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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County's unemployment numbers have continued to dip as the busy spring and summer season continues.
The California Employment Development Department's latest jobless report shows that Lake County's May unemployment rate was 6.9 percent, down from a revised 7 percent in April and 8.3 percent in May 2014.
California's unemployment rate, meanwhile, ticked slightly upward in May, rising to 6.4 percent from 6.3 percent in April, but continuing to improve over its May 2014 rate of 7.6 percent.
Nationally, unemployment in May was 5.5 percent, up from 5.4 percent in April but down from May 2015, when unemployment was 6.3 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Lake County's May jobless rate is the lowest it has recorded since October 2006, according to Employment Development Department historical data.
The county's civilian labor force in May totaled 30,550 individuals with 2,110 unemployed, compared to a total of 29,990 people and 2,110 unemployed in April and 29,900 people and 2,480 unemployed in May 2014, the agency said.
All employment sectors in Lake County showed growth in May over April, with total farm having the largest increase, 28.3 percent, followed by federal government, 15.4 percent; information, 7.1 percent; mining, logging and construction, 4.2 percent; and transportation, warehousing and utilities, 3.6 percent.
Lake County's statewide rank for unemployment in May was No. 30 – the same rank as for April – compared to neighboring counties including Colusa, 13.7 percent, No. 57; Glenn, 8.7 percent, No. 45; Mendocino, 5.2 percent, No. 14; Napa, 4.1 percent, No. 5; Sonoma, 4.3 percent, No. 7; and Yolo, 6.1 percent, No. 22.
Across the rest of California, nonfarm jobs totaled 16,054,100 in May, an increase of 54,200 jobs over the month, according to a survey of 58,000 businesses The year-over-year change, May 2014 to May 2015, showed an increase of 465,700 jobs, up 3.0 percent.
A federal survey of 5,500 households showed an increase in the number of employed people, estimating the number of Californians holding jobs in May was 17,813,000, an increase of 59,000 from April, and up 487,000 from the employment total in May of last year, the Employment Development Department reported.
The number of people unemployed in California was 1,212,000 – up by 12,000 over the month, but down by 220,000 compared with May of last year, the agency said.
Regarding Unemployment Insurance claims, the Employment Development Department said there were 379,996 people receiving regular benefits during the May survey week, compared with 415,987 in April and 435,763 in May of last year.
At the same time, new claims for Unemployment Insurance were 42,929 in May, compared with 47,462 in April and 53,388 in May of last year, according to the report.
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CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Firefighters quickly contained a wildland fire that burned several acres in Clearlake on Sunday evening.
Firefighters were first dispatched to the Ogulin fire shortly after 5 p.m., according to radio reports.
Initial reports placed it on the west side of Highway 53 near Ogulin Canyon Road, with Cal Fire Battalion Chief Greg Bertelli pinpointing the fire area more precisely to Highway 53 and Old Highway 53.
The first units on scene found a small fire burning in grass, with wind shifting and pushing smoke across Highway 53, which was closed briefly by the Clearlake Police Department, reports from the scene indicated.
Lake County Fire, Northshore Fire and Cal Fire had resources on scene, Bertelli said.
In addition to ground resources, Cal Fire's Copter 104 made water drops in the fire.
Firefighters quickly put a line around the fire to contain it, based on scanner reports.
Bertelli said the fire burned a total of 8.3 acres in grass.
He said firefighters “got a quick jump on it,” quickly containing the incident.
There were no injuries, Bertelli said.
Reports from the scene indicated that firefighters planned to conduct a few hours of mop up, extending into the late evening.
Bertelli said the fire's cause is under investigation.
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LOWER LAKE, Calif. – A single-vehicle crash early Saturday morning near Lower Lake claimed the lives of two people, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The CHP said the crash occurred at 2:30 a.m. Saturday on Morgan Valley Road east of Bonham Road.
Initial reports from both sheriff's personnel and firefighters at the scene on Saturday had indicated one fatality, but in a Sunday morning report the CHP said that, in fact, two male subjects had died.
