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UPPER LAKE, Calif. – The Habematolel Pomo tribe has purchased the former Westamerica Bank building in downtown Upper Lake.
Westamerica Bank closed the Upper Lake branch Oct. 16, donating it to Hospice Services of Lake County four days later, as Lake County News has reported.
Hospice Services Executive Director Corrigan Gommenginger said the sale to the tribe was finalized on Feb. 26.
The 3,000-square-foot building, built in 1959, is located at 9470 Main St. It has a kitchen, two bathrooms, a meeting space and 24 parking spots behind it, and sold for $250,000, according to Gommenginger.
“The purchase of the former bank property demonstrates the tribe's commitment to investing in the Upper Lake community,” said Tribal Chair Sherry Treppa.
Treppa said the purchase not only benefits Hospice Services of Lake County – which she called a worthy cause” – but provides the tribe a property to house and expand its economic enterprises.
The tribe is the owner of the nearby Running Creek Casino.
Gommenginger said Westamerica Bank representatives Sinda Knight and Lisa Kline visited his office last March to inform him that they were closing the bank branch and intended to donate the building to his organization. It was the latest in a number of donations the bank had made to Hospice Services over the years.
He said the Hospice Services Board of Directors later voted to accept the bank building, discussing how it could support the organization's mission.
At the Hospice Services September strategic planning retreat, the board and staff considered many options for the building, including renting or selling it, Gommenginger said.
“We had a number of discussions and we had a number of ideas,” Gommenginger said.
However, no particular idea stood out, he said.
Among the options that Gommenginger said had been considered was another thrift store. Hospice Services has successfully run three thrift shops in Lakeport, Clearlake and Middletown, which have continued to see strong donations from the community even during the Valley fire.
Hospice Services reached out to the Upper Lake community to get ideas for the building. When the thrift shop idea was proposed to the community, “That wasn't really what they wanted,” but rather a retail business or a restaurant that would bring people to town, Gommenginger said.
“At the end of the day, we were kind of open,” he said.
However, it was during that community outreach process that Gommenginger said Hospice Services learned that the tribe was interested in the building for much-needed office space, which in turn would bring people into Upper Lake.
Gommenginger said the tribe approached Hospice Services about the building during the holidays, making the offer that ultimately was finalized with the sale in February.
When Westamerica Bank donated the building to Hospice Services, it included a deed restriction preventing the building from being used as a bank for 10 years. Gommenginger said that deed restriction is binding on the tribe as part of the sale's terms.
He said Hospice Services – which has a roughly $4 million annual budget – will use the proceeds from the building's sale to ensure that hospice care and bereavement services continue for many generations.
While hospice care is covered 100-percent by Medicare, Medi-Cal and most private insurance, Gommenginger said Hospice Services is committed to caring for those with serious illness, regardless of medical coverage and ability to pay.
In 2015, Hospice Services provided $78,000 in uncompensated care. Gommenginger said Hospice Services is seeing an increase in Hispanic community members who are using the services but don't have coverage of any kind.
In response, he said the organization's board is looking at using the building sale proceeds to create a perpetual program to ensure hospice care for anyone who needs it.
For more information about the care that Hospice Services of Lake County, visit www.lakecountyhospice.org or call 707-263-6222.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Caltrans is inviting the community to a meeting to discuss a proposal for a roundabout at the intersection of Highway 29 and Hartmann Road.
The drop-in style meeting will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 22, at Middletown High School, 20932 Big Canyon Road.
There will be displays of the project and Caltrans staff will be on hand to answer questions.
Caltrans is proposing to install a roundabout to improve the intersection's safety and operation.
The proposal has been on the drawing board for several years as Caltrans has worked to find solutions for the intersection's high crash rate.
In October 2011 Caltrans completed the installation of a three-way stop at the intersection due to a high number of vehicle collisions that had earned the site an overall crash rate five times the state average. At the same time fatalities and injuries at the intersection were 15 and six times, respectively, the state average, officials said at the time.
If the project goes forward, it would be the county's fourth roundabout.
The first was installed by the city of Lakeport about a decade ago at the intersection of Lakeport Boulevard, Parallel Drive and Todd Road.
Caltrans installed the next two, at the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff in Nice, completed about three years ago, and at the intersection of Highway 20 and Highway 29 in Upper Lake, which was finished last year.
For those unable to attend the meeting, the displays will be available on the project Web site at www.dot.ca.gov/dist1/d1projects/hartmann .
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – With Clear Lake approaching its full mark, officials on Wednesday began releasing water from the Cache Creek Dam.
The California-Nevada River Forecast Center is forecasting Clear Lake to reach the full level – 7.56 feet Rumsey – this weekend, due to continuing storms.
The National Weather Service is forecasting several inches of rain will fall on Lake County from Thursday into next week.
With continued high flow levels anticipated to continue through next week, early releases will help keep Clear Lake levels closer to full level and reduce potential flood impacts, Lake County Water Resources reported.
