How to resolve AdBlock issue? 
News
- Details
- Written by: Lake County News reports
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Lake County Rodeo Association is marking its return this summer after a year off due to the pandemic, and it has named a longtime county resident as its 2021 grand marshal.
Robert “Bob” Anton will serve as grand marshal for the 91st annual rodeo, which takes place July 9 to 10 at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Lakeport.
Bob Anton is a fourth generation Lake County resident who will celebrate his 101st birthday on July 3.
His ancestors came to the Lakeport area in the early 1800s and settled on a 400-acre ranch in Scotts Valley. They built a home and for many years raised cattle, horses and sheep, and grew alfalfa, hops and later planted a beautiful pear orchard.
Bob’s parents, Inez and J.C., moved into town on North Main Street where he was born on July 3, 1920.
The small hospital is still there, now called the Lakeport English Inn, and his birth certificate hangs on the wall in one of the rooms.
The Anton house was located on the shores of Clear Lake where Bob spent a large amount of his growing up years in and on the waters either boating, fishing or swimming. As a young adult he had the fastest racing boat on the lake.
Bob’s other love was horses. When he was 5 or 6 years old his parents purchased a Shetland pony named Topsy. Bob was hooked. His mother had also been very interested in horses as a young lady. She taught Bob much about their care, and at 8 years old Bob was thrilled to get his first full-sized horse named Barney.
At 13 Bob was challenged to get a wild horse that Paul Kiel, who owned Saratoga Springs, brought from Arizona. Bob named the mare Snooks, and he broke and trained her for a few months before he and his parents realized she was pregnant.
Months later Snooks gave birth to a colt they named Smoke. Bob trained Smoke over the next few years, and now mother and son could ride mother and son horses together. In later years, Bob’s two children and his niece and nephew all rode Snooks in a drill team at the Lake County Fair, directed by retired Colonel Norris L’Abbe.
In 1939 Inez and Bob were members of a Lake County 16-member mounted quadrille team that often traveled to events with their square dance caller Pat Patterson.
This talented team was honored to be invited to perform for five days on Treasure Island at the 1939 World’s Fair. Both mother and son riders and mother and son horses shared this special memory. Bob still rides horses vicariously by watching horse races and rodeos on TV.
When he finished high school Bob went to Sacramento City College to study aeronautical engineering. After college he worked for three years at Lockheed Aircraft Production and Manufacturing, and then he joined the Army Air Corps. He taught navigation for night flying for two years in Valdosta, Georgia, and then in Enid, Oklahoma, with his beautiful new wife Janice.
After completing his time in the Army Air Corps, Bob and Jan were happy to move back to Lakeport where they raised their children, Lynda and Tom, now the fifth generation in Lake County.
Bob owned the Chevrolet dealership in Lakeport for 25 years. He then got his real estate license and started Anton Realty with his brother, Baird. He later became a real estate appraiser for the Veterans Affairs and continued this work until he was 80 years old.
He was a member of the Lakeport Rotary Club for 25 years and also served a year as president. Not one to sit around, Bob stayed very busy in his free time gardening, fishing, golfing, and traveling with Jan and friends to Mexico in their travel trailer.
Though Bob is 100 years old he still gardens, cuts up his own firewood, mows his three-acre property with his tractor, and goes fishing with his good friend Doug Patten.
He goes to the Howling Dog in Lakeport several times a week to have coffee with the “good ol’ boys” and he and his cat Finley drive to Chico every other week to be with his daughter and family.
Bob Anton is a friend to many and he is truly loved by all who know him.
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. Tuesday, June 8, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.
The meeting can be watched live on Channel 8, online at https://countyoflake.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx and on the county’s Facebook page. Accompanying board documents, the agenda and archived board meeting videos also are available at that link.
To participate in real-time, join the Zoom meeting by clicking this link.
The meeting ID is 953 6118 9283, pass code 808217. The meeting also can be accessed via one tap mobile at +16699006833,,95361189283#,,,,*808217#.
All interested members of the public that do not have internet access or a Mediacom cable subscription are encouraged to call 669-900-6833, and enter the Zoom meeting ID and pass code information above.
To submit a written comment on any agenda item visit https://countyoflake.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx and click on the eComment feature linked to the meeting date. If a comment is submitted after the meeting begins, it may not be read during the meeting but will become a part of the record.
At 10 a.m., the board will hold a public hearing for the appeal of the Lake County Planning commission’s April 22 decision to grant a major use permit to We Grow LLC.
Zarina Otchkova, owner of WeGrow LLC, is proposing a commercial cannabis cultivation operation on a portion of a 309-acre property she purchased in 2020 at 16750 Herrington Road, 17610 Sandy Road and 19678 Stinson Road in Middletown.
