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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County’s 12th case of COVID-19 was confirmed on Wednesday.
It’s the fourth case of COVID-19 confirmed in Lake County this week, as the county prepares to move into the next stage of reopening after receiving approval to do so from the state on Wednesday.
Public Health Officer Dr. Gary Pace said the latest case was picked up by testing in the community.
He said the test results came in on Wednesday and contact tracing is underway to make sure there is no community spread.
The individual is stable and in home isolation, Pace said.
Two of the other patients confirmed to have the virus earlier this week also are in home isolation, Pace said.
The fourth active case, who tested positive over the weekend, remains hospitalized, Pace said. So far, only two of Lake County’s cases have required hospitalization.
Lake County’s earlier eight cases have all recovered, Public Health reported.
To date, Public Health reported that just over 1,400 of Lake County’s more than 64,000 residents have been tested.
“With the removal of the restrictions on the lake, some businesses opening, and Memorial Day weekend coming, we need to be particularly alert to further new cases,” Pace said in a Wednesday statement.
As restrictions are loosened, Pace said there is expected to be some community transmission of the virus, so he emphasized the ongoing importance of social distancing.
He also urged vulnerable individuals to continue to isolate at home.
Email Elizabeth Larson atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
It’s the fourth case of COVID-19 confirmed in Lake County this week, as the county prepares to move into the next stage of reopening after receiving approval to do so from the state on Wednesday.
Public Health Officer Dr. Gary Pace said the latest case was picked up by testing in the community.
He said the test results came in on Wednesday and contact tracing is underway to make sure there is no community spread.
The individual is stable and in home isolation, Pace said.
Two of the other patients confirmed to have the virus earlier this week also are in home isolation, Pace said.
The fourth active case, who tested positive over the weekend, remains hospitalized, Pace said. So far, only two of Lake County’s cases have required hospitalization.
Lake County’s earlier eight cases have all recovered, Public Health reported.
To date, Public Health reported that just over 1,400 of Lake County’s more than 64,000 residents have been tested.
“With the removal of the restrictions on the lake, some businesses opening, and Memorial Day weekend coming, we need to be particularly alert to further new cases,” Pace said in a Wednesday statement.
As restrictions are loosened, Pace said there is expected to be some community transmission of the virus, so he emphasized the ongoing importance of social distancing.
He also urged vulnerable individuals to continue to isolate at home.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – While Californians observe the stay-at-home order during the coronavirus pandemic, the state’s roadways – including those in Lake County – and those who use them are seeing the impact.
With traffic volume down, the number of incidents on California’s roadways, including collisions and arrests for driving under the influence, continues to decline.
“People are adhering to the order, eliminating non-essential travel, and as a result, there has been a significant reduction in the number of commuters on the highways,” said California Highway Patrol Commissioner Warren Stanley.
According to preliminary data from the CHP’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System, or SWITRS, there was a 75 percent decrease in the number of crashes in California this year from March 19 to April 30, as compared to the same period in 2019.
Additionally, the same SWITRS data indicated an 88 percent reduction in the number of people killed and a 62 percent decrease in the number of people injured in crashes.
The total number of truck-involved collisions also saw a 60 percent drop, with fatal truck-involved crashes down 88 percent.
California’s crash reduction rate is not the only positive to come from the quieter roadways. The number of DUI arrests made by CHP officers has decreased during March and April, from 7,224 in 2019 to 4,223 in 2020; nearly 42 percent.
However, not all of the state’s drivers have been on their best behavior during the pandemic. The open roads have led to a few brazen motorists testing the speed limit and eventually meeting up with a CHP officer for a citation.
Between March 19 and April 30, CHP officers issued 2,738 citations for speeding in excess of 100 miles per hour, which is an increase of 113 percent from last year.
