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- Written by: Lake County News reports
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Cal Fire said it has arrested a Clearlake Oaks man for setting two fires along New Long Valley Road early Tuesday morning.
Joseph Edward Calia, 28, was taken into custody in the case, Cal Fire reported Thursday.
Cal Fire said that at approximately 2:03 a.m. Tuesday its Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit was dispatched to a vegetation fire off New Long Valley Road in Clearlake Oaks.
Initial radio dispatch indicated that local fire agencies including Northshore Fire also responded to the dispatch, which reported that there were fires burning on both sides of the road.
Cal Fire said that as crews arrived they discovered two separate fires. Reports from the scene stated that there was an estimated quarter acre of vegetation involved.
Firefighters quickly knocked down the fires and while crews were at the scene, they observed an individual in the area, Cal Fire said.
Cal Fire said its law enforcement officers and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office were requested to respond to the incident. Once at the scene, a Lake County Sheriff’s deputy detained the individual, identified as Calia, until Cal Fire law enforcement arrived.
Upon completion of an investigation, it was determined that Calia was suspected of intentionally setting both fires, Cal Fire said.
Cal Fire law enforcement subsequently arrested Calia, who the agency said has been charged with two counts of arson.
Calia is being held at the Lake County Jail on a $100,000 bail, with a trespassing charge also noted on his arrest sheet.
Jail records show that Calia, whose booking sheet states he works in construction, is due to appear in Lake County Superior Court on July 6.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
On Tuesday morning, County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson, a member of the County Space Use Committee, reported the committee’s findings to the board during a brief update.
On May 19, the board had discussed using juvenile hall as a housing navigational hub, and gave staff approval to research the associated costs and needs.
Then, last week, the board approved the release of a request for proposals for daily operations and fiscal management of a temporary support shelter targeting Lake County’s chronically homeless population, according to Huchingson’s written report.
Because of the request for proposals being issued on an urgent basis, last week, Huchingson – who is the County Space Use Committee’s convenor – called a committee meeting to discuss the use of the juvenile hall as a temporary support shelter targeting the homeless population.
Huchingson said that, in addition to herself, committee members include board members Rob Brown and Moke Simon, Public Services Director Lars Ewing and Bob Allen of building maintenance. The committee meets on an as-needed basis.
Huchingson said the committee is recommending that the juvenile hall – which closed as a detention facility in October 2015 – be used temporarily, for up to six months, for the proposed homeless services to allow a broader discussion about the long term use of the facility.
Supervisor Bruno Sabatier said he appreciated that the space committee is willing to allow for the juvenile hall facility to be used for homeless services on an emergency basis. That will allow the county to fine-tune the approach and look at whether the facility would be appropriate for long-term use.
Supervisor Tina Scott said she also appreciated the space committee’s conclusion about the temporary use of the facility so that what is needed for a permanent use can be assessed.
She said it’s the move needed to make sure that when the county’s emergency COVID-19 shelter closes, 40 people aren’t put out on the street.
“So I’m really excited that we’re moving in this direction,” she said.
Board Chair Moke Simon said a long-term conversation needs to happen with community input, and he was glad the committee was able to meet so quickly.
The only public input offered was a question about how the proposal would impact the use of the former juvenile hall facility as a day reporting center for the Lake County Probation Department.
Chief Probation Officer Rob Howe told the board that because of the pandemic, the Probation Department doesn’t have programming classes taking place at the facility right now.
“We’re exploring other ways to complete those classes without having the group classroom, face-to-face contact,” Howe said.
He said the proposal calls for using a portion of the facility that’s not used by the Probation Department for its day reporting center.
Part of the discussions ahead, Howe said, will involve potential problems or conflicts. However, he said it doesn’t look like there will be a problem.
Sabatier thanked Howe for being accommodating of five tours that have so far been taken by local officials as part of assessing the juvenile hall facility, a process that started in January. He said Howe has been patient in helping with the walkthroughs and supportive.
