LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — While a week of record-breaking temperatures across Northern California isn’t over just yet, a break in the late summer heat wave is in sight.
The National Weather Service’s excessive heat warning for a large swath of California will remain in effect until 10 p.m. Friday.
In Lake County, forecasters are warning of dangerously hot conditions on Friday, with temperatures of up to 110 degrees Fahrenheit.
That’s been the case all this week, with reports of temperatures that topped 110 degrees coming in from around Lake County, peaking midweek.
This week’s hot temperatures have led the California Independent System Operator, or Cal ISO — which operates the state’s energy grid — to issue several energy emergency alerts and flex alerts because of the stress on the power supply as Californians try to stay cool.
Cal ISO said Thursday night that it has issued a flex alert for 4 to 9 p.m. Friday.
“We are grateful to Californians and our many partners across the West who continue to help the #ISO work through this very challenging week,” Cal ISO said in a Thursday night tweet.
While the National Weather Service is anticipating more “unseasonably hot afternoon temperatures” continuing through Friday, there’s hopeful news in the forecast.
The agency said a significant cooling trend will occur this weekend with below normal temperatures likely next week.
Forecasters said temperatures will begin to moderate this weekend as a trough — an area of low pressure in the atmosphere — approaches the North Coast. The National Weather Service said troughs extend toward the equator and usually are associated with cool, wet weather.
Moisture from Hurricane Kay is expected to spread over the North Coast from Saturday night to early Sunday, although the Lake County forecast does not indicate rain will result. However, conditions are expected to be cooler.
“An upper level trough will linger across the area next week resulting in cooler weather and below normal high temperatures,” the National Weather Service said in its long-range forecast.
The specific Lake County forecast calls for daytime temperatures dropping into the high 80s to low 90s on Saturday, and then into the lower 80s through Monday, and into the high 70s through Thursday.
Nighttime temperatures will range from the high 60s over the weekend into the low 50s through late next week.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
WASHINGTON, DC — The Department of the Interior on Thursday announced the Board on Geographic Names has voted on the final replacement names for nearly 650 geographic features featuring a derogatory term used to describe Native American women, including 80 in California.
The final vote completes the last step in the historic efforts to remove the word “squaw” — a term that has historically been used as an offensive ethnic, racial and sexist slur, particularly for Indigenous women — from federal use.
“I feel a deep obligation to use my platform to ensure that our public lands and waters are accessible and welcoming. That starts with removing racist and derogatory names that have graced federal locations for far too long,” said Secretary Deb Haaland. “I am grateful to the members of the Derogatory Geographic Names Task Force and the Board on Geographic Names for their efforts to prioritize this important work. Together, we are showing why representation matters and charting a path for an inclusive America.”
Three sites in Lake County are included and are being renamed:
• Big Sq__ Valley will now be known as Habematolel Valley. • Little Sq__ Valley is now Log Valley. • Sq__ Valley Creek is now Habematolel Creek.
Among neighboring counties, Mendocino County had five sites renamed, and one each in Colusa, Glenn and Sonoma counties.
The final vote reflects a months-long effort by the Derogatory Geographic Names Task Force established by Secretary’s Order 3404, which included representatives from the Department’s Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, National Park Service, Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Civil Rights, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, and the U.S. Geological Survey and the Department of Agriculture’s U.S. Forest Service.
During the public comment period, the Task Force received more than 1,000 recommendations for name changes. Nearly 70 Tribal governments participated in nation-to-nation consultation, which yielded another several hundred recommendations.
While the new names are immediately effective for federal use, the public may continue to propose name changes for any features — including those announced today — through the regular BGN process.
The renaming effort included several complexities: evaluation of multiple public or Tribal recommendations for the same feature; features that cross Tribal, federal and state jurisdictions; inconsistent spelling of certain Native language names; and reconciling diverse opinions from various proponents. In all cases, the Task Force carefully evaluated every comment and proposal.
