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U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-5), a senior member on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, on Wednesday voted against arming Syrian opposition groups to fight the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, or ISIL.
The authorization to arm and train the Syrian opposition groups passed the House by a vote of 273-156.
“ISIL is a dangerous terrorist organization that must be stopped. It has brutally murdered two American citizens, and it poses a threat to the United States, our allies, and to regional stability,” Thompson said.
“However, arming Syrian opposition groups alone is not an effective strategy to combat the ISIL terrorist group and diminish its capacity to operate,” Thompson continued. “There has been inadequate vetting of these opposition groups. We do not have enough information on the people we are proposing to arm and train. We cannot ensure that these weapons will not fall into the hands of ISIL, or be used against other innocent civilians. And, we need a better strategy in place to engage a broad, international coalition of Muslim countries to fight alongside these Syrian opposition groups.
“Simply arming the Syrian opposition groups comes with great risk. Instead, we need a comprehensive strategy that includes a debate and vote in Congress that specifically authorizes the use of force against ISIL, and the involvement of a broad, international coalition of Muslim and Western countries to diminish ISIL and degrade their organizational capabilities,” Thompson said.
Thompson represents California’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties.
CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – The Clearlake Oaks County Water District Board this week is set to discuss a proposal to either increase its members' compensation for attending meetings or offer them health insurance.
The meeting will be held beginning at 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 18, at the Live Oak Senior Center, 12519 Foothill Blvd. and The Plaza.
District General Manager Matt Bassett said the meeting is being held at the senior center, rather than the district's administration building on Highway 20, as more than 100 people are expected to attend.
“We've been promised that the attendance will be very noticeable,” said Bassett.
The large expected attendance is in response to some community members' concerns over the proposal, and why these changes are being considered now, he said.
The board will consider giving members a raise from $50 for a regular meeting and $25 for a special meeting to $100 per meeting or event, for a maximum monthly compensation of $600, Bassett explained.
Alternately, there is a proposal to give each board member full health insurance. The top end of that proposal would include medical, dental and vision at a monthly cost to the district of $679 per board member, according to Bassett.
Those benefits would be available only to board members, not their families, he said.
Bassett also emphasized, “This is not a lifetime benefit, this is only when you're on the board.”
That, however, is assuming the proposal is approved, said Bassett, who noted that the board is expected to have some other mid-range options to consider Thursday as well.
The increased pay or benefits proposal was brought forward at the district's regular Aug. 21 meeting by board member Dena Barron, Bassett said.
Bassett said the impetus behind the proposal was not just to support current board members, who oversee a corporation with a $2.2 million annual budget – a job that brings with it a tremendous amount of responsibility and oversight.
He said the sitting board – which, in addition to Barron, consists of President Iris Hudson, Vice President Judy Heeszel, and directors Robert Kiser and Richard Kuehn – hopes to use the promise of better pay or health insurance to attract new board members.
The board has had trouble in recent years attracting new members, and they want to change that, Bassett said.
The recruitment issue is an increased concern now as Hudson – who has served on the board for several years – announced in June that she would be leaving the board when her term ends later this year.
Bassett said he hopes the discussion will attract a crowd to the Thursday meeting.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Local officials said this week they are monitoring health-related concerns associated with the late summer cyanobacteria blooms on Clear Lake.
The county of Lake reported that recent lab results from water samples taken from specific areas in Clear Lake show high levels of microcystins – or toxins – in the cyanobacteria blooms occurring in recent weeks.
Although these microcystins can be harmful to pets and wildlife, and if ingested in large doses have the potential for harm in humans, recreation on Clear Lake can still be safely enjoyed if proper precautions are taken, the county reported.
Although cyanobacteria blooms also are known as blue green algae, they can also appear as white, red, brown or black mattes or paint-like scum floating on the top of the water.
Clear Lake is often susceptible to blooms due to its shallow depth, high nutrient levels and warm temperatures.
Cyanobacteria frequently bloom on Clear Lake in the hot months of late summer and early fall.
Recent water samples were drawn from Clear Lake by the Environmental Protection Agencies of the Big Valley Rancheria and the Elem Indian Colony from areas at Austin Park, Clearlake Oaks, Soda Bay Cove, south Lakeport, Lucerne Park, Big Valley and Sulphur Bank Mine.
The draws were overseen by Environmental Director Sarah Ryan of Big Valley Rancheria and Environmental Director Karola Kennedy of Elem Indian Colony.
