CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – A new wildland fire has begun northeast of Clearlake Oaks and is burning into the Pawnee fire footprint.

The Spring fire was first reported shortly after 4:30 p.m. Monday north of the Spring Valley Lakes subdivision off of Pawnee Trail, near where the Pawnee fire began June 23.

Reports from the scene indicated that the fire may have been caused by a rock strike, possibly from equipment.

The Pawnee fire was fully contained on Sunday, but Cal Fire reported that units remained on scene for patrol.

Cal Fire responded will a full wildland fire dispatch that included air resources, with Northshore Fire also en route, according to radio reports.

The first units on scene minutes after dispatch reported that the fire was about half an acre, burning uphill toward the Pawnee fire burn area.

Shortly before 5 p.m., incident command requested that four dozers, 10 engines, four crews and aircraft respond.

Air resources reported just after 5 p.m. that the fire was about 25 acres in size, burning in grass and oak woodland, with a moderate rate of spread. At that point it was estimated to have a potential to grow to 100 acres if it hit the burn area.

Smoke from the Spring incident led to a dispatch at around 5:15 p.m. for a fire in the area of Walker Ridge and Highway 20, but it was determined that there was no fire and it was only drift smoke.

By 5:20 p.m., air attack reported that the Spring fire was up to 40 acres and moving into the Pawnee fire burn scar.

Firefighters were working on a spot fire north of the burn scar at that time, based on radio reports.

Air attack estimated they should be able to hold the Spring fire to about 100 acres.

Incident command reported that the fire is on Bureau of Land Management land and a very small portion of the incident is burning in the Mendocino National Forest.

Shortly before 6 p.m., incident command reported that the right shoulder of the fire had burned into the Pawnee fire footprint, while the left shoulder was in an area that hadn’t previously burned. Both flanks were active, fanned by erratic winds.

Eight helicopters from the County fire to the southeast were working at the new incident, based on radio reports.

Incident command said there was no immediate threat to Spring Valley but was asking for a sheriff’s representative to respond to the command center.

Shortly after 6:30 p.m., the fire was reported to be 65 acres and 25-percent contained, growing to 80 acres and 50-percent containment by 7 p.m., according to reports from the scene.

That fire began at about the same time as a vegetation fire was reported in the 14400 block of Olympic Drive in Clearlake.

Forward progress on the Clearlake incident was reported to have been stopped at 4:50 p.m., although crews were dealing with a hotspot in a nearby creekbed.

Additional updates will be posted as they become available.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors this week will discuss approving a new tax on cannabis-related businesses and consider a proposal for a sculpture honoring the Pomo people in downtown Lakeport.

The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, July 10, 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 and online at https://countyoflake.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx . Accompanying board documents, the agenda and archived board meeting videos also are available at that link.

In an untimed item, the board will consider a new county ordinance establishing a cannabis business tax.

“The purpose of this ordinance is to achieve the expressed intent of your Board to adopt a tax, for revenue purposes, upon cannabis businesses that engage in business in the unincorporated area of the County of Lake,” County Counsel Anita Grant explain in a report accompanying the proposed ordinance. “Such business includes but is not limited to, cultivating, dispensing, producing, processing, preparing, storing, providing, donating, selling, or distributing medical cannabis or medical cannabis products by commercial cannabis businesses.”

The proposed ordinance would impose upon cannabis businesses a tax beginning on Jan. 1, 2019, as follows, with the possibility of future tax increases based on board action:

– $1 annually per square foot of an outdoor cultivation site up to a maximum of $4 annually;
– $2 annually per square foot of a mixed-light cultivation up to a maximum of $7 annually;
– $3 annually per square foot of an indoor cultivation site up to a maximum of $10annually.
– For every person engaged in cultivation at a nursery, $1 annually per square foot of any cultivation site at any nursery up to a maximum of $2 annually;
– For every person who engages in the operation of a testing laboratory, zero percent of gross receipts annually up to a maximum of 2.5 percent annually;
– For every person who engages in the retail sales of cannabis as a dispensary, microbusiness or delivery business, 4 percent of gross receipts annually up to a maximum of 6 percent annually.
– For every person who engages in a cannabis manufacturing, processing, transportation, distribution or any other type of cannabis business, 2.5 percent of gross receipts annually up to a maximum of 4 percent annually.

The document also proposes to create a tax administrator position who would be responsible for the development of an administrative program to ensure the collection of the tax.

The tax would not apply to personal and caregiver cannabis cultivation as defined in the Medicinal and Adult Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act.

The proposed tax differs from the cannabis cultivation tax Measure C, which appears in a section of Lake County Code that is different from where the proposed new tax would be codified. Measure C was passed by voters in November 2016.

Measure C established an annual tax of $1 per square foot of an outdoor cultivation site, $2 per square foot of a mixed-light cultivation site and/or $3 per square foot of an indoor cultivation site, subject to annual Consumer Price Index increase.

This new tax, like Measure C, would need to be approved by voters; it’s anticipated to go before voters in November.

In other business, at 9:45 a.m. the board will discuss the county employee health insurance benefit and the impact rising premiums are having on county employees.

At 10:30 a.m. the board will consider providing space in Historic Courthouse Museum Square to place a sculpture celebrating the culture and resilience of Lake County’s Pomo people.

At 10:15 a.m., the board will consider accepting a $25,000 from Rebuild Northbay Foundation for Pawnee fire relief.

The full agenda follows.

CONSENT AGENDA

7.1: Approve resolution of the City Council of the City of Clearlake calling for and providing for and giving notice of the General Municipal Election to be held in the City of Clearlake, County of Lake, State of California, on the 6th day of November 2018 for the purpose of electing two City Council Members and a City Treasurer, each to hold a term of four years, or until their successors are elected and qualified, and requesting approval of the Lake County Board of Supervisors for election services to be provided by the County Elections Department.

