Reggie Gee, a special education teacher at Upper Lake Unified School District in Upper Lake, California, receives his COVID-19 vaccination. Courtesy photo. LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County school employees began receiving COVID-19 vaccinations this week.
“I wish to thank Public Health staff for their engagement and leadership. Based on our current planning we expect to have all interested Lake County school staff vaccinated by mid-February,” said Superintendent of Schools Brock Falkenberg.
Phase 1b in Lake County includes people 65 and older and workers in education. Teachers and school staff who have contact with students will be prioritized.
Over the last three weeks, the Office of Education has coordinated with the school districts to focus on vaccination planning.
Konocti Unified School District Superintendent Becky Salato said for her staff that have chosen to receive the vaccine there is an additional sense of security and safety as they work towards balancing what they want to do, and what they can do safely.
“As superintendent, I am very hopeful that the vaccines will help us get our students back in school safely and soon. I think for all of us, the vaccine brings hope that we are closer to returning to some new form of normal,” Salato said.
Reggie Gee, a special education teacher from Upper Lake Unified School District, said he does not normally get sick or get the flu vaccination, but receiving the COVID-19 vaccine was important to him.
“I think it is important for two reasons. One is to set an example for the staff and the students I work with. The other is for safety,” Gee said.
A paraeducator from Lakeport Unified School District, Angeles Espinoza, said getting the vaccine did not hurt at all and was an easy process to go through.
“Getting the vaccine and creating a herd of immunity is important to stopping the spread of COVID,” Espinoza said. “It is also important to spread awareness about the vaccine and create trust in the community about getting vaccinated.”
According to Lake County Public Health, COVID-19 activity is more widespread than it has ever been in Lake County and they ask to please take extra precautions.
This includes the Three Ws:
· Wear a mask.
· Wash your hands.
· Watch your distance.
These are all important strategies to protect against community spread.
“Getting our students safely back into schools is one of our top priorities,” Falkenberg said.
To learn more about the Lake County Office of Education, visit www.lakecoe.org.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County, like other parts of California and the nation, is experiencing multiple challenges as it tries to deliver COVID-19 vaccinations to residents.
That’s what Public Health Officer Dr. Gary Pace told the Board of Supervisors during a special Tuesday morning meeting and the Lakeport City Council at its Tuesday evening meeting.
On Tuesday, Lake County’s COVID-19 cases had risen to 2,612 – nearly 200 new cases since Friday – with two new deaths reported, bringing total deaths to 30.
Pace said Lake County is continuing to have widespread transmission of the virus.
“There's so much virus out in the community right now that you will be in contact with it if you're out and about,” he told the council.
Last week, Lake County recorded the highest new case numbers than it ever has, and this week it’s on pace to do the same, he said.
Public Health records showed that, on Tuesday, the cases had risen by 356 over the previous week.
Both of the county’s hospitals are pretty full, with the eight local intensive care unit beds mostly filled with COVID-19 patients, Pace reported.
Pace noted that, overall, the state’s case and hospitalization numbers are starting to flatten out, with the case surge following Christmas and New Year’s not turning out to be as bad as previously thought.
However, in Lake County, the surge isn’t yet flattening out, although Pace expects to turn the corner in the next week or two.
“Certainly we are often lagging a little behind the rest of California because of our rural nature,” Pace told the council.
He told both the board and the council that Lake County currently is in the most challenging part of the pandemic. Over the next two to three weeks he expects to see the results of the surge include more hospitalizations, which usually follow case increases by a few weeks.
As case numbers continue to rise and vaccinations are still rolling out, Pace encouraged people to continue to lay low and have as little public contact as possible.
Emphasis on vaccinations
In his appearances before the county and city leaders, Pace focused most on the process of rolling out the vaccinations.
Since Lake County received its initial doses of vaccines a month ago, Pace said between 1,500 and 2,000 people have been vaccinated. He said Public Health plans to soon start reporting on vaccination numbers.
Pace said the county currently is getting, at most, about 400 doses of vaccine a week and is focusing on administering those doses before receiving the next shipment.
He said the vaccine supply is extremely limited. While thousands of local residents want it – he said his email inbox is full of messages every day from people seeking to get the vaccine – Public Health is not receiving enough to meet the demand.
Based on the current supply – which the state is providing to the county based on an algorithm – Pace estimated it could take until the end of 2022 to vaccinate half of Lake County’s population, which tops 64,000.
He said there is a lot of frustration in the community because of the speed of vaccinations. “I don’t blame people. It’s very frustrating for me, too.”
The two hospitals and Lake County Tribal Health are getting separate supplies of the vaccine. “Nobody’s getting nearly enough to do what they need to do,” he said.
Pharmacies are supposed to be getting their own doses soon as well, Pace said.
The county recently received a shipment of 400 doses of the Moderna vaccine. Before it could open the shipment, Pace said the state notified the county not to use those doses as they are concerned that they are from a batch that is connected to allergic reactions.
