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- Written by: Lake County News reports
The website, http://opioids.ca.gov, is part of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s multi-pronged approach to connect Californians with information to prevent and reduce overdoses and deaths and support those struggling with substance use and addiction.
“Spreading awareness saves lives, and for the first time we are pulling together all of our opioid information in one place to help educate and protect our families and communities,” said CDPH Director and State Public Health Officer Dr. Tomás Aragón. “Fighting the opioid epidemic requires a broad response at many levels of government, which can be challenging for everyday people to navigate. This site pulls all those efforts together into one place for youth, adults, care providers, schools and parents. In support of Governor Newsom’s master plan to tackle opioids, CDPH is excited to launch this all-encompassing website to spread awareness, increase education, provide resources, and help save lives."
Overdoses affect all of us: Nearly 7,000 Californians died from opioid-related overdoses in 2022 and opioids are a main driver of drug overdose deaths in the U.S. The new, easy-to-navigate site provides valuable information and education on preventing and treating opioid overdoses and substance use disorders, which is are crucial steps in fighting the ongoing epidemic across the country.
The website includes five main sections:
About: Comprehensive background on opioids and fentanyl, the serious harms they can cause, and the history of the opioid crisis.
Prevention: Prevention methods and strategies that anyone can use, including step-by-step guidance for responding to a suspected or confirmed opioid overdose.
Data & Information: The latest overdose and substance abuse and misuse data and trends.
Treatment & Support: Resources for those struggling with, or supporting someone with, an opioid use disorder.
California Action: Details on California’s efforts to tackle the opioid epidemic, including enforcement actions targeting traffickers and dealers.
Overdose prevention grants: Coinciding with the launch of http://opioids.ca.gov,, the state is awarding nearly $8 million in grants to local organizations to implement evidence-based and community-driven public health interventions for preventing overdose from fentanyl and other opioids.
The grants have been allocated to six organizations across the state, including two in Northern California, two in the Central Valley and two in Southern California. These grants will assist efforts to increase education, testing, recovery and support services.
How CDPH is taking action: In March 2023, Gov. Newsom announced the state’s Master Plan for tackling opioids in California, including over $1 billion in funds to curb opioid use and abuse. As a part of this plan and in addition to awarding these grants, CDPH has launched its all-new website, began the first phase of a comprehensive opioid education and awareness campaign, implemented the Campus Opioid Safety Act, developed and distributed various promotional and information assets, and more.
For additional information on opioids, please visit CDPH’s all-new California’s Opioid Response website.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The Clearlake Animal Control website lists 40 adoptable dogs.
Up for adoption is “Dandelion,” a female Doberman pinscher mix with a tricolor coat.
Also available is “Boo,” a male Alaskan husky mix with a gray and tan coat.
Click a number to change picture or play to see a video:
The shelter is located at 6820 Old Highway 53. It’s open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
For more information, call the shelter at 707-762-6227, email
This week’s adoptable dogs are featured below.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA — Wildlife disease specialists have confirmed the re-occurrence of the Eurasian strain of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in California wild birds.
In late October, Canada geese were found dead in Sacramento County and submitted to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Wildlife Health Laboratory for testing.
Preliminary testing was performed at the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory in Davis.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories confirmed the detection of HPAI H5N1 in two Canada geese in early November.
Subsequent detections have been made in wild birds in several additional counties during mortality surveillance including from Contra Costa, San Diego, Santa Clara, Solano and Yolo.
Detections in waterfowl during hunter-harvest surveillance have been reported from Fresno, Glenn, Kern and Yolo counties.
Prior to these detections, the last confirmed detection in wild birds occurred in June 2023.
This strain of Eurasian HPAI H5N1 has been circulating in the United States and Canada since the winter of 2021-22, arriving in California in mid-July 2022.
In total, 354 confirmed detections of the virus were made in wild birds collected from 44 California counties during mortality surveillance conducted between July 2022 and June 2023.
Detections of the virus appeared to subside during spring and summer in California, as well as more broadly in the United States. Now, as waterfowl and other waterbirds are undertaking fall migration, cases again are on the rise.
Avian influenza spreads through direct bird-to-bird contact and may also spread to birds through contaminated surfaces including hands, shoes, clothing and hunting gear.
While the Centers for Disease Control considers the transmission risk of avian influenza to people to be low, residents and waterfowl hunters are advised to take precautions to protect themselves, hunting dogs, falconry birds, poultry and pet birds.
Steps that may help reduce the spread of HPAI:
Report dead wild birds, and other wildlife, to CDFW using the mortality reporting form. While it is not possible to test every wild bird for HPAI, all mortality reports are important and help disease specialists monitor the outbreak.