7.2: Approve extended leave of absence for Deputy Assessor-Recorder III Marilyn Higgins.

7.3: (a) Waive 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) Approve the Agreement between the County of Lake and Crestwood Behavioral Health for adult residential support and specialty mental health services for Fiscal Year 2018-19 for a contract maximum of $800,000 and authorize the board chair to sign the agreement.

7.4: (a) Waive 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) approve the agreement between the county of Lake and Davis Guest Home for adult residential support services and specialty mental health services for Fiscal Year 2018-19 for a contract maximum of $130,000 and authorize the board chair to sign the agreement.

7.5: Adopt resolution designating the Community Development director to review less than three acre conversion exemption applications received from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

7.6: Approve annual renewal of Veterans Subvention Program Certificate of Compliance and Medi-Cal Cost Avoidance Program Certificate and authorize the board chair to sign.

7.7: Approve plans and specifications for the 2016 HSIP Signs and Striping Project; Bid No. 18-02, Federal Aid Project No: HSIPL-5914(104); and authorize the Public Works director/ assistant purchasing agent to advertise for bids once authorization to proceed with construction phase is received from Caltrans.

7.8: Approve plans and specifications for the Cycle 8 HSIP Signs and Striping Project; Bid No. 18-04, Federal Aid Project No: HSIPL-5914(113); and authorize the Public Works director/assistant purchasing agent to advertise for bids once authorization to proceed with construction phase is received from Caltrans.

7.9: Approve Inspection Agreement for Doug Bridges (Bridges Construction) to provide engineering services for the review of plans and specifications of Assessor’s Parcel No. 008-061-26 and authorize the chair to sign.

7.10: Approve plans and specifications for the Lampson Field Airport Rehabilitation of Runway 10-28, Bid No. 18-01, AIP Project No. 3-06-0117-019-2018; and authorize the Public Works director/ assistant purchasing agent to advertise for bids.

7.11: Approve waiver of the 900 hour extra help limit for Law Enforcement Records Technician Von McPherson.

7.12: Report approve long distance travel for Kelli Page, Program manager, housing to attend the Lindsey Software Systems Training in Hot Springs, Arkansas, July 16-19.

7.13: Approve contract between the county of Lake and Industrial Employers and Distributers Association in the amount of $22,588, from July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019, and authorize the chair to sign.

7.14: approve acceptance of easement deeds on multiple parcels in Anderson Springs for the Anderson Springs Septic to Sewer Project and authorize clerk to sign.

TIMED ITEMS

8.2, 9:10 a.m.: Consideration of the continuation of a proclamation of a local health emergency by the Lake County health officer due to the Pawnee fire Incident.

8.3, 9:15 a.m.: Hearing, Nuisance abatement assessment confirmation and proposed recordation of notice of lien in the amount of $2,863.89, for 8875 North State Highway 29, Upper Lake (APN 003-041-23 - Joann Madia).

8.4, 9:20 a.m.: Hearing, nuisance abatement assessment confirmation and proposed recordation of notice of lien in the amount of $3,685.77, for 12886 Fourth St., Clearlake Oaks (APN 035-381-31 - Cecilia Kerry).

8.5, 9:30 a.m.: Continued from June 19, public hearing, consideration of appeal of Planning Commission’s approval of Deviation DV 16-01 for Parcel Map PM 15-03; AB 18-01 APNs 024-049-07 and 10 Supervisor District 1.

8.6, 9:45 a.m.: Discussion of our employee health insurance benefit and the impact rising premiums are having on county employees.

8.7, 10:15 a.m.: Consideration of acceptance of donation in the amount of $25,000 from Rebuild Northbay Foundation for Pawnee fire relief.

8.8, 10:30 a.m.: Consideration of providing space in Historic Courthouse Museum Square to place a sculpture celebrating the culture and resilience of the Pomo people of Lake County.

UNTIMED ITEMS

9.2: Consideration of Advisory Board Appointments Lake County Resource Conservation District.

9.3: Consideration of resolution declaring the Board of Supervisors Intent to sell property not required for public use, located at 934-946 Bevins Court, Lakeport, California (APN’s 025-462-100 and 090), Pursuant to Government Code Section 25520 Et Seq.

9.4: Consideration and possible adoption of a county of Lake Employee Compensation Philosophy.

9.5: Discussion and consideration of a county ordinance adding Article VII to Chapter 18 of the Lake County Code establishing a cannabis business tax.

CLOSED SESSION

10.1: Conference with legal counsel: Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to Gov. Code sec. 54956.9(d)(2)(e)(3): Claim of Global Discoveries Ltd.

10.2: Public employee evaluation title: Health Services director.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

It was the morning of July 11, 1804, and Aaron Burr Jr. awoke with a start.

The soft gray light of predawn bled through the wood shutters covering the windows, bringing with it the quiet sounds of his upscale New York City neighborhood.

Lying still on the couch he had fallen asleep on, America’s third vice-president mentally went over his daily schedule.

In reality, only one appointment occupied his mind: his 7 a.m. “interview” with an impertinent political rival.

His lips tightened into a stern line across his face.

With a sigh, he swung his legs to the floor and, elbows resting on his silk pants, the 48-year-old pushed back the lank mass of dark hair that receded from his forehead. He straightened his vest and picked off an errant piece of lint from the cuff of his bone-white shirt.

He usually didn’t sleep in his clothes, but then again he usually didn’t sleep on his couch. He was giddy with anticipation.

After a quick bite to eat and a strong cup of tea, he called for his carriage and set out towards the docks on the banks of the Hudson River. After a brief, clattering ride through the already-crowded streets, the carriage clattered to a stop in front of Burr’s aid and protégé William Van Ness.

