How to resolve AdBlock issue? 
News
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Five more samples of Culex tarsalis mosquitoes collected in Lake County tested positive for West Nile virus this week, bringing the total West Nile virus activity this year to 13 positive mosquito samples and four positive dead birds.
“Mosquitoes are thriving despite the drought,” said Jamesina Scott, Ph.D., district manager and research director of the Lake County Vector Control District. “This has been a hot summer with lots of days in the upper 90s and 100s and relatively warm nights, and that helps the mosquitoes and West Nile virus to multiply faster.”
The five most recent West Nile virus-positive mosquitoes were collected near Upper Lake, Scott reported.
In the last six weeks, positive mosquitoes have been collected from several sites in the Upper Lake and Kelseyville zip codes, she said.
In addition to the mosquito samples, Scott said West Nile virus has been detected in four dead birds in Lake County this year, most recently in a red-shouldered hawk found near Middletown on July 2.
The district recommends that residents reduce their risk of West Nile virus by staying indoors at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active; using a repellent that contains the active ingredients DEET, Picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR3535 before going outdoors; dumping out or draining water that has been standing for more than three days, including wading pools, birdbaths, pet dishes, tire swings, children’s toys and flower planters.
If the water cannot be drained (out-of-service swimming pools and spas, animal watering troughs, ornamental ponds) residents can pick up free mosquitofish from Lake County Vector Control District Office at 410 Esplanade in Lakeport, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Statewide, 29 California counties have detected West Nile virus this year, mainly in mosquitoes and dead birds.
Eleven human cases have been reported in California this year. No human cases have been reported in Lake County so far this year.
Many areas of California are seeing a similar pattern of activity to that in Lake County, with West Nile virus indicators appearing earlier and at higher levels than usual.
There is no treatment or human vaccine for West Nile virus.
Less than 1 percent of individuals (about 1 in 150 people) infected with West Nile virus will develop severe illness.
The severe symptoms can include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis. These symptoms may last several weeks, and neurological effects may be permanent.
West Nile virus infection can be fatal. People over age 50 and diabetics are at greater risk for the more severe forms of the disease.
Residents are encouraged to contact the district to report neglected pools, request service for mosquito problems or to get mosquitofish at 707-263-4770, or to fill out a service request online at www.lcvcd.org .
Dead birds can reported through the district’s Web site or toll-free at 877-968-2473.
More information about West Nile virus is available at http://www.westnile.ca.gov/ .
CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – “Joyful,” the 63rd quilt block to be installed on the Lake County Quilt Trail, is located on the Clearlake Oaks United Methodist Church at 12487 The Plaza.
Sponsor of the “Joyful” quilt block is Sandy Richards.
The church building was moved from Beale Air Force Base near Marysville in 1946.
There were 14 members at that time responsible for rebuilding the church.
Currently, there are about 100 members in the church who are very active in the community.
The inclusive membership welcomes all people to the church.
The church sponsors biweekly food cupboard, soup nights, meals for children during the summer in
partnership with the Hunger Task Force, Narcotic Anonymous and other religious organizations that may need a place to meet.
In addition, the members have been very active in promoting low income senior housing in the Oaks.
The “Joyful” pattern was chosen for its likeness to a stained glass window.
Many thanks to Jim Easter and Mel Powell for installing the quilt block.
The same time as the quilt block was being installed the church was welcoming its new pastor, Sandra V. Sanders-West, to the congregation.
The Lake County Quilt Trail is an agricultural and tourism project designed to promote community pride.
The 4-foot by 4-foot quilt block was drawn and painted by the Lake County Quilt Trail team, a group of dedicated quilters, graphic artists, painters, writers, carpenters and a videographer.
For more information about the Lake County Quilt Trail visit www.lakecountyquilttrail.com or go to https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-Quilt-Trail/187014251326163 .
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Authorities have arrested a Clearlake man who they say was responsible for robbing the Ukiah Walmart on July 11 and also is a suspect in an attempted theft at the Clearlake Walmart.
Michael Christopher Drebaum, 33, was taken into custody by a Clearlake Police officer during a warrant service on Tuesday afternoon.
The Ukiah Police Department said its officers responded to a report of a robbery at Walmart last Friday.
Witnesses said the male subject who committed the robbery displayed a firearm and made off with an undisclosed amount of cash. He was seen getting into a Nissan Sentra, which was driven away by another person.
Ukiah Police detectives assumed the investigation and worked to identify the man responsible for the robbery. In the process, the agency said its detectives received information from the Ukiah and Clearlake Walmart stores and determined that a suspect in a recent theft at the Clearlake Walmart resembled the suspect in the Ukiah Walmart robbery.
On July 10, Clearlake Walmart employees had observed Drebaum exit the store with unpaid merchandise, which he dropped and fled before he could be apprehended, according to information received by Ukiah Police's detectives.
The employees of the Clearlake Walmart store suspected Drebaum was associated with a Nissan Sentra located in the parking lot and being driven by a female, who also fled, according to the Ukiah Police report.
Officials said Drebaum also is suspected of previously having smashed the jewelry display case at the Clearlake Walmart in order to steal the jewelry the case contained.
Drebaum was familiar to both Clearlake Police officers and to Clearlake Walmart employees and was a suspect in a series of thefts from the store, according to the Ukiah Police report. Drebaum also had several warrants for his arrest in Lake County.
