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LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors this week will discuss two separate proposals for sales tax measures for law enforcement and roads.

The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 17, 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. Accompanying board documents, the agenda and archived board meeting videos also are available at that link.

After discussing a road sales tax measure at its meeting last week, the board at 11 a.m. will again take up that item again as well as get a report from Lake County Deputy Sheriff's Association President John Drewrey regarding the group’s plans for a sales tax measure to support law enforcement.

In other business, at 9:30 a.m. the board will discuss and give possible direction to staff concerning retail uses, formula and/or box store zoning and at 2 p.m. will discuss and review of use permit conditions pertaining to RV parks.

The full agenda follows.

CONSENT AGENDA

5.1: Adopt proclamation recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month in Lake County.

5.2: Approve the minutes of the Board of Supervisors meeting held July 16 and July 23, 2019.

5.3: Approve the amended county vehicle policy in concept, directing Human Resources to meet and confer with the appropriate bargaining units.

5.4: Approve Amendment No. 2 to the Contract between the county of Lake and Granicus Inc. for agenda management and government transparency services in the amount of $20,441.27, and authorize the chair to sign.

5.5: (a) Adopt resolution amending Resolution No. 2019-80 Establishing temporary position allocations for the Fiscal Year 2019-2020, Budget Unit No. 1123, Assessor; (b) authorize to appoint David Schwenger as interim assistant assessor-recorder; and (c) authorize to appoint Lan Dia Janakes as interim chief deputy assessor-recorder – valuations.

5.6: Adopt resolution fixing tax rates for Fiscal Year 2019/20.

5.7: Approve reissuance of tax refund checks in the amounts of $19.92 and $42.82, issued to Stephen Phipps on May 14, 2012.

5.8: Adopt proclamation designating the month of September 2019 as National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month.

5.9: Approve advance step 5 increase of Paul Donovan in the position of Mental Health Specialist II.

5.10: Approve the agreement between the county of Lake and Redwood Community Services Inc. Tule House for substance use disorder perinatal residential services for Fiscal Year 2019-20 for services rendered in Fiscal Year 2018-19 in the amount of $55,430 and authorize the chair to sign the agreement.

5.11: (a) Waive the formal bidding process, pursuant to the 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 Konocti Senior Support Inc. for senior support counseling services for Fiscal Year 2019-20 for a contract maximum of $108,378 and authorize the board chair to sign the agreement.

5.12: (a) Waive the formal bidding process, pursuant to the 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 Hardeep Singh, MD to fulfill the responsibilities of the substance use disorder medical director for Fiscal Year 2019-20 for a contract maximum of $90,000 and authorize the board chair to sign.

5.13: Sitting as Lake County Sanitation District, Board of Directors (a) waive the competitive bidding process, pursuant to Lake County Code Section 2-38.2, based on the determination that competitive bidding would produce no economic benefit to the county; and (b) authorize Special Districts administrator/assistant purchasing agent to issue a purchase order not to exceed $127,726.00 to R.F. MacDonald for a New 4 Stage Assembly.

5.14: Approve equitable sharing agreement and certification between the county of Lake Sheriff's Office and the US Department of Justice; and authorize the sheriff and chair to sign.

5.15: Sitting as the Lake County Watershed Protection District Board of Directors, adopt a resolution to accept grant funds from UC Davis California for laboratory analysis for sediment nutrient samples.

5.16: Sitting as the Lake County Watershed Protection District Board of Directors (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 the goods or services and; (b) approve the agreement between the county of Lake and Paragon Partners Ltd.in the amount of $103,400 for property acquisition services for the Middle Creek Flood Damage Reduction and Ecosystem Restoration Project and authorize the chair of the board of directors to sign the agreement.

5.17: Approve leave of absence request for Substance Abuse Counselor III Leroy Fields, from Sept. 16, 2019, through Nov. 21, 2019, and authorize the chair to sign.

5.18: Adopt a resolution amending Resolution No. 2019-80 establishing position allocations for Fiscal Year 2019-2020, Budget Unit 8695, Special Districts Administration.

TIMED ITEMS

6.2, 9:10 a.m.: (a) Presentation of proclamation designating the month of September 2019 as National Alcohol and Drug Recovery Month in Lake County; and (b) presentation of proclamation recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month in Lake County.