Meantime, the state is trying to figure out what to do with that suspect batch. “So at this point we're just holding on to it,” with no replacement doses for it yet, Pace said.
Based on state guidelines, Pace said Public Health focused its initial efforts on vaccinating health care workers. It’s now focusing on those aged 65 and above, and teachers and school staff so schools can reopen.
Pace said the best way for seniors to get in line for the vaccine is to contact their medical providers. Public Health also had asked senior centers to do outreach to vulnerable seniors. The centers, in turn, have been overwhelmed with calls from people wanting to be vaccinated.
He told the supervisors that the vaccine rollout is complicated, frustrating “and very imperfect,” adding he didn’t have a good solution for it yet.
Later, he told the council that the rollout has been “very chaotic,” and the situation isn’t yet under control.
He said the state may be changing its guidelines for distributions in the coming weeks and loosening up its vaccine release.
Lakeport City Councilman Michael Froio noted that, two months ago, pharmaceutical companies said they would be putting out enough of the vaccine. He asked Pace where the logjam was.
“That is the million dollar question right now,” said Pace.
The state is saying it doesn’t have enough of the vaccine. “If you look around the country everyone is having the same problem,” Pace added.
Earlier this week, it was reported that there is no federal vaccine stockpile as the federal government had told governors.
Froio asked Pace if Public Health is holding back enough vaccine for the second doses, and Pace said yes, adding that the state is considering changing its guidelines to push out more initial doses rather than holding the second doses in reserve.
Looking ahead
Pace said Public Health is currently doing stand up clinics for the seniors and teachers who have been given appointments through their current process. The clinics are running six days a week – three in Clearlake, three in Lakeport.
They’re also looking at getting some mobile vaccination sites to go to employers or agricultural workers. However, he said they don’t yet have the staff to do that.
“That’s ultimately where we hope to go with this,” he said.
Once they get more vaccine doses, Pace said Public Health will do mass vaccination clinics such as has been done for flu shots through events like the Heroes of Health and Safety Fair.
While Pace hopes the vaccine supply will soon open up significantly, he said state officials are “not really telling us” if and when that will happen.
“This is going to be a big, long term rollout, I think, over months, and we’ll need a lot of people and a lot of coordination to get these pieces in place in a good way,” he told the supervisors.
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. – Pacific Gas and Electric Co. said it is developing four temporary microgrids in Lake County designed to provide electricity to shared community resources and neighborhoods using temporary generators during future public safety power shutoff, or PSPS, events.
A temporary microgrid is a grouping of electric lines and infrastructure that PG&E can quickly isolate, or island, from the larger electric grid.
Electricity can be safely provided to customers within the microgrid when the surrounding lines need to be turned off for safety.
Though each temporary microgrid will vary in size and capability, they all include devices that can disconnect the temporary microgrid from the larger electrical grid and a predetermined space and connection equipment for a backup generator.
Two of the Lake County sites, both located in Clearlake, were completed and made operationally ready in November. PG&E said it intends to upgrade these sites in 2021 to allow for faster and more stable connections of temporary generators.
These sites include the Clearlake North temporary microgrid in the parking lot of the PG&E Customer Service Office at 14730 Olympic Drive in Clearlake.
The site will keep the Clearlake Police station, Lake County Fire Protection District’s Station 70, a pharmacy, gas stations, restaurants, markets, dental offices and medical facilities, among other businesses, community services and residences energized during future PSPS events impacting the area.
The Clearlake North temporary microgrid energization area includes approximately 3,200 customers in the communities surrounding Old Highway 53, west of Highway 53.
The Clearlake South temporary microgrid in the parking lot of the Lake County Campus of Woodland College off of the Dam Road Extension will keep Adventist Health Clear Lake Hospital, the Lake County Superior Court’s Clearlake Division, the Lake County Campus of Woodland Community College, restaurants and markets.
The Clearlake South temporary microgrid energization area includes approximately 35 customers in the vicinity of the Dam Road Extension, south of 18th Avenue and east of Highway 53.
Two additional temporary microgrid sites, in Middletown and Lucerne, are currently under construction.
PG&E anticipates completing construction on these two microgrid sites in mid-2021, subject to weather conditions or other factors outside of PG&E’s control.
The Middletown temporary microgrid, located at 21095 Barnes St., will serve medical facilities, schools, banks, restaurants, markets and gas stations.
The Middletown temporary microgrid energization area includes approximately 400 PG&E customers centered around Main Street/Highway 175 and extending from Sacramento Avenue in the west to Jefferson and Douglas Street in the southeast, bounded by Putah Creek to the northwest.
The Lucerne temporary microgrid will be located at 6325 East Highway 20, at the site of the former Lucerne Clubhouse.
It will serve the nearby Lucerne Elementary School, markets, Cal Water, Lake County Special Districts and local businesses.
The Lucerne temporary microgrid energization area includes approximately 900 PG&E customers centered around Highway 20 – between Foothill Drive to the north and 16th Street to the south – and extending to Country Club Drive to the east.
