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The Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce invites the community to welcome the holiday season on Saturday, Dec. 4.
The day begins at 11 a.m. with vendors all day at Austin Park.
The parade lineup begins at 4:30 p.m. at Redbud Park. At 5 p.m. the parade will begin and continue to Austin Park.
Add to the holiday spirit by participating in a friendly competition between the businesses along the parade route for the best holiday decorations. A $100 gift card will be awarded as a prize
For more information or to enter the parade, contact the chamber at 707-994-3600. Parade entries must be returned at 4 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 2, to the chamber at 14295 Lakeshore Drive, Clearlake, or email
The process to convert to the new system began at the end of October, with a deadline of July 15, 2022.
The Federal Communications Commission said a 10-digit dialed telephone call requires entering both the three-digit area code and the seven-digit telephone number to complete the call, even if the area code is the same area code as your own.
When an area code transitions to 10-digit dialing, you will no longer be able to dial seven digits to make a local call.
Transitioning to 10-digit dialing will not affect your current telephone number. Your phone number, including your area code, will not change, the FCC said.
In California and in Illinois area code 708, you may be required to dial the number "1" before the area code and seven-digit phone number for local calls.
California has the most area codes affected, including the 707 area code which covers Lake County, along with 209, 530, 562, 626, 650, 925, 949 and 951. All of them require 1 +10 digit dialing for landline customers.
In 2020, the FCC established “988” as the new, nationwide three-digit phone number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
The new three-digit dialing code will be available nationwide by July 16, 2022, and will provide an easy to remember and easy to dial three-digit number to reach suicide prevention and mental health counselors, similar to "911" for emergencies and "311" for local government services.
To help facilitate the creation of "988," area codes that use "988" as a local exchange, or the first three digits of a seven-digit phone number, will need to use 10-digit dialing.
The FCC said there are 82 area codes in 35 states and one U.S. territory that currently use "988" as their local exchange and allow seven-digit dialing. A local exchange, also known as a central office code, is the first three numbers of a seven-digit telephone number.
To prepare for implementation of a quick way to dial the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline — using only "988" to connect callers to the Lifeline — these area codes must transition to 10-digit dialing for all calls, including local calls.
During the transition to “988,” Americans who need help should continue to contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by calling 1-800-273-8255 (1-800-273-TALK) and through online chats.
Veterans and Service members may reach the Veterans Crisis Line by pressing "1" after dialing, chatting online at www.veteranscrisisline.net or texting 838255.
The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 30, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.
The meeting can be watched live on Channel 8, online at https://countyoflake.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx and on the county’s Facebook page. Accompanying board documents, the agenda and archived board meeting videos also are available at that link.
To participate in real-time, join the Zoom meeting by clicking this link.
The meeting ID is 924 6009 0973, pass code 597249. The meeting also can be accessed via one tap mobile at +16699006833,,92460090973#,,,,*597249#.
All interested members of the public that do not have internet access or a Mediacom cable subscription are encouraged to call 669-900-6833, and enter the Zoom meeting ID and pass code information above.
To submit a written comment on any agenda item visit https://countyoflake.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx and click on the eComment feature linked to the meeting date. If a comment is submitted after the meeting begins, it may not be read during the meeting but will become a part of the record.
At 10 a.m., the board will host the final public hearing on the county-level redistricting process.
Staff will present for approval the new boundary maps for the five supervisorial districts, and discuss a draft ordinance amending the Lake County Code to establish the new boundaries of the supervisorial districts for the county, pursuant to state election code.
In an untimed item, the board will consider a letter to the California Department of Public Health regarding indoor basketball facial covering rules for youth sports.
In a memo to the board, Chair Bruno Sabatier is asking for support to send the letter to CDPH Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly regarding a mandate that indoor basketball players and referees wear facial coverings.
“Our schools have reached out to us, letting us know that they are advocating for change regarding facial coverings as it is not realistic and potentially dangerous to ask our youth to wear facial coverings while exerting the amount of energy needed to run up and down the court,” Sabatier said.
The letter requests the state change the mandate to allow players and refs to play without facial coverings during practice and games and to test twice a week to mitigate the potential for the spread of COVID-19.
