CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Lake County's first birth of 2016 occurred on Jan. 1 in Clearlake, according to hospital officials there.

Parents Heather Kimbrough and Justin Beebe welcomed baby daughter Justice Fay Beebe at 2:49 a.m. Friday, Jan. 1, according to St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake.

Baby Justice weighed 6 pounds, 7 ounces and was 19 inches long, the hospital reported. She joins several older siblings.

She was born two days ahead of the first baby born at Sutter Lakeside Hospital, Isain Bermudez Corona, who arrived Sunday morning, as Lake County News has reported.

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. – Sutter Lakeside Hospital welcomed its first baby of 2016 on Sunday.

Isain Bermudez Corona is the newest addition to the Corona Garcia family.

He was born Sunday, Jan. 3, at 7:25 a.m. Isain weighed 6 pounds, 14 ounces, and was just over 20 inches long.

The hospital said Isain came a day earlier than his due date and is the youngest of three children.

“Both siblings are very happy to have a new baby brother,” said Artemio Corona Garcia, Isain’s father.  “We’re excited he’s here, and our experience at Sutter Lakeside Hospital was great.”

Sutter Lakeside Hospital’s Family Birth Center has delivered more than 5,000 babies since it opened in 1994.

The Family Birth Center has two obstetric and gynecology physician specialists – Jonathan Davies, M.D., and Derrick Barnes, M.D. – along with 18 dedicated nurses.

“Our mission is to provide every family with a positive birthing experience,” said Jackie Rad, R.N.C., M.S.N., C.N.L., Family Birth Center and Respiratory Services manager. “Our compassionate team of doctors and nurses provide a holistic approach in a home-like atmosphere and offer alternative pain-management therapies and individualized care.”

Rad said the hospital's staffers provide the safest, most up-to-date care for our new moms and babies, with nearly all of the nurses having advanced maternal and neonatal care training.

When advanced treatment is needed, patients have access to Santa Rosa Regional Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), as well as the California Pacific Medical Center’s infant surgery center in San Francisco.

The Family Birth Center staff offers a free childbirth preparation course, and breastfeeding instruction and support. Classes also include baby safety, infant CPR training and special events where mothers can talk about their birthing experience and ask questions about the postpartum period.

“We’ve enjoyed caring for the growing families in Lake County for more than 20 years, and we look forward to many more years of continuing to do so,” said Sutter Lakeside Chief Administrative Officer Siri Nelson.

As of the end of the day Monday, Lake County News was not able to confirm if any babies have been born at St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake so far in the new year.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – With heavy rain in the forecast, the National Weather Service in Sacramento has issued a flash flood watch for the Valley, Rocky and Jerusalem fire burn areas in Lake County.

The alert will be in effect from 10 p.m. Monday through 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Flash floods and debris flows will be a particular threat in the burn areas. Rainfall rates could exceed one half inch per hour at times during the storm, according to the forecast.

Those traveling around Highway 175, Highway 20, Highway 16, Bottle Rock Road, Loch Lomond Road, Seigler Canyon Road, Big Canyon Road, Butts Canyon Road, Morgan Valley, Berryessa-Knoxville Road, Jerusalem Grade and other roads within and in close proximity to the burn area should be alert for road problems due to flooding or rock/debris flows.

Rivers and creeks of particular concern include Anderson Creek, Big Canyon Creek, Seigler Creek, Dry Creek, Harbin Creek, Putah Creek, Butts Creek, Copsey Creek, Seigler Creek and Kelsey Creek basins.

The severely burned areas of particular concern include the Rocky, Davis, Cache, Bear, Soda, Hunting, Eticuera and Jericho Creek basins, officials reporter. Users of the Cache Creek Wildlife Area and the Knoxville Recreation Area should be alert for flooding, rock and debris flows.

Officials said this could quickly become a dangerous situation. Hunters, residents, and persons traveling within the Valley, Rocky, and Jerusalem burn areas should remain alert and take action should heavy rain develop.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The National Weather Service issued a followup flash flood watch for the Valley, Rocky and Jerusalem fire burn areas as the region gets set for another round of storms.

