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Kelseyville Middle School hosts 36th annual John Berry’s Road to Crescent City Basketball Tournament
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- Written by: LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. — Kelseyville is proud to welcome teams, families and fans for the 36th Annual John Berry’s Road to Crescent City Junior High Basketball Tournament taking place Friday, Jan. 9, and Saturday, Jan. 10.
This cherished tradition brings together eighth grade boys A team basketball programs from across Northern California for a weekend filled with competition, sportsmanship and community pride.
More than just a tournament, the John Berry Road to Crescent City event has become a hallmark of the Kelseyville basketball program and a meaningful gathering for the community.
Each year it brings visitors to the area while helping raise vital funds that support the entire local basketball program.
The tournament also serves as a qualifying event for the Crescent City Jaycees Basketball Tournament, with the Kelseyville champion earning an automatic berth into the March 6 to 7 championship.
Members of the Crescent City Jaycees Selection Committee are expected to attend and last year, seven of the eight participating teams advanced to the Jaycees tournament.
Games will tip off Friday evening at the Kelseyville Elementary MUR Building and continue Saturday at Kelseyville High School.
Awards will be presented immediately following the seventh-place consolation third place and championship games, celebrating the hard work, dedication, and teamwork of student athletes.
One of the most anticipated moments of the tournament, the Hoop Shoot Contest, will take place at 2 p.m. Saturday at Kelseyville High School, showcasing one selected player from each team.
Fans can enjoy the full tournament experience with Pogo’s Pizza and a fully stocked snack shack available throughout the weekend.
Community members, families and basketball supporters are encouraged to come out, cheer loudly, and help make this year’s tournament another memorable chapter in Kelseyville’s proud basketball tradition.
Organizers said the 36th annual John Berry’s Road to Crescent City Tournament promises great basketball, great food and an even greater sense of community.
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
NORTH COAST, Calif. — A midnight earthquake in northern Sonoma County was felt by residents in several areas of Lake County early Thursday.
The United States Geological Survey said the 4.2-magnitude quake occurred just after midnight Thursday morning.
Its epicenter was located 7 miles east northeast of Cloverdale at a depth of just under a mile and a half, the US Geological Survey reported.
On his Facebook page, State Sen. Mike McGuire called it a “pretty good shaker” felt in northern Sonoma County as well as western Lake County.
“No early reports of damage or injuries,” McGuire said.
As of 1 a.m. Thursday, 172 shake reports had been submitted to the US Geological Survey from 33 zip codes.
In Lake County, reports came from Clearlake Oaks, Kelseyville, Lakeport, Middletown and Nice.
That 4.2-magnitude quake was followed by less than a minute by a 2.7-magnitude just to the north, US Geological Survey records showed.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
The West Coast Health Alliance continues to recommend vaccination in alignment with the American Academy of Pediatrics Recommended Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule.
On Jan. 5, 2026, the acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention signed a decision memorandum to revise the Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule and significantly reduce the number of vaccinations routinely recommended for all U.S. children.
This decision did not follow established procedure for vaccine policy recommendations and threatens an increase in vaccine-preventable diseases in children nationwide.
Children getting sick from the diseases prevented by recommended immunizations leads to missed school for children, missed work for parents, and even hospitalization and death in some children.
The current American Academy of Pediatrics Recommended Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule is based on established vaccine safety and effectiveness evidence.
AAP recommendations consider:
• When children are most vulnerable to diseases;
• When vaccines work best with children’s immune systems;
• The safety of vaccinations being recommended;
• The risk of diseases in the United States;
• Our current access to health care and immunizations; and
• Cost effectiveness of implementing national recommendations for a particular vaccination.
While the first three concerns are similar across countries, the last three concerns may differ considerably between countries.
The AAP recommended immunization schedule serves as a starting point for discussions between families and their providers, as it always has.
Officials said parents should continue to make informed decisions about the vaccines that their children receive based on discussions with their child’s health care provider.
Prior to 2025, AAP had endorsed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations, based on the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which followed a rigorous review of data on risk of disease and safety of vaccination in the United States.
Changes in the newly released recommended immunization schedule are not based on changes in vaccine safety and effectiveness data, officials said.
The changes were based on a comparison of the number of routine vaccinations recommended in the United States versus select other countries. It did not consider the different conditions in each country. These changes were also not vetted by experts from medical and public health organizations, health care providers, or the public before they were published.
“We do not expect these changes to affect insurance coverage for vaccines for this plan year,” the alliance reported. “All child and adolescent immunizations recommended as of December 31, 2025 will remain available and covered by public and private insurers; however the changes create confusion and will put more children at risk of preventable diseases.
The West Coast Health Alliance said it will continue to review available vaccine science and ensure continued access to recommended vaccines.
Each state is examining the impact of these federal changes on vaccine access in their respective states.
The West Coast Health Alliance and American Academy of Pediatrics continue to support these longstanding recommendations including informed parental decisions for the best protection of their children.
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday appointed a new Animal Care and Control director.
The board came out of a closed session shortly after 2:45 p.m. to vote for the hire of Rachel Smith.
Vice Chair Jessica Pyska moved to approve Smith’s hire, effective Feb. 9, with Supervisor Bruno Sabatier offering the second. The board’s vote was unanimous.
Pyska’s motion stated that Smith will start at step two of the salary scale. The county of Lake’s Human Resources website shows the job’s overall pay scale ranges from $92,952 to $112,980 annually.
The resolution establishing salaries and benefits for management unit employees, in effect from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2029, shows that the second step starts at $8,133 a month, or $97,596 annually.
“I am looking forward to leading Lake County’s Animal Care and Control team and collaborating with County stakeholders to promote a more humane world for animals,” said Smith. “Listening to and supporting the needs of the community will be critical. Through these efforts, we will improve the health, safety, and welfare of both pets and those who care for them.”
Smith brings nearly a decade of experience in the animal welfare field, along with an academic background that includes a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and psychology, the county reported.
She is certified by the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training, or POST, is a nationally certified animal control officer and holds multiple professional certifications, according to the county’s announcement.
Her LinkedIn page shows certifications involving investigation, forensics and animal welfare.
It also showed past positions in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Denver and Boulder, Colorado, and El Dorado County.
“She has extensive experience conducting complex animal welfare related investigations and is a nationally recognized speaker on animal welfare investigations,” the county said.
She hosted the Animal Welfare Investigations Project podcast and served as chair of the Animal Welfare Investigation Board.
Smith also is a former affiliated member of the International Society for Animal Forensic Sciences, an organization “founded to advocate for the advancement and excellence in investigations involving crimes against animals,” according to its website.
Efforts to fill the position
The county has attempted to fill the Animal Care and Control director’s position since last year after losing two directors in just over a year’s time.
Jonathan Armas was director from March 2019 to until the summer of 2024. In June of that year, County Administrative Officer Susan Parker was appointed interim Animal Care and Control director.
In October 2024, Gregory Wilkins — who came from Texas, with animal control experience in six states — was appointed to the job following a nationwide search. He continued in the job until June of last year.
Since July 1, the Animal Care and Control director position has been held on an interim basis by Assistant County Administrative Officer Stephen Carter Jr.
Email Elizabeth Larson at