How to resolve AdBlock issue? 
News
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Sixteen mosquito samples, one dead bird and another sentinel chicken tested positive for West Nile Virus in Lake County last week, Lake County Vector Control reported Wednesday.
“This year we have had more West Nile Virus detected from more locations in the county than in any previous year,” said Lake County Vector Control District Manager Dr. Jamesina Scott.
For 2013, a total of 46 mosquito samples, seven dead birds and two sentinel chickens have tested positive for the virus in Lake County, Scott reported.
Scott told Lake County News that the dead birds were from Hidden Valley Lake, Kelseyville, Lakeport, Lower Lake, Lucerne (two birds) and Witter Springs. Other than a tree swallow (from Lower Lake) the rest of the positive birds were American Crows and Western Scrub-Jays.
She said both of the positive chickens were from Upper Lake, and the West Nile Virus positive mosquitoes were from Anderson Marsh, Clearlake Oaks, Kelseyville, Lakeport, Middletown, Spring Valley and Upper Lake.
So far, 2013 has seen no West Nile Virus equine cases in Lake County, according to Scott.
She said this year has been the second highest year for West Nile Virus activity in Lake County since the virus was detected here in 2004.
Since 2006, four Lake County residents have been diagnosed with West Nile Virus, however no human cases locally have been reported this year, Scott said.
Fifty-nine human cases of West Nile Virus infection have been reported in California this year, with four deaths attributed to the virus, serving as a reminder that taking precautions is important to preventing this sometimes serious and even deadly infection.
West Nile Virus causes no symptoms in approximately 80 percent of people who are infected, according to Scott. Up to 20 percent of people experience a variety of symptoms that may include fatigue, fever, headache, body aches, rash, and even nausea and vomiting.
While the illness can last only a few days, even healthy people have reported being sick for several weeks, Scott said. Less than 1 percent of cases suffer severe illness, including neurologic effects that may be permanent, and in some instances are fatal.
There is no specific treatment for the virus, so the best approach is to avoid exposure to mosquito bites, which is how the virus is transmitted, Scott said.
“People should take precautions to avoid mosquito bites – especially over the Labor Day weekend when many of us will be outside into the evening when the mosquitoes that carry West Nile Virus are biting.”
Scott urged Lake County residents to help reduce their risk of contracting mosquito-borne diseases by following these guidelines:
- Dump or drain standing water. Mosquitoes can't begin their life without water.
- Defend yourself against mosquitoes using repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus.
- Avoid being outdoors when mosquitoes are present, typically dawn and dusk.
- Report neglected swimming pools by calling 707-263-4770 or visiting www.lcvcd.org . Anonymous calls accepted. Just one neglected pool can produce more than one million mosquitoes and affect people up to five miles away.
“When the kids go back to school, wading pools and other toys left in the yard hold water and produce mosquitoes. It’s easy to forget about these as we spend less time outside, but the mosquitoes will find them,” Scott said.
She asked everyone to “please take a walk around your yard today and dump out any water that doesn’t need to be there.”
Scott encouraged residents who plan to take their pools out of service over the winter, or who have an ornamental pond, an animal watering trough, or other water source that cannot be drained to call the district for mosquito fish.
The Lake County Vector Control District is a public health agency that protects Lake County residents and visitors from mosquitoes and other vectors and vector-borne diseases.
The district routinely tests samples of female mosquitoes, dead birds and sentinel chickens for the presence of West Nile Virus, and uses the surveillance data to guide its mosquito control activities.
Residents who would like help with a mosquito problem should contact the Lake County Vector Control District at 707-263-4770 or visit their Web site at www.lcvcd.org .
For more information about West Nile Virus, visit http://www.westnile.ca.gov/ .
In honor of the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington – which took place on Aug. 28, 1963 – the National Archives has released a full digital restoration of the documentary film, “The March.”
The National Archives reported that the 33-minute film was completed through an agreement between the US Government and Hearst Metrotone News.
The contract goal stated that the film was to “portray the dramatic events of the August 28th Demonstration… as a living force in American democracy, and to present in depth… a responsible, Nationwide effort on the part of major civil rights organizations…. in order to arouse the conscience of a nation to the need of Congressional legislation on the civil rights issue.”
Filmmaker James Blue was enlisted to complete the film. He led the gathering of footage, edited the film, wrote the script and narrated the dialog for a total cost of $40,000.
“The March” would go on to win awards in international film festivals.
Also presented by the National Archives is a short video on the March on Washington in pictures, featuring some of the people who were there. That video also can be seen below.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Duane and Dorothy Furman are humble people who have gone about their business of raising prize-winning Angus cattle in Scotts Valley for more than 50 years.
They would never brag about their accomplishments, of which there are many. But on Thursday evening the Furmans will be honored as the grand marshals of the Lake County Fair Parade, leading the parade down Main Street and up Martin Street to cut the main gate ribbon, opening the event.
Each year the Lake County Fair Board of Directors selects an individual who has had a large and significant impact on Lake County to be the parade grand marshal.
The grand marshals lead the parade up Main Street in Lakeport on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. and, after arriving at the main gate on Martin Street, they cut the ribbon and declare the Lake County Fair open for another year.
This year the Furmans will ride in a 1955 Chevrolet convertible owned and driven by Bob Cramer of Kelseyville.
The parade starts at Natural High School in Lakeport, travels south on Main Street, and ends at the main gate to the fairgrounds with the ribbon cutting ceremony.
The parade occurs at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 29.
Upon arrival at the main gate, everyone who enters the parade with a float will receive free entry to the Fair.
The Furmans, both originally from the Martinez area, moved to Scotts Valley more than 50 years ago and began ranching on the former Stanley Ranch.