6.3, 9:15 a.m.: Sitting as the Lake County Watershed Protection District Board of Directors, (a) consideration of a resolution approving an agreement between the county of Lake, Lake County Watershed Protection District, city of Clearlake and city of Lakeport for the implementation and maintenance of the Lake County Clean Water Program; (b) designating a member of the Lake County Board of Supervisors to act as the county’s authorized representative to the Clean Water Program Management Council, and authorize an additional member of the Board of Supervisors to serve as an alternate; and (c) approval for the director of Water Resources to be the designated representative, and appoint an alternate, for the district.

6.4, 9:30 a.m.: Discussion and possible direction to staff concerning retail uses, formula and/or box store zoning.

6.5, 10:30 a.m.: Discussion regarding the process for tax defaulted land sales and tax defaulted land sale No. 157 which is Tentatively Scheduled for March 2020.

6.6, 11 a.m.: Addendum, (a) report from Lake County Deputy Sheriff's Association, or LCDSA, President John Drewrey regarding LCDSA plans for a sales tax measure to support law enforcement; and (b) continued from Sept. 10, discussion and direction about seeking to offer voters the ability to vote on a sales tax measure to improve roads.

6.7, 1 p.m.: Workshop, broadband Internet presentation by the Upstate California Connect Consortium for broadband Internet connectivity.

6.8, 2 p.m.: Discussion and review of use permit conditions pertaining to RV parks.

UNTIMED ITEMS

7.2: Consideration of resolution approving proposed revisions to the Golden State Finance Authority Joint Powers Agreement.

7.3: Discussion and consideration of an agreement to purchase tax defaulted property by and between the county of Lake and the Konocti County Water District.

7.4: Consideration of Change Order No. Four for Upper Lake pedestrian improvements for Upper Lake High, Middle and Elementary Schools Project, State Project No. ATPL-5914(103); Bid No. 18-11, for an increase of $9,334.11 and a revised contract amount of $412,458.54.

7.5: Consideration of Change Order No. Five for Upper Lake pedestrian improvements for Upper Lake High, Middle and Elementary Schools Project, State Project No. ATPL-5914(103); Bid No. 18-11, for an increase of $35,669.23 and a revised contract amount of $448,127.77.

7.6: Consideration of changes to the In-Home Supportive Services Advisory Committee bylaws.

CLOSED SESSION

8.1: Conference with legal counsel: Decision whether to initiate litigation pursuant to Gov. Code section 54956.9(d)(4): One potential case.

8.2, 3 p.m.: Public employee appointment pursuant to Gov. Code Section 54957(b)(1): Interviews of Public Health officer.

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.
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TeMashio Nakai Anderson a member of the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians and the education director for the Coyote Valley Band of Pomo Indians, was selected as a provisional trustee for the Mendocino-Lake Community College District Board of Trustees on Wednesday, September 11, 2019. Courtesy photo.

NORTH COAST, Calif. – At a regularly scheduled monthly meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 11, the Mendocino-Lake Community College District Board of Trustees selected TeMashio Anderson to fill a vacancy on the board.

Anderson will serve as provisional trustee for Area No. 7, which covers Kelseyville and the surrounding areas in southwest Lake County.

This vacancy was a result of the recent resignation of David Geck, who served on the board for nine years.

Anderson, along with three other qualified candidates, was interviewed by the board in a public meeting format on Wednesday evening.

Following the four interviews, the board discussed the candidate’s qualifications, soliciting
input from other college constituent groups in open session and made the decision to select Anderson by a majority vote.

“I want to thank all of the applicants who put themselves forward to be considered for Trustee Area No. 7,” said Board President Robert Jason Pinoli. “Each of the four candidates where uniquely qualified and would have been of great value to the board.”

Anderson, a member of the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians, serves as the Coyote Valley Band of Pomo Indians education director.

He has a history of providing oversight to educational support programs that lead K-12 students to higher education.

Anderson has been instrumental in the development of the Pomo Pathways program, which is a collaboration between the Coyote Valley Band of Pomo Indians and Mendocino College, and provides Native American students the support they need to successfully complete transfer level math and English in their first year of college.

He is a Mendocino College alumni and holds Bachelor of Science degrees in environmental science and applied indigenous studies from Northern Arizona University.

Anderson brings a local, regional, and international educational perspective to the board that will serve the college well as it continues its work with Guided Pathways, strong workforce, closing the achievement gap, and supporting programs that increase student equity and success.

