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CLEARLAKE, Calif. – It's a mix of dogs and cats available for adoption at Clearlake Animal Control this week.
This week's featured animals include American Staffordshire mix dogs and two friendly cats.
To meet the animals, contact Marcia Taylor, the animal control outreach technician, at 707-994-8201, Extension 103, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday, or contact Animal Control Officer Jenna Tuller at Extension 115 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. those same days or leave a message on Fridays or weekends.
Also follow Clearlake Animal Control on Facebook for the latest updates.
Below are this week's available dogs and cats.
'Eunice'
“Eunice” is a female medium-sized adult American Staffordshire Terrier.
She has a short brown and white coat.
Shelter staff said she has contracted mange and will need treatment.
She is spayed, up-to-date on all of her shots and microchipped.
Staff said she gets along with other dogs. She needs time, attention and training.
'Kikie'
“Kikie” is a female domestic short hair mix with a gray coat.
Shelter staff said Kikie was rescued from a very bad situation.
Despite that, she loves everyone, and would make a great addition to any family, staff said.
She also is house trained.
'Little Man'
“Little Man” is a male domestic short hair mix with a tabby coat.
“Little Man has a truly sad story. He deserves to know what it's like to have a real home with food and water available at all times,” according to shelter staff.
He is house trained and ready for a new family.
'Nala'
“Nala” is a young American Staffordshire Terrier mix with a short white coat and brown markings.
“Nala is just a sweet little girl that her owner didn't want anymore. She doesn't understand why. What she needs is someone to just love her,” shelter staff reported.
Her new family will find that she's already spayed and microchipped, and ready for her new life.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The Clear Lake Area California Highway Patrol will offer a free “Start Smart” traffic safety class for soon to-be-licensed, newly licensed, and teenage drivers and their parents or guardians on Wednesday, July 20.
The class will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Clear Lake Area CHP office, located at 5700 Live Oak Drive in Kelseyville.
The leading cause of death for Americans 15 to 19 years old is motor vehicle collisions, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The CHP's goal is to reduce the death rate among young drivers as the result of these collisions.
“The CHP is committed to mitigating traffic collisions involving young, inexperienced drivers, because they are preventable,” said Lt. Hector Paredes, commander of the CHP's Clear Lake Area office. “Start Smart is an excellent program that promotes safe driving for young new drivers.”
The “Start Smart” program is aimed at helping newly licensed and future licensed teenage drivers understand the critical responsibilities of driving and to understand that accidents happen, but collisions are 100-percent preventable.
The program is designed to provide an interactive safe driving awareness class which will illustrate how poor choices behind the wheel of a car can affect the lives of numerous people.
“Start Smart” also focuses on responsibilities of newly licensed drivers, responsibilities of parents or guardians and collision avoidance techniques.
Space is limited for this class. For more information or reservations, call Officer Kory Reynolds at the CHP office, 707-279-0103.
Flame retardant chemicals linked to cancer and hormone disruption have been detected in a group of California children at higher levels than found in an earlier study of kids in New Jersey, Environmental Working Group researchers said in a report released Monday.
California mothers who participated in the study along with their children also had higher exposures to the carcinogenic flame retardant TDCIPP than their New Jersey counterparts, but the differences were not as extreme as in their children.
The study by researchers at Duke University and EWG, published in the peer-reviewed journal Environment International, also found that the youngest California children were the most highly exposed. The findings were based on laboratory analysis of urine samples from 33 children and 28 mothers.
The testing showed that, on average, the California children had been exposed to TDCIPP in amounts more than double those detected in a 2014 study of New Jersey children of the same age. The California mothers’ exposure levels were nearly twice those of their New Jersey peers.
“We need regulations that reduce exposures to potentially harmful chemicals, not ones that can increase them,” said Johanna Congleton, EWG senior scientist and co-author of the new study. “As the government considers a national furniture flammability standard and moves to overhaul the federal chemical regulatory system, this should be taken as a lesson.”
In California, levels of a metabolite of the flame retardant TDCIPP detected in 1-to-5-year olds were on average 15 times higher than those in their mothers.
