News

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — As families prepare to celebrate the holidays, the California Highway Patrol reminds everyone to prioritize safety on the road.

To keep travelers safe throughout the busy holiday season, the CHP is initiating the first of two statewide maximum enforcement periods, or MEP, this month to reduce traffic incidents by targeting unsafe driving behaviors and assisting motorists.

The CHP’s Christmas MEP begins at 6:01 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 24, and continues until 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 25.

During this period, the CHP will increase patrols throughout the state to deter dangerous driving behaviors, including impaired driving, speeding, distracted driving and seat belt violations.

The CHP also encourages the public to report unsafe drivers by calling 9-1-1.

“This time of year is about celebrating with family and friends, but it’s also a time when traffic incidents increase due to poor driving decisions,” said CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee. “Each of us has a role in making California’s roads safer. Let’s work together to keep this holiday season free of tragedy.”

Last year, during the 78-hour Christmas MEP, 20 people lost their lives in crashes within CHP jurisdiction. In addition, CHP officers made over 900 arrests for driving under the influence.

“Let's make safety our top priority on the road! Buckle up, drive responsibly, and if you're celebrating, always plan for a sober ride. Your thoughtful choices can help prevent crashes and keep California’s roads safe for everyone. Celebrate wisely and drive with care!” the CHP said in its announcement on the MEP.

December is a month of celebration, whether it's Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or New Year’s Eve. Regardless of the holiday, food-sharing and family gatherings are all part of seasonal traditions.

The U.S. Census Bureau joins the rest of the country in celebrating the holidays with a fun look at data and statistics on holiday-themed goods, from states that produce the most Christmas trees, toys and candles to the ones that import the most beer and wine.

Holiday spirits

As the holiday season approaches, many celebrations from holiday office parties to family gatherings will likely feature beer and wine.

In 2022, the U.S. had 5,165 breweries, up from 4,825 establishments in 2021 and 4,494 U.S. wineries, up from 4,284 in 2021, according to the County Business Patterns.

The Annual Survey of Manufactures (ASM) also provides data on U.S. manufacturing of the beer and wine industries from 2018 to 2021: ASM data on breweries and ASM data on wineries.

Toys, dolls and games

It wouldn’t be the holidays without toys for the children. According to the ASM data on Toy Manufacturing, there were about 500 doll, toy and game manufacturers in the United States in 2021.

The map below shows the 495 U.S. toy makers by state.



Candles

The most popular winter holidays, Kwanzaa, Christmas, and Hanukkah, all use candles in their celebrations.

According to the National Candle Association, approximately 35% of candle sales occur during the winter holiday season. Nonseasonal business accounts for approximately 65% of candle sales.

Census Bureau data classify candles in the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 339999 (all other) manufacturing category, which also includes artificial Christmas tree and tree ornament manufacturing.

U.S. places that sound a lot like Christmas

A few places are in the holiday spirit year-round thanks to their names.



Holiday trees

Many people decorate trees for the holidays even if they don’t celebrate Christmas.

Christmas trees are grown commercially on farms in all 50 states. According to the Census of Agriculture, the United States cut more than 14.5 million Christmas trees in 2022. Can you guess which U.S. states harvested the most Christmas trees?

More than half the trees cut in 2022 were grown in two states: Oregon and North Carolina. Michigan, Washington, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Virginia are also notable Christmas tree-growing states.

Holiday fare

Turkey is a favorite holiday meal but what states produce the most?

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, total turkey production in 2023 was 218.0 million birds. The eight states that produced the most:

Minnesota (38.5 million).
North Carolina (29.0 million).
Arkansas (27.0 million).
Indiana (20.0 million).
Missouri (17.0 million).
Virginia (15.5 million).
Iowa (11.5 million).
Pennsylvania (8.0 million).

Diana M. Rodriguez is a communications specialist in the Census Bureau’s communications directorate.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Lake County Animal Care and Control has a group of cats and kittens that would make great additions to homes.

This holiday season, if you’re considering a new pet, check out the shelter.

The kittens and cats at the shelter that are shown on this page have been cleared for adoption.

Call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278 or visit the shelter online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control.htm for information on visiting or adopting.

The shelter is located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, and on Bluesky, @erlarson.bsky.social. Find Lake County News on the following platforms: Facebook, @LakeCoNews; X, @LakeCoNews; Threads, @lakeconews, and on Bluesky, @lakeconews.bsky.social.

