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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Library will join hundreds of libraries throughout the country on Saturday, Nov. 21, for the eighth annual celebration of gaming in libraries – International Games Day @ Your Library.
Like so many other libraries across the country and around the world, the Lake County Library will offer special gaming programs and events suitable for the whole family at three branches.
The library will supply some board games and patrons are invited to bring games also.
At Lakeport Library the games begin at 10 a.m. and end at 4:30 p.m. Lakeport Library is located at 1425 N. High Street. The phone number is 707-263-8817.
At Redbud Library games begin at 10 a.m. and end at 5 p.m. Redbud Library is located at 14785 Burns Valley Road in Clearlake, telephone 707-994-5115.
At Middletown Library the games begin at 10 a.m. and end at 3 p.m. Middletown Library is located at 21256 Washington St. and the phone number is 707-987-3674.
“Libraries are becoming family destinations, and are continuously offering new formats and innovative programs and services that educate, entertain and expand interaction with their users,” said Christopher Veach, director of the Lake County Library.
“Gaming is yet another example of how libraries are becoming more than just educational resources for the communities that they serve,” Veach said. “They are also places where users of all ages are welcome to have fun together. And if that fun exercises their brains, enables them to meet new people in a safe and enjoyable environment, and celebrates our community’s connection to each other and to libraries on every continent on Earth ... well, that’s just the nature of games!”
International Games Day @ Your Library is an international initiative supported by the American Library Association, the Australian Library and Information Association and Nordic Game Day.
For more information on International Games Day please visit http://ilovelibraries.org/gaming .
The Lake County Library is on the Internet at http://library.lakecountyca.gov and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LakeCountyLibrary .
Jan Cook is on staff at the Lake County Library.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Property owners impacted by the Valley fire are urged to complete a right of entry, or ROE, form before Dec. 1.
Removal of debris will protect the watersheds and prevent environmental damage.
State and federal funds were released and Lake County is able to offer property owners a safe and comprehensive debris removal program using specialized contractors managed by CalRecycle engineers.
Property, including destroyed buildings will be cleared, cleaned and tested at no cost to property owners.
Those who have not submitted a ROE or hired a private contractor by Dec. 1 will begin receiving abatement notices from the county.
They will have 30 days to complete a ROE or hire a private contractor to commence the cleanup themselves.
Starting the first week of January, the county intends to begin abatement of sites for which ROEs have not been submitted or private contractors secured through the assistance of California Office of Emergency Services for the cleanups.
The ROE is a two-page form that takes five to 10 minutes to complete. The form should be submitted to the Lake County Environmental Health Department in person at 922 Bevins Court, Lakeport; by email to
The ROE can be obtained by contacting Lake County Environmental Health or online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Environmental_Health/Valley__Rocky_and_Jerusalem_Fires.htm .
NORTH COAST, Calif. – Authorities are alerting the community to a new identity theft scam hitting the region.
Capt. Greg Van Patten of the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office said that on Tuesday afternoon the agency learned that the new scam had begun to be perpetrated in Mendocino County.
Beginning a few days ago there has been an automated recording – unlisted or 001 listed in caller ID – that people in the community have been receiving from the "Savings Bank of Mendocino County" indicating the person's MasterCard has been blocked, Van Patten said.
The person is prompted to provide personal identifying information, such as card PIN number and social security number, to get the card reactivated, he said.
This week, Lake County residents also began reporting on social media that they have received similar calls claiming to be from Savings Bank and other financial institutions.
Savings Bank of Mendocino County has subsequently issued a statement urging customers to beware of fraudulent automated phone calls.
If you receive an automated phone call that conveys it is from Savings Bank, it is fraudulent. Do not provide requested information. The bank does not make automated phone calls and will not call customers to activate their debit cards or to ask for account or card information.
The bank will call customers if there is unusual activity and it is suspected to be fraud. In this case, the calls are made in person, not automated."
Anyone who receives any suspicious call of a similar nature should always consult with their financial institution or local law enforcement agency prior to engaging in the requested activity.
Anyone with information that might help to identity the person(s) responsible for this Identity Theft scam is urged to call the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office tip-line at 707-234-2100.
California Controller Betty T. Yee on Wednesday announced that her team’s detailed review of the state Board of Equalization’s accounting and administrative controls identified material weaknesses in how the board allocates retail sales and use tax.
In some cases, this led to state revenue being deposited in the wrong accounts, Yee reported.
The review team also discovered weaknesses in the board’s oversight of its internal revolving fund used for salaries, travel, and vendor payments.
“The board is entrusted with making sure tax dollars get to the right places,” Controller Yee said. “I am deeply concerned that the board is falling short in this crucial mission. The board must implement more internal controls, train staff, and break down silos that are detrimental to sound administration.”