The California mothers and children also had higher levels of a metabolite of a second flame retardant – ip-PDPP, a suspected endocrine disruptor – than those in the New Jersey study. The metabolite, ip-PPP, forms as the body processes the original chemical.
“These organophosphate flame retardant chemicals (i.e. TDCIPP) are found in higher concentrations in the air and dust particles in these homes than PBDEs, a class of flame retardants that was phased out due to its potential toxicity. Moving from PBDEs to organophosphate flame retardants may not have reduced the health risks to children,” said Heather M. Stapleton, associate professor at Duke University and co-author of the study.
Flame retardants can build up more in the bodies of younger children than in older kids or adults because they breathe in more air and are exposed to more dust particles relative to their body weight than adults.
The chemicals, widely used to treat upholstered furniture and even cushioning in baby products, can escape and accumulate in household air, and in dust on floors where toddlers and babies play. Children’s frequent hand-to-mouth activity can also increase their exposure.
The dramatic difference in exposure levels between the two studies was likely the result of a 1975 California law that required that all polyurethane foam used in furniture sold in the state be able to withstand ignition for 12 seconds when exposed to an open flame.
The cheapest and easiest way for furniture manufacturers to comply was to add flame retardant chemicals to the foam. The law was recently changed to allow furniture manufacturers to avoid the use of the chemicals, but items containing them remain in many homes.
Although New Jersey had no such requirement, the California law led companies to sell furniture laced with flame retardants across the country.
The study authors noted that higher levels of PBDE exposure have also been reported in California than in other states, supporting evidence that the misguided law led to excessive and potentially unsafe use of flame retardant chemicals.
071116 Environmental Working Group - Flame retardant exposure in children by LakeCoNews on Scribd
NICE, Calif. – Veteran contender Breidis Prescott (29-7, 21 KOs) battles Georgia’s Levan Ghvamichava (16-2-1, 12 KOs) in the 10-round super welterweight main event of Premier Boxing Champions Toe-To-Toe Tuesdays on FS1 and Boxeo De Campeones on FOX Deportes Tuesday, July 12, from Robinson Rancheria Resort & Casino.
Ghvamichava was scheduled to face undefeated Domonique Dolton, but he was forced to withdraw after suffering a cut during training.
“I’ve been training hard already and I’m 100 percent ready for war,” said Prescott. “I don’t know a lot about this guy, but I’ll figure him out in the ring quickly. I like fighting on short notice. I beat Roberto Garcia on short notice so fighting this guy will not be a problem.”
Televised coverage on July 12 begins at 8 p.m. PT and features undefeated prospect Malcolm McAllister (7-0, 7 KOs) battling Brazil’s Gilberto Pereira (7-2, 4 KOs) in eight-rounds of super middleweight action while undefeated prospects Thomas Hill (6-0, 1 KO) and Marcos Hernandez (7-0, 2 KOs) compete in an eight-round super welterweight fight.
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions, start at $20 and are on sale now. To purchase tickets call the players club at 707-262-4000.
A standout amateur representing Colombia, Prescott fights out of Miami and was undefeated in his first 21 pro bouts, including a first round knockout of former world champion Amir Khan that cemented his spot in the sport.
The 33-year-old also owns victories over Richar Abril, Jose Augustin Feria and Francisco Figueroa and enters this fight having won his last two fights heading into this July 12 showdown.
Ghvamichava will look to rebound from a defeat in his last bout after riding a five-fight win streak that had dated back to 2013.
The 30-year-old took down previously unbeaten fighters Jonathan Garcia and Chris Singleton in 2014 and followed it up with triumphs over Cameron Kreal and Cosme Rivera in 2015.
Originally from Poti, Georgia, Ghvamichava now trains out of Hayward.
For more information visit www.premierboxingchampions.com , http://www.foxsports.com/presspass/homepage , www.foxdeportes.com , www.samstownlv.com/entertain and www.TGBPromotions.com .
MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. – Fire restrictions will start on the Mendocino National Forest beginning Wednesday, July 13, due to dry conditions and increased risk of wildfires.
The fire restrictions will remain in effect until rescinded.