Neither of the two individuals' names, ages or cities of residence were released by the CHP in its Sunday report, as the agency said the subjects are still in the process of being identified.
The CHP said the driver and his passenger were in a blue 2005 Toyota Scion, traveling westbound on Morgan Valley Road in clear conditions and at an undetermined high rate of speed when, for reasons yet to be determined, the Toyota went out of control in a northerly directly, hitting a tree.
The crash's severity resulted in the vehicle becoming engulfed in flames, according to the CHP.
The CHP said the driver and passenger died of their injuries at the crash site.
Fire personnel arrived on scene and extinguished the flames, the CHP said. Officials at the scene early Saturday said the crash sparked a small vegetation fire – about 10 feet by 10 feet in size – that was quickly contained.
The Lake County Sheriff's Office is conducting a coroner's case for both parties, the CHP said.
As part of that investigation, the CHP said authorities are working to identify the two individuals who died.
Both of the individuals were using their safety equipment, the CHP said.
The CHP said the crash remains under investigation by Officer John Geer.
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“It has always been a happy thought to me that the creek runs on all night, new every minute, whether I wish it or know it or care, as a closed book on a shelf continues to whisper to itself its own inexhaustible tale.” – Annie Dillard, Pilgrim at Tinker Creek
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Cole Creek's source is a vernal pool which emanates from volcanic terrain located in Loch Lomond.
It's year-round rate is about 300 gallons per minute.
The ancient landscape from which Cole Creek derives is known to be located in the Clear Lake basin, which is set amongst the Coast Ranges and is a tectonic, volcanic region that has been active for more than a million years.
Geologists have determined that the Clear Lake Basin's two main fault zones are the Clover Valley-Highlands Arm to the northeast, and the Collayomi fault zone, which is situated in the southwest.
Cole Creek is a tributary to our county's gem, Clear Lake, at Clear Lake State Park in Kelseyville.
According to the Department of Fish and Wildlife, the fish that inhabit Cole Creek are rainbow trout, brown bullhead, Sacramento sucker fish, Sacramento sqawfish, California roach and others.
A riparian habitat envelops the creek and plays a part in the lives of an assortment of wildlife species.
An impressive variety of avian life abound around Cole Creek as well.
These gregarious birds are like poetry and music all in one.
In a recent Audubon outing along Cole and Kelsey Creeks at Clear Lake State Park in Kelseyville – led by extremely knowledgeable guide Brad Barnwell and his wife, Kathy – ospreys were sighted, along with grebes, swallow, titmouse, scrubjay, spotted towee, flicker, nuthatch, quail, bulebirds, California towee, bushtit, tree swallow and more.
It's easy to see why the Xa-Ben-Na-Po Pomo Indians, or Big Valley Pomo, once thrived in the region of Cole Creek, below, and nearby Mt. Konocti. It was an idyllic setting replete with food, water, volcanic obsidian for tool-making and an abundance of plant-life for medicine, shelter, homes and boats.
Kathleen Scavone, M.A., is an educator, potter, writer and author of “Anderson Marsh State Historic Park: A Walking History, Prehistory, Flora, and Fauna Tour of a California State Park” and “Native Americans of Lake County.” She also writes for NASA and JPL as one of their “Solar System Ambassadors.” She was selected “Lake County Teacher of the Year, 1998-99” by the Lake County Office of Education, and chosen as one of 10 state finalists the same year by the California Department of Education.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Firefighters worked throughout Saturday on several small wildland fires in Lake County and a larger incident in neighboring Napa County.
Local fire districts, along with Cal Fire, responded to four small wildland fires early Saturday morning, as Lake County News has reported.
One fire was near Kelseyville, a small spot fire near Lower Lake was caused by a fatal crash, and two more happened near Middletown. All were contained at an acre or less, according to fire officials.
In neighboring Napa County, a wildland fire was sparked near Lake Berryessa on a peninsula in the Capell Valley off Highway 128 just before 1 p.m.
The Pleasure fire burned 19 acres and was 40-percent contained by day's end, Cal Fire reported. No structures were damaged.
