LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Lake County Animal Care and Control has nearly a dozen dogs waiting to find new homes in the new year.
Dogs available for adoption this week include mixes of beagle, border collie, Chihuahua German shepherd, Labrador retriever, mastiff, pit bull, Rhodesian ridgeback and terrier.
Dogs that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are either neutered or spayed, microchipped and, if old enough, given a rabies shot and county license before being released to their new owner. License fees do not apply to residents of the cities of Lakeport or Clearlake.
The following dogs at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption (additional dogs on the animal control website not listed are still “on hold”).
Call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278 or visit the shelter online for information on visiting or adopting.
This male black Labrador retriever mix puppy is in kennel No. 10, ID No. LCAC-A-2428. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Black lab mix puppy
This male black Labrador retriever mix puppy has a short black coat.
He is in kennel No. 10, ID No. LCAC-A-2428.
This 1-year-old male German shepherd is in kennel No. 12, ID No. LCAC-A-1892. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Male German shepherd
This 1-year-old male German shepherd has a black and tan coat.
He is in kennel No. 12, ID No. LCAC-A-1892.
“Cinnamon” is a 5-year-old female chocolate Labrador retriever-pit bull mix in kennel No. 13, ID No. LCAC-A-1769. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. ‘Cinnamon’
“Cinnamon” is a 5-year-old female chocolate Labrador retriever-pit bull mix with a short chocolate-colored coat.
She is in kennel No. 13, ID No. LCAC-A-1769.
“Bruce” is a 2-year-old male pit bull terrier in kennel No. 14, ID No. LCAC-A-2351. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. ‘Bruce’
“Bruce” is a 2-year-old male pit bull terrier with a short brown coat.
He is in kennel No. 14, ID No. LCAC-A-2351.
This 3-year-old female mastiff is in kennel No. 15, ID No. LCAC-A-1868. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Female mastiff
This 3-year-old female mastiff has a short brindle coat.
She is in kennel No. 15, ID No. LCAC-A-1868.
This young male beagle-terrier mix is in kennel No. 18, ID No. LCAC-A-2389. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Male beagle-terrier mix
This young male beagle-terrier mix has a short tan coat.
He is in kennel No. 18, ID No. LCAC-A-2389.
This 1-year-old male Chihuahua is in kennel No. 19, ID No. LCAC-A-2393. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Male Chihuahua
This 1-year-old male Chihuahua has a short brown coat.
He is in kennel No. 19, ID No. LCAC-A-2393.
This 2-year-old female border collie mix is in kennel No. 23, ID No. LCAC-A-2207. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Female border collie mix
This 2-year-old female border collie mix has a black and white coat.
She is in kennel No. 23, ID No. LCAC-A-2207.
This 2-year-old male German shepherd is in kennel No. 26, ID No. LCAC-A-1903. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Male German shepherd
This 2-year-old male German shepherd has a black and tan coat.
He is in kennel No. 26, ID No. LCAC-A-1903.
“Duke is a 1-year-old male Rhodesian ridgeback in kennel No. 30, ID No. LCAC-A-2219. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. ‘Duke’
“Duke is a 1-year-old male Rhodesian ridgeback with a short brown coat.
He is in kennel No. 30, ID No. LCAC-A-2219.
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 space station is viewed from the SpaceX Cargo Dragon during its automated approach before docking. Credit: NASA TV. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson announced the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to extend International Space Station operations through 2030, and to work with our international partners in Europe (ESA, European Space Agency), Japan (JAXA, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), Canada (CSA, Canadian Space Agency), and Russia (State Space Corporation Roscosmos) to enable continuation of the groundbreaking research being conducted in this unique orbiting laboratory through the rest of this decade.
“The International Space Station is a beacon of peaceful international scientific collaboration and for more than 20 years has returned enormous scientific, educational, and technological developments to benefit humanity. I’m pleased that the Biden-Harris Administration has committed to continuing station operations through 2030,” Nelson said.
“The United States’ continued participation on the ISS will enhance innovation and competitiveness, as well as advance the research and technology necessary to send the first woman and first person of color to the Moon under NASA’s Artemis program and pave the way for sending the first humans to Mars,” Nelson added. “As more and more nations are active in space, it’s more important than ever that the United States continues to lead the world in growing international alliances and modeling rules and norms for the peaceful and responsible use of space.”
Over the past two decades, the United States has maintained a continuous human presence in orbit around the Earth to test technologies, conduct scientific research, and develop skills needed to explore farther than ever before.
