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NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – A 6.0-magnitude quake early Sunday morning was centered in Napa County but felt by thousands of people around Northern California.
The US Geological Survey said the quake occurred at 3:20 a.m.
The quake's epicenter was located three miles northwest of American Canyon, five miles south southwest of Napa and eight miles north northwest of Vallejo, at a depth of 6.7 miles, the survey reported.
Within about an hour and a half after the quake occurred, the US Geological Survey had received nearly 3,000 shake reports from around Northern California and even Nevada.
Clearlake and Hidden Valley Lake residents were among those filing the reports, according to the survey.
Marisa Chilafoe, Lake County's Office of Emergency Services manager, was monitoring the situation early Sunday.
“There have been no immediate reports of damage or injury and the Lake County Office of Emergency Services remains engaged in the incident,” she told Lake County News.
On social media, Napa County residents reported damage to homes, broken glass and gas leaks.
Lake County residents on Facebook and Twitter – some of whom said the quake jolted them from sleep – described the quake as long and rolling.
The US Geological Survey rated the quake's shaking as “violent,” with potential for heavy structure damage.
The California Highway Patrol early Sunday reported defective traffic signals in areas in Napa County along Highway 121 and Highway 29, cracked and elevated roadway sections on Old Sonoma Highway and Old Sonoma Road, and trees and rocks in some roadways.
Pacific Gas and Electric's online outage center was reporting a number of electrical outages around the North Coast at around the time the quake occurred.
Shake reports can be submitted to the US Geological Survey at http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/nc72282711#dyfi_form .
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HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE, Calif. – The California Highway Patrol is seeking witnesses to an early Saturday morning bicycle crash that seriously injured a Hidden Valley Lake man.
Daniel Renninger, 21, suffered major injuries in the crash, which occurred at 1:45 a.m. Saturday, according to a report from the CHP's Clear Lake Area office.
The report explained that CHP Dispatch was contacted at 10:45 a.m. Saturday and notified of a possible major injury bicycle crash on Deer Hill Road, north of Hidden Valley Road in Hidden Valley Lake, that had occurred earlier that morning.
It was reported to the CHP that the bicycle's rider was convulsing and unresponsive, and had been flown to Vacaville Kaiser Hospital for treatment, the CHP said.
After local CHP officers arrived on scene, it was requested that a Vacaville CHP officer respond to the hospital to identify the bicycle rider, according to the report.
Vacaville CHP officers arrived at the hospital to find the rider was still unresponsive and had not been identified. The CHP said the Vacaville Police Department responded to the hospital with an electronic fingerprint identification device and was still not able to identify the rider.
Clear Lake Area CHP officers and Lake County Sheriff's personnel began canvassing the Hidden Valley Lake area with photos of the bike rider in an attempt to identify him, the CHP said.
Eventually, the rider's family contacted the Lake County Sheriff's Office and identified the injured man as Renninger, according to the CHP report.
Based on its investigation into the crash and information from witnesses, the CHP determined that Renninger was riding his bicycle southbound on Deer Hill Road, approaching Hidden Valley Road, when – for unknown reasons – he lost control of the bike and fell onto the road, which resulted in major head injuries.
The CHP said Renninger did not have a forward light on the bicycle and was not wearing a helmet.
Any witnesses to the incident are asked to call the Clear Lake Area CHP office at 707-279-0103.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Fair Board has named local pear industry leaders Toni and Phil Scully the grand marshals of the 2014 Lake County Fair parade.
Each year the board of directors selects individuals who have had a large and significant impact on Lake County.
“Phil and I are deeply touched to be honored by the fair like this,” said Toni Scully. “Lake County has been a wonderful place to live and raise a family, and we never expected anything like this.”
The fair parade is the kickoff event for the annual Lake County Fair. The 2014 fair theme is “Hot August Family Fun!”
The Scullys will lead the parade, which this year will begin at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28.
The parade route starts at Natural High in Lakeport, travels south on Main Street, and ends at the main gate to the fairgrounds, where the Scullys will cut the ribbon and declare the Lake County Fair open for another year.
In 1974, Toni and Phil Scully moved their young family to Lake County when Phil became manager of Mt. Konocti Growers. Together, they have been a Lake County institution ever since.
While at Konocti Growers, Phil Scully pioneered the practice of packing pears from earlier districts, thus extending the season and increasing the product lines for Lake County packing houses.