The samples were analyzed at the California Animal Health and Food Safety lab at UC Davis. Repeat testing is currently under way, the county reported.
In response to these test results, the county of Lake reported that it is taking a series of actions.
“Public Health is monitoring technical information, working with local health care facilities and coordinating with other agencies as necessary to address health concerns that relate to potential impacts of cyanobacteria,” said Lake County Public Health Officer Dr. Karen Tait. “We are not alone in facing new challenges posed by cyanobacteria. This is a global phenomenon. We are working hard to identify and respond to related health concerns.”
Local utilities who are receiving water taste and odor complaints are in communication with state regulatory agencies and as a safety precaution, water samples are being drawn at the raw intakes and at different treatment locations for analysis, county officials reported.
There is currently “Health Advisory” signage posted at public parks and beaches along Clear Lake. The county is urging residents and visitors to read those advisories and follow the safety guidelines set forth. Businesses that work directly with tourists are encouraged to educate those visitors about the safe use of the lake during cyanobacteria blooms.
In mid-May, the Lake County Department of Water Resources mailed out an informational cyanobacteria postcard entitled “Living with a Natural Lake” to owners of properties along the shoreline.
The postcard was created in a partnership between the Lake County Water Resources, Environmental Health, Public Health and Administrative departments.
Do’s and don’ts to stay safe and healthy around cyanobacteria blooms are included in the postcard. It also provides information on how to distinguish cyanobacteria blooms from the harmless algae blooms that grow on Clear Lake.
Those postcards also were distributed to local lodging facilities and businesses to hand out to visitors and residents.
Postcards are still available for distribution. Please call 707-263-2580 to request your copies.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Members of a Bay Area family are asking residents across Northern California to be on the lookout for their elderly father, who has been missing since earlier this month.
Paul Merrill, 87, of Belmont, took a road trip to the McCloud area in Siskiyou County, where he was last confirmed seen on Sept. 4, according to the Siskiyou County Sheriff's Office.
His family is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the discovery of Merrill or the classic 1956 Mercedes 190SL convertible he was driving.
The California Highway Patrol issued a Silver Alert for Merrill across 19 Northern California counties – including Lake – early on the morning of Sept. 5 after Merrill's family reported that he hadn't returned home from his McCloud trip.
The Siskiyou County Sheriff's Office said Merrill was last seen at the McCloud Chevron Station on Sept. 4. A witness said Merrill left the station, traveling in the direction of Fowlers Campground and Cattle Camp off of Highway 89 near McCloud.
Siskiyou County Search and Rescue, California Highway Patrol, Shasta-Trinity National Forest, Modoc National Forest and Lava Beds National Monument Park Ranger personnel responded to the area and deployed search teams in the Fowlers Campground, but didn't find him, the Siskiyou County Sheriff's Office reported.
There also had been reports of sightings of Merrill which couldn't be confirmed, according to Jayme Lynch, the Siskiyou County Sheriff's Office public information officer.
Lynch told Lake County News that the search for Merrill was suspended this past Saturday evening after they stopped receiving extensive leads and information about sightings of the missing man.
Since then, authorities have received no new information about Merrill, Lynch said.
“Until we get any more positive leads, we've ended our search efforts here,” she added.
According to a letter posted by his daughter, Aimee Merrill, on the Find Paul Merrill Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/findpaulmerrill – Merrill was an Eagle Scout and also had been a US Army Ranger, and during his younger years was an avid fly fisherman and hunter.
Merrill's wife died last year, and his daughter said he headed north in his convertible and was “recreating romantic memories” of a trip he and his wife had taken to McCloud.
While there, he planned to spend some time writing his annual Christmas letter, in which he planned to “convey his sentiments about the passing of his beloved wife,” his daughter wrote.
Aimee Merrill said her father was not known to be depressed at the time of his trip. The innkeeper at the McCloud Hotel reported talking with him on the morning he checked out, finding him to be talkative and in good spirits.
Lynch said the sheriff's office was not advised of Merrill having dementia or any other specific health issues.
“We have no reason to believe any foul play or anything like that” has occurred, Lynch said.
Despite the fact that the search was suspended, Aimee Merrill said her family is not giving up hope that her father will be found safe.
Aimee Merrill said they received reports of a sighting from the night of Sept. 5, when the Mercedes was spotted on the side of Highway 89 – 10 miles east of McCloud – after dark. No person was seen.