Before being elected controller – the state's chief fiscal officers – Yee had served two terms on the Board of Equalization, representing part of Northern California that included Lake County.
In response to the controller’s findings, BOE Executive Director Cynthia Bridges wrote that the board is committed to strengthening fiscal controls and communication.
An internal review, dated June 30, led board staff to develop an action plan to address weaknesses, Bridges wrote.
The controller’s review team noted that the board did not describe improvements that were under way before they saw the controller’s report. As a result, the controller’s team could not assess the board’s action plan.
Other Board of Equalization members also responded to the findings Wednesday.
“This is the board's highest priority right now. We are developing a strategy with the executive director and management team to resolve these issues rapidly. California taxpayers should always have confidence that the state is managing their taxes efficiently,” said Vice Chair George Runner.
Fiona Ma, who now represents Lake County on the Board of Equalization, noted that Yee's audit raises a number of disappointing and troubling issues.
“As a Certified Public Accountant, it is unacceptable to me that a tax and auditing agency would fail to perform and carry out its basic responsibilities and functions,” Ma said.
Ma said that, based on the 11 months she's served on the state Board of Equalization, she believes the issues arose from a lack of transparency and oversight in agency operations.
“At our next board hearing, I will be introducing a motion to create a standing Auditing and Oversight Committee of the state Board of Equalization to ensure that these issues not only get corrected but stay corrected,” she said.
Ma also commended Yee for her leadership and diligence in conducting the audit, and added that she is “committed to working with Controller Yee and my colleagues on the board to correct these glaring problems immediately.”
The Board of Equalization was established by a state constitutional amendment in 1879 to ensure uniformity of property tax assessments throughout California.
Today, the board collects the retail sales and use tax, property taxes, and special taxes, as well as handling appeals of tax cases.
In the 2013-14 fiscal year, the board collected $48.5 billion in retail sales and use tax revenue, accounting for more than 24 percent of all state revenue.
Among the review’s findings:
· The board lacks adequate controls over the retail sales tax fund, rendering it unable to timely detect errors. In one case, the controller’s team found that the state general fund – the source of most spending – got $47.8 million too much, while other funds were shortchanged that amount.
· The board suffers from a lack of reliable information and communication among its staff units. As a result, revenue collection staff may be unaware of what is included in statistical reports used to determine tax allocations or the effects of new laws and regulations on allocations.
· In quarterly reconciliations of tax revenue allocations, the board improperly counted items that should have been left out, and made incorrect adjustments, leading to misallocations of funds.
· The board’s Office Revolving Fund (ORF) did not collect debts in a timely manner, including travel advances, salary advances, and payments due from various vendors. Vendor payments through the ORF – which should have gone through a normal claims process – opened the door to misuse of state funds. Employees did not sign forms requesting salary advances, and the controller’s reviewers could find no evidence advances were approved by managers or supervisors.
UPPER LAKE, Calif. – An Upper Lake woman was found dead at the scene of a single-vehicle crash on Highway 20 Wednesday morning.
The California Highway Patrol's Clear Lake Area office said the 51-year-old woman has yet to be positively identified.
The report said the CHP and firefighters responded to the report of a crash at 9:40 a.m. Wednesday on Highway 20 west of Witter Springs Road. The CHP did not give a specific time for when the crash occurred.
The CHP said the woman was driving her 2002 Ford Focus eastbound on Highway 20 at an undetermined speed when, for an unknown reason, she veered off the roadway and the vehicle overturned.
The woman was wearing her seat belt at the time of the crash, according to the report.
The wreck's cause remains under investigation. The CHP said it is unknown if alcohol was a factor in the crash.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The city of Clearlake is making plans for a merry Christmas.
The annual Clearlake Christmas Parade takes place beginning at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, and will follow a route from Redbud Park to Austin Park on Lakeshore Drive.
This year's theme is "Winter Wonderland," and participants of all ages are being sought.
Trophies will be awarded to the top three entries.
Participants are prohibited from throwing candy and other treats into the crowd; however, walkers may hand items to spectators. Participants must also adhere to other safety precautions as well.
The parade will culminate with the annual tree lighting ceremony at Austin Park, where Santa and Mrs. Claus will be waiting to take pictures with all the children.
Parents are advised to bring their own cameras as a photographer will not be provided.
Hot chocolate and cookies will be provided by the Lakeshore Lions and Lioness.
Entry forms are available at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive; Enterprise Towing/Big O Tire 15195 Lakeshore Drive; and Bob's Vacuum, 4165 Mullen Avenue, all in Clearlake. There is no cost to participate.
Additionally, a volunteer is being sought to play the part of Santa in this year's event.
For more information or to volunteer, contact the Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce at 707-994-3600.
Email reporter Denise Rockenstein at