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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
Mary Darby, who has been Community Development director since October, has tendered her resignation following a Tuesday closed session evaluation with the Board of Supervisors.
Deputy County Administrative Officer Matthew Rothstein confirmed to Lake County News that Board Chair EJ Crandell accepted Darby’s resignation on behalf of the board.
Darby’s last day with the county will be Nov. 4, Rothstein said.
“Staff are working to prepare for Board discussion of a recruitment strategy to fill this important County position,” Rothstein said in an email.
He said that discussion is expected to take place during the board’s meeting on Tuesday, July 19.
Lake County News emailed Darby to ask for comment but she did not respond.
The Board of Supervisors hired Darby on Aug. 31, with her appointment effective on Oct. 4. In a Sept. 9 special meeting, the board appointed Darby in an extra-help capacity ahead of her official appointment date.
Officials at the time hailed her skill sets and experience as key to helping the county take the next steps to improve the department, which plays a key role in the county’s development and economy.
Darby, a University of California, San Diego graduate who also holds a Master of Arts degree in city planning from the Georgia Institute of Technology, has spent most of her career in Georgia. She said at the time of her hire that she had been hoping to return to California.
She said she looked forward to providing Lake County with professionalism, loyalty and a high standard of customer service, and pledged that her team would operate with one main goal — “Successful results!”
Since her hire, the board had five scheduled closed session performance evaluations with Darby. Such evaluations usually happen once or twice a year at most.
Darby’s departure emphasizes the county’s ongoing challenge in filling the Community Development director’s job.
She is the sixth person to head the department since the start of 2016.
Darby’s resignation follows by less than a month that of Dr. Erik McLaughlin, the Public Health officer.
McLaughlin, who was on the job for less than four months and was working remotely from his home in Las Vegas, also gave the board his resignation following a June 21 closed-session performance review, the fifth of his tenure.
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- Written by: LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — A big slate of seats on local school and special district boards will be up for election this fall.
The Lake County Registrar of Voters office said the numerous school and special district elections have been consolidated with the Nov. 8 general election.
The first day a candidate may file for office is Monday, July 18; the last day is Friday, Aug. 12, at 5 p.m.
Official declaration of candidacy forms for eligible candidates desiring to file may be obtained from the Lake County Registrar of Voters office in person at 325 N. Forbes St., Lakeport, during regular office hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The office is closed on county holidays and weekends.
For additional information call 707-263-2372 or toll-free at 888-235-6730.
The Elections Office said eligible voters have the opportunity to file for candidacy for the following offices.
Mendocino-Lake Community College District
Trustee Area No 6: One vacancy, four year term
Yuba Community College District
Trustee Area No 7: One vacancy, two year unexpired term
Lake County Board of Education
Trustee Area No 3: One vacancy, four year term
Trustee Area No 4: One vacancy, four year term
Trustee Area No 5: One vacancy, four year term
Kelseyville Unified School District
Two vacancies: Four year terms
Konocti Unified School District
Three vacancies: Four year terms
Lakeport Unified School District
Two vacancies: Four year terms
One vacancy: Two year unexpired term
Lucerne Elementary School District
Two vacancies: Four year terms
Middletown Unified School District
Three vacancies: Four year terms
One vacancy: Two year unexpired term
Upper Lake Unified School District
Three vacancies: Four year terms
Kelseyville Fire Protection District
Three vacancies: Four year terms
Lake County Fire Protection District
Four vacancies: Four year terms
One vacancy: Two year unexpired term
Lake Pillsbury Fire Protection District
Three vacancies: Four year terms
One vacancy: Two year unexpired term
Northshore Fire Protection District
At-large, one vacancy: Four year term
Lucerne zone, one vacancy: Four year term
Nice zone, one vacancy: Four year term
South Lake County Fire Protection District
Two vacancies: Four year terms
Anderson Springs Community Services District
Three vacancies: Four year terms
One vacancy: Two year unexpired term
Butler-Keys Community Services District
Two vacancies: Four year terms
Hidden Valley Lake Community Services District
Two vacancies: Four year terms
Redbud Health Care District
Zone 2, one vacancy: Four year term
Zone 4, one vacancy: Four year term
Buckingham Park Water District
Three vacancies – 4 year terms
Callayomi County Water District
Three vacancies: Four year terms
One vacancy: Two year unexpired term
Clearlake Oaks County Water District
Two vacancies: Four year terms
Cobb Area County Water District
Three vacancies: Four year terms
Konocti County Water District
Three vacancies: Four year terms
Upper Lake County Water District
Two vacancies: Four year terms
One vacancy: Two year unexpired term
Villa Blue Estates Water District
Three vacancies: Four year terms
Three vacancies: Two year terms
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The City of Clearlake Animal Association also is seeking fosters for the animals waiting to be adopted.
Call the Clearlake Animal Control shelter at 707-273-9440, or email
Visit Clearlake Animal Control on Facebook or on the city’s website.
The following dogs are available for adoption. The newest additions are at the top.
‘Betsy’
“Betsy” is a female American pit bull mix with a short white coat.
