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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The National Weather Service is predicting more rain this week thanks to a very wet series of storms set to arrive on Wednesday.
Forecasters issued a special weather statement for Lake County and other parts of Northern California that are expected to be impacted by the storms.
Moist Pacific air is forecast to bring a wet pattern to Northern California from Wednesday through Friday, with periods of moderate to heavy rain and heavy mountain snow, the National Weather Service reported.
Forecasters are predicting from 1 to 2 inches of rain in low-lying areas and 3 to 6 inches in the mountains.
The amount of rain expected has caused forecasters to once again urge caution in areas with burn scars from recent wildland fires, where there is the potential for debris flows.
As for snow, the National Weather Service said more than a foot of new snow is possible over the 6,000 foot level across the region, with the potential for 2 to 3 feet of snow on Northern California's high peaks.
The region could see more rain from an additional system expected to arrive on Sunday, although forecasters said the certainty regarding that storm is not high at this time.
Ahead of the bigger late-week storms, Lake County has a chance of showers on Tuesday night, forecasters said.
Lake County is coming off a damp weekend, with the National Weather Service reporting that, as of 11:30 p.m. Sunday, 24-hour rainfall totals in inches included 0.80 near Upper Lake, 0.52 near Lakeport, 1.20 in Cobb and 0.39 near Middletown.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Several cats are waiting for new homes at Lake County Animal Care and Control this week.
The cats come in a variety of ages, colors and coat types.
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 here: http://bit.ly/Z6xHMb .
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”).
'Binx'
“Binx” is a domestic long hair cat with a black coat.
Her owners were victims of the Valley fire who had to give up her because they no longer had a place to keep her.
She's in cat room kennel No. 19, ID No. 4067.
Gray tabby kitten
This female gray tabby kitten has a short coat.
She's in cat room kennel No. 66, ID No. 4084.
Domestic short hair mix
This male domestic short hair mix has an all-gray coat.
Shelter staff said he is very sweet and just wants attention.
He is in cat room kennel No. 87, ID No. 4065.
Domestic long hair mix
This male domestic long hair mix has a gray tabby and white coat.
Shelter staff said he's super sweet, and likes to be cuddled and held.
He's in cat room kennel No. 150, ID No. 4059.
Adoptable cats also can be seen at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Cats_and_Kittens.htm or at www.petfinder.com .
Please note: Cats listed at the shelter's Web page that are said to be “on hold” are not yet cleared for adoption.
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
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Clearlake's annual Christmas parade and tree lighting ceremony on Saturday night was packed with entertainment.
Students from Konocti Unified School District brought to life the "Winter Wonderland" theme of the parade, which was held on Lakeshore Drive to Austin Park.
Konocti Education Center Performing Arts School took first place among a field of 12 parade entries. The students, big and small, entertained the crowd with a merry song and dance number.
Second place went to Lower Lake High School's troupe of performing cheerleaders and drumline team led by Mr. and Mrs. Claus and the school's Trojan mascot.
Clearlake RV and Resort rolled into third place with its festively-decorated motorcycle tricycles and trailers.
Following the procession, Clearlake Councilman Russ Perdock welcomed the crowd to Austin Park, where Parade Princess Zoey Lindstrom held the honor of lighting the city's Christmas tree.
The Konocti Education Center Performing Arts School Choir and Lower Lake High's "Blue Notes" Show Choir dazzled the crowd, respectively, before and after the tree lighting while Santa sat for pictures with the children and the Lakeshore Lions and Lioness served hot cocoa and cookies.
Clearlake Vice Mayor Gina Fortino Dickson and Councilman Bruno Sabatier announced other crowd-pleasing entries such as that of the Clearlake Car Club, Moose Lodge No. 2284 and the Lake County Diamonds All Star cheer and tumbling team.
Email reporter Denise Rockenstein at
LAKEPORT, Calif. – A plan for a new AutoZone store will go to the Lakeport Planning Commission this week.
The commission will meet at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 9, in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.
City staff will take to the commission the proposal for the 7,842-square-foot retail building on a parcel that's just under an acre in size located at 301 and 401 Industrial Ave.
AutoZone Inc. of Memphis, Tenn., is proposing to build the project on land owned by Sam LaMonica of Napa.