During the discussion, Sabatier also noted that a meeting involving the request for proposals included a good number of nonprofits interested in operating the facility.
The board did not take action as the item was just a committee report.
Separately, the request for proposals, issued on June 17, will remain open until noon on July 17.
The introduction on the county’s request for proposals page explains that the Lake County Behavioral Health Services Department, in partnership with the Lake County Department of Social Services, “is requesting one or more proposals for daily operations and fiscal management of a temporary support shelter targeting Lake County’s chronically homeless population.”
The final project will be selected by the Lake County Board of Supervisors in a public meeting after a departmental selection committee’s review and ranking for submittal compliance with the applicable funding requirements.
The county said the selection committee will be comprised of senior department staff and at least one professional with applicable expertise not employed by any of the entities likely to submit a proposal.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Community Food Drive Project, or CFDP, a collaboration between several different organizations, made more than 500 deliveries during 11 weeks of operation, delivering to about 60 households each week.
As Lake County works toward reopening, the CFDP is suspending operations until further notice, with the final delivery slated for July 2.
The CFDP delivered food directly to the homes of Lake County residents, focusing on those who experienced lost wages, were without transportation, were medically fragile, symptomatic or COVID positive.
The goal of the project was to fill a gap, serving those who were not currently accessing other community food resources. Food bags were packed by staff and volunteers and delivered directly to people’s homes by drivers and vehicles provided by Lake Transit Authority.
“We’ve been overwhelmed by the support from partners and our community during this time,” says Valerie Cox, disaster case manager for North Coast Opportunities. “We are grateful for the opportunity to serve during a time of crisis. Since Lake County is beginning to reopen and people are slowly returning to work, the CFDP has decided to suspend operations.”
The CFDP is committed to restoring an appropriate version of the project if the pandemic worsens or if another crisis arises in the future.
Other food resources continue to be available to the community. Individuals who need food assistance are encouraged to visit Partnership Health Plan’s website for an updated list and schedule of local food pantries.
Community Resource Lists and CalFresh applications are available at the Lake County Department of Social Services.
The Covid19 Senior Resource Hotline continues to connect senior citizens to active senior centers. Any individual over the age of 60 is encouraged to call 888-861-8622 to get the resources they need to stay home and safe.
“The CFDP was successful due to the outpouring of community donations received,” said Robyn Bera, director of Community Projects for North Coast Opportunities. “Any remaining funds will be reserved to support community food security during a future crisis.”
Agency partners in this collaboration include Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Santa Rosa, Hope Crisis Response Network, Hope Rising Lake County, Lake County Department of Social Services, Lake County Office of Education, Lake County Tribal Health, Lakeport Senior Center, Lake Transit Authority, North Coast Opportunities and Partnership Health Plan.
More information is available at www.hoperisinglc.org/CommunityFoodDriveProject .
For a full list of food resources visit https://bit.ly/2YpmgJ6 or the Lake County Department of Social Services, located at 15975 Anderson Ranch Parkway in Lower Lake.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The advisory is in effect through 10 p.m. Friday in response to what forecasters said are “dangerously hot conditions.”
Temperatures through Friday are expected to top the 100-degree mark during the day, dipping into the low 60s at night. Winds of up to 9 miles per hour are forecast during that same timeframe.
Over the weekend, the National Weather Service is forecasting temperatures that will trend downward due to a substantial trough – an elongated area of relatively low pressure – expected to drop in over the region.
The extended forecast said that trough will end the recent run of hot weather over interior northwest California, causing temperatures to return to closer-to-normal seasonal temperatures.
On Saturday, Lake County’s temperatures are anticipated to be sunny and clear, topping out in the mid-90s, before dropping into the 80s through Tuesday, rising again into the 90s on Wednesday.
Nighttime temperatures will be in the 50s during that period, the forecast said.
Email Elizabeth Larson at