In July, the Department announced an additional review by the BGN for seven locations, including in California, that are considered unincorporated populated places. Noting that there are unique concerns with renaming these sites, the BGN will seek out additional review from the local communities and stakeholders before making a final determination.
Secretary's Order 3404 and the Task Force considered only the sq___ derogatory term in its scope. Secretary’s Order 3405 created a Federal Advisory Committee for the Department to formally receive advice from the public regarding additional derogatory terms, derogatory terms on federal land units, and the process for derogatory name reconciliation. Next steps on the status of that Committee will be announced in the coming weeks.
Baby boomers, men and non-Hispanic White and Asian individuals are the nation’s most likely to own retirement accounts, according to newly released data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
The 2021 Survey of Income and Program Participation, or SIPP, includes new questions that help shine a light on how people were preparing for retirement in 2020.
It highlights differences in retirement assets by generations, sex, race and ethnicity.
This report also updates similar estimates for 2013 from a recently released paper that used data from the 2014 Social Security Administration Supplement and the 2014 SIPP.
Overall ownership rates
The SIPP has historically asked individuals to report whether they own any retirement accounts, which are categorized into:
• 401(k), 403(b), 503(b), and Thrift Savings Plans: employer-sponsored defined-contribution plans that deliver tax benefits. Employees choose how much to contribute, subject to annual contribution limits, and some employers match employee contributions. • Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA) and Keogh accounts: defined-contribution plans that also provide tax benefits for retirement savings. Individuals choose how much to contribute, subject to annual contribution limits. The plans have account values that can provide income during retirement. • Defined-benefit and cash balance plans: plans that typically deliver regular payments to support retirees. Payments from a defined-benefit plan often depend on an employee’s earnings and length of service, while cash balance plans define the benefit in terms of a stated account balance.
Among working-age individuals (ages 15 to 64), the most common type of retirement accounts in 2020 were 401(k)-style accounts (34.6%). About 18% of working-age individuals had an IRA or Keogh account, and 13.5% had a defined-benefit or cash balance plan.
The median value of 401(k)-style accounts was $30,000 and the median IRA or Keogh value was $30,820 — not statistically different.
Demographics of ownership
Overall rates, however, mask substantial inequality among those who own retirement accounts.
In 2020, working-age baby boomers ages 56 to 64 were the most likely to own at least one type of retirement account (58.1%).
Generation or Gen X members ages 40 to 55 were the next most likely to own retirement accounts (56.1%).
About half (49.5%) of Millennials ages 24 to 39 owned at least one type of retirement account but only 7.7% of Generation or Gen Z members ages 15 to 23 owned a retirement account.
While members of Generation Z were least likely to own a retirement account as of 2020, they also have the most time to accumulate additional retirement savings. According to previous work showing SIPP estimates for 2013, only 17.7% of Millennials owned retirement accounts when they were ages 15 to 31.
Current SIPP estimates show how Millennials’ retirement account ownership grew as they aged and gained labor market experience. Future SIPP estimates will show the evolution of retirement account ownership for Gen Z members as they age and accumulate labor market experience.
Men were slightly more likely (47.8%) than women (43.5%) to own a retirement account in 2020.
There were also differences in ownership by race and Hispanic origin.
About 54% of non-Hispanic White individuals owned a retirement account, and 46.8% of non-Hispanic Asian individuals owned a retirement account.
About 37% of non-Hispanic Black individuals and 36.1% of “Other” non-Hispanic individuals (i.e., American Indian or Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander or multiracial) owned at least one retirement account but the difference is not statistically significant.
Ownership rates (28.3%) were lowest among Hispanic individuals.
Saving for retirement
The 2021 SIPP featured new questions on employee and employer contributions to retirement accounts sponsored by an individual’s main employer. For each account type, individuals were asked whether they made contributions, and if so, how much.