The commission on Wednesday will consider an application for a tentative parcel map to create four new parcels, a zone change from industrial to major retail for proposed parcel one, a lot line adjustment with 292 Industrial Ave., and architectural and design review for the building on proposed parcel 1, and a variance to exceed the maximum amount of signage permitted by an additional 85 square feet on the parcels at 301 and 401 Industrial Ave.
Staff is recommending approval of the requests for the project, with the exception of a requested sign variance.
According to its Web site, AutoZone – a leading distributor of automotive replacement parts and accessories – has more than 5,000 stores in the United States, Puerto Rico, Mexico and Brazil.
The company – which opened its first store in Forrest City, Ark. on July 4, 1979 – reported net sales of $3.3 billion for the fourth quarter ending Aug. 29, an increase of nearly 8 percent over the same period last year.
The commission also will continue its consideration of minor revisions to the Lakeport Zoning Ordinance to increase transparency and streamline permitting processes.
That discussion begun at its Nov. 18 meeting. The video of that meeting can be seen above.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Do stars really “shoot” across the night sky?
They don’t, but meteors do! And December has a great meteor show in store for you.
The evening and early morning of Dec. 13 and 14 features the Geminids meteor shower. With no interference from the moon, this promises to be one of the year’s best!
Grab a comfortable lawn chair, dress in warm clothing, find a dark location, lean back and enjoy the show.
You can view the shower most any time it gets dark, but the most meteors can be seen in the wee hours of the morning (around 2 a.m.).
You don’t need to look at any specific part of the sky. In fact, you can spend time exploring December’s constellations while waiting for a streaking meteor to appear.
The Geminids occur when the earth passes through debris left in the orbit of an asteroid named 3200 Phaeton.
As small chunks of debris enter the earth’s atmosphere, they burn up as they streak across the sky. It’s no wonder they are sometimes called shooting stars.
John Zimmerman is a resident of Lake County and has been an amateur astronomer for over 50 years. For more information about Astronomy and local resources, visit his Web site at www.lakecountyskies.com .
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Police arrested a Lakeport woman on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol early Saturday after she crashed her vehicle into a power pole and a fence.
Alicia Marie Smith, 29, was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol, according to Lakeport Police Chief Brad Rasmussen.
At 2:20 a.m. Saturday Lakeport Police officers were dispatched to the 2300 block of Lakeshore Boulevard to investigate the report of a vehicle crashed into a power pole, Rasmussen said.
The first officer arrived on scene within three minutes and found that a blue 2000 Oldsmobile Intrigue GX had crashed head-on into a fence and power pole, according to Rasmussen.
Rasmussen said the power pole was sheared off at about 5 feet, with the lower section of it wedged under the vehicle and the upper section leaning against the vehicle.
Officers located the driver, Alicia Smith, standing near the vehicle. She was the only person who had been in the car at the time of the wreck, Rasmussen said.
Rasmussen said officers requested that the Lakeport Fire Protection District respond to evaluate Smith for injuries and she was determined to be uninjured.
The officers noticed that Smith was displaying obvious signs and symptoms of intoxication and she admitted to consuming four to five drinks. Rasmussen said officers administered a series of field sobriety tests which she was unable to pass.
He said the officers also determined that, based on the results of a preliminary alcohol screening device, Smith’s blood alcohol level at the time of the collision was approximately .21 percent, about two and a half times the legal limit.
Smith was arrested and transported to the Lakeport Police Department for questioning and blood alcohol testing by breath on the California Department of Justice blood alcohol breath machine.
Afterward, she was taken to the Lake County Jail and booked for drunk driving, Rasmussen said.
Jail records showed she was booked on a misdemeanor DUI charge, with bail set at $5,000. She later posted the required percentage of bail and was released.
PG&E responded to the scene to repair the damaged power pole, according to Rasmussen.
Rasmussen said Smith's crash was the second one involving drunk driving in the city of Lakeport over a three-day period.
“We ask that all drivers keep our streets safe and not drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs,” Rasmussen said. “Call a friend, family member or a taxi, it is not worth risking other people’s lives.”
Community members are asked to call 911 to report all suspected drunk drivers on streets and highways.
Rasmussen said Lakeport Police patrol officers will continue to aggressively search for those choosing to drive impaired and endangering the city's streets.