The flash flood watch is to last from 3 to 10 a.m. Wednesday, the agency said.

That followed a flash flood watch that had been in effect until Tuesday evening after a day of heavy rain.

On Tuesday afternoon, Lt. Steve Brooks of the Lake County Sheriff's Office said that, after consulting with Lake County Central Dispatch and the county's Emergency Operations Center, no reports of damage had come in as a result of the storm at that point.

“We are closely monitoring the situation,” Brooks said.

Brooks said the Lake County Department of Public Works had placed sand bags and muscle rails in areas within the burn scar that have the potential for flooding and mudslides. “They have also been clearing debris out of creek beds.”

He said additional information on flooding and flood risk after fire can be found at: http://www.lakecountyrecovers.com/community-updates/knowing-your-flood-risk .

The National Weather Services reported rainfall totals for the 24-hour period from 12 a.m. Tuesday to 12 a.m. Wednesday, in inches, as follows:

– Cobb: 1.95;
– Hidden Valley Lake: 1.37;
– High Glade Lookout (above Upper Lake): 1.39;
– Kelseyville: 1.04;
– Lakeport: 0.64;
– Lower Lake: 1.32;
– Middletown: 1.30;
– Nice: 1.20.

The rain improved the level of Clear Lake, which was at 1.56 feet Rumsey late Tuesday night, up by more than 0.20 feet Rumsey since the weekend. However, it's still not at the January 5, 2015, level of 2.79 feet Rumsey, according to Lake County Water Resources Department records.

US Geological Survey stream gauges showed local creek levels had jumped dramatically over the past 24 hours thanks to the rainfall.

More rain is expected through the rest of the week, with the specific Lake County forecast calling for rain throughout Wednesday, with nearly an inch possible during the course of the day. Up to quarter of an inch of rain is forecast for Thursday. Low winds also are forecast both days.

Chances of showers are forecast for Friday and Saturday, with conditions expected to clear on Sunday. Then, the forecast calls for showers again on Monday and Tuesday of next week.

Temperatures this week are expected to be in the low 30s at night and into the high 40s during the day.

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. – On Monday a Kelseyville man who previously had faced prosecution for murder was sentenced to probation for lesser charges in connection to a double homicide case that occurred two years ago this month.

Judge Andrew Blum sentenced Dakota Joseph Velez, 21, to five years' formal probation for arson of a structure and assault with a deadly weapon on Edward Harry Morgan on Jan. 28, 2014.

Velez originally had been charged with murder – along with his father, 43-year-old Conrad Joseph Velez of Lakeport – for the killings of 54-year-old William Frank Busch of Lakeport on Jan. 27, 2014, and Morgan a day later.

Busch's body was found in a burning building on Highland Springs Road in Lakeport and Morgan was found in the area of Robin Hill Drive and Lakeshore Boulevard near Lakeport with stab wounds after he had been pushed out of his Chevy Tahoe. The Velezes and Conrad Velez's girlfriend at the time, Dahnna Phyllis Burrows of Lakeport, then left in the vehicle.

The prosecution believes Conrad Velez was responsible for both the killings.

Dakota Velez reached an agreement with the District Attorney's Office in November to plead to the two counts in exchange for waiving nearly four years' worth of in-custody credits. As such, he faces the possibility that he could go to state prison for six years if he violates his probation, as Lake County News has reported.

District Attorney Don Anderson said in a November interview that those charges represented as much of Dakota Velez's involvement as the prosecution could prove. He believed that Conrad Velez coerced and threatened his son to commit the arson.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Ed Borg said Monday that Dakota Velez received the agreed-upon sentence of probation as part of the plea agreement.

“Judge Blum indicated he was very reluctant to do it,” but ultimately accepted the agreement, Borg said.

