enforcement, conducting inspections on all roads – federal, county and state – in addition to the commercial vehicle facilities.
“In California, commercial drivers may deal with mountain passes, heavy freeway traffic, and hot weather – all especially challenging to their brakes,” CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow said. “The extra effort of Brake Safety Week, providing education and outreach as well as inspections, is essential for all drivers.”
During Brake Safety Week in California in 2015, 4,909 trucks and motorcoaches were inspected and 897 were taken out of service for brakes and other issues.
Brake Safety Week is a national safety campaign organized by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance.
Properly functioning brake systems are crucial to safe operation of commercial motor vehicles. Commercial vehicle brakes are designed to hold up under tough conditions, but they must be routinely inspected and maintained carefully and consistently so they operate and perform properly throughout the vehicle’s life.
The mission of the California Highway Patrol is to provide the highest level of safety, service, and security to the people of California.