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UPPER LAKE, Calif. – The Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake recently made donations to two local schools.
The local tribe, a proponent of youth development and education, donated $2,500 to Upper Lake Middle School for its computer lab and $1,500 to the junior class of Upper Lake High School for its prom.
“In times of declining economies and lack of state funding for various educational programs, the tribe is thrilled to be in a position to provide needed funding for the development of well-rounded youth in our local community,” said Habematolel Tribal Chair Sherry Treppa.
“I am always impressed how local businesses and organizations step up to make sure our local students get what they need to stay competitive with the rest of the county,” said Upper Lake Middle School Principal Anthony Loumena. “Habematolel has stepped up to the plate in a big way for our kids. I can’t thank them enough.”
Upper Lake Middle School has been slowly updating its computer lab to ready themselves for the new Smarter Balance testing coming to California in 2014.
With this generous donation the middle school was able to purchase seven computers which helped them finish updating the Fuller Tech Center a year ahead of schedule.
The Junior Class Prom is an annual event that is both a tradition and the biggest fundraising event of the year.
The donation received from the Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake will assist the class in paying for the event location and decorations among other costs that will ensure the Junior Class Prom will be a big success. This year’s Prom theme is “Alice in Wonderland.”
The tribe has demonstrated over the course of several years that being a good partner with the local community is of paramount importance.
Formerly landless, the tribe in 2004 embarked upon the arduous task of restoring its land base, eventually placing 11.24 acres of land into trust in 2008 for the purpose of economic development.
Last May, the tribe opened Running Creek Casino, and has provided funding to the county of Lake, Northshore Fire Protection District and Lake County Search and Rescue.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – If you’re looking to bring home a new feline friend, it’s a good week to do it thanks to Lake County Animal Care and Control’s latest adoption event.
Through this Friday, April 26, county adoption fees will be waived, so that cat adoptions will cost $86 for females and $76 for males.
Those costs will cover spay or neutering, vaccinations and microchipping.
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”).
Black male cat
This black male cat is 2 years old.
He weighs 8 pounds, has a short coat and gold eyes, and has been altered.
Find him in cat room kennel No. 49, ID No. 35862.
Gray male tabby
This gray male tabby is 2 years old.
He weighs 8 pounds, has a short coat and gold eyes, and has been neutered.
He’s in cat room kennel No. 20, ID No. 35866.
Domestic short hair calico
This female domestic short hair mix is 2 years old.
She has a short calico coat and gold eyes, and has been spayed.
Find her in cat room kennel No. 2, ID No. 36033.
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
More than 400,000 unemployed Californians will feel the impact of the federal government’s sequestration spending cuts when their federal unemployment benefits are reduced nearly 18 percent beginning April 28, according to the California Employment Development Department.
Currently, federal extensions of Unemployment Insurance benefits run through the end of December.
Under the new cuts, the number of weeks the unemployed may be eligible for remains the same – 26 weeks of state-provided regular benefits and up to 47 additional weeks of federal extension benefits in four different tiers – but the dollar amount they are eligible to receive under the federal extensions will be reduced by 17.69 percent, Employment Development Department officials reported.
Such cuts do not affect the up to 26 weeks of regular state-provided unemployment benefits.
“At the California Employment Development Department, we’re on the front lines in helping our fellow Californians during difficult economic times,” said agency Director Pam Harris said. “Every day we work with people who have lost their jobs. We understand that Unemployment Insurance benefits are often their only shield against economic disaster and that cuts in those benefits can be very challenging. But we want to get word out so that those relying on these federal benefits can at
least prepare for the reductions.”
While there are currently an estimated 400,000 Californians certifying for federal extension benefits, hundreds of thousands more could be impacted by reduced benefit amounts before the end of the year as they become eligible for federal extension benefits, according to the Employment Development Department.