Ukiah Police's detectives worked with Clearlake Police and over a course of several days performed surveillance on the Sentra associated with Drebaum. They also identified locations Drebaum frequented, officials said.
An arrest and search warrant was obtained for Drebaum, and on Tuesday evening Ukiah Police and Clearlake Police served the warrants at an address on Highlands Way in Clearlake, according to the report.
Drebaum was located at the scene and taken into custody. Clothing and other items of evidence, including the firearm, linking Drebaum to the robbery in Ukiah, were found, the Ukiah Police report said.
The firearm police located was determined to be a BB gun which, in every way, appears to be a genuine firearm, police said.
Clearlake Police also located evidence linking Drebaum to the series of thefts from the Clearlake Walmart, the report noted.
The Ukiah Police Department said it continues to examine evidence and develop leads in the effort to identify the driver of Drebaum’s getaway vehicle used in the Ukiah robbery.
Drebaum was arrested and booked into the Lake County Jail for his arrest warrants and for robbery.
Listed as a chef on his booking sheet, Drebaum remained in custody on Thursday, with bail set at $250,000. Jail records indicate he has a tentative court date of July 22.
The Ukiah Police Department thanked the Clearlake Police Department and its officers for their help in the investigation, noting that Clearlake Police's assistance was instrumental in solving this case so quickly.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Area Agency on Aging of Lake & Mendocino Counties is accepting applications for candidacy for the offices of senior senator and Senior Assembly member to represent both Lake and Mendocino counties in the California Senior Legislature.
The California Senior Legislature is a nonpartisan, volunteer organization made up of 120 elected members, 60 years of age and older.
The 40 senior senators and 80 Senior Assembly members are elected by their peers to represent seniors throughout the state.
The California Senior Legislature gives older adults the opportunity to become familiar with the legislative process through actual involvement and provides them a forum to present their legislative priorities to the State Legislature.
Each October, the California Senior Legislature meets in Sacramento to convene a legislative session in the chambers and hearing rooms of the State Capitol.
Senior legislators seek state lawmakers to author the California Senior Legislature proposals and then work through the year to ensure adoption of the legislative bills.
Since its inception in 1980, more than 70 percent of the California Senior Legislature's priority proposals have been enacted into law.
Selection of California Senior Legislature senior senator and Senior Assembly member is by vote of eligible members of the Area Agency on Aging of Lake & Mendocino Counties’ Advisory Council, as proscribed by California Senior Legislature election rules and procedures.
To be eligible for candidacy, applicants must be registered to vote residing in Lake or Mendocino County aged 60 or over on election day, Aug. 7.
An application packet is available on the Area Agency on Aging Web site, www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/directory/social_services/aaa.htm , or by contacting the Area Agency on Aging at 707-995-4680 or
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Clear Lake Area California Highway Patrol is offering free “Start Smart” traffic safety class for teenage drivers and their parents/guardians.
The class will run approximately two hours and will be offered from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 13, at the CHP office in Kelseyville, 5700 Live Oak Drive.
The leading cause of death for Americans ages 15 to 20 years old is motor vehicle collisions, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The CHP's goal is to reduce the death rate among teenagers as the result of these collisions.
The CHP’s “Start Smart” program is aimed at helping newly licensed and future licensed teenage drivers understand the critical responsibilities of driving and to understand that accidents happen, but collisions are 100 percent preventable.
The program is designed to provide teens and their parents/guardians with an interactive safe driving awareness class which will illustrate how poor choices behind the wheel of a car can affect the lives of numerous people.
“Start Smart” also focuses on responsibilities of newly licensed drivers, responsibilities of parents/guardians and, collision avoidance techniques.
The local CHP office wants to make its resources available to parents and teens when they have questions or issues about new driver development. The public also is invited to come down to the office and discuss issues personally.
CHP officials said Start Smart is a valuable program for parents and their newly licensed or soon-to-be-licensed teen.
Space is limited for this class and is the last one to be offered this year in the Lake County area.
For more information or reservations, call Officer Kory Reynolds at the CHP office, 707-279-0103.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Association of Realtors reported that June sales of single-family residences in Lake County soared well above like sales for May both in median price and number of sales.
“It was good to see the activity pick up,” said LCAOR President Rick White. “The number of sales is encouraging and I hope to see the trend continue into July.”
The median sales prices jumped from $167,295 in May to $185,000 in June, resulting in a 10.88-percent increase, the association reported.
The number of sales saw an even higher percentage increase month over month, coming in at a 38.71-percent increase, according to association numbers.
The increased sales put a dent in inventory levels, which the association said dropped from 6.58 months of inventory to 5.23 months in June. Properties moved briskly with the median time on market being 60 days.
Distressed property sales continued to decline as a total percentage of sales, dropping from 30.65 percent to 22.35 percent, the association reported.
Financing of purchases remained relatively the same as May, with the association report noting that 31.76 percent of homes were purchased with cash and 53 percent through loans.
The association said the top performing areas in terms of number of sales were Clearlake (17), Hidden Valley Lake (16), Lakeport (11) and the Clear Lake Riviera (11).
The median sales prices in each of the areas were $114,000 for Clearlake, $215,000 for Hidden Valley Lake, $280,000 for Lakeport and $189,000 for the Clear Lake Riviera, based on the report.