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NORTH COAST, Calif. – At Mendocino College, faculty and staff have been working diligently to respond to the challenges posed by COVID-19 in order to continue providing quality education to students.
With no on-ground classes currently being taught, many instructors have moved to a traditional online teaching format, using the online learning system Canvas.
Other instructors have had to be very creative in order to teach content not easily managed online such as science labs, culinary arts, and music.
Chemistry instructors are creating videos of their labs so that students can observe, take notes and write their lab reports as if they were conducting the experiments. Instructors in the new Physical Therapy Assistant program are also creating video content approved by the program’s accreditation agency, for students to observe clinical techniques and exercises to practice at home.
In the Nursing Department, skills labs and clinical time have been maintained through the use of virtual patient simulations, patient case studies, virtual skills modules, and faculty demonstrations via Zoom or pre-recorded video.
Students in Culinary Arts classes have been supplied with a list of groceries and gift cards funded by a Mendocino College Foundation affiliate to complete projects at home. They are attending Zoom video meetings with their instructor to learn techniques and are documenting their own cooking projects with notes and photos.
• Music faculty are also using Zoom and other video conferencing platforms to have students sing and play music together virtually.
An English as a Second Language class is using a Facebook group to continue to practice their English skills. The instructor engages them with a prompt and students respond.
Learning support and student services, such as tutoring, counseling, and financial aid have also all moved to Canvas, Zoom and other online formats. Instructors across disciplines are maintaining office hours through Zoom, telephone and email.
A recent student survey conducted by the college showed that many students are struggling with access to food, computers, Internet and textbooks during the shelter in place.
In order to mitigate some of these barriers, Mendocino College is helping students in need by loaning Chromebooks to those who do not have access to a computer at home. On
Thursday, March 26, the college offered a free take-out lunch at Subway restaurants throughout the district to all of its students and continues to provide students with access to free food through the college’s Food Pantry.
“Our faculty, students, staff, and administrators have done an amazing job meeting the challenges imposed by the COVID-19 virus. All of our efforts were taken purposefully with student success in the forefront. We took the time to discuss the transition with students before moving to remote methods of teaching and learning. I am extremely proud of what the team at the college has been able to accomplish in such a short time. We have tough road ahead, and we are all doing our best to remain calm and flexible,” said interim Superintendent/President Eileen Cichocki.
The summer semester class schedule is now posted on the college’s website at www.mendocino.edu .
With the uncertainty of when shelter in place orders will be lifted, the college has ramped up its online class offering for the upcoming term and will announce information regarding on-ground classes if it is deemed safe by public health officials in time for the June 8 summer term start date.
Registration for summer 2020 begins April 25.
For ongoing updates regarding the college during the shelter in place, please visit www.mendocino.edu/announcements .
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation officials are searching for a minimum-security inmate who walked away from California Correctional Center Alder Conservation Camp in Del Norte County on Tuesday.
During an inmate count at around 8:50 a.m. on Tuesday, staff discovered inmate Lester Jackson, 30, missing during the morning meal.
An emergency count was initiated and staff confirmed Jackson was missing. A search of the camp buildings and grounds was immediately conducted. Jackson was last seen at approximately 7:15 a.m. wearing gray sweat pants.
CDCR’s Office of Correctional Safety, Cal Fire, the California Highway Patrol and local law enforcement agencies have been notified and are assisting in the search.
Jackson was assigned as a firefighter at Alder Conservation Camp in Klamath, which houses approximately 110 minimum-custody inmates.
Jackson is a black male, 6 feet 1 inches tall, weighing 170 pounds with brown eyes, long black hair worn in dreadlocks, a mustache and a short beard.
He was received from Solano County in May 2011 with an 11-year, 10-month sentence for second-degree robbery, false imprisonment and carjacking. He was scheduled to parole in June 2020.
Anyone who sees Jackson should call 911 or contact law enforcement authorities immediately.
Anyone having knowledge of Jackson’s whereabouts should contact the CCC Watch Commander at 530-257-2181, extension 4173.
Jackson is the third inmate to walk away from a conservation camp over the past week.
On Friday evening, Derek Barnett, 29, and Noah Wilson, 28, walked away from the California Correctional Center Eel River Conservation Camp in Humboldt County, as Lake County News has reported.
Officials said Barnett later was apprehended in Ukiah and Wilson was taken into custody following a traffic stop off Interstate 5 south of Fort Tejon.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The county of Lake is working to finalize plans for locating a quarantine and recovery site for COVID-19 patients at the Lake County Fairgrounds, a process supported by the governor’s state of emergency declaration.
In a Tuesday discussion with the Board of Supervisors, Lake County Public Health Officer Dr. Gary Pace reported that, at that point, no positive cases of COVID-19 had been confirmed in the county, making it one of just a handful of counties in California where that’s the situation.