The cuts will not be implemented for unemployed individuals collecting benefits in the middle of the federal extension tier. The cuts will only be taken at that point when the individual first starts a federal extension claim or starts a new extension tier that begins on or after April 28.
The Employment Development Department will mail claimants a notice at that time, providing the effective date of the benefit reduction, the reduced weekly benefit amount and the maximum benefit amount of their extension.
Last week the Employment Development Department began mailing claimants informational notices describing the reductions and directing them to the department’s Web site, www.edd.ca.gov , for more details, including an online sequestration reduction calculator to help estimate the reduction in each individual’s benefits. Frequently asked questions also are posted to provide claimants helpful information.
Benefit payments will not be cut for several groups of recipients:
- Recently unemployed workers who are receiving regular state-funded unemployment benefits.
- Recipients of training extension benefits under the California Training Benefit program.
- Recipients of Trade Readjustment Assistance extended benefits.
The sequestration fund cuts also will hit California in other ways that will reduce EDD’s ability to help both workers receiving unemployment benefits and job seekers.
The state may lose more than $30 million in federal funding for the administration of the Unemployment Insurance program over the next 15 months.
The reduction comes on top of previous significant underfunding by the federal government and combined will greatly reduce the availability of Unemployment Insurance representatives to assist claimants.
The Employment Development Department strongly encourages Unemployment Insurance customers to use self-help tools whenever possible.
That includes AskEDD, an online option for submitting claim questions to EDD; eApply4UI, which is an online application; EDD Web-cert, which allows claimants to more quickly submit their ongoing continued claim forms online instead of sending a paper form through the mail; and EDD Tele-cert, allowing for self-assisted continued claim certification and claim information by phone.
The EDD reported that it also will lose $3.3 million in federal funding that supports job search assistance for job seekers at local One-Stop career centers throughout the state.
In addition, sequestration requires at least a $15 million funding cut to local Workforce Investment Boards that provide services throughout the state, including job training in local areas. Such reductions in these resources will have a direct impact on job seekers, employers and local economies, the Employment Development Department reported.
The EDD paid $17.1 billion in federal and state unemployment benefits in 2011 and $13.7 billion in 2012, which equates to about $264 million a week and about half of that in federally paid extension benefits.
As of April 8, there have been more than one million workers in California who have run out of all available Unemployment Insurance benefits. The EDD provides information on its Web site on assistance for unemployed California residents, http://www.edd.ca.gov/pdf/Assistance_for_Unemployed_Californians.pdf , that outlines other available services, such as health care, counseling, food and mortgage assistance.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – While there was no jackpot winner for California in Saturday night’s multistate Powerball lottery draw, someone who purchased a ticket for the contest in Lakeport still came up with a great prize.
The California State Lottery reported that there were two tickets sold that matched five of the winning numbers, with each of those tickets earning its holder $501,893, the largest prizes to come from the Saturday night draw.
One of the tickets was sold at the Rotten Robbie at 2725 S. Main St. in Lakeport; the second ticket was sold at an Arco gas station in Los Angeles.
The Powerball winning numbers were 6, 8, 30, 39 and 48, with 20 being the Powerball number. The jackpot was for $95.6 million.
Eli Hendrick, assistant manager at the Lakeport Rotten Robbie, said on Sunday afternoon that the store hadn’t yet received any official word from the California State Lottery about the win, and they also hadn’t yet heard from the person holding the winning ticket.
However, they’ve had plenty of customer buzz, he said.
“We have actually noticed a spike in sales today,” Hendrick said.
Hendrick said the gas station’s store sells an average of about 300 lottery tickets per day, with a base of consistent, loyal customers who come in daily to play specific games.
“It definitely gets them in here,” he said.
The Powerball ticket carries with it the largest win of any the store has sold, said Hendrick, noting that in the past they’ve sold some winning scratchers that totaled about $500.
The last year has proved a lucky one for local residents playing the lottery.
