How to resolve AdBlock issue? 
News
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County District Attorney's Office has issued a warning to county residents to be on guard when using online sales venues like Craigslist or eBay in the wake of a recently reported scam or con game.
District Attorney Don Anderson said Thursday his office has received a report of a Lake County resident being taken advantage of while attempting to sell an item on Craigslist.
Anderson said the suspect in the case contacted the potential victim and agreed to purchase the item on Craigslist.
The suspect then is alleged to have sent a counterfeit check to the seller for an amount several thousand dollars over the original purchase price, Anderson reported.
The suspect in the case then contacted the alleged victim, told him the check amount was a mistake and that his secretary had mixed up the amounts with another order. Anderson said the suspect then directed the seller to cash the check, keep the amount of the original purchase price and send back the difference.
In order for the scam to work, Anderson said the victim would need to deposit the check into his account, obtain cash and wire the money to the suspect.
A couple of days later the victim would learn the check is counterfeit, but by that time it would be too late and the victim would have been conned out of the money, Anderson explained.
Anderson said, luckily in this case, the alleged victim checked with his bank and learned that the check was counterfeit before cashing it.
This is just one of many types of scams circulating on the market, Anderson said.
He urged anyone who is offered what seems to be an unusually good deal to be extremely careful.
Anderson said it's always wise to check with law enforcement or one's banking institution before engaging in any such transaction.
Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews , on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf and on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/LakeCoNews .
CORRECTION: THE FORECAST IS FOR SIX TO EIGHT INCHES, NOT FEET, OF SNOW.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services (OES) has issued a public advisory for extreme weather conditions forecast for the next several days.
The Lake County area will be subject to a severe weather event over the next three days as a storm system approaches with the potential to drop snow throughout the area and down to lake level, according to the report from Capt. James Bauman.
As much as 6 to 8 inches of snow is expected to accumulate in the mountains and throughout the county starting early Thursday morning and lasting through Friday evening.
During this weather event, OES strongly urges the public to avoid any unnecessary travel. As temperatures fall and winds increase starting late Wednesday or early Thursday, road surfaces may become icy and blowing snow could limit visibility. Even in areas where falling snow turns to rain or sleet, snow or slush accumulations may remain on roadways and present a hazard to motorists.
Lake County Public Safety agencies responded to numerous accidents throughout the county during the last winter storm event on Feb. 17 and OES is advising motorists to refrain from all unnecessary travel when this approaching system arrives.
Those who must drive should use extreme caution. Speeds should be lowered and distances between vehicles should be increased as appropriate. Motorists are encouraged to be equipped with flares, flashlights, a cell phone, a first aid kit, boots and other extra clothing if they must travel.
With increasing winds and decreasing temperatures, those who must leave home should wear multiple layers of clothing and keep their head, ears, and hands covered. Pets should be brought indoors if possible, or otherwise kept in a well-insulated outdoor shelter. Outdoor water dishes should be checked regularly to assure animals are provided with water that is not frozen.
If generator power becomes necessary, OES urges homeowners to first contact PG&E before starting up as utilizing generators can re-energize power lines and potentially cause serious injury or death to responders and utility workers.
OES offers the following public safety tips for severe storms or other adverse weather
conditions:
• Dress appropriately with head and hands covered when going outdoors in temperatures below freezing.
• Bring pets inside and provide shelter for farm animals.
• Have an emergency household supply kit, including nonperishable foods and drinking water stored in bottles or other containers in case water or other utility services are interrupted.
• Ensure flashlights and battery-powered radios are in good working order and have an ample supply of batteries on hand. Candles and other open-flame light sources are not recommended.
• Avoid overexertion. Cold weather puts strain on the heart, even without exertion. Some winter deaths have resulted from overexertion while shoveling snow or pushing cars stuck in the snow.
• Check on neighbors and relatives. The elderly are particularly susceptible to hypothermia and falls due to icy conditions.
• If there is a power outage, do not call 911. Use a customer service number for information.
• Take precautions to keep pipes from freezing. Consult a licensed plumber or hardware dealer for recommendations on protecting or thawing pipes.
Customer service numbers to keep on hand are:
• PG&E: 800-743-5000.
• ATT: 611 or 866-346-1168.