The younger man had secured their transportation: a low wood skiff that rocked with the waves and bumped against the stone pier. Lowering themselves into the small boat, the two men shuffled unsteadily along the bench before settling down.

Burr stared blankly at the distant shore of New Jersey. He hated New Jersey. But then, he really didn’t like any place other than his home of New York. With an irritated flick of his wrist, he urged the oarsman to begin the journey across the still surface of the Hudson. No point in delaying the inevitable.

Meanwhile, along a different part of the New York City shore, near modern-day Wall Street, another party of men had just arrived at a different skiff.

At the head of this group was a short, delicate-looking man of middle age. Even in the relative warmth of a New York summer morning, this man’s face looked pale around the eyes and mouth, as if sapped of blood from cold. But his cheeks flushed a warm red, a color to match what remained of the red hair in his fast-greying mane.

His small stature and delicate features belied a fierce character and unwavering will. He wasn’t called the Little Lion for nothing. Joining this red-haired gentleman in the skiff were his physician Dr. David Hosack and his good friend Nathaniel Pendleton. With little more than an exchange of glances, his companions grabbed the oars and began the trek over the river towards New Jersey.

The plan, thoroughly sketched out and agreed upon by both parties, was for Burr to arrive first at 7 a.m., which he did with his usual promptness, his small skiff running aground and its occupants clambering out.

The site of the “interview” was an isolated ledge overlooking the river near Weehawken, New Jersey. This was a favorite site for “interviews” since the location was relatively isolated and inaccessible, deterring most who happened to see it from the river. After picking their way up the bank from the river, Burr and Van Ness walked out onto a ledge roughly 10-feet-wide and 40-feet-long.

The second party arrived just as Van Ness began to clear away brush and tall weeds from the grounds. Their journey across the river had been spent in animated conversation, the red-haired man running through his plans for the next week and his friends adding their two cents of advice.

When they had arrived at the site, the doctor stayed in the boat while the other two proceeded up the slope to the ledge. Pendleton stepped forward in front of his red-haired companion and conferred with Van Ness.

All of this was done with textbook formality. After all, there were specific rules for this sort of “interview.” Of course, this was no “interview,” at least not in the normal sense of the word. “Interview” was a euphemism.

This was to be a duel.

Once the particulars were sorted out, Pendleton and Van Ness directed their respective friends to the proper positions. Because he had made the initial challenge, Burr was not able to choose which side of the field he stood on (part of the rules).

Oddly, his opponent chose the side facing the rising sun. Not one to question good fortune, Burr settled himself into a standing position opposite.

With his right shoulder facing his opponent, Burr sucked in his stomach to try to create as small a target as possible. He hefted the weight of the flintlock dueling pistol. The two opponents faced each other across roughly 10 yards of sun-parched weeds and dirt.

Warily, the two opponents eyed one another, waiting for the signal to commence. More than two decades of animosity, fear, and political differences electrified the space, crystalizing these two enemies into a moment that defined a nation.

In a voice loud enough to carry over the wind that scoured the ledge, Pendleton shouted “PRESENT!” and the concussive retort of first one shot and then another ripped apart the tranquility of the morning. The red-haired gentleman had fired his own bullet first, but intentionally shot over Burr’s head. Burr, on the other hand, had more lethal intentions in mind.

The half-inch lead ball raced across the gap between the two men at a rate of roughly 1,000 feet per second. Weighing about as much as two modern quarters, the 52-caliber ball hit the man opposite Burr in the lower abdomen, just above the right hip.

Lead is a soft metal, a quality that made it gruesomely effective on this morning. As the bullet ricocheted off the victim’s second or third false rib it mushroomed out, expanding to nearly twice its original size and causing devastating damage to internal organs. Finally, the now deformed lead mass lodged in the man’s vertebrae.

A grunt, an exhale of breath, and the red-haired man collapsed. He was dying, he knew that when he hit the ground. When Dr. Hosack rushed up the hill from the boat and to his fallen friend, the dying man calmly informed him, “This is a mortal wound, doctor.”

Before the smoke from the pistols cleared, Burr realized that his opponent had never intended to shoot him. “Damn,” he thought and started forward towards him. We’ll never know what he hoped to say to the man he had just killed because before he reached him, Van Ness stopped Burr short and hurried him away from the scene.

The red-haired man, Alexander Hamilton, died later that day, surrounded by his family and friends.

Antone Pierucci is curator of history at the Riverside County Park and Open Space District and a freelance writer whose work has been featured in such magazines as Archaeology and Wild West as well as regional California newspapers.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Pine Summit Seedlings Preschool, a family child care in Cobb, received a Tier 4 rating on the Quality Counts California matrix, which measures the quality of child care programs in California.

A Tier 5 rating is the highest achievable.

Pine Summit Seedlings Preschool is Lake County’s first family child care to be rated. In December 2017, eight Lake County Office of Education State Preschools each earned a Tier 4 rating.

The Quality Counts California matrix measures the effects of the Quality Rating and Improvement System, or QRIS, a voluntary statewide program introduced into Lake County in 2015 through the Lake County Office of Education, or LCOE.

The primary focus of QRIS is to enhance program quality for all children involved in participating child care programs, and focuses on providing information, resources, and support to early care and education programs, in a consistent, statewide manner.

Angela Cuellar-Marroquin, LCOE’s coordinator for the Lake County QRIS and the Child Care Planning Council, and her staff performed the rating.

Cuellar-Marroquin explained, “When a child care site chooses to participate, they go through a process of coaching, improving and rating.”