Under the restrictions, fires, campfires, charcoal fires or stoves are prohibited except in the following designated recreation sites on the Mendocino National Forest (no campfire permit is required):
· Grindstone Ranger District – Whitlock, Kingsley, Sugarfoot, Three Prong, Wells Cabin, Lake Red Bluff Recreation Area, Big Springs Day Use Area, Letts Lake, Mill Valley, Dixie Glade, Plaskett Meadows, Masterson, Little Stony, Grey Pine, Fouts Springs, Davis Flat, South Fork, North Fork, Mill Creek, Cedar Camp and Old Mill Campgrounds.
· Upper Lake Ranger District – Fuller Grove, Fuller Grove Group Camp, Navy Camp, Pogie Point, Oak Flat, Sunset, Middle Creek, Deer Valley, Bear Creek, Penny Pines Campgrounds and Lake Pillsbury Summer Home Sites.
· Covelo Ranger District – Eel River, Little Doe, Howard Lake, Howard Meadows, Atchison, Green Springs and Hammerhorn Lake Campgrounds.
Also under the restrictions, campfires, charcoal fires or stoves are allowed in federally designated Wilderness areas and the following designated fire safe recreation sites on the forest with a valid California Campfire Permit:
· Upper Lake Ranger District – Lower Nye Campground, Pine Mountain Lookout, Hunter Camp, Pinnacle Rock Camp, Spruce Grove Camp, Sanhedrin Hunter Camp, Dry Oak Camp and Lakeview Camp.
· Covelo Ranger District – Surveyor Camp, Rock Cabin, Rattlesnake, Post Camp, Grizzly Flat and Patrol Camp.
· Grindstone Ranger District – Pacific Ridge Station, West Crockett, Ides Cove, Horse Packer, Board Tree Camp, Rocky Cabin and Sugar Springs.
In all other areas of the forest, lanterns or portable stoves using gas, jellied petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel will be allowed as long as the person has a current California Campfire Permit with them.
California Campfire Permits may be obtained at any Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management or CAL FIRE office in California, as well as from Forest Service field employees. The may also be obtained online at www.preventwildfireca.org .
The following activities are also prohibited as part of the fire restrictions:
· Smoking except within an enclosed vehicle or in the designated recreation sites listed above.
· Welding or operating an acetylene or other torch with an open flame.
· Using explosives.
· Possessing, discharging or using any kind of fireworks.
Forest visitors will be able to continue riding Off-Highway Vehicles (OHVs) on designated roads and trails, provided that the vehicles are equipped with the required spark arresters.
Spark arresters also are required on chainsaws being used for people filling valid personal use wood cutting permits and may only be used on designated roads and trails.
Forest Supervisor Ann Carlson says, “We invite the public to enjoy this great forest and remember that we all have a responsibility to help prevent wildfires. Please respect the fire restrictions and be careful when using anything with a flame or that can throw a spark.”
One less spark means one less wildfire, officials said.
Temporary fire restrictions are put in place to provide for public safety, protect natural resources and limit the threat of human-caused wildfires.
Similar restrictions are going into effect on neighboring forests. However, restrictions can vary by forest and visitors should check with the national forest they plan on visiting for the latest fire restrictions and conditions.
For the Mendocino National Forest, the fire restrictions are formally referenced through Order Number 08-16-13.
Violation of these fire restrictions is punishable by a fine of no more than $5,000 for an individual, $10,000 for an organization, or up to six months imprisonment or both.
For more information, please contact the Mendocino National Forest at 530-934-3316 or visit www.fs.usda.gov/mendocino .
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – The Putah Creek Wildlife Area in Solano County has reopened for public use as of Saturday, July 9.
The wildlife area was closed in August 2015 to allow recovery from the Wragg Fire.
Though the area continues to recover from the fire and winter rains, the slopes are now sufficiently stable to allow safe public access without incurring environmental damage.
Hikers are advised to choose their footing carefully and exercise caution as underlying surfaces of the existing trails may have undergone shifting and fallen trees and other hazards may still be present.
As always, avoid hiking in extreme heat, wear appropriate footwear and bring plenty of water.
Putah Creek Wildlife Area is located in Solano County just east of Lake Berryessa.
For more information on the wildlife area, please visit www.wildlife.ca.gov/lands/places-to-visit/putah-creek-wa .