In Lake County, Officer Joel Skeel of the Clear Lake Area CHP office offered the following statistics:
March 2019
DUI arrests: 28
DUI collision: 10
Citations: 570
Injury collision: 17
March 2020
DUI arrests: 15
DUI collision: 3
Citations: 246
Injury collision: 15
April 2019
DUI arrests: 20
DUI collision: 6
Citations: 597
Injury collision: 18
April 2020
DUI arrests: 19
DUI collision: 10
Citations: 134
Injury collision: 9
Skeen also offered totals for May, in order to show how things are adding up for the month so far.
May 2019
DUI arrests: 27
DUI collision: 10
Citations: 637
Injury collision: 24
May 2020
DUI arrests: 7
DUI collision: 4
Citations: 132
Injury collision: 10
“Resist the temptation to speed. Drivers are easier to spot when they are on a nearly empty roadway,” added Commissioner Stanley. “Remember, taking care of one another goes beyond wearing a face covering and physical distancing. As communities in California move into the next phases of reopening, continue to slow down, pay attention to the road, drive sober, and keep yourself and those around you from becoming a grim statistic.”
Editor’s note: The CHP issued a correction, noting that the number of citations issued by CHP officers statewide from March 19 through April 30 for speeding in excess of 100 MPH was 4,000 and not 2,738, resulting in a 113 percent increase and not a 46 percent increase as was originally reported.
With traffic volume down, the number of incidents on California’s roadways, including collisions and arrests for driving under the influence, continues to decline.
“People are adhering to the order, eliminating non-essential travel, and as a result, there has been a significant reduction in the number of commuters on the highways,” said California Highway Patrol Commissioner Warren Stanley.
According to preliminary data from the CHP’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System, or SWITRS, there was a 75 percent decrease in the number of crashes in California this year from March 19 to April 30, as compared to the same period in 2019.
Additionally, the same SWITRS data indicated an 88 percent reduction in the number of people killed and a 62 percent decrease in the number of people injured in crashes.
The total number of truck-involved collisions also saw a 60 percent drop, with fatal truck-involved crashes down 88 percent.
California’s crash reduction rate is not the only positive to come from the quieter roadways. The number of DUI arrests made by CHP officers has decreased during March and April, from 7,224 in 2019 to 4,223 in 2020; nearly 42 percent.
However, not all of the state’s drivers have been on their best behavior during the pandemic. The open roads have led to a few brazen motorists testing the speed limit and eventually meeting up with a CHP officer for a citation.
Between March 19 and April 30, CHP officers issued 2,738 citations for speeding in excess of 100 miles per hour, which is an increase of 113 percent from last year.
In Lake County, Officer Joel Skeel of the Clear Lake Area CHP office offered the following statistics:
March 2019
DUI arrests: 28
DUI collision: 10
Citations: 570
Injury collision: 17
March 2020
DUI arrests: 15
DUI collision: 3
Citations: 246
Injury collision: 15
April 2019
DUI arrests: 20
DUI collision: 6
Citations: 597
Injury collision: 18
April 2020
DUI arrests: 19
DUI collision: 10
Citations: 134
Injury collision: 9
Skeen also offered totals for May, in order to show how things are adding up for the month so far.
May 2019
DUI arrests: 27
DUI collision: 10
Citations: 637
Injury collision: 24
May 2020
DUI arrests: 7
DUI collision: 4
Citations: 132
Injury collision: 10
“Resist the temptation to speed. Drivers are easier to spot when they are on a nearly empty roadway,” added Commissioner Stanley. “Remember, taking care of one another goes beyond wearing a face covering and physical distancing. As communities in California move into the next phases of reopening, continue to slow down, pay attention to the road, drive sober, and keep yourself and those around you from becoming a grim statistic.”
Editor’s note: The CHP issued a correction, noting that the number of citations issued by CHP officers statewide from March 19 through April 30 for speeding in excess of 100 MPH was 4,000 and not 2,738, resulting in a 113 percent increase and not a 46 percent increase as was originally reported.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – In the wake of more vehicle-related incidents, the Lakeport Police Department said it’s planning to increase traffic enforcement in the city.
The agency said its officers will be focusing more on traffic in response to an increase in traffic collisions within the city.