The letter notes, “Wearing a facial covering and sitting in a classroom is vastly different from wearing a facial covering and exerting an enormous amount of energy indoors. Due to the heavy breathing, sweating, and accelerated moisture build up created within a mask, mandating that athletes and refs wear facial coverings increases the potential for choke hazards as well as increased fatigue while they are playing. Basketball is a physical sport, and the potential for masks to be moved possibly impairing the vision of players or masks torn off falling on the ground creating a dangerous obstacle on the court are high. In attempting to the reduce the hazards of COVID, mandating facial covering for basketball may increase other hazards to the physical well being of the players.”
It also points out that CDPH has already approved allowing college athletes to play without facial covering, “and we feel that the needs of our youth match the needs of our college athletes.”
The letter continues, “We have all worn masks throughout the pandemic and have experienced at one time or another running up a flight of stairs or carrying heavy items exerting enough energy to make us realize that a mask and increased levels of exercise do not go hand in hand. Imagine playing an entire game of basketball? We are asking our youth to do the impossible.”
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
5.1: Adopt resolution authorizing Lake County Behavioral Health Services to increase the rates for specialty mental health services effective July 1, 2021.
5.2: Adopt resolution approving County of Lake Health Services to apply for funding in the amount of $542,450 through the California Department of Public Health for fiscal years 21/22 through FY 26/27 and authorize the director of Health Services to sign said application.
5.3: Approve purchase of vehicle equipment from Precision Wireless in the amount of $65,433 from the Sheriff/Pursuit Replacement Budget Unit 2217, Object Code 28.30; and authorize the sheriff/coroner or his designee to issue purchase order.
TIMED ITEMS
6.2, 9:06 a.m.: Consideration of a presentation by United Way of the Wine Country regarding possible expansion of 2-1-1 Lake County from disaster-only to full service.
6.3, 9:25 a.m.: Consideration of the California Fire Safe Council 2021 Cal Fire Evacuation Route Planning and Development Grant Program application for financial aid for the Soda Bay Corridor Evacuation Route Planning and Maintenance Project, and authorize the Public Works director to sign.
6.4, 10 a.m.: (a) Redistricting Public Hearing #4 — Final approval of boundaries/maps; (b) discussion of a draft ordinance amending Article II of Chapter 2 of the Lake County Code, establishing the boundaries of the supervisorial districts for the county of Lake, Pursuant to Sections 21500 et seq of the California Elections Code.
UNTIMED ITEMS
7.2: Consideration of letter to California Department of Public Health regarding indoor basketball facial covering rules for youth sports.
7.3: Consideration of the following advisory board appointments: Western Region Town Hall.
7.4: Consideration of Cannabis Equity Grant application.
CLOSED SESSION
8.1: Public Employee Appointment Pursuant to Gov. Code Section 54957(b)(1): Interview of Health Services director appointment of Health Services director.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
The California Employment Development Department’s latest report on joblessness showed that Lake County’s unemployment rate was unchanged in October, remaining at 6.2%. The October 2020 rate was 8.3%.
Lake County’s September and October 6.2% unemployment rate is the lowest for the county since the pandemic began in the spring of 2020.
California’s rate in October was 7.3%, down from 7.5% in September and 9.8% in October 2020. The state’s payroll jobs totaled 15,963,400 in October 2020, 16,677,800 in September 2021 and 16,774,600 in October 2021.
The state’s employers added 96,800 nonfarm payroll jobs to the economy last month, and thanks to October’s job growth, the state has now regained 1,828,500, or 67.4 percent, of the 2,714,800 jobs that were lost in March and April 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the report said.
California’s one-month job growth also accounted for about 18.2% of the nation’s 531,000 overall jobs gain in October.
The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics said the jobless rate nationwide was 4.6% in October, compared to 4.8% in September and 6.9 percent in the previous October.
A state dashboard showed that Lake County had 718 Unemployment Insurance claims in October and 50 claims for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, compared to 1,527 and 230 claims, respectively, in those categories the previous October.
In Lake County, the total farm employment category was down 28.2% over September, with information posting an 11.1% decline followed by a 7.1% in trade, transportation and utilities. Categories showing growth included nondurable goods, 3.7%, and government, 1%.
Lake County’s October unemployment rate ranked it No. 41 out of California’s 58 counties.
Neighboring county jobless rates and ranks were: Colusa, 8.3%, No. 55; Glenn, 5.4%, No. 27; Mendocino, 5%, No. 21; Napa, 4.5%, No. 10; Sonoma, 4.3%, No. 7; and Yolo, 4.6%, No. 13.