A traditional ranch family, Duane took care of a herd of Angus cattle and bailed hay, while Dorothy raised six children.
Today they have 11 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, many of them Lake County residents.
In addition to ranching, Duane has been the 4-H beef project leader for the Scotts Valley 4-H Club for more than 40 years, assisting more than 100 children through beef projects. And for 30 years, Duane was the livestock superintendent for the Lake County Fair while Dorothy acted at livestock secretary.
Together, in their quiet manner, they herded hundreds of 4-H and FFA exhibitors through the livestock shows and sales, planning the event, supervising the shows, and directing the Junior Livestock Auction that has raised millions of dollars for children to use on education, business projects and other activities.
“I've known the Furmans since I was a little kid, and it would be hard to find nicer people,” said neighbor Grant Lindeblad.
His daughter, Jenny Bingham, is currently the Fair's livestock superintendent. Of the Furmans she said, “Pretty much everything I know about working at the fair I learned from them. Dorothy hired me as a show clerk right out of high school, and the two of them taught me all about what they did for the Lake County Fair.”
The Lake County Fair's dates this year are Thursday, Aug. 29, through Sunday, Sept. 1. Lake County Fair is one“Find Great Treasures!”
Regular admission prices for the 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 on Thursday, Aug. 29, only, for “Kid's Day.”
For more information visit www.lakecountyfair.com .
COBB, Calif. – A 3.8-magnitude earthquake recorded near The Geysers geothermal steamfield on Tuesday night gave quite a shake to a number of Lake County residents.
The US Geological Survey said the quake occurred at 9:43 p.m.
It was centered two miles east southeast of The Geysers, 13 miles south southwest of Clearlake and 13 miles northeast of Healdsburg, at a depth of just over one mile, the US Geological Survey reported.
Originally the quake was reported as a 3.6-magnitude, before it was upgraded to 4.1 and then rolled back to 3.8, based on US Geological Survey records.
The main quake was immediately followed by a number of aftershocks, including a 2.1-magnitude quake just minutes later, according to survey data.
Len Neft, who lives on Rose Anderson Road in Anderson Springs, said the quake was “very, very violent,” and one of the strongest he's felt in the more than 20 years he's lived there.
“This one knocked stuff over in every room of the house,” he said, noting some items were broken after falling from shelves and the walls.
Neft said he felt two of the aftershocks after the “monster” temblor hit.
Readers from Clearlake, Lower Lake, Hidden Valley, Middletown and Cobb reported on Lake County News' Facebook page that they also felt the quake.
Erica Torrey in Lower Lake said it moved a chair and Middletown resident Bill Davis said it was “the loudest earthquake I've ever heard.”
Lynne Norton said it “was the biggest and strongest shake” she'd ever felt in her Middletown home and Anderson Springs resident Sheila Roseneau said it knocked her CDs off the bookcase and rattled the dishes and glasses.
Rose Knudsen of Anderson Springs said the quake was the most violent she's felt in her nine years in that community, which is frequently shaken by quakes attributed to the nearby geothermal plants.
By 10:30 p.m., the US Geological Survey had received 34 shake reports from five zip codes, including Calistoga, Healdsburg, Hidden Valley Lake, Lower Lake and Middletown.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKEPORT, Calif. – A felony arrest warrant has been issued for a Lakeport man who allegedly assaulted a friend's caregiver this past weekend.
Allen Lee Timms Jr., 28, is alleged to have assaulted a 42-year-old Kelseyville woman providing care to his friend last Saturday evening, according to Lakeport Police Chief Brad Rasmussen.
The victim said Timms – who believed she was not providing his friend with enough pain medication – pulled a knife on her, chased her through the house, knocked her down and threatened her, police reported.
Rasmussen said Timms fled the scene of the incident, which occurred in the 100 block of First Street, before police arrived, and they were unable to locate him. He remained at large on Tuesday evening.
On Tuesday the Lakeport Police Department submitted a case against Timms to the Lake County District Attorney's Office, Rasmussen said.
The case includes felony charges of terrorist threats and assault with a deadly weapon, and a misdemeanor count of exhibiting a deadly weapon other than a firearm, according to Rasmussen.
“Based on the information presented, the district attorney filed those two felonies and the misdemeanor,” Rasmussen said.
Rasmussen said the arrest warrant includes a $50,000 bail provision once Timms is taken into custody.
Timms is believed to still be in the county, said Rasmussen, who added that he believes Timms is dangerous.
“It's unknown if he's still armed with the knife from the assault,” Rasmussen said.
Anyone with information about Timms' whereabouts can call 911 or the Lakeport Police Department at 707-263-5491.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
NORTH COAST, Calif. – Cal Fire reported Tuesday that it has arrested a Willits man on suspicion of setting a number of fires in North Coast forest lands.
Cal Fire law enforcement officers arrested Brice Lee McKinnon, 22, on Tuesday.
McKinnon is charged with numerous felony counts of arson to forest lands for allegedly starting wildland fires which occurred in the Willits area between July and August of this year, Cal Fire said.
Assisting Cal Fire in the investigation were the Little Lake Fire Department, Willits Police Department and Mendocino District Attorney’s Office.
Cal Fire said the case remains under investigation, and additional details about the case against McKinnon was not being released.
The agency urged the region's residents to be vigilant in their preparedness and aware of suspicious persons when a fire does start.
If you witness someone suspicious make note of the time, his or her physical description, as well as any vehicle description, including the license plate number.
Always contact law enforcement, never approach a suspicious person.
Anyone with information about arson is urged to contact the Cal Fire Arson Hotline at 1-800-468-4408.
Callers can remain anonymous.