Each program participating in the QRIS program is rated on child development and school readiness, social and emotional development, effective teacher-child interactions, classroom environments, professional development, and family engagement.

Jules Stout is the owner, director and teacher at Pine Summit Seedlings Preschool. She opened the center in March 2016 after the Valley Fire, when she recognized there was a need for child care in the Cobb Mountain area after Sugar Pine Preschool was destroyed.

“Jules is extremely passionate in her desire to provide high quality care to the children in her program. She takes pride in her work and the service she provides to the families in her program,” said Angel Coppa, QRIS coach from LCOE.

Stout has a master’s degree in child development. She received the “Family Child Care Provider of the Year” award in 2016 at the Early Childhood Educator Awards, hosted by Lake County Child Care Planning Council, a program administered through LCOE.

Coppa added, “Jules is a committed early childhood educator and I look forward to continuing our work together in our second year of this partnership.”

“I am pleased that our QRIS program under the strong direction of Cuellar-Marroquin is being introduced to so many early childhood educators (ECE) in Lake County,” said Lake County Superintendents of Schools Brock Falkenberg says. “Research shows that quality ECE is associated with higher measures of early language and math development, preparing our youngest members of Lake County for kindergarten.”

If you would like more information about the Quality Rating and Improvement System or about joining the Child Care Planning Council, please contact Angela Cuellar-Marroquin, LPC/QRIS Coordinator at 707-262-4162 or via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Find out more about the Pine Summit Seedlings Preschool on Facebook.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Animal Care and Control has a big group of handsome dogs ready for meet you.

Dogs available for adoption this week include mixes of border collie, boxer, heeler, husky, German Shepherd, Labrador Retriever, mastiff, pit bull, shepherd and spaniel.

Dogs that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are either neutered or spayed, microchipped and, if old enough, given a rabies shot and county license before being released to their new owner. License fees do not apply to residents of the cities of Lakeport or Clearlake.

If you're looking for a new companion, visit the shelter. There are many great pets hoping you'll choose them.

The following dogs at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption (additional dogs on the animal control Web site not listed are still “on hold”).

Male border collie

This young male border collie has a short black and white coat.

He’s in kennel No. 11, ID No. 10334.

Shepherd-husky mix

This young male shepherd-husky mix has a short brown and black coat.

He is in kennel No. 18, ID No. 10379.

Spaniel-border collie

This male spaniel-border collie mix has a black and white coat.

He’s in kennel No. 19, ID No. 10380.

German Shepherd

This young female German Shepherd has a short black and brown coat.

She’s in kennel No. 20, ID No. 10378.

Border collie-heeler

This male border collie-heeler has a medium-length black and tan coat.

He is in kennel No. 21, ID No. 10414.

Female boxer

This female boxer has a short brown and white coat.

She’s in kennel No. 24, ID No. 10337.

Pit bull terrier

This male pit bull terrier has a short blue and white coat.

He’s in kennel No. 25, ID No. 10377.

Male mastiff mix

This male mastiff mix has a short tan and white coat.

He’s in kennel No. 26, ID No. 10191.

Male mastiff mix

This male mastiff mix has a short tan and white coat.

He’s in kennel No. 27, ID No. 10192.

‘Yogi’

“Yogi” is a male Labrador Retriever-pit bull mix with a medium-length brown and black coat.

He already has been neutered.

He’s in kennel No. 31, ID No. 10082.

‘Lala’

“Lala” is a female German Shepherd with a brown and black coat.

She’s in kennel No. 32, ID No. 10420.

‘Kumo’

“Kumo” is a male pit bull terrier with a short blue and white coat.

He’s in kennel No. 34, ID No. 10424.

Lake County Animal Care and Control is located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport, next to the Hill Road Correctional Facility.

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Visit the shelter online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control.htm.

For more information call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Officials reported Sunday night that the Pawnee fire has been fully contained, while firefighters continue to work on major incidents around the region and state.

The Pawnee fire’s full containment comes two days ahead of when Cal Fire had estimated it would be fully hemmed in by fire line.

It began on the evening of June 23 northeast of Clearlake Oaks in the Spring Valley Lakes subdivision, burning to the east and eventually over Indian Valley Reservoir and Walker Ridge, entering Colusa County.

It burned 15,185 acres, and destroyed 22 structures and damaged five others in Spring Valley Lakes, based on a damage assessment.

Evacuations were in effect for several days during the fire’s first week for both Spring Valley and the Double Eagle Ranch subdivision to the east, off of Highway 20.

Those evacuations were called off and then the fire had a major flareup on June 30, which caused a renewed mandatory evacuation order for the Double Eagle Ranch, as Lake County News has reported.

Two engines are reported to still be assigned to the incident for the purpose of patrolling and maintaining perimeter, Cal Fire said.

To the southeast, the County fire, burning in Napa and Yolo counties, grew by nearly 2,000 acres on Sunday, reaching 90,288 acres on Sunday evening with 65 percent containment. Cal Fires said the fire is expected to be fully contained on Thursday.

The latest County fire damage assessment puts the number of destroyed structures at 16 and damaged structures at three, according to Cal Fire.

Cal Fire said the assigned resources on the County fire – which have continued to be reduced due to needs in other parts of the state – stand at 2,667 personnel, 153 engines, 42 water tenders, 23 helicopters, 54 hand crews and 28 dozers.

Reports from the scene indicated that a firing operation was taking place on the fire beginning Saturday night and continuing into Sunday.

That operation caused some south Lake County residents to see smoke and flames, which resulted in an early morning smoke check that resulted in no local fires being located, according to radio traffic.

The causes of both the Pawnee and County fires remain under investigation.

To the north, the Klamathon fire near Hornbrook in Siskiyou County continues to burn, with evacuation orders remaining in place.