The lowest unemployment rate in California in October was 3.4% in Marin, while Imperial County came in with the highest, 17.7%.
Regarding the statewide picture, the number of Californians employed in October was 17,639,100, an increase of 32,700 persons from September’s total of 17,606,400, and up 588,800 from the employment total in October of last year, the report said.
The number of unemployed Californians was 1,383,200 in October, a decrease of 41,200 over the month and down 471,200 in comparison to October of last year.
The number of jobs in the agriculture industry decreased by 3,100 from September 2021 to 416,500 jobs in October, a decrease that is seen seasonally. The report said the agricultural industry had 7,400 more farm jobs in October 2021 than it did the October prior.
The Employment Development Department said 10 of California’s 11 industry sectors gained jobs in October. Only the government category showed declines, with a loss of 4,000 jobs attributed to reductions in city and county government.
Professional and business services led with 39,500 new jobs thanks to large gains in employment services; followed by leisure and hospitality, 21,500; Trade, transportation and utilities, 14,900, which the report attributed to good growth in food services and drinking places, and strong hiring in the retail trade sector; construction, 7,500; education and health services, 5,400; financial activities, 4,400; manufacturing, 2,800; information, 2,700; other services, 1,800; and mining and logging, 300.
Also in October, there were 463,257 people certifying for Unemployment Insurance benefits during the monthly sample week, compared to 493,987 people in September and 1,650,946 people in October 2020.
Concurrently, the Employment Development Department said 59,879 initial claims were processed in the October 2021 sample week, which was a month-over decrease of 18,999 claims from September and a year-over decrease of 92,762 claims from October 2020.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
No one knows just how many Indigenous girls or women go missing each year.
There are estimates. In 2019, 8,162 Indigenous youth and 2,285 Indigenous adults were reported missing to the National Crime Information Center, or NCIC, out of a total of 609,275 cases. But crimes against Native individuals often go unreported, and with American Indian and Alaskan Native cases, race is sometimes ignored or misclassified as white.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that Native American women are murdered at a rate three times that of white American women.
I almost became part of statistics like these. As a child, I was attacked by a person who targeted and typically killed isolated rural children. I know firsthand that the threat of being attacked and “disappearing” is real. And as a scholar who studies tribal justice and has tried to draw attention to the problem of missing and murdered Indigenous people, I find the lack of reliable data particularly frustrating. It is hard to call media attention to the seriousness of an issue that cannot be clearly measured.
Furthermore, as the recent case of Gabby Petito demonstrates, U.S. media tends to provide more compassionate coverage when the victim is a young white female – a phenomenon former PBS anchor Gwen Ifill called “missing white woman syndrome.”
So how can researchers and Native communities convince the media to pay attention to missing Indigenous people? And how can they convince authorities to investigate these cases?
Scarcity of reliable data
The Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women movement started in Canada with the first official gathering in 2015. MMIW is a loose coalition of groups throughout Canada and the U.S. that seeks to draw attention to the disproportionate violence experienced by Indigenous women.
Since databases often list more missing Native American males than females, the MMIW movement is now typically referred to as the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) movement. Beginning in 2021, May 5 is now recognized in the U.S. as Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day.
After suffering massive historical trauma, including through forced relocation and forced assimilation, many Indigenous people do not trust authorities. As a result, they do not report the crimes that are taking place. Crimes that do not get reported typically do not get counted.
Problems of jurisdictional authority further complicate the issue of poor data. Even if a Native family decides to report a loved one missing, do they report it to federal, state, tribal or local authorities? Since tribal communities are often treated as sovereign nations, state or local authorities might not take action on the case. However, tribal authorities may lack the resources required for a missing person investigation. And, since the missing person is typically not somewhere on the reservation, tribal authorities may lack legal authority to conduct an off-reservation investigation or to arrest non-tribal individuals.
Finally, even if a missing person report does make its way to a law enforcement agency that can handle the case, if the missing person is a child, law enforcement agents can use their discretion to declare the person a runaway. If a child is officially classified as a runaway, there is no amber alert and typically no media coverage. The crucial window of time to locate the victim immediately following the crime is often lost.
Historic and contemporary disregard
Missing person cases involving people of color in the U.S. are less likely to be solved than cases involving white victims.