Pace said that, in addition to dealing with an ongoing shortage of testing and efforts to put surveillance testing in place, a key piece of the county’s preparations for COVID-19 involves actions to be taken when positive cases do show up.
He said Public Health is setting up a contact tracing team, mostly consisting of volunteers because they don’t have enough staff.
When positive cases are identified, the team will talk to the people who have been in contact with the patient during the previous week, Pace said. There also will be an isolation team that will work with patients.
Patients will be allowed to isolate at home if they can, but in the cases where they cannot, Pace said the county is working to set up sites where they can stay.
He said the Department of Social Services and Supervisor Rob Brown have been working on the site details.
An isolation and recovery site is being set up at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Lakeport, Pace said, with the county working to set up security and staffing.
County officials said the fairgrounds was an option due to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s COVID-19 state of emergency order, issued on March 4.
The order directs that any suitable state-owned properties – with a section specifically naming fairgrounds – be made available to the Office of Emergency Services “to assist in preparing for, responding to, mitigating the effects of, or recovering from COVID-19.” Under that order, fairgrounds can be used without the fair board of directors’ approval.
Brown told Lake County News in a separate interview on Tuesday that the state of California’s Office of Emergency Services is paying for RVs that will be located at the fairgrounds.
“We have 100 ordered but 50 are coming now and 50 at a later date,” Brown said.
Brown said people who are symptomatic and waiting for tests to return will be allowed to stay at the site, along with those who are recovering but don’t need to be in care at a hospital.
“We’ll have staff on-site as well,” he said.
If necessary, the county also may use some of the fairgrounds buildings, depending on the number of cases the county eventually has, Brown said.
“We have no idea at all what kind of numbers we’re looking at,” he said. “We’re allowing for the worst-case scenario but hoping for the best.”
Lake County Fair Board of Directors Vice President Monica Rosenthal told Lake County News that the fair board has a duty to follow the governor’s orders and allow the state-owned fairgrounds to be used as a place for quarantine and recovery during the novel coronavirus crisis.
“Having said that, I believe I can speak for the Fair Board as a whole, we are pleased to be able to help our community during this incredible crisis by providing space for a potential surge in medical needs for Lake County community members who may need to be quarantined or have a temporary living space for recovery,” she said.
Rosenthal said the fair’s new chief executive officer, Sheli Wright – who came on the job in the middle of March – is working with Dr. Pace and Department of Social Services Director Crystal Markytan on the site preparations.
Markytan told Lake County News on Tuesday afternoon that she didn’t yet have a time frame for when the trailers would be arriving in Lake County.
Given the scope of what the state is charged with doing in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, “Things are messy right now,” Markytan said, adding, “In a typical disaster, they would not be filling resource requests to all 58 counties simultaneously.”
It’s not yet known how long the fairgrounds could be needed for the isolation and recovery site.
As such, Rosenthal said that, so far, the Lake County Fair Board hasn’t discussed changing the date of the 2020 Fair, which traditionally takes place on Labor Day weekend.
She said they’re holding out hope that the community will safely get past COVID-19, allowing the fair to go forward.
Rosenthal said the fair board is concerned about other potential impacts as well, including those affecting the youth and their fair animals.
“Decisions need to be made regarding 4Hers countywide with regard to animals they intend to raise for this year's Junior Livestock Auction. As a board, we began discussions about this during our regular March board meeting and, I am certain we will continue those discussions in more depth during our April board meeting, which, like so many meetings, will be held via teleconference or Zoom pending on the direction of our CEO,” Rosenthal said.
Once the county is past the need for the isolation and recovery site, Brown said it’s his understanding that the RVs will become county property.
Brown said the county already is having discussions about how the RVs could be used in the community after they are no longer needed to serve COVD-19 patients.
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.
In a Tuesday discussion with the Board of Supervisors, Lake County Public Health Officer Dr. Gary Pace reported that, at that point, no positive cases of COVID-19 had been confirmed in the county, making it one of just a handful of counties in California where that’s the situation.
Pace said that, in addition to dealing with an ongoing shortage of testing and efforts to put surveillance testing in place, a key piece of the county’s preparations for COVID-19 involves actions to be taken when positive cases do show up.
He said Public Health is setting up a contact tracing team, mostly consisting of volunteers because they don’t have enough staff.
When positive cases are identified, the team will talk to the people who have been in contact with the patient during the previous week, Pace said. There also will be an isolation team that will work with patients.
Patients will be allowed to isolate at home if they can, but in the cases where they cannot, Pace said the county is working to set up sites where they can stay.
He said the Department of Social Services and Supervisor Rob Brown have been working on the site details.
