NORTH COAST, Calif. – Mendocino College will continue remote instruction through the spring 2021 semester, Superintendent/President Tim Karas said this week.
“After multiple discussions with staff, faculty and administrative leadership, the evaluation of guidelines by local and state health agencies, and recommendations from the State Chancellor’s Office, the decision has been made to continue holding most classes through a remote environment next term in order to protect the health and safety of our students, employees, and community,” Karas said.
As with the fall 2020 semester, a limited number of on-ground courses will be held, such as science labs, and will follow social distancing guidelines.
Some classes are also being taught using the hybrid model, which includes a mix of face-to-face and online instruction.
“We are making the call to continue mostly remote instruction at this time so that our faculty have enough time to prepare for high-quality classes for the upcoming term,” said Vice President of Academic Affairs Debra Polak. “It is our hope that as we get closer to the start of the spring semester we can build upon the primarily online schedule with more on-ground classes. We will be actively monitoring the situation and will base those decisions on advice from public health agencies.”
Mendocino College provides a host of online support and services geared toward student success, including free tutoring, books, tuition, and more.
More than half the students who attend Mendocino College qualify for some form of financial aid and many meet the guidelines that eliminate unit fees completely, regardless of their financial situation through the Mendocino College Promise Program.
Currently, enrolled students can register for spring classes using MyMendo beginning Nov. 21. New students can apply now online on the college’s website.
The spring 2021 semester officially begins Jan. 19, 2021.
To make a counseling appointment, students can email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A puppy has joined the dogs available to new homes at Clearlake Animal Control this week.
The following dogs are ready for adoption or foster.
“Beans.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Beans’
“Beans” is a female terrier mix puppy with a short white coat with black markings.
She is dog No. 4216.
“Bella.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Bella’
“Bella” is a female American Bully mix.
She has a short beige and tan coat.
She is dog No. 3537.
“Boog.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Boog’
“Boog” is a senior male American Bully mix with a short brown and white coat.
He is dog No. 4012.
“Diesel.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control.
‘Diesel’
“Diesel” is a male border collie mix with a black and white coat.
He is dog No. 4023.
“Jack.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Jack’
“Jack” is a male Labrador Retriever mix with a short yellow coat.
He is dog No. 4155.
“Lady.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Lady’
“Lady” is a female German Shepherd mix.
She has been spayed.
She is dog No. 3683.
The shelter is open by appointment only due to COVID-19.
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.
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.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – The US Forest Service said the August Complex is continuing to scorch more acreage across three national forests in very dry conditions, with the massive lightning complex expected to be fully contained in about two months.
On Thursday, the Forest Service said the complex – which began a month ago following a round of lightning storms – had grown to 839,175 acres, with containment remaining at 30 percent.
It is burning on the Mendocino, Shasta-Trinity and Six Rivers National Forests.
Officials said 35 structures have been destroyed and another 1,595 are threatened.
The Forest Service said Thursday that the complex is expected to be fully contained on Nov. 15.
In the South Zone of the August Complex, evacuation orders are in effect for Mendocino, Glenn and Lake counties, officials said. In Lake County, the evacuation orders cover Pillsbury Ranch and the entire Lake Pillsbury basin. Evacuation information is available here.
A virtual community meeting to discuss the complex’s South Zone – which includes the Doe fire area that burned into Lake County – is planned for 7 p.m. Thursday. It will be live-streamed on the Mendocino National Forest Facebook page.
The Thursday report on the complex said its South Zone continues to steadily spread toward the southwest while containment increases on the eastern side.
Weeks of record temperatures and limited precipitation have expanded severe drought conditions across much of the area. Due to these conditions, the Forest Service said growth is expected to continue on the complex even with the chance of rain in the forecast over the next few days.
In the Yuki and Sanhedrin Wilderness areas, the fire will continue to move toward the Lake Pillsbury area, and to the west beyond the Impassable Rock area, officials said.
In the Lake Pillsbury area, crews and dozers connected fire line to previously constructed fire lines from the 2018 Ranch fire. Structure protection groups are committed to building fire lines and removing vegetation around private property and critical communications infrastructure, the Forest Service said.
Cal Fire personnel are assigned to assist with operations in the southwestern corner of the fire. If necessary, a tactical burnout around structures in the area may take place. Officials said this is done in order to prevent the main fire from spreading rapidly toward structures.
In the Elder Creek area, additional containment has been obtained as crews continue mop-up operations with a focus on having this area of the fire contained within a few more days, officials said.