The issues the department is seeing include incidents involving driving under the influence incidents and other dangerous driving that have been reported to police.
“As things have been opening up more traffic is increasing and we are seeing some bad driving including a couple of drunk driving wrecks over the past weekend,” Police Chief Brad Rasmussen said in a separate social media post.
“Drive safe and don’t endanger other people’s lives,” Rasmussen said.
The agency said its officers will be focusing more on traffic in response to an increase in traffic collisions within the city.
The issues the department is seeing include incidents involving driving under the influence incidents and other dangerous driving that have been reported to police.
“As things have been opening up more traffic is increasing and we are seeing some bad driving including a couple of drunk driving wrecks over the past weekend,” Police Chief Brad Rasmussen said in a separate social media post.
“Drive safe and don’t endanger other people’s lives,” Rasmussen said.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lakeport City Council on Tuesday night gave staff the go-ahead to approve applications for safe and sane fireworks sales during the first week of July but canceled the city’s annual fireworks display, a decision council members said they took with regret.
City Manager Margaret Silveira asked the council for the direction on processing applications from nonprofit groups for the safe and sane fireworks sales, which are allowed under a voter-approved ordinance passed in November 2009.
She said there usually are four organizations that sell the fireworks from July 1 to 4. All four organizations – which were not named in her report – have submitted their paperwork.
Safe and sane fireworks are only allowed in Lakeport; they are banned in the rest of the county.
Silveira said approvals would be contingent on the current health crisis. “Right now it’s looking really good,” she said of reopening efforts, but if there’s a surge in COVID-19 cases and the Public Health officer feels the county needs to go back to sheltering, those approvals could be revoked.
Public Health Officer Dr. Gary Pace has looked at and approved the social distancing plan submitted on behalf of the groups by Dennis Revell, working for TNT Fireworks, Silveira said.
Silveira said the only time the council can actually deny the sale of safe and sane fireworks is if the governor issues an emergency ordinance that addresses the risk of fire.
The second item in the discussion related to the city’s July 4 fireworks display, an event that during the discussion staff said brings an estimated 10,000 people – twice the city’s population – into the downtown.
Silveira said this year it would be very difficult to maintain social distancing with the fireworks display.
She said going forward with the display would mean needing to add the $20,500 price tag to the city’s budget deficit. Staff intends to present a budget update to the council at its next meeting.
Councilwoman Mireyta Turner said that, if the Public Health officer approved the plan, it didn’t seem like the council had much of a decision to make.
Councilman Kenny Parlet raised concerns about being able to enforce social distancing rules on the private properties – such as the city’s shopping centers – where many people go to shoot off the safe and sane fireworks.
During public comment, Michael Green, a member of the city’s planning commission, urged the council to approve the safe and sane fireworks sales but to cancel the larger display, noting, “I don’t have a lot of confidence that social distancing could be followed or would be followed at that celebration.”
Jen Hanson, representing the Lake County Channel Cats – one of the nonprofits that has been selling the fireworks for many years – said without the fundraiser they wouldn’t be able to offer swim lessons and other fundraisers can’t fill the need.
Hanson said there are a lot of illegal fireworks used in the city on July 4, and the Channel Cats have hired a cleanup crew that takes care of both the legal and illegal fireworks. They also have hired security and have told people where they can – and can’t – set off the fireworks.
“We’ve been pretty responsible,” Hanson said.
Police Chief Brad Rasmussen said he’s in support of the sale of safe and sane fireworks going forward.
He said by that point he’d had extensive discussions with Revell. “They have a good plan on the distancing,” he said, although Rasmussen said he needed to work with Revell on the messaging about where the fireworks are allowed.
The city ordinance requires Rasmussen to submit to the council a report on how he will deal with fireworks-related issues ahead of the July 4 holiday. He said he will have that plan ready for the council at its June 16 meeting.
If the main fireworks display doesn’t go forward, Rasmussen said he would have more resources to deal with issues related to other fireworks activity in the city.