An isolation and recovery site is being set up at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Lakeport, Pace said, with the county working to set up security and staffing.
County officials said the fairgrounds was an option due to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s COVID-19 state of emergency order, issued on March 4.
The order directs that any suitable state-owned properties – with a section specifically naming fairgrounds – be made available to the Office of Emergency Services “to assist in preparing for, responding to, mitigating the effects of, or recovering from COVID-19.” Under that order, fairgrounds can be used without the fair board of directors’ approval.
Brown told Lake County News in a separate interview on Tuesday that the state of California’s Office of Emergency Services is paying for RVs that will be located at the fairgrounds.
“We have 100 ordered but 50 are coming now and 50 at a later date,” Brown said.
Brown said people who are symptomatic and waiting for tests to return will be allowed to stay at the site, along with those who are recovering but don’t need to be in care at a hospital.
“We’ll have staff on-site as well,” he said.
If necessary, the county also may use some of the fairgrounds buildings, depending on the number of cases the county eventually has, Brown said.
“We have no idea at all what kind of numbers we’re looking at,” he said. “We’re allowing for the worst-case scenario but hoping for the best.”
Lake County Fair Board of Directors Vice President Monica Rosenthal told Lake County News that the fair board has a duty to follow the governor’s orders and allow the state-owned fairgrounds to be used as a place for quarantine and recovery during the novel coronavirus crisis.
“Having said that, I believe I can speak for the Fair Board as a whole, we are pleased to be able to help our community during this incredible crisis by providing space for a potential surge in medical needs for Lake County community members who may need to be quarantined or have a temporary living space for recovery,” she said.
Rosenthal said the fair’s new chief executive officer, Sheli Wright – who came on the job in the middle of March – is working with Dr. Pace and Department of Social Services Director Crystal Markytan on the site preparations.
Markytan told Lake County News on Tuesday afternoon that she didn’t yet have a time frame for when the trailers would be arriving in Lake County.
Given the scope of what the state is charged with doing in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, “Things are messy right now,” Markytan said, adding, “In a typical disaster, they would not be filling resource requests to all 58 counties simultaneously.”
It’s not yet known how long the fairgrounds could be needed for the isolation and recovery site.
As such, Rosenthal said that, so far, the Lake County Fair Board hasn’t discussed changing the date of the 2020 Fair, which traditionally takes place on Labor Day weekend.
She said they’re holding out hope that the community will safely get past COVID-19, allowing the fair to go forward.
Rosenthal said the fair board is concerned about other potential impacts as well, including those affecting the youth and their fair animals.
“Decisions need to be made regarding 4Hers countywide with regard to animals they intend to raise for this year's Junior Livestock Auction. As a board, we began discussions about this during our regular March board meeting and, I am certain we will continue those discussions in more depth during our April board meeting, which, like so many meetings, will be held via teleconference or Zoom pending on the direction of our CEO,” Rosenthal said.
Once the county is past the need for the isolation and recovery site, Brown said it’s his understanding that the RVs will become county property.
Brown said the county already is having discussions about how the RVs could be used in the community after they are no longer needed to serve COVD-19 patients.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake City Council this week will discuss purchasing buildings for the city’s Animal Control facility and consider possible commercial hemp regulations.
The council will meet in closed session at 5 p.m. Thursday, April 2, to discuss six potential cases of anticipated litigation, existing litigation against PG&E Corp. and City Manager Alan Flora’s performance evaluation before the public portion of the meeting begins at 6 p.m.
Because of the county’s shelter in place order, Clearlake City Hall remains closed to the public, however, the virtual meeting will be broadcast live on Lake County PEG TV’s YouTube Channel.
Comments and questions can be submitted in writing for City Council consideration by sending them to City Clerk Melissa Swanson atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . You can also visit the city’s new town hall site and submit written comments at https://www.opentownhall.com/portals/327/Issue_8450 . Identify the subject you wish to comment on in your email’s subject line or in your town hall submission.
To give the City Council adequate time to review your questions and comments, please submit your written comments prior to 4 p.m. Thursday.
On Thursday council members will consider a request from Police Chief Andrew White to authorize the lease from Mobile Modular Corp. of a modular office building for the Animal Control facility, and the purchase of two modular kennel buildings from Horizon Structures LLC, also for the Animal Control facility.
White said the kennels are estimated to cost $179,980, with a portion of the overall project cost anticipated to be funded through a US Department of Agriculture grant which is pending approval.
The buildings for Animal Control will be installed at the city’s Public Works corporation yard.
In other business, the council will provide direction to staff regarding potential regulations for commercial hemp cultivation; hold a first reading of Ordinance No. 229-2019 regarding
commercial cannabis regulatory permits, and set the second reading and adoption for the April 16 meeting; and consider authorizing a three-year contract with AT&T ACC for fiber optic internet service at the senior community center.