“I am looking forward to working with Mr. Anderson in his new role as a trustee. He joins the board during a great new chapter for Mendocino College, and his insight will be invaluable. His Native American roots run deep in our community and having his perspective to help build on so many well-established programs that are already in place will be fantastic,” said Pinoli.

“I was very pleased with the quality of all four candidates and recognize what a difficult decision the board had to make. Our trustees are an accomplished, dedicated, and engaged group of people who have been involved extensively with the community and I believe Mr. Anderson will be an excellent addition,” said interim Superintendent/President Eileen Cichocki.

The Mendocino-Lake Community College District Board of Trustees is responsible for the performance of the Mendocino-Lake Community College District, which serves approximately 8,000 students at locations in Ukiah, Fort Bragg, Lakeport, Willits and online, by providing vital educational services to the various communities in the region.
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Hot and dry. These are the watchwords for large fires.

While every fire needs a spark to ignite and fuel to burn, it's the hot and dry conditions in the atmosphere that determine the likelihood of a fire starting, its intensity and the speed at which it spreads.

Over the past several decades, as the world has increasingly warmed, so has its potential to burn.

Since 1880, the world has warmed by 1.9 degrees Fahrenheit, with the five warmest years on record occurring in the last five years.

Since the 1980s, the wildfire season has lengthened across a quarter of the world's vegetated surface, and in some places like California, fire has become nearly a year-round risk. The year 2018 presented California's worst wildfire season on record, on the heels of a devasting 2017 fire season.

In 2019, wildfires have already burned 2.5 million acres in Alaska in an extreme fire season driven by high temperatures, which have also led to massive fires in Siberia.

Whether started naturally or by people, fires worldwide and the resulting smoke emissions and burned areas have been observed by NASA satellites from space for two decades. Combined with data collected and analyzed by scientists and forest managers on the ground, researchers at NASA, other U.S. agencies and universities are beginning to draw into focus the interplay between fires, climate and humans.

"Our ability to track fires in a concerted way over the last 20 years with satellite data has captured large-scale trends, such as increased fire activity, consistent with a warming climate in places like the western U.S., Canada and other parts of Northern Hemisphere forests where fuels are abundant," said Doug Morton, chief of the Biospheric Sciences Laboratory at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. "Where warming and drying climate has increased the risk of fires, we’ve seen an increase in burning."

A hotter, drier world

High temperatures and low humidity are two essential factors behind the rise in fire risk and activity, affecting fire behavior from its ignition to its spread.

Even before a fire starts they set the stage, said Jim Randerson, an Earth system scientist at the University of California, Irvine who studies fires both in the field and with satellite data.

He and his colleagues studied the abundance of lightning strikes in the 2015 Alaskan fire season that burned a record 5.1 million acres. Lightning strikes are the main natural cause of fires.

The researchers found an unusually high number of lightning strikes occurred, generated by the warmer temperatures that cause the atmosphere to create more convective systems — thunderstorms — which ultimately contributed to more burned area that year.

Hotter and drier conditions also set the stage for human-ignited fires. "In the Western U.S., people are accidentally igniting fires all the time," Randerson said. "But when we have a period of extreme weather, high temperatures, low humidity, then it’s more likely that typical outdoor activity might lead to an accidental fire that quickly gets out of control and becomes a large wildfire."

For example, in 2018 sparks flying from hammering a concrete stake into the ground in 100-degree Fahrenheit heat and sparks from a car's tire rim scraping against the asphalt after a flat tire were the causes of California's devastatingly destructive Ranch and Carr Fires, respectively.

These sparks quickly ignited the vegetation that was dried out and made extremely flammable by the same extreme heat and low humidity, which research also shows can contribute to a fire's rapid and uncontrollable spread, said Randerson. The same conditions make it more likely for agricultural fires to get out of control.

A warming world also has another consequence that may be contributing to fire conditions persisting over multiple days where they otherwise might not have in the past: higher nighttime temperatures.

"Warmer nighttime temperature allow fires to burn through the night and burn more intensely, and that allows fires to spread over multiple days where previously, cooler nighttime temperatures might have weakened or extinguished the fire after only one day," Morton said.

In June and early July 2019, a heat wave in Alaska broke temperature records, as seen in this July 8 air temperature map (left). The corresponding image from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument on Aqua on the right shows smoke from lightening-triggered wildfires. Credits: NASA Earth Observatory.