Cal Fire said the fire, which began Thursday, had burned 35,000 acres and 72 structures by Sunday evening, with one fatality and two reported injuries. It is 25-percent contained.

In other fire-related news, on Sunday afternoon and evening fire resources were being redirected to other parts of the state, including Livermore in Santa Clara where a fire was burning along Interstate 580 and had closed the highway.

A small grass fire also was knocked down in the area of County Road 85 in Yolo County Sunday, evening, according to radio reports.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – After the devastation of the 2015 Valley fire, 2016 Clayton fire and the 2017 Sulphur fire, Lake County is dotted with fire survivors.

While many have been able to secure permanent housing, others still find themselves unable to rebuild.

Hammers for Hope, the Hope Crisis Response Network, North Coast Opportunities Inc. (NCO), private contractors, and modular home companies work in collaboration to support these fire survivors through disaster case management services, home rebuilding, volunteer support, and the CalHome Loan Program.

Katherine Ramos lost her home during the Valley fire. She is a senior citizen living on a fixed income and was completely uninsured during the time of the fire.

Thanks to the CalHome Loan Program and other collaborative partners, Ramos will move into her new Homes Direct manufactured home by late summer.

“The CalHome Loan Program has been a lifesaver,” said Ramos. “I’ve been here 33 years and I’m very grateful to be able to return to my property. If it wasn’t for this opportunity, I would not be getting a house and I’m very thankful. It means I don’t have to continue moving around. I can put my roots down again! After meeting with my case manager, I felt like I had some hope. Otherwise I do not know where I would be.”

There are currently 24 active CalHome loans nearly ready to fund. Approximately 10 prospects are also in the pipeline, which will hopefully result in funded loans later this summer.

The CalHome Loan Program is funded through the California Department of Housing and Community Development, or HCD. It’s sometimes used to cover the gap between an insurance payout and the cost of rebuilding.

The program targets low to moderate income households who owned or rented a home destroyed by one of the recent fires. It provides a 30-year deferred loan with zero percent interest and is significantly easier to qualify for than a traditional mortgage or loan.

Volunteer rebuilding projects are also being processed. As CalHome loans close, Hope City provides the materials, resources, and volunteer labor needed to oversee the rebuilding process.

Hope Crisis Response Network is a nonprofit organization dedicated to disaster recovery and home rebuilding. They have provided recovery assistance in Lake County since September 2015.

"Hope City is the name we give our rebuilding projects as we bring together local businesses, organizations, government leaders, and our volunteer teams to bring hope to the community," said Valerie Cox, NCO disaster case manager and Hope City representative.

In May 2018, Hope City staff and volunteers completed three homes. There are currently seven homes under construction, with more home dedications set later this summer.

Hope City makes home rebuilding possible for low-income clients due to the enormous volunteer labor they contribute, which significantly reduces rebuilding costs.

"We are honored to serve in Lake County,” adds Cox. “Our volunteer teams come every week from across the U.S. and Canada and give their time to help Lake County recover. We're moving forward, step by step."
Additionally, one more home was completed by Lake County Contractors at the beginning of March.

Hammers for Hope was awarded a grant from HCD for $4.6 million, and NCO is the program operator.

The grant is being drawn down in small amounts as applications and projects are approved. Funds are still available and new applications are being accepted.

“We encourage fire survivors in need of housing to apply for a CalHome Loan,” said Hammers for Hope Board Member Mark Borghesani. “Funds are still available and it’s our goal to help as many people return home as possible.”

Hammers for Hope aims to assist seniors, low to moderate income individuals and families, and people with disabilities, in making minor home repairs to improve their comfort and safety.

After the fires, Hammers for Hope shifted focus to help those in need of rebuilding. Hammers for Hope is a collaborative effort made possible by the work of local contractors and community volunteers with major funding provided by Calpine Corp. and assistance from Kelseyville Lumber.

“Disaster Case Managers are available to assist fire survivors,” adds NCO Executive Director Patty Bruder. “In partnership with Team Lake County, NCO connects fire survivors to resources. We work with individuals, address their needs, and direct them to the best available resources.”

For more information about the CalHome Loan Program or to complete a preliminary application contact a Disaster Case Manager at 707-994-2910.

For more information about Hammers for Hope or to apply for assistance, donate or volunteer, visit www.hammersforhope.org. Learn more about NCO by calling 707-467-3200 or by visiting www.ncoinc.org.

Robyn Bera is a staffer at North Coast Opportunities.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Firefighting resources continue to fan out across the state in response to destructive new incidents, while those in Lake County and neighboring counties approach full containment.

The Pawnee fire northeast of Clearlake Oaks remained at 15,185 acres on Saturday evening, with containment up to 96 percent, Cal Fire said.

Cal Fire said the 417 personnel, 10 engines, eight water tenders, one helicopter, two hand crews and one dozer that remain assigned to the incident are working on patrolling and monitoring the fire area.

Early Saturday evening, a firefighter working on the Pawnee fire was reported to have suffered head trauma and was transported to the hospital, based on scanner traffic.

In neighboring Napa and Yolo counties, the County fire was up to 88,425 acres and 55 percent containment on Saturday night, Cal Fire said.

Cal Fire said 2,858 personnel, 176 engines, 51 water tenders, 23 helicopters, 61 hand crews and 48 dozers are working the fire.

The incident’s updated damage assessment showed that it has destroyed 15 structures and damaged three others.

The Napa County Sheriff’s Office said Saturday evening that, with containment lines continuing to grow and many hazards being mitigated, it was lifting evacuation orders for the areas along the eastern shore of Lake Berryessa, east to the Napa/Yolo County Line, north of State Highway 128, and south of the intersection of East Side Road and Knoxville Berryessa Road, including residences served by East Side Road, South of Knoxville Berryessa Road.