This is the second sentencing reached in the case, as last month Burrows, 28, was sentenced to eight months of community supervision, according to her attorney, Angela Carter.

Burrows, who also reached a plea agreement, pleaded to two counts of being an accessory and the theft of Morgan's vehicle, the keys of which she had in her possession when she was arrested with Conrad Velez in Napa County in January 2014.

The maximum time she faced was three years, and by the time of her sentencing she had been released from jail, with time served, Carter said.

Carter said Burrows had only a small previous criminal history before the current case.

“She has family support and I expect that she will do well from here on out,” said Carter. “I believe she was in a bad situation at the time these crimes were committed and I also believe that she did not play a major role in the deaths of either of the two victims. The disposition of her case reflects that fact. In fact, there was evidence that she tried to stop the homicide of one of the victims, but was unfortunately unsuccessful in doing so. She was cooperative with law enforcement as well.”

Carter said that the probation report prepared for Burrows' sentencing had sought $300,000 in restitution to the surviving members of the two murder victims.

She said the judge denied the restitution, citing the requirements of the law, which specify that restitution only be ordered against an individual who played a substantial role in the crime. 

“My client's charges were related to being an accessory after the fact, so they did not meet the standard required for restitution by her to be ordered for the victims' families,” Carter said.

With the resolution of Burrows' and Dakota Velez's cases, that just leaves resolution to the case against Conrad Velez.

In the fall he also had reached an agreement with the District Attorney's Office in which he was to plead to two counts of first-degree murder and, as a result, was facing 50 years to life in prison.

However, Borg said Monday that Conrad Velez has indicated that he wants to withdraw his plea, so sentencing proceedings have been put on hold.

In such cases, when a defendant attempts to withdraw a plea, it's routine in the local courts to assign another attorney to consider if making a plea withdrawal motion has merit, Borg said.

As such, that case review will be handled by an attorney other than Barry Melton, who has been representing Conrad Velez, Borg said.

Borg said the matter has been put over to Jan. 27.

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.

NORTH COAST, Calif. – A Redwood Valley man was arrested late last month after he led Mendocino County Sheriff's deputies on a chase in a truck stolen from Lake County.

Ben Brooks, 34, was arrested on Dec. 23, according to a report from Capt. Greg Van Patten of the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office.

At 11 p.m. Dec. 23 Mendocino County Sheriff's deputies observed a white Ford Ranger pickup with a partially obscured license plate on Branscomb Road near the intersection of Willis Avenue in Laytonville, Van Patten said.

Van Patten said the deputies attempted a traffic stop for the equipment violation but the driver accelerated dramatically and fled southbound on Highway 101.

The deputies pursued the pickup truck through rainy weather at speeds between 80 and 90 miles per hour with emergency lights and sirens activated, Van Patten said.

At approximately MPM 61.53 on Highway 101, the driver lost control of the pickup truck, causing it to careen up a hillside, spin in several tight circles and finally flip over onto its roof in the center of Highway 101, according to Van Patten.

Van Patten said the driver, later identified as Brooks, emerged from a window and fled on foot, resulting in an extensive search that failed to locate him.

Deputies subsequently discovered the pickup truck had been reported stolen from Lake County, Van Patten said.

The following day, at approximately 11:30 a.m., a resident in the 35000 block of North Highway 101 discovered Brooks hiding in a storage shed and called law enforcement, Van Patten said.

He said deputies responded and arrested Brooks on charges related to the stolen vehicle and the vehicle pursuit, as well as a Mendocino County arrest warrant.

Brooks suffered significant injuries in the traffic accident the previous night and was transported to a local hospital for treatment, Van Patten said.

Van Patten said that on Dec. 27 Brooks was medically cleared for incarceration and was booked into the Mendocino County Jail where he was to be held in lieu of $120,000 bail.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – A Clearlake Park man arrested last week for fatally shooting a Middletown man and wounding a woman has been formally charged for the crimes.

Javier Martinez Cachu, 20, made his first appearance for arraignment in Lake County Superior Court earlier this week.