This article focuses on employee contributions but the SIPP also asked owners of 401(k)-style and IRA or Keogh accounts whether their employer made contributions, and if so, the amount contributed.
The amount individuals receive from their defined-contribution plans (401(k)-style and IRA or Keogh accounts) when they retire is based on contributions and investment gains or losses.
Although employees may contribute to a pension plan, defined-benefit plans guarantee a specified monthly benefit at retirement based on salary history and length of service, rather than total contributions and investment returns.
Some individuals may own retirement accounts without actively making contributions.
Consider an individual who quits a job with an employer-sponsored 401(k) to open their own business. They still have that 401(k) but can no longer contribute. Others may be experiencing financial hardship that prevents them from contributing to their retirement accounts.
So, to understand how people save for retirement, we need to consider not only who owns retirement accounts but also who contributes to their retirement accounts and the value of those contributions.
In 2020, 92.1% of 401(k)-style account owners and 81.1% of IRA or Keogh account owners contributed to their employer-sponsored retirement accounts, regardless of the frequency of their contributions. A smaller share (57.7%) of pension holders contributed to their employer-sponsored defined-benefit or cash balance plan.
The median total amount employees contributed in 2020 to their own IRA or Keogh account was $2,514. The median amount they contributed to their 401(k)-style accounts ($3,599) and pension plans ($3,257) was slightly higher. Future research will examine employer contributions in combination with employee contributions.
What is the SIPP?
The Survey of Income and Program Participation is a nationally representative longitudinal survey administered by the U.S. Census Bureau that provides comprehensive information on the dynamics of income, employment, household composition and government program participation.
Beginning with the 2021 interview, the SIPP asked a series of questions sponsored by the Social Security Administration (SSA) about employer-sponsored retirement and pension plan coverage. These questions are a revised version of questions included in the 2014 SSA Supplement and the Retirement and Pension Plan Coverage Topical Module administered as far back as the 1984 SIPP panel.
The new questions provide insight into employer-sponsored retirement plans offered by current and prior employers, income withdrawn or received from these accounts and amounts contributed to retirement accounts by employers and employees.
Survey statistics are subject to sampling and nonsampling error. For technical documentation and more information about SIPP data quality, visit the Technical Documentation page.
Maria G. Hoffman and Mark A. Klee are survey statisticians in the Census Bureau’s Social, Economic, and Housing Statistics Division. Briana Sullivan is an economist in the Social, Economic, and Housing Statistics Division.
CLEARLAKE, Calif. — If you’re looking for a new dog that enjoys some fun and activity, check out the available canines at Clearlake Animal Control.
The City of Clearlake Animal Association also is seeking fosters for the animals waiting to be adopted.
Call the Clearlake Animal Control shelter at 707-273-9440, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to inquire about adoptions and schedule a visit to the shelter.
Visit Clearlake Animal Control on Facebook or on the city’s website.
The following dogs are available for adoption. New additions are at the top.
“Bluey.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Bluey’
“Bluey” is a male retriever mix with a short black coat.
He has been neutered.
He’s been on a visit with a foster family and enjoys time in the pool.
He is dog No. 50552999.
“Andy.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Andy’
“Andy” is a male American pit bull mix with a short gray and white coat.
He is dog No. 48995415.
“Bear.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Bear’
“Bear” is a male Labrador retriever-American pit bull mix with a short charcoal and fawn coat.
He has been neutered.
He is dog No. 48443153.
“Big Phil.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Big Phil’
“Big Phil” is a 13-year-old male American pit bull terrier mix with a blue coat.
He has been neutered.
He is dog No. 49951647.
“Hakuna.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Hakuna’
“Hakuna” is a male shepherd mix with a tan coat.
He has been neutered.
He is dog No. 50176912.
“Hondo.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Hondo’
“Hondo” is a male Alaskan husky mix with a buff coat.
He has been neutered.
He’s dog No. 50227693.