“I’m not too concerned. I think we’re going to be able to work through it all. We just don’t have it all figured out today,” Rasmussen said.
Councilwoman Stacey Mattina said the only reason the safe and sane fireworks sales were on the council agenda was because of COVID-19.
“It’s worth repeating that it’s not up to us whether we have these sales or not,” and that the council shouldn’t get in the way of that, Mattina said.
As far as the city’s main fireworks display, Mattina said was heartbroken that the big show won’t take place. “It’s just going to have to wait a year.”
Mayor George Spurr asked for separate motions on the two fireworks issues.
Parlet moved to cancel the July 4 fireworks display, adding that he did so “regrettably.”
“I’ll regrettably second,” said Mattina.
The motion passed 4-0. Councilman Tim Barnes was absent from the online meeting.
Turner moved to approve the sales of safe and sane fireworks contingent on Public Health and city staff approvals. That motion also passed 4-0.
In other business, the council pulled discussion of the Eleventh Street Corridor Multimodal Engineered Feasibility Study and will set it for an upcoming special meeting, and approved the 2019-2020 Community Development Block Grant application for housing rehabilitation, micro-enterprise assistance and planning technical assistance programs.
The council also met in closed session, with City Attorney David Ruderman reporting that the council provided unanimous direction to proceed with litigation against 26 pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors in the Northern District of California regarding opioids. He said there was no reportable action in discussions regarding the city manager and labor negotiations.
Email Elizabeth Larson atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
City Manager Margaret Silveira asked the council for the direction on processing applications from nonprofit groups for the safe and sane fireworks sales, which are allowed under a voter-approved ordinance passed in November 2009.
She said there usually are four organizations that sell the fireworks from July 1 to 4. All four organizations – which were not named in her report – have submitted their paperwork.
Safe and sane fireworks are only allowed in Lakeport; they are banned in the rest of the county.
Silveira said approvals would be contingent on the current health crisis. “Right now it’s looking really good,” she said of reopening efforts, but if there’s a surge in COVID-19 cases and the Public Health officer feels the county needs to go back to sheltering, those approvals could be revoked.
Public Health Officer Dr. Gary Pace has looked at and approved the social distancing plan submitted on behalf of the groups by Dennis Revell, working for TNT Fireworks, Silveira said.
Silveira said the only time the council can actually deny the sale of safe and sane fireworks is if the governor issues an emergency ordinance that addresses the risk of fire.
The second item in the discussion related to the city’s July 4 fireworks display, an event that during the discussion staff said brings an estimated 10,000 people – twice the city’s population – into the downtown.
Silveira said this year it would be very difficult to maintain social distancing with the fireworks display.
She said going forward with the display would mean needing to add the $20,500 price tag to the city’s budget deficit. Staff intends to present a budget update to the council at its next meeting.
Councilwoman Mireyta Turner said that, if the Public Health officer approved the plan, it didn’t seem like the council had much of a decision to make.
Councilman Kenny Parlet raised concerns about being able to enforce social distancing rules on the private properties – such as the city’s shopping centers – where many people go to shoot off the safe and sane fireworks.
During public comment, Michael Green, a member of the city’s planning commission, urged the council to approve the safe and sane fireworks sales but to cancel the larger display, noting, “I don’t have a lot of confidence that social distancing could be followed or would be followed at that celebration.”
Jen Hanson, representing the Lake County Channel Cats – one of the nonprofits that has been selling the fireworks for many years – said without the fundraiser they wouldn’t be able to offer swim lessons and other fundraisers can’t fill the need.
Hanson said there are a lot of illegal fireworks used in the city on July 4, and the Channel Cats have hired a cleanup crew that takes care of both the legal and illegal fireworks. They also have hired security and have told people where they can – and can’t – set off the fireworks.
“We’ve been pretty responsible,” Hanson said.
Police Chief Brad Rasmussen said he’s in support of the sale of safe and sane fireworks going forward.