Vegetation interior to the perimeter of the fire and near the eastern edge of the fire continues to smolder and produce smoke. The Forest Service said control lines in the area of Salt Creek are holding well.
Officials said humidity is expected to increase, with a slight chance of rain Thursday and Friday. Temperatures in the area of the fire will remain in the upper 60s to the mid-70s. Southwesterly winds are forecast as a low-pressure system moves through.
The August Complex as mapped on Thursday, September 17, 2020. Map courtesy of the US Forest Service.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – As the LNU Lightning Complex reaches the one-month mark, Cal Fire has given its last update on the incident, which it said will be fully contained next month.
The LNU Lightning Complex is listed as the fourth-largest wildland fire incident in recorded California history.
It began Aug. 17 following lightning storms that passed over the region, eventually burning into six counties.
On Wednesday night, it remained at 363,220 acres, with containment up to 98 percent.
The complex has claimed a total of five lives – three in Napa County, two in Solano – and resulted in four injuries to civilians, with one firefighter also hurt, according to Cal Fire.
At one point, it had led to evacuations of tens of thousands of residents across several counties, with about 7,000 people in southern Lake County forced to leave their homes.
Damage assessments to date have reported that it destroyed 1,491 structures – including nine in Lake County – and damaged 232 others.
The Hennessey fire, which burned across Colusa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Yolo counties, has burned 305,651 acres and was 98 percent contained as of Wednesday night, Cal Fire said.
On the west side of the complex, Cal Fire the Walbridge fire near Healdsburg has burned 55,209 acres, with Cal Fire reporting containment at 98 percent. The Meyers fire near Jenner was fully contained earlier this month at 2,360 acres.
Cal Fire said Wednesday night’s update was its final one on the incident, which officials expect to be fully contained on Oct. 1.
Two water tenders and 98 personnel remain assigned to the incident, working on final containment and fire suppression repairs, Cal Fire reported.
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.
A progression map of the Hennessey fire portion of the LNU Lightning Complex in Northern California, courtesy of Cal Fire. The legend shows the dates that specific areas burned.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif – The Lake County Office of Education will be offering Learning Hubs throughout Lake County to assist students and their families with educational resources.
This is a collaborative effort with the Lake County Office of Education, the local school districts and other partnering organizations such as the Clearlake Youth Center, County of Lake and community centers.
The Learning Hubs are open to grades TK-12th and can hold a various amount of students, depending on the size of the location to ensure Public Health guidelines are being followed.
“We want to provide kids with connectivity, a tutor to help them with learning if necessary and give them the social and emotional support that they need,” Deputy Superintendent of Schools Cynthia Lenners said.
Each hub will be accessible at various times and days of the week and will stay available for as long as necessary. A few of the participating centers include the Clearlake Youth Center, Lower Lake Museum, Spring Valley Community Center and Behavioral Health Offices.
“It is crucial that each and every student in our community has the resources they need to be able to learn and to do so effectively,” said Lake County Superintendent of Schools Brock Falkenberg.
Each location will provide Internet access, a site and school district representative, and if possible scheduled transportation and food.
All Learning Hubs will ensure any visitors complete a self-wellness check and sign in, provide the appropriate district with attendance reporting documentation, wear masks and deep clean once a day.
Learning Hubs will start becoming available as soon as this week and continue to roll out as more locations and staffing becomes available.
“COVID-19 has brought and continues to bring numerous obstacles to Lake County. With Learning Hubs in place, we can work through some of these challenges,” Falkenberg said.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The US Forest Service will host a virtual community meeting to update area residents on the ongoing efforts to contain the August Complex South Zone.
The meeting will take place online beginning at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17.
It will be live-streamed on the Mendocino National Forest Facebook page.
The lightning-caused complex, which began Aug. 17, had burned 817,952 acres and was 30-percent contained as of Wednesday night, the Forest Service said.
Officials said it has burned 35 structures, with another 400 buildings threatened.
The complex is burning on the Mendocino, Shasta-Trinity and Six Rivers National Forests.
The Forest Service said that approximately 1,804 personnel are assigned to the complex, which is the largest wildland fire incident in recorded California history.
For those who would like to submit questions ahead of time, email them to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
During the live event participants also can ask questions in the comment section on the Facebook page.
The Forest Service said the speakers will attempt to answer as many questions as they can during the live event.
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.
A map of the August Complex in Northern California, courtesy of the US Forest Service.
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