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NORTH COAST, Calif. – A big rig carrying drilling equipment up Geysers Road toward Cobb Mountain overturned on Monday morning, blocking the roadway for several hours.
The incident occurred shortly before 10 a.m. in the 13000 block of Geysers Road, on the Sonoma County side near Cloverdale, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The CHP said the driver was uninjured in the wreck, which completely blocked the roadway.
Officer John Float of the CHP’s Santa Rosa Area office said the 35-ton International truck was carrying drilling equipment up the hill. Reports from the scene said the truck was loaded with pipes and augers.
Float didn’t have information about where the equipment was headed.
Bottle Rock Power Plant said the equipment wasn’t headed there; Lake County News was unable to reach the Northern California Power Agency or Calpine to see if their geothermal plants on Cobb Mountain had been the destination for the equipment.
Float said that tow trucks arrived on the scene at 2:30 p.m. to remove the truck.
“The road is closed,” Float said shortly before 3 p.m.
He said the Sonoma County Road Department was providing traffic control in the area.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
COBB, Calif. – A moderately sized earthquake was reported near The Geysers geothermal steamfield on Monday morning.
The quake, measuring 3.0 on the Richter Scale, occurred at 5:44 a.m., according to the US Geological Survey.
Its epicenter was located one mile north northeast of The Geysers, four miles west southwest of Cobb and six miles west northwest of Anderson Springs, at a depth of 1.5 miles, the survey reported.
Two shake reports were submitted to the US Geological Survey – one from Middletown and one from Oakland.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. – Fire restrictions on the Mendocino National Forest will be lifted Tuesday, Oct. 16, at 12:01 a.m. as a result of lower temperatures in the area.
Visitors with a valid California Campfire Permit will once again be able to have fires outside of designated campgrounds, including wilderness areas.
The fire restrictions were put in place July 13 due to increased fire danger and hot, dry weather.
Despite the change in weather, fire season is not officially over, forest officials said.
Visitors are asked to be careful when using campfires, charcoal fires and gas stoves in the National Forest.
When you have a campfire, please do the following:
- Clear all flammable material away from the fire for a minimum of 5 feet in all directions to prevent escape of the fire.
- Have a shovel available at the campfire site for preparing and extinguishing campfires.
- Have a responsible person in attendance at all times.
- Extinguish campfire with water, drowning the fire, stirring the coals and ash, and feeling for heat or warm spots; continue the process until the coals and ash are cold.
Campfire permits are available free of charge from any Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management or Cal Fire offices, including the Mendocino National Forest.
For more information, please contact the Mendocino National Forest at 530-934-3316 or visit www.fs.usda.gov/mendocino .
LOWER LAKE, Calif. – Local and state fire agencies will be conducting live fire training and a controlled burn with California State Parks on Tuesday, Oct. 16, between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. at Anderson Marsh State Historic Park and Natural Preserve in Lower Lake.
The fuel to be burned is grass and light brush, State Parks reported.
The public may still see and smell smoke from Clear Lake, Lower Lake and other outlying areas on Clear Lake.
California State Parks conducts this live fire training periodically to control invasive plant species, fuel reduction, hazard assessment, maintain fuel breaks, and enhance coordination between local and state agencies.
During this training, firefighters will participate in mobile attack, progressive hose lays, handline construction, firing operations, fire shelter deployment, fire suppression tactics and strategies, as well as overall fire and public safety.
A similar exercise and controlled burn was conducted on Oct. 9, as Lake County News has reported.
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Following events last week promoting the Lakeshore Drive Downtown Corridor, a team of engineers and consultants last Friday unveiled the preliminary designs for the area that were based on community involvement and suggestions.
The Lakeshore Drive Downtown Corridor runs from Olympic Drive to Old Highway 53.
Opening the Oct. 12 presentation at Clearlake City Hall was Josh Meyer, director of Community Planning Programs at Local Government Commission, a nonprofit organization that worked with the Lake County/City Area Planning Council (APC).
Meyer explained the funding behind the corridor’s proposed designs. APC wrote a proposal for a $160,000 Caltrans grant that allowed the community to fund the vision.
With Nelson Nygaard, an engineering firm, as well as Opticos Design on board, the entire team was able to help translate ideas into a plan for improvement projects, Meyer said.