He said by that point he’d had extensive discussions with Revell. “They have a good plan on the distancing,” he said, although Rasmussen said he needed to work with Revell on the messaging about where the fireworks are allowed.
The city ordinance requires Rasmussen to submit to the council a report on how he will deal with fireworks-related issues ahead of the July 4 holiday. He said he will have that plan ready for the council at its June 16 meeting.
If the main fireworks display doesn’t go forward, Rasmussen said he would have more resources to deal with issues related to other fireworks activity in the city.
“I’m not too concerned. I think we’re going to be able to work through it all. We just don’t have it all figured out today,” Rasmussen said.
Councilwoman Stacey Mattina said the only reason the safe and sane fireworks sales were on the council agenda was because of COVID-19.
“It’s worth repeating that it’s not up to us whether we have these sales or not,” and that the council shouldn’t get in the way of that, Mattina said.
As far as the city’s main fireworks display, Mattina said was heartbroken that the big show won’t take place. “It’s just going to have to wait a year.”
Mayor George Spurr asked for separate motions on the two fireworks issues.
Parlet moved to cancel the July 4 fireworks display, adding that he did so “regrettably.”
“I’ll regrettably second,” said Mattina.
The motion passed 4-0. Councilman Tim Barnes was absent from the online meeting.
Turner moved to approve the sales of safe and sane fireworks contingent on Public Health and city staff approvals. That motion also passed 4-0.
In other business, the council pulled discussion of the Eleventh Street Corridor Multimodal Engineered Feasibility Study and will set it for an upcoming special meeting, and approved the 2019-2020 Community Development Block Grant application for housing rehabilitation, micro-enterprise assistance and planning technical assistance programs.
The council also met in closed session, with City Attorney David Ruderman reporting that the council provided unanimous direction to proceed with litigation against 26 pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors in the Northern District of California regarding opioids. He said there was no reportable action in discussions regarding the city manager and labor negotiations.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Major improvements that have been under construction at Lakeport’s Library Park are nearly finished.
The city of Lakeport plans to reopen Library Park to the public by June 1 after shelter in place orders are lifted for Lake County.
At the same time, the city reported that it is putting the finishing touches on the new seawall and the promenade.
Work on both projects began earlier this year, as Lake County News has reported.
The old cinder block seawall was damaged beyond repair during the February 2017 storms and was hit again in the March 2019 storms.
West Coast Contractors Inc. of Coos Bay, Oregon, which was awarded the contract last fall for a $799,773 bid, built the new 535-lineal-foot seawall.
On Feb. 23, the council awarded Granite Construction the contract for the new promenade that runs behind the seawall. The city reported that the construction contract is $399,696.
The Lakeport Public Works Department has determined that the sidewalk project has been completed in substantial compliance with the project plans and specifications.
At its Tuesday night meeting, the Lakeport City Council adopted a resolution accepting the project’s construction and authorizing the filing of the notice of completion.
During Tuesday’s meeting, Councilwoman Mireya Turner commended the work in the park.
“It’s just coming together so nicely and I can’t wait until that park opens again,” she said.
Public Works Director Doug Grider thanked Turner and credited his staff for their efforts. “They have truly been amazing.”
He said the work is nearly done.
“We’re really excited. The rain set us back a little bit, but we are very, very close,” Grider said, adding he expects City Manager Margaret Silveira will be bringing the council good news on the projects’ status within the next week.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
NORTH COAST, Calif. – Mendocino College is finding ways to celebrate its 2020 graduates in light of shelter in place restrictions, which have forced the postponement of this year’s commencement ceremony, originally scheduled for May 22.
In April, a survey was sent to all graduating students to gather input about how best to move forward given the situation.
The overwhelming response from students was that they preferred to postpone the ceremony until large gatherings are allowed, instead of hosting a virtual ceremony.
“We felt it was imperative to hear from graduating students about how they wanted to be celebrated during this special time in their lives,” said Mendocino College Interim Superintendent/President Eileen Cichocki.