All of the temporary microgrid sites in Lake County were identified and selected through an extensive process involving the analysis of prior and potential future PSPS events, along with community feedback, overall feasibility and other utility work in the region that could reduce PSPS impacts.
“The microgrids in Lake County are among the many sites being developed across PG&E’s service area in 2021 as a part of the company’s comprehensive actions to reduce wildfire risks across our system and minimize the impact of public safety outages on our customers and communities,” said Debbie Powell, interim head, Electric Operations for PG&E.
PG&E currently has six temporary microgrid generation sites ready to use during PSPS events throughout its service area, including both Clearlake sites. Nine additional sites, including those in Lucerne and Middletown, are currently in development.
While performing this critical safety work during the COVID-19 pandemic, PG&E expects crews to maintain proper social distancing recommendations and wear protective equipment when necessary to help safeguard the health and safety of themselves and the general public.
PG&E customers in the vicinity of the construction sites will receive an automated, courtesy phone call from PG&E notifying them of the work taking place.
Customers who are within the temporary microgrid energization areas will receive a separate communication from PG&E, notifying them of their inclusion in the microgrid and informing them of how it will operate during a PSPS event.
While PG&E intends to make every effort to operate these microgrids during a PSPS event, PG&E is not able to guarantee electricity to all customers potentially served by a temporary microgrid during all PSPS conditions or scenarios due to a variety of operational considerations, including hazardous conditions like an ongoing wildfire or weather conditions that could pose a fire risk if lines were energized, a large PSPS event or multiple emergencies happening simultaneously that requires prioritizing generation to critical locations first, and equipment damage or mechanical failure.
List of PG&E temporary microgrid sites
Angwin, Napa County: Operational Calistoga, Napa County: Operational Clearlake North, Lake County: Operational Clearlake South, Lake County: Operational Placerville, El Dorado County: Operational Shingletown, Shasta County: Operational Arnold, Calaveras County: In development Colfax, Placer County: In development Foresthill, Placer County: In development Georgetown, El Dorado County: In development Groveland, Tuolumne County: In development Lucerne, Lake County: In development Magalia, Butte County: In development Middletown, Lake County: In development Pollock Pines, El Dorado County: In development
Other PG&E wildfire resiliency efforts
In addition to deploying temporary microgrids, which are primarily designed to keep shared community services energized, PG&E has made a number of improvements to make PSPS events less impactful for customers, including:
– Sectionalizing and grid reconfiguration: Installing more than 600 additional sectionalizing devices in 2020 capable of re-directing power and limiting the size of outages. PG&E also analyzed its grid configuration to ensure as few customers as possible are impacted by future PSPS events.
– Substation microgrids: PG&E’s substation microgrid solution is intended to reduce the impact of transmission-level PSPS events, which is when PG&E must turn off power to higher-voltage transmission lines for safety. Transmission-level shutoffs generally impact a larger number of customers—some in areas that are not directly experiencing the severe weather conditions related to a PSPS event. More than sixty existing substations – including five within Lake County – are now prepared to use mobile generators when needed to help keep power on for safe-to-energize customers nearby. PG&E identified these substations as having a higher likelihood of experiencing future PSPS events based on historical weather data and past PSPS events.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake Family Resource Center is recognizing January as Human Trafficking Awareness Month.
In 2007, the United States Senate ratified the resolution establishing Jan. 11 as National Human Trafficking Awareness Day.
President Barack Obama first declared January as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month in 2010.
Since then, January has been a time to acknowledge those experiencing enslavement and those who have escaped.
During the month of January, Lake Family Resource Center will be sharing educational social media posts. Visit its Facebook page for more information.
The best action you can take to help expand awareness in our community is to learn what human trafficking is and how to spot the signs of trafficking.
Human trafficking is one of the fastest-growing illegal industries in the world. It involves the use of force, fraud or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act.
Every year, millions of men, women and children are trafficked worldwide – including right here in the United States.
It can happen in any community and victims can be any age, race, gender or nationality.
Traffickers use violence, manipulation or false promises of well-paying jobs or romantic relationships to lure victims into trafficking situations.
Globally, human trafficking produces roughly $150 billion a year in profits for traffickers, $99 billion of which comes from commercial sexual exploitation.
An estimated 71 percent of enslaved people are women and girls, while men and boys account for 29 percent. The average age of recruitment into the sex trade, is 12 to 14 years old. Commercial sexual exploitation of children, or CSEC, is a commercial transaction that involves the sexual exploitation of a child, such as the sale of children for sex acts, pornography, including live streaming sexual abuse.
Additionally, CSEC involves coercion and violence against children, economic exploitation, forced labor, and contemporary slavery.
Due to unstable living environments, foster youth and runaways are one of the most vulnerable populations for recruitment.
Human trafficking is often a crime that is hidden in plain sight. It is important to be aware of warning signs.
Some indications that a person may be a victim of human trafficking include appearing malnourished, tattoos/ branding on the neck and/or chest, avoiding eye contact and interaction with authority figures/law enforcement, possessing large sums of cash, hotel keys or are often unaware of their location.