Going over challenges, values, speed, sidewalks and parking, Meyer explained what needed to be improved, and what improvements were already being made.
Current efforts include grant funding that will go to upgrading Redbud’s boat ramps, as well as planned improvements at Highlands Park.
The turnout from the community has been stellar, said Meyer.
At Friday’s presentation, more than 100 members of the public were on hand. The design studio, on Wednesday night, also brought in higher than normal attendance numbers – double, the numbers in other communities, the team reported.
Improvements such as buffers, adhering to the American Disabilities Act (ADA) requirement of 48 inches of adequate space and signage are all challenges for creating a proper road on Lakeshore Drive, the team explained.
John Miki from Opticos Design continued the presentation, showing graphics of proposed improvements.
As parks are close to retail, amenities should be used to help boost the public draw of Redbud Park’s harbor, designers suggested.
Preliminary design suggestions included having only one side of parking, medians, on street and back-in parking, and bike lanes.
The designs showed the vast improvements that can be made to Lakeshore Drive as the city works with property developers and obtains easements of dedication from business owners.
It was recommended that Clearlake build on what it has now. However, proper design and maintenance will be crucially important, as most of the corridor’s water side is deemed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to be in the flood zone.
Staff commended Ben Lawson for taking the team out on his boat to help them envision the view from a boater’s perspective. Designs to help improve floating docks and pilings leading up to the parks were based on Lawson’s tour of Clear Lake.
The community was asked to keep an open mind as future developments – and developers – come forward.
The team said Lakeshore Drive is a work in progress, and will be substantially aided by this new grant and design efforts.
Leaving behind some “bite-size” prioritized tasks, and short- to long-term goals for the city, the grant continues with review and work coming back in late February.
After the presentation, attendees walked across to Austin Park for a community reception.
The reception was hosted by the Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce led by Tamara Richmond, with food provided by Chic Le Chef, wine from Six Sigma and Vigilance Wineries and music from David Neft.
A camera crew from the Discovery Channel also was on hand to document Clearlake’s latest event for a show about America.
Email Nathalie V. Antus at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Animal Care and Control is holding its second adoption event of the year, with a reduction in costs to take home a new feline friend.
A number of cats of varying ages and types are available for adoption this week.
The county’s $30 adoption fee will be waived. Male cats will cost a total of $76 to adopt; that covers altering, vaccines (including rabies) and a microchip. Adopting a female cat will cost $86, with the same services included.
Cats that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are either neutered or spayed and 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”).
Gray male tabby
This gray male tabby is 2 years old.
He has a medium-length coat, weighs nearly 9 pounds and is not yet neutered.
Find him in cat room kennel No. 11a, ID No. 34357.
Orange male tabby
This male orange tabby is 6 months old.
He weighs 4 pounds, has a short coat and has been neutered.
He’s in cat room kennel No. 15a, ID No. 34145.
Male orange tabby
This male orange tabby is 6 months old.
He has not yet been neutered, weighs 3.5 pounds and has a short coat.
He’s in cat room kennel 15b, ID No. 34146.
Domestic short hair mix
This female domestic short hair mix is of undetermined age.
She has a short coat and is not yet spayed.
Find her in cat room kennel No. 15c, ID No. 34147.
Orange and white tabby
This male orange and white tabby is 1 year old.
He has green eyes and a short coat, weighs 5 pounds and has been neutered.
He’s in cat room kennel No. 25, ID No. 34500.
Male gray tabby
This male gray tabby is 7 months old.
He has a short coat, weighs 4 pounds and has been neutered.
Find him in cat room kennel No. 33a, ID No. 34485.
Black domestic short hair mix
This male black domestic short hair mix is 6 months old.
He has gold eyes, weighs 4 pounds and has been altered.
He’s in cat room kennel No. 33b, ID No. 34465.
Domestic short hair mix
This female domestic short hair mix is 6 years old.
She has blues eyes and a short white coat, and has been spayed.
Find her in cat room kennel No. 46, ID No. 34385.
Male gray tabby
This male gray tabby is 13 weeks old.
He has a short coat, weighs nearly 3 pounds and has been neutered.
Find him in cat room kennel No. 90b, ID No. 34511.
Male gray tabby
This male gray tabby is 1 year old.
He has a short coat and green eyes, and has been neutered.
He’s in cat room kennel No. 100, ID No. 34479.
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