“I am deeply sorry that our commencement ceremony will not be able to proceed as planned. Commencement is my favorite day of the year, it is a culmination of the college mission and so rewarding to see students celebrating their tremendous achievements with their families, friends, and faculty who supported them along the way. I look forward to celebrating with our students when large gatherings are once again allowed,” Cichocki said.
For some, graduation is a milestone that marks the end of a chapter. For others, it is symbolic of everything they have overcome.
Gabriel Baca, who is graduating this semester with an Associate of Science degree in mathematics for transfer and an Associate of Arts in political science for transfer, said, "The commencement ceremony is the day that students' hard work pays off; celebrating alongside graduating friends and seeing the joyous tears in their families' eyes makes all that stress and those tireless nights of studying worth the sacrifice.”
Thanks to the Mendocino College Foundation, students are being gifted a $50 dinner voucher to be used on May 22 at a select group of participating local restaurants throughout the district. This will allow students to celebrate the actual day of graduation with a meal at home while at the same time supporting local restaurants during this time of reduced business.
“Public health and safety do come first, so I am thankful that I can still mark the occasion with my family while we wait for that glorious celebration. I think the graduate lawn sign and dinner voucher are great ways for the college to help keep that spirit of achievement and recognition alive,” said Baca.
The foundation has also provided funding to place banners throughout the district, including over State Street in downtown Ukiah, as well as yard signs for students to post in front of their homes to boast their achievements.
There will also be a listing of all 2020 graduates in a special magazine published by the Ukiah Daily Journal that will be circulated in both Lake and Mendocino counties.
According to Mendocino College Foundation Board President Tom Dow, “The foundation is honored to provide financial support towards this year’s commencement activities. Now more than ever, it’s important that we sufficiently honor and recognize our 2020 Mendocino College Graduates.”
In April, a survey was sent to all graduating students to gather input about how best to move forward given the situation.
The overwhelming response from students was that they preferred to postpone the ceremony until large gatherings are allowed, instead of hosting a virtual ceremony.
“We felt it was imperative to hear from graduating students about how they wanted to be celebrated during this special time in their lives,” said Mendocino College Interim Superintendent/President Eileen Cichocki.
“I am deeply sorry that our commencement ceremony will not be able to proceed as planned. Commencement is my favorite day of the year, it is a culmination of the college mission and so rewarding to see students celebrating their tremendous achievements with their families, friends, and faculty who supported them along the way. I look forward to celebrating with our students when large gatherings are once again allowed,” Cichocki said.
For some, graduation is a milestone that marks the end of a chapter. For others, it is symbolic of everything they have overcome.
Gabriel Baca, who is graduating this semester with an Associate of Science degree in mathematics for transfer and an Associate of Arts in political science for transfer, said, "The commencement ceremony is the day that students' hard work pays off; celebrating alongside graduating friends and seeing the joyous tears in their families' eyes makes all that stress and those tireless nights of studying worth the sacrifice.”
Thanks to the Mendocino College Foundation, students are being gifted a $50 dinner voucher to be used on May 22 at a select group of participating local restaurants throughout the district. This will allow students to celebrate the actual day of graduation with a meal at home while at the same time supporting local restaurants during this time of reduced business.
“Public health and safety do come first, so I am thankful that I can still mark the occasion with my family while we wait for that glorious celebration. I think the graduate lawn sign and dinner voucher are great ways for the college to help keep that spirit of achievement and recognition alive,” said Baca.
The foundation has also provided funding to place banners throughout the district, including over State Street in downtown Ukiah, as well as yard signs for students to post in front of their homes to boast their achievements.
There will also be a listing of all 2020 graduates in a special magazine published by the Ukiah Daily Journal that will be circulated in both Lake and Mendocino counties.
According to Mendocino College Foundation Board President Tom Dow, “The foundation is honored to provide financial support towards this year’s commencement activities. Now more than ever, it’s important that we sufficiently honor and recognize our 2020 Mendocino College Graduates.”