Commonly, victims will show signs of physical injuries and abuse, as well as having long term untreated sexually transmitted diseases.
When interacting with victims, their responses will seem scripted or rehearsed. Often, victims are not allowed to speak for themselves and have been stripped of identification documents.
Accepting this terrible crime exists, understanding what human trafficking is, knowing how to recognize the signs, and knowing who to call for assistance, is crucial in reducing the number of victims.
Lake Family Resource Center’s Human Trafficking Program offers free and confidential services including a 24/7 Community Crisis Line (1-888-485-7733) answered by trained advocates.
The Human Trafficking Program also provides individual counseling, support, safety plans, education, hospital accompaniment, law enforcement advocacy and court advocacy.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, our crisis line is a vitally important way for survivors and others impacted by violence to access support and safety when it is not possible to meet face-to-face.,
Lake Family Resource Center works closely with our community partners such as law enforcement and hospitals to provide the best services available.
Lake Family Resource Center provides a multitude of services to build family stability and strength.
The agency supports Lake County residents in achieving stable, self-sufficient and healthy families and communities.
Call 707-279-0563 today to find out more about what we offer and how you can help.
Kara Roberts is Lake Family Resource Center’s Human Trafficking Program coordinator.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Following a record-breaking week of new COVID-19 cases in Lake County, the Board of Supervisors in a special Tuesday morning meeting voted to approve rolling back in-person services to the public as a way of protecting staff and also agreed to consider extending its date for restoring Friday office hours for the public.
The action to authorize the temporary reduction of county services to the public will potentially take the county back to how it operated in the initial months of the pandemic last year, and follows the board’s decision on Jan. 5 to temporarily close its chambers to the public.
Prior to the discussion on Tuesday, Public Health Officer Dr. Gary Pace told the board that last week saw the largest number of new COVID-19 cases to date, with this week on track to do the same.
The numbers posted by Public Health showed that COVID-19 cases totaled 2,612 on Tuesday, up by 356 cases over the previous week.
In her written report, County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson, also noted “dramatically” worsening pandemic conditions in recent weeks, “with an increasing number of COVID-19 positive cases impacting the County workforce.”
On Tuesday, Huchingson reviewed the board’s action on Jan. 5 to create an ad hoc committee to work with department heads in the efforts to comply with the county’s COVID-19 Public Health Emergency - Worksite Protection Protocol.
Supervisors Tina Scott and Moke Simon were appointed to represent the board on the committee.
Huchingson said the committee has met several times. “We were a bit surprised by the discussion,” she said, adding they were appreciative of the department heads for their candor.
Department heads told county leadership that they support rolling back in-person services right now in favor of pivoting back to how they operated in the spring, when many services were provided without in-person contact, she said.
The resolution directs department heads to immediately replicate steps taken during the earlier closure of county offices “by temporarily providing for service delivery to the public without in-person contact except in situations where in-person contact is unavoidable due to court obligations and state law requirements, or where limited in-person contact is necessary for purposes of service of process, recordation of property-related documents, and/or providing fiscal services to public entities and independent special districts.”
When in-person contact is unavoidable, the resolution directs department heads to ensure full compliance with all provisions of the COVID-19 Worksite Protection Protocol.
Department heads also need to determine how best to provide limited access to allow those functions, notify the public by posting signage at the departmental office as to the method in which services will be delivered and the limited circumstances in which in-person contact will be permitted.
The resolution also directs department heads to support remote work assignments for county employees to the greatest extent possible, gives them the continuing authority to define essential and non-essential workers and said they shall direct nonessential workers to shelter in place or provide remote work assignments when possible.
The board will review the resolution at least once every 30 days “until pandemic conditions improve to the extent that regular service delivery can be resumed.”
Scott said they didn’t want to wait another Tuesday to bring the matter to the board because of their concerns for the workforce.
“If COVID goes through one of our departments, then that department gets completely shut down,” she said, adding that they want to provide services while keeping staff safe.
“Protecting our workforce should be No. 1 for us,” said Simon.
He said they heard from department heads about their concerns as well as wanting to continue to serve the community as much as possible.
Simon said they have had cases of COVID-19 in departments and, like Scott, pointed out that an entire department could be shut down because of the virus.
Board Chair Bruno Sabatier said he had conflicts over the proposal.
“We are not leading with the best of examples for everyone to follow,” he said, explaining that he doesn’t see county departments doing exactly what local businesses are being asked to do.
“We need to step up our game,” he said. “We need to set the rules and set the tone.”
He also was concerned that some members of the public might not have access to the necessary technology to meet virtually with county staff.
Simon said the topic of tightening up protocols and having the county set an example was a topic of discussion with department heads.
Scott De Leon, who heads Community Development, Public Works and Water Resources, said all three of those departments work with the public a lot and he realizes the inconvenience.