Officials said the road closure on Knoxville Berryessa Road at the Pope Creek Bridge remains in effect, however residents of east side road will be allowed to pass with identification.

In Siskiyou County, the battle against the Klamathon fire continued on Saturday.

The fire, which began on Thursday afternoon, has so far burned 22,00 acres and is 20 percent contained.

It’s reported to have killed one person, resulted in two other injuries, and Cal Fire’s Saturday night report said it has destroyed 72 structures.

More than 2,300 firefighters have joined the effort to contain the incident, Cal Fire said.

Elsewhere in California, the West fire in San Diego County has destroyed 18 structures, burned 504 acres and was 81-percent contained on Saturday night, while the Holiday fire in Santa Barbara County was 100 acres and 80-percent contained and the Irish fire in Amador County reached 790 acres and 80-percent containment, according to Cal FIre.

On Saturday, Gov. Jerry Brown issued an emergency proclamation for Santa Barbara County due to the effects of the Holiday fire.

Earlier this week, Gov. Brown declared a state of emergency for the counties of San Diego and Siskiyou due to fires, and last month issued a declaration for Lake County due to the Pawnee fire.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

With summer officially here, it’s a great time to explore the outdoors! As people go hiking, camping, wildlife viewing and engage in other recreation activities, there can be associated impacts on the natural environment.

In 2017, more than 330 million people visited national parks alone, with millions more visiting state parks, wildlife refuges and federally designated wilderness areas as well.

US Geological Survey scientists are working with many partners to study how these visitors are affecting protected natural areas. Some of the impacts include trampling of native vegetation, causing erosion of soils, contaminating water, attracting wildlife with food and displacing wildlife from preferred habitats.

“We’re doing research on the impacts people are having while they are out having fun in our nation’s wilderness,” said Jeffrey Marion, a USGS research ecologist. “The information we gather helps land managers make the best decisions on how to accommodate more visitors while limiting their overall impact, helping preserve protected natural areas for all generations to enjoy.”

Camping

One of the major issues associated with camping is the common practice of cutting down trees for firewood. A USGS study of campsites in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness of northern Minnesota found that 44 percent of campsite trees had been damaged and approximately 18 trees per campsite had been cut down, primarily for firewood. This significantly alters natural environments, especially wildlife habitat.

“With 2,000 campsites in Boundary Waters, that’s approximately 36,000 tree stumps in a single wilderness area,” said Marion. “Understanding the effects that campers are having on the area can help rangers develop strategies on the best way to prevent further tree loss and explore options for recovery.”

USGS scientists are also examining what influences the expansion of campsite size and creation of new and unnecessary campsites. One significant factor is topography. Campsites in large, flat areas are frequently expanded by campers, which can cause more water runoff with soil and pollutants into lakes and creeks. Campsites in sloping terrain can still have sufficient flat areas for tents, but are smaller, will likely resist future expansion and will have less impact than larger campsites.

Runoff and pollution from campsites can degrade aquatic environments, leading to impacts such as decreased water clarity and purity. These have the potential to affect trout reproduction, as sediments carry fungus and bacteria that harm trout eggs. Sediments also introduce nutrients that cause algal blooms in water, diminishing the amount of dissolved oxygen that’s critical to fish survival.

The USGS has begun a study on the Pacific Crest Trail to identify the most sustainable campsites and develop online maps for easy navigation to those locations. Visitors will be able to print the maps or download them to a smartphone app or GPS device, and accompanying tips will be provided on low-impact camping suggestions.

Low-impact outdoor practices

USGS science is used by many organizations to develop and communicate low-impact outdoor practices. Organizations include the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics and federal land management agencies, such as the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Based on USGS science, some low-impact outdoor practices communicated by land managers include visitors collecting only dead and fallen campfire wood that they can break by hand; choosing small campsites in sloped areas that are more than 200 feet from water; and concentrating activity on durable surfaces like rock or areas that lack plant cover.

Hiking trails

Most visitors to protected natural areas hike on trails created with hardened treads designed to sustain traffic. However, heavy hiking traffic and use by mountain bikers, motorized vehicles and horseback riders all take their toll.

Parks are also becoming more crowded, with long lines of trail users during the popular summer season. More visitors have been venturing off trails, trampling and removing protective vegetation and organic materials. This can compact soils and increase water runoff and erosion. Soil loss is the most significant and long lasting environmental impact.

To address this issue, USGS scientists are collaborating with university social scientists to investigate sustainable trail design guidance and actions to deter off-trail hiking. As an example, a study was conducted to protect large numbers of rare plants near the Billy Goat Trail in Washington, D.C.

In the study, scientists tested various communication methods at formal trailheads and at informal trails created by visitors -- including “don’t walk here” signs and placement of organic materials, such as leaves -- to hide and discourage use of the informal trails.

Another study area was Cadillac Mountain at Acadia National Park in Maine, where visitors have trampled fragile subalpine soils and vegetation on the summit. The USGS provided the science in support of a collaborative effort to develop best management practices, with recommendations that included educational signs and low fencing along trail borders.

Research findings identified the most effective educational messages and suggested that the formal trail be extended and widened, with short side-trails to the most scenic spots.

Feeding wildlife

Wildlife feeding, intentional or unintentional, is common in many national parks and protected areas. This can lead to food attraction behavior, where animals start to associate food with people, sometimes putting dangerous animals, or those that spread disease, in close proximity to humans.

But the practice is also harmful to wildlife, which can suffer nutritionally, become dependent on unreliable food sources and become more susceptible to predators, dogs and vehicle accidents.