Climate systems at work

Hot and dry conditions that precede fires can be tempered by rain and moisture circulating in the atmosphere. On time scales of months to years, broader climate patterns move moisture and heat around the planet.

Monitoring these systems with satellite observations allows researchers to be able to begin to develop computer models for predicting whether an upcoming fire season in a given region will be light, average or extreme. The most important of these indicators are sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean that govern the El Niño Southern Oscillation, or ENSO.

"ENSO is a major driver of fire activity across multiple continents," Randerson said, who along with Morton and other researchers have studied the relationship between El Niño events and fire seasons in South America, Central America, parts of North America, Indonesia, Southeast Asia and equatorial Asia. "The precipitation both before the fire season and during the fire season can be predicted using sea surface temperatures that are measured by NASA and NOAA satellites."

An ongoing project, said Randerson, is to now extend that prediction capability globally to regions that are affected by other ocean-climate temperature changes and indicators.

The human factor

In studying the long-term trends of fires, human land management is as important to consider as any other factor. Globally, someplace on Earth is always on fire — and most of those fires are set by people, either accidentally in wildlands, or on purpose, for example, to clear land or burn agricultural fields after the harvest to remove crop residues.

But not all fires behave the same way. Their behavior depends on the fuel type and the how people are changing the landscape.

While fire activity has gotten worse in northern latitude forests, research conducted by Randerson and Morton has shown that despite climate conditions that favor fires, the number of fires in grassland and savanna ecosystems worldwide are declining, contributing to an overall decline in global burned area.

The decline is due to an increased human presence creating new cropland and roads that serve as fire breaks and motivate the local population to fight these smaller fires, said Morton.

"Humans and climate together are really the dual factors that are shaping the fires around the world. It's not one or the other," Randerson said.

Fire feedbacks

Fires impact humans and climate in return. For people, beyond the immediate loss of life and property, smoke is a serious health hazard when small soot particles enter the lungs, Long-term exposure has been linked to higher rates of respiratory and heart problems.

Smoke plumes can travel for thousands of miles affecting air quality for people far downwind of the original fire. Fires also pose a threat to local water quality, and the loss of vegetation can lead to erosion and mudslides afterwards, which have been particularly bad in California, Randerson said.

For the climate, fires can directly and indirectly increase carbon emissions to the atmosphere. While they burn, fires release carbon stored in trees or in the soil. In some places like California or Alaska, additional carbon may be released as the dead trees decompose, a process that may take decades because dead trees will stand like ghosts in the forest, decaying slowly, said Morton.

In addition to releasing carbon as they decompose, the dead trees no longer act as a carbon sink by pulling carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.

In some areas like Indonesia, Randerson and his colleagues have found that the radiocarbon age of carbon emissions from peat fires is about 800 years, which is then added to the greenhouse gases in that atmosphere that drive global warming.

In Arctic and boreal forest ecosystems, fires burn organic carbon stored in the soils and hasten the melting of permafrost, which release methane, another greenhouse gas, when thawed.

Another area of active research is the mixed effect of particulates, or aerosols, in the atmosphere in regional climates due to fires, Randerson said.

Aerosols can be dark like soot, often called black carbon, absorbing heat from sunlight while in the air, and when landing and darkening snow on the ground, accelerating its melt, which affects both local temperatures — raising them since snow reflects sunlight away — and the water cycle.

But other aerosol particles can be light colored, reflecting sunlight and potentially having a cooling effect while they remain in the atmosphere. Whether dark or light, according to Randerson, aerosols from fires may also have an effect on clouds that make it harder for water droplets to form in the tropics, and thus reduce rainfall — and increase drying.

Fires of all types reshape the landscape and the atmosphere in ways that can resonate for decades. Understanding both their immediate and long-term effects requires long-term global data sets that follow fires from their detection to mapping the scale of their burned area, to tracing smoke through the atmosphere and monitoring changes to rainfall patterns.

"As climate warms, we have an increasing frequency of extreme events. It’s critical to monitor and understand extreme fires using satellite data so that we have the tools to successfully manage them in a warmer world," Randerson said.

Ellen Gray is a member of NASA's Earth Science News Team.
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LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport City Council this week will hold a public hearing to form an undergrounding district, discuss insurance issues and consider an equipment purchase and design contract.

The council will meet beginning at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 17, in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.

