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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Animal Care and Control continues to have a large number of kittens needing their first and forever homes.
The kittens are as young as 10 weeks up to 16 weeks, with the shelter also having an adult female cat ready for adoption.
In addition to spaying or neutering, cats that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are microchipped 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 there, 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 cats at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption (other cats pictured on the animal control Web site that are not listed here are still “on hold”).
Male domestic short hair mix kitten
This male domestic short hair mix is 13 weeks old.
He has gold eyes, a white and gray coat, weighs 4.2 pounds and has been neutered.
He's in cat room kennel No. 6, ID No. 40066.
Male domestic long hair mix kitten
This male domestic long hair mix kitten is 13 weeks old.
He has green eyes, a white and gray coat, weighs 2.4 pounds and has been neutered.
Find him in cat room kennel No. 20b, ID No. 40118.
Male domestic long hair mix kitten
This male domestic long hair mix kitten is 13 weeks old.
He has green eyes, a black and white coat, weighs 2.2 pounds and has been neutered.
Find him in cat room kennel No. 20c, ID No. 40119.
Male domestic long hair mix kitten
This male domestic long hair mix kitten is 16 weeks old.
He has green eyes, a white and gray coat, weighs 2.2 pounds and has been neutered.
Find him in cat room kennel No. 20d, ID No. 40120.
Female domestic short hair kitten
This female domestic short hair kitten is 11 weeks old.
She has gold eyes and a black coat, weighs 2 pounds and has not been spayed.
She's in cat room kennel No. 49a, ID No. 40157.
Female domestic medium hair mix kitten
This female domestic medium hair mix kitten is 11 weeks old.
She has gold eyes and a brown tabby coat, weighs 2.2 pounds and has not been spayed.
Find her in cat room kennel No. 49b, ID No. 40158.
Female domestic long hair mix
This female domestic long hair mix cat is 2 years old.
She has dilute tortie markings, weighs 10 pounds and has been spayed.
She's in cat room kennel No. 56, ID No. 39764.
Male domestic short hair mix kitten
This male domestic short hair mix kitten is 10 weeks old.
He has green eyes, a buff and white coat, and has not been neutered.
He's in cat room kennel No. 99a, ID No. 40144.
Male domestic short hair mix kitten
This male domestic short hair mix kitten is 10 weeks old.
He has green eyes, a white and gray coat, and has not been neutered.
Find him in cat room kennel No. 99c, ID No. 40146.
Adoptable cats also can be seen at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Cats_and_Kittens.htm or at www.petfinder.com .
Please note: Cats listed at the shelter's Web page that are said to be “on hold” are not yet cleared for adoption.
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
FINLEY, Calif. – The 60th quilt block to be installed on the Lake County Quilt Trail, titled “Lake County Diamond,” is located at Scully Packing Co., 3275 Stone Drive in Finley.
The Scully family acquired the Lolilla Orchards packing sheds and adjacent orchard in 1984 from the Annette/Harrell family.
Lowell Annette built the first packing house in the county on this site.
His son, JL Annette, continued growing and packing pears, and later his son-in-law, Robert Harrell, took over the family operation.
After taking over in 1984, Philip and Toni Scully began the process of upgrading the facility.
A new cold storage room was erected in 1990, and the present state-of-the-art packing shed was completed in 1993.
The facility is modified constantly to keep up with ever-changing industry standards.
Sons Patrick and Andy Scully manage the family business today.
They pack pears from Sacramento, Mendocino and Lake counties, representing about 30 pear-growing families.
Their premium pears are distributed both nationally and internationally.
The quilt block is inspired by the premier Lake County Diamond label. One of the oldest labels in the county, it is widely recognized for premium Lake County pears.
The Lake County Quilt Trail is an agricultural and tourism project designed to promote community pride.
The 8-foot by 8-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 .
SOUTH LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – As firefighters continue to gain ground on the Butts Fire – burning at the Napa and Lake County lines – another wildland fire in Yolo County has burned thousands of acres.
Cal Fire said Saturday evening that containment on the Butts Fire – which began Tuesday afternoon in Pope Valley northwest of Lake Berryessa and eventually burned into Lake County – had reached 75 percent. The fire's size remains at 4,300 acres.