Report sick and dead poultry to the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) hotline at 1 (866) 922-2473.
Prevent contact between domestic birds and wild birds, especially waterfowl. Exclude wild birds from accessing chicken or other domestic bird feed and water.
Do not feed waterfowl or other waterbirds at park ponds as it may increase the congregation of birds and contribute to disease spread.
Do not bring potentially sick wild birds home or move sick birds to another location.
Before transporting potentially sick wild birds to wildlife rehabilitation centers, veterinary clinics, or other animal facilities, contact the facility for guidance and to determine if the bird should be collected.
If recreating outdoors in areas with large concentrations of waterfowl and other waterbirds, wash clothing and disinfect footwear and equipment before traveling to other areas or interacting with domestic birds.
Where it can be done so safely, consider disposing of dead birds to help reduce exposure to new birds and minimize scavenging by birds and mammals that also may be susceptible to infection. Dead birds may be collected into a plastic bag and placed in the regular trash collection.
Additional safety recommendations for waterfowl hunters:
Harvest only waterfowl that look and behave healthy. Do not handle or eat sick game. Do not handle wild birds that are obviously sick or found dead.
Field dress and prepare game outdoors or in a well-ventilated area. Do not dress wild game in the vicinity of poultry or pet birds.
Wear rubber gloves or other impermeable disposable gloves while handling and cleaning game.
Remove and discard intestines soon after harvesting and avoid direct contact with intestinal contents. Place waste in a plastic bag and dispose in a garbage container that is protected from scavengers.
Do not eat, drink, smoke or vape while handling dead game.
When done handling game, wash hands thoroughly with soap and water (or alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are unavailable), and clean knives, equipment and surfaces that came in contact with game. Wash hands before and after handling any meat.
Keep harvested waterfowl cool (either with ice or refrigeration), below 45 degrees Fahrenheit, until processed, and then refrigerate or freeze.
Thoroughly cook all game to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit before consuming.
Clean and disinfect clothing, footwear and hunting gear before traveling to other areas. As appropriate, footwear and gear may be washed with soap and water, then disinfected in household bleach diluted 1:10 with water for at least 10 minutes.
Bathe hunting dogs with pet shampoo after hunting, and do not feed dogs raw meat, organs or other tissues from harvested waterfowl.
Falconers should avoid hunting waterfowl, and other waterbirds, during the HPAI outbreak.
For guidance on keeping domestic birds healthy, please visit the CDFA and USDA websites.
For guidance on orphaned or injured live wild birds, please contact your nearest wildlife rehabilitation center prior to collecting the animal. Be advised that some wildlife rehabilitation centers may have restrictions on the wildlife species they will admit.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LAKEPORT, Calif. — Hundreds of thousands of dollars in funding made its way into the hands of Lake County’s nonprofits and schools on Wednesday thanks to the efforts of the Lake County Wine Alliance.
Wine Alliance board members hosted dozens of beneficiaries at a reception at the Soper Reese Theater in Lakeport on Wednesday evening in order to distribute donation checks from the proceeds of the September Wine Auction.
The funds distributed on Wednesday totaled $226,000, down from the record $300,000 handed out last year.
Wine Alliance Treasurer Rob Roumiguiere called the amount of generosity and support in the community “incredible.” That includes not just the donors and people who enjoy the auction, but the estimated 200 volunteers who work every year to produce the event.
In all, 41 beneficiaries received funds from the auction, which began in 2000.
The beneficiaries are all Lake County high schools’ fine art programs and the four high school FFA programs, Adventist Health Clear Lake Palliative Care Department, World Wide Healing Hands, Mother Wise, Lakeport Senior Center, Kelseyville Food Pantry, Catholic Charities, First Lutheran Church, Lake County Youth Symphony, Lake County Rural Arts Initiative, Clear Lake High School Culinary Program, Lower Lake High School Culinary Program, Lake County Arts Council, Woodland Community College Culinary Program, Clearlake Youth Center, Ely Stage Stop, Friends of the Lake County Library, Give Back Track, Konocti Fire Safe Council, Lake County Channel Cats, Lakeport Volunteer Firefighters Association, Northshore Fire Fund, Operation Tango Mike, Jack’s Lavender Farm, United Veterans Council of Lake County, Operation Santa, Sheriffs and You Foundation, Totes for Teens, Lake County Young Life, Lake County Sheriff’s Activity League, Hospice Services of Lake County, People Services and Lake Family Resource Center.
Work on the 2024 Wine Auction will begin in January. Roumiguiere said the event will return to The Mercantile in Kelseyville on Sept. 21, 2024.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