• American Red Cross: Emergency, 800-696-3873; local office, 707-263-8451.
• Sheriff’s Dispatch Non-emergency: 707-263-2690.
Additional disaster resource information can be found in the local yellow pages of the phone book.
Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews , on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf and on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/LakeCoNews .
THE US GEOLOGICAL SURVEY HAS DOWNGRADED THE INITIAL QUAKE AND UPGRADED THE SECOND.
LAKE PILLSBURY, Calif. – An updated report from the US Geological Survey showed that two earthquakes measuring more than 4.0 in magnitude each occurred just a minute apart Tuesday evening.
A 4.3-magnitude quake occurred at 8:49 p.m. Tuesday, with an epicenter located six miles north of Lake Pillsbury at a depth of 9.4 miles, as Lake County News has reported.
It had been immediately preceded during a six-minute period by three smaller quakes, ranging between 1.6 and 2.9 in magnitude, all located on the same epicenter but at slightly shallower depths.
The US Geological Survey records initially showed several smaller quakes before and after the 4.3 quake.
However, on Wednesday reports were updated to show that a 4.2-magnitude quake occurred at 8:50 p.m., also six miles north of Lake Pillsbury but at a depth of 7 miles.
No shake reports were sent to the US Geological Survey on either of the large quakes, although Lake County News received reports Tuesday evening from county residents who reported feeling a quake.
Since the two larger quakes occurred, US Geological Survey sensors recorded seven other earthquakes in the Lake Pillsbury area from late Tuesday through early Thursday morning, measuring between 1.5 and 2.7 in magnitude.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
Gloria Flaherty, received the sabbatical from The California Wellness Foundation.
Flaherty will take her sabbatical from Feb. 28 through July 6, 2011.
The Lake Family Resource Center Board of Directors has appointed Lisa Fronsman as interim executive director during Flaherty’s absence.
Fronsman currently serves as the nonprofit's director of finance and operations.
During her time off, Flaherty will take advantage of the time to take a road trip with her mother, reestablish her vegetable, herb and flower gardens, hike and camp, and spend time with her husband and family.
“This sabbatical is a gift that I never expected,” said Flaherty. “It is an opportunity to refresh and reenergize myself and focus priorities.”
The organization has worked hard over the past several years to build leadership within the organization so that it can sustain itself through management changes. Flaherty said this time will be an opportunity to test those systems.
“We have a very capable leadership team and staff, and our board of directors is strong, well-versed and well-trained in monitoring and oversight,” she said.
Eight nonprofit health-sector executives were recognized with The California Wellness Foundation (TCWF) Sabbatical Program Award at an October luncheon ceremony in San Francisco. The leadership support program – now in its eighth year – provides eight organizations with grants of $35,000 each to cover salary and other expenses during their executive directors’ sabbaticals, which last a minimum of three months.
The eight executives who received the 2010 sabbatical award are David Ashby, New Morning Youth and Family Services in Placerville; Joan Benoît, Native American AIDS Project in San Francisco; Paula Cohen, Mendocino Coast Clinics in Fort Bragg; Margaret Diaz, Victor Valley Domestic Violence, Inc./“A Better Way” in Victorville; Gloria Flaherty, Lake Family Resource Center in Lake County; Marqueece Harris-Dawson, Community Coalition in Los Angeles; Abdi Mohamoud, Horn of Africa Community in San Diego; and Clare Mounteer, Monterey County Rape Crisis Center in Monterey.
“Executive directors at nonprofit health and human service organizations in California continue to face difficult challenges to meet ever-increasing demands for services in a funding environment that has been deeply impacted by the economic recession,” said Gary L. Yates, TCWF president and chief executive officer.
“The foundation developed the sabbatical program to prevent burnout, promote the health of these executives and provide an opportunity to strengthen these organizations,” Yates said. “We are pleased to recognize these eight dedicated individuals.”
The program was created to support nonprofit leaders and seeks to improve the long-term effectiveness of health-focused nonprofits by providing their executives with the rest they need to continue to direct their organizations’ missions.
Each organization receives $30,000 to cover its leader’s salary during the sabbatical, plus an additional $5,000 to cover expenses related to the professional development of managers and staff who will assume extra responsibilities during their leader’s absence.
