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AccuWeather.com reports the ongoing drought will continue to keep the fire danger elevated in California indefinitely into the summer.

While a storm system was bringing showers to parts of the Northwest on Wednesday, no rainfall is forecast to reach central and Southern California through the weekend and beyond.

Moisture from Amanda, now diminishing over the Eastern Pacific, will not reach the state.

Weather fairly typical of California for late May and early June will continue into next week with areas of low clouds yielding to sunshine on the coast and sunshine all day across the interior.

According to Western Weather Expert Ken Clark, “In California, there will be slight cooling this weekend, followed by a warming trend next week, but the risk of wildfires will continue.”

Very little rainfall typically occurs in California this time of the year, and when it does occur it tends to be very sporadic.

“The problem has been, and will continue to be, associated with the lack of rainfall and mountain snow over the winter,” Clark said.

Since Nov. 1, 2013, many areas in California have received less than half their normal precipitation.

As a result, the brush is very dry and more typical of late summer, when there is an uptick in wildfires.

A large fire broke out on Memorial Day in Mariposa County, California. The blaze, known as the Hunters Fire, began near the Hunters Valley Access Road in the Bear Valley area.

According to Cal Fire, as of late Wednesday, the fire had consumed 677 acres, threatened 100 residences and was only 40 percent contained. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

A breeze averaging 10 to 20 miles per hour from the northwest can cause problems for firefighters on Saturday in Mariposa County. While light winds are generally forecast during most other days, large fires can generate their own wind and can be unpredictable.

There have been more than 1,700 wildfires in California since the start of the year, which have burned more than 15,000 acres.

For the year to date, compared to the five-year average, the number of California fires is nearly double and the amount of acres that have burned is more than double.

Fires have scorched other parts of the Southwest this spring.

The Slide Fire close to Slide Rock State Park, in the Flagstaff, Arizona, area continued to burn Wednesday.

According to InciWeb on Wednesday night, the fire has consumed more than 20,000 acres and was 45 percent contained. The blaze was reported on May 20, and the cause is under investigation.

While a developing El Niño typically brings a bumper crop of tropical systems over the Eastern Pacific during the summer, a direct visit by a tropical storm is extremely rare in California.

The warmer-than-average water temperatures of the tropical Pacific Ocean produced by an El Niño pattern cause changes in steering winds around the globe.

According to AccuWeather Long Range Expert Paul Pastelok, “There is a chance that some moisture comes in from the tropics later in the summer, but rainfall would tend to be very spotty.”

Winter is a long way off, but there is some hope that the developing El Niño will deliver much needed rain to the region.

“Depending on the strength of the El Niño, the winter weather pattern produced could make for more frequent and stronger storms moving in from the Pacific along the West coast of the United States this winter, which would translate to more rain than last winter,” Pastelok said.

A long drought and fire season lies ahead until then.

Alex Sosnowski is an expert senior meteorologist for www.AccuWeather.com .

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Last year, Sharon Dawson founded an organization she called “A Wave of Hope.”

It is peopled by individuals who, she says, “come forward to tell their stories about where they were, what they are now and what they would say to somebody who might be where they were.”

Where they were was on the verge of ending their lives. And, in telling their stories, Dawson has found, they come out of the darkness to bring hope to other distressed individuals by letting them know that they are not alone.

Dawson, a professional photographer with a studio in Middletown, will display photographic portraits of 22 such individuals and the stories behind the faces on the lawn in front of the new Middletown Public Library, 21256 Washington St., on Saturday, May 31, from 1 to 6 p.m.

The display will serve as the public debut of A Wave of Hope, Dawson's organization, for which she is awaiting 501(c)(3) nonprofit status.

She said she founded the group after hearing of Lake County's high suicide rate and deciding that something had to be done to bring attention to the problem.

Several local organizations and individuals have contributed cash and in-kind donations to A Wave of Hope, including the Konocti Lioness Club; Six Sigma Ranch and Winery; Imagine, Digital; Classic and Beyond; and Studio 175.

Dawson’s creation is a traveling exhibit that is presently scheduled to go on display at 10 additional sites in Lake County.

To ensure that her mission receives the widest scope of  dissemination, Dawson says posters will be at bus stops, bars, on the walls of public places – “everywhere that people can get to.”

Open communication, Dawson contends, is critical to individuals who have reached a point in their lives where they have contemplated suicide.

Central to her project is creating the understanding that these individuals cannot be typecast.

“There is no common thread between these people,” she says. “No economics, no age.”

Virtually everyone, Dawson adds, experiences a period when they think they are alone in their misery.

“If we all knew that we weren’t the only person who went through a hard time it would be better,” Dawson says. “But the stigma is most people don’t want to talk about it to the rest of the world.”

