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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The fatal wreck occurred at 12:50 p.m. Friday on Highway 20 east of Rosemont Drive, the California Highway Patrol’s Clear Lake Area office reported.
The name of the 70-year-old man who died is not being released pending the notification of next of kin, the CHP said.
The CHP’s Friday evening report on the wreck said the Vacaville man was riding a 2009 Harley-Davidson westbound on Highway 20 east of Rosemont Drive.
Driving eastbound was Ryan Hicks, 50, of Stockton in a 2020 International truck-tractor and trailer combination, the CHP said.
Both vehicles were approaching each other within their respective lanes when, for reasons the CHP said are still under investigation, the motorcyclist entered the opposing lane of traffic and collided with Hick’s truck and trailer.
The CHP said a Northshore Fire Protection District ambulance transported the motorcyclist to Sutter Lakeside Hospital, where he died of his injuries.
Hicks was not injured. The CHP said both men were using their safety equipment.
Neither alcohol nor drugs are believed to be factors in the crash, the CHP said.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The American Rescue Plan Act is sending millions of dollars to Lake County to help communities that continue to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The $1.9 trillion economic stimulus legislation was signed into law by President Joe Biden in March.
On Wednesday, Congressman Mike Thompson, whose Fifth Congressional District includes half of Lake County, including Lakeport, was in town to present ceremonial checks to city and county officials.
Lake County’s total allocation under the act, also known as ARPA, is $12,506,226, said Deputy County Administrative Officer Matthew Rothstein.
“The Board of Supervisors and county leaders are very grateful to Congressman Thompson for his strong advocacy on behalf of our county, and very much appreciate the congressman and his staff making a point to present our ceremonial check in person, yesterday,” Rothstein said Thursday.
The city of Lakeport will receive $1.2 million, said City Manager Kevin Ingram.
Ingram said the city hasn’t gotten any of the money yet.
“As a nonentitlement community we will be receiving our money in two tranches,” said Ingram.
“Tranche” is the term the federal government has used for the allocations.
He said the first installment should be allocated to the city by the end of this month.
Ingram said that on Thursday the city submitted its paperwork to the state to receive the allocations.
The city of Clearlake, which is in Congressman John Garamendi’s Third District, will receive an allocation of $3,652,191, said City Manager Alan Flora.
“It sounds like we will get the first 50% of the money in early July and the remaining 50% next June,” Flora said.
Flora didn’t report what the city plans to do with the funds.
As for Lakeport, Ingram said they are waiting for the final rules from the U.S. Treasury on how the money can be used. Those rules are expected to be issued on Aug. 15.
He said a plan will be brought to the Lakeport City Council for public input and approval in September.
Referencing comments made by County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson and Auditor-Controller/County Clerk Cathy Saderlund at the county’s Wednesday budget hearings, Rothstein said the planning process is underway for the county’s ARPA spending plan, and a plan is expected to be finalized soon.
Saderlund also reported Wednesday that the county has received its first installment of the ARPA funds, with the second installment of more than $6 million expected in May of 2022.
“Our full complement of federal and state representatives have been important and invaluable partners, as we have navigated challenges and new demands brought by the pandemic,” Rothstein said.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA — On Thursday, the Yuba Community College District Governing Board appointed an interim chancellor after the departure of Dr. Douglas B. Houston.
After a nationwide search, the governing board appointed Dr. James L.J. Houpis to serve as interim chancellor beginning July 1, and continuing through June 30, 2022, as the recruitment for a permanent chancellor is conducted through the academic year.
“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Houpis to our Yuba Community College family,” said Board President Susan Alves, “Dr. Houpis brings a wealth of experience in student-centered leadership, innovation, and equity, that will best serve our faculty, staff, administration, and especially students. Dr. Houpis’ guidance and focus on clear communication, community building, and transparency will be instrumental as we move forward in our selection of a permanent chancellor.”
“I am excited about returning to the North State and joining such an outstanding community college district, and developing relationships and working with committed colleagues, faculty, staff, students and community members toward common goals,” said Dr. Houpis. “I am looking forward to returning to the North State and serving the community in reaching their educational goals.”
Dr. Houpis received his bachelor’s degree in environmental sciences and his doctorate in forest science from University of California Berkeley, his master’s degree in biology from San Diego State University.
He was an environmental scientist and project leader in the Health and Ecological Sciences Division for Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory conducting and publishing research in the areas of climate change and air pollution.
Dr. Houpis also served as the dean of Natural Science at California State University, Chico from 2001 to 2010 where he launched the Gateway Science Museum, initiated reform in general education science courses, and doubled the number of science majors.
Dr. Houpis served as the provost and vice president of academic affairs, and professor of earth and environmental sciences at California State University East Bay from 2010 to 2015.
Under his leadership, CSU East Bay’s enrollment expanded to record highs, primarily drawing on students from underrepresented populations.
The campus also instituted expanded peer mentoring, established, and expanded advising in all colleges, developed, and initiated cultural and cohort-based programs, expanded community engagement (from 70,000 hours to 300,000 hours), and expanded co-curriculum and high impact programs across all levels of instruction. As a result, CSU East Bay’s first-year retention increased annually, and the second-year retention was at a 10-year high.
Dr. Houpis served as the president of Modesto Junior College from 2019 to 2021. As president, he established the College’s Online Campus, the Institute for Applied Creativity, and Community Transformation (for college-wide professional development), began MIT’s invention education program in partnership with local high schools, and expanded a zero-textbook cost program.
Throughout his career, Dr. Houpis has been a strong advocate of sustainability, social justice and diversity, and their connections. He has also been dedicated to serving and advancing the needs of students from underrepresented populations receiving several awards for his continued efforts on behalf of Latino students and exemplary service to students through modeling shared governance.
Yuba Community College District spans eight counties. Yuba College and Woodland Community College, offer degrees, certificates, and transfer curricula at college campuses in Marysville and Woodland, educational centers in Clearlake and Yuba City, and through outreach operations in Williams.
The two colleges in Yolo County and Yuba County and the campuses in Clearlake, and Colusa and Sutter counties, serve 13,000 students across the northern Sacramento Valley.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Lake County Library's annual Summer Reading Challenge begins Saturday, June 12.
By signing up for summer reading with the library, children, teens and adults will have the opportunity to win various prizes, including stickers, small toys, a Samsung tablet or gift cards to local businesses.
Participating in the library program is a fun way for residents to challenge themselves to read more over the summer.
For students, reading over summer break can prevent summer learning loss and help them start the next school year out on the right page.
The library has programs for pre-K, kids, teens and adults. Children who can't quite read on their own can still sign up and parents can record the books that they read together.
Once sign-ups start on June 12 residents can register on the Library's summer reading website. Registration is open at any time until summer reading ends on Aug. 29.
Anyone who wants to sign up can head to the library website at http://library.lakecountyca.gov and click “Summer Reading”.
Residents don't have to go online. They can also register and take part by visiting their local branch. All library branches have been open to the public since late March.
Once registered, participants can start reading books and get points by logging their reading, either online or by visiting the library. All reading counts, including eBooks, print books, audiobooks, comics, or whatever participants like to check out from the library and read.
Reading is its own reward, but the library offers prizes to make summer reading more fun. There will be prize drawings throughout the summer. The more points participants earn the greater chance they have to win. The Friends of the Lake County Library, a community nonprofit membership organization, provides all the prizes.
Once participants read enough to earn 1,000 points the Friends of the Lake County Library will donate a book to the library in their name. The book will have their name inside commemorating their reading achievement and they will be the first person to check it out.
Visit the Lake County Library Website at http://library.lakecountyca.gov.