The unique microgravity laboratory has hosted more than 3,000 research investigations from over 4,200 researchers across the world and is returning enormous scientific, educational, and technological developments to benefit people on Earth.
Nearly 110 countries and areas have participated in activities aboard the station, including more than 1,500,000 students per year in STEM activities.
Instruments aboard the ISS, used in concert with free-flying instruments in other orbits, help us measure the stresses of drought and the health of forests to enable improved understanding of the interaction of carbon and climate at different time scales. Operating these and other climate-related instruments through the end of the decade will greatly increase our understanding of the climate cycle.
Extending operations through 2030 will continue another productive decade of research advancement and enable a seamless transition of capabilities in low-Earth orbit to one or more commercially owned and operated destinations in the late 2020s.
The decision to extend operations and NASA’s recent awards to develop commercial space stations together ensure uninterrupted, continuous human presence and capabilities; both are critical facets of NASA’s International Space Station transition plan.
Lake County residents are invited to read more this winter with the selection of books at the Lake County Library. Reading materials on display at the Lake County Library’s branch in Lakeport, California. Courtesy photo. LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Lake County Library's Winter Reading Challenge begins Tuesday, Jan. 4.
Participating in the library program is a fun way for residents to challenge themselves to start out the year by reading more. Making a resolution to read more has a host of benefits that can really have a positive impact on your life.
The library has programs for pre-K, kids, teens, and adults. Children who can't quite read on their own can still sign up and parents can record the books that they read together.
Beginning January 4 residents can register for the challenge on the Library's website. Registration is open at any time until the end of the challenge on March 19. Anyone who wants to sign up can head to the library website at http://library.lakecountyca.gov and click “Winter Reading Challenge”.
Residents don't have to go online. They can also register and take part by visiting their local branch.
Once registered, residents can start reading library books to get points by logging their reading, either online or by visiting the library. The library believes all reading counts! Residents can read eBooks, print books, audiobooks, comics, or whatever participants like to check out from the library and read.
Participants complete the challenge by earning 1,000 points. Those who finish the challenge get to pick out a brand new book and be the very first person to check it out. This book will then become part of the library collection with their name inside commemorating their reading achievement. These books are provided by the Friends of the Lake County Library, a community non-profit membership organization.
Reading is such an important way to build literacy skills and keep them sharp throughout life. Literacy is more than just the ability to read and write. A high level of literacy helps people understand complex ideas and communicate effectively with the world around them. People with strong reading skills tend to be more inquisitive, creative and have a positive outlook on life in general.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The National Weather Service is predicting that the first week of the new year will see more rain falling in Lake County.
The forecast says a winter storm will produce periods of strong south winds, locally heavy rainfall and high elevation snow Sunday night through Tuesday.
The first round of rain arriving on Sunday night is expected to only bring a few tenths of an inch in Lake County, with up to a half an inch on Monday.
Rain is forecast to continue in Lake County through Friday.
Cold temperatures also are expected during the coming week.
Daytime temperatures will continue in the high 40s through Wednesday, topping out in the high 50s on Thursdsay and the low 50s on Friday.
Nighttime conditions will range from the high 20s on Saturday night to the low 30s on Sunday. From Monday night through the weekend, night temperatures will rise to the low 40s.
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.
CLEARLAKE, Calif. — Clearlake Animal Control has numerous dogs ready to meet their new families.
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.
“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.
“Arnold.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Arnold’
“Arnold” is a male American Staffordshire terrier mix with a short brindle coat with white markings.
He is dog No. 49029348.
“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.
“Bear No. 2” is a male American pit bull mix with a short tan coat.
He has been neutered.
He is dog No. 48731556.
“Bella.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Bella’
“Bella” is a female American pit bull mix with a short gray brindle coat.
She has been spayed.
She is dog No. 48448381.
“Gingy.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Gingy’
“Gingy’ is a female terrier mix with a tan and white coat.
She is dog No. 49228146.
“Holly.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Holly’
“Holly” is a female terrier mix with a beige coat.
She is dog No. 49159116.
“Isabella.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Isabella’
“Isabella” is a female Chihuahua mix with a short tan coat.
She is dog No. 49292130.
“Levi.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Levi’
“Levi” is a male golden retriever-Labrador retriever mix.
He has a short golden coat.
He is dog No. 48975687.
“Maria.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Maria’
“Maria” is a female Shar-Pei mix with a short tan coat.
She is dog No. 49047315.
“Mitzi.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Mitzi’
“Mitzi” is a female Australian cattle dog mix with a medium-length black and white coat.
She has been spayed.