Authorities say he fatally shot 25-year-old Luis Pimentel-Arroyo and wounded a woman – whose name has not been released – while they were in a vehicle on Butts Canyon Road in Middletown on the night of Dec. 30.

Martinez Cachu then fled the scene in another vehicle before turning himself in at the Clearlake Police Department about two hours later.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Richard Hinchcliff said he charged Martinez Cachu with the murder of Pimentel-Arroyo along with two special allegations – murder for financial gain and murder by lying wait.

“Both those make him eligible for the death penalty or life without parole,” said Hinchcliff.

Additionally, Hinchcliff charged Martinez Cachu with the attempted murder of the woman in the vehicle, assault with a deadly weapon and shooting at an occupied vehicle.

Martinez Cachu, who is in custody at the Lake County Jail, initially had his bail set at $1 million. Hinchcliff said Martinez Cachu is now being held without bail following this week's court appearance.

Defense attorney Barry Melton has been appointed to represent Martinez Cachu, Hinchcliff said.

Martinez Cachu is next set to be in court on Jan. 12 for appearance of counsel and entry of plea, according to Hinchcliff.

Hinchcliff said that, at this point early in the proceedings, he cannot discuss the motive behind the murder.

“We're trying not to talk about the facts,” Hinchcliff said.

While the criminal proceedings move forward against Martinez Cachu, an effort is under way to help Pimentel-Arroyo's family.

On Jan. 1 Donella Dawkins, a friend of Pimentel-Arroyo and his fiancée, Eva Prado, launched a GoFundMe page, which is seeking to raise funds to help Prado and the family in the aftermath of Pimentel-Arroyo's death.

Prado told Lake County News that they had been living in Middletown when they were burned out of their home due to the Valley fire.

She and her children currently are staying in temporary housing while she looks for other accommodations.

As of late Tuesday night, $2,900 of the $5,000 goal had been raised.

Donations can be made at https://www.gofundme.com/sbh3utcs .

Email Elizabeth Larson at [email protected] . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Mike Thompson (CA-5), chairman of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, lauded President Barack Obama’s executive actions to help prevent gun violence by expanding criminal background checks.

“Thirty-plus people are killed every day by someone using a gun, and the actions taken today by President Obama will help save some of those lives. I applaud this move and thank him for his relentless work on the issue of gun violence,” Thompson said.

Thompson had returned to Washington over the weekend in order to meet with Obama on Monday to discuss the proposed measures.

The executive actions announced Monday eliminate the ambiguity surrounding the term: “engaged in the business” as it pertains to federally licensed firearms dealers.

Under current law, only licensed gun dealers are required to perform background checks for all gun sales, and only those individuals deemed to be "engaged in the business" of dealing in guns are required to obtain a license from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

The executive actions clarify the term to state that anyone making a profit from the sale of guns, regularly making gun sales, and/or earning their livelihood from gun sales is “engaged in the business” and therefore must obtain a license and conduct criminal background checks, even if at a gun show or over the Internet.

“Make no mistake, the president’s executive actions will make our country safer by helping keep guns out of dangerous hands. And, they will only impact those who we all agree shouldn’t have guns: criminals, domestic abusers and the dangerously mentally ill,” Thompson said.

“Because of the president’s actions, more people will have to get background checks, and that’s a good thing – but it doesn’t let Congress off the hook. Many firearms can still be bought and sold at gun shows, over the Internet or through classified ads with no questions asked. This allows dangerous people, who otherwise wouldn’t be able to pass a background check, to get guns,” he said.

Thompson sent a letter signed by 114 of his colleagues to the White House in November 2015 urging the president to close the background check loophole through executive action.

In March 2015 a coalition of U.S. House members introduced H.R. 1217, the bipartisan King-Thompson background check legislation, officially known as the Public Safety and Second Amendment Rights Protection Act of 2015.