Visit Dawson's Web site at www.awaveofhope.com .

Email John Lindblom at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

LOWER LAKE, Calif. – Lower Lake Daze Parade and Barbecue brought the holiday fun and celebration to Main Street in Lower Lake on Sunday.

The event featured a parade filled with floats, people and pets in costume, classic cars, horsemen, politicians and an entourage of medieval maidens and gents, who gathered for the sixth annual Lake Renaissance Festival at Tuscan Village.

Mike and June Salter were honored as grand marshals of this year's procession.

Mike Salter founded Lake County Television Club, leading the organization for 40 years with June by his side.

He also founded the Catfish Unlimited program, which was responsible for stocking Clear Lake with bass from 1969 to 1989.

Together the Salters were hailed as leaders who serve their community well.

The Lake County Military Funeral Honors team was the overall sweepstakes winner in the parade. The overall winner in the pet parade was Larry Batistoni and Jim Tollis and his 1951 Ford took top honors in the classic car division.

In the equine division, Team Mayo took the Pauline Willis award as well as top honors in the junior horse category. Senior horse award went to Chapel of the Lakes.

Additional awards were reported as follows:

• Color Guard: Boy Scout Troop No. 44, first place.
• Costumed: Lake Renaissance Festival, first place.
• Military: Lake County Military Funeral Honors Team, first place; 40 & 8, second place; Clearlake Masonic Lodge, third place.
• Fire: Lake County Fire Protection District and Cal Fire, tied for first place, Northshore Fire's Clearlake Oaks Station, second place.
• Commercial: Eel River Fuels, first place; Walmart ambassador, second place.
• Youth: Lower Lake High School Football team and cheerleaders, first place; Konocti Klogging Kids, second place; Clearlake Youth Center, third place.
• Float (commercial): California United Home Care Workers, first place; Lower Lake United Methodist Church, second place; Clearlake Internet, third place.
• Float (noncommercial): 40 & 8, first place.
• Pet (costume): Grace Skidmore, first place; Keleb and Marika Gamble, second place; Brittany Hazelton, third place.
• Pet (cutest): Larry Batistoni, first place; Super Kids, second place; Marie Johnston, third place.
• Pet (performing): Larry Batistoni, first place.
• Best Vintage Vehicle (stock): Dev Van Pelt, 1930 Desoto.
• Best Vintage Vehicle (modified): Joe and Norma Colabella, 1955 Chevy.
• Best Truck (stock): Al and Peggy Choate, 1931 Ford.
• Best Truck (modified): Ray Blayton, 1932 Ford.
• Best Motorcycle: Bonnie Epos, three-wheeler.
• Best Model A: Deanne Clayton, 1932 Ford sedan.
• Best Sports Car: Lee Company, 1966 Cobra.
• Equine Novelty Authentic Costume: Lonne Sloan.
• Pooper Scooper: River Thom and Blake VonRekoski.

The procession was followed by a barbecue, live music, a vendor faire and awards at Russell Rustici Park.

The event was hosted by Lower Lake Community Action Group, which thanked cosponsor Lakeshore Lions, for volunteering time and proceeds from its beverage booth.

Lower Lake Community Action Group, along with the Clearlake Car Club, will next host the “Show and Shine" car show on Aug. 16 on Main Street in Lower Lake.

Email Denise Rockenstein at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The sale of single family residences in April increased by nearly 27.5 percent over March sales, according to the Lake County Association of Realtors.

In April 65 homes sold versus fifty one 51 in March, LCAOR reported.

“Inventory levels were up in April.” commented LCAOR President Rick White. “There were approximately 368 single family residences available in April which was up from 284 in March. The increased inventory should help the normally busy summer months’ activity.”

The association's report said the number of sales continues to lag behind previous years’ sales but the median price held steady at $155,000 when compared to March 2014 sales.

Year to date, the median sales price also is $155,000, which is up from the 2013 median sales price of $149,000, the association reported.

The sales of distressed homes – those which are either sold after a foreclosure or via a short sale – continue to decrease when compared to 2013 numbers.

Distressed sales made up 26.15 percent of the April 2014 sales whereas in April 2013 they made up 44.6 percent of the sales, the report showed.

More than 35 percent of the April 2014 sales were financed with cash, which was up from 23.5 percent in March 2014 but nearly identical to the April 2013 numbers, according to LCAOR.  

The Multiple Listing Service records sales by area as well as countywide.

As of May 13, the Buckingham area has the highest median sales price at $414,000 (seven sales year to date), the MLS showed.