U.S. attorneys declined to prosecute two-thirds of the Indian country sexual abuse and related cases referred to them between 2005 and 2009. This was partially due to jurisdictional disagreements between the FBI and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and perhaps difficulty in obtaining evidence in violent crime cases as well as a perceived lack of victim credibility due to the interracial nature of many of the crimes. The fact that many crimes in Native communities are not even investigated makes that ratio even more striking.
I believe there are many factors, both historical and current, for the lack of attention paid by police and media to missing Indigenous people.
Historically, Indigenous people, like many people of color, were not thought of as fully human by the white colonizers. Tribal people were considered to be animalistic and heathen, and Indigenous women were, and still are, thought to be sexually promiscuous.
This feeling of superiority over another race led to a willingness by the colonizers to kill Indigenous people, force them into slavery, remove them from desired lands and later place their children in boarding schools where they were stripped of their language and culture and sometimes died.
In an 1886 speech, Theodore Roosevelt, who would go on to become U.S. president, said, “I don’t go so far as to think that the only good Indians are the dead Indians, but I believe nine out of every 10 are.” This historic dehumanization of Indigenous people is still evident today in violence against Native American people.
Native Americans, both male or female, are more than twice as likely to be victims of violent crime than the general population. Native Americans between the ages of 18 and 24 have the highest per capita rate of violent crime of any racial or age group in the U.S.
The majority of violence experienced by Native Americans is committed by someone of another race. This interracial violence rate is much higher for Native Americans (70%) than for white (38%) or Black victims (30%). Also, about 90% of Native American rape victims have assailants of another race – typically white.
According to CDC data, Native Americans are also more likely to be killed by U.S. police than any other ethnic group group – and twice as likely as white Americans.
Search for justice
Grassroots Native-led efforts, particularly over the past five or six years, are starting to bring national attention to the issues of crime and violence that affect Indigenous people.
In 2019, the Trump administration formed the Task Force on Missing and Murdered American Indians and Alaska Natives, which became known as Operation Lady Justice. In April 2021, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, a member of the Pueblo of Laguna, created a Missing and Murdered Unit within the Bureau of Indian Affairs to improve collaborative efforts among law enforcement agencies. Previously, as a Representative from New Mexico, she sponsored the Not Invisible Act in 2019 to improve intergovernmental coordination and consult with tribes to establish best practices to lessen the number of missing Indigenous people.
And in October 2021, President Joe Biden proclaimed Oct. 11 to be Indigenous People’s Day, a day to acknowledge the atrocities of the colonizers while also recognizing ongoing contributions of Native people.
While thousands of unsolved cases of missing and murdered Native Americans await justice, perhaps now there will be understanding and a commitment to address this ongoing tragedy.
[3 media outlets, 1 religion newsletter. Get stories from The Conversation, AP and RNS.]
Wendelin Hume, Associate Professor of Criminal Justice, University of North Dakota
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278 or visit the shelter online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control.htm for information on visiting or adopting.
The following cats at the shelter have been cleared for adoption.
Domestic shorthair kitten
This female domestic shorthair kitten has a gray tabby coat.
She is in cat room kennel No. 6a, ID No. LCAC-A-2133.
Domestic shorthair kitten
This female domestic shorthair kitten has a gray tabby coat.
She is in cat room kennel No. 6b, ID No. LCAC-A-2134.
Domestic shorthair kitten
This female domestic shorthair kitten has a gray tabby coat.
She is in cat room kennel No. 6c, ID No. LCAC-A-2135.
Domestic shorthair kitten
This female domestic shorthair kitten has a gray tabby coat.
She is in cat room kennel No. 6d, ID No. LCAC-A-2136.
Female domestic shorthair
This 2-year-old female domestic shorthair has a gray tabby coat.
She is in cat room C No. 53, ID No. LCAC-A-2139.
Male domestic shorthair kitten
This male domestic shorthair kitten has an orange tabby coat.
He is in cat room kennel No. 96a, ID No. LCAC-A-1871.
Male domestic shorthair kitten
This male domestic shorthair kitten has an orange tabby coat.
He is in cat room kennel No. 96c, ID No. LCAC-A-1873.
Female domestic shorthair kitten
This female domestic shorthair kitten has an orange tabby coat.
She is in cat room kennel No. 96d, ID No. LCAC-A-1874.
Female domestic shorthair kitten
This female domestic shorthair kitten has a gray tabby coat.
She is in cat room kennel No. 101a, ID No. LCAC-A-1945.
Email Elizabeth Larson at