Witnesses also reported seeing Merrill later that same weekend walking at the McCloud River between Cattle Camp and Fowler Campgrounds. His car was not seen at that time, and his daughter suggested he could have put a beige car cover over it to protect it from the elements.
A family friend reached out to Lake County News in the hopes that someone in the region may have seen him as he was heading north or – possibly – traveling south on his way back home.
Merrill is 5 feet, 10 inches tall, weighs 160 pounds, has white hair and blue eyes, and wears glasses. The Siskiyou County Sheriff's Office said he was last seen wearing a cream-colored, long-sleeved shirt with embroidery on the front, khaki pants and brown shoes.
His car is a two-door, silver 1956 Mercedes, 190 SL convertible, California license plate number EZX295 with a Stanford University license plate frame. The car has a primered front hood. Merrill left the Mercedes' removable hardtop at his residence in Belmont.
Anyone with information about Merrill's whereabouts is encouraged to contact the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office 24-hour Dispatch Center at 530-841-2900 or the Belmont Police Department at 650-595-7400.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Median home prices are continuing to improve in Lake County, according to the latest report from the Lake County Association of Realtors.
The association reported that the median sales price of single family residences in August rose to $172,000 up from $168,000 in July.
The report also showed a significantly increase in the median days to sell, which nearly doubled from 56 days in July to 102 days in August.
That statistic, the association said, may be an anomaly, as the yearly median is tracking at 72 days to sell and for the last two years the median has been 75 days and 74 days.
Inventory levels increased to 6.27 months of inventory versus 5.68 in July. Normal inventory levels are considered to be six months, the association reported.
“August showed an increase in distressed property sales,” said Lake County Association of Realtors President Rick White. “This is a reversal from the trend we have been seeing, but fluctuations in the market can be expected when looking at short term results.”
White went on to state that 30 percent of the sales were distressed in August compared to 20 percent in July. However, this number was down from 43 percent of the sales in August 2013.
On the financing front, the August report showed a dip in cash buyers who made up 30 percent of the purchases compared to 39 percent in July and 45 percent in August of 2013.
Purchases with a conventional loan rose to nearly 44 percent, up from 32 percent in July and more than double the 21.5 percent in August of 2013, according to the report.
California's summer fire season remains in full swing, with several major incidents burning around the state.
Cal Fire had updates late Monday on several of the fires, which altogether have burned more than 10,000 acres.
Perhaps the most damaging in terms of personal property broke out on Monday afternoon on Boles Creek near Weed in Siskiyou County.
Within hours the Boles Fire had ripped through Weed, burning 350 acres, destroying or damaging more than 100 structures and resulting in evacuation orders not just for Weed but also for the communities of Carrick and Lake Shastina, Cal Fire said.
Cal Fire estimated the Boles Fire was 15-percent contained on Monday night.
In El Dorado County, the King Fire – burning since Saturday – scorched 8,600 acres in two days. It was 5-percent contained Monday, Cal Fire said.
Cal Fire said the blaze is threatening some 500 homes, with evacuation orders in effect in a number of communities there. Nearly 1,500 personnel and approximately 137 fire engines are assigned to the incident.
The closest of the major incidents to Lake County, the Black Fire north of Lake Mendocino in Mendocino County, burned 403 acres by Monday, at which point containment was estimated at 80 percent. Cal Fire said the fire, which began Saturday, has destroyed 11 structures.
The Gulch Fire in Shasta County, sparked east of Bella Vista last Wednesday by a vehicle, has so far burned 1,375 acres and is 96-percent contained, Cal Fire said.
In Madera County, the Courtney Fire has burned 320 acres near Oakhurst since it began on Sunday. Cal Fire said the fire was 35-percent contained Monday night.
The Courtney Fire has destroyed 33 residences, 28 outbuildings, 13 vehicles and four recreational vehicles, with damage to another four residences, six outbuildings and two vehicles, according to Cal Fire.
Two hundred structures with 600 residents in the Bass Lake Heights community remain in the fire's path, with an evacuation order for the threat area still in effect, Cal Fire said.
In Nevada County, the Dog Bar Fire is nearing full containment. Cal Fire said it began on Saturday near Alta Sierra.
The fire has burned 247 acres and was 90-percent contained Monday night. All evacuations have been lifted.
Email Elizabeth Larson at