The bill, authored by Thompson and Pete King (R-NY), expands the existing background check system to cover all commercial firearm sales, including those at gun shows, over the Internet or in classified ads while providing reasonable exceptions for family and friend transfers.

The King-Thompson bill was co-authored by Reps. Mike Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Pat Meehan (R-PA), Bob Dold (R-IL), Bennie Thompson (D-MS), Elizabeth Esty (D-CT) and Kathleen Rice (D-NY).

Under the legislation, the current background check system would be expanded to require comprehensive and enforceable background checks on all commercial gun sales, such as those made at gun shows, over the Internet or through classified ads.

Studies show that every day where background checks are used, the system stops more than 170 felons, some 50 domestic abusers, and nearly 20 fugitives from buying a gun.

However, no system is in place to prevent these same prohibited purchasers from buying identical guns at a gun show, over the Internet, or through a newspaper ad with no questions asked because background checks are not required for these kinds of sales. The King-Thompson bill closes these loopholes.

“We need to pass the bipartisan King-Thompson legislation that closes these remaining loopholes so criminals, domestic abusers and the dangerously mentally ill don’t have easy access to guns,” Thompson said. “The president has done his part, now Congress needs to do ours. Let’s finish the job.”

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Animal Care and Control has a new group of cats cleared and ready to head to new homes for the new year.

The four females and two males include a mixes of young and adult cats.

In addition to spaying or neutering, cats that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are microchipped 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 there, hoping you'll choose them.

In addition to the animals featured here, all adoptable animals in Lake County can be seen here: http://bit.ly/Z6xHMb .

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

Domestic long hair mix

This young female domestic long hair mix has a gray and white fluffy coat.

She's in cat room kennel No. 4, ID No. 4180.

'Chedder'

“Chedder' is a female domestic short hair mix.

She has a short black and white coat with a cool mask.

She's in cat room kennel No. 28, ID No. 4216.

'Mike'

“Mike” is an adult male Abyssinian mix.

He has a very sharp-looking short gray tabby coat.

Mike is in cat room kennel No. 52, ID No. 4212.

Domestic short hair mix

This male domestic short hair mix has a gray tabby coat.

He's in cat room kennel No. 98a, ID No. 4222.

Female Siamese mix

This female adult Siamese mix has a white coat with gray markings and blue eyes.

She's in cat room kennel No. 98b, ID No. 4223.

'Muffin'

“Muffin” is an adult domestic short hair mix with a gray and brown tabby coat.

She already was spayed when she arrived at the shelter, so her adoption fee will be lower.

She is in cat room kennel No. 144, ID No. 4153.

Adoptable cats also can be seen at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Cats_and_Kittens.htm or at www.petfinder.com .

Please note: Cats listed at the shelter's Web page that are said to be “on hold” are not yet cleared for adoption.

To fill out an adoption application online visit http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Dog___Cat_Adoption_Application.htm .

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. – Assemblyman Bill Dodd (D-Napa) and state Sen. Mike McGuire (D-Healdsburg) have introduced Assembly Bill 1559, which will provide tax relief to businesses impacted by the Valley fire and future disasters.

The idea was brought forward by Fiona Ma, Lake County’s representative on the Board of Equalization (BOE).

“Giving local businesses in Lake County additional time and flexibility in their tax deadlines will help get these businesses back on their feet,” said Dodd. “I’m happy help lead this effort and am grateful for the support and partnership of Sen. Mike McGuire and Member Fiona Ma. This bill is one part of our broader effort to support Lake County and the victims of the Valley fire.”

“The 2015 fire season was a devastating tragedy for so many communities, especially those affected by the Butte and Valley fires, and AB 1559 by Assemblymember Dodd will help us to rebuild by providing relief for businesses affected by these disasters,” said Ma. “I am eager to work with Assemblymember Dodd on passing this legislation and helping these communities rebuild and recover.”

The legislation will empower the BOE to extend the file and pay deadlines for sales and other taxes in areas impacted by the Valley Fire, allowing businesses in Lake County more time and flexibility to recover from the fire.