At the start of the meeting, the council will be introduced to new Civic Spark Fellow Kaila Korosec and hear a presentation on the updated master broadband plan by representatives of the Upstate California Connect Consortium/Geographical Information Center at California State University, Chico.

On Tuesday the council will hold a public hearing and adopt a resolution forming the 11th Street and North Main Street Underground Utility District.

Administrative Services Director Kelly Buendia will present an informational item regarding the state of the property insurance market and its impact on city of Lakeport deductibles and rates.

Utilities Superintendent Paul Harris will ask for the council’s approval of resolutions needed to proceed with a grant/loan application to the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund.

The council also will be asked to approve the purchase of a 2019 John Deere 333G Skid Steer Track Loader and approve an agreement with LACO Associates for the Sewer Main Replacement Design Project.

On the consent agenda – items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate on one vote – are ordinances; minutes of the regular council meeting on Sept. 3; confirmation of the continuing existence of a local emergency for the Mendocino Complex fire; confirmation of the continuing existence of a local emergency for the February 2019 storms; approval of event application 2019-026, with staff recommendations, for the 2019 Konocti Challenge bike ride; and receipt and filing of the summarized unaudited financial statements for the general fund, water operating and maintenance fund and the sewer operating and maintenance fund.

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.

091719 Lakeport City Council Agenda Packet by LakeCoNews on Scribd

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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The National Weather Service’s Sacramento office reported that the region’s first widespread rainfall event of the season is expected to arrive on Monday, with the forecast expecting chances of rain through the middle of the week.

Forecasters reported that a weather system offshore of British Columbia that originated in the Bering Sea west of Alaska is bringing rain as well as temperatures that could drop by as much as 25 degrees to Northern California.

The long-range forecast said the cooling trend will begin on Sunday, when temperatures will be down around 5 to 10 degrees cooler than Saturday.

The Lake County forecast calls for chances of rain beginning on Sunday evening and continuing through Monday morning. Expected rainfall totals are up to a tenth of an inch.

Conditions are then forecast to clear before chances of rain return to the forecast on Wednesday. The remainder of the week is expected to be clear.

Daytime temperatures on Sunday are forecast to be in the low 80s, dropping into the low 70s on Monday before topping out in the mid 80s for the rest of the week.

Nighttime temperatures this week are forecast to range between the mid 50s and low 60s.

There also is a forecast of winds into the week, with west winds topping out around 13 miles per hour.

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.
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Thomas Andrew Magee, 62, of Clearlake, Calif., has been charged with using his van to kill an acquaintance on the morning of Tuesday, September 10, 2019. Photo courtesy of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The man arrested for killing an acquaintance in Lucerne with a vehicle early Tuesday has been formally charged and made his first court appearance.

Thomas Andrew Magee, 62, of Clearlake, was arrested for the killing of Joseph Symond Jackson, 40, of Lucerne, as Lake County News has reported.

Authorities said Magee ran Jackson over with his van on Highway 20 and Seventh Avenue in Lucerne at about 1:30 a.m. Tuesday before fleeing the scene. A California Highway Patrol officer took Magee into custody about 20 minutes later near Clearlake Oaks.

The sheriff’s office said that the two men, who had been acquaintances for a short time, had a dispute over property leading up to Jackson’s killing.

Magee was arraigned in Lake County Superior Court on Thursday.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Richard Hinchcliff said he has filed a criminal complaint against Magee, charging him with first-degree murder and vehicular manslaughter.

At Thursday’s arraignment, Magee’s bail – which initially was set at $1 million – was raised to $1.3 million, Hinchcliff said.

Jail records show that Magee is set to return to court on Sept. 17.

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.
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LUCERNE, Calif. – A workshop to update the community on the Highway 20 Northshore Communities Traffic Calming Plan & Engineered Feasibility Study will be held on Thursday, Sept. 19, in Lucerne.

The workshop will take place from 6 to 7 p.m., ahead of the Lucerne Area Town Hall meeting, at the Lucerne Alpine Senior Center, 3985 Country Club, at the corner of 10th Avenue and Country Club Drive.

Lake County/City Area Planning Council is conducting the Highway 20 Northshore Communities Traffic Calming Plan & Engineered Feasibility Study.

The Sept. 19 workshop is planned to give the public opportunity to help improve access and safety for walking, bicycling, and transit use along Highway 20 in the communities of Nice, Lucerne, Glenhaven and Clearlake Oaks.