Cal Fire said ground crews made access to the fire via boats from Pleasure Cove Marina, constructed fire line and extinguished hot spots within the fire perimeter.
Seven engine/truck companies, three water tenders, three volunteer companies, four fire crews, six overhead/command personnel, two bulldozers, air attack, three air tankers, two helicopters and 125 personnel worked the incident at its height, Cal Fire reported.
The Napa County Fire Department and Cal Fire remained on the scene with an engine and four fire crews overnight, according to a Cal Fire report.
Cal Fire's staffing has been increased due to forecasted dry lightning and strong winds throughout much of Northern California.
A red flag warning has been issued for much of Northeast California, including the Northern Sierra and Tahoe Basin, due to high heat, strong winds and the possibility of dry thunderstorms with lightning.
On Saturday, Cal Fire said nearly 3,300 firefighters remain on the front lines of several large active wildfires burning in California.
To learn about wildland fire preparedness, visit www.ReadyForWildfire.org .
A rundown of major incidents around the state follows, with size estimates through late Saturday night.
Unified command fires
– Lake fire: Began June 17 in San Bernardino County; 30,526 acres, 50-percent contained. Evacuations remain in effect with additional evacuations added Wednesday. Cause is under investigation.
Federal incidents
– Sky Fire: Began June 18 in Madera County; 500 acres, 97-percent contained. Caused by a vehicle.
– Washington Fire: Began June 19 in Alpine County; 17,697 acres, 37-percent contained. Caused by lightning.
– Sterling Fire: Began June 27 in San Bernardino County; 100 acres, 95-percent contained. Arson fire.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Dogs from all sorts of backgrounds and breeds are waiting for new homes at Lake County Animal Care and Control this week.
Dogs available to new homes this week include mixes of border collie, boxer, Chihuahua, chow chow, corgi, dachshund, Labrador Retriever, McNab, pit bull, shepherd and wirehaired 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.
If you're looking for a new companion, visit the shelter. There are many great pets 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 dogs at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption (additional dogs on the animal control Web site not listed are still “on hold”).
'Jet'
“Jet” is a male border collie-Labrador Retriever mix with a short brown and white coat.
He's in kennel No. 24, ID No. 2382.
Pit bull mix
This female pit bull terrier mix has a short gray and white coat.
Shelter staff said she is very affectionate and loving.
She's in kennel No. 25, ID No. 2536.
Male shepherd mix
This male shepherd mix has a short sable and black coat.
He's in kennel No. 27, ID No. 2531.
'Lizzy'
“Lizzy” is a female terrier mix.
Shelter staff said she does well with other dogs – male and female – and with cats.
She would do well in a home with an active family.
She's in kennel No. 28, ID No. 2522.
'Rocky'
“Rocky” is a male boxer mix with a short tricolor coat.
Shelter staff said he's a sweet boy who does well with other dogs, male or female.
He's in kennel No. 29, No. 2523.
'CoCo'
“CoCo” is a female pointer mix with a short brown and white coat.
Shelter staff said she likes to play – she can play rough and sometimes is mouthy – but overall gets along well with other dogs, and is sweet.
She's in kennel No. 30, ID No. 2524.
'Toto'
“Toto” is a male wirehaired terrier mix.
He has a medium-length white coat.
Toto is in kennel No. 31a, ID No. 2525.
'Groot'
“Groot” is a male chow chow-corgi mix.
He has a medium-length brown coat.
He's in kennel No. 31b, ID No. 2526.
'Mimi'
“Mimi” is a Chihuahua mix.
She has a short white and tan coat. Mimi loves attention and being held.
Mimi is in kennel No. 32a, ID No. 2055.
Male Chihuahua mix
This male Chihuahua mix has a short white coat.
He's in kennel No. 32b, ID No. 2321.
'Toenail'
“Toenail” is a female pit bull terrier mix.
She has a short red and white coat, and perky ears, and loves tennis balls.
She's in kennel No. 33, ID No. 2455.
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