AB 1559 will also grant the BOE the authority to apply this extension for businesses impacted by future disasters.

“Lake County's small businesses suffered tremendously from the devastating impacts of the Valley fire. I'm honored to team up with Assemblymember Dodd and Member Ma to ensure local business owners have some peace of mind and needed tax relief during this recovery period,” Sen. McGuire said.

This wildfire season was one of the most devastating in California’s history. Dodd’s Fourth Assembly District was particularly impacted by the wildfires of 2015, containing nearly 58 percent of the total extinguished acreage by Cal Fire across the entire state.

In Lake County alone, the Valley fire destroyed nearly 2,000 structures over a 23-day period, ultimately becoming the third most destructive fire in California history.

The legislation has been given an urgency clause, meaning it will take immediate effect upon passage.

Dodd and McGuire also are working with Gov. Brown’s office to provide additional relief through budgetary and administrative action.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – State Sen. Mike McGuire joined a bipartisan coalition of state senators, including Senate President Pro Tempore Kevin de Leon, on Monday morning introducing the “No Place Like Home” initiative, which will greatly assist communities across the state in tackling homelessness.

The news about the new effort on the state level arrived on the same day as a temporary warming center for the homeless was set to open at the Lakeport Seventh-day Adventist Church: www.bit.ly/1mF9RLh .

“Homelessness, especially the lack of resources for housing and services, is a growing crisis across California. Whether it’s downtown LA on Skid Row, or downtown Eureka, local communities are lacking the funding they need to implement the housing programs and services local communities need and rely on,” McGuire said. “In many of the communities of the North Coast, there is a crisis every day, with little or no resources to turn to.”

The multi-pronged initiative would provide both immediate and long-term resources for chronically homeless individuals and families. “No Place Like Home” is a budget proposal that will go through the legislative process for approval.

The $2 billion revenue bond would be paid partially from Prop. 63 Mental Health Services Account (MHSA) funds.

Prop 63 would be amended to set aside just $135 million – only 7 percent of its annual revenue – to pay off the $2 billion revenue bond.

During press conferences announcing the innovative proposal, Sen. McGuire addressed the inconsistencies in state support of homeless services, including grant funding for transitional and emergency housing in communities along the North Bay and North Coast.

“Mendocino County, as an example, has the second highest rate of homelessness in America, according to National Alliance to End Homelessness, yet over the last two years, no state dollars have been invested in Mendocino County, or any county north of Sonoma for that matter to help some of our state’s poorest communities provide desperately needed emergency shelter space to the thousands who live on the streets of the North Coast,” McGuire said. “And to make matters worse, county jails and local emergency rooms have been the only resource many communities have to house those who are homeless and who struggle with mental illness and this is totally unacceptable.”

McGuire also announced that he will host a Summit on Homeless Services in Northern California this spring to coordinate with counties and local nonprofits that serve the homeless community as “No Place Like Home” moves through the legislative process. More details on the summit will be available later this month.

“No Place Like Home” was officially outlined Monday morning by a bipartisan coalition of state senators, led by Senate President Pro Tempore Kevin de Leon.

The state leaders said, this year, the Senate is focused on policies that lift up all Californians, especially the least fortunate and most vulnerable among us.

While housing and mental health services are governed by local governments, the State Legislature will directly focus on providing assistance to better manage existing resources and assist local governments through incentives for creating and maintaining permanent housing essential to reducing homelessness.

With this budget proposal, the state will now secure progress on tackling homelessness through an unprecedented amount of funding support and expansion of programs to make services more accessible on the ground.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake Planning Commission this week will hold another workshop on the city's general plan update.

The commission will meet beginning at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 5, in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.

On the agenda is the orientation and status of the 2040 Clearlake General Plan, plus a general plan update workshop that will look at the various document elements – land use, circulation, noise, safety, conservation and economic development.

There also will be time for questions and answers, and a summary of next steps, questions and comments.

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.