In 1984 Phil and Toni formed Scully Packing Co. and leased the Lolita Packing House, which was the oldest operating shed in the county. They purchased the facility two years later and over the years have transformed it into a state-of-the-art pear packing facility.
With the facility now in its 31st season, the couple's sons, Pat and Andy, share in the ownership and management of the family business.
Scully Packing Co. packs, stores, ships and markets the pears grown by 10 Lake County farming families as well as farming families from the Sacramento Delta and Mendocino County.
During the peak season of pear harvest, Scully Packing Co. employs approximately 450 workers, of which more than 30 are current high school students.
Phil Scully has been a strong advocate for Lake County pears throughout his career, and is known in the industry as an honest, dependable marketer with an excellent product to sell.
He has served on the boards of the California Grape and Tree Fruit League and the CA Pear Advisory Board, and serves on the finance committee of St. Mary's Church.
Toni Scully has been selected as a recipient of the 2014 Common Threads Award. The award recognizes Northern California women who have deep roots in agriculture and have chosen to make a difference in their communities through their contribution of time, talent and treasure.
She worked tirelessly with local leaders, school district administrators, and Congressman Mike Thompson to pass a bill that would allow local teens the chance to work in the harvest and packing sheds during pear season. Since its inception in 1996 the bill has been renewed every year.
Toni Scully has also been a staunch advocate of farming practices and programs that protect the health and safety of local and migrant farm employees. She made national headlines in 2006 – including the front page of the New York Times – when Lake County and other California farming areas were up against a severe labor shortage during harvest.
She worked with California Senator Diane Feinstein in support of the AgJobs bill, a farm labor law that would provide agricultural employers with a stable, legal labor force while protecting farmworkers.
Her other achievements include being named Woman of the Year by Wes Chesbro of the Second Senate District in 2006; Lake County Farm Bureau Presidents’ Club member for 23 years; membership in the California Grape and Tree Fruit League since 1984, where she serves as a director and active member of its legislative committee; grower spokesperson for the California tree fruit industry; and charter member of the Lake County California Women for Agriculture chapter, serving as its president from 2010-11, and currently serving as vice president.
Phil and Toni Scully just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. They have have raised four children in Lakeport, and they have nine grandchildren.
Regular admission prices for the 2014 Lake County Fair are $10 for a regular ticket, $6 for a senior over age 60 and $6 for children ages 6 through 11.
Children under 6 years old are admitted free every day. Children through age 11 are admitted for $3 only on Thursday, Aug. 28, for “Kid's Day.”
The Lake County Fair traditionally occurs Labor Day weekend each year at the fairgrounds in Lakeport. The 2014 fair dates are Thursday, Aug. 28, through Sunday, Aug. 31.
Lake County Fair is one of Lake County's favorite summertime events, and is enjoyed by nearly 40,000 people each year. The fair features a variety of entertainment, food, exhibits, a carnival and livestock shows.
Visit the fair online at www.lakecountyfair.com .
“I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore … I hear it in the deep heart's core.” – William Butler Yeats
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Limnologists tell us that our county's namesake, Clear Lake, is thought to be around a half a million years old – one of the oldest lakes in North America.
Since the 1960s its waters have been getting clearer. This has allowed sunlight to pierce its surface deep into the waters, which then allows rooted plants to grow and thrive, reaching the top of Clear Lake's relatively shallow waters. This can make recreation on the lake difficult in some areas.
Clear Lake's vast 44,000 acres of surface waters sits complacent among the parched yellow hills. With a ribbon-like smoothness a kayak can glide silently over its ancient surface.
From Clear Lake State Park, which requires a nominal day-use fee, you can launch your kayak from the boat ramp. If you head west you will meet up with Cole Creek, then Kelsey Creek.
Kelsey Creek is an important tributary of the Big Valley watershed. One of Lake County's native fish species, the Clear Lake hitch, once ran thick in these creeks. They can be seen during their spawning runs each year in March and April.
In times past the hitch were so prolific that the creek was congested with millions of fish. They are a species of particular concern today, as their population is dwindling. In fact, the State Fish and Game Commission recently granted “threatened” status to Clear Lake hitch under the California Endangered Species Act.
Now paddle east to Cole Creek's mouth and keep heading east toward Mount Konocti. This geological formation is a dormant multi-peaked volcano.