“Kubota.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Kubota’
“Kubota” is a male German shepherd mix with a short tan and black coat.
He has been neutered.
Kubota is dog No. 50184421.
“Mamba.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Mamba’
“Mamba” is a male Siberian husky mix with a gray and cream-colored coat.
He has been neutered.
He is dog No. 49520569.
“Matata.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Matata’
“Matata” is male shepherd mix with a tan coat.
He has been neutered.
He is dog No. 50176912.
“Sadie.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Sadie’
“Sadie” is a female German shepherd mix with a black and tan coat.
She has been spayed.
She is dog No. 49802563.
“Terry.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Terry’
“Terry” is a handsome male shepherd mix with a short brindle coat.
He gets along with other dogs, including small ones, and enjoys toys. He also likes water, playing fetch and keep away.
Staff said he is now getting some training to help him build confidence.
He is dog No. 48443693.
“Willie.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Willie’
“Willie” is a male German shepherd mix with a black and tan coat.
He has been neutered.
He is dog No. 50596003.
“Ziggy.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Ziggy’
“Ziggy” is a male American pit bull terrier mix with a short gray and white coat.
He has been neutered.
Ziggy is dog No. 50146247
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
The third Zonehaven update showing that zone CLE-E148 was no longer under evacuation and zone CLE-E147 has been reduced to an evacuation advisory. By 10:30 p.m., this last evacuation advisory was lifted. Courtesy image.
This story is being updated on a rolling basis.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — A structure fire that’s moved into vegetation has prompted evacuations in a portion of the city of Clearlake.
The Tana fire was first reported shortly before 4 p.m. in the area of Crawford and Tana avenues.
Shortly after 4 p.m., the Clearlake Police Department reported that an immediate evacuation has been called for all residences in the area of Crawford and Tana avenues due to the fire.
Minutes later, fire radio traffic indicated a total of three structures were on fire and the fire had jumped to the west side of Highway 53, where a 100 foot by 100 foot spot was burning in the area of Pine and 31st avenues.
Power lines were reported to be down in the area, and at around 4:15 p.m. incident command reported that all power lines had been deenergized.
Before 4:20 p.m., another structure was reported to be on fire in the area of Utah and Armijo avenues.
Cal Fire sent a full wildland dispatch to join local fire agencies, with Copter 104 and air attack arriving on scene shortly before 4:30 p.m. At that time they indicated the spot fire on the west side of the highway had been mitigated.
At that time, more air tankers were en route and expected to arrive shortly, based on radio traffic. Not long afterward, tankers were reported to be at scene, making drops.
As of 4:45 p.m., evacuation orders were in effect for Zonehaven zone CLE-E147 on the west side of Highway 53, and CLE-D148, the area which covers the Avenues. Information on the evacuation zones is available at Zonehaven.
Law enforcement was reporting over the radio that many residents are refusing to leave their homes.
Incident command has requested an immediate need for engines to respond to 30th and Pine avenues for structure protection.
With a fire reported in Laytonville and a structure fire in Calistoga, Cal Fire dispatched asked for the release of some of the units. Tankers were diverted to Laytonville shortly after 5 p.m.
Just after 6 p.m., the Clearlake Police Department updated the evacuation map to show that Zonehaven zone CLE-E147 remained under an evaluation order, while CLE-E148 had been reduced to an advisory evacuation.
At 6:20 p.m., police said Highway 53 from 18th Avenue to 40th Avenue had reopened.
The Cal Fire battalion chief on scene reported that the fire was contained at 6:25 p.m.
As of 7:20 p.m., police said zone CLE-E148 is no longer under evacuation and residents can return home. Zone CLE-E147 has been reduced to an evacuation advisory.
The Clearlake Police said just after 10:30 p.m. that all evacuation advisories and orders were lifted, and that Crawford Avenue north of Utah Street will remain closed to traffic.