She has been spayed.
She is dog No. 50236145.
‘Bluey’
“Bluey” is a male retriever mix with a short black coat.
He has been neutered.
He is dog No. 50552999.
‘Hakuna’
“Hakuna” is a male shepherd mix with a tan coat.
He has been neutered.
He is dog No. 50176912.
‘Precious’
“Precious” is a female terrier mix with a short tan and black coat.
She has been spayed.
She is dog No. 50467529.
‘Sadie’
“Sadie” is a female German shepherd mix with a black and tan coat.
She has been spayed.
She is dog No. 49802563.
‘Taz’
“Taz” is a male Labrador retriever mix with a short black coat and white markings.
He has been neutered.
He is dog No. 50467817.
‘Andy’
“Andy” is a male American pit bull mix with a short gray and white coat.
He is dog No. 48995415.
‘Bear’
“Bear” is a male Labrador retriever-American pit bull mix with a short charcoal and fawn coat.
He has been neutered.
He is dog No. 48443153.
‘Big Phil’
“Big Phil” is a 13-year-old male American pit bull terrier mix with a blue coat.
He has been neutered.
He is dog No. 49951647.
‘Bro’
“Bro” is a male terrier mix with a short tan coat.
He has been neutered.
Bro is dog No. 50262527.
‘Colt’
“Colt” is a male Rhodesian Ridgeback mix with a short rust and black coat.
He has been neutered.
He is dog No. 49812106.
‘Hondo’
“Hondo” is a male Alaskan husky mix with a buff coat.
He has been neutered.
He’s dog No. 50227693.
‘Kubota’
“Kubota” is a male German shepherd mix with a short tan and black coat.
He has been neutered.
Kubota is dog No. 50184421.
‘Matata’
“Matata” is male shepherd mix with a tan coat.
He has been neutered.
He is dog No. 50176912.
‘Newman’
“Newman” is a 1-year-old male American pit bull terrier mix with a black and white coat.
He has been neutered.
Newman is dog No. 49057809.
‘Terry’
“Terry” is a handsome male shepherd mix with a short brindle coat.
He gets along with other dogs, including small ones, and enjoys toys. He also likes water, playing fetch and keep away.
Staff said he is now getting some training to help him build confidence.
He is dog No. 48443693.
‘Ziggy’
“Ziggy” is a male American pit bull terrier mix with a short gray and white coat.
He has been neutered.
Ziggy is dog No. 50146247
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE
The birds were collected by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on July 5 during a mortality event at the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex and submitted to the U.S. Geological Survey’s National Wildlife Health Center for preliminary testing.
On July 13, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratories confirmed the detection of avian influenza H5N1 in two Canada geese and one American white pelican and notified the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Wildlife Health Laboratory.
These are the first detections of avian influenza H5N1 in wild birds in California. Although avian influenza viruses naturally circulate among waterbirds, the strain of H5N1 currently in circulation in the U.S. and Canada has been causing illness and death in a higher diversity of wild bird species than during previous avian influenza outbreaks. The virus also remains highly contagious for domestic poultry.
Currently, there are no confirmed cases of avian influenza in domestic poultry in California.
According to data compiled by the USDA, avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in at least 1,825 individual wild birds in 42 states and the District of Columbia since January 2022. Additionally, infection has been confirmed in 386 commercial and backyard domestic poultry and mixed-species flocks in 37 states. Prior to its detection in North America, avian influenza H5N1 activity had been on the rise across Europe since October 2021.
Avian predators and scavengers may be exposed to avian influenza viruses when feeding on infected waterbirds. Infection with avian influenza viruses among songbirds, including many common backyard birds, appears to be rare.
However, feeding and providing water to wild birds is discouraged, especially in the vicinity of backyard poultry or other captive birds such as ducks, geese, pigeons, doves and parrots. Increased concentration of wild birds at feeders and bird baths may lead to fecal contamination of the local environment, which may aid in disease transmission.
Wild birds should be excluded from entering enclosures for domestic and pet birds, and food and water should not be shared between wild birds and domestic or pet birds.
CDFW’s Wildlife Health Laboratory, in coordination with partners, is continuing to monitor wild bird populations for signs of illness and investigating mortality events. The public may report dead wild birds using CDFW’s mortality reporting form. For guidance on orphaned or injured live wild birds, please contact your nearest wildlife rehabilitation center. Be advised that some wildlife rehabilitation centers may have restrictions on the wildlife species they will admit.
An informational flyer addressing frequently asked questions is available on CDFW’s website.
Currently, the Centers for Disease Control considers the transmission risk of avian influenza to people to be low, but recommends taking basic protective measures (i.e., wearing gloves and face masks and handwashing) if contact with wild birds or domestic poultry cannot be avoided.
Practicing biosecurity is the most effective way to keep domestic poultry and pet birds healthy. Please visit the California Department of Food and Agriculture, or CDFA, and USDA websites for biosecurity information. Sick and dead poultry may be reported to the CDFA hotline at 1 866-922-2473.