Hugging the shore, you need to watch for algae mats and rocks which are more visible during drought conditions.
You are entering Clear Lake State Park's swim beach, then on to Dorn Bay. This is a great place for wildlife and bird-watching. Here you will observe bubbling volcanic gases rising to the surface of Clear Lake from the carbonated water at the bottom of the lake.
As you keep paddling you come to Soda Bay, where even more volcanic bubbling action occurs. The two small islands you will soon see in Soda Bay are where the historic Soda Bath Springs were utilized in the early 1900s.
Back then, the Soda Bay Resort had a walkway from the resort on the mainland to the soda baths. The resort and the walkway were destroyed by fire in 1940.
It was quite fashionable for the health conscious to “take the waters” here at Soda Bath Springs in the early 1900s. There were many, many hot spring resorts in Lake County back then, such as Seigler Springs and Howard Hot Springs.
Then, there was a bath house erected around the lake's springs for bathing in the healing waters. Now, there are signs warning of the dangers of breathing in too much of the released gases, and the bath house's cement walls are all that remain of the structure.
In the old days, some bathers became asphyxiated due to a buildup of carbon dioxide and an oxygen shortage. The Bureau of Land Management now oversees this area.
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.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Animal Care and Control this week has another group of dogs from a variety of breeds and backgrounds.
The dogs – six males and two females – include mixes of German Shepherd, boxer, golden retriever, pit bull, Shih Tzu, Manchester Terrier, toy fox terrier and Catahoula Leopard Dog.
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”).
'Jo Jo'
“Jo Jo” is a 3-year-old male terrier-Shih Tzu mix.
He has a long brown and white coat, and green eyes, weighs nearly 14 pounds and has been neutered.
According to shelter staff, Jo Jo – who currently is in a foster home – is very sweet but timid until he warms up to you. He would make a great companion for a lonely adult or home with not a lot of action. He is affectionate and is full of personality.
Rottweiler-golden retriever mix pup
This female Rottweiler-golden retriever mix puppy is 12 weeks old.
She has a short black coat and brown eyes, and has been spayed.
She's in kennel No. 3c, ID No. 40411.
Male Manchester Terrier mix
This male Manchester Terrier mix is 10 years old.
He has a short black and brown coat, weighs 16 pounds and has been neutered.
He's in kennel No. 5, ID No. 40653.
Male German Shepherd mix
This male German Shepherd mix is 3 years old.
He has a medium-length black and tan coat, weighs 74 pounds and has not been neutered.
Find him in kennel No. 7, ID No. 40646.
'Chief'
“Chief” is a 1-year-old Catahoula Leopard Dog mix.
He has a short black and gray coat, weighs 60 pounds and has not been neutered.
He's in kennel No. 10, ID No. 40505.
'Snap'
“Snap” is a 1-year-old male pit bull terrier-boxer mix.
He has a short white coat, weighs 67 pounds and has not been neutered.
He's in kennel No. 16, ID No. 40550.
'Honey'
“Honey” is a 10-year-old toy fox terrier.
She has a short brown and white coat, and floppy ears. Shelter staff did not report if she has been spayed.
Find her in kennel No. 31, ID No. 40582.
Male pit bull terrier mix
This male pit bull terrier mix is 2 years old.
He has a short brown coat and weighs 68 pounds. Shelter staff did not report if he has been altered.
Find him in kennel No. 34, ID No. 40504.
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, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 1 p.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
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – A Saturday afternoon rollover near Colusa killed four people.
The California Highway Patrol said the single-vehicle crash occurred at 3:10 p.m on Highway 20 just east of the city of Colusa.
The CHP said the crash killed four Yuba City residents – the 50-year-old male driver and another 50-year-old man riding as a passenger, and two female passengers, ages 40 and 50.
A fifth person, 65-year-old Suman Bala, also of Yuba City, survived the wreck with minor injures. The CHP said she was transported to Colusa Regional Medical Center for treatment.
The driver was traveling eastbound on Highway 20 east of Niagara Avenue at an unknown speed when, for an unknown reason, the vehicle ran off the roadway to the right, the CHP reported.
The Honda went down an embankment and overturned in a canal, according to the CHP.
The CHP said the driver and three passengers were pronounced dead at the scene.
Reports from the scene indicated the highway was closed for more than two hours – with a detour in place – while officials worked to recover the bodies and the vehicle.
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