More information will be added to this story as it becomes available.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
Flightradar24.com showed tankers, air attack and Copter 104 working over the Tana fire area in Clearlake, California, at around 4:40 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 8, 2022.
The initial Zonehaven map showing evacuation orders in red that were initially in effect for Zonehaven zone CLE-E147 on the west side of Highway 53 and CLE-D148, the area which covers the Avenues. Courtesy image.
Shortly after 6 p.m., the Clearlake Police Department issued this updated Zonehaven evacuation map for the Tana fire. Courtesy image.
Cluster homes proposed by Waterstone Residential. Courtesy image.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — A proposal for new homes and apartments near Westside Community Park will advance to a public hearing before the Lakeport City Council later this month.
In a unanimous vote at its Tuesday night meeting, the council approved introducing the Waterstone Residential housing project’s zone change ordinance and scheduled a public hearing for Sept. 20 for the ordinance and adoption of the mitigated negative declaration and general plan amendment for the proposed project.
The Lakeport Planning Commission discussed the project at its Aug. 10 meeting and recommended the council’s approval of it.
Waterstone Residential, owned by Peter Schellinger, is proposing the Parkside Residential Project, which will include 128 new apartment units and 48 cluster homes on the 15.16-acre property at 1310 Craig Ave.
Schellinger said the apartments will have solar power as part of his aim for them to be net zero. The homes will be plumbed for solar.
The project is on a portion of the Schellinger Subdivision, a 96-lot single-family residential subdivision approved in 2005 that included three phases. Peter Schellinger is the nephew and son of the original developers, Schellinger Brothers.
The first phase consisted of 31 lots, of which 17 were constructed and 14 remain vacant, with the Schellingers still hoping to develop them.
Community Development Director Jenni Byers said the project’s second and third phases did not submit for a final map and were never developed, and so the tentative vesting map has now expired.
Byers said that zoning allows the property to be developed with 19 units per acre, or up to 292 total units. However, she said Waterstone is proposing a density of 11 units per acre.
She said that due to legislative changes, the city is being robbed of its ability to approve some projects. The developer could put a home, an accessory unit and a junior accessory unit all on one parcel due to recent laws, which amounts to a triplex. As such, 195 units could be built with no review at all.
Byers said she is concerned about legislation to hold local governments to doing their job and allowing for more home building. She said she wanted to show the tremendous pressure the state is putting on cities and jurisdictions.
Lake County has lost 10% of its housing to wildfires in recent years, and due to the Mendocino Complex — which led to the evacuation of the entire city of Lakeport in the summer of 2018 — Byers said staff and the council understand the fire threat.
The project was shared earlier this year with then-Lakeport Fire Chief Jeff Thomas and he had no issues with layout. Thomas, who attended via Zoom, said in a message that Cal Fire did not respond to a request for comment on the project.
Comments submitted ahead of the meeting included a letter from Kim Costa, representing a group of Parkside Subdivision residents, and one from Dennis Rollins, chair of the Westside Community Park Committee, asking that park mitigation fees charged for the project be allocated directly to the paving at the park’s parking lot.
A bird’s eye view of the proposed apartments. Courtesy image.
City acknowledges impacts, sees opportunities
Peter Schellinger said his uncle had been working for years to develop the second and third phases of the original development after the Great Recession, but the cost of infrastructure prevented it.
He said he founded Waterstone with one of the larger homebuilders in the country. He wants to create a mixture of housing types to create a better community and reduce the cost per unit so it would become more economically feasible to proceed with projects on land that was undevelopable in current form.
Schellinger hired the original architect of the Parkside Subdivision, Jon Worden, in order to keep a similar character in building design, and resemble what was built in phase one.
The cluster homes, at around 1,200 square feet, are considered a midlevel housing option, with Schellinger estimating home prices of about $400,000 per home.
“We are excited to present this tonight and hope we’ll get your support,” Schellinger said.