The number of firefighters assigned to the incident was cut nearly in half on Saturday, with 974 personnel said to be working the incident, along with 61 fire engines, 30 fire crews, four helicopters, two dozers and 14 water tenders, Cal Fire reported.
Another injury was reported on Saturday, bringing the total to four, according to Cal Fire.
Cal Fire said difficult terrain, along with low humidity, has continued to be a challenge for firefighters. Flare ups have been an issue but have been quickly extinguished.
Firefighters on Saturday continued to strengthen control lines and mop up hot spots around the fire perimeter, officials said.
Cal Fire said the fire suppression repair and rehabilitation phase has begun, with firefighting resources starting the demobilization process and becoming available to support new incidents.
That ability to deploy to other fires was critical because a new incident that began on Friday in Yolo County has burned thousands of acres.
Cal Fire said the Monticello Fire – first reported just after 9:30 p.m. Friday on Highway 128 at Monticello Dam, on the southeast shore of Lake Berryessa – had burned 7,000 acres and was 30 percent contained by Saturday night, with 350 firefighting personnel assigned.
Officials said 40 structures were threatened in Golden Bear Estates, where mandatory evacuations are in effect. An evacuation center has been est up at the Winters Community Center.
Activity on the Monticello Fire increased significantly Saturday afternoon, with Cal Fire reporting that firefighters were challenged by remote and difficult access on the fire, which is burning in extremely rugged and steep terrain that includes grassy oak woodland and heavy fuels in the higher elevations.
Cal Fire said firefighters were focusing on building control lines around the Golden Bear Estates residential area.
The Napa County Sheriff's Office issued an advisory to area residents Saturday evening to explain that the large plume of smoke seen east of Napa County was from the Monticello Fire, and didn't pose a threat to Napa County.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Big Valley Sheep Farm and Ladera Verde Percherons in Lakeport is home to the 59th quilt on the Lake County Quilt Trail.
“Green Mountain Star” was installed at Keith and Carol Brandt's farm, located at 2766 Park Drive.
The block is featured on the side of the barn that the Brandts built in 2013 when they added Percheron draft horses to their farm.
In addition to the new quilt block, the barn houses a show wagon that is 100 years old.
“We use it to show our Percheron horses,” the Brandts reported.
The Lake County Quilt Trail is an agricultural and tourism project designed to promote community pride.
The 8-foot by 8-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 .
Email Elizabeth Larson at
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Lyme disease is an infection transmitted by Ixodes ticks, also known as deer ticks, tiny arachnids that are typically found in wooded and grassy areas.
Although people may think of Lyme as an East Coast disease, it is found in California and throughout the US, as well as in more than 60 countries.
Initially, Lyme disease may feel like the flu: fever, sore muscles, headache and fatigue. Some people may know they’ve been bitten and/or may develop a distinctive bull’s-eye rash. If the illness is caught at this early stage, treatment is usually effective.
However, some people may not realize they have been bitten and may not develop any rashes.
Untreated, Lyme can burrow deep into the body and contribute to many serious health conditions: heart problems, joint and muscle pain, migraines, gastrointestinal upsets, a wide range of neurological problems and psychiatric manifestations. In children, Lyme disease can also trigger learning disorders and behavioral issues. At this stage, effective treatment is more difficult.
Complicating matters, ticks don’t just carry Lyme. A single bite can spread several diseases at once.
Your best defense is to avoid ticks. Your next best defense is to quickly find and remove any that latch on to you.
Nymphal ticks, the immature ones most likely to give you Lyme disease, are as tiny as poppy seeds and easily overlooked.
They tend to stay near the ground – in leaf litter, grasses, bushes, fallen logs and on tree trunks. Researchers at Berkeley’s Tilden Park found them on the underside of wooden picnic tables.
When you brush by a tick, it may transfer to your shoe, pant leg or arm. Then it may walk up your clothing to bare skin, embed its mouth and start sucking blood. The longer a tick is attached, the more likely it will transmit disease.
To keep ticks at bay, dress defensively. Wear shoes, socks, long pants and long-sleeved shirt. Tie back long hair and wear a hat.
You can purchase clothing that has been pre-treated with the repellent permethrin at outdoor recreation stores. The protection lasts through 70 washings.