Water Resources reported that at approximately 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Yolo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District – which holds the main water rights to Clear Lake – began releasing water from Cache Creek Dam.
Releases will be gradually increased depending on actual lake levels and forecasts. It is possible that full flood releases will occur by this weekend, Water Resources said.
Because of the limited flow capacity of the Cache Creek Outlet Channel, full flood releases when Clear Lake is full is only 2,500 cubic feet per second, which will reduce the rise in Clear Lake by approximately 1.5 inches per day, officials said.
Yolo Flood is in contact with Lake County Water Resources and is coordinating operation of the dam with county staff, according to Water Resources staff.
As a result of the Gopcevic Decree of 1920, operating criteria were developed that require flows be released from Clear Lake when the level exceeds certain levels which vary by the time of the year.
The operating criteria mandatory release level is 7.46 feet Rumsey for March 9. There is a 6-inch exception to allow for early releases for forecasted storms, Water Resources reported.
On Wednesday morning, Clear Lake was at 6.15 feet Rumsey, more than 1.3 – or 16 inches – below the operating criteria. While this is outside the normal limits of the operating criteria, Water Resources said Yolo Flood and county staff agreed that, with the current forecasts, beginning flood releases at this time will help reduce potential flooding around Clear Lake and is in the best interests of the public.
Additional information regarding the operating criteria and Clear Lake is available at the Lake County Water Resources Web site at http://watershed.co.lake.ca.us ; click on the “Clear Lake Information” link
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – With a series of storms bearing down on Northern California, forecasters are urging residents to be ready for winds, heavy rains, snow in higher elevations and the potential for flooding.
Forecasters said a parade of strong storms is expected to bring periods of moderate to heavy rainfall beginning on Thursday and extending into early next week.
With soils already saturated and creeks running high from several days of rain, officials are concerned that it could lead to flooding.
As a result, the National Weather Service has issued a flood watch that will be in effect from 4 a.m. Thursday though 6 p.m. Sunday across a large part of Northern California – including Lake County – warning of the potential for urban and small stream flooding over a five-day period. Areas of particular concern are those below 4,000 feet elevation.
Along with the rain, the storms are forecast to bring gusty winds, leading to the potential for downed trees and damaged power utilities.
In Lake County's burn areas, heavy rains also are a concern due to the potential for flooding and slides.
Lake County's specific forecast calls for several inches of rain from Thursday through Tuesday.
During the day and night on Thursday alone, up to 3 inches of rain is expected to fall, with showers forecast to continue into Tuesday night.
The Lake County Department of Public Works said Wednesday that the incoming storms are expected to inundate the Scotts Valley Road area near Lakeport, potentially closing the road for several days.
Scotts Valley Road had been closed temporarily earlier this week after having been flooded as a result of weekend storms.
Public Works anticipated water would again cover Scotts Valley Road on Thursday night or early Friday morning, and officials asked people in the area to be prepared.
A detour on Eickhoff Road will be opened up late on Thursday afternoon in expectation of the incoming rain event, Public Works reported.
The detour is for area residents, and those who don't need to travel through the area are encouraged to avoid it. Public Works said the road can become impassible, and wakes from vehicles can cause property damage.
The recent rains have pushed Clear Lake's depth to 6.21 feet Rumsey as of Wednesday afternoon. A full lake is 7.56 feet Rumsey, and Clear Lake is forecast to hit that level this weekend, according to the California-Nevada River Forecast Center.
The lake's level led Yolo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District – in coordination with Lake County Water Resources – to begin releasing water from Cache Creek Dam on Wednesday morning.
Water Resources officials said it's possible that full flood releases will occur by this weekend.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – State Sen. Mike McGuire’s legislation with Assemblyman Bill Dodd that provides state assistance to help Lake County cover the costs incurred by three major fires was approved in its first committee on Tuesday.
It is estimated that $1.3 billion in damage resulted from the third worst fire in state history, the Valley fire, and the poorest county in the state is on the hook to cover a portion of those costs – unless SB 937 is signed into law.
The county’s anticipated share of the cost would range from $2 million to $3 million.
The bill was supported with a 12-0 bipartisan vote in the Senate Committee on Governmental Organization Tuesday morning.
“The Valley fire caused unspeakable devastation and destruction in Lake County and resulted in over a billion dollars in damage,” Sen. McGuire said. “Now, to make matters worse, these communities are burdened by a historic loss of property, sales and bed taxes. Almost all of the tax base in southern Lake County, ground zero for the Valley fire, has been obliterated. The state needs to rally and help Lake in its greatest time of need and cover the costs to relieve the burden of Lake County communities and neighbors.”
The Tuesday morning brought to a close two days of significant meetings for Lake County’s recovery held in the State Capitol, led by Sen. McGuire and Assemblyman Dodd.
On Monday, Lake County public officials and staff presented several projects to the Governor’s Office, the Office of Emergency Services, Cal Fire, the State Water Board and the Department of Fish and Wildlife to boost support for Lake County’s short and long term recovery and rebuilding.