On Jan. 8, he said the line of people who came to the courthouse to speak to Community Development staff at the county extended way down the hallway. “Frankly, it’s very disturbing to see that.”
De Leon said they have made dropboxes available, staff is working on FAQs for the website, they are planning to add cameras for every workstation so staff can have virtual consultations with the public and they are going to implement electronic building applications.
“We’re already working towards making it as efficient as we possibly can,” he said, adding, “We’ve encouraged working from home as much as possible.”
De Leon said some building inspectors will probably be working remotely soon as well.
Assessor-Record Richard Ford said his staffers already are doing telework, they have a dropbox outside of their office and they make appointments with title companies to come in and do recording work. He said they plan to improve their previous logistics.
The board ultimately approved the resolution 5-0.
Date to resume Friday office hours to public may be pushed back
In November, the board had directed staff to phase out a temporary policy instituted in 2018 that closed county offices to the public on Fridays. The board wanted a soft reopening to start in January, with offices to be reopened on Fridays by April 1.
However, considering the current circumstances, Sabatier asked Huchingson to put the matter back before the board for further discussion.
Sabatier said by having closed the board chambers and reducing in-person services, the county is sending conflicting messages and contradicting safety protocols by still moving forward with its previous plans for the Friday reopening.
Rather than saying the transition back to full Friday openings needs to be done by March 31, he suggested a compromise to say that the process won’t start until that date, with the board to review progress in the coming months.
“I’m in complete agreement right now,” said Simon.
Ford told the board his department will probably continue with its soft opening plans as Fridays tend to have far less traffic than the rest of the week.
Huchingson suggested having the ad hoc committee discuss the reopening with department heads next week and then come back to the board with a resolution to fit the situation better.
The board agreed and reached consensus to pursue that suggestion.
In other business on Tuesday, the board approved updates to the county’s COVID-19 Return to Work Protocol including aligning the county’s policy with Cal OSHA Emergency Temporary Standards, and also adding new information regarding testing, training, handling multiple infections and outbreaks, exclusion of COVID-19 cases investigation of workplace COVID-19 cases, correction of hazards and OSHA FAQs, and a requirement for department heads to certify their compliance and post it with update certificates.
At Sabatier’s request, the board also took up an additional item regarding state Senate Bill 74, the Keep California Working Act, which would provide another $2.6 billion in grants for businesses.
The board voted to give the bill its support and to ask the two cities to sign on and provide a united front.
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.
Power outages reported in the Lakeport and Kelseyville, California, areas on Tuesday, January 19, 2021. Image courtesy of PG&E. LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – High winds overnight led to downed trees and power poles around Lake County and fanned small vegetation fires that firefighters were able to contain.
The heavy winds impacting the county started Monday night and by 2 a.m. Tuesday the National Weather Service had issued a wind advisory for Lake County.
The advisory remains in effect until 10 p.m. Tuesday above 1,500 feet in elevation, with northeast winds of between 20 and 30 miles per hour and gusts of up to 60 miles per hour in the forecast.
As winds increased late Monday night, power lines were reported down on Lakeshore Drive between Pomo Road and Huntingdon Avenue in Clearlake.
The Clearlake Police Department put out a Nixle alert at 11:12 p.m. saying that Lakeshore Drive was closed in both directions and to avoid the area.
On the Northshore, firefighters responded to a report of a residential structure fire on Widgeon Way in Clearlake Oaks just before midnight.
Radio traffic indicated that firefighters initially were challenged in getting water connections at the site, and that all of the home’s residents got out and were uninjured.
At 12:20 a.m., there was a report of lines down in the area of the 8500 block of Bottle Rock Road in Kelseyville.
Shortly after 12:45 a.m., a fire was reported on Stone Drive that was burning at least one vehicle and threatening structures.
Just after 1:30 a.m., there was a report of a tree into power lines at 2550 Soda Bay Road, and about 10 minutes later a call came in reporting smoke and flames in the hills behind Country Club Mobile Home Park in Lucerne.
Firefighters were able to access the fire just before 2:45 a.m. on the Jones Ranch in Lucerne, based on radio traffic. A battalion chief had been unable to reach it from Bartlett Springs Road due to large trees that had fallen and were blocking the road.
The fire could be seen from other parts of the town as the wind hit it, causing it to flare up over a ridge.
It was reported to be three-quarters of an acre, burning in brush.
Issues with downed poles continued into the early morning, as firefighters reported finding five utility poles down on Highland Springs Road in Lakeport just after 2 a.m., which led to a closure of that road at the intersection with Highway 29, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Highlands Springs Road was expected to reopen shortly before 4 a.m., the CHP reported.
Another report of a downed utility line came in just after 3 a.m. in the area of Spurr Street and Bryce Court in Lakeport.
Pacific Gas and Electric’s online outage map showed several small power outages in Lakeport and Kelseyville overnight.
One outage began at 10:38 p.m. and impacted 22 customers, while 90 more were without power as of 10:47 p.m. At 1:43 a.m. 305 more customers in Kelseyville lost power.