The project — located next to Hidden Valley Lake — calls for nine acres of cultivation, 35 greenhouses, four 50-foot by 100-foot drying buildings, a 200-square-foot shed, four 2,500-gallon water tanks and fencing.
In other business on Tuesday, the board will get an update, scheduled for 9:06 a.m., on COVID-19 from Public Health officials.
At 9:30 a.m., the board will consider a $100,000 agreement with Management Partners for consulting services for the Lake County Community Development for the amount of $100,000 and while the department is transitioning back to a standalone agency, the board will consider appointing County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson or her designee as interim Community Development director.
At 1:30 p.m., the board will hold a public hearing on Brandon Strausser’s apparel of the Vicious Animal Abatement Case Number No. 859. That hearing was rescheduled from a previous meeting.
At 2:30 p.m., Board Chair Bruno Sabatier will ask the board to discuss issues related to the drought, including how to handle future agriculture projects, addressing water trucks that pull water from Clear Lake and handling illegal cannabis grows.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
5.1: Adopt resolution amending Resolution No. 2020-151 Establishing Salaries And Benefits For Management Employees for the period Nov. 1, 2020, to Oct. 31, 2021.
5.2: Approve revised letter of support to Yolo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District revising the date of water diversion to June and July 2021 and authorize the chair to sign.
5.3: Approve addition of special meeting dates to the board’s annual meeting calendar for 2021.
5.4: Appoint temporary representatives to meet for unrepresented management employees regarding salary and benefits.
5.5: Sitting as Lake County Air Pollution Control District Board of Directors, authorize the air pollution control officer to sign the grant agreement with the Kelseyville Unified School District for a School Bus Replacement Grant.
5.6: Authorize the closure of Behavioral Health Services offices from noon to 5 p.m. Friday, June 18, for summer all staff training meeting.
5.7: Approve amendment to lease agreement between the county of Lake and DFM Associates, for a five-year extension or until June 30, 2026, for Election Information Management System in the amount of $29,214.72 annually and authorize the chair to sign.
5.8: Approve request to waive 900-hour limit for extra-help facilities maintenance worker Lawrence Platz.
5.9: (a) Approve rental agreement between the county of Lake and Paul E. Lowen and Kevin Soto for storage hangar No. 1 at Lampson Field for the monthly amount of $300, and authorize the chair to sign; and (b) approve rental agreement between the county of Lake and Paul E. Lowen and Kevin Soto for storage hangar No. 2 at Lampson Field for the monthly amount of $500, and authorize the chair to sign.
5.10: Approve an amendment to the agreement between the county of Lake and Pavement Recycling Systems Inc. for the rehabilitation of Big Canyon Road in the amount of $109,200 for a total contract amount of $252,000, and authorize the Public Works director to sign the amended agreement.
5.11: Adopt resolution authorizing the Special Districts administrator to sign the notice of completion for work performed under Agreement 19-18, dated June 9, 2020, for the construction of the Soda Bay CSA-20 Redwood Tank Replacement Project.
5.12: Approve agreement between the county of Lake and CivicSpark in the Amount of $29,000 for One Civic Spark Fellows to develop and implement an ArcGIS based asset management program and authorize the Special Districts administrator to sign.
5.13: Approve third amendment to the lease agreement between the county of Lake and Lyon Real Estate LLC (formerly Margaret E. Lyon Survivors Trust) for the premises located at 8555 Highway 53 in Lower Lake and authorize the chair to sign.
5.14: Approve first amendment to the lease agreement between the county of Lake and Pauline Usher Revocable Trust for the premises located at 9245 Highway 53 in Lower Lake, in the amount of $6,078.12 per fiscal year, from July 1, 2018, to June 30, 2024, and authorize the chair to sign.
5.15: Approve first amendment to the lease agreement between county of Lake and Charles Sawyer and Nancy Sawyer (formerly with Lower Lake JBRE LLC), for the property located at 9055 Highway 53, Suites A, B, and C in Lower Lake, in the amount of $134,926.47 per fiscal year, from July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2023, and authorize the chair to sign.
5.16: Approve the distribution of excess proceeds in the amount of $331,723.02 from Tax Defaulted Land Sale No. 156 held on June 9, 2018 (per R&T §4675).
5.17: Approve agreement between the county of Lake and Megabyte Systems Inc. for fiscal year 2021-22 MPTS property tax system maintenance, online business property filing licensing/support and the transient occupancy tax licensing/support in the amount of $197,368.13 and authorize the chair to sign; and (b) approve web services addendum to the agreement between the county of Lake and Megabyte Systems Inc. for fiscal year 2021-22 online tax bills and e-payment processing services, in the amount of $4,601.14, and authorize the chair to sign.
TIMED ITEMS
6.2, 9:06 a.m.: Consideration of update on COVID-19.