State funding opportunities are being identified and sought for projects including development of an Anderson Springs Wastewater Treatment Plant, Socrates Mine Road evacuation route and water quality needs for Clear Lake.
On the legislative front, Senate Bill 937, Lake County Fire Disaster Relief, adds the Lake County fires of 2015 to the list of events for which the state share of eligible cost is up to 100 percent of the non-federal financial assistance.
In 2015, more than 50 percent of all wildland fire activity for Cal Fire was in just one county – Lake.
Three major fires impacted the county – the Rocky, the Jerusalem and the Valley. They burned a total of 170,623 acres.
The Rocky and Jerusalem were incredibly destructive, scorching 94,556 acres, but the Valley Fire was of historic proportion. It was the third worst wildland fire in California history.
The Valley fire started on Sept. 12 and didn’t stop for nearly a month after its initial spark.
At its peak, 48 acres burned every minute. In the end, more than 1,900 structures burned to the ground, including 1,300 homes.
Nearly 20,000 residents were evacuated and ultimately 76,067 acres burned and more than $1.3 billion in damage resulted from the historic disaster.
These fires were exacerbated by the worst drought in the past 500 hundred years.
Lake County Supervisor Rob Brown testified in support of the bill Tuesday, outlining the economic hit the county would take if it has to pay for a share of the disaster’s cost.
“With a discretionary budget in our general fund being only $32 million, Lake County is the poorest in the state and the non-passage of SB 937 could mean the potential elimination of 11 of the 39 deputy sheriff positions that we already struggle to get by with. It could mean the elimination of 14 of our 29 deputy probation officers or the elimination of our parks maintenance program and the aquatic weed abatement program on Clear Lake. It could mean the elimination of road maintenance programs within the fire area,” Supervisor Brown said.
SB 937 was heard and unanimously approved Tuesday in the Senate’s Committee on Governmental Organization.
Testifying on behalf of the bill, alongside Sen. McGuire, were Lake County Sheriff Brian Martin and South Lake County Fire Protection District Board Chair Jim Comisky.
Sheriff Martin recounted to the Senate Committee the first moments he became aware of the strength and destruction of the Valley fire.
“As Sen. McGuire and I were briefed by other first responders, we could hear the roar of the fire. It sounded like a combination of a jet engine and a freight train coming through town. The damage it left behind was worse than both of those two machines could have done. We listened as propane tanks exploded all around us. We were in a battle zone and the Valley fire was destroying our community,” Sheriff Martin said.
SB 937 will now head to the Senate Appropriations Committee for approval.
UPPER LAKE, Calif. – The Upper Lake Unified School District on Tuesday voted to hire two principal positions and accepted an organization chart that lays out the leadership responsibilities for the new district.
In separate votes the board unanimously approved hiring the principals for Upper Lake Middle School and Upper Lake High School.
Based on the board's action, Don Boyd, the current assistant superintendent of the Upper Lake Union High School District, will be the new principal of the middle school and Sandy Coatney, Upper Lake High's vice principal and dean of students, will be the new high school principal, effective July 1.
Boyd and Coatney are the fourth and fifth employees, respectively, that the board has voted to hire as it has begun the work of establishing its key administrative posts.
First hired was interim Superintendent Patrick Iaccino, who continues to also fulfill his role as superintendent and superintendent of the soon-to-be-dissolved high school district.
The board followed up by hiring Dina McCrea, Iaccino's administrative assistant at the high school, to fulfill that same role for the new district, followed by the hiring of the high school's business manager, Sue Milhaupt, as chief business official.
Still to be hired is the new elementary school principal. Valerie Gardner, currently the superintendent/principal of the elementary district, is due to retire this summer.
The board approved a recruitment for the principal's job. The deadline for applications was March 4. A committee that includes Iaccino and Gardner, and elementary teachers and parents will work select the new candidate.
In other business, the board unanimously approved a district organizational chart.
At the top of the chart is the superintendent, and under that post are listed an administrative assistant and a head of maintenance and operations, and two arms of management – district and site.
Under the district management arm are the chief business official – a fiscal assistant and food services staffer answer to that individuals – along with the director of special education and director of technology.
Under site management are the elementary, middle and high school principals, with the middle school principal to oversee alternative education, with transportation under the high school principal's oversight.
Both Milhaupt and Iaccino also gave updates to the board about the ongoing work to get district business fully consolidated, including issues with free and reduced lunch programs and the district's ad hoc committees.
Gardner, seated in the audience, told the board that there is a tremendous amount of work going on right now regarding the effort to complete the consolidation, adding that it's “mind boggling” how much Iaccino is having to handle.
Iaccino said it's a learning process and indicated he's glad to be doing it, despite the workload.
The board is next scheduled to meet Tuesday, March 22, and is expected to move from twice-monthly meetings to meeting just once a month beginning in April.
Email Elizabeth Larson at