Or, you can purchase permethrin and spray clothing yourself. Protection lasts five to six washings. If doing it yourself, be sure to treat both inside and outside of the clothing.
Permethrin is a common synthetic insecticide and functions like a neurotoxin on insects and arachnids. It’s most often used in the treatment of lice and scabies in humans.
Like all toxins, permethrin can cause skin irritations, so discontinue use if you have a reaction to it.
Spraying your footwear with permethrin will prevent ticks from crawling up your shoes. In one study, people with treated shoes had 74 percent fewer tick bites then those with untreated shoes.
Apply repellent to exposed skin. Those with DEET, picaridin or lemon eucalyptus oil are the most effective.
While outdoors, periodically inspect your clothing and skin. If you find an attached tick, don’t twist or squeeze it. Don’t burn it with matches or douse it with dish soap. Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp close to the skin and pull gently but firmly.
At the end of the day, run your clothing through a hot dryer (before washing) for 10 minutes, to kill live ticks that might be in your clothes.
Then, shower and thoroughly check yourself. Feel for bumps that might be embedded ticks. Pay attention to hidden spots – ears, hair line, armpits, groin and belly button. Parents should check their young children.
Whether or not you find a tick, watch for symptoms of tick-borne illness. A bull’s-eye rash indicates Lyme disease, but not everybody with Lyme gets one. You might have a different rash or none at all.
You may develop flu-like symptoms – fever, headache, nausea – or joint pain or dizziness. If so, see your doctor immediately.
For more information about Lyme and other tick-borne infections, go to www.lymedisease.org .
Tuleyome Tales is a monthly publication of Tuleyome, a nonprofit conservation organization with offices in Napa and Woodland, Calif. Tuleyome thanks Dorothy Leland and the California Lyme Disease Association for this submission. For more information about Tuleyome and its programs go to www.tuleyome.org .
Scientists analyzing data from NASA’s Cassini mission have firm evidence of an ocean inside Saturn's largest moon, Titan, which might be as salty as the Earth's Dead Sea.
The findings are published in last week’s edition of the journal Icarus.
“This is an extremely salty ocean by Earth standards,” said the paper's lead author, Giuseppe Mitri of the University of Nantes in France. “Knowing this may change the way we view this ocean as a possible abode for present-day life, but conditions might have been very different there in the past.”
The new results come from a study of gravity and topography data collected during Cassini's repeated flybys of Titan during the past 10 years.
Researchers found that a relatively high density was required for Titan's subsurface ocean in order to explain the gravity data.
This indicates the ocean is probably an extremely salty brine of water mixed with dissolved salts likely composed of sulfur, sodium and potassium.
The density indicated for this brine would give the ocean a salt content roughly equal to the saltiest bodies of water on Earth.
Their findings also support the idea that the moon's icy shell is rigid and in the process of freezing solid.
The thickness of Titan's ice crust appears to vary slightly from place to place. The researchers said this can best be explained if the moon's outer shell is stiff, as would be the case if the ocean were slowly crystalizing, and turning to ice. Otherwise, the moon's shape would tend to even itself out over time, like warm candle wax.
This freezing process would have important implications for the habitability of Titan's ocean, as it would limit the ability of materials to exchange between the surface and the ocean.
The data also touch on a major mystery: The presence of methane in Titan's atmosphere.
Scientists have long known that Titan's atmosphere contains methane, ethane, acetylene and many other hydrocarbon compounds.
But sunlight irreversibly destroys methane after tens of millions of years, so something has replenished methane in Titan's thick air during the moon's 4.5 billion-year history.
The rigid ice shell model published in Icarus suggests that any outgassing of methane into Titan's atmosphere must happen at scattered “hot spots” (like the hot spot on Earth that gave rise to the Hawaiian Island chain), not from a broader process such as convection or plate tectonics.
“Titan continues to prove itself as an endlessly fascinating world,” said Linda Spilker, Cassini project scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California, who was not involved in the study. “With our long-lived Cassini spacecraft, we’re unlocking new mysteries as fast as we solve old ones.”
The Cassini-Huygens mission is a cooperative project of NASA, the European Space Agency and the Italian Space Agency.
JPL manages the mission for NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington.
For more information about Cassini, visit http://www.nasa.gov/cassini .
Dr. Tony Phillips works for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.