Clearlake N-NW has the lowest median price at $98,500 but has a total of 19 sales, according to the MLS, while the Hidden Valley Lake area has a total of 44 sales with a median price of $249,900.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Pleasure Cove Resort and Marina on Lake Berryessa in Napa recently reeled in top honors in Take Me Fishing’s Top 100 List of Family-Friendly Places to Boat and Fish in America.

California also notched seven other places on the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation’s (RBFF) inaugural Take Me Fishing Top 100 list of best places to fish in U.S. state parks and recreation areas, including Lake Chabot Regional Park in Castro Valley (7), Lake Del Valle State Recreation Area in Livermore (11), Moonlight State Beach in Encinitas (13), Clear Lake State Park in Kelseyville (17), Dockweiler State Beach in Playa del Rey (28), Echo Park in Los Angeles (33) and Millerton Lake State Recreation Area in Friant (75).

The entire list can be viewed at http://takemefishing.org/community/americas-top-family-fishing-and-boating-spots/ .

“The inclusion of eight California sites in the Take Me Fishing Top 100 list is a welcome recognition of the array of alluring recreational opportunities that exist in our state for anglers and boaters,” said California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Director Charlton H. Bonham.

RBFFis a nonprofit organization that seeks to increase participation in recreational angling and boating, thereby protecting and restoring the nation’s aquatic natural resources.

RBFF’s Take Me Fishing campaign initiated the nationwide vote to provide families and outdoor enthusiasts with a recommended list of the best family-friendly places to experience boating and fishing.

Criteria included having a public body of water within an hour of a major city and good fishing opportunities.

“We enlisted the help of state fish and wildlife agencies to identify popular locations, and asked fishing and boating enthusiasts who belong to our communities to vote on their favorite spots that are easily accessible and where the fish are known to bite most often,” said RBFF President and Chief Executive Officer Frank Peterson.

With 1,100 miles of ocean coastline, 220,000 square miles of ocean waters, 4,172 lakes and reservoirs, 29,664 miles of streams and rivers and 1,800 miles of bay and delta waters, California has more fishing opportunities than any other state in the country.

For more information on fishing in the Golden State, please visit www.wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing.aspx .

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – What began as a code enforcement case in Kelseyville last week led to a marijuana eradication and one arrest on charges including marijuana cultivation and failure to register as a sex offender.

Lt. Steve Brooks of the Lake County Sheriff's Office said Alan James Estrada, 65, of Kelseyville as a result of the case.

Brooks said that at 11:15 a.m. last Friday, May 23, Lake County Code Enforcement officers contacted members of the Sheriff’s Narcotic’s Task Force to report that they found a marijuana grow inside of a Kelseyville residence where they were conducting an inspection.

At 11:30 a.m., narcotics detectives arrived at the residence, located in the 3000 block of Meadow Wood Drive, Brooks said.

The detectives contacted Estrada, who said he owns the residence. Brooks said detectives explained they were there due to a reported indoor marijuana grow.

Detectives asked if Estrada was growing marijuana inside the home and Estrada said he was not. When detectives asked if he had a medical marijuana recommendation, Estrada said he had two belonging to other people, but his had expired approximately four years ago, Brooks reported.

When detectives explained that they could smell the odor of marijuana emitting from the residence, Brooks said Estrada let them inside to inspect the plants.

Brooks said the detectives noticed two of the bedrooms were being used to cultivate marijuana and counted a total of 236 marijuana plants, which were flowering and considered mature. The detectives also saw that Estrada was using large filters in each of the rooms, to reduce the odor of marijuana emitting from the residence.

Detectives asked Estrada if he had any weapons in the residence and he admitted to having a shotgun for home protection, Brooks said.

After viewing the marijuana plants, detectives obtained a search warrant for the residence which they served the same day. Estrada said he smoked marijuana every day, but he would only take a couple of puffs at night before going to bed, according to Brooks.

Brooks said the detective asked if Estrada smoked a whole marijuana cigarette per day and Estrada replied, “No, you can’t smoke that much.”

The detective said that due to the number of plants they had located inside the residence, he believed Estrada was selling it. Brooks said Estrada told the detective that he should stop talking and said he wanted an attorney.

The detective concluded the interview and did not ask any additional questions, Brooks said. The marijuana was eradicated and the shotgun was seized as evidence.

Central Dispatch conducted a records check of Estrada and advised he was a registered sex offender out of Humboldt County. Brooks said Central Dispatch also advised that Estrada was not registered as a sex offender in Lake County, where his residence is located.

Estrada was arrested for cultivating marijuana, possession of marijuana for sale, being armed in the commission of a felony and failure to register as a sex offender, Brooks said.

Brooks said Estrada was transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility and booked.

Estrada's booking sheet showed that his bail was set at $15,000. He later posted the required percentage of bail and was released.

The Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force can be reached through its anonymous tip line at 707-263-3663.