The company did not have estimated times of restoration as of 3 a.m. Tuesday.
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.
The Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument overlooking Clear Lake in Lake County, California. Photo by Tim Pananos/Bureau of Land Management. LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Bureau of Land Management Ukiah Field Office invites the public to the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument’s BLM Trails and Travel Management Workshop on Thursday, Jan. 28, from 5:30 to 8 p.m.
This virtual workshop will provide an overview of the BLM travel management process, which is scheduled to begin later in 2021, and invite participants to provide comment.
The BLM and Mendocino National Forest co-manage the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument and believe partnerships and inclusion are vital to managing sustainable, working public lands.
This workshop and associated planning efforts are specific to travel management within public lands administered by the BLM within the monument.
The BLM Trails and Travel Management Workshop is designed to engage stakeholders and members of the public on the vision for travel management at the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument.
The plan will be important for designating a wide variety of roads and trails for motorized, non-motorized and non-mechanized recreational opportunities.
The BLM will use an online map and survey tools, provide an overview of roads and trails within the monument, detail the current status of travel management, present an overview of the BLM travel management process, and offer opportunities to provide input.
To access the workshop, please register at https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/1478865541170293776 or by clicking the link below at least 30 minutes prior to the event: “Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument’s BLM Trails and Travel Management Workshop.”
A second BLM Trails and Travel Management Workshop will be announced at a later date.
For more information on the workshop, please contact Rebecca Carr Wong at 707-468-4023 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Clearlake City Council on Thursday will consider creating an ad hoc committee to work on a youth sports complex plan, and hold discussions on concealed weapon permits and expanding the Automated License Plate Recognition, which is helping police with leads in criminal cases and with recovering stolen vehicles.
The council will meet beginning at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 21.
Because of the county’s shelter in place order, Clearlake City Hall remains closed to the public, however, the virtual meeting will be broadcast live on the city's YouTube channel or the Lake County PEG TV YouTube Channel. Community members also can participate via Zoom.
Comments and questions can be submitted in writing for City Council consideration by sending them to Administrative Services Director/City Clerk Melissa Swanson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. You can also visit the city’s town hall site and submit written comments at https://www.opentownhall.com/portals/327/forum_home. Identify the subject you wish to comment on in your email’s subject line or in your town hall submission.
To give the council adequate time to review your questions and comments, please submit your written comments prior to 4 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 21.
On Thursday, the council will meet one of January’s adoptable dogs.
Under business, council members will consider creating an ad hoc committee to review the creation of a youth sports complex and confirm Mayor Dirk Slooten’s appointments to the committee.
The center would be located on a 31-acre property the city purchased late last year.
Also on Thursday, Police Chief Andrew White will seek the council’s direction regarding the issuance of concealed weapon permits, a matter Councilman Russell Perdock asked the council to consider.
White said the police department has engaged with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office to handle concealed weapons permitting so that its staff can be dedicated to other primary law enforcement functions.
He said there are 85 permits issued by the sheriff’s office to city residents. White said he and Sheriff Brian Martin have discussed opportunities to make the process more accessible to city residents without the Clearlake Police Department having to take on the entire process.
In other business, White will update the council on the Automated License Plate Recognition Program.
White’s written report explains, “Automated License Plate Recognition technology allows for the automated detection of license plates from video streams placed at fixed locations. It is used to convert data associated with vehicle license plates for official law enforcement purposes, including identifying stolen or wanted vehicles, stolen license plates and missing persons. It may also be used to gather information related to active warrants, homeland security, electronic surveillance, suspect interdiction and stolen property recovery. The International Association of Chiefs of Police estimates that 70 percent of all crimes involve the use of a motor vehicle.”
In September, the department began testing the technology and by December had 14 cameras strategically positioned around the city, White reported.
Since the testing began, White said the police department has recovered 20 stolen vehicles using the technology. “The technology has additionally provided valuable investigative leads, including in a drug related shooting, and resulted in the arrest of a subject wanted on an out of state kidnapping warrant,” White said.
Staff is requesting the council’s permission to add more cameras, not to exceed $60,000 annually.
The council also will consider submitting the recognized obligations payment schedules for both periods of fiscal year 2021-22.
On the meeting's consent agenda – items that are not considered controversial and are usually adopted on a single vote – are warrant registers; minutes of the December meetings; second reading and adoption of Ordinance No. 249-2021, amending Section 18-43.050 of the Clearlake Municipal Code relating to commercial cannabis businesses; approval of the Fair Political Practices Form 806 reporting public official appointments; adopt Resolution No. 2021-04 approving the application for Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Funds; Measure V Oversight Committee Resolution No. OC-2020-01; and consideration of acceptance of the property Located at 16564 4th Ave.
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. – A Santa Rosa man has been arrested for a Saturday crash involving an off-highway vehicle at Indian Valley Reservoir that left a young woman dead.
The California Highway Patrol’s Clear Lake Area office said Juan Torres, 28, was arrested for driving under the influence during the Saturday afternoon crash that killed 19-year-old Athena Karan, also of Santa Rosa.