City Manager Kevin Ingram said staff wouldn’t argue that the project didn’t represent an impact on the existing neighborhood.
Over the last several years, the city has worked actively with the prior developer to get that existing development up and off the ground. “We need housing in Lakeport but unfortunately the economy was just not allowing that previous development to play out,” said Ingram, attributing it to the escalating costs of construction.
Ingram said the city appreciated the opportunity to work with Schellinger’s team to come up with a model to get more housing in play. They’ve pressed a number of developers for more starter home models and Ingram said Schellinger’s property offers a great opportunity to the city.
He said the existing land use designations at the site allow for the density that’s being proposed. What it doesn’t allow for is the apartment type design, which was what was spurring Schellinger’s request of the council.
With traffic being a big concern for residents, Ingram said it would be warranted for the city to see how traffic is functioning at the project site.
Ingram said the city wanted to hear from the public, noting that staff can see it from the 40,000 foot level, but it’s good to hear from the neighbors.
“It’s my opinion that this is a good project that requires the council’s attention,” he said.
Opponents raise water, traffic concerts
The council heard from several community members who chiefly challenged the project on the grounds of fire safety, water supply and traffic.
Sky Hoyt, who does not live in the subdivision, raised concerns about water supply and suggested that tertiary water treatment is needed in the city.
Costa said the neighbors are trying to educate themselves and understand the state’s housing mandates. She said they are trying to be reasonable in their thinking, and wanted the city to be mindful of the neighborhood already there.
For her, safety was a big issue, including ingress and egress, and traffic. She suggested a medium housing option was necessary.
Her attorney, Andre Ross, suggested to the council that there are health, safety and welfare issues that need to be looked at closely before project approval, adding he believed the developer was abandoning the original subdivision. He said the developer should be put on a slower track.
Schellinger said he appreciated engaging with the community. Referring to the larger density that the current zoning allows, he explained, “We’re not doing that. I don’t think you want that. That's not a really cohesive development scheme.”
He said a lot of work went into the plan, and with it a lot of sensitivity. Schellinger said he doesn’t blame residents for being disappointed, as there is a lot of disappointment around the original project not working. But he believes the new plan is a good one.
Referring to the 14 single family home lots still undeveloped in the first phase, he said his uncle would not have endorsed this new development plan knowing he was going to hold those 14 lots to develop someday.
Byers said people have an incorrect idea of what affordable housing means. Schellinger is going for a grant for the neighborhood’s streets system, she said, not to make it low income.
During her life, she said she’s needed every type of housing that the development offers, from the time she was a single mom in college who needed affordable housing, to later graduating and making enough to buy a house and now moving into something smaller.
Schellinger said the cluster homes will be eligible for a down payment assistance program through Cal Home; qualifying applicants can make up to 120% of the average median income.
Lakeport has the ability to access that program. “We’re really excited about that,” he said, explaining those homes make up the “missing middle” in the housing market that not many people have been able to figure out and address.
He said they are not talking about homeless housing, which is a different development concept altogether, with completely different financing, requiring a huge subsidy and an ongoing fund for the services.
The people who will live in the new development aren’t homeless, they’re productive and contributing to society, he said.
Councilman Michael Green said that while he was on the Lakeport Planning Commission, he never had a project anywhere close to Schellinger’s come before him.
He said Schellinger is bringing in a different type of housing configuration. Acknowledging there are water supply problems, Green said shutting down this project isn’t the thing to ask, it’s to have the city stop allowing hookups.
Green and other council members thanked both Schellinger and those who spoke against the project for their input.
Mayor Stacey Mattina said it’s reasonable for the neighbors to be disappointed. She loves the Parkside neighborhood and its homes, and had been looking forward to seeing it finished.
“All these years have passed and we still have nothing,” she said.
Green moved to introduce the project and set it for a second reading, with Councilman Kenny Parlet seconding and the council approving the motion 4-0.
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