Last September, Tony Velasquez of Clearlake Oaks won $14 million in the SuperLotto Plus with a ticket he purchased at the Red and White Store in Clearlake Oaks, as Lake County news has reported.
That was followed in late November by Paul Reed of Cobb winning $179,745 playing the Fantasy 5 game on a ticket he purchased at the Cobb Texaco.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – Short of fishing or drowning night crawlers, at times there’s not a lot that happens in Clearlake Oaks.
But on Saturday, May 11, 750 zombies will – borrowing from the lyrics of Cole Porter – do that voodoo that they do so well.
Their reason for being there will be to chase and otherwise harass participants in a “Run for Your Lives” 5K run that will begin at the nearby Oasis Vintage Motocross.
Already more than 3,000 runners have ponied up $87 to $97 for the “privilege” of trying to outrun the zombies behind them and the several obstacles in front, including a blood pit, smoke house and electric shocks.
If spending three hours in this sort of environment sounds like barrels of fun to you, Lauren Gambler, the event’s customer service manager, assures that there’s room for another 3,000 to 4,000 entrants.
Try to imagine the impact of 6,000 scared-out-of-their wits runners chased by professionally made-up ghouls will have on the Oaks, population 2,400.
In all, there are 10 obstacles on the course, “and,” said Gambler, “when you come to the zombies you have to sprint or slow down to dodge them. So it takes people a little bit longer to run a 5K.”
“Run for Your Lives” is the creation of Reed Street Productions of Baltimore, where it was first held in October 2011.
Under its format runners begin the course wearing a flag football-like belt with three hanging flags that the zombies attempt to remove throughout the run.
The run seems to be gaining popularity. Last year there were a dozen of them around the country. This year there are 21 scheduled.
Clearlake Oaks was selected as an event site because (1) Reed Street wanted to establish itself in northern California; and (2) the run needs to be held in a place where it can spread out over 150 acres.
“It’s more of a test of survival than an athletic event,” said Gambler. “If the zombies take all three of your flags you’re still part of the race and you’ll get a medal. If you finish up with one flag you get a survivor medal.
“I’m sure there have been some runners who finish with all three flags, but most of them just squeeze by with the one flag left,” she said.
The event, she added, promotes camaraderie for families and friends in a team concept.
Another concept that has caught on it seems is the lively interest in being among the dead. “There’s a flat entrance fee of $35 to be a zombie and we are sold out,” said Gambler.
Doubtlessly it’s more fun to be chasing than being chased. One good reason for that is the creativity that goes into becoming a zombie.
“We’ve had Forrest Gump and Teletubby zombies, doctors and people who dress up as bride zombies in old wedding dresses that they’ve shredded to pieces,” said Gambler.
Others are outfitted as iconic television and film stars. Runners have also been known to enter the event costumed. One entered in a banana suit. To date no one has invaded the run al fresco as has been the case for other popular runs such as Bay to Breakers.
“We hope that no one ever comes undressed,” Gambler demurred.
The proceeds from “Run for Your Lives” go to Baltimore-based Kennedy Krieger Institute, which aids children and adolescents with pediatric developmental disabilities and disorders of the brain, spinal cord and musculoskeletal system.
A warning: Clearlake Oaks, you have just three weeks to get ready for this.
For more information visit http://www.runforyourlives.com/locations/northern-california/ .
Email John Lindblom at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – As a strong ridge of high pressure continues to build over Lake County and Northern California, clear skies and hot days are forecast today and into next week.
According to forecasters, the county can expect daytime highs in the mid- to upper 80s today and tomorrow, with highs near or above 90 in the warmest locations on Tuesday, according to Western Weather Group Lake County.
Once again, winds will be breezy in the afternoon, although not as strong as they have been the last few days.
Overnight lows in the 40s and 50s are expected throughout mid-week as daytime highs begin to cool beginning on Wednesday.
Temperatures are forecast to return closer to normal by Friday, with daytime highs back in the 70s.
Email Terre Logsdon at