The CHP said that at 4:33 p.m. Torres was driving his 2019 Honda Talon off-highway vehicle, or OHV, in the Indian Valley Reservoir area.
Riding with him was I. Rubio Velasquez, 22, of Santa Rosa, who was in the right seat, with Karan seated on her lap, the CHP said.
Torres was traveling in an easterly direction within the reservoir when he went over a large dip in the roadway, causing him to lose control of the vehicle, according to the report.
The CHP said the OHV subsequently rolled over, ejecting Karan, who sustained major injuries when she hit the ground and subsequently succumbed to her injuries at the scene.
Officer Greg Buchholz arrived on scene and determined that Torres, who suffered minor injuries, was operating the OHV while under the influence of an alcoholic beverage, the CHP said. Torres subsequently was placed under arrest and booked into the Lake County Jail.
The CHP said Velasquez sustained minor injuries and was transported by ambulance to Sutter Lakeside Hospital.
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.
Suresh Dhaniyala, Clarkson University and Byron Erath, Clarkson University
The new SARS-CoV-2 variant’s increased transmissibility is believed to come from a change in the spike protein, visible here in yellow under an electron microscope. National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases
A fast-spreading variant of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 has been found in at least 20 states, and people are wondering: How do I protect myself now?
We saw what the new variant, known as B.1.1.7, can do as it spread quickly through southeastern England in December, causing case numbers to spike and triggering stricter lockdown measures.
Additionally, there is some evidence that patients infected with the new B.1.1.7 variant may have a higher viral load. That means they may expel more virus-containing particles when they breathe, talk or sneeze.
As professors who study fluid dynamicsand aerosols, we investigate how airborne particles carrying viruses spread. There is still a lot that scientists and doctors don’t know about the coronavirus and its mutations, but there are some clear strategies people can use to protect themselves.
Airborne particles are still the biggest problem
The SARS-CoV-2 variants are believed to spread primarily through the air rather than on surfaces.
When someone with the coronavirus in their respiratory tract coughs, talks, sings or even just breathes, infectious respiratory droplets can be expelled into the air. These droplets are tiny, predominantly in the range of 1-100 micrometers. For comparison, a human hair is about 70 micrometers in diameter.
The larger droplets fall to the ground quickly, rarely traveling farther than 6 feet from the source. The bigger problem for disease transmission is the tiniest droplets – those less than 10 micrometers in diameter – which can remain suspended in the air as aerosols for hours at a time.
How effective are different types of masks? UNSW/Thorax.
With people possibly having more virus in their bodies and the virus being more infectious, everyone should take extra care and precautions. Wearing face masks and social distancing are essential.
Spaces and activities that were previously deemed “safe,” such as some indoor work environments, may present an elevated infection risk as the variant spreads.
The concentration of aerosol particles is usually highest right next to the individual emitting the particles and decreases with distance from the source. However, in indoor environments, aerosol concentration levels can quickly build up, similar to how cigarette smoke accumulates within enclosed spaces. This is particularly problematic in spaces that have poor ventilation.
With the new variant, aerosol concentration levels that might not have previously posed a risk could now lead to infection.
What can you do to stay safe?
1) Pay attention to the type of face mask you use, and how it fits.
Most off-the-shelf face coverings are not 100% effective at preventing droplet emission. With the new variant spreading more easily and likely infectious at lower concentrations, it’s important to select coverings with materials that are most effective at stopping droplet spread.
When available, N95 and surgical masks consistently perform the best. Otherwise, face coverings that use multiple layers of material are preferable. Ideally, the material should be a tight weave. High thread count cotton sheets are an example. Proper fit is also crucial, as gaps around the nose and mouth can decrease the effectiveness by 50%.
2) Follow social distancing guidelines.
While the current social distancing guidelines are not perfect – 6 feet isn’t always enough – they do offer a useful starting point. Because aerosol concentrations levels and infectivity are highest in the space immediately surrounding anyone with the virus, increasing physical distancing can help reduce risk. Remember that people are infectious before they start showing symptoms, and they many never show symptoms, so don’t count on seeing signs of illness.
3) Think carefully about the environment when entering an enclosed area, both the ventilation and how people interact.
Limiting the size of gatherings helps reduce the potential for exposure. Controlling indoor environments in other ways can also be a highly effective strategy for reducing risk. This includes increasing ventilation rates to bring in fresh air and filtering existing air to dilute aerosol concentrations.
On a personal level, it is helpful to pay attention to the types of interactions that are taking place. For example, many individuals shouting can create a higher risk than one individual speaking. In all cases, it’s important to minimize the amount of time spent indoors with others.
The CDC has warned that B.1.1.7 could become the dominant SARS-CoV-2 variant in the U.S. by March. Other fast-spreading variants have also been found in Brazil and South Africa. Increased vigilance and complying with health guidelines should continue to be of highest priority.