Families and children are welcome.

From 6 to 6:30 p.m., there will be a preview of draft design concepts and the opportunity to provide input.

From 6:30 to 7 p.m., the project team will conduct a presentation about the project and the draft designs.

At 7 p.m., the Lucerne Area Town Hall meeting begins.

Snacks and refreshments will be provided.

Funding for the Highway 20 Northshore Communities Traffic Calming Plans & Engineered Feasibility Study is paid for by a grant from the California Department of Transportation received by the Lake Area Planning Council.
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The “Matilliha Manor” at the home of Ken Harper and Sherry Bauman in Kelseyville, Calif. Photo courtesy of the Lake County Quilt Trail.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – “Matilliha Manor” has been added to the Lake County Quilt Trail.

This quilt block has been installed on the lovely Victorian porch facing Gard Street at the home of Ken Harper and Sherry Bauman at 5205 Second St. in Kelseyville.

Matilliha Manor is a Victorian home built in 1871. In the early 1900s the front bedroom
served as a dentist office while the family resided in the rest of the home.

In the late 1980s Marilyn and Myron Holdenried purchased and renovated the home, bringing it back to its former glory.

The home was used as an event center/vacation home before being purchased by current owners Ken Harper and Sherry Bauman.

They have worked hard to honor the tradition of the home with period pieces giving one the feeling of stepping back in time.

This quilt block is in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Holdenried – Marilyn Holdenried founded the Lake County Quilt Trail – bringing together two legacies they have brought to Lake County, Matilliha Manor and the quilt trail.

The Lake County Quilt Trail is an agricultural and tourism project designed to promote community pride.

The 4-foot by 4-foot quilt block was drawn and painted by the Lake County Quilt Trail team, a group of dedicated volunteer quilters, graphic artists, painters, writers and carpenters.

The quilt trail is no longer taking applications.

For more information about the Lake County Quilt Trail visit www.lakecountyquilttrail.com or the group’s Facebook page.

The “Matilliha Manor” quilt block. Image courtesy of the Lake County Quilt Trail.
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PG&E Corp. and Pacific Gas and Electric Co. have agreed in principle with entities representing approximately 85 percent of insurance subrogation claims to an $11 billion settlement to resolve all such claims arising from the 2017 Northern California wildfires and 2018 Camp Fire.

These claims are based on payments made by insurance companies to individuals and businesses with insurance coverage for wildfire damages.

The settlement is subject to definitive documentation and approval of the bankruptcy court overseeing PG&E’s Chapter 11 case.

The settlement is to be implemented pursuant to PG&E’s Chapter 11 plan of reorganization and subject to confirmation of the plan by the bankruptcy court.

“Today’s settlement is another step in doing what’s right for the communities, businesses, and individuals affected by the devastating wildfires,” Bill Johnson, CEO and president of PG&E Corp., said Friday. “As we work to resolve the remaining claims of those who’ve suffered, we are also focused on safely and reliably delivering energy to our customers, improving our systems and infrastructure, and continuing to support California’s clean energy goals. We are committed to becoming the utility our customers deserve.”

This is PG&E’s second major settlement of wildfire claims.

On June 19, PG&E and 18 local public entities that included cities, counties, districts and public agencies – among them the county of Lake and the city of Clearlake – announced that they had reached agreements to settle their claims relating to the 2015, 2017, and 2018 wildfires for a total of $1 billion to be implemented as part of the plan, as Lake County News has reported.

Proceedings regarding the third and final major group of wildfire claims are currently
pending in both Federal District Court and State Court.

PG&E said it remains committed to working with the individual plaintiffs to fairly and reasonably resolve their claims and will continue to work to do so.

In connection with Friday’s settlement, PG&E amended the previously announced equity financing commitment agreements to accommodate the total amount of subrogation claims contemplated by the settlement and reaffirmed the total $14 billion equity financing commitment target for the plan.

PG&E has received renewed commitments of $1.5 billion under the revised equity financing commitments and intends to seek remaining equity financing commitments over the next several weeks.

The company expects that the equity financing commitment will be part of a more comprehensive financing package to emerge from Chapter 11.

PG&E also expects to amend the plan to incorporate the terms of the settlement of the subrogation claims after completion of the definitive documentation for the settlement.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Animal Care and Control has several new adult cats and a kitten waiting to meet their new families.

The following cats and kittens at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption.