She is dog No. 48443306.
“Nala.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Nala’
“Nala” is a 1-year-old female German shepherd mix.
She has a medium-length black and tan coat.
She is dog No. 48289638.
“Priscilla.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Priscilla’
“Priscilla” is a female Brittany spaniel mix with a white and copper coat.
She is dog No. 49089138.
“Sassy.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Sassy’
“Sassy” is a female American pit bull mix with a short black coat.
She has been spayed.
She is dog No. 48443128.
“Snowball.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Snowball’
“Snowball” is a male American Staffordshire mix terrier with a white coat.
He is dog No. 49159168.
“Tanisha.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Tanisha’
“Tanisha” is a female Australian cattle dog mix with a short red and white coat.
She has been spayed.
She is dog No. 48443302.
“Terry.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Terry’
“Terry” is a male shepherd mix with a short brindle coat.
He is dog No. 48443693.
“Turk.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Turk’
“Turk” is a male chocolate Labrador retriever mix.
He is dog No. 48911836.
“Willie.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Willie’
“Willie” is a male Chihuahua mix with a short black coat and white markings.
He is dog No. 49141640.
“Winnie.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Winnie’
“Winnie” is a female Doberman pinscher-Australian shepherd mix with a short tricolor coat.
She has been spayed.
She is dog No. 49228128.
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.
Dennis Fordham. Courtesy photo. Without a valid will a person’s estate passes to their surviving heirs under intestate succession (i.e., “succession without a will”).
A valid will can determine who inherits assets in a decedent’s estate, who is the executor of the estate, what powers the executor has over the estate, and more (or less).
Litigation over the validity of a will can occur if an heir is unhappy because they inherit less under the will than under the laws of intestacy or if a beneficiary inherits less under the current will than the prior will.
To be valid, a will must be properly executed by a person who, at the time he or she signs the will, is of sound mind and is acting both with testamentary intent and voluntarily, that is without duress, menace, fraud or undue influence (which the law sometimes presumes exists in certain untrustworthy situations, like gifts to paid caregivers).
In California, a will is properly executed if it satisfies any one of various standards, as relevant, to the document’s execution (section 6113 of the Probate Code).
First, a will is valid if it either satisfies the standard will requirements or there is clear and convincing evidence supporting a will that does not meet the standard requirements (section 6110 of the Probate Code). Otherwise, a handwritten will is valid if it satisfies the holographic (handwritten) will requirements (section 6111 of the Probate Code).
The standard will requirements are that the will be signed by the testator, i.e. the person making the will, and be witnessed by two persons at the same time. The two witnesses must see the testator either sign the will or else acknowledge the will in their presence and the witnesses must understand that it is the testator’s will.
Otherwise, failing to meet all standard requirements, the will may still be valid if, “clear and convincing evidence” is provided to the probate court to show that, “at the time the testator signed the will, the testator intended the will to constitute the testator’s will.”
Alternatively, the testator may write a holographic (handwritten) will with the material provisions in his or her own handwriting; no witnesses are required. The holographic will should demonstrate testamentary intent, i.e., the testator’s intention to gift property at death, and be signed and dated by the testator.
Second, the will is also valid if it takes the form of a California Statutory Will set out in section 6200 et. seq of the Probate Code. California’s statutory will form allows for a person to select from amongst different distribution scenarios by signing his or her name in the associated box to indicate a choice of distribution and by writing in relevant information, such as the names of the beneficiaries and the specific gifts.
The statutory will must be signed and dated by the testator in the presence of two witnesses who sign and date a witness declaration.
Third, a will is also valid in California if it was validly executed elsewhere under another state’s law or was validly executed, either at the time of executing the will or at the time of the testator’s death, under the laws of the place where the testator was domiciled (i.e., usually lived as a permanent resident), had a dwelling (i.e., including a part time residence), or was a national (section 6113c of the Probate Code).
Next, an adult person of sound mind may execute a will in California (section 6100 of the Probate Code). A person is presumed to have capacity to execute a will, unless the presumption is rebutted (section 810 of the Probate Code).
More specifically, California requires the testator (1) to understand the nature of making a will; (2) understand and remember the nature and situation of their property; and (3) remember and understand their relations to their living family and those whose interests are affected by the will (section 6100.5 of the Probate Code).
The foregoing is not legal advice. Consult an attorney if confronting these issues.
Dennis A. Fordham, attorney, is a State Bar-Certified Specialist in estate planning, probate and trust law. His office is at 870 S. Main St., Lakeport, Calif. He can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and 707-263-3235.
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