District residents also can participate via Zoom. Interested participants must email Thompson’s office at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. in order to join, as the platform has a capacity of 500 people. Interested participants will be notified via email with instructions on how to join.
This will be the second virtual town hall of the 117th Congress and the 18nth in a series of virtual town halls since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
This is a general town hall, open to questions on all topics within Thompson’s jurisdiction as a Member of Congress.
All constituents of California’s Fifth Congressional District and members of the press are invited to join.
Thompson represents California’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – As part of a statewide effort to address climate change, the Scotts Valley Energy Co. – a business enterprise of the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians – was awarded a Tribal Government Challenge Planning Grant to create a bioenergy feasibility toolkit to assist other tribes and businesses in determining energy resiliency needs and provide another tool for wildfire mitigation efforts.
The Scotts Valley Energy Co., or SVEC, is bringing the first bioenergy/biochar production facility to its tribal lands in Lake County, said Tribal Chairman Shawn Davis.
Davis said the facility will utilize waste woody biomass mitigated from high fire threat areas or previously burned areas to create sustainable, clean electricity as well as produce biochar – a soil amendment used in agricultural production to improve soil moisture and nutrient retention lessening the amounts of water and fertilizer used which in turn will help better protect the environment.
“Additionally, this new technology – which produces no smoke or particulates, can help lessen the amount of open-pile burning that currently occurs on agricultural and forested lands releasing carbon and smoke,” said Davis.
The grant award in the amount of $248,000 will allow SVEC to create a feasibility toolkit that will allow tribes and other large businesses to determine energy usage, resource availability, micro-grid options, biomass fuel requirements and more.
“California recognizes the leadership of tribes in advancing strong clean air standards as well as ambitious climate and energy goals,” said Christina Snider, tribal advisor to Gov. Gavin Newsom. “These grants provide opportunities to focus on new Tribal climate and energy planning activities.”
Funded by the California Energy Commission, or CEC, and administered in partnership with the California Strategic Growth Council, or SGC, the program focuses on the unique needs of tribal governments and the valuable ongoing role tribes serve in helping the state achieve its climate goals.
“The CEC is proud to provide funding to support Tribal climate leadership through this unique initiative,” said CEC Commissioner Karen Douglas. “These tribally-driven projects will bring important research and technological gains while helping ensure all communities benefit from access to the state’s clean energy investments.”
The grants range from $215,000 to $250,000 and support planning for a variety of climate change and clean energy projects, including energy storage, renewables, biomass, and community and energy resilience to climate impacts.
“The California Strategic Growth Council Team looks forward to building relationships and collaborating with the Tribal Government Challenge grantees to ensure projects advance Tribes’ goals and priorities around climate change, energy, and resilience,” said Louise Bedsworth, SGC’s executive director. “We commend all of the applicants for submitting thoughtful proposals and are eager to support the awardees as they begin their planning processes.”
“With over 100 federally recognized Tribes in Northern California, all of which live under the threat of catastrophic wildfire and the need for reliable, clean, and sustainable energy, we see SVEC’s small-scale bioenergy/biochar production facilities as a possible key to solve many issues facing Indian Country today, said Thomas Jordan, CEO of SVEC. “We look forward to the opportunity to create a feasibility toolkit for other tribes to make informed energy decisions.”
In addition to the Scotts Valley Energy Co., another enterprise of the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians is The Clean Carbon Co., or T3, which will take in the biochar created by the SVEC facilities and process it into activated charcoal, thanks to a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
This activated charcoal will be used in the production of much-needed N-95 respirators, and also can be used in drinking water filtration systems.
The Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians said it takes the threat of hazardous fuels reduction to mitigate the threat of wildfires very seriously as the tribe – and all residents of the county – have seen more than 60 percent of Lake County landmass burn in catastrophic wildfires over the past six years.
Another way they are helping to address this issue is by co-creating the not for profit Tribal EcoRestoration Alliance, which is a cross-cultural, multi-organizational collaborative that works to revitalize ecology, economy, and culture through indigenous-led stewardship including restoration work that mitigates the impacts of climate change and reduces the risk of uncharacteristic wildfires and incorporates traditional ecological knowledge.
The Tribal Government Challenge Program is also supporting a Statewide Gap Analysis to provide an assessment of tribes’ clean energy and climate change adaptation and resilience priorities. The analysis is led by Glendora-based firm Prosper Sustainability along with a consulting team including tribal professionals, and women- and Native American-owned businesses, all with extensive experience working with California Native American Tribes.
Tribal Government Challenge Planning Grant awardees include:
• The Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians (Lake County) • The Karuk Tribe (Siskiyou County) • The Kashia Band of Pomo Indians (Sonoma County) • The Middletown Rancheria of Pomo Indians of California (Lake County) • The Pit River Tribe (Shasta, Siskiyou, Modoc, and Lassen Counties) • The Pala Band of Mission Indians, the Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians, and the San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians (San Diego County) • The Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians (Lake County) • The Tule River Tribe (Tulare County)
