How to resolve AdBlock issue? 
News
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – As night fell on Sunday officials still had not located a missing Clearlake child, who last was seen at her family’s home earlier that afternoon.
The search continued through the night for 9-year-old Mikaela Renee Lynch, who was reported missing by her father shortly before 1:30 p.m. Sunday, as Lake County News has reported.
The girl, who has autism and cannot speak, is considered at risk, police said.
Shortly after 3 a.m. Monday, Clearlake Police reported that an active search was still under way, with dogs brought in to join the effort.
Mikaela was last seen in her family’s yard at 15197 Harbor Drive, according to bulletin police issued not long after the girl disappeared.
Clearlake Police Department quickly put officers and volunteers into the field to search for the girl. They were joined by personnel from Lake County Fire, Northshore Fire and K-Corps.
In addition, witnesses saw helicopters flying over nearby Cache Creek, including a California Highway Patrol helicopter searching near the water for the child.
The Lakeport Police Department put out an advisory on the missing girl shortly before 8:30 p.m., with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office releasing a brief advisory just after 10 p.m.
It was just after 10 p.m. that reports from the scene indicated that police and fire units were responding to the area of Meadowbrook Preschool after someone heard crying in the area.
However, at around 11:30 p.m. a Clearlake Police dispatcher told Lake County News that police had no luck finding the girl, and the search was continuing.
Shortly before 11:30 p.m. and continuing until after midnight, residents of various parts of Lake County reported receiving reverse 911 calls about the missing girl from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
Mikaela is described as a white female, 4 feet tall and weighing 70 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes.
Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to contact the Clearlake Police Department at 707-994-8251 or call 911.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Five adoptable cats are waiting for new homes at Lake County Animal Care and Control this week.
The cats range in age from 2 to 9 years, and all have been altered in anticipation of going to new homes.
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.
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 brown tabby
This male brown tabby is 2 years old.
He has a short coat and gold eyes, weighs 10 pounds and has been neutered.
He’s in cat room kennel No. 1, ID No. 36268.
White domestic medium hair
This female white domestic medium hair cat is 9 years old.
She weighs 24 pounds, has blue eyes and has been spayed.
Find her in cat room kennel No. 22, ID No. 36285.
Female brown tabby
This female brown tabby is 3 years old.
She has a long, luxurious coat with white markings and gold eyes, and she has been spayed.
She’s in cat room kennel No. 29, ID No. 36214.
Domestic short hair mix
This female domestic short hair mix is 8 years old.
She has a gray and white coat, green eyes, weighs nearly 8 pounds and has been spayed.
She’s in cat room kennel No. 105, ID No. 36162.
‘Susie Q’
“Susie Q” is an 8 year old domestic medium hair mix.
She has green eyes, a gray and white coat, weighs 14 pounds and has been spayed.
Find her in cat room kennel No. 106, ID No. 36161.
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
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – As part of its commitment to reducing unwanted births and achieving a lower euthanasia rate in Lake County's feline population, SPCA of Clear Lake is offering its “Spring Feline Fix” event.
The organization is offering discounted spay and neuter services to all Lake County residents.
There is no income eligibility requirement or paperwork to fill out in order to receive the services.
Spring Feline Fix prices are females $55 and males $45.
SPCA of Clear Lake is the longest running nonprofit spay/neuter clinic in Lake County with quality and compassionate care for your pet.
To make an appointment, call the SPCA during business hours of 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, telephone 707-279-1400 or 707-995-2273.
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake Police Department has issued a bulletin seeking information on the whereabouts of a 9-year-old autistic girl reported missing on Sunday afternoon.
A report from Det. Ryan Peterson said Mikaela Lynch was reported missing by her father, Bari Lynch, just before 1:30 p.m.
Peterson reported that the girl, who is unable to speak, was last seen in the yard of her family’s home at 15197 Harbor Drive, Clearlake, just before her father contacted police.
Mikaela is described as a white female, 4 feet tall and weighing 70 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. Peterson said police did not have a clothing description for her.
Clearlake Police Department personnel and volunteers are currently searching for Mikaela, Peterson said. Reports from the scene also indicated REACH, Lake County Fire and the Northshore Dive Team had joined the search.
Due to Mikaela's mental state, age and circumstances, she is believed to be an at risk missing juvenile, according to Peterson.
Peterson said a flier on the missing girl originally was issued as an Amber Alert, but police later were later advised that Mikaela’s case does not meet the alert’s criteria at this time.
Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to contact the Clearlake Police Department at 707-994-8251.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The 100 fourth to sixth graders who attended the Children’s Museum of Art and Science science camp on Saturday, May 4, had some unexpected company.
While learning about the Ely Stage Stop and checking out the three quarter sized stage coach, Lake County’s most talkative handsome highwayman, John “Bent Nose” Parker, showed up in chaps, mask, hat and a gun to relieve passengers of their valuables and take away the strong box.
After negotiating their freedom, students went on to other stations manned by costumed Lake County Historical Society docents where they made butter and washed clothes with an old-fashioned washboard and bar of soap.
When it came time for students to move to the next station, a large bell was rung. This bell, which now hangs on the Stage Stop porch, was from the Henderson ranch in Kelseyville and was rung to signal meal times for the hands as well as signify an emergency situation.
The other activity stations at Ely included a chance to dissect owl pellets. Shula Shoup and Tracy Mostin reminded students that owl pellets are like cat hairballs; owls cough up what they cannot digest, the hair, fur and bones of their prey. Students used charts to identify the skulls and bones in the pellets.
Anthropologist Doug Prather demonstrated how to make arrowheads and Lori Anthony and Sarah Fred taught students how to play a Native American gambling game. Students guessed which hand held a small rock and if they were correct, they won a “horse” (a decorated stick).
After a delicious lunch provided by the Rotary Clubs of Lake County, students headed for the new barn for an hour long raptor show sponsored by the Redbud Audubon Society.
Jenny Papka from Native Bird Connections brought four rescued raptors, a kestral and three owls. Students were enthralled by the birds and obviously enjoyed the chance to see the see amazing creatures up close and personal. They had many good questions for Ms. Papka.
For the second half of their day students were bussed to the Taylor Observatory in Kelseyville. Here Barbara McIntyre presented a show in the planetarium.
Billy Gear and Carrieann Lopez directed hands-on time with microscopes looking at local pond creatures. Kinene Barzin had hand bells and percussion instruments outside under the trees where students learned the melody and rhythm for two songs.
This free day long camp was the seventh annual camp hosted by the Children’s Museum of Art and Science.
Students from every school district as well as charter schools and home schooled students were invited.
CMAS deeply appreciates the support of its partners the Lake County Office of Education, the Redbud Audubon Society and the Lake County Historical Society. Foods Etc graciously provided water and snacks. Boy Scout Troop 44 helped direct morning traffic. Teens from the Kelseyville High School Interact Club assisted in groups and activity stations. Many adult volunteers made this an educational, exciting and fun day for all.
Carolynn Jarrett is president of the Children’s Museum of Art and Science.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – This is an above-normal year for wildfires, which does not bode well for Lake County, with its expanse of rangeland and combustible brush.
But the county can take a certain amount of comfort in knowing that, thanks to Lake Evacuation and Animal Protection, it is prepared for what may lie ahead.
LEAP, as the fully trained all-volunteer organization is known, functions as a safeguard for animals, ranging from house pets to horses in the event of a major fire.
Created by a dozen visionary individuals, it marries the knowledge of firefighters with that of experts in the world of animals.
In the case of Greg and Lynnette Bertelli, that marriage of interest and expertise is a literal one; he a Cal Fire battalion chief, she an equestrian who drove the establishment of LEAP two and a half years ago. Lynnette is Lake County regional manager for the investment firm that owns Spruce Grove and TnT Storage and the finance officer for the Ratel Investments firm.
“LEAP’s main mission is to coordinate people in the evacuation of animals,” explained Greg, who was one of the dozen organizers.
“When we evacuated people in years past we opened up the gate and let the animals run so that they could get away from the fire,” he said. “Over time we developed a fire service organization that we needed in order to be better coordinated and attempt – if fire conditions allow – to not only evacuate people but evacuate their animals.
“Most people’s animals are their family,” he added. “If they’re not their family they are a part of their economic livelihood.”
The expertise available to animal owners through LEAP is impressive. It includes operatives from Animal Care and Control, Lake County Animal Services, stable owners and livestock haulers.
Lynnette Bertelli’s original goal, along with that of two other horse owners – John Gay (since deceased) and Dr. Paul Marchand – was equine rescue.
“I went to the first horse council meeting where I met John and Paul and we all stood up and said we have a need for an equine rescue group,” she recalled. “The horse council said, ‘Yes we do. You three get together and figure it out.’ So the three of us started going to various county meetings.”