6.3, 9:30 a.m.: (a) Consideration to waive the formal bidding process, pursuant to the Lake County Code Section 2-38.2, as it is not in the public interest due to the unique nature of goods or services; and (b) consideration of agreement for consulting services for Lake County Community Development for the amount of $100,000; and (c) consideration to appoint the county administrative officer, or her designee, as interim Community Development director..
6.4, 9:45 a.m.: (a) Consideration of budget transfer in the amount of $120,000.00 from BU 1781 - Special Projects Account 717.55-07 to BU 1122 - Treasurer-Tax Collector Account 711.23-80 for services related to a second tax sale for fiscal year 20-21 and authorize the chair to sign; and (b) consideration of budget transfer in the amount of $50,000 from BU 1781 - Special Projects Account 717.55-07 to BU 1231 - County Counsel Account 712.01-11 to cover permanent salaries through the end of the fiscal year and authorize the chair to sign.
6.5, 9:50 a.m.: Consideration of budget transfer from BU 1781 - Special Projects Account 717.55-07 to BU 1671 - Buildings and Grounds Account 716.61-60 and new capital asset in the amount of $60,000 to correct deterioration to the pedestrian bridgeway and stairs on the south side of the courthouse and authorize the chair to sign.
6.6, 10 a.m.: Public hearing, discussion and consideration of appeal to Board of Supervisors, AB 21-01 for Major Use Permit, UP 20-22 and IS / MND 20-25, “We Grow LLC.”
6.7, 11a.m.: Public hearing, consideration of a resolution approving resolutions and capital fire facility and equipment plans submitted by Lake County fire agencies and updating the lake county capital fire facility and equipment plan.
6.8, 1:30 p.m.: Public hearing, appeal of Vicious Animal Abatement Case Number #859, located at 21852 Jerusalem Grade Lower Lake (Brandon Strausser).
6.9, 2:30 p.m.: Discussion on drought related issues: a) How to handle future ag projects; b) how to handle water trucks; and c) how to deal with illegal cannabis.
UNTIMED ITEMS
7.2: Consideration of (a) waiving the formal bidding process, pursuant to Lake County Code Section 38.2, as it is not in the public interest due to the unique nature of goods or services; and (b) approval of the agreement between the county of Lake and Crestwood Behavioral Health for adult residential support and specialty mental health services for fiscal year 2021-22 for a contract maximum of $1,400,000.00 and authorize the board chair to sign the agreement.
CLOSED SESSION
8.1: Conference with labor negotiator: (a) chief negotiator: M. Long; county negotiators: C. Huchingson and P. Samac; and (b) employee organizations: LCDDAA, LCDSA, LCCOA, LCEA, LCSEA and LCSMA.
8.2: Conference with (a) temporary representatives designated to meet with county department heads regarding salary and benefits and (b) unrepresented management employees.
8.3: Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code section 54956.9 (d)(1): City of Clearlake v. County of Lake, et al.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
- Details
- Written by: Lake County News reports
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is inviting all Californians to learn about — and join the fight against — harmful nonnative plants and animals that threaten our state’s natural resources.
The eighth annual California Invasive Species Action Week, or #CISAW, runs from Saturday, June 5, through Sunday, June 13.
Historically, agencies, nonprofits and volunteer organizations across the state have teamed up to host events for CISAW.
This year features both in-person and virtual events including webinars, videos and Facebook live events.
Visit www.wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Invasives/Action-Week to view the schedule.
All Californians can help stop the spread of invasive species by taking small, everyday actions, such as landscaping with native plants, not releasing unwanted pets into the wild, reporting invasive species findings, and cleaning, draining and drying gear when recreating in bodies of water.
The Action Week website lists simple actions Californians can take all year long while visiting natural areas, boating or fishing, or at home.
Additionally, the winners of CDFW’s annual California Invasive Species Youth Art Contest will be announced on social media during CISAW. The theme of this year’s contest was “Be an Invasive Species Detective!”
The mission of CDFW’s Invasive Species Program is to reduce the impacts of invasive species on the wildlands and waterways of California.
The program is involved in efforts to prevent the introduction of these species into the state, detect and respond to introductions when they occur and prevent the spread of those species that have established.
For questions or more information about CISAW, please contact
- Details
- Written by: Erik Salna, Florida International University
The approach of summer in the U.S. means that it’s time to be ready for hurricanes and wildfires. The incidence of weather and climate disasters is increasing in the U.S., a trend due partly to climate change but also to human decisions.
Since the 1950s, population growth has increased significantly in Sun Belt states. Millions of people have moved to coastlines, from Texas to the Carolinas, putting more lives and property in harm’s way during hurricanes. Florida, the hurricane capital of the United States, now is the third-most-populous state in the nation.
Recognizing that Americans are increasingly vulnerable to extreme weather, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Weather-Ready Nation initiative is helping communities plan for events like violent tornadoes, destructive hurricanes and widespread flooding. As a meteorologist and supporter of this effort, I believe that everyone should understand what kinds of severe weather hazards could affect their family and home and be ready for them. Here are some ways to do it.