Each of the 2010 sabbatical honorees has served in the nonprofit sector for at least 12 years, and most have worked in their current roles as lead executives of health-focused organizations for many years without a significant break.
“These executives have worked selflessly for years in the nonprofit health sector, with little time for rest, reflection or rejuvenation,” said Sandra J. Martínez, TCWF program director. “By recognizing their leadership and supporting their organizations during the sabbaticals, the foundation is helping the safety net improve the health of diverse California communities, now and in the future.”
The California Wellness Foundation is a private independent foundation created in 1992 with a mission to improve the health of the people of California by making grants for health promotion, wellness education and disease prevention.
The foundation prioritizes eight issues for funding: diversity in the health professions, environmental health, healthy aging, mental health, teenage pregnancy prevention, violence prevention, women’s health, and work and health. It also responds to timely issues and special projects outside the funding priorities.
Since its founding in 1992, TCWF has awarded 5,828 grants totaling more than $735 million.
Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews , on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf and on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/LakeCoNews .
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Forecasters warn that Lake County should prepare for another winter storm later Wednesday with snow accumulations expected again down to lake level and more snow at higher elevations.
The National Weather Service in Sacramento issued a Winter Storm Watch for all of Lake County – and much of Northern California – with unusually low snow levels below 1,000 feet beginning late Wednesday through sunrise on Friday morning.
The watch this time includes Lakeport, which during the last week's storms only received a light dusting of snow for a short time, while Clearlake, also at the level of Clear Lake, received several inches of snow with some locations in Clearlake reporting nearly a foot.
San Francisco forecasters also are calling for the chance of snow within the Lakeport city limits, with accumulations in the surrounding hills.
Winds also will be strong – up to 20 miles per hour – with stronger gusts locally, making for more hazardous travel conditions around Lake County with blowing snow.
Wednesday's high temperature will top out near 50 degrees, with temperatures dropping below freezing and increasing chances of precipitation.
Thursday's high temperatures are not expected to climb out of the 30s, with an 80 percent chance of rain and snow and overnight temperatures in the 20s.
Friday is forecast to be even cooler, with snow showers predicted before 10 a.m., but returning overnight into Saturday.
For up-to-the-minute weather information, visit the Lake County News homepage and be sure to sign up for breaking news alerts.
Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews , on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf and on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/LakeCoNews .
THIS EARTHQUAKE ORIGINALLY WAS REPORTED AS BEING 4.3 IN MAGNITUDE, WAS UPGRADED TO 4.4 AND HAS NOW BEEN DOWNGRADED BACK TO 4.3.
LAKE PILLSBURY, Calif. – A 4.3-magnitude earthquake occurred Tuesday evening near Lake Pillsbury, with residents on the other side of the county reporting that they felt the temblor.
The quake occurred at 8:49 p.m., according to the US Geological Survey.
Its epicenter was located six miles north of Lake Pillsbury, 16 miles southwest of Alder Springs and 22 miles east northeast of Willits. The US Geological Survey said it was recorded at a depth of 9.1 miles.
The quake was immediately preceded by a 2.8-magnitude earthquake at 8:44 p.m., located on the same epicenter as the big quake but at a depth of 7.1 miles, and a 2.9-magnitude earthquake at 8:45 p.m., at a depth of 4.8 miles but located seven miles north of Lake Pillsbury.
At 9:17 p.m. a 2.4-magnitude quake occurred seven miles north of Lake Pillsbury, followed at 10:14 p.m. by a 2.8-magnitude quake six miles north of Lake Pillsbury, US Geological Survey records showed.
Although quakes measuring in magnitude above 3.0 are more common in the south county area near The Geysers geothermal steamfield, quakes in the Lake Pillsbury area are less frequent.
However, in recent years there have been some sizable quakes near Lake Pillsbury, including a 4.8-magnitude quake in April of 2007 that a seismologist said was the largest there in about 30 years, as Lake County News has reported.
The most recent moderately sized quake reported in the area occurred last August and measured 3.6 in magnitude, according to Lake County News records.
Late on Tuesday evening some area residents posted on Lake County News' Facebook page that they had felt the quake, although the US Geological Survey hadn't received any shake reports by that point.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at