As a next step, she, along with a group of animal control volunteers connected with Bill Davidson, director of the county’s Animal Care and Control department, and gained inclusion in that organization.
Greg Bertelli is a major resource for LEAP through an ongoing series of half-day seminars he conducts. From these sessions LEAP’s members learn how to function during a fire, covering such matters as fire-site radio communications and proper attire for crossing a fire line.
“We have been working with animal control, local fire chiefs and people who understand how things have to be coordinated and have a good strong background in communication, fire line safety and proper equipment so that firefighters can go beyond the fire lines in with trained animal control volunteers.” he said. “We want to be coordinated with the whole operation.”
Conversely, firefighters are not always well versed in animal control. “But having someone from animal services support them they can make a halter and lead them out calmly,” said Greg. “At a fire I’ll let Lynnette handle the animals and I’ll support her any way I can.”
LEAP got its first test by fire, so to speak, during the Wye Fire of 2012, in Spring Valley, one of the county’s most difficult spots to combat a fire because of access and egress.
“A horse and trailer jack-knifed at the very beginning of that fire,” Lynnette recalled. “It was a big mess. You have to have the coordination and the expertise in a situation like that so that you don’t create a bottleneck or a block.
“If the wind would have shifted or anything different happened in that scenario it could have been catastrophic. It was an incredible training for us. People were walking their animals down the road with no leash, no halter, no nothing. Livestock were stuck here and horses were stuck there and these people needed to get in and get their dogs. But nobody’s lives were at risk; it was awesome.”
The critical necessity for a program for the safe evacuation of animals and their owners in a fire was pointed up as early as the 1990s.
“A woman back then, like so many people, didn’t want to leave her home,” said Greg. “She waited, waited, waited until a fire engine came by and (firefighters) literally grabbed the dogs she had and grabbed her to put her in the fire engine. But one of the dogs broke free and ran back into the house. To the woman the dog was her family. She ran into the house and a fireman ran into the house after her. The firefighter had severe burns, the woman perished and the animal died as well.”
The safe evacuation of animals can be a slippery slope. Horses tend to run back into burning barns out of fear and confusion, because it is their safe zone.
“If the horse or animal has a familiar area and their barn is on fire, they’re going to want to go where it’s safe,” said Greg. “It’s like a child would feel safest under their bed. Animals react the same way.”
Said Lynnette: “Our biggest goal is to have people understand that they have permission to evacuate with their animals because we don’t have the manpower to evacuate all of them. We recommend having a go-kit for your pet with food and a blanket ready so that you can grab it and go.”
Davidson said LEAP was “invaluable” during the response to the Wye Fire.
Indeed, LEAP has developed a system of coordination at fire sites.
“We will always have an expert and that expert will be familiar with the fire service,” said Greg. “LEAP will have communication with a commander and the person in charge will have permission from the division for how many people are going in, how many animals they're getting, the address of the fire site and what to do once they’ve got the animals.”
The latter is no small issue.
“People have organic goats and they have to be treated differently than other group of goats,” said Lynnette. “The same for organic cows. If not that cow is no longer organic.”
The Bertellis are delighted by agency as well as community support for LEAP.
“All of the local fire chiefs, the U.S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management and Cal Fire are coming together in support of this and that’s something that’s critical,” says Greg. “We are constantly improving and making things better.
“This could not be possible without the combined efforts of our volunteers and animal control,” he added. “Bill Davidson has been instrumental in the development of our group.”
Added Lynnette: “Many veterinarians have volunteered because maybe some of the animals are going to have burn scars or are injured. The supporters for LEAP are amazing. Karen Schaver has a nonprofit dog rescue. And she is a full-time teacher. Napa Auto in Lakeport donated $1,000 worth of paint. That’s huge.
“Everybody cares about it and it’s wonderful to see. It’s a small community, but people really do get involved. That’s how we make things work.
“We’ll know we have succeeded in doing our job if when the time of a disaster comes and there are minimal or no animals to evacuate,” she asserted. “It is our ultimate goal to educate the public to the extent that they are prepared and evacuate their own animals with any needed supplies and medications necessary. And, to let the public know that if they evacuate with their animals, there will be care and shelter available to them.”
Davidson said LEAP welcomes new volunteers.
The Wildfire Safety Expo, which takes place Saturday, May 18, at Kelseyville Lumber will provide detailed information from LEAP and Lakeport and Kelseyville fire stations.
Those interested in learning more about the group also can contact Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.
Email John Lindblom at