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- Written by: Lake County News reports
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – US Forest Service officials said firefighters have gained more containment on the August Complex while holding the massive incident to no new growth for several days, and are watching red flag weather conditions in the fire area.
The August Complex is estimated at 1,032,264 acres and 92 percent containment. The estimated acreage has not changed since Sunday.
The complex started Aug. 16 and 17 by lightning.
Officials said the Southwest Area Incident Management Team transferred the management of the August Complex South Zone back to the Mendocino National Forest on Thursday.
The South Zone includes areas in northern Lake County, primarily Mendocino National Forest lands.
The complex also is burning in the Shasta-Trinity and Six Rivers National Forests.
There are 286 personnel assigned to the South Zone and 991 on the incident overall, the Forest Service said.
“We are committed to maintaining and monitoring the South Zone of the August Complex to ensure no fire breaches the existing containment lines,” said Incident Commander Curtis Coots.
“With the red flag warning in effect through Friday, fire crews will be extra vigilant around dead standing trees (or snags) as windy conditions continue.”
The red flag is in effect through noon on Friday. The wind will be out of the north, northeast at 12 to 15 miles per hour with gusts to 25 miles per hour on the ridges and the temperature will be in the 80s to 90s.
On Wednesday, the Gravelly spike camp was dismantled, and repair began. The Forest Service said crews continued to reinforce containment lines in the Hellhole area.
On Thursday, crews monitored and patrolled the South Zone and reinforced containment lines in the Hellhole Canyon area. Officials said active fire in this area will continue to smolder and creep for some time.
Scattered heat sources remain in the southwest corner of the zone, however, these areas remain well within the interior of existing containment lines, the Forest Service reported.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
Lt. Corey Paulich said that the Lake County Sheriff’s Office learned late last week that an inmate who had been confined at the Hill Road Correctional Facility in Lakeport tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.
As a result, Paulich said a number of inmates were isolated while testing was conducted to determine if the virus had spread.
He said sheriff’s office representatives met with Lake County Public Health on Wednesday after one of the tests returned from the lab as positive.
Medical staff will be closely monitoring the isolated inmates and conducting the testing protocols recommended by Public Health. Paulich said that includes the testing of staff and inmates as they work to contain the virus.
He said the sheriff's office continues to provide masks to inmates, employ comprehensive regular cleaning and to disinfect common areas in an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the jail.
Paulich told Lake County News that this is the fourth COVID-19 case that has been confirmed in the jail.
On Wednesday, Lake County’s COVID-19 cases totaled 678, of which 65 are active, one is hospitalized and 598 have recovered. There have been 15 deaths locally so far related to the virus.
Statewide, Public Health departments across California reported more than 887,000 cases and approximately 17,192 deaths as of Wednesday night.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
City Manager Kevin Ingram presented resolutions for the council to establish ad hoc advisory committees for design and construction review of the new Lakefront Park and to revise the city’s existing right-of-way ordinance.
At its Oct. 6 meeting, the council had approved Ingram’s proposal to freeze the activities of the Traffic Safety Advisory Committee and the Parks and Recreation Committee and instead create the new ad hoc advisory committees.
Ingram’s reasoning was that there has been difficulty in recruiting, low public turnout and a general lack of items for the committees when they have met.
On Tuesday, Ingram said the first of the two new committees will focus on the new Lakefront Park that’s being developed.
The second will look at the city’s right-of-way ordinance, which has been seen as a barrier to development because, as it currently stands, about $60,000 in property upgrades triggers a requirement for landowners to make expensive curb, gutter and sidewalk improvements.
He called addressing the right-of-way ordinance “not an easy item but a worthy item” that has been among the council’s goals for a few years.
If the new committees don’t work out, Ingram said they can return next year to the previous approach and restart the Traffic Safety Advisory Committee and the Parks and Recreation Committee.
Mayor George Spurr asked how membership will be determined. Ingram said at the first meeting of each committee, which will include two appointed council members, they will discuss asking specific people to join.
Spurr suggested waiting until after the election to select members for the right-of-way ordinance ad hoc advisory committee.
Councilman Kenny Parlet moved to approve the resolution forming the right-of-way ad hoc advisory committee, with members to be chosen in January, which the council approved 4-0, with Councilman Tim Barnes absent.
Councilwoman Mireya Turner moved to approve the formation of the Lakefront Park ad hoc advisory committee, on which she and Parlet will serve. The council approved the motion 3-0, with Councilwoman Stacey Mattina abstaining due to owning property close to the park.
In other business at Tuesday’s meeting, new Community Development Director Jenni Byers presented general plan amendment and zone changes for two projects during two public hearings.
The council approved both requests, one for Bridges Construction that will allow the company to build a mini storage facility on 6.6 acres at 1296 and 1320 Craig Ave., which by the action changed the zoning to major retail, and the second for Cory Poso, who sought to change his property at 1339 and 1343 Broten Court to low residential zoning so he can build a home there.
In other business, the council approved granting a Type-42 liquor license to Barbara Flynn for the new wine bar, Wine in the Willows at 125 Park St.
Police Chief Brad Rasmussen said that due to state Alcoholic Beverage Control rules, when there is an overconcentration of certain liquor licenses in an area, ABC won’t issue a license without the governing body making a decision and determination that public convenience or necessity would be served by the issuance.
“These don’t come up really often,” he said.
Under ABC rules, 10 licenses are allowed without question, but over that threshold, the determination has to be made. Rasmussen said it’s based on census tract, and in this case, census tract 0004 – which takes in the entire city of Lakeport south to its sphere of influence and north to Park Way – has 21 licenses.
He said there are no other Type-42 licenses, which are for wine and beer bars, in the tract.
Rasmussen said his assessment of the location and the new business is that it wouldn’t cause any crime issues for the city or the police department.
“I think it’s a very nice looking establishment and would be a good business in that location,” he said.
Council members agreed, noting they were glad to see a new business opening up in such a challenging time.
Rasmussen also noted during the discussion that while there are a lot of liquor licenses for various establishments, “In reality, we don’t have a lot of bars.”
Flynn told the council she’s excited about the new project and thinks it will be an asset to the county.
Michael Green, a city planning commissioner, said he wasn’t against the project but raised
Issues about its close proximity to Library Park.
He said if a cannabis-based establishment was proposing to be in the same location, it would get a “hard no.” He said he wanted to have an enhanced ability to review projects before ringing the park with bars.
Rasmussen pointed out that the city already has the ability to allow alcohol consumption in the park near the playground.
Turner moved to make the determination, which the council approved 4-0.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
The city invites applications for two upcoming vacancies on the commission, with the appointments to be effective as of Jan. 1, 2021.
One of the two open seats may be filled by an applicant who lives outside of the city limits but within the Lakeport zip code area, the other open seat may only be filled by an applicant that is a resident of the city of Lakeport, residing in the city limits.
If you are interested in serving on the Planning Commission, applications are available on the city’s website under the Community News Topic, “Now Recruiting: Commission/Committee Openings” or under the “Government” tab (Committees & Commissions).
Applications will be accepted until Nov. 24 at 5 p.m.
The Lakeport Planning Commission consists of five members who serve four-year terms. The commission currently meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. in the city council chambers.
The planning commission reviews matters related to planning and development and is the city council’s advisor on land use planning matters.
The commission considers such things as the general plan, rezoning, use permits, subdivisions, architectural and design reviews, planning policy matters and interpretations.
For additional information, please contact Deputy City Clerk Hilary Britton at 707-263‑5615, Extension 102, or by e-mail at
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