What to do instead of taping windows
The U.S. experienced a record 22 billion-dollar weather and climate disasters in 2020 that wreaked about US$95 billion in total damage. This included a historic hurricane season, with 30 named storms and seven billion-dollar tropical cyclones – the most in one year since NOAA started keeping track of billion-dollar disasters in 1980.
For Atlantic and Gulf coast residents, hurricane preparedness has to be a way of life. It means knowing whether you live in a designated evacuation zone. That’s key in the event of storm surge – when a hurricane pushes seawater up onto local beaches and inland areas. Readiness also means having a family and business disaster plan that details preparations, and maintaining a hurricane survival kit.
Another priority is knowing how to protect your home and business from damaging winds. Conducting a home insurance review with your agent and scheduling a wind mitigation inspection will identify what you can do to strengthen and protect vulnerable parts of the building such as windows, entry doors, garage doors and roofs.
Adding metal hurricane shutters or hurricane-resistant windows can help. So can retrofitting the attic or eaves with metal hurricane straps, which connect the rafters to the walls to prevent the roof from blowing off.
Here’s one step to skip: Putting tape onto windows for wind protection from a hurricane. Tape does nothing to reduce wind damage, so this is a waste of time.
Consumers also need to rethink how they shop for a new home in storm-prone areas. It’s OK to want granite countertops, walk-in closets and a safe neighborhood near schools and parks. But buyers should also consider how well a house is built, its age, the materials it contains, the shape and condition of the roof, and building code requirements at the time it was constructed.
And they should ask whether the house is located in a flood-prone area, has wind-resistant features or has been retrofitted against hurricanes. Even residents who don’t live in a zone where it is required should consider taking out flood insurance.
Storm-testing buildings
Florida International University’s International Hurricane Research Center, which is part of our Extreme Events Institute, was designated NOAA’s first Weather-Ready Nation ambassador in South Florida. Our Wall of Wind facility is capable of creating Category 5 hurricane conditions – winds with speeds over 157 mph.
Like crash testing for vehicles, wind testing can help ensure that structures, traffic signals and building components can hold up under stress. The Wall of Wind is part of the National Science Foundation’s Natural Hazards Engineering Research Infrastructure program.
For educational outreach, we host the yearly Wall of Wind Mitigation Challenge, in which teams of local high school students develop innovative wind mitigation concepts and solutions. And the Extreme Events Institute uses a risk equation to help the public understand and support measures to confront the “risk drivers” that lead to major losses.
For more about hurricane mitigation and preparedness, watch our 12-episode “Eye of the Storm” video series, or visit our Spanish-language hurricane website.
Wildfires, tornadoes and floods
NOAA’s National Weather Service is also investing in new forecasting tools and linking its forecasts to lifesaving decisions made in every state and county. The goal is to provide timely forecasts that emergency managers, first responders, government officials, businesses and the public can act on.
Across the United States, Weather-Ready Nation ambassadors are preparing for many types of extreme weather events.
Another extreme wildfire season is expected in many Western states. The Oregon Office of Emergency Management is asking residents to have a bag packed and to prepare an evacuation plan.
Flooding can occur almost anywhere across the country, and hazards can develop quickly. In mid-May 2021, over 12 inches of rain fell on the Lake Charles, Louisiana, area in a single day, triggering flash flooding that completely submerged parked cars. Flooded roadways can be deadly, so take heed of NOAA’s “Turn Around Don’t Drown” message and avoid walking or driving in flooded areas – it could save your life.
Tornado safety is critical: So far in 2021, twisters have killed a dozen people, in Alabama, Louisiana, Texas and North Carolina. Tornado readiness includes knowing the safest room in your home – usually a windowless interior room on the lowest floor – and tuning in to NOAA Weather Radio, which will provide severe-weather information directly from your local National Weather Service office.
During any severe weather event, such as the February 2021 deep freeze in Texas, the power may go out, so everyone should have flashlights and batteries on hand. Portable generators can be useful during extended outages, but always operate them outdoors to avoid the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Apathy and complacency can also be dangerous when it comes to weather-driven disasters. In my view, weather readiness has to become a way of life – something that all Americans see as their responsibility. The best forecasts in the world may be useless if the public doesn’t respond or hasn’t taken the needed actions to protect themselves when extreme weather threatens.
Most importantly, remember to help your neighbors when needed, especially if they are elderly and can’t help themselves. In addition, consider supporting local nonprofits or churches that help residents in your community who have financial or transportation needs to be ready and safe. We are all in this together.
[Get the best of The Conversation, every weekend. Sign up for our weekly newsletter.]
Erik Salna, Associate Director of Education and Outreach, Extreme Events Institute, Florida International University
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.