USGS science has helped land managers develop effective visitor messages to deter wildlife feeding. As an example, a study conducted on the popular Angel’s Landing Trail at Zion National Park in Utah looked at the issue, focusing on chipmunks. Educational messages were provided through signs or delivered personally by uniformed park staff. Messaging significantly reduced the instances of visitors feeding wildlife.

Education

The USGS works with the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics to provide science that underpins the development and evaluation of best practices as well as educational courses and materials. Those resources have been widely adopted by federal, state and local managers of protected areas and numerous outdoor organizations.

The book, “Leave No Trace in the Outdoors,” which is authored by Marion, discusses ways to enjoy the outdoors while minimizing environmental and social impacts.

Start with science

“With so many people visiting and enjoying the great outdoors and exploring the wonders of nature off the beaten path, leaving no trace can be a real challenge,” said Marion. “But our science can inform decisions being made across the landscape to help prevent, minimize or mitigate the effects some recreational activities are having on our wildernesses.”

On Feb. 15, 2013, a house-sized meteor entered into Earth’s atmosphere at over 40,000 miles per hour and exploded 14 miles above Chelyabinsk, Russia.

The blast – wielding more than 30 times the energy of the Hiroshima atom bomb – generated a shock wave that shattered windows and damaged buildings in several Russian cities, injuring over 1600 people.

Lindley Johnson is the Planetary Defense Officer at NASA Headquarters.

“The Chelyabinsk event was an ominous warning shot. It drew attention to what should be done to detect even larger asteroids that could possibly strike our planet.”

According to Johnson, the need for worldwide collaboration in asteroid detection and tracking was already recognized, but Chelyabinsk was a spectacular reminder.

It was also an ironic coincidence.

“Our report with recommendations on what should be done about the hazard from near-Earth objects (NEOs) was being presented at a U.N. committee meeting that very same day.”

That coincidence helped lead to a coordinated effort among many nations to keep a closer eye on the sky. In 2013, the United Nations endorsed the creation of the International Asteroid Warning Network (IAWN), for which observatories around the world regularly search the skies to find and track asteroids and comets whose orbits periodically bring them within 30 million miles of Earth’s orbit. Additionally, NASA established the Planetary Defense Coordination Office (PDCO) in 2016 to organize the near-Earth object search and to plan and coordinate any response to possible asteroid impacts.

So, how well would the IAWN, the PDCO, and their partners work together if an object was flying into Earth’s neighborhood?

October 2017 presented a golden opportunity for asteroid trackers around the world to test their ability to operate as a coordinated network. Led by the US, IAWN mounted a practice observation campaign to find and track a small asteroid named 2012 TC4, first detected in 2012. While this asteroid posed no risk of impact with Earth, it was predicted to come back into view in the fall of 2017 with a very close approach.

Observers with the European Space Agency and the European Southern Observatory were the first to re-acquire 2012 TC4 in late July 2017 by calculating where to look with an 8-meter aperture telescope in Chile. Then, more than a dozen observatories, universities, and space labs around the globe detected 2012 TC4 and reported their observations to the Minor Planet Center at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory where experts calculate asteroid orbits to identify any danger to Earth.

As expected, the object approached and passed by Earth on October 12, 2017.

Dr. Kelly Fast is manager of NASA’s NEO Observations Program at NASA Headquarters.

“This was a very successful exercise for the IAWN with precise prediction of the orbit and tracking of the asteroid. It passed about 27,000 miles from Earth’s surface – only a tenth of the distance to our Moon.”

NASA’s NEO Observations Program focuses on finding asteroids 460 feet (140 meters) and larger. The goal is to find any of these asteroids that could be an impact hazard early enough to allow deflection by either a gravity tractor or a kinetic impactor.

“While no known asteroid larger than 140 meters in size has a significant chance to hit Earth for the next 100 years, only about one-third of the estimated total population of that size and larger has been found to date.”

So, the international asteroid hunt goes on.

For more on asteroid hunting and other cosmic adventures, visit http://science.nasa.gov.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – New wildland fire incidents were reported around California on Friday as the work continued to fully contain several large fires around the region.

Cal Fire, now giving one daily report on the Pawnee fire, said Friday evening that the fire – burning northeast of Clearlake Oaks since June 23 – edged up slightly in size to 15,185 acres, with containment also up to 95 percent. The fire’s estimated containment date continues to be July 10.

A scaled-back firefighting force of 543 personnel, 10 engines, eight water tenders, six hand crews and six dozers remain assigned to the incident, Cal Fire said.

To the southeast, the County fire in Napa and Yolo counties burned several hundred more acres on Friday, rising to 88,375 acres with 42 percent containment. Cal Fire said the incident should be fully contained on July 12.

On Friday, 110 structures remained threatened, with the total destroyed increasing by one to total 10, Cal Fire said. Mandatory evacuations remain in effect in several parts of the fire area.

Conditions have remained challenging for firefighters.

While temperatures were cooler on Friday, lightning was reported in the fire area during the afternoon, and a small wildland fire of about 10 acres to the east of the fire was quickly knocked down later in the afternoon in the area of Fox Canyon.

The Yolo County Office of Emergency Services, along with Cal Fire Incident Management Team 3, will host a community meeting at 4 p.m. Saturday at the Guinda Grange Hall, 16787 Forrest Ave. Representatives from the agencies managing the incident will provide an operational briefing and be available for questions.

As the region’s biggest fire, the County incident still commands a large firefighting force of 3,660 personnel, 270 engines, 56 water tenders, 22 helicopters, 80 hand crews and 69 dozers, Cal Fire said.

However, with new critical fire incidents in other parts of California, resources continued to be reassigned on Friday and into early Saturday, when crews were released from the County fire and sent north to the Klamathon fire in Siskiyou County.