LUCERNE, Calif. — The work to dredge the Lucerne Harbor has been completed, with the boat launch once again reopened.

The long-awaited project began on Nov. 4, when the boat launching ramp and portions of the parking lot at Lucerne Harbor Park were closed, as Lake County News has reported.

The project was needed to remove the silt that had filled in the harbor, which hadn’t been dredged since it was constructed in 1965, according to Public Services Director Lars Ewing.

Marz Engineering of Ukiah, which put in the lowest of two bids at $211,700, was awarded the project by the Board of Supervisors in October.

The company completed the project on schedule, with the harbor once again fully reopened earlier this month.

The work window extended from Oct. 15 and Dec. 31, which officials said was meant to protect the Clear Lake hitch.

Excavation and removal of the spoils were completed by the end of the first week of December.

Next, water sampling and testing had to be completed ahead of the sediment barrier being removed and the boat ramp being reopened, said Deputy Public Services Director Kati Galvani.

Galvani said the county parks team repositioned the docks to prepare for reopening.

The harbor was dredged to approximately 1,316 feet above sea level, the original construction depth when the harbor was built around 1965, Galvani said.

She said that depth was based on the 1929 National Geodetic Vertical Datum, a system that was long used by engineers and surveyors to measure elevations above sea level in the United States.

“Dredge quantities are estimated to be approximately 3,000 cubic yards,” Galvani said.

Galvani said the dredging included cultural and archaeological monitoring by both Robinson Rancheria and the county’s consulting archaeologist.

As for whether or not any artifacts or remains were discovered, “Robinson’s official stance is to remain silent about what they did or did not find on any monitoring job. The County honors that,” Galvani wrote in an email to Lake County News.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, and on Bluesky, @erlarson.bsky.social. Find Lake County News on the following platforms: Facebook, @LakeCoNews; X, @LakeCoNews; Threads, @lakeconews, and on Bluesky, @lakeconews.bsky.social.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Forecasters said Christmas week will start off with a series of storms that are expected to bring rain through the weekend.

The National Weather Service said a series of three storms are forecast, the first of which arrived on Saturday and brought light precipitation.

A second atmospheric river storm is expected to arrive late Sunday morning, with continuing light showers on Monday.

The third storm will arrive on Monday afternoon and continue through Christmas Eve. That third storm system will be wetter, with moderate to heavy rain in lower elevations, and breezy to gusty southerly winds and isolated thunderstorms.

Sunday’s projected rainfall totals in Lake County are expected to be less than a tenth of an inch, with the same amount expected during the day on Monday.

The third, heavier storm is expected to bring an inch of rain on Monday night and a half an inch on Tuesday morning.

Christmas day, Wednesday, is forecast to be foggy in the morning, with rain in the afternoon.

Rainfall is in the forecast from Thursday through Saturday.

Winds are forecast through Tuesday, with the highest wind speeds predicted for Sunday, when gusts could reach about 20 miles per hour during the day and nearly 25 miles per hour at night.

Daytime temperatures this week are predicted to be in the 50s, with temperatures at night mostly in the 40s, with the exception of Christmas night, when they will drop into the 30s.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, and on Bluesky, @erlarson.bsky.social. Find Lake County News on the following platforms: Facebook, @LakeCoNews; X, @LakeCoNews; Threads, @lakeconews, and on Bluesky, @lakeconews.bsky.social.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Lake County Animal Care and Control has many dogs that are waiting to find their forever families this holiday season.

If you’re looking for a new friend to join your family during the holidays, consider a shelter dog.

The dogs available for adoption this week include mixes of Anatolian shepherd, Belgian malinois, boxer, bull terrier, cattle dog, Chihuahua, Doberman pinscher, German shepherd, German shorthaired pointer, husky, Labrador Retriever, pit bull terrier and terrier.

Dogs that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are either neutered or spayed, microchipped and, if old enough, given a rabies shot and county license before being released to their new owner. License fees do not apply to residents of the cities of Lakeport or Clearlake.

Those dogs and the others shown on this page at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption.

Call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278 or visit the shelter online for information on visiting or adopting.

The shelter is located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, and on Bluesky, @erlarson.bsky.social. Find Lake County News on the following platforms: Facebook, @LakeCoNews; X, @LakeCoNews; Threads, @lakeconews, and on Bluesky, @lakeconews.bsky.social.