This female domestic short hair cat is in cat room kennel No. 4, ID No. 12808. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.

Female domestic short hair

This female domestic short hair cat has a dilute tortie coat and gold eyes.

She is in cat room kennel No. 4, ID No. 12808.

This female kitten is in cat room kennel No. 16, ID No. 12919. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.

Female brown tabby

This female kitten has a short brown tabby coat and gold eyes.

She is in cat room kennel No. 16, ID No. 12919.

This female domestic short hair cat is in cat room kennel No. 41, ID No. 12846. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.

Female domestic short hair

This female domestic short hair cat has a brown tabby coat and gold eyes.

She is in cat room kennel No. 41, ID No. 12846.

This female domestic short hair kitten is in cat room kennel No. 41a, ID No. 12847. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.

Domestic short hair kitten

This female domestic short hair kitten has a black and gray tabby coat and gold eyes.

She is in cat room kennel No. 41a, ID No. 12847.

This female domestic short hair cat is in cat room kennel No. 52, ID No. 12904. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.

Domestic short hair cat

This female domestic short hair cat has a dilute and gray tabby coat and gold eyes.

She has already been spayed.

She is in cat room kennel No. 52, ID No. 12904.

This male domestic short hair cat is in cat room kennel No. 63, ID No. 12710. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.

Male domestic short hair cat

This male domestic short hair cat has a gray and white coat and green eyes.

He is in cat room kennel No. 63, ID No. 12710.

The female domestic short hair cat is in cat room kennel No. 82, ID No. 12616. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.

Female domestic short hair cat

The female domestic short hair cat has a brown tabby coat and gold eyes.

She is in cat room kennel No. 82, ID No. 12616.

This female domestic short hair cat is in cat room kennel No. 148, ID No. 12932. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.

Female domestic short hair cat

This female domestic short hair cat has a gray tabby coat and gold eyes.

She is in cat room kennel No. 148, ID No. 12932.

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.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Animal Care and Control has several dogs this week ready and waiting for their new homes.

Dogs available for adoption this week include mixes of Cane Corso mastiff, Chihuahua, Labrador Retriever, pit bull and terrier.

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”).

This female Chihuahua-terrier mix is in kennel No. 4, ID No. 12885. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.

Female Chihuahua-terrier mix

This female Chihuahua-terrier mix has a short tan and white coat.

She is in kennel No. 4, ID No. 12885.

“Nova” is a female Cane Corso mastiff in kennel No. 17, ID No. 6579. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.

‘Nova’

“Nova” is a female Cane Corso mastiff with a short black coat.

She is in kennel No. 17, ID No. 6579.

This female Labrador Retriever is in kennel No. 23, ID No. 12697. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.

Female Labrador Retriever

This female Labrador Retriever has a short black.

She is in kennel No. 23, ID No. 12697.

“Misty Marie” is a young female pit bull terrier in kennel No. 29, ID No. 12725. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.

‘Misty Marie’

“Misty Marie” is a young female pit bull terrier.

She has a short black coat.

She is in kennel No. 29, ID No. 12725.

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.
Posted On

Jonathan Washington, 31, walked away from the California Correctional Center Chamberlain Creek Conservation Camp in Mendocino County on Friday, September 13, 2019. Photo courtesy of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

NORTH COAST, Calif. – California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation officials are searching for a minimum-security inmate who walked away from the California Correctional Center Chamberlain Creek Conservation Camp in Mendocino County on Friday.

Inmate Jonathan Washington, 31, was discovered missing from Chamberlain Creek Conservation Camp at 12:30 p.m. during a routine count.

Authorities said Washington was last seen at the camp at 8 a.m. Friday wearing grey sweatpants, a white t-shirt and white tennis shoes.

CDCR’s Office of Correctional Safety, Cal Fire, California Highway Patrol and local law enforcement agencies have been notified and are assisting in the search for Washington.

Washington is a black male, 6 feet 4 inches tall, weighing 217 pounds with brown eyes, black hair in dreadlocks, a goatee and mustache.

He was received by CDCR in December from Kings County to serve three years and eight months for vandalism and corporal injury on a specific person resulting in a traumatic condition. He was scheduled to parole in March 2020.

Anyone who sees inmate Washington should contact 911 or law enforcement authorities immediately.

Anyone having information about or knowledge of the location of Washington should contact the CCC watch commander at 530 257-2181, Extension 4173.

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