The Klamathon fire, which began on Thursday afternoon near the community of Hornbrook, had as of Friday night taken at least one life and destroyed 15 structures, burning 9,600 acres with 5 percent containment, officials reported.

Friday also saw other major incidents begin around the state.

The West fire began in a heavily populated area of San Diego County near Alpine on Friday morning. Cal Fire said it burned 400 acres and was 5-percent contained by day’s end.

That fire led to evacuations and was reported to have destroyed numerous structures and threatened critical infrastructure.

The incident prompted Gov. Jerry Brown to declare a state of emergency in San Diego County.

On Friday afternoon, another fire – the Irish – began in Amador County,south of Plymouth.

Cal Fire said the Irish fire burned 840 acres and was 40-percent contained on Friday night.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake City Council last week approved an update to the city’s purchasing program and voted to support an updated management class plan and salary schedule that creates two new administrative jobs for current staff.

Finance Director Alan Flora presented to the council the first reading of the ordinance updating the city’s purchasing system, to include the interlocal purchasing program, which had been raised at the previous meeting.

He said staff wanted to come back to this meeting to provide clarity to the public on purchasing system, which was accepted in 2006 and has certain exceptions to bidding

Mayor Bruno Sabatier asked if it gives the county better rates on products. Flora said yes it should, that’s the idea and participating businesses are willing to provide a better rate.

City Attorney Ryan Jones clarified that the program is not a way to circumvent state law.

The council approved the item 5-0 and set a second reading of July 12.

City Manager Greg Folsom also presented the updated management class plan and salary schedule.

His written report for the meeting explained, “While the financial condition of the City is much improved, there is still a limited tax base and many needed community services. This requires city administration to take on additional responsibilities in order to achieve the goals of the City’s Strategic Plan.

He explained that there are three employee bargaining units, while management staff are unrepresented.

The consumer price index is 2.4 percent, Folsom said the update proposed a 2-percent increase for management staff.

He said they also are planning a management staff reorganization.

“We’ve historically had an elected city clerk,” he said, but after voters approved a change four years ago, the city intends to move forward with an appointed city clerk this fall.

He said the plan is to create a combined Administrative Services director/city clerk position that will have expanded responsibilities that cover areas including human resources, management, marketing, the city’s Community Development Block Grant program and city facility rentals.

That new position will have a monthly salary range of $6,633.14 on the A step to $8,062.62 on the E step. On an annual basis, those steps range from $79,597.68 to $96,751.48, based on the new salary schedule.

Folsom also recommended removing the Community Development Department director from the schedule, as he’s been covering that job and sees no need for a freestanding position any time soon.

That Community Development director’s job responsibilities are proposed to be placed under the authority of the assistant city manager’s position, the creation of which was part of the new plan, Folsom said.

Finance Director Alan Flora is slated to take on that assistant city manager role, and will continue his finance duties. Folsom noted that Flora has experience both in finance and urban planning, so he will take on overseeing planning commission meetings and economic development.

The assistant city manager’s job has a monthly range of $8,465.76 to $10,290.16, or $101,589.12 to $123,482.21 annually, based on city documents.

Folsom said the city wouldn’t appoint anyone to the Administrative Services director-city clerk position until November, as it remains an elected position until then. Melissa Swanson, the current city clerk, is expected to take on that role.

Councilwoman Joyce Overton said she was nervous about the pay ranges for the new positions, and was concerned about them being sustainable.

Folsom said they had forecast those positions in the new budget, and believed the city can sustain them.

During the discussion, Folsom also pointed out that new businesses are coming into the city – bringing with them sales tax and other revenue – along with new cannabis revenue, none of which are reflected in the new fiscal year budget.

Councilman Phil Harris asked if salary steps for all positions will automatically adjust due to a mandated minimum wage increase. Folsom said the city’s minimum steps will have to be at least minimum wage, but they won’t cascade up the ladder.

Councilman Russell Cremer questioned if the new jobs will lead to increased efficiencies. “What are we getting for our buck?”

Folsom said responsibility was being transferred from some staffers to others in an effort on increase capacity.

Sabatier said the city has a lot of projects right now that are stuck on Folsom’s desk because he can’t do everything. “We’re asking a lot from you.”

He said he was excited to see more of a focus on Community Development as well as the assistant city manager position.

“I’m less worried about the bottom half of this sheet of paper as I am about the top half,” he said, referring to jobs on the lower end of the pay scale, such as kennel technicians for the city’s animal control department.

The kennel tech job earns a monthly range of $1,994.57 to $2,2424.41, or $23,934.84 to $29,092.95 annually, based on the salary schedule.

Sabatier said that the city needs to pay better if it wants to improve its animal control department. “There’s a lot that comes along with that job,” he said, adding he wanted to look at increasing that job in the near future with new anticipated city revenues.

Cremer agreed with Sabatier, explaining the city was competing with vineyards paying $15 an hour and the cannabis industry paying $20 an hour.

Harris also had concerns about the low pay, “There’s an enormous disparity between the top and the bottom of this sheet, and that’s a problem for me,” he said, explaining that it should weigh heavily on the thought process as the council looks at a living wage.

Overton said she wanted to analyze the city’s salaries, and Folsom said it would be a good thing to do at the midyear budget review.

The council would ultimately give unanimous approval to three motions, among them, the adoption of two resolutions, one amending the management/confidential employees classification and benefit plan and the second approving the job description and salary level for the Administrative Services director/city clerk, and also approving the city’s updated salary schedule.

Jones said there was no reportable action taken in the council’s closed session to discuss the continuing police chief recruitment process.

Folsom confirmed to Lake County News in recent weeks that the city has narrowed the search to one candidate who is going through the background process and is expected to be announced next week.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.