On the meeting's consent agenda – items that are not considered controversial and are usually adopted on a single vote – are warrant registers; minutes of the council’s February meetings; minutes of the Feb. 12 Lake County Vector Control District Board Meeting; consideration of Resolution No. 2020-11 to authorize submittal of application to California Natural Resources
Agency for improvements at the Clearlake Senior/Community Center; consideration of continuation of declaration of local emergency issued on Oct. 9, 2017, and ratified by council action Oct. 12, 2017, in response to the Sulphur fire; consideration of continuation of declaration of local emergency issued on March 14, 2020, and ratified by council Action March 19, 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic; ratify park closure orders issued on March 22 and 24, 2020, during the COVID-19 local emergency; adopt Resolution 2020-13, adopting the county of Lake Low Impact Development Manual and any updates.
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.
The council will meet in closed session at 5 p.m. Thursday, April 2, to discuss six potential cases of anticipated litigation, existing litigation against PG&E Corp. and City Manager Alan Flora’s performance evaluation before the public portion of the meeting begins at 6 p.m.
Because of the county’s shelter in place order, Clearlake City Hall remains closed to the public, however, the virtual meeting will be broadcast live on Lake County PEG TV’s YouTube Channel.
Comments and questions can be submitted in writing for City Council consideration by sending them to City Clerk Melissa Swanson at
To give the City Council adequate time to review your questions and comments, please submit your written comments prior to 4 p.m. Thursday.
On Thursday council members will consider a request from Police Chief Andrew White to authorize the lease from Mobile Modular Corp. of a modular office building for the Animal Control facility, and the purchase of two modular kennel buildings from Horizon Structures LLC, also for the Animal Control facility.
White said the kennels are estimated to cost $179,980, with a portion of the overall project cost anticipated to be funded through a US Department of Agriculture grant which is pending approval.
The buildings for Animal Control will be installed at the city’s Public Works corporation yard.
In other business, the council will provide direction to staff regarding potential regulations for commercial hemp cultivation; hold a first reading of Ordinance No. 229-2019 regarding
commercial cannabis regulatory permits, and set the second reading and adoption for the April 16 meeting; and consider authorizing a three-year contract with AT&T ACC for fiber optic internet service at the senior community center.
On the meeting's consent agenda – items that are not considered controversial and are usually adopted on a single vote – are warrant registers; minutes of the council’s February meetings; minutes of the Feb. 12 Lake County Vector Control District Board Meeting; consideration of Resolution No. 2020-11 to authorize submittal of application to California Natural Resources
Agency for improvements at the Clearlake Senior/Community Center; consideration of continuation of declaration of local emergency issued on Oct. 9, 2017, and ratified by council action Oct. 12, 2017, in response to the Sulphur fire; consideration of continuation of declaration of local emergency issued on March 14, 2020, and ratified by council Action March 19, 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic; ratify park closure orders issued on March 22 and 24, 2020, during the COVID-19 local emergency; adopt Resolution 2020-13, adopting the county of Lake Low Impact Development Manual and any updates.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
040220 Clearlake City Council meeting agenda packet by LakeCoNews on Scribd
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake Police Department has a new team in its K9 Unit.
The agency said Tuesday that its newest team of Officer Daniel Eagle K9 Zeus has been certified.
Eagle has been an officer with Clearlake Police Department since 2018.
During that time, Officer Eagle has been dedicated to the K9 Unit by being an K9 agitator.
The police department said K9 Zeus is a 2-year-old Belgium Malinois who is trained to track people, search buildings and locate evidence, in addition to other trained skills.
Officer Eagle and K9 Zeus recently completed their certification process, which was a five-week intensive training, the agency reported.
The department said Officer Eagle and K9 Zeus are currently assigned to the day shift.
For more information on the department’s K9 Unit and its nonprofit fundraising operation, follow it on Facebook.
“Our K9 Unit is grateful for the financial support for our K9 Unit and thankful to our sponsors, which enable us to continue to provide our community the services of a highly trained and professional K9 Unit,” the department reported.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – On Thursday, April 2, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05) will hold a Facebook Live Town Hall to answer questions about what Congress is doing to respond to the fallout from novel coronavirus, which causes COVID-19.
The town hall will take place from 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday on Thompson’s Facebook page.
Thompson will ask questions submitted on Facebook, by mail and over the phone from constituents.
All constituents of California’s Fifth Congressional District and members of the press are invited to join.
Thompson represents California’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties.
The town hall will take place from 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday on Thompson’s Facebook page.
Thompson will ask questions submitted on Facebook, by mail and over the phone from constituents.
All constituents of California’s Fifth Congressional District and members of the press are invited to join.
Thompson represents California’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties.